MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Augie6]

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.

I was at the game and agree with everything GoPerry said.  Hard to believe that Wheaton lost 20 games this season, based on how they played last night.  Bernsten was unstoppable getting to the rim and played a great game.  Every time I thought that Augie was going to stretch the lead and put the game away, Wheaton would come right back and make it a one possession game.  Augie did miss some key FTs late in the game, that could have prevented it from going to OT (i believe they missed 4 in the last minute or so of the game).  They need to clean this up going into the tournament.  Ben Ryan was really effective in the paint (9-12 shooting) and Griffin Pils took over the scoring load in the 2nd half and OT after scoring only 4 points in the first half.  Overall, a fun game to watch with a lot of excitement and a very good crowd.  Congrats to my Vikes on their CCIW title.  A great regular season and let's hope for a great post season run, as well. 

[bbfan44]

Titan Q, I'd say there isn't much to argue about with your Conference selections.  I'd like to suggest an additional category....The 6th Man Award and for me the inaugural winner would be Kevin Honn of North Central.  He regularly has given them the spark they need, or given rest for someone with no drop off.  He scores, rebounds, defends.  A very solid player.

[veterancciwfan]

One more indication of why CCIW basketball is so good. Can you imagine another league where the 12-1 and best team in the country plays the 1-12 doormat and almost loses. My son, an Augie grad, was at the game and sent me repeated texts. Said Bernsten was unstoppable driving to basket, place was packed, Wheaton fans shouting the predictable 'overrated" at end of regulation and Bernsten almost won it with a "hail Mary" shot at the OT buzzer. Think I'll try to see last 5 min of regulation and OT on Wheaton's website. This was obviously a fantastic game. And more to follow Friday and Saturday in dreary Rock Island. Even my son agrees with that assessment.

[GoPerry]

One more indication of why CCIW basketball is so good. Can you imagine another league where the 12-1 and best team in the country plays the 1-12 doormat and almost loses. My son, an Augie grad, was at the game and sent me repeated texts. Said Bernsten was unstoppable driving to basket, place was packed, Wheaton fans shouting the predictable 'overrated" at end of regulation and Bernsten almost won it with a "hail Mary" shot at the OT buzzer. Think I'll try to see last 5 min of regulation and OT on Wheaton's website. This was obviously a fantastic game. And more to follow Friday and Saturday in dreary Rock Island. Even my son agrees with that assessment.

Ironically, as it turns out, Wheaton was Augie's toughest opponent in the league this year by scoring margin(-4 and -2 OT).

Coach G is probably relieved he doesn't have to face us again . . . now that Wheaton's out of the way, he can get on with winning the National Title.

[iwu70]

Q, just read on.  Surely there's more to be annoyed about than a little banter by Ypsi and me about the Titan women!

Look forward to the men's and women's games this weekend.

That Augie-WC games sounds like a great one. 

Thanks to NCC for taking down NPU last Saturday. 

'70

[markerickson]

Last night at North Park I sat next to a non-CCIW referee who said he attends CCIW games along with a retired CCIW ref.  They attended two NPU games earlier this year when former NPC championship players were in attendance in the same seating section as I.  During last night's game, I lamented to the ref the lack of moving screen calls.  He replied, "Watch [Raridon], he's a dirty player, and I will tell you when."  The comment was not meant as a compliment.  Sure enough, with all three refs and the ball well ahead of Raridon and Robinson, the former underhooked the latter to impede progress and Robinson spun around to disengage.  When I expressed dissatisfaction, the ref turned to me and said, "Told you so."  Then the second whiniest CCIW coach started screaming and the refs inexplicably stopped play.  (I doubt they saw what happened, given their position on the court.)  The refs formed a circle and subsequently saddled Robinson with a foul, probably because the coach's son can't be guilty, right?  Watch the NCC freshman next year and you will see what I am talking about.  And I've noticed the NCC coach has a penchant for yelling at the refs while the opposing player is about to shoot a FT.  Bush league. 

[veterancciwfan]

markerickson: Interesting post.

[cardinalpride]

Last night at North Park I sat next to a non-CCIW referee who said he attends CCIW games along with a retired CCIW ref.  They attended two NPU games earlier this year when former NPC championship players were in attendance in the same seating section as I.  During last night's game, I lamented to the ref the lack of moving screen calls.  He replied, "Watch [Raridon], he's a dirty player, and I will tell you when."  The comment was not meant as a compliment.  Sure enough, with all three refs and the ball well ahead of Raridon and Robinson, the former underhooked the latter to impede progress and Robinson spun around to disengage.  When I expressed dissatisfaction, the ref turned to me and said, "Told you so."  Then the second whiniest CCIW coach started screaming and the refs inexplicably stopped play.  (I doubt they saw what happened, given their position on the court.)  The refs formed a circle and subsequently saddled Robinson with a foul, probably because the coach's son can't be guilty, right?  Watch the NCC freshman next year and you will see what I am talking about.  And I've noticed the NCC coach has a penchant for yelling at the refs while the opposing player is about to shoot a FT.  Bush league.

