MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[A Lover of the Game]

Dylan Overstreet was the MAN tonight, with 18 points and masterful ball-handling.

Yes, he was!!

[shepherd]

The Wheaton announcer said that if Wheaton wins next Sat vs IWU they will host due to the tiebreaker going to both teams record against Augustana college since both teams are 1-1 vs Cartage.  Wheaton being 2-0 and IWU being 1-1 vs Augustana.
So basically if he was right whoever wins next Saturday at Wheaton host.
Go Thunder!

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Wheaton announcer said that if Wheaton wins next Sat vs IWU the will host due to the tiebreaker going to both teams record against Augustana college since both teams are 1-1 vs Cartage.  Wheaton being 2-0 and IWU being 1-1.
So basically if he was right whoever wins next Saturday at Wheaton host.
Go Thunder!

Alas, I'm pretty sure your announcer was correct.

[Titan Q]

IWU 80
Carthage 66

http://athletics.carthage.edu/custompages/Men's%20Basketball/2014%20Stats/iwu2.htm

* Dylan Overstreet: 18 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists
* Victor Davis: 16 pts, 8 reb
* Pat Sodemann: 11 pts

* Malcom Kelly: 25 pts, 4 reb
* Reese Herth: 15 pts, 6 reb
* Donte Logan: 13 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists


A few thoughts on this evening...

* Dylan Overstreet is an outstanding point guard.  He was a CCIW 1st teamer last year as a sophomore, and in a crowded 1st Team picture in 2013-14, I think he has a good chance to make it again.  He just does so many things well.

* Victor Davis was a man tonight.  He played like a senior - made big plays on both ends.  I am impressed with Victor's transformation at the FT line this year.  He was a 71% FT shooter last year...now 83% this year. 

* The CCIW has to figure out how it wants games officiated and then have officials calls the games that way.  The inconsistency in the whistle from game to game is disappointing and, quite frankly, embarrassing.  When these same two teams met in Kenosha, it was a wrestling match - there were 30 fouls called, and I think many of those were late in the game when IWU had to foul.  Tonight there were 54 fouls called.  There were 8 1st half fouls in Kenosha...23 tonight.  Same two teams, essentially playing the same way.  I have no idea how the coaches and players can figure out how they should play each night out as it is - it's crazy.

* Awesome Senior Night night crowd at IWU (2450) - from the video stream, it seemed like a great atmosphere tonight at the Shirk Center.

* After winning by a score of 80-68 in back-to-back games, and Massey predicting 80-68 tonight, IWU won 80-66.

[Titan Q]

In order to host the CCIW conference tournament, IWU still has to win @ Wheaton.  But the result in Naperville was big tonight for the Titans in that if IWU beats North Park at the Shirk Center Wednesday, it guarantees the Titans at least a share of the CCIW championship.  And CCIW titles are really significant - that is the #1 goal of every season.

 

[Titan Q]

Tip of the hat to IWU head coach Ron Rose, who has now won 20 games in 5 consecutive seasons...starting with the season his first recruits were juniors.  He is the only CCIW head coach who has accomplished that, and he has the most CCIW wins of any head coach in the league in the last 5 years.

Rose has done a great job at IWU.

[iwu70]

My kudos and thanks to Coach Rose -- he's done a great job.  And to his staff, other coaches, trainers, grad assistants, too.  Another 20 win season and perhaps another deep run into March.  We'll see.  And, he has good players in the pipeline so things look really good, really strong for the next 2-3 years too. Congrats to this big group of six seniors.   

Should be a great showdown at King.  Hope the Titans handle NPU at home, get to a share of the CCIW crown before heading for Wheaton next weekend.

(Excuse the incorrect posting, but the Titan women had a huge win tonight too over previously undefeated CC, knocking off the nationally ranked #9 Redpeople, and doing it in style for Senior Night.  Congrats to Coach Smith and the Titans on that big win).

Brady Zimmer and Nick Anderson gave some good spark, good contributions off the bench tonight at key moments.   All the seniors, all the squad contributing, with Ron Rose going back to the 11 player rotation, with Mayberger getting the start, in place earlier of Marietti.

