MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Naperick]

But if you would have told me 3 months ago that the Bluejays would be 17-5 & 7-4 with 3 regular season games to go, I would have taken it.  It's been a wonderful season so far. 

They need to finish strong.  They host red hot North Park on Wednesday and North Central on Saturday and then play at IWU on Feb. 21.  All 3 are very tough games.

This has been a fun year in the CCIW!

[DFLDWarriorsCCIW]

I've been a CCIW follower for years and a huge fan of NCC's Vince Kmiec.  Because of the Cards' down year last year, I didn't spend a lot of time on these boards, but with the early success (and the D2 transfers) my interest has been "resparked".  Great discussions about more than just X's and 0's on this site.  Love the recruiting challenges discussion (more on that later).

AndOne and kiko I attended the first game at Gregory.  The Cards really played with a purpose throughout.  What did you think about the overall effort last night?  Statistically Moten's absence doesn't begin to explain how a team goes from a 6 pt victory to a 32 point drubbing to the same opponent; Burchett, Honn and Henry had 51 pts at home vs a mere 7 at Shirk last night. 

[iwu70]

Look'n forward to the Doggies coming to The Shirk on Wednesday. 

I hear Ron Rose has a new book out -- A trey is only worth three points!   -- forward by Jordan Nelson, with chapters by Sodemann, Dolan and Overstreet.  There's a chapter by the IWU bigs entited "We are only bigs" . . . and it is being delivered as an e-book, chapter by chapter.  Marietti has a chapter called "Sliding toward the CCIW crown," . . . with the inside book cover a promo by Fritiz Larsen, called "How I love The Shirk."   The final chapter is yet to be written.

IWU70

[cardinalpride]

DFLD, welcome to the CCIW boards.
Since conference play began, the Cardinals have been inconsistent on the defensive end of the floor.
Combine that with poor shot selection at times and it adds up to inconsistent performances. Tough to figure out the cards this year because they have proven they can lose to a sub .500 team at home and beat a top ten team on the road. If the cardinals don't figure out their issues defensively, they will watching the CCIW tournament like everyone else.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Look'n forward to the Doggies coming to The Shirk on Wednesday. 

I hear Ron Rose has a new book out -- A trey is only worth three points!   -- forward by Jordan Nelson, with chapters by Sodemann, Dolan and Overstreet.  There's a chapter by the IWU bigs entited "We are only bigs" . . . and it is being delivered as an e-book, chapter by chapter.  Marietti has a chapter called "Sliding toward the CCIW crown," . . . with the inside book cover a promo by Fritiz Larsen, called "How I love The Shirk."   The final chapter is yet to be written.

IWU70

Wouldn't it have been better if he had waited for publication until Dennie Bridge's retirement went into effect?

Sheesh, Dennie had the decency to wait for Jack Horenberger's departure before he abandoned the NAIA!

[iwu70]

Ypsi, as you well know, Dennie's retirement is this summer.  Hope they name the performance court for him on his retirement.  Then we can have the Dennie Bridges Court at The Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation near the Tucci Stadium at Wilder Field. 

Anyway, I like the chapters this Titan team is writing here late in the season.  They are playing at a high level.  Let's hope it continues for three more CCIW chapters and deep into March as well.

Dean Smith RIP.

IWU70

[AppletonRocks]

Looking forward to the CCIW/WIAC challenge in 2017.  Do you think the Carroll facility is big enough for this classic event? 

[WUPHF]

Look'n forward to the Doggies coming to The Shirk on Wednesday. 

I hear Ron Rose has a new book out -- A trey is only worth three points!   -- forward by Jordan Nelson, with chapters by Sodemann, Dolan and Overstreet.  There's a chapter by the IWU bigs entited "We are only bigs" . . . and it is being delivered as an e-book, chapter by chapter.  Marietti has a chapter called "Sliding toward the CCIW crown," . . . with the inside book cover a promo by Fritiz Larsen, called "How I love The Shirk."   The final chapter is yet to be written.

IWU70

Did the editors let him include Chapter 6 entitled Recruiting St. Louis: Just Tell Them You Love Imo's, Toasted Ravioli and Ted Drewe's?

