MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

It is certainly not common for NCC fans to ever cheer on their close rivals 20 minutes to the north.  But something tells me such fans will be quietly (or maybe even loudly) cheering for the Wheaton Thunder as they travel to Rock Island tomorrow?  We'll need it.  Wheaton will have to call upon any and all good vibe from last year's win at Carver when Francis went for 40.  It's not outside the realm of possibility but only if everyone plays at the top of their game.

Oh, it's the out of town game I'll have my eye closest on. Might even have to do more than just the halftime and end of game scoreboard updates on that one. As sick as it makes me... yeah, I'm pulling for the Thunder tomorrow.

Just makes you want to run home and take a nice long hot shower, doesn't it?

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (13-8, 6-6) at #13-North Central (18-3, 10-2), 7pm...

Titans (13-8, 6-6)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 So. 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F - Danny Baker, 6-6/210 Sr.  2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

#13-Cardinals (18-3, 10-2)
G - Aaron Jones, 6-0/175 Jr.  7.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
G - Tommy Koth, 6-3/175 Sr.  6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
G - Blaise Meredith, 6-4/180 So.  10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
F - Matt Cappelletti, 6-5/210 Jr.  15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
F - Connor Raridon, 6-6/215 Jr.  17.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.2 apg

Pantagraph - https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-takes-another-shot-at-north-central/article_c7ed85da-fe26-5d3a-bad3-a549a3a3c817.html

Video - https://www.nctv17.com

Stats - https://northcentralcardinals.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

[AndOne]

Illinois Wesleyan (13-8, 6-6) at North Central (18-3, 10-2), 7pm...

Titans (13-8, 6-6)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 So. 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F - Danny Baker, 6-6/210 Sr.  2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Cardinals (18-3, 10-2)
G - Aaron Jones, 6-0/175 Jr.  7.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
G - Tommy Koth, 6-3/175 Sr.  6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
G - Blaise Meredith, 6-4/180 So.  10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
F - Matt Cappelletti, 6-5/210 Jr.  15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
F - Connor Raridon, 6-6/215 Jr.  17.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.2 apg

Pantagraph - https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-takes-another-shot-at-north-central/article_c7ed85da-fe26-5d3a-bad3-a549a3a3c817.html

Video - https://www.nctv17.com

Stats - https://northcentralcardinals.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

💥 🔥 🔥 🔥 💥

[AndOne]

Drew Pasteur, aka Fantastic50 here, tweeted some projected regional rankings.  For the Central he has...

1. Augustana
2. UW-Oshkosh
3. UW-La Crosse
4. North Central
5. UW-Whitewater
6. UW-Stevens Point
7. Wheaton
8. Wash U

By the way, if you are Twitter you should follow him at @d3bubble.  Great stuff.

Matt Snyder, aka KnightSlappy, has...

1. Augustana
2. UW-Oshkosh
3. UW-La Crosse
4. UW-Stevens Point
5. North Central
6. Wheaton
7. UW-Platteville
8. UW-Whitewater

https://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/p/division-iii-mens-regional-rankings.html

1. UW-Oshkosh
2. Augustana
3. North Central
4. UW-LaCrosse
5. UW-Stevens Point
6. Wheaton
7. UW-Platteville
8. UW-Whitewater

🔮 💡  😏

UW-Platteville lost again last night, Mark, so at this point I doubt that the Pioneers (13-8) are going to make it into the Central Region rankings tomorrow. Look for Wash U to fill that final spot, as Drew surmised.

I think it's possible that North Central could be #3, but I wouldn't bank on it if I were you. The Cardinals continue to have a super-low SOS, and even with the SOS/win% comparison formula having been abandoned by the regional and national committees, I doubt that the Central Region committee will reward a team that has played such an indifferent schedule to date. (UW-Oshkosh has a surprisingly unimpressive SOS as well, but the Titans have the virtue of a win% that's a hundred points better than NCC's, plus UWO has a common-opponents advantage over NCC.)

Fortunately for your Cardinals, they will have the opportunity to rectify such matters themselves over the next four days by hosting Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton.

It's possible Wheaton may be higher than expected given their strength of schedule and common opponent advantages over  La Crosse (loss to Elmhurst, Ripon, Oshkosh, Platteville) and Stevens Point (Oshkosh, Platteville). Wheaton's SOS will get a significant bump this week with road games at Augie and NCC. If Wheaton can win one of those two, it could boost them to 4th and if they get both, maybe even third due to NCC's weak SOS.

Thunder 38,

Wheaton may even have another advantage that some people may either not be aware of, or may have forgotten if they were initially aware of it. I just remembered that one of the members of the National Committee is none other than one Mike Schauer. That could be worth a brownie point or two. It certainly can't hurt. 

[Gregory Sager]

Mike Schauer has to recuse himself from any committee discussions that concern Wheaton. And even if he didn't, Mike has too much personal integrity to abuse his position like that.

