MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[veterancciwfan]

Greg: You see IWU play one game a year in person. Could this comparison be of any value? IWU and NPU have played Carthage at home. IWU won by 26. NPU won by 7 in OT. Regarding NPU's last two home games, NPU was ramped up at the prospect and probability of beating IWU. My guess is their zeal was a little less for Carthage. Really, to quote Hillary, What does it matter? One team will make it as the #4 team in the conf. tournament and have the privilege of playing Augustana at home. Come to IWU on Feb. 13 for the NPU/IWU game and I'll give you a guided tour of the enhanced Shirk Center and another mini Dove dark chocolate.

[mwunder]

Really, to quote Hillary, What does it matter?

Let's not bring her up or mention her name ever again.

[CCIW >]

Watched just about the whole second half of that NPU game... Wow did Henry put on a show. I hope he can earn the POTY this year, definitely deserves it.

As far as the three pointer at the end... I am indifferent. Gotta remember that these guys live to play basketball, whether it is Henry or the last guy on the bench. This sport means everything to them.

Scoring 50 points in a collegiate game is a rare achievement... So rare that it could end up being one of the greatest, if not the greatest, memory of Henry's basketball career (Assuming he doesn't compete for a conference championship next year, or make the national tournament next year), which could also mean that it is one of the greatest memories/achievements of his life so far. That may sound intense, but there is nothing better then looking back at the things you achieved as a student athlete. If i had ever scored 50 points, i would talk about it to anyone that i came across. Might even have it on my resume.

Obviously, once you get married, have kids, etc. things change and it might not be as important, but right now, im sure it meant a lot to him. Unfortunately for him, it didn't go in and maybe in a way he deserved to miss it.

[WUPHF]

Nothing from nothing is still nothing

Just enough to buy me that pair of three goggles I have been wanting. 

[AndOne]

Sorry about your vision problem WUH. 

[Gregory Sager]

Greg: You see IWU play one game a year in person. Could this comparison be of any value?

I've seen the Titans play numerous times online as well as the one live game, Lanny. I'm pretty familiar with them.

IWU and NPU have played Carthage at home. IWU won by 26. NPU won by 7 in OT.

Yeah, and NPU beat IWU by twelve in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated. So what's your point? Is this some sort of transitive-property statement on your part that, because the Titans beat Carthage more soundly at home than did the Vikings, IWU therefore has nothing to worry about on Saturday? If so, I beg to differ. Teams change as the season goes along, and different nights bring different conditions and occurrences. And as far as the CC @ IWU contest being a factor on Saturday is concerned, the Tarble scoreboard will read 0-0 when the game starts.

It's certainly not unheard-of for a CCIW team to win handily over a league opponent at home and then lose to that opponent away in the second round-robin. I'm not saying that it's gonna happen this time. IWU is certainly the favorite on Saturday. I'm simply saying that if the Red Men play as fiercely and as soundly for forty minutes on Saturday as they did in the second half of Wednesday's game, they will beat the Titans.

Regarding NPU's last two home games, NPU was ramped up at the prospect and probability of beating IWU. My guess is their zeal was a little less for Carthage.

You guessed incorrectly. I think that you're a little too caught up in the idea that IWU is always the biggest game on everybody's schedule to look at this objectively.

NPU led Wednesday's game by 20 points in the first half and was totally in control of the contest. The Vikings took their foot off of the gas pedal in the second half, while Carthage came out of the locker room inspired and never let up. It was most definitely not a case of the Park having a little less zeal for the Red Men than they did for the Titans, because they played as well in the first half against the Red Men as they had on Saturday night. (In fact, the Vikes may have collectively played better in the first half against Carthage than they did in the first half against Wesleyan, because Jordan Robinson only played eight minutes in the first half of Wednesday's game due to foul trouble, which meant that everybody else had to step it up in his absence.)

Really, to quote Hillary, What does it matter? One team will make it as the #4 team in the conf. tournament and have the privilege of playing Augustana at home. Come to IWU on Feb. 13 for the NPU/IWU game and I'll give you a guided tour of the enhanced Shirk Center and another mini Dove dark chocolate.

1. You're counting the chickens before they're hatched as far as awarding the top seed to Augie is concerned.

2. Thanks for the offer, but I've already seen Shirk, and the enhancement really doesn't interest me at all. I'll gladly take you up on the chocolate, though, so thanks again.

[AppletonRocks]

Really, to quote Hillary, What does it matter?

Let's not bring her up or mention her name ever again.

The most useful comment on the CCIW board this year.  +1k

[Titan Q]

I'm simply saying that if the Red Men play as fiercely and as soundly for forty minutes on Saturday as they did in the second half of Wednesday's game, they will beat the Titans.

