MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I do have to note that North Park got screwed by the clock a couple times in the final minute. Greg noted the eight-tenths of a second that came off the clock when Aiden Chang was at the free throw line to make it 71-67, but the shot clock wasn't reset on Jagger Anderson's free throws that made it 70-64 with about 45 ticks left. It forced a quick three by the Vikings (though they got away with it with the offensive rebound and Jordan Robinson knocking down the second chance three. I don't know that it would have impacted the outcome necessarily, but that's a screw up that A) shouldn't happen, and B) somebody should have noticed.

Oh, trust me, Tom Slyder noticed. He was screaming to get the attention of John Hodel, Allen Brillhart, and/or Kevin White. But none of them noticed him, probably because the crowd was so loud.

That was a nice takeaway from the game, the fact that the four sideline sections were all packed. Several of the rows at center court between my perch and the scorer's table, which is where opposing-team broadcasters usually set up (the WONC guys chose instead to sit on the stage last night, next to the pep band -- hey, whatever floats your boat, guys), were packed with fans as well. It was great to see, as it's been a long time since there's been that many fans in the crackerbox for a game. (NCC traveled well last night, which helped.) They were making noise at the end of the game, but not so much earlier on, in spite of their numbers. The NPU students are still trying to figure out the whole we're-a-bona-fide-student-section thing at this point. As long as they keep coming out in the numbers they had last night, I don't mind. They'll figure it out.

Props to Greg as well for calling a great game.

Thanks!

[iwumichigander]

I do have to note that North Park got screwed by the clock a couple times in the final minute. Greg noted the eight-tenths of a second that came off the clock when Aiden Chang was at the free throw line to make it 71-67, but the shot clock wasn't reset on Jagger Anderson's free throws that made it 70-64 with about 45 ticks left. It forced a quick three by the Vikings (though they got away with it with the offensive rebound and Jordan Robinson knocking down the second chance three. I don't know that it would have impacted the outcome necessarily, but that's a screw up that A) shouldn't happen, and B) somebody should have noticed.

Oh, trust me, Tom Slyder noticed. He was screaming to get the attention of John Hodel, Allen Brillhart, and/or Kevin White. But none of them noticed him, probably because the crowd was so loud.

That was a nice takeaway from the game, the fact that the four sideline sections were all packed. Several of the rows at center court between my perch and the scorer's table, which is where opposing-team broadcasters usually set up (the WONC guys chose instead to sit on the stage last night, next to the pep band -- hey, whatever floats your boat, guys), were packed with fans as well. It was great to see, as it's been a long time since there's been that many fans in the crackerbox for a game. (NCC traveled well last night, which helped.) They were making noise at the end of the game, but not so much earlier on, in spite of their numbers. The NPU students are still trying to figure out the whole we're-a-bona-fide-student-section thing at this point. As long as they keep coming out in the numbers they had last night, I don't mind. They'll figure it out.

Props to Greg as well for calling a great game.

Thanks!

Your color analyst is pretty good also. I "tuned in" after the Titan game.  Really good crowd at both The Crackerbox and Shirk last night which was nice to see.

[Gregory Sager]

I do have to note that North Park got screwed by the clock a couple times in the final minute. Greg noted the eight-tenths of a second that came off the clock when Aiden Chang was at the free throw line to make it 71-67, but the shot clock wasn't reset on Jagger Anderson's free throws that made it 70-64 with about 45 ticks left. It forced a quick three by the Vikings (though they got away with it with the offensive rebound and Jordan Robinson knocking down the second chance three. I don't know that it would have impacted the outcome necessarily, but that's a screw up that A) shouldn't happen, and B) somebody should have noticed.

Oh, trust me, Tom Slyder noticed. He was screaming to get the attention of John Hodel, Allen Brillhart, and/or Kevin White. But none of them noticed him, probably because the crowd was so loud.

That was a nice takeaway from the game, the fact that the four sideline sections were all packed. Several of the rows at center court between my perch and the scorer's table, which is where opposing-team broadcasters usually set up (the WONC guys chose instead to sit on the stage last night, next to the pep band -- hey, whatever floats your boat, guys), were packed with fans as well. It was great to see, as it's been a long time since there's been that many fans in the crackerbox for a game. (NCC traveled well last night, which helped.) They were making noise at the end of the game, but not so much earlier on, in spite of their numbers. The NPU students are still trying to figure out the whole we're-a-bona-fide-student-section thing at this point. As long as they keep coming out in the numbers they had last night, I don't mind. They'll figure it out.

Props to Greg as well for calling a great game.

Thanks!

Your color analyst is pretty good also.

Yep. That's Aaron Coleman, who was North Park's center back in the early '00s.

[AndOne]

North Central 73
North Park 67

Unfortunately, from a basketball standpoint, I was at a family function in Wisconsin and didn't get to see this game in person. Watched it on the NPU web site his afternoon. With both NCC's Connor Raridon and NPU's Juwan Henry out, I wouldn't classify the NCC win as an upset despite NPU's superior record and #20 ranking.
Fabulous games from NPU star Jordan Robinson (27 points, 7 assists) along with NCC's Erwin Henry and Jagger Anderson. Henry tied his season high of 24 points on an almost perfect shooting performance, hitting 8 of 9 shots from the field, including all four of his shots from both distance, and from the line. Anderson hit for a career high for the second game in a row as the lone senior on the Cardinals roster scored 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting.
The Cardinals were able to withstand a run of 16 straight points in the first half from North Park who led by 5 at the break. NCC earned the victory by outscoring the Parkers by 11 points in the 2nd half on 13 of 22 field goal attempts (59.1%), and 14 of 17 FTs (82.4%). The Cards out rebounded the Vikings by a substantial 39-24 count, including a game high 14 by Alex Sorenson. NCC has won the battle of the boards in every one of it's victories so far this season.