IWU70

[thunder38]

Hats off to the Cardinals who made all the big plays in tonight's game. They certainly played with more urgency than the Thunder did, as you can expect for a team trying to send their seniors off with a W as the Cardinals were. After the blitzkrieg Wheaton placed on North Central in the opening couple of minutes, the Cardinals were able to get the tempo to their liking and hit big shot after big shot down the stretch capped by Vince Kmiec's dagger from the top of the key. Wheaton saw the Hangar turn into the Naperville House of Horrors again as North Central erased a six-point Thunder lead in the middle of the second half with Gamble and Burchett and on the bench with four fouls apiece. Cap tip to the Cardinals seniors, who got to wrap up their illustrious careers with a W in their final home game.

Also hats off to Kenny Faulkner who truly was the star of tonight's festivities. All the Gregory Arena renovations looked great and really provided Kenny with a grand stage. Sure was mighty convenient of the Thunder and Cardinals to show up and provide a little side entertainment to accompany the main show.

I say this not at all because Wheaton lost (they certainly deserved to) but because this game got away from the officials early and was over their heads from the beginning. Wheaton-North Central is always a dogfight and it was instead called at times like a ballet recital and at other times like a cage match. Much of the game was hard to figure out what was and what wasn't a foul. With a terrific basketball game going on, we had to see Landon Gamble, Jack Burchett, Brandon Williams, Nate Haynes, Tyler Peters, and more miss significant minutes in both halves due to foul trouble.

It was always going to be winner stays home next Saturday night when the Titans invade King Arena but now Wheaton is playing for their postseason lives as well. Another loss next Saturday not only costs the Thunder the opportunity to host the CCIW Tournament but also likely forces them to win the CCIW Tournament in order to get to the NCAA Tournament. Tonight's loss puts the Thunder right back on the bubble. Wheaton loses at home next Saturday, and despite the talent in the league this year, the CCIW could end up being a one-bid league.

[AppletonRocks]

I am looking forward to attending the CCIW tournament at Wheaton.  Closer to home.   

[Titan Q]

Last night Ron Rose became the second head coach in the 68-year history of CCIW men's basketball to win 20 games in 5 straight years. The other was Augustana's Jim Borcherding who had seven consecutive 20-win seasons from 1970-71 to 1976-77.

Three coaches had four straight 20-win seasons:
- Lee Pfund (Wheaton) - 1955-56 to 1958-59
- Dennie Bridges (IWU) - 1994-95 to 1997-98
- Scott Trost (IWU) - 2002-03 to 2005-06


Rose has IWU in the company of the great current-day Division III programs - like UW-Stevens Point, Wooster, St. Thomas, Amherst, Williams, Randolph-Macon, Virginia Wesleyan, Wash U, Whitworth and others - because of his  relentless recruiting and ability to reload, and not rebuild.  I really appreciate where he has the program.

[Titan Q]

Also hats off to Kenny Faulkner who truly was the star of tonight's festivities. All the Gregory Arena renovations looked great and really provided Kenny with a grand stage. Sure was mighty convenient of the Thunder and Cardinals to show up and provide a little side entertainment to accompany the main show.

I say this not at all because Wheaton lost (they certainly deserved to) but because this game got away from the officials early and was over their heads from the beginning. Wheaton-North Central is always a dogfight and it was instead called at times like a ballet recital and at other times like a cage match. Much of the game was hard to figure out what was and what wasn't a foul. With a terrific basketball game going on, we had to see Landon Gamble, Jack Burchett, Brandon Williams, Nate Haynes, Tyler Peters, and more miss significant minutes in both halves due to foul trouble.

The CCIW needs to get the officiating situation in order.  It's not in a good place right now.

[toooldtohoop]

Tough night for Wheaton.  Only positive was the upgraded seating!  What a difference.

But that's where the hospitality ended.  NCC played tough, and the Thunder missed all kinds of chances to put the game away, and ultimately allowed NCC to recapture the lead and hold on.  Two amazing threes by Kmiec, the last one certainly a "dagger" and as good a catch and shoot as you will ever see.

I agree with the above comments on the officiating.  There was inconsistency throughout this game.  Sure hope the powers that be can figure something out.

Gonna go lick my wounds and prepare for the Green invasion of King on Saturday.

[bopol]

Regional Rankings will be a hoot this week.

Midwest:
* Will Wheaton (#3 MW) get passed by Augie (#4 MW)?  I don't think so, but an argument could be made.  The IWU game is looming large because it'd be a real challenge for Wheaton to get a Pool C with 9 losses.

