MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwumichigander]

Even with the issues caused by Spring break, students being gone, I'd expect Calvin and Wheaton (perhaps Dickinson, too -- who knows?) to travel well and provide good crowds at Shirk this weekend.  Of course, if the Titans advance, there will be a sell-out or near sell-out on Saturday night for the championship game.  Calvin will be a tough out for the Titans, but I do expect another IWU-WC game for the berth in Salem. 

Mark, your loyalty to NPU is commendable, to say the least, -- seems NPU's football program has a much better potential, opportunity for breaking into the top four than the basketball program, Juwan Henry notwithstanding.  IMHO.

My prediction for this weekend -- IWU over Calvin by 3, WC over Dickinson by 12.

Some really great games on tap in so many of the sectionals around the country -- men and women.  Carthage women have a great challenge playing defending national champs DePauw on their home floor.

Go CCIW!  GO TITANS!

IWU70

Wheaton is also on spring break this week I think.

so is Dickinson.  Attendance from this past weekend for Calvin 200 Friday, 476 Saturday.  Calvin attendance down this year avg home game 1058; avg away 788 (and that includes @Hope twice) who knows this weekend ?

[sac]

There has been some talk about crowd size recently and how well certain schools draw.  I noticed that last weekend at Holland, Mi on Friday night the Hope v PSB game showed a good attendance of 2077.  On Saturday night with Hope having lost, the attendance was a meager 292.  Sad story.
I'm wondering what will happen at Bloomington if or when IWU loses on Friday night.  Will there be basketball fans going to the Saturday game if their beloved Titans aren't playing?  I'd hope so.  The Saturday night game should be a good one no matter who is playing.

Should IWU lose on Friday night, I can guarantee the Saturday attendance will easily quadruple the number at DeVos last Saturday - and probably more.  I'd bet on 1000 Calvin fans alone, and you are talking about a winner goes to Salem game. Completely different story than last weekend.

I will point also point out that 1/3 or so of the fans last Saturday were Holland people, but most of us were either in Kenosha or watching online as the Hope women's team played the Lady Reds.

If I have my Shirk capacity correct (2700) each visiting school will be offered 450 tickets.  Dickenson won't bring that many, I have my doubts Wheaton will either and even for Calvin 450 on a Friday night drive from Grand Rapids is pushing it.


As legendary as some of the Hope attendance stories are, I don't think we've ever had more than 750 at a road game before and that was a quarterfinal at Wittenberg in 96 when all of this was still new to Hope.

[iwumichigander]

There has been some talk about crowd size recently and how well certain schools draw.  I noticed that last weekend at Holland, Mi on Friday night the Hope v PSB game showed a good attendance of 2077.  On Saturday night with Hope having lost, the attendance was a meager 292.  Sad story.
I'm wondering what will happen at Bloomington if or when IWU loses on Friday night.  Will there be basketball fans going to the Saturday game if their beloved Titans aren't playing?  I'd hope so.  The Saturday night game should be a good one no matter who is playing.

Should IWU lose on Friday night, I can guarantee the Saturday attendance will easily quadruple the number at DeVos last Saturday - and probably more.  I'd bet on 1000 Calvin fans alone, and you are talking about a winner goes to Salem game. Completely different story than last weekend.

I will point also point out that 1/3 or so of the fans last Saturday were Holland people, but most of us were either in Kenosha or watching online as the Hope women's team played the Lady Reds.

If I have my Shirk capacity correct (2700) each visiting school will be offered 450 tickets.  Dickenson won't bring that many, I have my doubts Wheaton will either and even for Calvin 450 on a Friday night drive from Grand Rapids is pushing it.


As legendary as some of the Hope attendance stories are, I don't think we've ever had more than 750 at a road game before and that was a quarterfinal at Wittenberg in 96 when all of this was still new to Hope.

Also competing with IHSA Sectionals including @ISU which might draw the local B-N folks.