Plenty of coaches who have served on regional committees or on the national committee have coached teams that are good enough to be ranked and that have, indeed, been ranked. That's true in every NCAA-sponsored sport, not just in men's basketball. The next time that I read an accusation that someone has done what you're insinuating Mike Schauer might do, which is to favorably influence the committee on which he sits with regard to his team, will be the first.

[AndOne]

Mike Schauer has to recuse himself from any committee discussions that concern Wheaton. And even if he didn't, Mike has too much personal integrity to abuse his position like that.

Plenty of coaches who have served on regional committees or on the national committee have coached teams that are good enough to be ranked and that have, indeed, been ranked. That's true in every NCAA-sponsored sport, not just in men's basketball. The next time that I read an accusation that someone has done what you're insinuating Mike Schauer might do, which is to favorably influence the committee on which he sits with regard to his team, will be the first.

Greg,

You need to be a little less accusatory.
Not for one second was my intent to either accuse Mike Schauer of any abuse of power, or to insinuate that he might do anything to favorably influence his team in the Committee's eyes.

What I was thinking was through no fault of his own, his mere presence on the Committee might generate some degree of goodwill among the other members who might inadvertently express that goodwill by looking favorably on his team should Wheaton and some other team have the same number of merits with regard to where they might be placed. This has much more to do with what others might do rather than any action Mike might take.

Without having any idea whatsoever of what I was thinking, you didn't hesitate to fire a broadside volley in my direction. I would think someone of your level of intelligence would be a little less hesitant to convict someone without first having all the facts, and would realize he really doesn't always automatically know what someone else was thinking—especially without asking. You assumed you knew what I was thinking, and your assumption wasn't even close to reality.

[kiko]

Mike Schauer has to recuse himself from any committee discussions that concern Wheaton. And even if he didn't, Mike has too much personal integrity to abuse his position like that.

Plenty of coaches who have served on regional committees or on the national committee have coached teams that are good enough to be ranked and that have, indeed, been ranked. That's true in every NCAA-sponsored sport, not just in men's basketball. The next time that I read an accusation that someone has done what you're insinuating Mike Schauer might do, which is to favorably influence the committee on which he sits with regard to his team, will be the first.

Greg,

You need to be a little less accusatory.
Not for one second was my intent to either accuse Mike Schauer of any abuse of power, or to insinuate that he might do anything to favorably influence his team in the Committee's eyes.

What I was thinking was through no fault of his own, his mere presence on the Committee might generate some degree of goodwill among the other members who might inadvertently express that goodwill by looking favorably on his team should Wheaton and some other team have the same number of merits with regard to where they might be placed. This has much more to do with what others might do rather than any action Mike might take.

Without having any idea whatsoever of what I was thinking, you didn't hesitate to fire a broadside volley in my direction. I would think someone of your level of intelligence would be a little less hesitant to convict someone without first having all the facts, and would realize he really doesn't always automatically know what someone else was thinking—especially without asking. You assumed you knew what I was thinking, and your assumption wasn't even close to reality.

Maybe the issue is that you need to be clearer in what you post.  Your track record of 'who, me?... that's not what I meant at all!' in this forum is rather extensive.

[Gregory Sager]

Mike Schauer has to recuse himself from any committee discussions that concern Wheaton. And even if he didn't, Mike has too much personal integrity to abuse his position like that.

Plenty of coaches who have served on regional committees or on the national committee have coached teams that are good enough to be ranked and that have, indeed, been ranked. That's true in every NCAA-sponsored sport, not just in men's basketball. The next time that I read an accusation that someone has done what you're insinuating Mike Schauer might do, which is to favorably influence the committee on which he sits with regard to his team, will be the first.

Greg,

You need to be a little less accusatory.

Well, then, you need to word your statements with a little more clarity.

Not for one second was my intent to either accuse Mike Schauer of any abuse of power, or to insinuate that he might do anything to favorably influence his team in the Committee's eyes.

What I was thinking was through no fault of his own, his mere presence on the Committee might generate some degree of goodwill among the other members who might inadvertently express that goodwill by looking favorably on his team should Wheaton and some other team have the same number of merits with regard to where they might be placed. This has much more to do with what others might do rather than any action Mike might take.

Here's what you said:

Wheaton may even have another advantage that some people may either not be aware of, or may have forgotten if they were initially aware of it. I just remembered that one of the members of the National Committee is none other than one Mike Schauer. That could be worth a brownie point or two. It certainly can't hurt. 

There is not one clue in those four sentences above that points to your secondary posts's insistence that you were talking about Wheaton benefiting from the goodwill of other committee members. You merely say that his presence on the committee "could be worth a brownie point or two" without stating the nature of that brownie point -- how it was produced, who was behind it, how it was intended, etc.

Bottom line: If you want to speculate about something, don't hide behind obfuscating language. Come out and say it directly.

Without having any idea whatsoever of what I was thinking, you didn't hesitate to fire a broadside volley in my direction. I would think someone of your level of intelligence would be a little less hesitant to convict someone without first having all the facts, and would realize he really doesn't always automatically know what someone else was thinking—especially without asking. You assumed you knew what I was thinking, and your assumption wasn't even close to reality.

