MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Thanks, Titans!

[titanfan]

Thanks, Titans!

Anything for you, Greg!

[sac]

Thanks, Titans!

Sager befriending Wheaties and Titans within 10 days

[Gregory Sager]

Thanks, Titans!

Anything for you, Greg!

'preciate it!

Thanks, Titans!

Sager befriending Wheaties and Titans within 10 days

Cats and dogs living together ...

[Gregory Sager]

Final from the Griz:

North Park 72
Millikin 66

Scratch and claw. Scratch and claw.

Only one game back now ...

[iwu70]

IWU blows out NC, 76-44.  Outstanding defense with no NC player in double figures.  All pine-sitters in,playing at least 5 minutes.

IWU scoring:  12, 11, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2   

Overstreet with 12, Stempel  a career 11 in 5 minutes

I think Trevor Seibring is quickly becoming one of the best big men, 5s in the CCIW, with D, positioning, passing, court vision and overall play.  He really played the NCC bigs to a standoff tonight.

A big one now for IWU vs. the Doggies, for the CCIW crown. 

IWU70

[kenoshamark]

Carthage actually scored more points from the free throw line (15) than from the field (14).  Pretty pathetic.

Can't wait to hear what Bosko has to say about this game.  He talked about finishing the season out with pride...missed the mark on this one.

[WUPHF]

Wheaton closing out the game properly...just about ready to knock off Elmhurst.

[WUPHF]

Wheaton over Elmhurst, 76-68.

[iwu70]

Thank you Wheaton.

Greg, your guys are coming on.  Hope they make the tourney.

My Titans still "rocking the CCIW."  Those two old guys in the balcony still laughing and happy tonight.  Triple-jointed shoulders still flapping. 

IWU70

[USee]

Looks like the Marietti moving screen parade was not a factor tonight, nor were the Cardinals.

Good "pride" win for the Thunder. They will try and finish this season respectably with a home game Wed v Millikin, road game up in Kenosha and at home v Augie.
,

[iwumichigander]

IWU blows out NC, 76-44.  Outstanding defense with no NC player in double figures.  All pine-sitters in,playing at least 5 minutes.

IWU scoring:  12, 11, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2   

Overstreet with 12, Stempel  a career 11 in 5 minutes

I think Trevor Seibring is quickly becoming one of the best big men, 5s in the CCIW, with D, positioning, passing, court vision and overall play.  He really played the NCC bigs to a standoff tonight.

A big one now for IWU vs. the Doggies, for the CCIW crown. 

IWU70

Seibring got some quality "help" defense tonight too

[Gregory Sager]

NPU 72, Millikin 66

Juwan Henry: 21 pts
Jordan Robinson: 17 pts
T.J. Cobbs: 13 pts, 5 rebs
Michael Hutchinson: 10 pts, 9 rebs

T.J. Sims: 18 pts
Zach Long: 11 pts, 6 rebs
Tommy Pilackas: 11 pts, 5 rebs
Nathan Biggs: 10 pts, 5 rebs
T.J. Griffin: 10 pts
Zach Long: 4 stls

With :27 left in the game and the Vikings only up by one, Jordan Robinson rebounded a Juwan Henry miss, made the putback, and got fouled. He made the FT -- as shaky as he's been from the line in CCIW play, he was a golden 5-5 tonight -- and the Vikings held off the Big Blue to notch their fifth straight win.

It certainly wasn't easy. NPU never led by more than eight in this contest, and the Vikes almost blew a seven-point lead in the game's final two and a half minutes. But Robinson and Mr. Lunchbucket, Michael Hutchinson, really came up big in the final minute of the game. Robinson made one big shot after another in close, and Hutchinson's work on the offensive boards and finishes off of interior dishes -- as well as a couple of deep jumpers -- were just what the doctor ordered.

Juwan Henry had an unusual night. Millikin ran a double-team at him on every possession at the start of the game in an effort to take the ball out of his hands, and he was visibly frustrated. It took him until there was only seven minutes left in the half to finally score his first points. But once he got rolling, he got rolling -- he proceeded to score 11 within a four-minute span in those last seven minutes of the opening stanza. He's just an extremely dynamic force on the basketball court. Thumbs up to T.J. Cobbs, who picked up Henry's slack (while Robinson was on the bench with two fouls as well) by scoring 11 in the first half to keep the Vikings in the ballgame.

Kudos to the Big Blue, who were very gutty and never went away. They're young and they're pretty close to putting together a strong outfit for 2015-16 themselves. T.J. Sims is an outstanding freshman, and combined with T.J. Griffin he gives Matt Nadelhoffer a great backcourt.

It wasn't pretty, but they don't give out style points in this league. Any win is a good win, and any road win is a great win.

North Central's loss tonight means that the destiny of the Vikings is now in their own hands in terms of a CCIW tourney berth. And, honestly, how many of us thought that we'd be saying that with only three games to go?

[iwumichigander]

Vikings have the start, finally after what seems years, of five guys beginning to play as one. I still see flashes of "street ball" but not a bad thing if playing as "one"

I felt coming into the season that the last spot(s) for the CCIW tournament would not be decided until the last game.  I still feel that way.

[iwu70]

Sorry AO, that was pretty much a stomp'n.  Sure didn't expect that, but very happy for it.   Titans on a role, "rock'n the CCIW."  Those two old guys in the balcony having a blast, heading for "Times Past" for an after game milkshake (or perhaps Lucca's for an after game libation).

Titans have a lot of talent that's waiting to get on the floor -- i.e. Andy Stempel tonight -- 11 points in 5 minutes.  He was ready.

Ron Rose's depth chart for next year:  (I surmise)

1 - Dolan, Nelms, Streety
2 - Pennington, Rose, Stempel, S. Seibring
3 - Bausch, Beasley, Connolly
4 - Coyle, Mahlke, Carroll
5 - T. Seibring, Marietti, Scholle

And others from the JV games we know not.   And this is all before this final run toward the tourney, toward the post-season, and whatever recruited newbies Coach Rose has up his sleve coming in for the Class of '19.  (I'm looking for the next D3 Yao Ming over here in Asia -- so stay tuned!)   

Future look'n bright for the Titan program.

Keep it rolling Titans -- big game now at The Shirk Center for Athletics and Wellness (or is it Recreation!?) on Wednesday vs. the Doggies.  Nice to be peaking at the right time.

IWU70