MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GoPerry]

WC takes Augie down to the wire but loses 78-74 in Rock Island.  Wheaton definitely had a chance as DeMoss had a wide open 3-pointer while down only 2 with 7 secs left that would have given them the lead but couldn't get it to go. 

The Thunder fought hard, once again without Michael Berg who did not play.  Thunder get crushed on the glass 24-38 including giving up 18 offensive rebounds resulting in 22 2nd chance points.  32 point night for Teuscher who did everything he could to keep his team in it.  It just was not enough.

[iwu70]

Another good, necessary home win for the Titans, 76-66

Titan scoring:  16, 14, 12, 12, 9, 7, 6   Top scorer Overstreet, followed by Nelson.

NPU played tough, never stopped. 

Henry 25
Robinson 15
Lake 11

Big game now in Rock Island.  Someone has to put a loss on Augie. 

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Juwan Henry: 25 pts
Jordan Robinson: 15 pts
Colin Lake: 11 pts
Michael Hutchinson: 7 rebs
T.J. Cobbs: 6 rebs

Dylan Overstreet: 16 pts
Jordan Nelson: 14 pts, 6 rebs
Ryan Coyle: 12 pts, 7 rebs
Trevor Seibring: 12 pts

The Vikings managed to hang around for the entire game, and the game plan -- run four-out ball-screen and fire up one trey after another -- more or less worked, as the Vikings shot 39% from downtown. But, considering that they were giving up four inches at every position, they were going to need to maximize every possession. They didn't do that, as they turned it over a few too many times and missed a few too many free throws to close the gap down the stretch. It was a good effort by a young, scrappy team that I doubt anyone in Shirk expected to stay competitive all night, but the good effort just wasn't good enough.

[Gregory Sager]

Upset in the airplane hangar:

Elmhurst 66
North Central 57

Rosenberg and Burchett combined for only 13 points and 10 rebounds.

[Gregory Sager]

The CCIW is so tough it's possible the whole league may break up, as Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan are considering petitioning the Big 10 to join them.  So I think the Millikin coach has some time.

I doubt that's in the works.  Illinois Wesleyan has the monopoly on green, so that would preclude Michigan State from joining the CCIW... same with Augustana and U of Michigan -- too much blue and gold already in the conference.

[shepherd]

WC takes Augie down to the wire but loses 78-74 in Rock Island.  Wheaton definitely had a chance as DeMoss had a wide open 3-pointer while down only 2 with 7 secs left that would have given them the lead but couldn't get it to go. 

The Thunder fought hard, once again without Michael Berg who did not play.  Thunder get crushed on the glass 24-38 including giving up 18 offensive rebounds resulting in 22 2nd chance points.  32 point night for Teuscher who did everything he could to keep his team in it.  It just was not enough.

Even though the record isn't great they are a fun team to watch.  Besides if they can make the tournament and keep improving like they have who knows.
I like the zone they are using this year and we are seeing it more in the cciw this year vs past.  Its a good defense if you get a quick jump to the direction of the ball and the team doesn't fall to sleep in it.


IMHO:
I think they made a mistake when Wheaton stopped having the ball go through Jonathan Berntsen midway through in the second half.  They planted him in the corner.  He is a great passer, ball handler and makes players better.  Some of the turnovers might have been avoided.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

I'm not a big hoops chat board guy (tend to stay in my football comfort zone) - but damn I love whipping those Cardinals...regardless the sport. Great day to be a Jay!

[iwumichigander]

Upset in the airplane hangar:

Elmhurst 66
North Central 57

Rosenberg and Burchett combined for only 13 points and 10 rebounds.

What upset?  The Cardinals feelings maybe, but going in Elmhurst had as good a chance of winning at the Hangar as anyone.

[iwumichigander]

An observation on streaming - oh please in this day of technology, get not only the score but the TIME on the video broadcast.  Yes, Art Kimball is shouting down from heaven above - TIME and SCORE!