Do you know why I suspected that you could be insinuating that Schauer might use his position on the committee in an untoward way, Mark? It's because you have a well-deserved reputation as a conspiracy theorist. You and I just finished engaging in a private conversation concerning another regular poster here that was laced with paranoia and groundless accusations on your part. Given that you couched your phrasing regarding Wheaton benefiting from Schauer's position on the committee in such vague language, it was clear that you were hinting at the potential for something untoward going on -- but you just didn't want to come out and say it, so that you would have this nice fallback position that you're now using. (A fallback position, I might add, that passes your speculation of potential impropriety from Mike Schauer onto his colleagues Sam Atkinson, Bob Bjorklund, Rick Ferry, Chuck McBreen, Jarred Samples, Rob Southall, and Leonard Trevino.)

[GoPerry]

You and I just finished engaging in a private conversation concerning another regular poster here that was laced with paranoia and groundless accusations on your part.

Posters privately talking about other posters?  C'mon!   

[Titan Q]

@PrepHoopsMO
2019 F Trey Griffey of Lafayette has committed to Millikin (IL). ⁦@ArsenalHoops⁩

* Trey Griffey, 6-7 C

http://www.hudl.com/profile/6845284/Trey-Griffey

[lmitzel]

On another note...

Illinois Wesleyan (13-8, 6-6) at North Central (18-3, 10-2), 7pm...

Titans (13-8, 6-6)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 So. 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F - Danny Baker, 6-6/210 Sr.  2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Cardinals (18-3, 10-2)
G - Aaron Jones, 6-0/175 Jr.  7.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
G - Tommy Koth, 6-3/175 Sr.  6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
G - Blaise Meredith, 6-4/180 So.  10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
F - Matt Cappelletti, 6-5/210 Jr.  15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
F - Connor Raridon, 6-6/215 Jr.  17.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.2 apg

Pantagraph - https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-takes-another-shot-at-north-central/article_c7ed85da-fe26-5d3a-bad3-a549a3a3c817.html

Video - https://www.nctv17.com

Stats - https://northcentralcardinals.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Is it inappropriate for a PA announcer to have a sign in front of him or her that says "No [insert opposing player here] beyond this point"? Asking for a friend.

[duckfan41]

On another note...

Illinois Wesleyan (13-8, 6-6) at North Central (18-3, 10-2), 7pm...

Titans (13-8, 6-6)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 So. 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F - Danny Baker, 6-6/210 Sr.  2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Cardinals (18-3, 10-2)
G - Aaron Jones, 6-0/175 Jr.  7.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
G - Tommy Koth, 6-3/175 Sr.  6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
G - Blaise Meredith, 6-4/180 So.  10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
F - Matt Cappelletti, 6-5/210 Jr.  15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg
F - Connor Raridon, 6-6/215 Jr.  17.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.2 apg

Pantagraph - https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-takes-another-shot-at-north-central/article_c7ed85da-fe26-5d3a-bad3-a549a3a3c817.html

Video - https://www.nctv17.com

Stats - https://northcentralcardinals.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Is it inappropriate for a PA announcer to have a sign in front of him or her that says "No [insert opposing player here] beyond this point"? Asking for a friend.

I don't think I've heard his last name pronounced the same way by any broadcast team or PA guy all year. Good luck!

[WUPHF]

I don't think I've heard his last name pronounced the same way by any broadcast team or PA guy all year. Good luck!

And, pronounced in more than one way by the same broadcaster, same game.

[lmitzel]

I don't think I've heard his last name pronounced the same way by any broadcast team or PA guy all year. Good luck!

And, pronounced in more than one way by the same broadcaster, same game.

I've got a cheat sheet from years past so, hopefully, this won't be an issue. But this is where the tried and true strategy of "Ask the coaching staff before the game so I don't sound like an idiot" comes into play too.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't think I've heard his last name pronounced the same way by any broadcast team or PA guy all year. Good luck!

And, pronounced in more than one way by the same broadcaster, same game.

I've got a cheat sheet from years past so, hopefully, this won't be an issue. But this is where the tried and true strategy of "Ask the coaching staff before the game so I don't sound like an idiot" comes into play too.

It never hurts to ask, even when it's the name of an upperclassman such as Jason Gregoire who has seen a lot of playing time in previous seasons. I used to feel embarrassed when I'd find myself wondering, "How did I pronounce that guy's name last season?", but I didn't want to look ignorant by specifically asking the opposing coaches about him. But I've found that the best way around that is to simply go up to an assistant coach and quickly run through the pronunciations of all the players. That conveniently hides the problem.

BTW, kudos to all of the CCIW SIDs who are now sending pronunciation guides to their colleagues before games. More and more SIDs are doing this for various sports. I realize that this is one more task being taken on by individuals who are typically among the busiest and most overworked employees on their respective campuses, but this is a welcome and long-needed development that really helps out us broadcasters and P.A. announcers.