MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

IWU 78
Calvin 64

http://www.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/MBasketball/Stats/1314/mbb314b.htm

* Jordan Nelson: 22 points, 4 reb, 2 asssits
* Victor Davis: 19 pts, 8 reb (4-6 3-point, 5-5 FT)

* Tyler Kruis: 12 pts, 5 reb
* Jordan Daley: 12 pts, 5 reb
* Jordan Brink: 11 pts, 5 reb
* Mickey Devries: 10 pts, 7 reb


Considering all 40 minutes, I thought IWU was outstanding tonight.  The Titans played extremely hard, and really looked like the veteran/experienced team they are.

It's hard for me to pick an MVP between Victor Davis, Jordan Nelson, and Dylan Overstreet - I thought all 3 were great.  The boxscore shows Overstreet with a quiet 6 pts, 5 reb, 2 assists, but he had an outstanding all-around game tonight.

Eric Dortch also had a huge role in the win tonight.  The Titans were struggling there in the 1st half before he made some big plays on the defensive end, and then of course his two dunks which got the crowd back into the game.

Impressive showing tonight by the Titans - that was fun.

[Titan Q]

I'll just say this about Jordan Nelson -- I will live with his 1-2 terrible shots per game for what else he does offensively. He's so talented with the basketball in his hands.

I agree 100% with this.  Jordan Nelson is a pure scorer, and sometimes pure scorers are going to take a few bad shots.  I can live with that - Nelson is such a talent.  He has been IWU's leading scorer in all 3 NCAA tournament games now (16, 20, 22), and in 7 of IWU's last 11 games.

[iwumichigander]

I'll just say this about Jordan Nelson -- I will live with his 1-2 terrible shots per game for what else he does offensively. He's so talented with the basketball in his hands.

I agree 100% with this.  Jordan Nelson is a pure scorer, and sometimes pure scorers are going to take a few bad shots.  I can live with that - Nelson is such a talent.  He has been IWU's leading scorer in all 3 NCAA tournament games now (16, 20, 22), and in 7 of IWU's last 11 games.

Nelson also smartly took the ball to the hoop tonight, got to FT line and helped create some personal space on the perimeter. When he does a little more driving on a consistent basis, I think he could score in the high 20s or more!

[iwumichigander]

Zemnick and Dortch did really nice defensive work on Kruis.  Good defensive work on Jordan Brink by a various Titans.  To close out Calvin, you really have to contain Kruis and Brink.  The Titans did just that. 
Kruis on the season 15.8 PPG tonight 12.0 Pts
Brink season averages = FG% .474 3 Pt .468 PPG 15.8 -- tonight FG 5-12 .416%  3 Pt 0-4 .000% 11 Pts.

My player of the game goes to Victor Davis (19 pts, 8 reb (4-6 3-point, 5-5 FT).  Solid work by Jordan Nelson. 
My oh wow way to go player - Eric Dortch

Nice win tonight Let's get another W Saturday vs Dickison.

[veterancciwfan]

Erich Dortch was the key for IWU tonight. He just took over the game near the end of the 1st half. The steal and his 2nd dunk gave IWU a 10 point lead and IWU went into the locker room with confidence and momentum and up by 7. He just energized his teammates and especially the IWU fans. I think IWU's fans were the loudest this season. Two biggest reasons IWU won going away: 3-point shooting: IWU was 10/27 while Calvin was only 5/23. That's a 15 point difference and IWU won by 14. Bench: IWU 35  Calvin 15. That's been the story all season long. Michael Mayberger, even though he didn't score, had 3 assists, one on a spectacular bounce pass that had to be perfect for an IWU layup and grabbed a tough defensive rebound. And Brady Zimmer made a huge 3 in the 2nd half, the only 3 he took. Calvin was horrid at the line in 1st half (8/16). Attendance was 1,800. Ron Rose had the Titans fully prepared as usual. Life is good.

[toooldtohoop]

Wheaton just didn't have it last night.  Dickinson was an impressive team.  Ran their offense well and got easier shots.  Good defenders and well coached.  Played very hard.  They were a fun team to watch except for the fact that they eliminated our Thunder.

Proud of the season the Thunder had.  We will miss this senior class. 

Hope our Titan friends make it to Salem and bring home the prize! 

[GoPerry]

Agreed.  Congratulations to the Dickinson Red Devils on a well played game and W over the Thunder.  I thought WC seemed a little untracked all game, perhaps a little un-nerved by the height advantage which they hadn't really seen much this year.  (They had trouble dealing with Calvin earlier this year with a similar size profile)  So as a team all year relying a little more on outside shooting, not surprising to see them go down shooting 33% from the field.  You won't beat any team in Mid-March doing that.  Titans will have their hands full with a team playing with confidence and little to lose (compared to IWU). 

Congratulations to the Thunder and Mike Schauer on their season- gave us a lot of fun moments for the WC faithful and once again competed hard every night and, more importantly, with class and respect for their opponents.

Congratulations to Tyler Peters on a 4yr Hall of Honor worthy career and senior year in which he produced big play after big play when his team needed it. Congratulations to Nate Haynes who developed from a Tim McCrary understudy as a sophmore to a real inside offensive threat as a senior- was fun to observe that journey.  Same for Tad Fisher who never got big minutes but ended up playing his best ball at the end of his senior season, and who doesn't want that?

