MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AppletonRocks]

"Score 1 more point the NPU"? What does that even mean?

Unlikely probability.  NCC by 15 is more likely, in my opinion. 

[GoPerry]

NPU key to victory:

1. Score more points than NCC

"That might work in practice, but it would NEVER work in theory."  said the economist . . .

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 84
North Park 74

[Titan Q]

Augustana 103
Wheaton 101 (OT)

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan 77
#13-Elmhurst 67

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=3497&path=mbball

* Dolan: 15 pts, 3 assists
* Seibring: 12 pts, 5 reb
* Stempel: 12 pts, 4 assists
* Bonnett: 10 pts, 4 reb
* Pennington: 10 pts, 2 reb, 7 assists

* Crittenden: 14 pts,
* Coleman: 14 pts
* Payonk: 10 pts, 5 reb

Really impressive showing by IWU on Senior Night - this game was never close.  The Titans played well on both ends of the floor from start to finish.

Big game vs #1-Augustana Friday night...should be fun.

[Gregory Sager]

NCC 84, NPU 74

T.J. Cobbs: 18 pts, 3:0 a:to
Jordan Robinson: 18 pts, 7 rebs
Juwan Henry: 15 pts, 6 rebs, 5:0 a:to
Michael Hutchinson: 10 pts, 3 stls

Kevin Honn: 29 pts (8-12 FG, 4-6 trey, 9-10 FT)
Connor Raridon: 12 pts, 10 rebs
Jayme Moten: 10 pts

NPU just couldn't buy a basket down the stretch in this game. On numerous occasions the Vikings got an open look that felt like it could've been a momentum swinger if it went down ... but it invariably didn't. That, and an extraordinary game from NCC's Kevin Honn -- he was a one-man wrecking crew tonight-- plus really awful free-throw shooting (11-23, 48%) for the Vikes pretty much spelled the end of the season.

The Vikings have the entire off-season to think about some of these narrow losses, such as the OT loss at Elmhurst and the OT loss at Augie, both games the Vikings would've won had they been able to hit their free throws. In the end, for all of NPU's deficiencies, dysfunctional free-throw shooting may have been the shortcoming that cost them the most.

[iwu70]

Was that Mike Marietti I saw in the game at the end of the EC-IWU contest?   

Good win for the TITANS -- going 7-7 as expected some weeks back, at least a good strong showing on Senior Night, in control of this game pretty much throughout.  Now a chance at least for the AQ -- a very steep road to climb at #1 Augie on their floor.

Nice to see the seniors go out on a winning note @The Shirk and have such self-less, balanced play by the team, with 5-6 guys in double figures.  Nelms and Pennington played well -- and Seibring was just his normal reliable, consistent self, like all season.  Dolan can flat out shoot it. Stempel shot it well too, tonight. 

Hope the Titans can really make some noise next weekend.

IWU'70

P.S.  Congrats to Mia Smith and the TITAN women on winning a share of the CCIW regular season championship, shared with WC at 11-3.  Impressive for this young Titan team.  Tournament now up at WC with IWU playing The System in the semis, then hopefully another crack at WC for the AQ.  '70

[markerickson]

How many rebounds did Viking Jordan Robinson have tonite?  I know he had three in maybe seven seconds on the offensive glass.  One problem with NPU's offensive scheme is that no one pounds the boards when Jordan shoots the trey.  Yes, that is a slight overstatement because I have been surprised over the last two seasons with the number of rebounds PG Colin Lake and the conference leader in steals, guard TJ Cobbs, have had.

On the bright side, the Vikes improved upon last season and graduated only one senior.  Thank you, Michael Hutchinson, for your dedication to your education and the hardcourt.  Alternatively, the program needs an injection of talent because I see little on the bench going into next year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

We were knocked off the internet for several hours this evening (I'd express how I really feel about Comcast, but Pat would probably ban me for language ), so I was delighted to find that NPU lost (sorry Greg) and IWU won.  While facing #1 Augie on their home court in the first round of the conference tourney (and with zero hope of a Pool C) is a daunting task, it is at least slightly less daunting now being 1-5 against the other teams, rather than 0-6!

