MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think Klimek and Burnett should have been prohibited from shooting from outside.  That three point attempt was one of several bad decisions down the stretch.

Am I the only one who read this quote and at first thought it was a joke about the IWU student announcers pronouncing North Central players names again?    Who would have though that there was a Burnett and Klimek on WashU and also a Burnett (Jack Burchett) and Klimek (Vince Kmiec) on North Central... but of course the latter pair only plays in the Shirk Center. 

Actually, the earlier pair have both played at the Shirk.  And the latter pair will be playing at the Hangar (alas ).  I'd love for the latter pair to be playing at the Shirk!

After all, we went 13-1; you went 11-3.  Alas, conference record means diddly in NCAA seeding.

[SevenTen]

I think Klimek and Burnett should have been prohibited from shooting from outside.  That three point attempt was one of several bad decisions down the stretch.

Am I the only one who read this quote and at first thought it was a joke about the IWU student announcers pronouncing North Central players names again?    Who would have though that there was a Burnett and Klimek on WashU and also a Burnett (Jack Burchett) and Klimek (Vince Kmiec) on North Central... but of course the latter pair only plays in the Shirk Center. 

Actually, the earlier pair have both played at the Shirk.  And the latter pair will be playing at the Hangar (alas ).  I'd love for the latter pair to be playing at the Shirk!

Well if IWU brought their announcers along then the latter pair could be sighted in the Hangar as well... but I'm guessing we'll just have to settle for Burchett and Kmiec in this game. 

[SevenTen]

ANDONE, any idea what caused the "near fight" in the final seconds of the game last night?  I didn't see it.  Thankfully two officials and teammates from both schools kept it from getting ugly.

I only caught the final seven minutes or so of the game at Benedictine last night.  That the score was still in the 40s with six minutes left was not a surprise.  It didn't seem like any of the points came easily for either team.

- My favorite moment came in the waning seconds.  Whitewater missed a potential game-tying three (which was  shot early in the sequence and probably was not the best look they were going to get), and Jack Burchett (in on defense lest Gamble pick up his fifth) grabbed the board with :06 left.  He had the presence of mind to quickly hot-potato the ball to Derek Raridon before Whitewater could foul him.  We all know that free throws are sort of an Adventures with Jack experience, and there was a very real chance that had he been fouled, Whitewater would have gotten a second shot at the game-tying three.  Instead, Raridon hit the back end of his two shots to seal the win.

Kiko's observation leads to the answer to Naperick's question. I realize others may have a different view of the situation, but the play occurred only about 5 feet in front of me.

Rory Cotter had been inserted into the game with only 17 seconds remaining when Eric Bryson fouled out.
Given that the stat sheet indicated he had only played 22 minutes all season, it seemed an odd choice. The reasoning among the other fans I was sitting with was that either Coach Miller subbed him in due to his being a senior possibly playing his last game or that he entered the fray to deliver a (hard?) foul. UWW trailed by 3 at the time.
With 6 seconds left, Darnell Harris missed a three attempt to tie. NCC's Jack Burchett tracked down the long rebound just in bounds, free throw line extended left. Cotter charged hard at Burchett who flicked the ball to the nearby Derek Raridon as Kiko advised. The ball was just out of Burchett's hands when Cotter hit Burchett in the chest with both palms. Raridon caught the short pass a fraction of a second before Burchett was hit, and Derek was immediately fouled. However, Burchett took exception to the blow to the chest and said something to Cotter, who then gave Jack another little shove. A stare down resulted, and it was at that point when the principals were separated by other players from both teams. 

In defense of Rory, it turns out I was sitting right behind his incredibly nice parents. I found that out when I said out loud "who the heck is this" coming off the bench for the first time in the game - in such a crucial time. His parents explained he is a dead eye three point shooter.  If the first shot hadn't been rushed, I think Rory was the second option to take the shot.
I'm sure the hard foul was nothing more than sadness and frustration mixed together.

I can fully understand that the initial blow delivered with outstretched arms was an attempt to foul Burchett before he could get rid of the ball. The 2nd contact, to which Jack took more exception, very well could have been that mixture of sadness and frustration to which you refer. I didn't mean to imply Mr, Cotter is a dirty player. Heat of the moment thing.

