MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

IWU 79
Dickinson 66

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=2786&path=mbball

* Andrew Ziemnik: 18 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists
* Victor Davis: 15 pts, 8 reb

* Adam Honig: 20 pts, 5 reb
* Gerry Wixted: 12 pts, 5 reb

Rebounds: IWU 43 Dickinson 26


Very fitting that IWU was led tonight by its two senior forwards - Andrew Ziemnik and Victor Davis had great games.  It just felt from the tip that the Titans were not going to lose this game as long as Ziemnik and Davis were on the floor.

I'm extremely proud of this group of Titans.  They are very likable because of how hard they play and how well they share the basketball.

A very warm congratulations to IWU head coach Ron Rose.  Rose has led IWU to 5 straight NCAA tournaments, with 4 Sweet 16s, 3 Elite 8s, and 2 Final Fours.  He is now 14-4 in NCAA tournament games.  Rose is just really good at building a team, and putting it in position to succeed.

I'm looking forward to the trip to Salem.

[iwu70]

Congrats to the TITANS and Coach Rose and staff.  Final Four, baby!  Salem in Springtime, always good.

Zman had the breakout game I was hoping for.  Vic Davis and Eric Dortch and Mike Marietti, just dominating the glass.  As Greg has said, that was clearly the difference tonight. 

IWU vs. WW should be a great semi -- and Amherst and Williams continuing their rivalry, their mastery of the east coast sectionals.  A mighty fine four for Salem.

Congrats to Dickinson on outperforming all expectations.  They never gave up.

Look forward to the games in Salem next weekend.  Very happy for the seniors and all their hard work.  Loved the expressions on their faces as they cut down the nets.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Article from the Pantagraph...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/home-win-sends-titans-to-final-four/article_3fa4bb4a-2998-56e3-a718-e5ee2f5c718f.html

[kiko]

Congratulations to IWU and Titan Nation for securing their spot in Salem.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Last time IWU hosted the sectional: 1997.  End result: national title.

This year IWU hosted (and won) the sectional.  End result: ??

UWW has been SO dominant in the tourney, I would have to think they are the favorite in the semi; but I am NOT abandoning hope!!  It can be done ... it SHALL be done!!

[The Roop]

Whitewater is a top ten team. Not a final four team. They're there because Point was an upset victim. If you are attending the game make sure that the officials know that Hearn flops every chance he gets and should foul out in 8 minutes but he always seems to get the "no call".

[Titan Q]

A look at #6 Illinois Wesleyan vs #3 UW-Whitewater...

Rotations:

Illinois Wesleyan (27-4, 12-2 CCIW)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Jr (10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg)      2nd Team All-CCIW (5-man team)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Jr (9.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5/220 Sr (12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg)      1st Team All-CCIW (5-man team)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Sr (11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg)      1st Team All-CCIW (5-man team)
C - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 So (4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Jr (11.7 ppg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/205 Sr (7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/160 So (4.9 ppg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-4/210 Sr (4.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Sr (3.8 ppg)

UW-Whitewater (27-4, 13-3 WIAC)
G - Quardell Young, 6-0 Jr (10.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.9 apg)      1st Team All-WIAC (11-man team)
G - Alex Merg, 6-1 Sr (7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg)
G - Eric Bryson, 6-2 Sr (11.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg)      1st Team All-WIAC (11-man team)
G - KJ Evans, 6-3 JR (16.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg)      1st Team All-WIAC (11-man team)
F - Reggie Hearn, 6-6 Sr (12.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)      Honorable Mention All-WIAC (10-man team)

F - Steve Egan, 6-6 Jr (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
G - Cody Odegaard, 6-2 Jr (5.2 ppg)

Team Stats:

PPG: IWU 82.7; UWW 78.8
Opp PG: UWW 60.8; IWU 68.1

FG: UWW .499; IWU .498
Opp FG: IWU .413; UWW .424

3-point FG: IWU .415; UWW .363
Opp 3-point FG: IWU .314; UWW .315

FT: IWU .715; UWW .693

Reb Margin: UWW +6.8, IWU +5.1

A/TO: IWU 1.5; UWW 1.1
Opp A/TO: UWW 0.6, IWU 0.8

Rankings:

Massey: UWW #2, IWU #3

D3hoops.com: UWW #3, IWU #6


Strength of Schedule:

Massey SOS: IWU #5, UWW #6

Massey conference: CCIW #1, WIAC #2

Common Opponents:

UWW 83 Hope 70 (at UWW, 11/22)
IWU 91 Hope 83 (at Hope, 12/21)

UWW 73 St. Norbert 62 (at St. Norbert, 11/26)
IWU 84 St. Norbert 68 (at IWU, 3/8)

UWW 87 Augustana 68 (at UWW, 3/8)
Augustana 81 IWU 73 (at Augie, 1/8)
IWU 84 Augustana 69 (at IWU, 2/5)

National Championships:

UW-Whitewater: 1984, 1989, 2012

Illinois Wesleyan: 1997

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q, for all the data.  Surely looks like WW is a quality team.  Should be a great game.  Is it just my impression, or are they rather small for a top 10 D3 squad?  Only one starter over 6'3".  Must be speed and outside shooting, tough D?  Seems the Titans might be slightly favored in this game.?

