MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[4samuy]

I'm really surprised the respect d3.com continues to give North Central

Perhaps yesterday's win over 1 loss and #19 ranked Wartburg will help abate your level of surprise to some degree. Especially when you consider it was accomplished without NCC's best all-around player who is out with a broken hand.

One problem the Cardinals do have is consistency. They win tough games against very good teams, but then lose to a couple of teams you figure they would beat. Today, they play a team thats not as good as the one they beat yesterday. They need to avoid a let down, and play at a level they are capable of as demonstrated by yesterday's win.

No question.  I gave them a ton of credit for a really nice win after the game. They have players stepping up and playing really well. That just wasn't the case With Raridon in the line up.  They really werent going as deep into the bench. Not saying they're better without Connor, they just seem different in good way. This injury could be blessing in the long run for NCC, especially come postseason

[Gregory Sager]

Correction to my earlier post: It's a 5 pm tipoff @ Albion.

I'll be on the air, so to speak, in about 25 min.

[Titan Q]

Albion isn't providing either audio or video for tonight's game; the only remote access the Brits are providing is live stats. However, I'll be traveling with the Vikings today to provide audio play-by-play. Tipoff is at 6 pm Central.

Video is here...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8aj0PrKqBRxqvhjTLaSkg/live

[AndOne]

4samuy-

Please don't even begin to even suggest NCC is a better team without Connor Raridon. You are much too intelligent, and too knowledgeable of a fan for that. 

What Connor's injury has done is to provide an opportunity for other players to accelerate their development. Especially, and in particular, Connor's absence has allowed 2 freshmen to really begin to flourish and become solid contributors. Little used, and hardly used before Connor's injury, Nick Chambers and Matt Cappelletti, respectfully, have really quickly become meaningful contributors. After today's win Nick is averaging 8.3 ppg, and Matt is at 5.9 ppg. Furthermore, Nick is at .432 and Matt is at .388 from three. Matt is also averaging 5.2-5.3 rpg over his last few games.

Additionally, Connor's absence has "forced" the other starters to become more active and involved in order to help replace his lost production. Jagger Anderson is now taking over some of Connor's table setting duties. Aiden Chang is taking advantage of his increased shooting opportunities. Alex Sorenson is now counted on to clean the glass more often in addition to posting his often high point totals. Erwin Henry is attacking both the boards and the basket with abandon. Jack Bronec is providing valued relief in the middle, and JQ Phipps is looked to to provide some "the buck stops here" defense which is so very important to all successful teams.

[robberki]

Who is this Billy Kirby cat that's playing for North Park tonight? Has he been playing all year?

[4samuy]

4samuy-

Please don't even begin to even suggest NCC is a better team without Connor Raridon. You are much too intelligent, and too knowledgeable of a fan for that. 

What Connor's injury has done is to provide an opportunity for other players to accelerate their development. Especially, and in particular, Connor's absence has allowed 2 freshmen to really begin to flourish and become solid contributors. Little used, and hardly used before Connor's injury, Nick Chambers and Matt Cappelletti, respectfully, have really quickly become meaningful contributors. After today's win Nick is averaging 8.3 ppg, and Matt is at 5.9 ppg. Furthermore, Nick is at .432 and Matt is at .388 from three. Matt is also averaging 5.2-5.3 rpg over his last few games.

Additionally, Connor's absence has "forced" the other starters to become more active and involved in order to help replace his lost production. Jagger Anderson is now taking over some of Connor's table setting duties. Aiden Chang is taking advantage of his increased shooting opportunities. Alex Sorenson is now counted on to clean the glass more often in addition to posting his often high point totals. Erwin Henry is attacking both the boards and the basket with abandon. Jack Bronec is providing valued relief in the middle, and JQ Phipps is looked to to provide some "the buck stops here" defense which is so very important to all successful teams.

Andone,

Of course they are not better without Raridon.  I believe I said "I'm not saying they are better without Raridon, but they're playing different in a good way."  I think that is all about what you stated above.

[tjcummingsfan]

Who is this Billy Kirby cat that's playing for North Park tonight? Has he been playing all year?

He looked good tonight eh?

[robberki]

Who is this Billy Kirby cat that's playing for North Park tonight? Has he been playing all year?