Mark,
Are you calling Connor Raridon a dirty player due to this one incident you speak of? Is it due to the opinion of this so called non CCIW official? I assume raridon's "dirty" play is the reason NCC won the game.
I guess Todd Raridon should hold his choice words for an official until after the free throws have been taken.  Raridon has coached in this league for 12 years so surely someone else would've noticed this "penchant" behavior, no?

[Titan Q]

A great look at Pool C from Matthew Snyder (aka KnightSlappy)...

http://detroitjockcity.com/division-iii-mens-basketball-regional-rankings-data/

North Central is an absolute lock for Pool C.

Things might be getting a little dicey for Elmhurst though.  The last regional rankings had the Bluejays (#5) ahead of Chicago (#6) in the Central.  Now the data is:
-Elmhurst: .800/.519/2-4
-Chicago: .696/.559/2-6

In my opinion, that is very tight.  And the order here seems really important to me - there is a very good chance one of these two get in, but not both.

If the Bluejays lose to North Central Friday, their final numbers would be:
-Elmhurst: .769/.519+/2-5

Chicago has one game left - Saturday at home vs Wash U.  That is a game Chicago should be a solid favorite in.  And of course the UAA doesn't have a tournament.  With a win, the Maroons would have:
-Chicago: .708/.559 ish/2-6

In stacking those up, and considering Chicago's 1-0 vs NCC relative to Elmhurst's 0-2, it seems like Chicago would be ranked higher in the region.

Now, they might both get in, but Matthew Snyder currently has Chicago as Pool C #13 and Elmhurst #15.  There are typically about 5 major upsets that send Pool A teams to Pool C.  So sitting at #15 is not a comfortable spot.

If you are an Elmhurst fan, you really need a win Friday vs NCC to breath easier...and you have to be a big Wash U Bears fan vs the Maroons.

[bbfan44]

markerickson....you've got a lot of spin going on there

and, btw, you don't have to wait until next year to watch the freshman....you can watch him this coming weekend, at minimum.

[Rafi]

Last night at North Park I sat next to a non-CCIW referee who said he attends CCIW games along with a retired CCIW ref.  They attended two NPU games earlier this year when former NPC championship players were in attendance in the same seating section as I.  During last night's game, I lamented to the ref the lack of moving screen calls.  He replied, "Watch [Raridon], he's a dirty player, and I will tell you when."  The comment was not meant as a compliment.  Sure enough, with all three refs and the ball well ahead of Raridon and Robinson, the former underhooked the latter to impede progress and Robinson spun around to disengage.  When I expressed dissatisfaction, the ref turned to me and said, "Told you so."  Then the second whiniest CCIW coach started screaming and the refs inexplicably stopped play.  (I doubt they saw what happened, given their position on the court.)  The refs formed a circle and subsequently saddled Robinson with a foul, probably because the coach's son can't be guilty, right?  Watch the NCC freshman next year and you will see what I am talking about.  And I've noticed the NCC coach has a penchant for yelling at the refs while the opposing player is about to shoot a FT.  Bush league.

Instead of commenting on Raridon, maybe you should comment on the deliberate and blatant cheap shot by Hutchinson on Moten at the end of the game that was called a flagrant 1.

And, your description of how these events transpired is less an accurate, at best.

[markerickson]

NCC absolutely deserved to win, so I have not clue about that post.

I am only reporting what I was told about the freshman, and then what I saw right in front of me.

Regarding Hutchinson, I was not looking directly at that pass although the action happened 10 yards from me.  Since I did not see what happened, I did not object and thus did not comment here.

[AndOne]

Last night at North Park I sat next to a non-CCIW referee who said he attends CCIW games along with a retired CCIW ref.  They attended two NPU games earlier this year when former NPC championship players were in attendance in the same seating section as I.  During last night's game, I lamented to the ref the lack of moving screen calls.  He replied, "Watch [Raridon], he's a dirty player, and I will tell you when."  The comment was not meant as a compliment.  Sure enough, with all three refs and the ball well ahead of Raridon and Robinson, the former underhooked the latter to impede progress and Robinson spun around to disengage.  When I expressed dissatisfaction, the ref turned to me and said, "Told you so."  Then the second whiniest CCIW coach started screaming and the refs inexplicably stopped play.  (I doubt they saw what happened, given their position on the court.)  The refs formed a circle and subsequently saddled Robinson with a foul, probably because the coach's son can't be guilty, right?  Watch the NCC freshman next year and you will see what I am talking about.  And I've noticed the NCC coach has a penchant for yelling at the refs while the opposing player is about to shoot a FT.  Bush league.

