MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Webster played tough, never quit and played 40 minutes.  You look at the stat sheet, cover up the points and Webster won that game on paper.  Credit goes to the Titans for not getting rattled tonight.  The Titans just found a way to win at the end.

More so than the whole depth thing, I think that it was IWU's experience that won the game. You can't put a price tag on a team made up of seniors and juniors that have had to play one big game after another against top-notch D3 competition over the past two or three years. I was thinking to myself in the game's last couple of minutes that this is probably the biggest thing that has ever happened to the Gorloks in their entire athletic lives, while it was, while certainly not "business as usual," at least something much closer to it for the Titans.

I saw the same thing with NCC in last season's tourney, and I've seen it in the past with other CCIW teams. Our league is a crucible that produces fine steel -- and there's no steel better than upperclassmen steel.

Oh, I'm not discounting at all the "Phew!" factor that comes from not having to deal with 3000+ hostile fans in DeVos tomorrow. I'm just saying that, if you're a Wheaton fan who thinks that the road ahead has been nicely snowplowed for your benefit by PSUB, you might be in for a nasty case of be-careful-what-you-wish-for tomorrow night.

And I will attest - there is a lot of snow to clear out You might just be able to hear the ball bounce tomorrow night.

One of the Hope announcers was candid enough to admit on the air that he was going to abandon his colleagues and head to Kenosha to catch the Hope @ Carthage women's game Saturday night!

[iwumichigander]

I'm just stunned at how passive IWU was tonight. The Titans settled for 22-footer after 22-footer, no matter what defense Webster was playing.

I agree.  Once up 18, the Titans just did not attack Webster's zone at all.  They just settled for 3-point shots. 

IWU got 4 huge free throws for their two captains.  Down 1 with 0:43 to play, Andrew Ziemnik went 2-2.  And of course down 1 with 0:09 to play, Dylan Overstreet went 2-2.

Webster was great tonight - the Gorloks have a ton of talent and just made some huge plays.

After the last two home games it will be interesting to see what the Titans do tomorrow night vs the #5 team in the country.

Agree on how passive the Titans were tonight as they needed to take the ball to the hoop.  Not going to win against St Norbert if the Titans do not take the ball and score in the paint - early and often.  Both Carroll (conference championship) and Ohio Wesleyan (tonight) had success when they took the ball to the hoop.  St Norbert just does not seem to defend tin he paint as well as it defends the perimeter.

[devildog29]

Amazing to me that Webster could out-rebound IWU.   Shouldn't happen.

Settling for so many loooooong shot attempts leads to long rebounds, which tends to negate a typical IWU advantage on the boards.

[Titan Q]

The On Demand of the IWU/Webster game is here - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#.

In terms of calls in the last couple of minutes, I suppose these will all come down to what lens you're looking through, but here are my thoughts...

* (1:53:40) Titans up 67-64 with 2:12 to play, IWU's Brady Zimmer drives to the basket and called for a charge.  Webster defender was not set for long, and one that could have gone either way.  Webster gets the call and the ball back.

* (1:54:25) Titans up 67-64 with 1:48 to play, Webster's Ahmad Smith misses a jumpshot and IWU PG Bryce Dolan is called for a foul on Hunter Ward.  I have watched this a few times and this call looked to be a big break for the Gorloks.  Hunter Ward makes 2 FTs.

* (1:57:20) Gorloks up 68-67 with 0:43 to play, IWU goes into Andrew Ziemnik in the low post and he draws contact from Jarrod Huskey, who is called for a foul.  Seems like a pretty straight forward call.  Ziemnik makes 2 FTs.

* (1:59:45) Titans up 69-68 with 0:29 to play, Webster's Ahmad Smith drives and draws contact from IWU's Victor Davis, who is called for a foul.  Seems like a pretty straight forward call.  Smith makes 2 FTs.

