MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwumichigander]

The Titans kept the game much closer than it should have been by absolutely stinking at the line.  When Transy was 17 of 19, the Titans were 11 of 22!  Fortunately, down the stretch the 'Vampires' were forced to foul Zimmer and Overstreet - you do NOT want to foul Brady or Dylan!

As I suspected he would, Victor Davis came up big (now that it is the postseason!); I haven't seen the box and livestats never finished the last 1:07 of the game, so these may not be final, but he had 15 and 9 by that point.

And a shoutout to Meyer and Spurlin of Transy - they combined for about 75% of their scoring, and were at points absolutely unstoppable.

You should have taken Victor in your fantasy league pick

[WUPHF]

My first thought is IWU beats Wash U.

Hmmm... 

What is your second thought? [insert smiley face]  Washington University will not be able to play the way played tonight and get the win next weekend, but if the game is in St. Louis, I'll need a Titan fan to convince me that there is a favorite.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Titans kept the game much closer than it should have been by absolutely stinking at the line.  When Transy was 17 of 19, the Titans were 11 of 22!  Fortunately, down the stretch the 'Vampires' were forced to foul Zimmer and Overstreet - you do NOT want to foul Brady or Dylan!

As I suspected he would, Victor Davis came up big (now that it is the postseason!); I haven't seen the box and livestats never finished the last 1:07 of the game, so these may not be final, but he had 15 and 9 by that point.

And a shoutout to Meyer and Spurlin of Transy - they combined for about 75% of their scoring, and were at points absolutely unstoppable.

You should have taken Victor in your fantasy league pick

I took Brady, who outscored Victor tonight.  I'll keep track throughout the tourney to see if I chose the best Titan (Ziemnik had already been taken, but he was way down tonight)!  (Since they are facing this year's Bracket of Death, I was afraid to take more than one.)

[kiko]

Since nobody has posted it yet, North Central completes the CCIW trifecta in the first round with a 66-50 win over Centre at the Airplane Hangar.

Gamble with 17 and 8 boards
Charlie Rosenberg with 11 off the bench
Derek Raridon with 10
Tiknis with 10 and 8 boards

Cards outshot the Colonels 52%-37%.

Both were woeful from behind the arc -- North Central at 1 of 8 and Centre at 2 of 16.

Centre shot just four free throws on the evening, making two of them.  North Central was 13 of 16.

From the box, the game turned late in the first half.  Centre pulled to within 19-17 at the 7:04 mark, but didn't score again until the 1:32 mark as the Avians scored the next nine points.  North Central led comfortably from there, as the visitors never got closer than seven from that point on.

The Cards' recap notes that this was the school's first home tournament game since 1990.  That was the final game of the Robert Brown-era Cardinal team which lost to a Jeff Kuehl/Mark Edmundson-led Illinois Wesleyan team in the second round of the tourney.

[Titan Q]

IWU 80
Transylvania 71

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=2309&path=mbball

* Brady Zimmer: 23 pts, 3 reb (4-6 3-point, 9-10 FT, 22 minutes)
* Dylan Overstreet: 16 pts, 4 reb, 6 assists (5-7 FG, 5-6 FT)
* Victor Davis: 15 pts, 9 reb (5-8 FG)

* Barrett Meyer: 27 pts, 3 reb
* Ethan Spurlin: 24 pts, 9 reb

- Rebounds: IWU 41 Transy 28
- IWU: 52.1% FG, 40.9% 3-point

It look about 14 minutes for IWU to get going in this one, but once they did, I felt the Titans played really well tonight.  IWU got some big performances out of a number of players, and just made a lot of big plays.

Transylvania is a very good team, and just a such different type of matchup than what IWU sees in the CCIW. So many HCAC teams play the style the Pioneers do - an offense geared around dribble drive and kick outs.  Almost everyone on the floor for Transylvania at all times is basically a wing player.  These types of teams give IWU problems - the last time IWU saw this style was @ Franklin of the HCAC, in a game the Titans lost.

