MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Augie wins, sneaks into the Sweet Sixteen.  Congrats to the Doggies.

iwu70

[Gregory Sager]

Northwestern 84
Elmhurst 75

I flipped back and forth between this game and the Augie game after the IWU @ UWSP feed went out. As others have said, Elmhurst just looked gassed in this one. The 'jays never quit, but they just didn't have enough left to overcome, and Northwestern played a very solid endgame to keep EC from ever getting closer than six.

Congrats to the 'jays on a fine season that really exceeded most everyone's expectations.

Congrats as well to the Eagles, who have turned into a terrific Cinderella story in this tournament.

[bbfan44]

Unlike last night, tonight there were many tight games.  It was fun to jump around and watch several.  Now to watch the big boys: Duke/UNC

[GoPerry]

'BlueJays come up just short -- if only Elmhurst hadn't waited 12 1/2 minutes to score their 6th point of the 2nd half because in the last 7 1/2 the offense wakes up to actually make it a game.

Congratulations to Coach Baines and Elmhurst on a great season.  Ditto for Coach Rose and the Titans.  Let's hope Augie gets some wind in their sails from a close win and gets it going.

No offense Greek, just a little conference pride.  Love Coach G.  In fact, I think he ends up getting tapped for a DI job sooner than later.  The man is a great leader and terrific coach.  Thought he might even have even ended up back at UWGB.

But if you're being honest,...what do you think SNC's record would have been in the CCIW this year and would it have been enough to get a Pool C?  For that matter, what do you think Elmhurst or NCC's record would have been in those 18 conference games in the MWC.  Would they have had enough to win the MWC?

Didn't mean to single them out, should have targeted others, but was trying to make the point regarding geography and scheduling. I  understand the admonishment and accept it.

Something tells me that Point, DePauw and especially Northwestern(MN) aren't all that impressed with the CCIW right now . . . sure didn't play like they were intimidated.  Eagles played well for two nights and deserved to advance - hats off to them.

[Gregory Sager]

St. Olaf beat Defiance, 68-63. So that sectional will feature Augustana vs. Mount Union and St. Olaf vs. Marietta.

Somebody's gonna have to fly, no matter where it's held. Either the two Ohio teams or the two teams from the upper Mississippi valley will have to get on planes. My guess is that Augustana gets the sectional hosting privileges over Mount Union by virtue of seeding.

[GoPerry]

Northwestern 84
Elmhurst 75

I flipped back and forth between this game and the Augie game after the IWU @ UWSP feed went out. As others have said, Elmhurst just looked gassed in this one. The 'jays never quit, but they just didn't have enough left to overcome, and Northwestern played a very solid endgame to keep EC from ever getting closer than six.

Congrats to the 'jays on a fine season that really exceeded most everyone's expectations.

Congrats as well to the Eagles, who have turned into a terrific Cinderella story in this tournament.

Northwestern didn't look like a team that began the season 1-8 but goes 19-1 the rest of the way. . . missing a key player earlier in the season perhaps?

[Gregory Sager]

Northwestern 84
Elmhurst 75

I flipped back and forth between this game and the Augie game after the IWU @ UWSP feed went out. As others have said, Elmhurst just looked gassed in this one. The 'jays never quit, but they just didn't have enough left to overcome, and Northwestern played a very solid endgame to keep EC from ever getting closer than six.

Congrats to the 'jays on a fine season that really exceeded most everyone's expectations.

Congrats as well to the Eagles, who have turned into a terrific Cinderella story in this tournament.

Northwestern didn't look like a team that began the season 1-8 but goes 19-1 the rest of the way. . . missing a key player earlier in the season perhaps?

Nope. The nine players who've played the bulk of the minutes for the Eagles all season also played the bulk of the minutes tonight.

UNW played a few pretty good teams in non-conference (St. Olaf, Bethel, GAC), but a few not-so-good teams as well. The Eagles took their lumps and then hit their stride once UMAC play began. Some times it just takes awhile for the light bulb to turn on for a team.

[AppletonRocks]

St. Olaf beat Defiance, 68-63. So that sectional will feature Augustana vs. Mount Union and St. Olaf vs. Marietta.

Somebody's gonna have to fly, no matter where it's held. Either the two Ohio teams or the two teams from the upper Mississippi valley will have to get on planes. My guess is that Augustana gets the sectional hosting privileges over Mount Union by virtue of seeding.

The NCAA is going to have St Olaf take a barge down the Mississippi to save travel costs to fund the Ohio team's flights. They can practice on the deck all week with the warm weather that is predicted.  The NCAA will pay for a fry cook and  any condiments needed to supplement to fish fries they have from fish caught off the barge. 

[Titan Q]

On the defensive end, IWU had some real tough matchup problems tonight -- the Pointers really made IWU pay.  They run a machine-like offense,  and they have so many scorers on the floor all of the time - when they are clicking, it's very impressive to watch. 

On the other end of the floor, IWU just really struggled with UW-Stevens Point's tenacious defense. The Titans scored 19 second half points, and I believe just 3 points in the final 8 minutes (I mean, that says it all really).  The Pointers just seemed to take IWU out of everything they wanted to do.

Huge thanks to IWU's seniors - Dylan Overstreet, Pat Sodemann, Jordan Nelson, and Brandon Heyen.  Special kudos to Dylan Overstreet, who has just been an impressive student-athete and great basketball player at Illinois Wesleyan. 

Another nice job by Ron Rose, who reloaded again and had the Titans in the CCIW title mix, in the NCAA tournament, and posting another 20-win season.  He's got the program in great shape.

Always sad for me when the IWU basketball season ends.  It was another fun ride!

[bbfan44]

I can't remember a game where only 20 fouls were called.  It is especially interesting that according to the box score, only 8 fouls were called on UWSP while playing tenacious defense.

[iwumichigander]

Titans - Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you for a good season.  To the seniors, it has been enjoyable.  Work hard and enjoy your senior year. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Something tells me that Point, DePauw and especially Northwestern(MN) aren't all that impressed with the CCIW right now . . . sure didn't play like they were intimidated.  Eagles played well for two nights and deserved to advance - hats off to them.

The success of the Pointers program would make it hard to be intimated by anyone, just like it would be hard for IWU to be intimidated . I think it's fair to say both programs respect each other a great deal. It wasn't an easy win. Winning doesn't mean we can't be impressed.

[markerickson]

Hopefully, St. Olaf won't be pulling any Asian carp out of the Mississippi.

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/invasive/asiancarp/

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=asian%20carp%20peoria&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=asian%20carp%20peoria&sc=3-17&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=430CCBC5DC13D9783C0F430CCBC5DC13D9783C0F

This is very serious.

[AO]

Something tells me that Point, DePauw and especially Northwestern(MN) aren't all that impressed with the CCIW right now . . . sure didn't play like they were intimidated.  Eagles played well for two nights and deserved to advance - hats off to them.

I think we know how good the CCIW is from playing Wheaton.  Also a little harder to create an intimidation factor on a neutral court.  Hopefully we get sent to IWU in a future tournament.  The brother in law math prof. sounds like he really likes bloomington and might stick around to give us a bonus incentive to get to the game.

[John Gleich]

Men's hosts: Augustana, Randolph-Macon, Babson, and UW-Stevens Point.