MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

KnightSlappy updated his regional ranking numbers through Sunday's games.  Great stuff here.

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/p/2010-2011-d3-mens-regional-rankings.html

[Titan Q]

With the updated SOS numbers, here is a final shot at this...

Midwest Region ranking projection (through Sunday, February 3)
1.      Ill. Wesleyan  .833 (15-3)/.546
2.      North Central  .842 (16-3)/.519
3.      Rose-Hulman  .900 (18-2)/.485
4.      Transylvania  .789 (15-4)/.563
5.      Wheaton  .737 (14-5)/.549
6.      Washington U  .789 (15-4)/.547
7.      Augustana  .750 (15-5)/.558
8.      Grinnell  .824 (14-3)/.475
-----
9.      St. Norbert  .789 (15-4)/.516
 
Notes
* My criteria includes 1) in-region winning %, 2) in-region SOS, and 3) in-region head-to-head.

* In-region head-to-head results considered:
  - Illinois Wesleyan - wins @ Wheaton, vs Augustana, vs NCC, @ Augustana, vs Wheaton...loss @ Wash U
  - North Central - wins vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...losses @ IWU, @ Wheaton
  - Transylvania - win @ Rose-Hulman...loss vs Rose-Hulman
  - Rose-Hulman - win @ Transylvania...loss vs Transylvania
  - Wash U - win vs IWU...loss @ Wheaton
  - Wheaton - wins @ Augustana, vs NCC, vs Wash U...losses @ NCC, vs IWU, @ IWU
  - Augustana - win @ St. Norbert...losses @NCC, @IWU, vs Wheaton, vs IWU
  - Grinnell - win @ St. Norbert
  - St. Norbert - no wins...losses vs Augustana, vs Grinnell

* Since there are no actual regional rankings yet, I have not factored in in-region results vs teams who will be ranked in other regions.  For example, Transylvania's win over Wooster (Great Lakes), Augustana's loss at UW-Stevens Point (West), Wash U's results vs UAA teams ranked in other regions, etc.

[USee]

I was one of the folks who thought IWU had been pretty fortunate this season to catch several teams not at their best. After watching Saturday's game on my cell phone while at a dinner party I will go on record as saying they will end up 14-0. I realize that's a strong statement but I haven't seen a team share the ball that well in many years.   I am not a fan of any of the IWU players but I love their team.  Ron Rose has done a great job putting this club together.  I really don't see the Titans losing any of the games before playing at NCC and if they go into that game 13-0, all bets are off on being undefeated.   NCC is a great team and will likely be as healthy as they have been all season in that game so there will be plenty of bragging rights on the line. (I believe the Titans will have sewn up the conference and the hosting rights by then).  I am a believer. 

[Titan Q]

Congrats to Andrew Ziemnik on CCIW Player of the Week honors...

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2013/2/4/MBB_0204130608.aspx

@ Augustana - 18 pts, 8 reb
vs Wheaton - 18 pts, 9 reb


As I posted Saturday night, I think Ziemnik will make the all-CCIW 1st Team.

[D-3 watcher]

User, thanks for your advice, I'm sure your more than qualified to make that assumption, but a guy once asked me what I was good at, I told him " minding my own business"!!
And One has a personal vendetta against IWU, and while I probable am using this board to somehow reign him in, he's an adult.
To everybody else, if my post toward And One seems a bit harsh and boring to you, I do apologize.
But I can't stand by and let him, tell and spread rumors about kids having academic issues without any recourse. Lets not forget that.

[D-3 watcher]

USee, you say you are not a fan of any of the IWU players. Are you talking about them as basketball players, or just in general?

[unanimous22]

Unfortunately there's very little to analyze from Saturday night at the Shirk because the truth of the matter is that after the opening five minutes Wheaton just got punked and never responded to IWU's intensity and GanGreen played a terrific game. However, I found myself walking away scratching my head at the extremely low level of class showed by several IWU students during the game.

Kids will inevitably be kids and are trying to have a good time but several students standing on the floor opposite the Wheaton bench (one in a blue blazer, the other dressed as the banana) crossed the line in singling out one Thunder player at the end of the bench. Every program has kids who will play four years and rarely see the floor but they love the team, the game and the program and every program needs those kids. The fact that these kids singled out and then incessantly went after him for a majority of the second half including repeatedly calling him 'Radio' shows an incredible amount of ignorance and is a terrible reflection on the Titans and the institution.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Ron Rose and his program and its a shame that their outstanding performance had to be marred by such a classless act. Even what was one of the most emotionally charged CCIW games of the season a few weeks ago at King Arena, the NCC and Wheaton fans showed respect toward the opposing players. Just a nagging thought that had stuck with me throughout the weekend. Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

Ummm, no it really doesn't.