Brian Lane took Grey Giovanine's lead and zoned the Titans to start the game.  IWU looked like the same team that struggled against Augie - just very tentative and tight.  Transy led 23-16 with 6:32 to play in the 1st when the Titans settled down, and started knocking down shots.  Brady Zimmer was a big spark down the stretch in the half, and freshman Bryce Dolan hit a big 3 to make it 34-28 IWU at the break.

The Pioneers hit IWU with a quick 8-0 run out of the locker room to take the lead, but the Titans responded to take a one possession lead for the next several minutes.  Transylvania kept coming though, and at 9:32 it was tied at 51.  I felt like the stretch of the game was at this point, when IWU's two 1st Team all-CCIW players, Dylan Overstreet and Andrew Ziemnik, combined for a 7-0 run to give the Titans a 58-51 lead at 7:32. 

The Titans never gave up that lead, but it did stay close.  Brady Zimmer hit a big 3 to put IWU back up 8 at 5:42, but was countered by a Barrett Meyer 3 at 4:46.  And then Victor Davis answered with a 3 to push the IWU lead back to 8.  IWU got the ball in the hands of good FT shooters down the stretch and closed it out.

Brady Zimmer was outstanding tonight - I can't believe there is a better 6th man in the NCAA tournament field.  Zimmer is just such a difference maker for the Titans - he is by far their most talented offensive player.  Sophomore PG Dylan Overstreet was really good in the 2nd half, and just made a number of big plays and good decisions.  He's come so far as a PG over the course of his first varsity season.  Victor Davis also had a big game for the Titans - his physical presence was a big problem for the Pioneers in this one and he was a real force on the boards.

I was impressed with the offensive plays the Titans made to close this one out.  Transylvania just kept making big shots and forcing the Titans to respond...and they did.

The round 2 matchup with Wash U will be the type that IWU is much more comfortable with, and more effective against.  That should be a great game.

[Titan Q]

Pantagraph article -- http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/zimmer-leads-iwu-past-transyl-vania-washington-u-next-sat/article_90eb1dce-83b7-11e2-86af-0019bb2963f4.html

Ron Rose, WJBC postgame -- http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=1146471

Brady Zimmer, WJBC postgame -- http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=1146471

[veterancciwfan]

Very good game at Shirk between 2 good teams. Very impressed with Transy, especially their 6'2" senior guard Barret Meyer who would be a 1st team CCIW player. Big stat for IWU was 41-28 rebounds edge. IWU was very tentative against  constant defensive changes by TU in the 1st half. Once, they even switched zones on one IWU offensive possession. But I thought Overstreet took over the game late in the 2nd half, twice driving for baskets (much like he did against Augustana when he led IWU as it overcame a 16 point lead) and once when hounded by 2 TU players,  he made an amazing closely guarded pass which led to a layup to stretch the lead to 6 (maybe 7) points. Plus Victor was the VD of the 5 NCAA games last year. He was a beast on the defensive boards and hit a key 3 pointer late. And what would IWU basketball be without a Zimmer? Never doubt them in NCAA tournament games. His back is much better due to rest and a new med. He showed no signs of any pain-no grimaces and he ran hard. According to a reliable source, he felt as good as he has in 2 months. He didn't practice much this week and I imagine he will follow the same pattern next week. What a weapon. Ziemnik, IWU's best starter (?) scored 4 and IWU still wins by 9 and scores 80, 8 more than their season average.

Now, on to Round 2 in the Bracket of Death. I don't gamble, but if I did, I'll take the Bracket of Death entrant at Salem + St. Thomas and give even odds on the rest of the field for the D3 title in Atlanta on April 7. And too think the 2 best D3 basketball conferences in the nation will be in the same Central Region beginning in 14/15. Geography is a cruel master in D3 athletics.

