MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WUPHF]

The D3Hooops.com FAQ is the go-to for these questions and a great read for anyone who is not familiar with the tournament selection process.  Myself included.

In regards to the question about once ranked always ranked or not...

These are the selection (and seeding) criteria:

The following primary criteria (not in priority order) will be reviewed:

• Win-loss percentage against Division III opponents.
• Division III head-to-head competition.
• Results versus common Division III opponents.
• Results versus regionally ranked Division III opponents as established by the final two sets of rankings (i.e. those released Feb. 21 and Feb. 26)
• Division III strength-of-schedule (SOS).
- Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OWP) (weighted 2/3).
- Opponents' Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OOWP) (weighted 1/3).
- Add the two numbers to get the team's strength-of-schedule

[lmitzel]

If Wheaton goes 0-2 this week, they might also fall out of the rankings. I can't remember if basketball has once ranked, always ranked criteria or not? If not that would affect some teams, like NCC.

WUPHF beat me to it, but yeah, the question came up on the women's board as well.

Since I don't know if it was completely answered... there is NO "once ranked, always ranked" in Division III -across the board. The women and men have the last two rankings count only. There are no differences in that rule in basketball and I believe across DIII.

The ONLY difference in the criteria between men and women is that the men utilize the home/away weighted measure on their SOS while the women do not. That is a criteria that is left to each individual national committee. There are four or so in DIII that use it.

So the possibility of Wheaton dropping out entirely would pose a problem for NCC. All CCIW teams still in the picture would probably profit from a combination of quarterfinal upsets and Platteville (and probably even UWSP) dominance in the WIAC Tournament.

[Titan Q]

North Central is hurt by playing a game that didn't count -- Robert Morris-Chicago (NAIA).

[USee]

North Central is hurt by playing a game that didn't count -- Robert Morris-Chicago (NAIA).

This saddens me......

[hopefan]

I was interested to see how Aston Francis compares to other top guards in the league in terms of points per FGA.  Here is a list of the guards in the CCIW averaging 10+ PPG...

(Stats are from CCIW games only)

Nolan Ebel (Augustana): 257 points/155 FGA = 1.66 points/FGA
Ricky Samuelson (Wheaton): 216 points/146 FGA = 1.48 points/FGA
Brady Rose (IWU): 336 points/234 FGA = 1.44 points/FGA
Colin Bonnett (IWU): 189 points/132 FGA = 1.43 points/FGA
Aston Francis (Wheaton): 453 points/317 FGA = 1.43 points/FGA
Zach Fisher (Millikin): 220 points/161 FGA = 1.37 points/FGA
Chrishawn Orange (Augustana): 233 points/171 FGA = 1.36 points/FGA
Joel Heesch (Carroll): 203 points/151 FGA = 1.34 points/FGA
Connor Raridon (North Central): 183 points/140 FGA = 1.31 points/FGA
Jordan Thomas (Carthage): 255 points/196 FGA = 1.30 points/FGA
Jake Rhode (Elmhurst): 203 points/167 FGA = 1.22 points/FGA
Michael Beaty (Millikin): 155 points/132 FGA = 1.17 points/FGA
Dylan Sortillo (Augustana): 174 points/153 FGA = 1.14 points/FGA
Tanner Zaeske (Carroll): 165 points/150 FGA = 1.10 points/FGA
Colin Lake (North Park): 274 points/252 FGA = 1.09 points/FGA

Really impressive numbers from Nolan Ebel, who I believe is a lock 1st Teamer.  And Francis has really good numbers here for someone who takes this many shots -- he does a great job getting to the FT line, and he makes a ton of 3-pointers.  And IWU's starting backcourt shows up well here.

For fun context, Michael Jordan's NBA career number was 1.32 points/FGA...Kobe Bryant 1.28...Steph Curry 1.37 so far.

Loved this stat... had to do it for the SLIAC boys...  WOW... check out our top 3... for all games
Dakota Bennington (Eureka): 347 points/196 FGA = 1.77 points/FGA
Trevaughn Goodman (Principia): 477 points/272 FGA = 1.75 points/FGA
Shea Feehan (Eureka): 646 points/404 FGA = 1.60 points/FGA

But yes, I know these numbers may have been helped with 2 games vs Greenville....

[iwu70]

NCC over IWU at the half, 40-34.  Given how poorly the Titans shot it initially, they are lucky to be this close.  At one point, NC was shooting it at about 60%.  Second half upcoming.

'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half:  NCC 40, IWU 34.  The Titans have never led, and at one point were down by 16, so the deficit at halftime doesn't seem TOO bad.