I watched some of both the Amherst and Williams sectionals and both of those teams are very good, quite complete teams who shoot it very very well, have talented bigs.  I guess Amherst would be favored in that other semi.

Really proud of how the Titans played this past weekend.  Great to have The Shirk crowd, Pep Band, all the university and B/N community there and behind the Titans.  Loved watching them "cut down the nets" at the close of the sectional.  Ron Rose has done a remarkable job.  This run surely can't hurt recruiting.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Sure wish I could travel to Salem next weekend -- was there on several other of the Titans' runs to the Final Four.  But, sadly, the ticket cost from Hong Kong is slightly above my current pay grade, so I'll have to enjoy it, cheer IWU on from the FAR East.  Hope the Titan Nation continues to travel well, that IWU arranges for the Pep Band to go, and that everyone has a great time in Virginia.  The Salem folks always do a great job putting on the Final Four.

Warm congrats again to the Titans!

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Thanks, Q, for all the data.  Surely looks like WW is a quality team.  Should be a great game.  Is it just my impression, or are they rather small for a top 10 D3 squad?  Only one starter over 6'3".  Must be speed and outside shooting, tough D?  Seems the Titans might be slightly favored in this game.?

UW-Whitewater is definitely "small" in terms of height, but what they do have is legitimate, Division I-caliber athleticism and quickness at the guard spots. 

This is such an intriguing Xs and Os matchup because both teams have incredible matchup problems.  I have no idea how Ziemnik, Davis, and Marietti and going to chase around their smaller, quicker counterparts.  At the same time, I have no idea how UW-Whitewater is going to defend IWU in the low post.

Depth is an area IWU has a huge advantage - the Titans play 10 while Whitewater plays just 7.  In a game without media timeouts, this would probably be a big factor - with media timeouts, it is not as big of a deal.  But I can see UWW getting into foul trouble trying to defend IWU in the post, so it could still come into play.

My initial take is that this game will come down to how well IWU handles the basketball.  UW-Whitewater, as always, is going to try to force IWU in a boatload of turnovers.  Dylan Overstreet's ability to get the ball up the floor against great defenders and to get IWU into its offense is very important for the Titans.  It will also be important for IWU's 2/3/4 players to be able to handle the ball against pressure without turning it over.

I can't really make a case for either team as the favorite.  I think this is a legitimate "pick 'em" game between Division III heavyweights from powerhouse conferences.

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q,

Given what you've said about quickness and defensive skills of WW, seems we might see more of Nelson and Dortch, perhaps playing more minutes in this game.  Both have had tremendous tournaments so far.

Yes, key may be IWU pounding the ball into the paint, winning the TO and RB battles (as always needed) and getting some key WW players into foul trouble.

IWU70

[The Roop]

I would recommend a box and 1 defense against UWW. Sure you give up more 3 point attempts but it allows you cut off the baseline and trap when the guards penetrate. Run as much clock you can too so their speed doesn't wear you out. Beloit hung with them and actually led for a while then the speed took over and they ran out of gas and the game got out of hand. 

[Titan Q]

I would recommend a box and 1 defense against UWW. Sure you give up more 3 point attempts but it allows you cut off the baseline and trap when the guards penetrate. Run as much clock you can too so their speed doesn't wear you out. Beloit hung with them and actually led for a while then the speed took over and they ran out of gas and the game got out of hand.

I don't think IWU wants any part of slowing the game down - the Titans would love a fast-paced game.

[badgerwarhawk]

We will do our best to make it a competitive game.  We've been playing pretty well since Point beat us in the conference tournament.  Many of us were hoping to get another shot at the Pointers but, unfortunately for them, they picked a bad time to go into a funk.  They were lucky to get past the regional but their luck ran out against Emory.

We're very aware of how good IWU is and we have nothing but respect for the program.   

Roop, Beloit's last lead was 8-7 at the 17:03 mark of the first half.  That's kind of early to run out of gas.   Our starters averaged 21 minutes.

TQ, thanks for the basics.   I won't be making the trip to Salem but will be in Point watching our women's team compete.  It's a great day to be a WARHAWK. 
 

[Titan Q]

We will do our best to make it a competitive game.

You can't just swoop in here and Lou Holtz us, old friend!  It's only Sunday - save that stuff for Wednesday or Thursday.