* (2:03:00) Gorkoks up 70-69 with 0:08 to play, IWU's Dylan Overstreet drives into the lane.  Webster's Adam Letter is whistled for a reaching in foul.  This one is hard to see on the video, but based on where Etter is when the call is made (on Overstreet's right hip, chasing, and reaching in), it looks like a foul. Almost simultaneously, Overstreet is contacted by Jarrod Huskey as he attempts to pass to Brady Zimmer on the right wing...Huskey is moving forward into Overstreet.  I feel pretty confident Dylan Overstreet was fouled on this play.  Overstreet makes both FTs.

* (2:04:40) Gorloks up 70-69 with 0:08 to play.  IWU's Dylan Overstreet makes 2 FTs.  On the in-bounds, Webster may have gotten away with a turnover.  Hunter Ward in-bounds to a player who is in-bounds heading back out-of-bounds.  He seems to catch it in the air in-bounds and land out-of-bounds.  I'm honestly not sure what the rules are on this.

* Immediately after above, Ahmad Smith rushes the ball up the floor, defending by Brady Zimmer.  Jarrod Huskey sets a screen about 30 feet from the basket.  Zimmer flares out to avoid Huskey, but then there is contact and Zimmer goes down.  I have watched this about 10 times and it seems to be Huskey initiates the contact with Zimmer with his left shoulder.  I think this was the right call whether 3 seconds into the game, or with 3 seconds to play.  I'm interested to hear what others see on this play - particularly those with no dog in the fight so to speak.

I don't think Webster got cheated by the officials in the final minutes of this game.  Some very close calls ended up going both ways.

(PS How bout the FT shooting by both teams down the stretch, in a win-or-go-home game?  Pretty impressive.)

[The Roop]

And in what should be a national semi-final. Ill Wesleyan faces St. Norbert in the second round. Thank you selection committee.

[Titan Q]

#6 Illinois Wesleyan (24-4, 12-2 CCIW) vs #5 St. Norbert (25-1, 18-0 MWC) - 7:00pm

Illinois Wesleyan (24-4, 12-2 CCIW)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Jr (10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Jr (9.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/205 Sr (7.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5/220 Sr (12.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Sr (11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Jr (10.9 ppg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/160 So (5.2 ppg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-4/210 Sr (4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
C - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 So (4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Sr (4.1 ppg)
C - Nick Anderson, 6-9/230 (3.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

St. Norbert (25-1, 18-0 MWC)
G - Andy Fox, 6-1/175 Sr (4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.5 apg)
G - Kam Cerroni, 6-1/185 Sr (16.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
G - Brandon Gries, 6-1/195 Sr (16.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
F - Izaiah Anderson, 6-5/210 So (6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
C - Garrett Thorn, 6-6/240 Sr (5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

F - Andrew Schwoerer, 6-4/215 Jr (16.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
G - Austin Elliot, 6-3/190 Jr (10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.8 apg)
C - Steven Hofacker, 6-8/235 Jr (4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg)



Live video/stats - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

WJBC radio - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

[USee]

I re-watched the video clips.  I though the calls on Ahmad smith and overstreet were consistent with the way the game was called.  Both were fouls to me.  The offensive call against Webster looks like a bad call.  I just don't see enough from Huskey to warrant the call.  He has his feet set and his arms inside his frame. That looks decidedly different than block call agains VD and the reach in/block by Etter/Huskey.  My two cents.

[Titan Q]

Here is what someone familiar with the MWC sent to me on St. Norbert...

----------
Pg Andy fox.  Game manager and very good defender. Teams in our league tried to help off of him and he is good enough to hurt you.  Solid as they come.

Sg Kami cerroni may be the best shooter I have seen at our level.  Going into MWC tourney was leading the country in 3 %. Leading scorer, transfer from green bay.

Sf- brandon fries scored over 1200 pts. May be the player of the year in our league.  Strong guard who can shoot and is one of the better rebounder in our league regardless of position.

Pf izaiah anderson long and athletic role guy who can really rebound and can score the jump hook with either hand.

C Garrett thorn big strong physical. Looks like a lumberjack.  Space eater.

What makes them so good is the two guys that come off the bench.  Austin Elliott and andrew schwoerer.  Elliott can play every guard spot.  He is the versatile 6'3 guard that every program is always looking for.  Schwoerer could easily be the player of the year in our league even tho he comes off the bench.  Can play the 3 for a big lineup or the four.  Excellent mid range shooter out to 19, and can post up effectively.  Shoots about 60% from the floor.  They have two other bigs they can use off the bench to provide depth.  And they DEFEND.