I just went back and watched the play (the game is archived here): http://new.livestream.com/accounts/3095812/events/1915746/archives

It looks like Cotter actually fouled and then did the two handed shove on Raridon... which Jack didn't like.  The camera cuts away before you can see the posturing.

[AndOne]

It will be interesting to see what NCC does with its floor level seating for Round 3. Will NCC be able to limit the really good seats to NCC alums (other than the end zone seats) as they did in the regular season? Or will IWU be given half of those seats? And who makes the decision, NCC, as the host school, or the NCAA? I have a suggestion. Get rid of the risers and chairs and install some aluminum bleachers with 10-15 rows on the balcony side and divide them up 50/50 to each school. I bet NCC could sell 3500 tickets for the game if capacity was not an issue. NCC has a great b'ball program and Todd Raridon is a class act and one of the best D3 coaches in the country. Too bad he can't convince the NCC administration that it's time to build a new fieldhouse.

God man, call 911 quick! Someone has slipped some mushrooms into your green Kool-Aid. 

Giving half the prime floor seats to the opposition is only going to happen in a galaxy far, far away.
Imagine the ire of NCC boosters, who have paid for those seats, the players parents, and former players who might arrive to find their seats occupied by opposing fans. Ain't gonna happen.
Your question reminds me of the same inquiry made by Tim McCrary's dad during the 2012 CCIW Conference Tourney. Ask Wheaton fans Petemcb and 74 Impala, who both appreciated my answer, what my response was at that time.

With regard to 10-15 rows of bleachers on the north side where the risers and folding chairs now make their domicile, my one question is, Do YOU want to pay for them?

NCC used the last bucket of money it accumulated to build the state of the art Res/REC Center just east of the fieldhouse. This is the facility where the D3 National Indoor Track & Field Championships were held this past weekend. I believe the benefactors who donated the largest sum(s) of money earmarked those funds specifically to go towrd construction of the Res/Rec Center. The next time NCC fills its treasure chest, the funds will almost certainly be used to construct a new science building. A new fieldhouse is, at best, number 2 on the list of future projects. Neither Todd Raridon nor anyone else is going to change the administration's view on this subject. Besides, why fix what works? 

However, it does appear that the Hangar might receive some upgrades as early as next season. At or near the top of the list is permanent seating on the north side across from the team benches, and possibly under the baskets on both ends. These would be seats with backs and armrests. Preliminary discussions have evidently been initiated with the firms who completed work on several arenas with which we are all familiar. Of course, once any plans have been formalized, one must obtain the thousand or so permits the visionaries on the Naperville City Council seem to demand on any worthwhile project.

[WUPHF]

Last night I forgot to mention the crowd -- it was way bigger than I expected (listed at 1711, which sounds legit).  And it was a charged up/electric atmosphere in there.

Wash U partisans will have to check me on this, but I think it's fair to say the gym was 50/50?  That means IWU had somewhere in the neighborhood of 850+ on the road.  What a showing by IWU fans.

Partisan is my middle name.  The gym was a sea of green, but at least half of the fans were cheering for Illinois Wesleyan and probably more.  And, the atmosphere was indeed electric.  Everyone was ticketed, so that number must be very close.

I loved the little stand-off between the shirtless Washington University fan and the leprechaun (or whatever).  One clearly wanted a dance off, but the other was content to point at the significant margin on the scoreboard.

As far as Klimek is concerned, I could not agree more.  That is why I lazily suggested that Klimek was the primary factor.  I thought if Klimek got to 19-20, the Bears would win it.  But, in that equation, I gave Palucki his season average.  He finished with a big goose egg.  And, I would have preferred to have Hoener shooting more than Aboona, especially at the very end. 

[kiko]

The other consideration in regards to facilities at North Central is that there is a new sheriff in town.  With Troy Hammond taking over as president late last year following the retirement of Hal Wilde, it is entirely possible that the college's facilities improvement priorities may look different going forward.  He will certainly have his own ideas and priorities.

The science center has been publicly stated as Priority #1, and is no small undertaking.  (Note - it is also badly needed.)  But anything beyond that could certainly change in the coming months as the new chief settles in.

