MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwumichigander]

MAC versus IWU thoughts - this was really no contest and IMO not the type of game you want prior to playing #8 Ohio Wesleyan .  You don't want to really see 17 of 39 threes that tied a school record for attempts and two shy of tying makes.  Everyone but the water boy saw PT and if he had changed into his uniform faster would have made it into the game.  it helps when you take a 24 lead into the locker room at the half.
I thought Ron Rose called off the 3 attempts at about the 9 minute remaining mark, emptied the bench, and slowed the game down.  Otherwise, this would have been a 100+ point game for IWU. 

Three players stood out to me last night -  Brady Rose looks to be in mid season shape or better.  Floor leadership and decision making over the three contests I have watched exceptional on his part.  He put up a couple of NBA threes last night as well so it sure appears he has his legs back to strength.

Second, freshman Miles Curry - oh my goodness - when the game slows down for him a little bit and the offensive improves there is a very high ceiling there!  The athleticism and defense already very good without getting into the weight, strength and conditioning that will comes with the off season. Curry is going to push someone for a starting spot before the end of the year IMO .

Last, Jaylen Beasley has also taken his game to another level with a high ceiling yet to achieve.  His vertical leap seems to have gotten even better.  He is comfortable stepping out from the arch or taking to ball to the hoop.  It did look to me that he got his shoulders to rim level a couple of times last night.

[AndOne]

MAC versus IWU thoughts - this was really no contest and IMO not the type of game you want prior to playing #8 Ohio Wesleyan .  You don't want to really see 17 of 39 threes that tied a school record for attempts and two shy of tying makes.  Everyone but the water boy saw PT and if he had changed into his uniform faster would have made it into the game.  it helps when you take a 24 lead into the locker room at the half.

According to my quick "calculations," 5 IWU roster members did not play at all. Were they just DNPCD, or do these guys not even dress for the games? 

[AndOne]

Wednesday's game
Alma (1-2) @ North Central (1-0)

Friday's game
Aurora (2-1) @ North Central

Tonight is NCC's 1st home game of the 2016-2017 season. However, with the end of 1st term finals today, NCC starts its approx. 6 week Christmas vacation. Other than D-term, classes for the vast majority of students don't resume until 1/3/17. It will be interesting to see if there is anything resembling a "crowd" at the next several (6) home games prior to the beginning of 2nd term.

[lmitzel]

Wednesday's game
Alma (1-2) @ North Central (1-0)

Friday's game
Aurora (2-1) @ North Central

Tonight is NCC's 1st home game of the 2016-2017 season. However, with the end of 1st term finals today, NCC starts its approx. 6 week Christmas vacation. Other than D-term, classes for the vast majority of students don't resume until 1/3/17. It will be interesting to see if there is anything resembling a "crowd" at the next several (6) home games prior to the beginning of 2nd term.

Well, the women had a crowd of 300 on Friday when Piedmont came in, and that was with Bernie Sanders speaking next door. But factoring in the holiday tomorrow I'd probably guess 200-250. Maybe we'll be lucky and get more. I hope so.

[lmitzel]

NCC 78, Alma 59

Connor Raridon with 24 and 10, so they only needed Sorensen for 25 minutes, and he still put up 16 and 7. Good win all around keyed by a 13-0 run in the first half that broke it open.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

[AndOne]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

Is the above post being critical of............

A. the D3hoops pre-season poll?
B. Alma's team?
C. NCC for playing Alma ("Don't get carried away")?
D. Some combination of A, B, and C?
E. A, B, and C?

[Titan Q]

MAC versus IWU thoughts - this was really no contest and IMO not the type of game you want prior to playing #8 Ohio Wesleyan .  You don't want to really see 17 of 39 threes that tied a school record for attempts and two shy of tying makes.  Everyone but the water boy saw PT and if he had changed into his uniform faster would have made it into the game.  it helps when you take a 24 lead into the locker room at the half.

According to my quick "calculations," 5 IWU roster members did not play at all. Were they just DNPCD, or do these guys not even dress for the games? 

IWU dressed 16 players for the MacMurray game.  All 16 got in the game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

I didn't vote for them at all, given what they lost.  Not sure what others were thinking, but then again, that's why we have others, right?

[Greek Tragedy]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

I didn't vote for them at all, given what they lost.  Not sure what others were thinking, but then again, that's why we have others, right?