We'll do what we can do.  We HAVE beaten #1 ranked teams on their own courts before!

[iwu70]

Really surprised Augie had to go to OT to beat Wheaton, to win the CCIW outright, tonight.  Were some of Augie's top players being rested?  Wheaton losing 20 games this year -- that's not something you see very often. 

Yes, Ypsi, hope springs eternal about taking down #1 on their home floor in the CCIW tourney semis.  I'd love to see it, of course, but I think a mission too far this year.  This is Augie's year to win a national title. 

Gotta love the TITAN women getting to a CCIW regular season crown, shared with Wheaton.  A young team, with really poor stats overall, finding a way to keep winning in CCIW play.  Tonight they turned over EC 26 times for 39 points off TOs.  That's how it is done.  Yes, all credit goes to Coach Smith and her young, never-say-die, team.  Only one senior, so all back next year for another go, young players getting better and better.

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

Great effort by the Thunder tonight vs the #1 team.  Even after shooting 58% from the field, 60% from 3, 96% FT it was only good enough to take Augie to OT where they fell short.  Jonathan Berntsen was unbelievable, scoring from everywhere, could not be guarded and was the best player on the floor.  In fact, Dillard, Joel Smith, and Samuelson all had the sorts of games that one wishes we could've seen more consistently throughout the year.  They played loose and aggressive offensively and it served them well tonight.  Michael Berg did not have a great stat line, but having to guard Motzel or Ben Ryan took it out of him for sure.  It was a terrible call that ended up fouling him out with 55 seconds left in regulation.  Refs missed an obvious push in the back by Motzel that allowed him to get the rebound and Berg fouled him on the put back for his fifth.

Augie just has so many weapons.  Hill did not have a good game, but when you have Ben Ryan rebounding and scoring and Pils hitting big shot after big shot, well you get the idea.  Congratulations to Augustana for their well-deserved CCIW regular season crown.

Again, I wish we could have seen this Wheaton team a little more this season.  They gave a wonderful and courageous performance tonight. They gave Augie all they could handle and it was enjoyable to watch.  But it was still a loss, their 20th overall and 13th in the league which was good for 8th out of 8. 

Good luck to seniors Michael Berg, Joel Smith, Jonathan Berntsen, Riley Teuscher and jr Trevor Leach(transfering).  Thank you for representing Wheaton well with competitiveness, dignity and grace.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Really surprised Augie had to go to OT to beat Wheaton, to win the CCIW outright, tonight.  Were some of Augie's top players being rested?  Wheaton losing 20 games this year -- that's not something you see very often. 

Yes, Ypsi, hope springs eternal about taking down #1 on their home floor in the CCIW tourney semis.  I'd love to see it, of course, but I think a mission too far this year.  This is Augie's year to win a national title. 

Gotta love the TITAN women getting to a CCIW regular season crown, shared with Wheaton.  A young team, with really poor stats overall, finding a way to keep winning in CCIW play.  Tonight they turned over EC 26 times for 39 points off TOs.  That's how it is done.  Yes, all credit goes to Coach Smith and her young, never-say-die, team.  Only one senior, so all back next year for another go, young players getting better and better.

IWU'70

Mark, amazing as it seems, IWU has NEVER won a conference tourney!  I was talkin' about national tourney (Hope, 2012; Chicago, 2001(?), others I'm forgetting?).  But, yeah, if we're gonna dance this year we have to start the upsets earlier!

And I'm with ya on the women.  I'm not that confident about this year, but NEXT year - watch out!  (Sydney Moss graduates this year, so next year is more promising anyway!)