[WUPHF]

The other consideration in regards to facilities at North Central is that there is a new sheriff in town.  With Troy Hammond taking over as president late last year following the retirement of Hal Wilde, it is entirely possible that the college's facilities improvement priorities may look different going forward.  He will certainly have his own ideas and priorities.

The higher education building boom is largely over.  Chances are good that the only way North Central gets a new gym in the near future is if OfficeMax or some other company comes in wanting to fund an athletics-specific building. 

[kiko]

Maybe, but North Central has been pretty slow-and-steady in its campus improvements in recent years (thanks in no small part to some very prominent alumni who are builders/developers by trade).

It's been a really impressive string of new facilities, both academic and athletic.

[nccfac]

At NCC, discussion about buildings that the College needs following the new Science Building have included a new student center, another resident hall, new academic buildings (business)  but nothing about a new gymnasium. I think Merner Hall might get some changes, but the college's Master Plan filed with the City of Naperville can be seen at http://northcentralcollege.edu/Documents/business_office/MASTER_LAND_USE_PLAN.pdf and no new gym is on slate upto 2020.

[Pat Coleman]

It will be interesting to see what NCC does with its floor level seating for Round 3. Will NCC be able to limit the really good seats to NCC alums (other than the end zone seats) as they did in the regular season? Or will IWU be given half of those seats? And who makes the decision, NCC, as the host school, or the NCAA? I have a suggestion. Get rid of the risers and chairs and install some aluminum bleachers with 10-15 rows on the balcony side and divide them up 50/50 to each school. I bet NCC could sell 3500 tickets for the game if capacity was not an issue. NCC has a great b'ball program and Todd Raridon is a class act and one of the best D3 coaches in the country. Too bad he can't convince the NCC administration that it's time to build a new fieldhouse.

God man, call 911 quick! Someone has slipped some mushrooms into your green Kool-Aid. 

Giving half the prime floor seats to the opposition is only going to happen in a galaxy far, far away.
Imagine the ire of NCC boosters, who have paid for those seats, the players parents, and former players who might arrive to find their seats occupied by opposing fans. Ain't gonna happen.
Your question reminds me of the same inquiry made by Tim McCrary's dad during the 2012 CCIW Conference Tourney. Ask Wheaton fans Petemcb and 74 Impala, who both appreciated my answer, what my response was at that time.

The NCAA runs this show, however, not the CCIW or North Central. Centre may not have needed a whole lot of seats but if the seating isn't equitable, there is chapter and verse within the championship handbook for IWU to challenge with.

[iwu70]

Thanks Pat.

Given how well the Titan nation travels, I hope there's a huge sea of green at NCC this weekend.  Big big game and I'm sure a big turnout is possible from B/N and also from the Titan faithful in the Chicago/Naperville area.  Place should be absolutely packed. 

Good luck to the Titans this weekend . . . keep it Rolling, Green.  CCIW bragging rights on the line ... perhaps as good as a national title this year. 

Really too bad that these two teams didn't have a way to get further in the tournament before meeting -- same for Wash U and WI-WW.  "Bracket of Death" continues, and only one can live on . . to fight another day. 

Keys for the game on Saturday, anyone?  Some great match-ups coming up.  Anyone have a view on who Dortch will be guarding this weekend?

IWU70

[SevenTen]

It will be interesting to see what NCC does with its floor level seating for Round 3. Will NCC be able to limit the really good seats to NCC alums (other than the end zone seats) as they did in the regular season? Or will IWU be given half of those seats? And who makes the decision, NCC, as the host school, or the NCAA? I have a suggestion. Get rid of the risers and chairs and install some aluminum bleachers with 10-15 rows on the balcony side and divide them up 50/50 to each school. I bet NCC could sell 3500 tickets for the game if capacity was not an issue. NCC has a great b'ball program and Todd Raridon is a class act and one of the best D3 coaches in the country. Too bad he can't convince the NCC administration that it's time to build a new fieldhouse.

God man, call 911 quick! Someone has slipped some mushrooms into your green Kool-Aid. 

