MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana 96
Hope 80

This was a very weird game of big runs, but the Dutchmen just expended too much energy trying to come back from big deficits on more than one occasion.

Augie scored 201 points this weekend. That's not the kind of thing you expect from Augustana, but I don't think that the Rock Islanders are complaining.

[Gregory Sager]

I should mention that Kyle Wuest scored a career-high 33 points tonight in his final collegiate game. He went down with what looked like a sprained ankle with ten minutes left in the game and the 'jays down one at the time. He came back into the game late, but he was limping and was not a factor at all. Nevertheless, I wouldn't blame this loss on his injury, as I think that the Tommies were the better team tonight -- although the injury certainly didn't help matters for EC.

[WUPHF]

I literally cannot wait until next weekend to see Emory vs. Augustana.

[veterancciwfan]

Watched the entire 2nd half of Elmhurst/St. Thomas. I commented to spouse that I thought the St. Thomas 2nd half offense was perhaps one of the best D3 halves I have witnessed (if watching on computer counts as "witnessed"). It just seemed the Tommies couldn't miss in that half. But after checking the box score, please indulge me regarding historical comparisons of the best half (or best 2 OT periods) I have seen compared to the Tommies performance tonight.

First Tonight's 2nd half by St. Thomas: Points: 49  Points per 40 minutes: 98  FG: 45.7% (16/35)
3 pt: 44.4% (4/9) FT: 86.7% (13/15)

2nd Hanover in 2nd Round of D3 tourn. at Shirk Center on 3/5/2005: 48 points  Points per 40 minutes: 96  Pay attention to these eyeball popping stats: FG: 73.9% (17/23)  3 pt: 75% (6/8)  FT: 61.5% (8/13)   It took Scott Trost a month to get over this tough loss suffered at home with an outstanding IWU team.

Third IWU's 2nd Round 2 OT periods vs. Hope on 3/3/12 at DeVoss Fieldhouse (10 minutes): 32 points  Points per 40 minutes: 128, or 3.2 points per minute  FG: 58.3% (7/12)  3 pt.: 50% (3/6) FT: 83.3% (15/18)

You can tell I love stats.

[veterancciwfan]

Forgot one half and I'll get crucified Monday at IWU coffee if I don't show this half, which is the best half I have ever witnessed: First half by IWU on Mar. 8, 1996 in Third Round game at Homer Best Center, Roanoke College:
Points: 70  Points per 40 minutes: 140  FG: 71.4% (25/35)  3 Pt: 70% (7/10) FT: 68.4 (13/19) This is the only college game I have seen where the starting 5 didn't play one second in the 2nd half (halftime score: 70-23 and Roanoke scored last 4 points of the half).

[veterancciwfan]

Q: Thanks for the embarrassing update. At least the Hope AD agreed with me that Neil didn't deserve to keep his job. Now tell me he resigned and moved up to a D2 or D3 job.

[veterancciwfan]

moved up to a D2 or D1 job.

[Titan Q]

As I posted over on the MIAA board...

I thought Hope competed hard last night, but Augustana is just so tough -- physically and mentally.  With this Augie group, when you go player by player they really don't knock your socks off -- but you put all of the pieces together, including how well coached they are, and they are just very, very hard to knock off.

The Vikings are beatable in this tournament, but some team is going to have to complete the grind of all grinds for 40 minutes to do so...because this Augie team just doesn't give you anything. 

There are a lot of great teams left in the field of 16, but I see Augustana as a strong favorite to win the national championship.  I just think they "get it" more than anyone else and have more ways to win games.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Elmhurst on a great season, and a tip of the cap to that great senior class.  They got the Bluejays back to CCIW title contention and the Top 25.

Thank goodness all of those guys are graduating!

[lmitzel]

Congratulations to Elmhurst on a great season, and a tip of the cap to that great senior class.  They got the Bluejays back to CCIW title contention and the Top 25.

Thank goodness all of those guys are graduating!

I share that final sentiment as an NCC guy.

Good on Elmhurst for taking care of business on Friday and not being a one and done, and good luck to Augie in their quest for a national title. I would be happy for them if they can pull it off.

[Titan Q]

I think that Augie will be better than people are likely to think they'll be. As I've said before, Chrishawn Orange is a star in the making, and Dylan Sortillo will be a very good CCIW player in 2016-17. Michael Hoekstra and Jacob Johnston saw a lot of the court this year, and I think that they'll step up and capably play more prominent roles next season.

As good as Orange is, there is a chance Augie's most talented freshman is 6-4 G/F Pierson Wofford.

Wofford did come on very nicely at the end of the regular season, and I think that he's got a really bright future at Augie. But I still think that Orange is gonna be the bell cow for Augie for the next three seasons.

Going back to this...

I think Chrishawn Orange is going to be a stud, but the more I watch Augie play, the more I believe Pierson Wofford is the better of the two freshman by a pretty good margin.  Wofford's combination of size, skill, athleticism, and quickness is pretty scary.

In my opinion, Augustana will return as much talent from 1 through about 8 in 2016-17 as any team in the CCIW except North Central...which is pretty impressive since they are about to win the national title with a huge group of seniors.

[Titan Q]

The sectional field is...
* Augustana
* Emory
* St. Thomas
* Whitman

Hosting sites will be announced later this morning, but this group will certainly be going to Rock Island. Had St. Thomas beaten St. Olaf in the MIAC final (at home), I am pretty sure this sectional would have been awarded to St. Thomas.

[cardinalpride]

Congratulations to Elmhurst on a great season, and a tip of the cap to that great senior class.  They got the Bluejays back to CCIW title contention and the Top 25.

Thank goodness all of those guys are graduating!

TQ,
NCC can't get any love from you now. I sincerely hope your feelings toward Andone are not getting in the way. Lol
Congrats to both NCC and elmhurst for fine seasons this year!
Augie keep grinding!

[John Gleich]

The sectional field is...
* Augustana
* Emory
* St. Thomas
* Whitman

Hosting sites will be announced later this morning, but this group will certainly be going to Rock Island. Had St. Thomas beaten St. Olaf in the MIAC final (at home), I am pretty sure this sectional would have been awarded to St. Thomas.

Even if UST had won vs STO, wouldn't they be behind their women?

That Women's quad is George Fox, Texas Tyler, Wartburg, and UST. GF had to travel to Point fit the first weekend because they can't host for some reason... And UST is just a busride from Wartburg, necessitating just two fights instead of three to TX-Tyler.

[Titan Q]

Even if UST had won vs STO, wouldn't they be behind their women?

That Women's quad is George Fox, Texas Tyler, Wartburg, and UST. GF had to travel to Point fit the first weekend because they can't host for some reason... And UST is just a busride from Wartburg, necessitating just two fights instead of three to TX-Tyler.

I wasn't aware there is another tournament in progress.  I will have to do some Googling on that.