[veterancciwfan]

Regarding attendance, on Mar. 15, 1996 when IWU faced Rowan and Hope played Franklin & Marshall, I know the attendance was well over 3,000 as both Hope and IWU had over 1,000 fans for the Friday semifinals in Salem. One stat I saw which amazed me: In the 1952/53 season, Bill Warden played 21 games and averaged 32.8! I knew he was a great player (never saw him play) and a very good NCC coach. One other off-the-wall stat: IWU's record to date in 23 NCAA D3 tournaments: 51-22 .699 (IWU"S 51 wins is tied for 1st with Wittenberg which has 27 tournament losses) IWU's record in 6 CCIW conference tournaments: 5-7 .417    Conclusion: Once a team escapes CCIW play, the rest is downhill (just kidding). 2 fantastic games ahead at Shirk. I wonder who Wheaton will be rooting for in the 2nd game?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Regarding attendance, on Mar. 15, 1996 when IWU faced Rowan and Hope played Franklin & Marshall, I know the attendance was well over 3,000 as both Hope and IWU had over 1,000 fans for the Friday semifinals in Salem. One stat I saw which amazed me: In the 1952/53 season, Bill Warden played 21 games and averaged 32.8! I knew he was a great player (never saw him play) and a very good NCC coach. One other off-the-wall stat: IWU's record to date in 23 NCAA D3 tournaments: 51-22 .699 (IWU"S 51 wins is tied for 1st with Wittenberg which has 27 tournament losses) IWU's record in 6 CCIW conference tournaments: 5-7 .417    Conclusion: Once a team escapes CCIW play, the rest is downhill (just kidding). 2 fantastic games ahead at Shirk. I wonder who Wheaton will be rooting for in the 2nd game?

You're kidding, right?

Wheaton is 1-2 vs. IWU.  They beat Calvin by 27.

[sac]

You're kidding, right?

Wheaton is 1-2 vs. IWU.  They beat Calvin by 27.

Calvin 78 Wheaton 51
http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/1314/miaacci4.htm

Regarding attendance, on Mar. 15, 1996 when IWU faced Rowan and Hope played Franklin & Marshall, I know the attendance was well over 3,000 as both Hope and IWU had over 1,000 fans for the Friday semifinals in Salem.

Semi-finals and finals are a different animal.  That was also our first ever trip to Salem, since then we've been twice with a pretty smallish (for Hope) crowd in 2008, mostly due to hosting the women's final the same weekend.

At any rate, Hope and Calvin have some pretty legendary attendance stories, sometimes they even live up to them.

[D-3 watcher]

The Shirk will not be cleared between games. It doesn't seat 2700, lots of standing room all the way around the playing court.  On well attended games, there is usually 150/200 people standing, which isn't a bad view.

[USee]

Regarding attendance, on Mar. 15, 1996 when IWU faced Rowan and Hope played Franklin & Marshall, I know the attendance was well over 3,000 as both Hope and IWU had over 1,000 fans for the Friday semifinals in Salem. One stat I saw which amazed me: In the 1952/53 season, Bill Warden played 21 games and averaged 32.8! I knew he was a great player (never saw him play) and a very good NCC coach. One other off-the-wall stat: IWU's record to date in 23 NCAA D3 tournaments: 51-22 .699 (IWU"S 51 wins is tied for 1st with Wittenberg which has 27 tournament losses) IWU's record in 6 CCIW conference tournaments: 5-7 .417    Conclusion: Once a team escapes CCIW play, the rest is downhill (just kidding). 2 fantastic games ahead at Shirk. I wonder who Wheaton will be rooting for in the 2nd game?

You're kidding, right?

Wheaton is 1-2 vs. IWU.  They beat Calvin by 27.

Ypsi, the game has passed you by. Turn in your keyboard.

[USee]

I am very intrigued by the Calvin @IWU game. It appears Calvin is every bit the match for the Titans on the front line. The key to the matchup could well be the perimeter shooting and defense for the Titans. To that end I have been surprised a little by Jordan Nelson. He has a swagger to him that has been well documented on here. My data points are really the 3 games vs Wheaton but in the CCIW tournament I saw him take long, often contested 3's early in the shot clock. Up at King arena, he bailed the Titans out with long, usually open 3's at the end of the shot clock. His shot selection, when it is made in the context of the offense, has been deadly. When he gets that "I'm unstoppable" swagger to him, he seems to be a bit of a detriment to the Titans. That's been my observation and, since I believe his play may be a key to the game Friday, I am interested in other's thoughts. Sodeman is IWU's most accurate perimeter shooter but I can't remember him taking a bad shot very often.