Giving half the prime floor seats to the opposition is only going to happen in a galaxy far, far away.
Imagine the ire of NCC boosters, who have paid for those seats, the players parents, and former players who might arrive to find their seats occupied by opposing fans. Ain't gonna happen.
Your question reminds me of the same inquiry made by Tim McCrary's dad during the 2012 CCIW Conference Tourney. Ask Wheaton fans Petemcb and 74 Impala, who both appreciated my answer, what my response was at that time.

The NCAA runs this show, however, not the CCIW or North Central. Centre may not have needed a whole lot of seats but if the seating isn't equitable, there is chapter and verse within the championship handbook for IWU to challenge with.

Do they keep that manual on lock down?  It doesn't seem to be available online.  I wonder what other interesting tidbits are in there as well?  Anything about having that good butter for the popcorn and not the fake crappy stuff? 

[Titan Q]

It will be interesting to see what NCC does with its floor level seating for Round 3. Will NCC be able to limit the really good seats to NCC alums (other than the end zone seats) as they did in the regular season? Or will IWU be given half of those seats? And who makes the decision, NCC, as the host school, or the NCAA? I have a suggestion. Get rid of the risers and chairs and install some aluminum bleachers with 10-15 rows on the balcony side and divide them up 50/50 to each school. I bet NCC could sell 3500 tickets for the game if capacity was not an issue. NCC has a great b'ball program and Todd Raridon is a class act and one of the best D3 coaches in the country. Too bad he can't convince the NCC administration that it's time to build a new fieldhouse.

God man, call 911 quick! Someone has slipped some mushrooms into your green Kool-Aid. 

Giving half the prime floor seats to the opposition is only going to happen in a galaxy far, far away.
Imagine the ire of NCC boosters, who have paid for those seats, the players parents, and former players who might arrive to find their seats occupied by opposing fans. Ain't gonna happen.
Your question reminds me of the same inquiry made by Tim McCrary's dad during the 2012 CCIW Conference Tourney. Ask Wheaton fans Petemcb and 74 Impala, who both appreciated my answer, what my response was at that time.

The NCAA runs this show, however, not the CCIW or North Central. Centre may not have needed a whole lot of seats but if the seating isn't equitable, there is chapter and verse within the championship handbook for IWU to challenge with.

Pat (or anyone else), do you know what % of NCC's gym IWU is entitled to in this one-game scenario? 

And does anyone know what the official seating capacity is at Gregory Arena for NCAA purposes?

[havej]

AndOne - regarding NCC's tenacious defense against the Warhawks, how much zone did they play?

[SevenTen]

...regarding NCC's tenacious defense against the Warhawks, how much zone did they play?

Whitewater took their largest lead of the second half, 46-41 with about 8:00 left on the clock.  Gamble was already on the bench with 4 fouls and it looked like the game was a possession or two away from being the end of the season for NCC.  Instead Derick Raridon worked his way to the line for 4 straight free throws and NCC fell back into a zone around the 7:30 mark and didn't really come out of it for the rest of the game.

The zone really wasn't all that effective at stopping the Warhawk's possessions in its entirety.  They went 6 of 12 including a couple of big threes by Harris for the final 7:30 BUT it did do three important things:

1) It took the Warhawks a few possessions to figure out how to attack it.  This gave NCC the opportunity to get back in the game and close the gap at 48-48.  (UWW settled for 3 or 4 long range jumpers in their first possessions after NCC went zone).

2) It took a lot of pressure off the dribble drive penetration and off of Gamble and Tiknis from having to try to fight through screens and guard Harris out at the 3pt line (where they were picking up a bunch of their fouls pushing through screens).  UWW had been getting to the free throw line pretty regularly before the zone and afterwards, they didn't see the charity strip again in the final 7 minutes.

3) It limited the number of possessions left in the game.  With significant foul trouble, you want longer possessions and the Cardinals are normally very efficient in the half court (They went 5 for 5 from the floor in the final 7:30 and 9 of 12 from the line).  Instead of the dribble drive and FTs or layups after 10 seconds... it became a bunch of 25 to 30 second possessions which played into North Centrals hands.

All in all it was just the tweak needed to stem the tide, throw UWW off their game for a few possessions, and get the crowd back into it for the final few minutes.