MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Augie moves on to the national championship game, 90-79. Orange was big, scoring 21 on 8-9 shooting, as Augie as a team shot over 60% from the field and over 50% from downtown. Benning and Ebel had 17 apiece, while Sortillo had nine rebounds and five assists to go with his 15 points, and Johnston had 14.

Benning hit the game's biggest shot, a trey from the corner with two and a half minutes left that really gave Augustana its first breathing room in terms of a lead in the entire second half.

Tomorrow it'll be Augustana versus Babson in a rematch of the national semifinal game from two years ago. Something tells me that the outcome will be different the second time around, though, and my money is on Babson; I just think that the Beavers bring too much senior experience to the table, and Joey Flannery is a one-man wrecking crew. I'll say this, though: Augie's playing at a very high level now, and the Rock Islanders certainly can't be counted out.

[AndOne]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

[Augie6]

Congrats to Coach G and Augie.  What an unbelievable season for this team.  I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished, regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Good luck in the National Championship Game. 

On the negative side, I'm hoping there is a different PBP guy doing tomorrow's game.  I'm really surprised they would choose someone who is clearly biased to broadcast that game.  He even mentioned it in the second half, but that doesn't make it better.  Really disappointing and I actually turned down the sound so I didn't have to hear it.

[Augie6]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

I'm guessing it may be a comment related to what I just posted, which is the bias shown by the broadcast team.

[Gregory Sager]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

Ebel drove to the basket with three and a half minutes left and there was contact with Williams guard Mike Greenman. The foul was called a block on Greenman. I think that 4samuy was disagreeing with the call.

[Gregory Sager]

Congrats to Coach G and Augie.  What an unbelievable season for this team.  I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished, regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Good luck in the National Championship Game. 

On the negative side, I'm hoping there is a different PBP guy doing tomorrow's game.  I'm really surprised they would choose someone who is clearly biased to broadcast that game.  He even mentioned it in the second half, but that doesn't make it better.  Really disappointing and I actually turned down the sound so I didn't have to hear it.

CBS is broadcasting the game tomorrow, so it'll be a CBS crew on the television call. Rose and McHugh will be doing the game on the radio.

I thought that Rose and McHugh did just fine on the call of this game. I didn't sense any bias whatsoever.

[blue_jays]

Nothing better than beating the NESCAC this late in the season, even if it has to be Augie (ugh) doing it. Feeling some Midwest pride regardless of tomorrow's outcome.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Augie on the semi-finals win.  Hope they can go one more step.  Babson, as Greg has mentioned, is a very tough hurdle.  Augie has had a great run, no matter.  Congrats to them.  Good for the CCIW.

IWU'70

[AndOne]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

I'm guessing it may be a comment related to what I just posted, which is the bias shown by the broadcast team.

Congrats to Coach G and Augie.  What an unbelievable season for this team.  I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished, regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Good luck in the National Championship Game. 

On the negative side, I'm hoping there is a different PBP guy doing tomorrow's game.  I'm really surprised they would choose someone who is clearly biased to broadcast that game.  He even mentioned it in the second half, but that doesn't make it better.  Really disappointing and I actually turned down the sound so I didn't have to hear it.

CBS is broadcasting the game tomorrow, so it'll be a CBS crew on the television call. Rose and McHugh will be doing the game on the radio.

i thought that Rose and McHugh did just fine on the call of this game. I didn't sense any bias whatsoever.

Augie fans,

With all due respect to your perceived bias by the broadcast team, wouldn't the allegations be both more plausible and believable should they have been made by fans from a team not involved in the contest? Just asking.

[Augie6]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

I'm guessing it may be a comment related to what I just posted, which is the bias shown by the broadcast team.

Congrats to Coach G and Augie.  What an unbelievable season for this team.  I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished, regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Good luck in the National Championship Game. 

On the negative side, I'm hoping there is a different PBP guy doing tomorrow's game.  I'm really surprised they would choose someone who is clearly biased to broadcast that game.  He even mentioned it in the second half, but that doesn't make it better.  Really disappointing and I actually turned down the sound so I didn't have to hear it.

CBS is broadcasting the game tomorrow, so it'll be a CBS crew on the television call. Rose and McHugh will be doing the game on the radio.

i thought that Rose and McHugh did just fine on the call of this game. I didn't sense any bias whatsoever.

Augie fans,

With all due respect to your perceived bias by the broadcast team, wouldn't the allegations be both more plausible and believable should they have been made by fans from a team not involved in the contest? Just asking.