For next year, Teuscher will be the key.  But here's hoping Pete Smith can exert himself offensively commensurate with his obvious talent and that J Smith, Berg or someone else can develop themselves to fill the inside void left by Haynes.  Every player will have to be even better if they wish to compete in the CCIW.

Here's hoping a deserving IWU squad can get through to Salem and make some CCIW noise.

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (26-4, 12-2 CCIW) vs Dickinson (24-6, 15-3 Centennial) - 7:00pm


Illinois Wesleyan (26-4, 12-2 CCIW)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Jr (10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Jr (9.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5/220 Sr (12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Sr (11.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
C - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 So (4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Jr (11.7 ppg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/205 Sr (7.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/160 So (5.0 ppg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-4/210 Sr (4.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Sr (3.9 ppg)

Dickinson (24-6, 15-3 Centennial)
G - Adam Honig, 6-1 Sr (16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Brandon Angradi, 6-4 So (9.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.9 apg)
G - Tucker Landry, 6-5 Sr (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
F - Gerry Wixted, 6-8 Jr (15.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.2 apg)
F - Steve Collins, 6-10 Jr (6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

F - Tom McInerney, 6-6 Sr (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
G - Ted Hinnenkamp, 6-7 So (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
G - Chris Cox, 6-2 Jr (4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
G - Brian Gerney, 6-2 Sr (2.4 ppg)


IWU Sectional Site - http://www.iwusports.com/news/2014/3/9/MBB_0309144706.aspx?path=mbball

Bracket - http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2014/bracket

Pantagraph - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/titans-stay-strong-advance-to-sectional-final/article_6a189f4e-2dbe-57fc-b23f-56dda5abf22b.html

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

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

[unanimous22]

I also just want to throw in that Brady Zimmer really made the 10 minutes he played count with a couple of hoops and offensive rebounds. Nice to see him find a small role with this team during his senior season after an injury plagued career.

[Titan Q]

I was extremely impressed with Dickinson last night vs Wheaton - they are talented and play fundamental and smart basketball.  The Red Devils have now won @ Wooster and dominated the CCIW's Pool A team.  The Titans will have to play well tonight to win.

Dickinson is the type of team that can cause IWU a lot of problems:

- Dickinson spreads you out and really attacks the basket hard with dribble penetration (getting shots at the rim or kick-outs for good looks).  The Red Devils killed Wheaton off the dribble last night.  As the Webster game illustrated, IWU is not great at defending quick guards in a one-on-one, dribble drive setting.  Senior guard Adam Honig is a great player.

- The Red Devils also have incredible size in the low post with 6-10 Collins and 6-8 Wixted. Wixted is an All-American caliber player, with great touch around the basket and the ability to step out and shoot the 3 well (31-77, .403, 3-point).

As badly as Wheaton was getting beat off the dribble, I was shocked Mike Schauer didn't try to play some zone last night - I think Ron Rose will try some zone tonight.  Maybe try to shut down the one-on-one dribble penetration and live with some open 3-point looks.

I think Dickinson also has some big matchup problems with IWU - especially with Victor Davis and Andrew Ziemnik.

Should be a great game...going to be a long day.

[Titan Q]

I also just want to throw in that Brady Zimmer really made the 10 minutes he played count with a couple of hoops and offensive rebounds. Nice to see him find a small role with this team during his senior season after an injury plagued career.

I agree, I thought Zimmer really played well last night in those 10 minutes.  He is such a smart player - I always feel good when Brady Zimmer is on the floor.

[Titan Q]

Hope our Titan friends make it to Salem and bring home the prize!

Here's hoping a deserving IWU squad can get through to Salem and make some CCIW noise.

Thank you.  I'm sure every IWU fan, like me, really appreciates the well wishes.

[Titan Q]

Ron Rose's post game from WJBC...

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=2554243

[bopol]

Dickinson pretty good but still seems primarily a two man offense.

Dickinson has certainly proved its detractors wrong as to whether or not it deserves to be in the tourney -- it's amusing to think back now on the fact that the Red Devils were a slightly controversial Pool C choice two weeks ago -- and the Red Devils certainly have some ability. But I think that the winner of the second game tonight at Shirk will be going to Salem.

They are a fine team, but what they did during the regular season really put them on the bubble of Pool C bids and they shouldn't have been surprised if they weren't picked.

Doing well in the tournament doesn't prove that they belonged anymore than Morrisville State winning 3 games proved they would have deserved a Pool C bid.

[pointlem]

As a Hope fan I attended the 1996 Final Four, where IWU and Hope fans together lamented that our teams didn't meet for the national championship, after both narrowly lost to Rowan University (which was led by players who had used up their DII and DI eligibility--a practice the NCAA thereafter disallowed). We all viewed IWU and Hope as kindred  liberal arts schools that exemplify, with excellence, the DIII student-athlete philosophy.  Moreover, IWU has come to Holland twice in the last three years and shown us what they are capable of (and hopefully Hope's young team will be able to return the favor if/when it comes to Bloomington).

This year, with Calvin having dismissed Wash U., Dickinson having defeated Wheaton, Emory having dispatched Stevens Point, and IWU in the best of situations--at home, with a great starting lineup, a bench that many schools would welcome as a starting lineup, a fine coach, and supportive fans--the table is set.  This is your year, IWU.  Go for it!