Markerickson--

Certainly sounds like a sore loser to me. Also like someone who spews s**,t that doesn't stick when you sling it. And, if you want to step into sports commentary, it would behoove you to first of all get your facts straight, and secondly, to tell the WHOLE story.

Let's start with the "NON CCIW referee," and the "RETIRED CCIW ref." What seems to have escaped your understanding is if one ref is retired from the CCIW, (meaning he hasn't worked games this year), and the other ref is not even a CCIW ref, then how do they know the characteristics and personality traits of a FRESHMAN whose games neither has ever worked? Do they go around watching NCC games? Highly doubtful. Sounds like The Wayward Adventures of Casper the Ghost and Pinocchio to me.

Lets now move on to your blurb about "Watch (Raridon) he's a dirty player." First, remember this is coming from a NON CCIW ref or a RETIRED CCIW ref, both of whom would be intimately familiar (NOT!) with young Mr. Raridon's on court deportment. Your argument has already begun to take on water. Add in the fact ROBINSON (not Raridon) was called for the foul. And, that the foul was assessed after a meeting of all three officials, thus meaning three refs felt the at fault party was Mr. Robinson, and not Mr. Raridon, on whom you tried to pin the blame for dirty play when, in fact, Jordan Robinson was the true culprit! Your argument is sinking fast. Now----Remember I said one of your problems is that you aren't telling the whole story. The main story line that you neglected to mention is that, almost from the opening tip, Robinson was robustly talking trash to the entire NCC team in general, and to Connor Raridon specifically. Several times during the contest, Robinson announced Raridon was a p*ss*y. And, the laugher is that late in the game Robinson went over to Coach Raridon, and said something very close to "I apologize for calling that player a p*ss*y. I didn't know it was your son." Evidently, Mr. Robinson thought it would have been acceptable to refer to any of the other players in that manner, just not the coach's son, LOL! By the way, the feeling among the staff was that the ONLY reason Robinson "apologized" was that he was afraid one of his possible votes for the all-conference team had evaporated.  Your argument/accusation has now officially hit the bottom of the deep, blue sea.

Oh, and concerning your other accusation about Coach Raridon's deportment when an opposing player is shooting a FT, he does tell his players to "block off" the shooter BEFORE the shooter presents the ball. I assume you know what that means.

[AndOne]

Last night at North Park I sat next to a non-CCIW referee who said he attends CCIW games along with a retired CCIW ref.  They attended two NPU games earlier this year when former NPC championship players were in attendance in the same seating section as I.  During last night's game, I lamented to the ref the lack of moving screen calls.  He replied, "Watch [Raridon], he's a dirty player, and I will tell you when."  The comment was not meant as a compliment.  Sure enough, with all three refs and the ball well ahead of Raridon and Robinson, the former underhooked the latter to impede progress and Robinson spun around to disengage.  When I expressed dissatisfaction, the ref turned to me and said, "Told you so."  Then the second whiniest CCIW coach started screaming and the refs inexplicably stopped play.  (I doubt they saw what happened, given their position on the court.)  The refs formed a circle and subsequently saddled Robinson with a foul, probably because the coach's son can't be guilty, right?  Watch the NCC freshman next year and you will see what I am talking about.  And I've noticed the NCC coach has a penchant for yelling at the refs while the opposing player is about to shoot a FT.  Bush league.

Instead of commenting on Raridon, maybe you should comment on the deliberate and blatant cheap shot by Hutchinson on Moten at the end of the game that was called a flagrant 1.

And, your description of how these events transpired is less an accurate, at best.

And your description of how these events transpired is less than accurate, at best.

[iwu70]

Can't really argue with Q's lineup for All-CCIW.  I do hope Dolan gets recognition.  Thanks, too, Q for the rundown on EC's chances now for the Dance.  I was beginning to wonder how far down they might drift in the Pool C consideration.  Looks a bit dicey for them now.

Should be a good weekend of basketball in RI (and @WC).  I do hope the confident, good trey shooting TITANS we've seen of late show up and gives the Doggies a true run for their #1-seeded money. 

IWU'70