MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwumichigander]

just watched their Wartburg conference title game  - IWU will need to stop 6'7" 185lbs Norris.  Norris probably has a 6'10" or better wing span.  He is a deadly offensive weapon primarily from the perimeter; starts in the high post or key, moves immediately to the perimeter and much of the offense runs through him - he will step back and pop a three so you can't give any space.  With his height, Norris can see right over the defense. More an offensive threat than a defensive threat but his length lets him challenge shots.  Not a leaper.

I have also watched some Dubuque video lately, and wow is Andre Norris good.  6-7, crazy long, athletic "combo forward" who can handle the ball -- much more of a face-the-basket guy with tremendous range (great 3-point shooter), but can do damage down in the low post too.  Norris will be the most talented frontcourt player IWU has faced this season by far - kind of Tayvian Johnson but way more skilled and talented.  He looks to me like a legitimate NCAA D2 type player.  (I know that John Baines offered him a full scholarship at St. Francis.)

IWU really has no one in the starting lineup well suited to guard him.  Sodemann is too small...Marietti and Seibring are not mobile enough.  Realistically, it will have to be Bausch and Coyle.  I'm very intrigued to see what Ron Rose tries to do with him.  Definitely need Eric Dortch back for this one.

The good news is that IWU should be able to score a lot of points against Dubuque.  I won't be surprised if both teams score 80+.

I agree that Tayvian Johnson best comparison body type and size.  I bet Coach G's coat would get thrown way into the stands if Tayvian brought the ball up court like Norris .  Palucki of WashU comes to mind also but he has a bigger body type.

[Gregory Sager]

Wow, looks like Dubuque is not very deep at all, should be a big advantage to the Titans.

I would change "should be" to "could be" in terms of depth being a big advantage. Depth is not the be-all and end-all of basketball. Let's not forget that you can only play with five players at a time. A team with a short bench that's good enough to control style and tempo and which can avoid having players foul out can beat a deeper team. It happens all the time. Here's a recent example, f'rinstance.

Keep in mind as well that there will be four media timeouts per half during each tourney game. That's another factor that plays into the hands of a team that lacks the depth of its opponent.

[iwumichigander]

Good point Greg although you could have picked another example . Dubuque capable of controlling tempo, plays a half court game.

[John Gleich]

Wow, looks like Dubuque is not very deep at all, should be a big advantage to the Titans.

I would change "should be" to "could be" in terms of depth being a big advantage. Depth is not the be-all and end-all of basketball. Let's not forget that you can only play with five players at a time. A team with a short bench that's good enough to control style and tempo and which can avoid having players foul out can beat a deeper team. It happens all the time. Here's a recent example, f'rinstance.

Keep in mind as well that there will be four media timeouts per half during each tourney game. That's another factor that plays into the hands of a team that lacks the depth of its opponent.

It could certainly be interested the next night if the hosts move on as well. UWSP is leading the country in defensive PPG (55.6) and one of the ways they do that is by limiting the number of possessions. I haven't run the numbers yet... may get a chance to do that tomorrow.

[DBQ1965]

Just to get my 2-cents worth in:  UD finished in a tie for second in the Iowa Conference.  They lost twice to the regular conference season champions ... and made the NCAAs by winning the IIAC tournament.  They don't have great depth or height ... but two key players, Norris and Ferguson were named IACC MVP and Defensive MVP respectively.  The Spartans are well coached and play with discipline.  I have followed them for 54 years and can only say ... GO BLUE (and I don't mean Michigan)!

[Gregory Sager]

Good point Greg although you could have picked another example .

Did you really think that I would?

[veterancciwfan]

For some reason, IWU is staying in a motel in Weston, a suburb of Wausau, which is 30 miles north of Stevens Point. Fantastic town with frigid weather whose top retail stores are Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware and Goodwill. A little history lesson: Wausau is a Chippewa word for a far away place, which must be true as I-39 ends suddenly about 5 miles north of Wausau. Must be all wilderness from there to Canadian border. Give John Baines credit for recognizing talent as Norris wound up at Dubuque rather than St. Francis. At least he didn't wind up in the CCIW. He does pose a significant matchup dilemma.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

For some reason, IWU is staying in a motel in Weston, a suburb of Wausau, which is 30 miles north of Stevens Point. Fantastic town with frigid weather whose top retail stores are Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware and Goodwill. A little history lesson: Wausau is a Chippewa word for a far away place, which must be true as I-39 ends suddenly about 5 miles north of Wausau. Must be all wilderness from there to Canadian border. Give John Baines credit for recognizing talent as Norris wound up at Dubuque rather than St. Francis. At least he didn't wind up in the CCIW. He does pose a significant matchup dilemma.

I have no clue why IWU would be staying that far north of SP.  But I disagree with most of your post: Wausau (a great small city) is the beginning of the REAL Wisconsin, not the end.  Go north, and you'll see what I mean.  WW guys may disagree; I suspect that SP guys will say YEAH.

[Titan Q]

DePauw 83
Wash U 73


DePauw travels to Augustana Saturday.

[Gregory Sager]

For some reason, IWU is staying in a motel in Weston, a suburb of Wausau, which is 30 miles north of Stevens Point. Fantastic town with frigid weather whose top retail stores are Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware and Goodwill. A little history lesson: Wausau is a Chippewa word for a far away place, which must be true as I-39 ends suddenly about 5 miles north of Wausau. Must be all wilderness from there to Canadian border. Give John Baines credit for recognizing talent as Norris wound up at Dubuque rather than St. Francis. At least he didn't wind up in the CCIW. He does pose a significant matchup dilemma.

I have no clue why IWU would be staying that far north of SP.  But I disagree with most of your post: Wausau (a great small city) is the beginning of the REAL Wisconsin, not the end.  Go north, and you'll see what I mean.  WW guys may disagree; I suspect that SP guys will say YEAH.

If you're talking about northern Wisconsin, it's more like, "ya, eh?"

[titanfan]

DePauw 83
Wash U 73


DePauw travels to Augustana Saturday.

Interesting. I didn't see that one coming.

[kiko]

For some reason, IWU is staying in a motel in Weston, a suburb of Wausau, which is 30 miles north of Stevens Point. Fantastic town with frigid weather whose top retail stores are Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware and Goodwill. A little history lesson: Wausau is a Chippewa word for a far away place, which must be true as I-39 ends suddenly about 5 miles north of Wausau. Must be all wilderness from there to Canadian border. Give John Baines credit for recognizing talent as Norris wound up at Dubuque rather than St. Francis. At least he didn't wind up in the CCIW. He does pose a significant matchup dilemma.

Well, wilderness and then some water.  Also, one must beware of feral Hodags, which based on their, composition, surely are genetically related to Gorloks.

[D-3 watcher]

Huge track meet at point

[Titan Q]

Wash U has lost at home in the NCAA tournament the last 4 years:

2015 - DePauw (round 1)
2014 - Calvin (round 2)
2013 - IWU (round 2)
2012 - North Central (round 2)

Since the 2008-09 national championship game win, the Bears have just 4 NCAA tournament wins and no trips to the Sweet 16.  Pretty surprising since Wash U has won the UAA (a great league) in 4 of the 6 seasons since 2008-09.

[iwumichigander]

DePauw 83
Wash U 73


DePauw travels to Augustana Saturday.

Interesting. I didn't see that one coming.

DePauw was hitting treys (14-21 66.7%). WashU not so much (4-15 26.7%)  Add in WashU. out rebounded 35-27  pretty much the story.