MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

The CCIW schedule makers must be on something. Why else would they schedule IWU vs. NCC as both teams first conference game on 12/3, and last conference game on 2/18, but yet have NCC and Wheaton playing each other twice within 10 days in Feb.?

Not that much of a quirk... look at the UAA's schedule every year. The middle weekends are repeated double-headers against the previous opponents, just on the road/at home. The season is a mirror of itself, for the most part.

C'mon, this is a ridiculous comparison -- the UAA has very different constraints on their scheduling based on their member schools' locations.

[Gregory Sager]

That's why the school is waiting for me to win the Powerball in order to build a new gym.

You'd attach a condition to the funding stating that a courtside stage must be built into the arena design, right?   

Heh. Let me tell you about all of the times that I've been in various groups of NPU staff or alumni when threats have been made to procure a gross of sledgehammers and hold a "smash the stage into kindling" party.

[AndOne]

CCIW Math 101

Take this class if you need some easy credits. There is only one thing you need to know.

Where X = No offense
and Y = No defense

X + Y = Defeat

* NCC took 80 shots compared to CC's 57. But, with 23 fewer shots, Carthage made one more basket.
* NCC shot only 33.8% compared with Wisconsin's 49.1%. Five Cardinals combined to go 3 for 27. Let me repeat that - 3 for 27!
* NCC took 42 threes. I'd think that might well be a record for shots from downtown Naperville since the current sheriff pinned on the badge. Problem is, they hit only 13, or 31%. Historically, that isn't NCC's game, and you wouldn't think it would be with a pre-season All-American F/C, even though he led the conference in 3 point percentage last year.
* 10 of the 42 threes were taken by freshman Nick Chambers who saw his first extended minutes of the season. Nick showed how it's done, hitting 6 for all of his team leading 18 points. It should be noted his 10th attempt was really just a desperation heave with 3 seconds left.
* Connor Raridon and Alex Sorensen had nice statistical totals. Connor had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Alex had a double-double with 14 points and a game high 14 rebounds. However, Connor needed 17 shots to register his 16 points from the field, and Alex needed 14 for his 13 points. I think both would tell you they need to be more efficient.
* All 5 Carthage starters hit double figures, led by Brad "The Student Body" Perry with 20. The 6'11" 285 pound Perry was just about unstoppable inside, and hit 60% (9 for 15) of his shots. Mike Stevenson had 19, and Jordan Thomas, seemingly generously listed at 5'11," continually got his shot off over taller defenders for 17 points.
* NCC had only FIVE turnovers for the entire game. 

[iwu70]

Wow, AO, a tough night for NCC.  When they played IWU, even when winning, they didn't look all that confident, all that great.

NPU, on the other hand, is really good.  IWU just wasted too many possessions, couldn't get over the top after trailing all evening.  They got to within one, but could never get the lead.  NPU played them tough down the stretch, in the last 4-5 minutes,  and came away with another very key road win to open the CCIW season.  They are really in a good position now, assuming they continue to play with that confidence, with that good trey shooting.  Robinson is very tough.

It looks like WC and CC are better than many of us thought earlier.

IWU70

[GoPerry]

CCIW Math 101

Take this class if you need some easy credits. There is only one thing you need to know.

Where X = No offense
and Y = No defense

X + Y = Defeat

I've also heard that teams winning 3/4 of their games will typically lose 25 percent of the time.

* NCC took 80 shots compared to CC's 57. But, with 23 fewer shots, Carthage made one more basket.
* NCC shot only 33.8% compared with Wisconsin's 49.1%. Five Cardinals combined to go 3 for 27. Let me repeat that - 3 for 27!
* NCC took 42 threes. I'd think that might well be a record for shots from downtown Naperville since the current sheriff pinned on the badge. Problem is, they hit only 13, or 31%. Historically, that isn't NCC's game, and you wouldn't think it would be with a pre-season All-American F/C, even though he led the conference in 3 point percentage last year.
* 10 of the 42 threes were taken by freshman Nick Chambers who saw his first extended minutes of the season. Nick showed how it's done, hitting 6 for all of his team leading 18 points. It should be noted his 10th attempt was really just a desperation heave with 3 seconds left.
* Connor Raridon and Alex Sorensen had nice statistical totals. Connor had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Alex had a double-double with 14 points and a game high 14 rebounds. However, Connor needed 17 shots to register his 16 points from the field, and Alex needed 14 for his 13 points. I think both would tell you they need to be more efficient.
* All 5 Carthage starters hit double figures, led by Brad "The Student Body" Perry with 20. The 6'11" 285 pound Perry was just about unstoppable inside, and hit 60% (9 for 15) of his shots. Mike Stevenson had 19, and Jordan Thomas, seemingly generously listed at 5'11," continually got his shot off over taller defenders for 17 points.
* NCC had only FIVE turnovers for the entire game. 

