MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Q, you had Sodemann at 6'3" guarding him and Rose and Nelson are better defenders that Sodemann, IMHO, so what's so WTF about that? 

No, I did not.  I said Sodemann was too small to guard 6-7 Norris.  Norris would go nuts in the low post with a guard on him.

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.

[iwu70]

Q, the Titans will have to do something to keep the ball out of his hands.  I think Bausch still the best option.  Or zone.  Trap him from several directions.  May need to try a different starting line-up.  Dortch would have been the best option. 

We'll see, soon enough.

'70

[unanimous22]

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.

Sure but depth can help in more ways than just staying fresh. A lot of talk about Norris and what it will take to guard him. I'd assume Rose likes having a deeper set of guys to choose from and hopefully help get the job done. Maybe Jordan Nelson and Rose are still in a tissy with one another and someone else needs to step up for some scoring off the bench. Just things like that too. If Dubuque has a couple of guys with off nights it seems they need to just roll with them.

I think Ypsi compared them to Hanover. I always thought that Hanovers 2 biggest strengths were their size (bulk) and depth of contributors. It seems they weren't built for long tournament runs, and I'm not so sure this IWU team is either, but in a one game knockout man were they tough.

[iwumichigander]

Q, you had Sodemann at 6'3" guarding him and Rose and Nelson are better defenders that Sodemann, IMHO, so what's so WTF about that? 

No, I did not.  I said Sodemann was too small to guard 6-7 Norris.  Norris would go nuts in the low post with a guard on him.

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.

70 - I, not Q, had Sodemann guarding him.  After watching UD play Buena Vista, it will come down to where Norris sets up.  In the Wartburg game, Norris was on the perimeter and shooting and passing over smaller guards.  In the BV game, Norris played more of a typical 4 role.  As Q says, it is going to interesting to see how Ron Rose game plans for Norris.  And the other four UD starters have the ability to score. 

[iwumichigander]

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.

Sure but depth can help in more ways than just staying fresh. A lot of talk about Norris and what it will take to guard him. I'd assume Rose likes having a deeper set of guys to choose from and hopefully help get the job done. Maybe Jordan Nelson and Rose are still in a tissy with one another and someone else needs to step up for some scoring off the bench. Just things like that too. If Dubuque has a couple of guys with off nights it seems they need to just roll with them.

I think Ypsi compared them to Hanover. I always thought that Hanovers 2 biggest strengths were their size (bulk) and depth of contributors. It seems they weren't built for long tournament runs, and I'm not so sure this IWU team is either, but in a one game knockout man were they tough.

Greg, I did compare them to Hanover.  It was more the size (bulk) than depth I was trying to point out.  Other than Norris, UD guys are seem stocky and can hold their piece of the paint.

[URockets]

Q, the Titans will have to do something to keep the ball out of his hands.  I think Bausch still the best option.  Or zone.  Trap him from several directions.  May need to try a different starting line-up.  Dortch would have been the best option. 

We'll see, soon enough.

'70

How about some long and quick 6' 8" Brandon Heyen 

[iwumichigander]

Q, the Titans will have to do something to keep the ball out of his hands.  I think Bausch still the best option.  Or zone.  Trap him from several directions.  May need to try a different starting line-up.  Dortch would have been the best option. 

We'll see, soon enough.

'70

How about some long and quick 6' 8" Brandon Heyen 

I confess the thought has crossed my mind.  Helen comes to closest to a physical matchup as any current Titan other then Bausch.

[AndOne]

I had Wash U winning too, facing Augie on Saturday.  Perhaps the first surprise of many. 

On IWU's defensive strategy, might we see Brady Rose or Jordan Nelson guarding this perimeter big man?  I'm still of the mind that Bausch might be best, even though he often picks up fouls too quickly.  Eric Dortch indeed, where art thou! 

It should be interesting Friday night in SP.  We'll see who wins the "depth" and "hoarding" argument.  Seems to me the Titans have to push it, get up and down the floor and score 78 or more to win.

GO TITANS!

'70

As has been discussed, its doubtful any guard would be very effective against the 6'7" Norris, let alone guys who are listed as being 6'2" and 6'1"

Speaking of Nelson, will he even play? He hasn't played a minute in either of the last two (conference tournament) games, and played only 4 minutes in the last regular season game before that. Now its national tournament/win or go home time. If Rose needs a three pointer to win or tie in the last few seconds, does he put the Division 1 transfer, a renowned three point shooter who was expected to tear things up in stepping "down" to D3, in? Or, does he call on someone else, possibly his freshman son, to take a make or break shot? Perhaps it depends on how straight Nelson puts on his head today, or on  given game day. Earlier in the season, Rose sat a perfectly healthy Nelson for a game in order for him to do exactly that. I believe it was reported that the DNPCD, which was certainly disciplinary in nature as Nelson's antics had undoubtedly become a distraction to the team, was for the exact express purpose of "getting his head on straight." It will be interesting to see what develops on this front as the tournament progresses.
It would also be interesting to learn what led to both Nelson's being removed from the starting lineup, and why he hasn't played a second in the last two games. A D1 transfer on the bench for anything other than disclplinary reasons just doesn't make sense.