[USee]

USee, you say you are not a fan of any of the IWU players. Are you talking about them as basketball players, or just in general?

All I meant is that I am a Wheaton fan and I like all our players better. 

[cardinalpride]

And One, its been a few days since you wrote about the IWU-Wheaton game, I've been busy and didn't get a chance to question your comments, but I didn't want to let it pass, seeing how you were wrong again.
When IWU played and beat Wheaton the first time, you said it was because Wheaton didn't have its full team. N. Haynes didn't play. That's fair, he is a vey good player.
Then when NCC beat Wheaton, you made it very clear that NCC beat Wheaton's FULL team. Note the capital letters. You like doing that, I guess that's your way of getting your point across.
Then when IWU beat NCC, it was only because NCC had its big three hurting, to the point that they only all played about 35 out of 40 possible min. That's fair, they are all very good players.
Then when Wheaton beat NCC, you once again, mentioned your players still being hurt, while still playing a whole lot of min. That's fair, they are all good players.
Then before the IWU-Wheaton game this Saturday, you once again told us how lucky IWU was the first time, and that with N. Haynes playing it will be a different game, we won't get all the rebounds, the game will be very close, maybe even a Wheaton win. Wrong again, same result, not a close game much of the time.
I'm trying to remember, and if I'm wrong I apologize, (wont go back to read your post, kinda boring) , but didn't you tell us you were an investigator? Well if indeed you were, who did you work for? The NATIONAL INQUIRIER

D3,
AndOne was correct about something.  You haven't demonstrated you have anything useful to add about D3 basketball, the CCIW, or IWU for that matter!

[Titan Q]

Great crowd at the Shirk Center Saturday...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/Wheaton13a.JPG

http://www.iwuhoops.com/Wheaton13b.JPG

[D-3 watcher]

Cardinal pride , so what you are saying that And One has gotten 1 post right, out of over 2660 post, that is a lot of bad and wrong post's. That's basically what I have been saying.
I guess I should say thanks.

[AndOne]

I didn't watch that game tonight. I can only go by what I saw on Saturday evening. But Gamble could barely put weight on his sprained ankle when he left the building, and he was leaning with his arm around the shoulder of an older gentleman whom I assume was his dad; Tiknis was visibly limping around in street clothes; and Raridon was clutching his iced-up bad shoulder and wincing as he left the gym.

Perhaps they healed up remarkably well between Saturday night and tonight. It could happen. I'm in no position to say. And perhaps the adrenaline kicked in at game time tonight and they were each able to completely ignore the pain and make their respective dysfunctional joints function properly. But I know what I saw. And what I saw was that all three Cardinals stars were in a bad way when they left NPU on Saturday night, and that's a fact.

I don't doubt the injuries or how bad things were Saturday at all.  But four days later...

Minutes played at IWU
Raridon - 37 (season avg - 33.8)
Tiknis - 33 (season avg - 29.8)
Gamble - 32 (season avg - 23.6)


I already commented on the trio's production last night - they scored more points as a group than their average, and came within 3 rebounds.  All on the road, against the best defensive opponent NCC will face in the CCIW (in terms of both defensive efficiency and FG% against), and a team that has per game rebound margin of +12.0.

Based on the way these three performed last night it doesn't seem like the injuries were a factor in the outcome of the game.  Raridon, Gamble, and Tiknis played heavy minutes, and played very well.

Normally a poster representing the losing team who claims injury or injuries played a major factor in his team's loss, is met with scorn, ridicule, and accusations of "excuses, excuses." This is usually true even if the poster has a legitimate point.
However, if you don't want to believe my assertion that injuries to 3 top NCC players did indeed play a major role last night, perhaps you'll believe Greg Sager's description of the concerned players at the conclusion of last Saturday's NCC-NPU game.

With injuries of this magnitude, just how quickly do you think these players are going to regain 100% functionality?

Titan Q attempts to advance the argument that because Aaron Tiknis, Derek Raridon, and Landon Gamble played more minutes than their previous averages, and performed well, that "it doesn't seem "like the injuries were a factor in the outcome of the game." This is naive at best.
Realizing the importance of the game, guts and adrenaline propelled their efforts beyond normal expectations in terms of time played. These are 21 and 22 year old kids who certainly aren't about to ask the coach to "take me out" no matter how much they were hurting, or how exhausted they were. The "I'm not a wimp" syndrome personified. This is especially true of Tiknis and Raridon who are in their final season. That this trio was able to achieve what did they did under the limitations under which they played last night only illustrates the level of their talents.   