A surprising result to say the least.  Without having watched the game, it's a weird lopsided box score.  As you noted, the +23 difference in FGA is staggering as is +12 offensive glass.  Perhaps the presence of a Perry in the middle makes a team settle for the outside shot more but shooting 45 threes is a real 'whoa' stat.  I would say that 31% 3FG is not awful to the extent it should cost you the game.  On the other hand, when your opponent shoots 50% from three and 49% overall, well there you go.

[wheels81]

Aston Francis (35 pts, 14/22, 4/9-3FG) is as gifted a scorer as anyone in the CCIW.

I'll dispute that, although there's no doubt at all that Francis can really fill it up.

So Greg are you softening your dispute?  Maybe just a litte?
                                GP-GS  Min--Avg  FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg  PF FO   A  TO Blk Stl  Pts  Avg
01 Francis, Aston.....  7-7   241 34.4  58-121  .479  25-60   .417  24-35   .686    8  16   24  3.4  14  0  25  20   2  18  165 23.6

[GoPerry]

This was a real missed opportunity for Wheaton and with a young team, it's not too surprising although still frustrating.  There were a few possessions late where they turned the ball over and added a shot clock violation in a close game.  They eventually did take the lead by 3 with a minute left but after Augie tied it up, the Thunder had another poor possession and failed to get a good look at the basket with 20 secs left.  Credit to the Vikes for the late D, hitting the huge 3 by Johnston to tie it and Ebel to take the game winner.

Aston Francis had 25 pts but failed to score in the last 10 mins, took fewer shots and looked to involve the others.  I think Coach G impressed upon his players to get up on him a little more and they did.  One drawback of having a scorer like Francis is that Ricky Samuelson is not getting quite as many good looks.  His shooting % is really down so far this year and I think he needs to be a 10+ shots/game sort of guy.

Again, some encouraging things from the Thunder, but it's still a loss.

[robberki]

That's why the school is waiting for me to win the Powerball in order to build a new gym.

You'd attach a condition to the funding stating that a courtside stage must be built into the arena design, right?   

Not sure the current status, but about 10 years ago some VERY nice plans on campus for a remodeling of that space. Very, very nice, not sure what will ever happen to it with the addition of Rec Center that was built a bit ago, and I believe there was quite a bit of city "red tape" due to the building being on the corner of the Foster and Kedzie intersection, needless to say there are some things that could be done at NPU gymnasium to really spruce it up.

[hopefan]

Not to be mean or cruel, but just to tell it like it is... None of the CCIW teams, or their supporting staff on these pages, need worry this year, EVER, about the slightest possibility, of being upset by Millikin... after seeing them for the 3rd time this year, losing again to my SLIAC teams, I can vouch for certain... They are really bad...   Nadelhoffer works hard trying every possible combination of players, uses timeouts to work his guys up, and the Big Blue play hard the whole way, but wow....BAD...and against Webster's zone... REALLY bad....  Several times poor Coach N could only bury his head in his hands...  I'm not sure Millikin could even beat the SLIAC's two lowest, Mac and Fontbonne, this year...

[unanimous22]

Last night was 2nd time I was able to catch North Park since Jordan Robinson has been there.

Very impressive. Reminds me of Channing Frye.

[mwunder]

CCIW Math 101

Take this class if you need some easy credits. There is only one thing you need to know.

Where X = No offense
and Y = No defense

X + Y = Defeat

* NCC took 80 shots compared to CC's 57. But, with 23 fewer shots, Carthage made one more basket.
* NCC shot only 33.8% compared with Wisconsin's 49.1%. Five Cardinals combined to go 3 for 27. Let me repeat that - 3 for 27!
* NCC took 42 threes. I'd think that might well be a record for shots from downtown Naperville since the current sheriff pinned on the badge. Problem is, they hit only 13, or 31%. Historically, that isn't NCC's game, and you wouldn't think it would be with a pre-season All-American F/C, even though he led the conference in 3 point percentage last year.

Maybe that coach from Ke-nowhere does have a clue about the X's and O's of this game after all?

[Gregory Sager]

Aston Francis (35 pts, 14/22, 4/9-3FG) is as gifted a scorer as anyone in the CCIW.

I'll dispute that, although there's no doubt at all that Francis can really fill it up.

So Greg are you softening your dispute?  Maybe just a litte?
                                GP-GS  Min--Avg  FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg  PF FO   A  TO Blk Stl  Pts  Avg
01 Francis, Aston.....  7-7   241 34.4  58-121  .479  25-60   .417  24-35   .686    8  16   24  3.4  14  0  25  20   2  18  165 23.6

Bully, let me introduce you to this gentleman:



His name is Jordan Robinson. (His hair's no longer frosted, by the way; this is a photo from last season.) He's a 6'3, 195 (generous listings, BTW) junior forward from Hoffman Estates HS. He plays for North Park.