But what if IWU plays fiercely and soundly too?  Doesn't matter, Carthage wins?

I have no idea if IWU will beat Carthage (the Titans are all over the place), but this seems like a strange statement.

You guessed incorrectly. I think that you're a little too caught up in the idea that IWU is always the biggest game on everybody's schedule to look at this objectively.

I don't think it's fair to assume he meant that. 

I would think a team would be more jazzed up to play the team they know they are competing for a conference tournament spot with than a 2-5 team.  That's what I assumed he meant...and I think that's at least a fair suggestion.

[Gregory Sager]

Current Massey (SoS in parentheses):

    1. Augustana (5)
    6. Elmhurst (4)
    7. North Central (1)
  20. North Park (6)
  57. Illinois Wesleyan (7)
142. Carthage (27)
209. Wheaton (11)
216. Millikin (37)

Massey sez:

@ Augustana 84, North Park 68 (AC 93% favorite)
Illinois Wesleyan 79, @ Carthage 74 (IWU 67% favorite)
@ North Central 78, Wheaton 58 (NCC 96% favorite)
@ Elmhurst 84, Millikin 62 (EC 97% favorite)

[Gregory Sager]

I'm simply saying that if the Red Men play as fiercely and as soundly for forty minutes on Saturday as they did in the second half of Wednesday's game, they will beat the Titans.

But what if IWU plays fiercely and soundly too?  Doesn't matter, Carthage wins?

The Titans would have to play substantially better than they've played in any of the half-dozen games I've seen them play (except for the Texas Lutheran game and the last ten minutes or so of the Wash U game) in order to beat Carthage if the Red Men play at that elevated level. It's possible that the Titans would rise to that challenge; because of their position in the standings, they certainly have plenty of motivation to do so, of course. Given their baseline performance as far as I've seen of them, though, I would say that default-mode-Wesleyan would lose. Hence, my comment yesterday that "the Titans had better come prepared to strap it on" tomorrow night.

I think that the bigger factor here is whether or not Carthage can regain and then sustain that sort of effort and high level of competence for forty minutes. That's certainly in doubt.

You guessed incorrectly. I think that you're a little too caught up in the idea that IWU is always the biggest game on everybody's schedule to look at this objectively.

I don't think it's fair to assume he meant that. 

I would think a team would be more jazzed up to play the team they know they are competing for a conference tournament spot with than a 2-5 team.  That's what I assumed he meant...and I think that's at least a fair suggestion.

I was considering the source, Bob.

[Titan Q]

The Titans would have to play substantially better than they've played in any of the half-dozen games I've seen them play (except for the Texas Lutheran game and the last ten minutes or so of the Wash U game) in order to beat Carthage if the Red Men play at that elevated level. It's possible that the Titans would rise to that challenge; because of their position in the standings, they certainly have plenty of motivation to do so, of course. Given their baseline performance as far as I've seen of them, though, I would say that default-mode-Wesleyan would lose. Hence, my comment yesterday that "the Titans had better come prepared to strap it on" tomorrow night.

I hope default-mode-Carthage shows up then so IWU has a chance.

[Titan Q]

IWU guard Brady Rose is officially out for the season.  Having played just 6 games, he is eligible for a medical redshirt. 

[Gregory Sager]

The Titans would have to play substantially better than they've played in any of the half-dozen games I've seen them play (except for the Texas Lutheran game and the last ten minutes or so of the Wash U game) in order to beat Carthage if the Red Men play at that elevated level. It's possible that the Titans would rise to that challenge; because of their position in the standings, they certainly have plenty of motivation to do so, of course. Given their baseline performance as far as I've seen of them, though, I would say that default-mode-Wesleyan would lose. Hence, my comment yesterday that "the Titans had better come prepared to strap it on" tomorrow night.

I hope default-mode-Carthage shows up then so IWU has a chance.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU guard Brady Rose is officially out for the season.  Having played just 6 games, he is eligible for a medical redshirt.

Medical redshirts in D3 (at least private schools) are financially iffy, especially for 2-semester sports like bball.  Does anyone know if he gets a break in tuition as the HC's son?  (If he wants to redshirt, he can at least greatly lighten his class schedule - I don't think IWU has grad programs that would interest him [though admittedly, my knowledge of IWU grad programs is woefully out of date].)

[iwumichigander]

IWU guard Brady Rose is officially out for the season.  Having played just 6 games, he is eligible for a medical redshirt.

Medical redshirts in D3 (at least private schools) are financially iffy, especially for 2-semester sports like bball.  Does anyone know if he gets a break in tuition as the HC's son?  (If he wants to redshirt, he can at least greatly lighten his class schedule - I don't think IWU has grad programs that would interest him [though admittedly, my knowledge of IWU grad programs is woefully out of date].)

No IWU grad programs now