Several fans/posters, among them, veterancciwfan and the "estimable" ( ) d-3 watcher, have noted things like "Gamble couldn't jump," and "Tiknis had a noticeable limp."

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say I know the Cardinals pretty well. After observing Gamble and Tiknis for 3 years now, and Raridon for 4 years, I think pretty accurate estimates are that last evening Landon Gamble and Derek Raridon were at about 70-75%, and Aaron Tiknis was 60-65%. Tiknis shot 2 air balls last night. It wasn't that he is a bad player or poor shooter, but rather that by the time he shot them his legs were pretty much gone, and he just didn't have the push/lift to step into his shot.

Now---

The above being said, credit must also be given to Wesleyan. As with any good team, they certainly took advantage of the opportunities the Cardinals presented them. They shot the 3 very well taking advantage of the Cards soft perimeter defense and being out of position several times. They took advantage of weakened ankles, knees, and shoulders, to pound the boards and out rebound the visitors. They forced the play, and attacked the basket off the dribble, and also got the ball inside for rather easy baskets on several occasions. Well done.

User, thanks for your advice, I'm sure your more than qualified to make that assumption, but a guy once asked me what I was good at, I told him " minding my own business"!!
And One has a personal vendetta against IWU, and while I probable am using this board to somehow reign him in, he's an adult.
To everybody else, if my post toward And One seems a bit harsh and boring to you, I do apologize.
But I can't stand by and let him, tell and spread rumors about kids having academic issues without any recourse. Lets not forget that.

D-3

You seem to do a fine job at making statements that you attempt to "take bacK" when you later find that they contradict each other.

As far as having a "personal vendetta against IWU," I guess thats why I made it a point, after stating the fact that 3 top NCC players played hurt at IWU, to point out that Wesleyan took advantage of the opportunities presented them, and added a "well done."

Additionally, as Cardinalpride points out, the vast majority of your posts demonstrate little, if any, knowledge of the game of basketball. Furthermore, you never seem to be able to make any predictions and, right or wrong, explain the basis of your opinion. Lastly, they are almost totally bereft of any form of analysis which, given your lack of knowledge or understanding of the game, is not a surprise to anyone.

In conclusion, if there is any form of a personal vendetta present, I would submit the preponderance of evidence suggests that the vendetta is yours against me.   

[Naperick]

With the updated SOS numbers, here is a final shot at this...

Midwest Region ranking projection (through Sunday, February 3)
1.      Ill. Wesleyan  .833 (15-3)/.546
2.      North Central  .842 (16-3)/.519
3.      Rose-Hulman  .900 (18-2)/.485
4.      Transylvania  .789 (15-4)/.563
5.      Wheaton  .737 (14-5)/.549
6.      Washington U  .789 (15-4)/.547
7.      Augustana  .750 (15-5)/.558
8.      Grinnell  .824 (14-3)/.475
-----
9.      St. Norbert  .789 (15-4)/.516
 
Notes
* My criteria includes 1) in-region winning %, 2) in-region SOS, and 3) in-region head-to-head.

That game in Naperville on Tuesday, February 19 could be huge for seeding!  But both [IWU-NCC] teams play 3 games before that.  And they could be playing again on February 22 or 23 in the CCIW tourney in Bloomington.  This is a great time of the year!

[CCIWchamps]

Unfortunately there's very little to analyze from Saturday night at the Shirk because the truth of the matter is that after the opening five minutes Wheaton just got punked and never responded to IWU's intensity and GanGreen played a terrific game. However, I found myself walking away scratching my head at the extremely low level of class showed by several IWU students during the game.

Kids will inevitably be kids and are trying to have a good time but several students standing on the floor opposite the Wheaton bench (one in a blue blazer, the other dressed as the banana) crossed the line in singling out one Thunder player at the end of the bench. Every program has kids who will play four years and rarely see the floor but they love the team, the game and the program and every program needs those kids. The fact that these kids singled out and then incessantly went after him for a majority of the second half including repeatedly calling him 'Radio' shows an incredible amount of ignorance and is a terrible reflection on the Titans and the institution.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Ron Rose and his program and its a shame that their outstanding performance had to be marred by such a classless act. Even what was one of the most emotionally charged CCIW games of the season a few weeks ago at King Arena, the NCC and Wheaton fans showed respect toward the opposing players. Just a nagging thought that had stuck with me throughout the weekend. Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

Ummm, no it really doesn't.

I'd like to hear more about what "radio" means in that chant.  Is it a reference to this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_%282003_film%29

Because that's what came to mind, and if so, that makes Thunder38's case right there.  But I hope I'm wrong.

[Titan Q]

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2012-13/week10

#9 IWU
#11 North Central
#22 Wheaton