[URockets]

I am very intrigued by the Calvin @IWU game. It appears Calvin is every bit the match for the Titans on the front line. The key to the matchup could well be the perimeter shooting and defense for the Titans. To that end I have been surprised a little by Jordan Nelson. He has a swagger to him that has been well documented on here. My data points are really the 3 games vs Wheaton but in the CCIW tournament I saw him take long, often contested 3's early in the shot clock. Up at King arena, he bailed the Titans out with long, usually open 3's at the end of the shot clock. His shot selection, when it is made in the context of the offense, has been deadly. When he gets that "I'm unstoppable" swagger to him, he seems to be a bit of a detriment to the Titans. That's been my observation and, since I believe his play may be a key to the game Friday, I am interested in other's thoughts. Sodeman is IWU's most accurate perimeter shooter but I can't remember him taking a bad shot very often.

I think that is a fair and accurate assessment.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Regarding attendance, on Mar. 15, 1996 when IWU faced Rowan and Hope played Franklin & Marshall, I know the attendance was well over 3,000 as both Hope and IWU had over 1,000 fans for the Friday semifinals in Salem. One stat I saw which amazed me: In the 1952/53 season, Bill Warden played 21 games and averaged 32.8! I knew he was a great player (never saw him play) and a very good NCC coach. One other off-the-wall stat: IWU's record to date in 23 NCAA D3 tournaments: 51-22 .699 (IWU"S 51 wins is tied for 1st with Wittenberg which has 27 tournament losses) IWU's record in 6 CCIW conference tournaments: 5-7 .417    Conclusion: Once a team escapes CCIW play, the rest is downhill (just kidding). 2 fantastic games ahead at Shirk. I wonder who Wheaton will be rooting for in the 2nd game?

You're kidding, right?

Wheaton is 1-2 vs. IWU.  They beat Calvin by 27.

Ypsi, the game has passed you by. Turn in your keyboard.

Hey, at least I got the math right - I just read it backwards!

[USee]

Looking at Dickinson they finished 23-6 (15-3 in conference). They were 11-2 on the road and they share 1 common opponent with Wheaton:

Dickinson @Wooster (W 67-64)
Wheaton @Wooster (L73-77)

They are big as their starting frontline goes 6-10, 6-8, 6-5. They bring a 6-7 guard and a 6-6 forward off the bench along with 2 other 6-2 guards. They shoot 40% from the arc. They have two primary scorers (Honig their 6-1 Sr G averages 16.3 ppg, and Wixted their 6-8 Jr F, averages 15.2 ppg).

Beating Wooster in Ohio is a big deal so this team obviously knows how to play big games on the road.  They have 9 players that average 13 min or more per game and have played in every game. 3 seniors, 4 Juniors and 2 sophomores. Pretty experienced group.

Wheaton will have their hands full.

[bbfan44]

D3hoops voters who read this board:  Dickinson has a really good record, has a big front line, shoots well, will be a "hand full" for Wheaton.....how come they didn't receive even one Top 25 vote?

[USee]

D3hoops voters who read this board:  Dickinson has a really good record, has a big front line, shoots well, will be a "hand full" for Wheaton.....how come they didn't receive even one Top 25 vote?

Not sure it matters.  They are top 16 now and they beat Wooster @wooster which only one other team has done all year. 

[wiz]

Looking at Dickinson they finished 23-6 (15-3 in conference). They were 11-2 on the road and they share 1 common opponent with Wheaton:

Dickinson @Wooster (W 67-64)
Wheaton @Wooster (L73-77)

They are big as their starting frontline goes 6-10, 6-8, 6-5. They bring a 6-7 guard and a 6-6 forward off the bench along with 2 other 6-2 guards. They shoot 40% from the arc. They have two primary scorers (Honig their 6-1 Sr G averages 16.3 ppg, and Wixted their 6-8 Jr F, averages 15.2 ppg).

Beating Wooster in Ohio is a big deal so this team obviously knows how to play big games on the road.  They have 9 players that average 13 min or more per game and have played in every game. 3 seniors, 4 Juniors and 2 sophomores. Pretty experienced group.

Wheaton will have their hands full.

Thanks for sharing some much needed info on Dickinson, a team to not overlook.  I would not be surprised to see them playing on Saturday.