I think st. Norbert has been used to having a size and strength advantage in our league and they won't have that against IWU. But norbert's strength is definitely their guards, so the IWU back court vs snc guards will be the most interesting to me.  Norbert's two true centers won't be able to play Vic Davis on the perimeter.  They are true low post guys (thorn and hofacker off the bench).  It will be interesting to see the combinations they put on the floor.  I would give IWU an edge, but not a large one.  Norbert's only loss was by 10 on the road at whitewater early in the year.

[USee]

Q missed part of the lineup I have amended below.

G - Andy "crazy like a" Fox, 6-1/175 Sr (4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.5 apg)
G - Brandon "Roy" Gries, 6-1/195 Sr (16.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
G - Kam "My" Cerroni, 6-1/185 Sr (16.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
F - Izaiah "Birdman" Anderson, 6-5/210 So (6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
C - Garrett "Rod" Thorn, 6-6/240 Sr (5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

F - Andrew "Jackson" Schwoerer, 6-4/215 Jr (16.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
G - Austin "Billy" Elliot, 6-3/190 Jr (10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.8 apg)
C - Steven "A. Smith" Hofacker, 6-8/235 Jr (4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

[iwumichigander]

The On Demand of the IWU/Webster game is here - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#.

In terms of calls in the last couple of minutes, I suppose these will all come down to what lens you're looking through, but here are my thoughts...
* Immediately after above, Ahmad Smith rushes the ball up the floor, defending by Brady Zimmer.  Jarrod Huskey sets a screen about 30 feet from the basket.  Zimmer flares out to avoid Huskey, but then there is contact and Zimmer goes down.  I have watched this about 10 times and it seems to be Huskey initiates the contact with Zimmer with his left shoulder.  I think this was the right call whether 3 seconds into the game, or with 3 seconds to play.  I'm interested to hear what others see on this play - particularly those with no dog in the fight so to speak.

I don't think Webster got cheated by the officials in the final minutes of this game.  Some very close calls ended up going both ways.

(PS How bout the FT shooting by both teams down the stretch, in a win-or-go-home game?  Pretty impressive.)

Qualifier - I do have a dog in the fight.  1) On the inbounds play which happened in front of me, I think the rule is - Player A inbounding can give/pass to another Player B who comes out of bounds to take the ball (and inbound) but the receiving player has to be out of bounds.  Player B has to come all the way off the court; i.e. both feet out of bounds.  If not, the effect is Player B receives an inbound pass and then steps out of bounds.  In this case, it sure looked to me like Player B had not gotten all the way out of bounds. 
The official did not see it that way and you live with that.
2) Immediately after, I thought Webster rushed the play a little bit maybe trying to get off a shot with a chance to rebound a miss.  But as a result, the screen had to be attempted to soon and it did not look like the screener got set.  I think if the play had developed with the screen set just inside the arc Webster might have pulled it off.

[Titan Q]

Here is that Webster in-bounds after the Overstreet FTs...

[oldknight]

* (1:59:45) Titans up 69-68 with 0:29 to play, Webster's Ahmad Smith drives and draws contact from IWU's Victor Davis, who is called for a foul.  Seems like a pretty straight forward call.  Smith makes 2 FTs.

* (2:03:00) Gorkoks up 70-69 with 0:08 to play, IWU's Dylan Overstreet drives into the lane.  Webster's Adam Letter is whistled for a reaching in foul.  This one is hard to see on the video, but based on where Etter is when the call is made (on Overstreet's right hip, chasing, and reaching in), it looks like a foul. Almost simultaneously, Overstreet is contacted by Jarrod Huskey as he attempts to pass to Brady Zimmer on the right wing...Huskey is moving forward into Overstreet.  I feel pretty confident Dylan Overstreet was fouled on this play.  Overstreet makes both FTs.