Jason Beckman was the 3rd leading scorer last year, and was an underclassman. He's not on the roster this year. Was there any mention in your preseason release about him not returning? That may have effected the voters if they didn't know he wasn't coming back.

If you simply look at last year's stats and roster, they return 6 of their top 8 who played in every game and all played more than 16 minutes a game. They lose their top 2, but that's just 26.7 of their 80.7 points.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

I didn't vote for them at all, given what they lost.  Not sure what others were thinking, but then again, that's why we have others, right?

Jason Beckman was the 3rd leading scorer last year, and was an underclassman. He's not on the roster this year. Was there any mention in your preseason release about him not returning? That may have effected the voters if they didn't know he wasn't coming back.

If you simply look at last year's stats and roster, they return 6 of their top 8 who played in every game and all played more than 16 minutes a game. They lose their top 2, but that's just 26.7 of their 80.7 points.

Jason Beckman transferred to Hope.

[realist]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

I didn't vote for them at all, given what they lost.  Not sure what others were thinking, but then again, that's why we have others, right?

Jason Beckman was the 3rd leading scorer last year, and was an underclassman. He's not on the roster this year. Was there any mention in your preseason release about him not returning? That may have effected the voters if they didn't know he wasn't coming back.

If you simply look at last year's stats and roster, they return 6 of their top 8 who played in every game and all played more than 16 minutes a game. They lose their top 2, but that's just 26.7 of their 80.7 points.

Lots of talk over in the MIAA room about Alma all summer long.  Jason Beckman transferred to Hope, but didn't go out for the team.  Rumor is he thinks doors will open at D2 or someplace else, and this is his year sitting out.  Alma also lost a returning player (Bradfield) to season ending injury already so they are facing a tougher rebuild than most expected. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

Is the above post being critical of............

A. the D3hoops pre-season poll?
B. Alma's team?
C. NCC for playing Alma ("Don't get carried away")?
D. Some combination of A, B, and C?
E. A, B, and C?

F. none of the above

As I stated, I greatly appreciate the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and it gets more right than wrong.  But just about every year it totally misfires on one or more teams.  Alma lost so much (included some that was NOT expected due to graduation) that a #14 ranking was almost certain to be wrong.  Not Alma's fault, but they are in full-scale rebuilding mode.  And they are far worse today than could have been expected when NCC scheduled them, so no fault lies with anyone.

(The "Don't get carried away" comment was in jest.  Some Augie posters thought it was a sign of their high status because they beat #14 Alma - this year that just ain't the case.)

[AndOne]

MAC versus IWU thoughts - this was really no contest and IMO not the type of game you want prior to playing #8 Ohio Wesleyan .  You don't want to really see 17 of 39 threes that tied a school record for attempts and two shy of tying makes.  Everyone but the water boy saw PT and if he had changed into his uniform faster would have made it into the game.  it helps when you take a 24 lead into the locker room at the half.

According to my quick "calculations," 5 IWU roster members did not play at all. Were they just DNPCD, or do these guys not even dress for the games? 

IWU dressed 16 players for the MacMurray game.  All 16 got in the game.

Meaning 5 IWU players don't dress for games--which was all I was asking about. 🙄

[augie77]

I love the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and they have a great record of ranking eventual high-ranking teams, but they do usually have at least one total dud.  #14 Alma is shaping up to be one of those teams this year, as they are now 1-3, including losing to perennial winless-contest nominee Finlandia.  So don't get carried away.

Is the above post being critical of............

A. the D3hoops pre-season poll?
B. Alma's team?
C. NCC for playing Alma ("Don't get carried away")?
D. Some combination of A, B, and C?
E. A, B, and C?

F. none of the above

As I stated, I greatly appreciate the d3hoops.com preseason poll, and it gets more right than wrong.  But just about every year it totally misfires on one or more teams.  Alma lost so much (included some that was NOT expected due to graduation) that a #14 ranking was almost certain to be wrong.  Not Alma's fault, but they are in full-scale rebuilding mode.  And they are far worse today than could have been expected when NCC scheduled them, so no fault lies with anyone.

(The "Don't get carried away" comment was in jest.  Some Augie posters thought it was a sign of their high status because they beat #14 Alma - this year that just ain't the case.)

I don't believe a single Augustana poster (augie fan or myself) perceived or commented that a win over the depleted Alma Scots was a sign of "high status".  Sunday's game with Washington U will be a test.