In fairness to Augie fanS, you should say Augie fan, as I am the only one who definitively posted about it.  4samuy may have very well meant something completely different by his post.  It was speculation on my part and, if I was wrong about what he meant, my apologies.  I did say I was guessing.  That being said, it still doesn't change my opinion that there was bias shown during the game by the broadcast team.  Not the end of the world by any means and I had the option of turning down the sound and watching the game, which I ultimately did.  Since Augie will be playing for a National Championship tomorrow, it's all good!!!

[kiko]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

I'm guessing it may be a comment related to what I just posted, which is the bias shown by the broadcast team.

Congrats to Coach G and Augie.  What an unbelievable season for this team.  I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished, regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Good luck in the National Championship Game. 

On the negative side, I'm hoping there is a different PBP guy doing tomorrow's game.  I'm really surprised they would choose someone who is clearly biased to broadcast that game.  He even mentioned it in the second half, but that doesn't make it better.  Really disappointing and I actually turned down the sound so I didn't have to hear it.

CBS is broadcasting the game tomorrow, so it'll be a CBS crew on the television call. Rose and McHugh will be doing the game on the radio.

i thought that Rose and McHugh did just fine on the call of this game. I didn't sense any bias whatsoever.

Augie fans,

With all due respect to your perceived bias by the broadcast team, wouldn't the allegations be both more plausible and believable should they have been made by fans from a team not involved in the contest? Just asking.

In fairness to Augie fanS, you should say Augie fan, as I am the only one who definitively posted about it.  4samuy may have very well meant something completely different by his post.  It was speculation on my part and, if I was wrong about what he meant, my apologies.  I did say I was guessing.  That being said, it still doesn't change my opinion that there was bias shown during the game by the broadcast team.  Not the end of the world by any means and I had the option of turning down the sound and watching the game, which I ultimately did.  Since Augie will be playing for a National Championship tomorrow, it's all good!!!

I think fans (plural) is fair, since you gave us this:

Not the only one who's felt that way, as I have had a couple of other alum text me during the game saying the same thing.

That's not exactly an unbiased sample...

Whinging about talking heads aside, good luck to the Western Vikings tomorrow!

[iwu70]

I looked through many of the still pictures of the Augie-Williams semi in Salem.  When you see those shots, you do realize how solid, positionally correct defense Augie plays.  Perhaps overall better foot speed that Williams too.   It could be the difference in the Championship game.  Flanery will get his, but Augie has to play that tenacious D again and hopefully shoot a very good, perhaps high percentage again.  Shooting 62% from the field in that semi was really something incredible.

Good luck to the Doggies tomorrow -- make all the CCIW proud.

IWU'70

[4samuy]

Looks like ebel lowered his shoulder. Whatever.

What does that mean?   
Is this an analysis of the game action?

I have to say looking back at the post I made and your response, It started my morning with a laugh so thanks for that.  I actually never finished the post because I had a family emergency. I thought I would get back to it but wasn't able to.  I believe I was going to refer to whatever the time of the game, those types of calls can make huge differences in outcomes or something to that effect.  Thanks again for the laugh AO.

[4samuy]

I looked through many of the still pictures of the Augie-Williams semi in Salem.  When you see those shots, you do realize how solid, positionally correct defense Augie plays.  Perhaps overall better foot speed that Williams too.   It could be the difference in the Championship game.  Flanery will get his, but Augie has to play that tenacious D again and hopefully shoot a very good, perhaps high percentage again.  Shooting 62% from the field in that semi was really something incredible.

Good luck to the Doggies tomorrow -- make all the CCIW proud.

IWU'70

That's a good call 70.  IMO, Augustana has come a long way on that end of the floor since the start of the year. From a CCIW perspective, IMO, although Babson is a handful, Whitman would have been a nightmare matchup for Augustana, due to there overall quickness, ability to turn you over and get quick scores.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to the Vikings on reaching the national championship game.  I thought Augie played extremely well last night vs Williams.

Chrishawn Orange and Jacob Johnston get most of the pub (and they've both been great), but I think Nolan Ebel makes the Vikings tick as much as anyone.  He's really emerged as a strong floor general-type PG who just does a lot of things to help Augie win games.

I've seen Babson play 4 times now and I'm very impressed -- that said, I love Augie's chances tonight.  I think Augie's size, strength, and the physical nature of their play will give Babson trouble.  The Vikings will need to shoot it well again -- not like last night's crazy 62% FG/56% 3-point, but somewhere around their season averages of 49%/37%.

It's time for the CCIW's 19-year national championship drought to come to an end tonight, and I believe it will.