[John Gleich]

My guess is that Whitewater is probably one of them though Badgerhawk tells us the WIAC is down this year and that Stevens Point is not that good.

Whitewater's ceiling is high. They have the talent to perform at the highest level and Q Young has played at a championship level all season with the target firmly on WW's back.

Whitewater has absolutely squeaked by in several games this year... winning on late baskets against Eau Claire, Platteville, and La Crosse. They have won, which is laudable, but against stiffer competition, it is certainly possible that they could have lost any one out even all of these games.

BadgerWarhawk is correct when he says that the WIAC is down, but it is in down in depth. Stevens Point is 4 games ahead of third place Platteville. Five other clubs are below .500 by at least two games. Gone is the WIAC of over a decade ago with a collective .800 winning percentage, but this has become nearly as much of a two team league as any over the last decade. Only Stevens Point and Whitewater have won the title in the last decade and though River Falls and Platteville have had teams make the dance, they haven't had sustained success.

The UWSP team that "isn't so good" doesn't have the star power of last year's team, but they have won 15 of 17 with their two losses against the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country. And while they've played the face conference schedule as Whitewater, and, like I said above, the rest of the league is down, Point has not squeaked by in as many games. Yes, SP win a game with a half court shot in OT, but if that didn't fall, Point wouldn't have lost... The game would have just give to another OT.

Massey has Stevens Point at #4, right behind #3 Whitewater (UST and Marietta are 1/2). BennetRank has the two WIAC teams 1/2. KnightSlappy's RPI has Point #3 and Whitewater #4.

All of this is just analytics and speculation. WW visits Point on Wednesday to give SP the opportunity to either show they're on WW's level or not.

[iwu70]

WUH, a great chapter idea.  I think authored by Mayberger or Sodemann, special chapter, "Mo. is for momentum."  We'll see down the stretch.  Three games to go.  IWU only needs two for the crown.  Of course, we're hoping for three, for 12-2, almost always a winning formula for the CCIW championship.  20-5 going into the CCIW tourney and the dance, would be grand. 

IWU hosting the Doggies -- keys again, rebound the ball, keep Hunter Hill from "going off," limit the TOs, shoot a good percentage, especially from three, get to 78, win the game.  Titans have been playing good defence, hope that continues.   This could be another grind out affair, as Augie will be ready, playing their normal tough D.  Playing at home a good advantage for the TITANS.

JG, thanks for the assessment of the top WIAC contenders this year.  Our Titans would surely like another crack at Q Young and WI-WW down the road.  SP seems always to be there, ready to contend, WIAC up years or down. 

IWU70

[Titan Q]

A nice look at Pool C using KnightSlappy's computer model...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1653974#msg1653974

[Naperick]

A nice look at Pool C using KnightSlappy's computer model...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1653974#msg1653974

Thanks for the link, Q!

Looks like Elmhurst is in trouble.
I'm surprised North Central is that high.
Big game Saturday between the Cardinals & Bluejays in Elmhurst.

[GoPerry]

Brayden Teuscher was Brayden Teuscher  with 26 pts as he was aggressive to the basket from the opening tip and got to the foul line early and often going 16/17.

Based upon this and his performance on Wednesday in the crackerbox, looks to me like Teuscher's gonna be our next CCIW POW.

Congratulations to NPU Juwan Henry for 2nd consecutive league POW.  Teuscher was also deserving and for obvious reasons, I was hoping he would get it since he has never been named so.  But tough to argue against Henry's performance in helping to produce consistent wins right now.

[unanimous22]

New Rankings thru Sunday the 8th:

11) Augustana
24) IWU
25) Elmhurst
36th most votes) NCC

[sac]

A nice look at Pool C using KnightSlappy's computer model...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1653974#msg1653974

Thanks for the link, Q!

Looks like Elmhurst is in trouble.
I'm surprised North Central is that high.
Big game Saturday between the Cardinals & Bluejays in Elmhurst.

Keep in mind its really fluid and Knightslappy's formula might not match the NCAA rankings on Wednesday.  But I think at least right now the third Pool C from the CCIW seems to be in doubt a little.