I am watching more steaming this year without audio broadcasters with most using the PA announcer.  On balance, not too bad -  especially considering the homer talent of some student broadcasters.  Or, my favorite so far, the UChgo crew that talked about where they are going to eat after the game - during the entire game.

However, of couple of suggestions.  Turn the crowd mike off.  Use the cough switch between announcements -  so the folks sitting behind the scorers table does not get picked up.

[Gregory Sager]

Upset in the airplane hangar:

Elmhurst 66
North Central 57

Rosenberg and Burchett combined for only 13 points and 10 rebounds.

What upset?  The Cardinals feelings maybe, but going in Elmhurst had as good a chance of winning at the Hangar as anyone.

When #22 beats #9 on #9's floor, it's an upset. Not a major one, but an upset, nevertheless.

I am watching more steaming this year without audio broadcasters with most using the PA announcer.  On balance, not too bad -  especially considering the homer talent of some student broadcasters.  Or, my favorite so far, the UChgo crew that talked about where they are going to eat after the game - during the entire game.

However, of couple of suggestions.  Turn the crowd mike off.  Use the cough switch between announcements -  so the folks sitting behind the scorers table does not get picked up.

The crowd mic during the two NPU @ IWU games tonight gave the viewers a constant stream of muttered anti-ref invective from one of the inimitable IWU grayhairs. I couldn't tell if it was Waldorf or Statler, but I'm pretty sure that it was one of those two guys.

[veterancciwfan]

If Juwan Henry isn't first team all-conference, there should be an investigation. He has a unique game. If he were 4 inches taller, he would get a D2 scholarship and perhaps a low D1 offer as well. I thought NPU was very well coached, stuck to their offensive game plan and competed to a high degree. Tom Slyder joins the ranks of excellent CCIW coaches. If he could find two talented post players in this year's HS senior class, NPU could be a legitimate force next year. Their post play is nonexistent. Just shows how tough a league this is. Record wise, the worst team in the league at 0-4 comes to the Shirk Center and gives the Titans a scare. NPU was down 7 with about 5 minutes to play. Nelson and Overstreet, experienced seniors, provided the crunch time execution and production. Good crowd at Shirk, approaching 2,000.

[veterancciwfan]

Wrong on IWU attendance. Box shows 1,275 which is an estimate and it could be slightly low.

[Titan Q]

North Park has a really impressive nucleus to build around in sophomore Juwan Henry and freshmen Jordan Robinson and Colin Lake.  Henry is a threat to score anywhere on the floor and is just a very difficult matchup...he's a great player.  Robinson brings a really nice inside/outside game to the floor.  And Lake, who is tiny, can really shoot the basketball.  If the Vikings can find some good players at the 4 and 5 spots the next two years (big "if", because everyone is looking for those same guys), they could be very good.

IWU didn't play great last night, but I'd say they did what they needed to lead comfortably most of the game, and close it out at the end.  The Titans had some funky matchups in that one, with 6-6 Ryan Coyle, 6-8 Trevor Seibring, 6-8 Mike Marietti, and 6-6 Alec Bausch way out on the perimeter trying to defend much smaller, quicker players.  On the other end of the floor, I don't think the Titans did a very good punishing NPU for being so much smaller.  IWU didn't get enough low post touches.

Here is the WJBC postgame with Dylan Overstreet and Ron Rose - http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=3871253.

And the Pantagraph's article - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-turns-north-park-inside-out/article_6da4d68d-fd45-5961-8a92-48ae225a87e6.html.

[Titan Q]

Dylan Overstreet had another strong overall game - 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Through 16 games, Overstreet is IWU's leader in scoring (11.3 per game), rebounds (5.6 per game), and assists (4.7 per game).  I have to believe it's extremely rare in college basketball for one player to lead a team in all three categories.

Very quietly, Overstreet is one of the best point guards IWU has had in the 25 years or so I've been following the program.  He is just such strong competitor and a fantastic leader, and he does so many things well on the floor.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Bosko Djurickovic on career win #500.  As I have posted here numerous times over the years, I think he's one of the good guys around the CCIW - certainly one of the league's strongest advocates.

Quite an accomplishment.