* (2:04:40) Gorloks up 70-69 with 0:08 to play.  IWU's Dylan Overstreet makes 2 FTs.  On the in-bounds, Webster may have gotten away with a turnover.  Hunter Ward in-bounds to a player who is in-bounds heading back out-of-bounds.  He seems to catch it in the air in-bounds and land out-of-bounds.  I'm honestly not sure what the rules are on this.

* Immediately after above, Ahmad Smith rushes the ball up the floor, defending by Brady Zimmer.  Jarrod Huskey sets a screen about 30 feet from the basket.  Zimmer flares out to avoid Huskey, but then there is contact and Zimmer goes down.  I have watched this about 10 times and it seems to be Huskey initiates the contact with Zimmer with his left shoulder.  I think this was the right call whether 3 seconds into the game, or with 3 seconds to play. I'm interested to hear what others see on this play - particularly those with no dog in the fight so to speak.

I don't think Webster got cheated by the officials in the final minutes of this game.  Some very close calls ended up going both ways.

(PS How bout the FT shooting by both teams down the stretch, in a win-or-go-home game?  Pretty impressive.)

I fit in the category of having no dog in the fight (other than I think it's fun to see a major upset) so here's my take after watching the last 30 seconds three times. Taking the above in order I see them as follows:

--The blocking call on Victor Davis that led to Webster's go-ahead free throws was a tough call. It could have been a no-call and I think the ref should have let it go.

--The call that led to Overstreet's winning free throws was made based on the ref's view of Etter's reach-in. Since "reach-in" is not a violation, it depends on whether Etter illegally contacted Overstreet's forearm or wrist in order to dig out the ball. Overstreet would know so if you ever run in to Dylan, ask him. It's a tough call to make at that point in the game but if it happened at the 8 minute mark, no one would be talking about it. The replay is not conclusive.

--I'm not certain about my answer on the inbounds play. Technically, it's a turnover but I also know that officials seem to typically interpret it in such a way that if the first player to grab the ball after a made basket or FT was not trying to inbound it (only handing it to the player who is supposed to inbound it) then it's a judgment call by the official. If that speculation is correct, the first "pass" really wasn't a pass and can be ignored. One of my closest friends is a high school and college ref and I'll see him at church tomorrow and find out how that is ruled.

--The illegal screen call is a mystery to me. Huskey may have moved an inch or two left but after watching that particular play several times it's obvious that Zimmer got laid out because he didn't see Huskey. I would have let play continue. Was the official swayed by ignoring the potential inbounds violation seconds before? Only he knows for sure.

In summary, every game contains it's share of tough breaks and you have to overcome them in order to win. As a player, all you can do is try and control the aspects of the game over which you have some control. I didn't watch the other 39:30 of the game so if the calls evened out all that Webster can say is "We didn't make all the plays we needed to in order to spring the upset." I wouldn't say that IWU should be embarrassed to take the win.

[sac]

In bounds play was the very edge of 'benefit of the doubt' to the players.  The moving screen was just terrible.

[John Gleich]

Great win for Augie at Whitewater!

Vikings shot extremely well (69%) and played great defense again.  St Thomas was very, very good

Would take a FG% of only 60% tomorrow night against the Warhawks.  Should be a great matchup!

Congrats Thunder and Titans on great wins!

Whitewater is an excellent defensive team. I would be shocked if Augie can even achieve 50% shooting... and if they do, they'll give themselves a great chance to win.

One thing that Whitewater will do is make you pay for turnovers. They're incredibly quick across the board, though they are missing their backup point guard, who got injured in the La Crosse WIAC tournament Semi Final (not sure if he's slated to be back before the season ends, but it's doubtful).

In the four games Whitewater lost:

1. Stout lulled them into a boxing match. It was an incredibly ugly, physical game and neither team shot very well. **This may be Augie's best chance of slowing Whitewater down and beating them **
2. UWSP used a 22-0 first half run to separate themselves and then held Whitewater at arms length the rest of the game.
3. La Crosse hit 15 3's
4. UWSP held Whitewater to 14 in the first half in a tremendous defensive effort. UWW completely lost their composure and the second half was very physical and ugly... but Whitewater got no closer than 17.

[AppletonRocks]

SNC a prohibitive favorite.