With about 2 to go in the half, Augie trails Elmhurst by 4.

[Yogao]

Augie had a 2 - 0 lead and then was trailing by 15 at one point. being down 8 at half doesn't seem TOO bad as well.   At one point Augie cut it to 2 points with 3 minutes left, but Elmhurst went on another run to end the half.

Elmhurst leaders at the half:
Auker, Brandon 17 pts
Patton, Ryan    16 pts

[Kovo]

NCC over IWU at the half, 40-34.  Given how poorly the Titans shot it initially, they are lucky to be this close.  At one point, NC was shooting it at about 60%.  Second half upcoming.

'70

Big win for the Cards.  Winning at Wheaton and at IWU in back to back games gives me some hope.  Not sure what it means for a Pool C bid but it can't hurt.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton  66      
Carroll  71

Aston Francis      27 pts, 4 rebs, 7 asst,
Luke Peters      11 pts, 3 rebs
Kobe Eichelberger   9 rebs
Jay Spencer      8 rebs

Tyler Zaeske      15 pts, 8 rebs
Joel Heesch      14 pts
Tyler Ingebrightsen   14 pts, 8 rebs

Credit to the Pios, who were down by 14 midway through the first half, but never gave up or went away.  They took whatever was given to them by Wheaton and came away with a gritty win to end the season.  Congrats to them for winning 7 or their last 8.

Francis had a usual pretty impressive offensive game for him but got little scoring help from anyone else.  They had plenty of chances, including at the free throw line where they were awful as a team shooting a mere 42%, 8-19 .   Both Francis and Ricky Samuelson had chances to make key baskets down the stretch but couldn't convert.  They went scoreless in the last 2 minutes of the game as Carroll pulled away.  Pretty disappointing at the failed execution.

Just like last year, the Thunder lose their last 2 regular season games while needing to win at least one.  Not quite as costly since at least they'll get another game this weekend although this obviously dashes their Pool C hopes.  But they've been pretty decent on the road against some top teams  -   the only team to win @ both IWU and Augie.  So maybe??

[Titan Q]

Heading to Rock Island...

#1 Augustana
#2 Illinois Wesleyan
#3 North Central
#4 Wheaton

[Titan Q]

Tough loss for the Titans tonight.  North Central was just better on both ends of the floor from start to finish.  IWU just could not consistently stop the Cardinals, and on offense IWU just never got it clicking for long stretches.

Alex Sorenson and Connor Raridon were great as always, but Mike Pollack did a ton of damage -- 17 points, 5-5 FG, 4-4 3-point.  Seemed like every time IWU was about to catch up or take the lead, Pollack would bury another big shot.

The Cardinals did a great job on Brady Rose, making it hard for him to get good looks.

IWU vs NCC once again Friday at 5:00pm.  The Titans go from good shape to very much bubble territory.

[Yogao]

Augie comes back to win 79-77. Quite a comeback as Elmhurst again built a 15 point lead in the 2nd half. Augie never had more than a 2 possession lead the whole game.

Elmhurst leaders:
Auker, Brandon        20 pts 10-12 ft
Patton, Ryan            30 pts 6-9 3pt
Ireland, Jeremy    12

Augie leaders:
Orange, Chrishawn        18
Sortillo, Dylan                    17
Benning, Brett                    24  8-8 ft

[Mr. Ypsi]

So, IWU wins in Naperville, while NCC wins in B'town.  Don't know if that gives ANY clue to who wins in Rock Island!

[iwu70]

NC 83, IWU 74

Titans couldn't overcome a very poor shooting early sequence in the first 10 minutes, had to try all evening to climb back into the game, and just couldn't do it.  Got close a few times in the second half, but then NC pulled away with 7-0 run about 5 minutes to go.  IWU ties for the CCIW crown with Augie as Augie comes back to win a very tough game at home vs. EC.  EC had them down, but Augie came back with tough D, some bad plays and decisions by EC. 

NC:
Sorenson 22
Raridon 18
Pollack 17
Capelletti 14

IWU:
Rose 17
Curry 15, another strong game
Gregoire 11
O'Neill 10

So now we're to RI, a lost chance for the tournament at The Shirk -- with Augie regaining home court for the AQ match-ups -- Friday and Saturday.  IWU puts itself in a vulnerable position at 19-6, 12-4 -- perhaps back on the bubble.  Not a happy outcome.

NCC played very well, especially in the early going and then in the last 4-5 minutes.  Raridon the key to their win, playing well, not turning it over.

Still, congrats to Coach Rose and all the Titans on winning a share of the CCIW championship this season. More important basketball to be played.

IWU'70