* Will Carthage (#6 MW) still be ranked?  I think so, but they'll be behind Rose Holman (#7 MW).  Carthage is better than every other potentially ranked team in the MW that could pass them (beside RH).

Great Lakes:

* In other regions, Wittenburg (GL #5)  lost twice this week and now has 6 losses in D3.  They'll probably still be ranked, but the CCIW teams compare better with them than they did a week ago.  Wilmington (GL) isn't ranked, but could be and IWU beat them.

* Calvin (GL) is not ranked, but keeps winning.  Their SOS is pretty awful.  Of course, Carthage and Wheaton played Calvin, so that's a potential RRO game for both.

North East:

* Middlebury (NE #12) is playing Amherst (NE #1) today and a loss would give them an 8th loss.  Would they still be ranked regionally?  If not, that'll take away an RRO game away from the Big 3 in NESCAC.

* Springfield (NE #7) got dropped by Babson (NE#4) giving them a 6th D3 loss. 

South:

* In the South, Virginia Wesleyan (S #3)  took a 6th D3 loss this week and Guilford (S #5) took a 7th D3 loss this week.  I wouldn't be surprised if both get passed by Emory (S #6), who has 7 D3 losses, but has played a killer schedule.  I think Emory will be a likely Pool C candidate if they keep winning.

* Concordia (TX) (S #8) lost twice this week and probably will drop out.

East:

* Genesco (#2 E) lost to Brockport (#1 E) and NYU (#4 E) lost to Wash U (#1 MW), so I doubt that'll cause any ratings shift.  Likely, 2 of the top 3 SUNY AC teams will earn Pool C with the other earning a Pool A.  NYU has three road games left (including Emory (S #6) and has 6 D3 losses.  The Emory game has huge Pool C implications.

Atlantic:

* Nothing of interest happening. 

West:

* St Olaf (#5 W) lost to St Thomas (#3 W).  I think St. Olaf remains a strong Pool C candidate.

* Dubuque (#4 W) lost twice and will likely fall significantly.  This can affect Carthage as Dubuque is an RRO loss for them.

* Pomona (#7 W) lost to Chapman.  I'm having trouble seeing them as a strong Pool C anyway, but it may let UW-LAX slip into the regional rankings, which would help Augie.

Mid-Atlantic:

* Mary Washington (#5 MA) got dropped twice this week by Wesley (#3 MA) and Christopher Newport (MA unranked).  MW has 5 D3 losses now; Chris Newport could end up ranked this week (I'm a little surprised they aren't) but has 7 D3 losses..

* Alvernia (#8 MA) lost and with 7 D3 losses, could drop out.

* Hood (#9 MA) lost and has 6 D3 losses.  They also could drop out.

* McDaniel (#10 MA) lost to Dickenson (#6 MA), but with the other losses being worse, I think they'll stick for now.  They have just 5 D3 losses, but it isn't a very impressive schedule.


General thoughts: There are going to be a lot of 7 and 8 loss teams on the Table in Pool C this year the way this is shaping up.

[veterancciwfan]

NCC shoots 65% from floor and 63% on 3s (5/8). Basketball is a simple game. Find shooters and outscore your opponent. It's one of the reasons I much prefer D3 b'ball to D1 (Illinois scored 39 tonight). What ever happened to the blackball rule for CCIW refs? Ken Falkner was a victim of that in the past. Can't believe he is still allowed to ref CCIW games. Regarding Ron Rose, he recruits well and his game preparation is amazingly thorough. And the players love to play for him. He may be the only NCAA coach at all levels with an actuary certification. Think the CPA exam is difficult? Try passing the actuary exam. Bad  news for the day: Wash. U. wins by 4 at NYU.

[carthage guy]

If IWU has home games in the NCAA they are going to be very difficult to beat....the biggest difference between them and everyone else in the league is great depth... They move guys in and out with no real drop off. 

I also agree with the officiating in the league being just terrible...  they need younger blood, new blood.  somebody inform ken marchiarka.

Carthage played ok last night but just arent a championship team.  Malcom is a great individual scorer but holds the ball.  They have no, i mean no inside game to speak of and Marlon Senior has to play well to give them some inside scoring.  Mike Kastel defends and rebounds above average but must improve his offensive game for next year.  Bosko has done a good job with this group.  Maybe they get hot!!! for CCIW tourney, when they shoot wel they can beat any team in div. 3.

Is the pool C sit;uation really that bleak in cciw.  I really think all 4 could get in.