Let's see how the statistics of the two stack up:

player	GP-GS	Min	Mpg	FG-FGA	Pct	3FG-FGA	Pct	FT-FTA	Pct	OffR	DefR	TotR	Rpg	PF	FO	A	TO	Blk	Stl	Pts	Ppg
Francis	7-7	241	34.4	58-121	.479	25-60	.417	24-35	.686	8	16	24	3.4	14	0	25	20	2	18	165	23.6
Robinson	6-6	208	34.7	54-100	.540	18-32	.563	25-37	.676	17	42	59	9.8	17	0	24	20	7	5	151	25.2

As you can see, Robinson scores a point and a half more per game while taking fewer shots. That's because he's a dramatically better shooter, both inside and outside the arc. He's a better rebounder by a country mile than Francis, and while that might not seem germane to GoPerry's original point about being a gifted scorer, stop and think about the fact that someone who can work the offensive glass -- and Robinson's collected more than twice as many offensive rebounds than has Francis in one fewer game -- has an extra arrow in his quiver that other scorers don't have.

This is not meant to be a diss of Francis in any way. He's the league's best newcomer this season. But Robinson's a more gifted scorer, as well as a better player overall, than Francis. Heck, I'd likely take Juwan Henry over Francis as a scorer, too. Henry has a tendency to force things too much and be erratic on occasion -- he's done that in the past two games -- but he's by far the best player in transition in the CCIW and at this point he has a better ability to create shots for himself than does Francis.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The CCIW schedule makers must be on something. Why else would they schedule IWU vs. NCC as both teams first conference game on 12/3, and last conference game on 2/18, but yet have NCC and Wheaton playing each other twice within 10 days in Feb.?

Not that much of a quirk... look at the UAA's schedule every year. The middle weekends are repeated double-headers against the previous opponents, just on the road/at home. The season is a mirror of itself, for the most part.

C'mon, this is a ridiculous comparison -- the UAA has very different constraints on their scheduling based on their member schools' locations.

Not at all... sure, they travel, but do you really think Chicago and WashU need to travel to Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon and the very next weekend Chicago and WashU HOST Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon? Yes, they have to travel, but that doesn't affect how the schedule is put together. Every year UAA teams play the same two schools they will play exactly a week later in the middle of conference action. It rotates who those duos are, but it happens each year. Either side is a slight modification, but basically similar in nature to how it started.

The complaint was playing a similar team in conference ten days apart? My point is, it happens in a lot of places and in the UAA it happens a week a part. Those teams scout and prep for the same two opponents for two weeks. And no, their travel schedule has nothing to do with why it is scheduled that way. You could easily rotate the weekends and not have the same four schools matched up on back-to-back weekends.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

According to my now fuzzy memory no NP team has ever won at AC and Iw in the same year.

Interesting future research project how many teams from the north have completed the downstate southern triple. I believe Wheaton did it five times in the fifties, but I doubt there is another five in the 70 year history of the league.

[Gregory Sager]

* NCC took 42 threes. I'd think that might well be a record for shots from downtown Naperville since the current sheriff pinned on the badge. Problem is, they hit only 13, or 31%. Historically, that isn't NCC's game

And how. Leave out history for a moment; that isn't NCC's game this season, and in a big way. North Central had a very low trey-attempts-per-game average going into last night. Here's that stat in the overall CCIW context prior to last night's slate:

Augustana	16.6
North Central	18.0
Wheaton	20.7
Millikin	21.0
Elmhurst	21.2
North Park	21.4
Carroll	22.0
Carthage	23.1
Illinois Wesleyan	28.7

Even after that chucker's bonanza in the hangar last night, the Cards are still in the middle of the pack in this category as of today.

* Connor Raridon and Alex Sorensen had nice statistical totals. Connor had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Alex had a double-double with 14 points and a game high 14 rebounds. However, Connor needed 17 shots to register his 16 points from the field, and Alex needed 14 for his 13 points. I think both would tell you they need to be more efficient.

Can't fault Sorenson for this one as far as trey attempts go, as he was 3-6 from range. The bigger question, no pun intended, is how a guy who is 6'8 managed to go 2-8 from inside the arc. Brad Perry just doesn't strike me as being that much of a defensive presence at this stage in his career, in spite of his size. Then again, I didn't see the game.

The bigger problem, IMO, is that Connor Raridon attempted seven treys. That's not his game. The most he'd attempted this season prior to last night was four, and the most he ever attempted last season was five.

Aiden Chang? Sure, he went 0-7 from behind the arc, but that'll happen sometimes. He's a shooter ... and shooters gotta shoot.

What I wanna know is this: Where was Sam Fehrle last night?