[iwumichigander]

Which Titan team showed up tonight?  This has probably been the pressing question all season.  Tonight, the answer was - the team we all hoped to see the entire season.  A terrific effort by every player, great ball movement, shared the ball, talked to each other on defense and went for the close out win early and often.  It was wonderful to watch and sure happy we made the trip from Michigan.

Seniors - thank-you!  And the best part --- you have more game(s) to play.  This was truly a team win.  There were no real individual standouts because you all stood out and got the job done in convincing fashion.

Elmhurst just never got going tonight.  A tough night for John Baines' team and, honestly a little hard to watch, for a team that has played well this season.
Onto Rock Island!

[Titan Q]

'70 and Ypsi, there is an entire board dedicated to CCIW women's basketball.  I know you know where it is, because you post there.  Everyone who cares about the women's side of the league visits that board.

I can promise you, because I hear from people regularly, that this kind of stuff annoys IWU fans as much as it does non-IWU fans.   

P.S.  Congrats to Mia Smith and the TITAN women on winning a share of the CCIW regular season championship, shared with WC at 11-3.  Impressive for this young Titan team.  Tournament now up at WC with IWU playing The System in the semis, then hopefully another crack at WC for the AQ.  '70

Gotta love the TITAN women getting to a CCIW regular season crown, shared with Wheaton.  A young team, with really poor stats overall, finding a way to keep winning in CCIW play.  Tonight they turned over EC 26 times for 39 points off TOs.  That's how it is done.  Yes, all credit goes to Coach Smith and her young, never-say-die, team.  Only one senior, so all back next year for another go, young players getting better and better.

IWU'70

And I'm with ya on the women.  I'm not that confident about this year, but NEXT year - watch out!  (Sydney Moss graduates this year, so next year is more promising anyway!)

[Titan Q]

Here is my 2016 all-CCIW team.  I constructed the team with no regard for positions per team.

(CCIW-only stats)

1st Team
- Juwan Henry (G, North Park), 5-10/165 Jr.   24.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, .456 FG, .450 3-point
- Ben Ryan (F, Augustana), 6-5/216 Sr.   15.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .549 FG
- Hunter Hill (G, Augustana), 5-9/165 Sr.   14.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, .434 FG, .391 3-point, .871 FT
- Alex Sorenson (F, North Central), 6-8/240 So.   14.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .542 FG, .500 3-point
- Jordan Robinson (F, North Park), 6-3/205 So.   19.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, .500 FG, .338 3-point

2nd Team
- Connor Raridon (F, North Central), 6-5/185 Fr.   14.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.5 A:TO, .485 FG, .410 3-point
- Kyle Wuest (G, Elmhurst), 6-1/175 Sr.   13.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.32 A:TO, .400 FG, .435 3-point, .843 FT
- Trevor Seibring (F, Illinois Wesleyan), 6-8/235 Jr.   13.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, .585 FG
- Brandon Motzel (F, Augustana), 6-7/210 Sr.  10.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, .652 FG
- Jayme Moten (G, North Central), 6-0/175 Sr.  11.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .430 FG, .421 3-point, 1.000 FT, 40 3's made

3rd Team
- Michael Berg (F, Wheaton), 6-6/210 Sr.   13.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .407 FG
- Jonathan Bernsten (G, Wheaton), 6-0/190 Sr.   13.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.0 A:TO, .468 FG, .286 3-point
- Eric Crittenden (F, Elmhurst), 6-7/215 Sr.   11.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .439 FG
- TJ Griffin (G, Millikin), 6-0/168 Sr.   13.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, .477 FG, .277 3-point
- Bryce Dolan (G, Illinois Wesleyan), 6-1/165 Sr.   11.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, .429 FG, .412 3-point, 35 3's made


Co-Most Outstanding Player = Juwan Henry (North Park) & Ben Ryan (Augustana)

Freshman of the Year = Connor Raridon (North Central)

Coach of the Year = Grey Giovanine (Augustana)