[AndOne]

Anyone know the nature of Juwan Henry's injury and/or how much longer he is expected to be sidelined?

[iwu70]

On the Trevor Seibring injury front, he played well vs. Carroll, his normal minutes, moving well, scoring 14 and shooting FTs without any seeming difficulty.  Looked 90% or so to me.  That's great news for the Titans' remaining games. 

'70

[iwumichigander]

Anyone know the nature of Juwan Henry's injury and/or how much longer he is expected to be sidelined?

i am sure Sager or other NPU posters will tell you as soon as you reveal Conner Raridon's update status 

[Gregory Sager]

Anyone know the nature of Juwan Henry's injury and/or how much longer he is expected to be sidelined?

i am sure Sager or other NPU posters will tell you as soon as you reveal Conner Raridon's update status 

You can't blame a guy for trying, right?

[Gregory Sager]

With both NCC's Connor Raridon and NPU's Juwan Henry out, I wouldn't classify the NCC win as an upset despite NPU's superior record and #20 ranking.

On Friday it will be two months to the day since Connor Raridon broke his hand. That means that NCC's had two-thirds of the season now to get used to being without him. The Cardinals have long since forged a new non-Raridon identity; players are used to having different roles than they had when Raridon was playing, and the newer players who've been given playing time in his absence are now much more seasoned. Meanwhile, on the other side of Chicagoland, the Vikings are still in the process of trying to figure out how to make up for the loss of Juwan's 20 ppg if they're forced to keep playing without him.

But you're not going to catch me hiding behind Juwan's absence as an excuse. I won't be using "the Juwan Henryless Vikings," or any phrase of that sort. North Park should've won Saturday night's game, plain and simple, and I certainly hope that the Vikings aren't trying to explain away the loss by citing Juwan's injury. They owe it to themselves to not only own up to their failures on Saturday but to work at coming up with a way to win in Tarble on Wednesday if their senior All-American is once again forced to sit on the bench in street clothes.

[AppletonRocks]

I watched (and listened to Greg) for the last 8 minutes and the comments on the clock are legit.  The NPU coach tried to get their attention but he didn't try long enough--could have thrown his coat on the floor like another coach in the CCIW--maybe that was a good decision on his part. No Henry really hurt them, another go to would have made all the difference in the last 4-5 minutes. 

It appears Carthage has a route to the title, I see them as a threat.  If they close 4-1 it could be trouble for some of the habitual CCIW tourney squads. 

[lmitzel]

Because I like to look into this stuff, I was curious to see what the scenarios regarding standings were with regards to Wednesday's games.

-Only clinching scenario is that Augie earns a tournament berth with a win over North Central.
-As Appleton was mentioning re: Carthage and their path to a conference title, they lock up the tiebreaker over North Park with a win on Wednesday, which would put them in second place with four to play and give them a tiebreaker edge over Augie.
-Illinois Wesleyan can move into fourth with a win and an Augie win over North Central.

[lmitzel]

On a separate note, congratulations to Jagger Anderson for earning POW honors for this past week.

http://cciw.org/news/2017/2/6/MBB_0206170558.aspx

[petemcb]

Because I like to look into this stuff, I was curious to see what the scenarios regarding standings were with regards to Wednesday's games.

-Only clinching scenario is that Augie earns a tournament berth with a win over North Central.
-As Appleton was mentioning re: Carthage and their path to a conference title, they lock up the tiebreaker over North Park with a win on Wednesday, which would put them in second place with four to play and give them a tiebreaker edge over Augie.
-Illinois Wesleyan can move into fourth with a win and an Augie win over North Central.

And further, in terms of tournament implications:  if I remember correctly, the only difference in finishing second or third is whether you wear dark uniforms or light/white.  You still have the same opponent on a neutral floor.  It's fourth place you'd prefer to avoid.  Well, after fifth and below, I suppose.

[AndOne]

On a separate note, congratulations to Jagger Anderson for earning POW honors for this past week.

http://cciw.org/news/2017/2/6/MBB_0206170558.aspx

I'll second that. Anderson definitely has moves like Jagger. ⛹🏾 🚀

[AndOne]

With both NCC's Connor Raridon and NPU's Juwan Henry out, I wouldn't classify the NCC win as an upset despite NPU's superior record and #20 ranking.

On Friday it will be two months to the day since Connor Raridon broke his hand. That means that NCC's had two-thirds of the season now to get used to being without him. The Cardinals have long since forged a new non-Raridon identity; players are used to having different roles than they had when Raridon was playing, and the newer players who've been given playing time in his absence are now much more seasoned. Meanwhile, on the other side of Chicagoland, the Vikings are still in the process of trying to figure out how to make up for the loss of Juwan's 20 ppg if they're forced to keep playing without him.

But you're not going to catch me hiding behind Juwan's absence as an excuse. I won't be using "the Juwan Henryless Vikings," or any phrase of that sort. North Park should've won Saturday night's game, plain and simple, and I certainly hope that the Vikings aren't trying to explain away the loss by citing Juwan's injury. They owe it to themselves to not only own up to their failures on Saturday but to work at coming up with a way to win in Tarble on Wednesday if their senior All-American is once again forced to sit on the bench in street clothes.

Greg,

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I feel that with both Henry and Raridon watching from the sidelines, NCC should have won the game. I believe the Cardinals still had more dangerous weapons on the floor than did the Vikings. In particular, I think NCC could call on more plus defenders, and the differential was especially true in the area of rebounding as evidenced by NCC's +15 in that facet of the game.
No excuses needed.

Great attendance at the game. Listed as 991. Does the Crackerbox have an "official" capacity?