[blue_jays]

After a miserable first half, Wheaton got back to looking like itself in the second half to beat St. Norbert 59-58. After initially being tied 11-11, things went south hard for the Thunder, who kept missing rushed jumpers and St. Norbert couldn't miss. But the second half saw Wheaton get gritty defensively and held the Green Knights without a field goal for about a 10 minute stretch. With Tyler Peters not getting his usual offensive opportunities, it was all Nate Haynes, Brayden Teuscher and Michael Kvam. Once St. Norbert's bigs got into foul trouble, Haynes went to work and bulled his way to layups. Kvam hit some ridiculous three-pointers, including a pair where the defender was six inches away with a hand in his grill, and he just swished it over them anyway. But it was Teuscher who should get the most love tonight. When the offense was bogged down, he was the guy creating his own shot off the dribble, drawing fouls and hitting clutch shots. His fade away jumper was in full effect and it was a beauty to watch. His baseline fader with 10 seconds left won the game. Super impressive work by him.
Now St. Thomas looms. If Wheaton wants to make it close and pull off the upset, they cannot have another half like the first one tonight. They'll have to be firing on every cylinder and not fall in love with the threes as much as they do (their second half resurgence was mostly due to driving to the basket).

[jaybird44]

Regarding 6th men, I'd like to add Wash-U's Ben Hoener to the discussion...

[iwu70]

I guess Hoener and Zimmer will get the chance to give us a straight-up look at them both, next Saturday night.  I've been assuming the game will be @Wash U, but we'll have to wait 'til Monday to see for sure.  Wash U women won too, right?  Perhaps they get home games and knock the men's game to The Shirk?

If Sodemann and Zman get more on track next week, look out Wash U.  Nice contribution by Dolan, by Dortch, and very strong games by Overstreet, Davis and, of course, Zimmer on fire.  Time for everyone to be in full sync, at full throttle for the Road to Salem/Atlanta.  Love this time of year for Titan roundball!

Congrats to NCC and WC on big wins tonight.  Great to see 3 CCIW teams in the last 32. 

IWU70

[iwu70]

Wash U women are now lined up to play #1 DePauw in the next round of the women's tournament.  Would normally think that game/pod playing at DP as they are likely #1 seed in the entire tournament, #1 in the national and D3hoops.com polling almost all year, but the previous four team pod played at DP, so can they host again??  Assume Wash U might be #2 seed, or close to it. -- women's side.  We'll see.  All the big programs coming thru in the women's tournament -- lots and lots of familiar names in the Sweet Sixteen. 

If men's seeding holds, I would assume IWU men would play @Wash U next Saturday night.  I suppose Wash U could host both -- with the women playing Saturday 5 p.m. and the men at 7 or 7:30 p.m.?   Women's side has two games next weekend, going down to their Final Four quickly.  Men get to Sweet Sixteen next weekend, right?   

We'll know locations soon. 

NCC gets WW, a very tough match-up, and WC gets the Tommies, perhaps even tougher.  Both away games for CCIW, right?   No easy road, "bracket of death" or no.  Only good teams, esp. in the MW, from here on in.  No nights off, or you can easily be done and gone.

My hat off to Transy.  They shot it well, played hard, and shot FTs exceptionally well.  Good seniors, with a tremendous record these past few years.  Congratulations to them and the Transy coaching staff.  Hard to win @The Shirk. 

IWU vs. Wash U -- just seems right this time of year. 

IWU70

[SevenTen]

NCC gets WW, a very tough match-up, and WC gets the Tommies, perhaps even tougher.  Both away games for CCIW, right?   No easy road, "bracket of death" or no.  Only good teams, esp. in the MW, from here on in.  No nights off, or you can easily be done and gone.

NCC should be a home game against Whitewater.  They ended up #1 in the MW and Whitewater was most likely #2 or #3 in the West.  The problem is the indoor NCAA D3 Indoor Track Championships are at North Central next weekend... not sure they can host both at the same time (much of Merner Field House would be used as spill-over from the track center).  We'll see. 

[NCF]

NCC gets WW, a very tough match-up, and WC gets the Tommies, perhaps even tougher.  Both away games for CCIW, right?   No easy road, "bracket of death" or no.  Only good teams, esp. in the MW, from here on in.  No nights off, or you can easily be done and gone.