Speaking of Dubuque, I really don't know much about them. Obviously, they have one very good player. However, do many people really think IWU , with all its  depth, has much to worry about in today's game?

[Greek Tragedy]

Stevens Point's starting center is 6'4".       

[WUPHF]

I've seen 65%: http://www4.uwsp.edu/ATHLETICS/mbb/03-04/mbbgm-32.htm

If it had been 67%, we would have lost. #16 rimmed out at the buzzer... and he'd hit 6 in the game.

That was the first thing I thought of when DePauw hit their first 6/7 from deep. Lawrence hit 8/10 in that first half in Tacoma... but it was our half court shot going into halftime (for the second night in a row) to cut their lead to 4 at 40-36, then Bennett's deep, contested 3 with 9 seconds left that even gave us a chance in OT.  Ah the memories!

That must have been an awesome game to watch.  Thanks for sharing.

[WUPHF]

Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 10-4 CCIW) vs Dubuque (23-5, 10-4 IIAC), 5:00pm Friday at UW-Stevens Point...

Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 10-4)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Sr. (11.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.7 apg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/165 Jr. (8.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Sr. (8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
F - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 Jr. (7.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
C - Trevor Seibring, 6-8/235 So. (9.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Sr. (10.8 ppg)
F - Ryan Coyle, 6-6/208 Jr. (7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
F - Alec Bausch, 6-6/210 So. (5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
G - Joel Pennington, 6-0/175 Jr. (4.9 ppg)
G - Brady Rose, 6-2/170 Fr. (4.8 ppg)

Dubuque (23-5, 10-4 IIAC)
G - Lucas Ware, 6-1/175 Sr. (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G - Jacob Mohlis, 6-2/160 So. (8.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
G - Brandon Ferguson, 6-3/180 Sr. (10.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
F - Gage Heffernan, 6-4/195, Sr. (14.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
F - Andre Norris, 6-7/185 Jr. (20.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg)

G - Kain Arthofer, 6-3/175 So. (4.7 ppg)
F - Tanner Cooke, 6-4/200 Sr. (3.5 ppg)
F - Tyler Ware, 6-6/215 Sr. (2.8 ppg)

Who is the poster who does the nicknames?

This has long been one of my favorite parts of March Madness.

Jacob "Holy" Mohlis
Trevor "Chrysler" Seibring
Mike "Mamma Mia" Marietti
Brady "Guns and" Rose
Andre "Chuck" Norris

Bring back the nicknames!

[AndOne]

Your's are pretty darn good, WUH.   

[Greek Tragedy]

I've seen 65%: http://www4.uwsp.edu/ATHLETICS/mbb/03-04/mbbgm-32.htm

If it had been 67%, we would have lost. #16 rimmed out at the buzzer... and he'd hit 6 in the game.

That was the first thing I thought of when DePauw hit their first 6/7 from deep. Lawrence hit 8/10 in that first half in Tacoma... but it was our half court shot going into halftime (for the second night in a row) to cut their lead to 4 at 40-36, then Bennett's deep, contested 3 with 9 seconds left that even gave us a chance in OT.  Ah the memories!

That must have been an awesome game to watch.  Thanks for sharing.

John should know. He had a front row seat, literally. 

[John Gleich]

For the UWSP pod tonight, some data:

Team	Off Eff	Def Eff	Poss/gm	PPG	Def PPG
UWSP	114.6	96.5	115.0	65.8	55.6
CUW	107.0	97.1	142.5	76.3	69.1
IWU	112.4	96.3	139.8	78.7	67.3
Dub	107.2	91.7	144.8	77.8	66.3

The Off/Def efficiency takes Points/100 possessions and the possessions are compiled by this algorithm:  Poss = FGA - ORB + T.O. + (.475*FTA)                  

Team	A/Gm	TO/Gm	A/TO Ratio	St/Gm
UWSP	11.7	8.2	1.44	6.7
Opp	9.8	12.0	0.81	4.1
CUW	12.6	12.1	1.04	10.3
Opp	13.9	16.9	0.82	6.1
IWU	17.5	12.5	1.40	5.0
Opp	10.7	12.1	0.88	5.7
Dub	12.1	12.6	0.96	9.4
Opp	9.9	14.9	0.66	5.4

[AppletonRocks]

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.

Greg, that win probably didn't do much for your tournament chances.  Of course you can't pick your conference games to get better competition.  The win over Oshkosh helped you though.