He looked good tonight eh?

i honestly don't know if he's played all year? he kind of had a nice game though.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 84
Albion 65

Jordan Robinson: 23 pts
Juwan Henry: 19 pts
Billy Kirby: 16 pts

An ugly, scrap-filled game, but a win's a win. Breakout night for Billy Kirby with a career high tonight. It's the first time he's scored in double figures since the opener at Chicago.

[4samuy]

Curious to know how many boards Robinson had.

[iwu70]

Greg, thanks for your assessment.

Linda, farewell and good luck in Virginia.  Hope to see you in Salem soon, with the Titans back in the Final Four. That would be grand.

We'll miss you and Ron at The Shirk, for sure.  You guys are some of the most loyal Titan fans out there, no doubt.  Just like my parents were over almost seven decades.

Be well, and happy holidays, safe travels to everyone!

'70

[markerickson]

Kirby is listed as a sophomore, but I do not know whether he is a transfer or never saw varsity minutes last year.  Greg knows, I'm sure.  Kirby has appeared sporadically throughout the season.  He may be the player next year who takes Henry's spot, given the thin roster.

[iwumichigander]

I've been pretty silent here for quite some time, although I've been a lurker and have seen some board regulars at IWU games.  I'm moving on assignment (still affiliated with IWU), so I wanted to say goodbye "in person," so to speak.

My last game at the Shirk Center for a while was a beauty.  The first half was almost perfect on both sides--good ball movement and intelligent shots.  There was lots of good play that usually goes unremarked upon such as movement without the ball and boxing out.  Chicago's Waller Perez hit a couple of early threes but was stifled by Austin Amann's defense before he could do too much damage.  The little run at the end of the half, capped by Andy Stempel's half-court three as the clock ran out, felt like a huge momentum shift, and so it proved to be.  (That three triggered Titan memories of one by Sean Johnson and one by Adam Dauksas, although those were both at the end of the game and not at halftime).  The pace was slightly slower than that of a lot of games these days, and I for one thought it was an improvement.  So call me a dinosaur, a throwback to Hoosiers:"How many times are you gonna pass the ball before you shoot?" "Four." "How many?" "Four."  I didn't keep count, but it felt like that, and it was great.

Thanks all, for the updates.  I'll continue to lurk.  This promises to be a CCIW season even more crazy and interesting than usual.  Even though I wear green to games, it's great to see North Park back in the mix.  And I'm moving to Virginia, so I just might turn up if one of our teams makes it to Salem!

you are missed on this board.  Good luck to you in Virginia!

[AndOne]

North Park 84
Albion 65

Jordan Robinson: 23 pts
Juwan Henry: 19 pts
Billy Kirby: 16 pts

An ugly, scrap-filled game, but a win's a win. Breakout night for Billy Kirby with a career high tonight. It's the first time he's scored in double figures since the opener at Chicago.

A "scrap-filled" game? How many scraps?
I see that NPU's diminutive one, Colin Lake was assessed a T. Was he the primary reason the game was "scrap-filled"? Did he utter a profanity, or, even worse, did his indiscretions go even further to the point where he was unable to channel his aggressive drives into socially accepted patterns of behavior? Did things get really interesting to the point where fisticuffs ensued? Details please. 

[sac]

North Park 84
Albion 65

Jordan Robinson: 23 pts
Juwan Henry: 19 pts
Billy Kirby: 16 pts

An ugly, scrap-filled game, but a win's a win. Breakout night for Billy Kirby with a career high tonight. It's the first time he's scored in double figures since the opener at Chicago.

A "scrap-filled" game? How many scraps?
I see that NPU's diminutive one, Colin Lake was assessed a T. Was he the primary reason the game was "scrap-filled"? Did he utter a profanity, or, even worse, did his indiscretions go even further to the point where he was unable to channel his aggressive drives into socially accepted patterns of behavior? Did things get really interesting to the point where fisticuffs ensued? Details please. 

Lots of jawing back and forth, a ball thrown at another player by Albion which miraculously did not result in technical even though the signal was given, official requests coach to sub-out a player and a literal officals timeout to let both teams chill out a bit at their benches.

Honestly for a few minutes I was afraid that game was one bad, hard foul away from a brawl of some kind.