NCC should be a home game against Whitewater.  They ended up #1 in the MW and Whitewater was most likely #2 or #3 in the West.  The problem is the indoor NCAA D3 Indoor Track Championships are at North Central next weekend... not sure they can host both at the same time (much of Merner Field House would be used as spill-over from the track center).  We'll see.

I would be very surprised to se NC hold a basketall game next Saturday. Merner will be the place for teams to set up camp and warm-up. there will be a covered walkway connecting Merner to the track. If I remember correctly the final event usually starts at 5, then awards. I don't see Merner being cleared out and cleaned up in time for a basketball game.

[Titan Q]

To advance in the tournament, the Titans will have to keep a streak of success vs Wash U alive...

Illinois Wesleyan vs Washington U, Division III tournament
1995 - IWU 90 Wash U 65 (round 2 @ IWU)
1996 - IWU 73 Wash U 61 (round 4 @ Roanoke College)
2003 - IWU 85 Wash U 73 (round 2 @ Wash U)
2010 - IWU 75 Wash U 70 (round 2 @ Wash U)

In 2003, Wash U was rated #2 by D3hoops.com at the time of the game (IWU #13), and in 2010 the two-time defending national champ Bears were #1 (IWU was not ranked).  In both of these years, Wash U defeated IWU in the non-conference.

This year, these two teams played on Dec 1, in a game the Bears dominated - http://bearsports.wustl.edu/Stats/TeamStats/basketball-mens/2012-2013/game7.htm.  I believe the IWU team that plays at Wash U this coming Saturday will be a very different team, for a few reasons:

1) IWU played without starting SG Pat Sodemann (11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg) and starting PF Victor Davis (8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg).  Both are very important players for the Titans.

2) IWU PG Dylan Overstreet couldn't have made the 1st Team all-Noonball team back on December 1.  After this game in the non-conference, and into the CCIW season, is when Overstreet really settled into the PG roll....eventually being named to the 1st Team all-CCIW.  He's just a different player than he was in early-December.

3) Andrew Ziemnik, IWU's other 1st Team all-CCIW player, is another guy who has developed quite a bit since then.  At the time, he was just a few games into learning how to play the SF position (after playing PF exclusively last year).


I'm sure Wash U has developed quite a bit as a team, and individually, since then too.  This should be another classic game between the Titans and Bears.  A few thoughts on these teams...

* Both teams are really "big" in the frontcourt by D3 standards, but I'd say it's big in different ways.  The Bears are a very tall and skilled team at the 3/4/5 spots (they look and play just like a Dennie Bridges IWU team), while IWU is more of a physical and bruising team.  That's not to say Wash U isn't physical and IWU isn't skilled though.

* Wash U and IWU both use their size to dominate the boards - the Bears are +12 in rebounding per game and IWU +10.  These are two of the elite rebounding teams in Division III.  Wash U #2 and IWU #6 nationally in rebound margin as of the last stats update - http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d3/current/team/151.

* Both teams have a really good combo guard as a 6th man:
    -Brady Zimmer (IWU), 6-4 Jr - 11.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.0 apg, 60-99 FG (.606), 22-36 3-point (.611), 66-80 FT (.825)
    -Ben Hoener (Wash U), 6-0 Sr - 9.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 81-172 FG (.506), 27-63 3-point (.429), 53-66 FT (.803)

* IWU is a much deeper team in the frontcourt (the 3/4/5 spots).  Off the bench the Titans have 6-3 F Eric Dortch, 6-6 F Mike Mayberger, 6-9 C Nick Anderson, and 6-8 C Parker Musselman.   Wash U really just has 6-5 F Nick Burt.


Just a few initial thoughts about this great matchup.  Even though the game will be in St. Louis, I don't think IWU is really an underdog.  These are the two Division III teams I've watched online the most this season, by far, and I feel confident saying that this one is a straight-up "pick 'em."

The wait between early-round games this year is a killer.

[Titan Q]

Tweet from this morning...

D3hoops/Pat Coleman ‏@d3hoops
Got an email from a parent begging us not to move North Central game off campus and move the track meet instead. #notourjob #wearethemedia