MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Carthage 85
North Park 65

Matt Szuba: 18 pts, 9 rebs
Veggie Tangen: 14 pts, 7 rebs
Cardell Simmons: 10 pts, 7 rebs, 3:1 a:to
Toby Marek: 10 pts, 3:1 a:to
Kindrel Morris: 3:1 a:to

Kienan Baltimore: 20 pts, 7 rebs, 10:1 a:to
Jordon Kedrowski: 17 pts, 5:1 a:to, 3 stls
Jacob Polglase: 13 pts, 6 rebs
Mike Canady: 13 pts, 6 rebs
Sean Johnson: 12 pts, 8 rebs
T.J. Best: 4:0 a:to

NPU was competitive for most of the game, and even had several leads in a back-and-forth contest, but the offense sputtered down the stretch for the Park while Baltimore and Polglase, in particular, got hot for the Red Men. And thus it's basically a foregone conclusion in the wake of the Battle to Stay Out of the Cellar that NPU will finish in last place for the second year in a row after being the CCIW's co-champs in 2016-17.

Cardell Simmons and Veggie Tangen were honored tonight on Senior Night, and both turned in fine performances. It's especially a shame to see Veggie go, as he still has a year of eligibility remaining. But that's the reality of using Scandinavian student-athletes, as every NPU soccer fan knows; most of them graduate at the end of their junior seasons.

Always good to see all of my old NPC basketball buddies like Dan Mulkerin and Mike Barach from the '87 national championship team, as they always turn out to see the old man bring his team to the crackerbox.

[iwu70]

Great game at The Shirk.  IWU 79 UC 76.

As I always say, get to 78 and win the game.  It's uncanny. 

For IWU:
Wallen the game winner trey -- 18
Gregoire 14
Rose 12
Bonnett 10
O'Neil 8
Bair 7 and 7

For EC:
Ireland 21
Dortlich 20
Rhode -- contained pretty well -- 12

Looks like IWU honing in on the #4 seed in the CCIW tournament.

Good and happy outcome for Senior night.  Thanks again to the IWU Seniors -- great contributions to IWU and the IWU program.  All best in all your future endeavors, following graduation. 

I just love the way Colin Bonnett competes, plays the game day in and day out.

IWU'70

[iwu70]

Wheaton over NCC.  Francis with a mere 49.  He lives in a different realm.

'70

[kiko]

The Wheaton-North Central final was 82-71.

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  I did think the Sons of Warden got out of their offense a bit during this stretch as they spent a couple of possessions trying to iso Francis and entice him into picking up number five.  It was a logical reaction given how lethal his shot is, but that is where the Cardinals started to chase the game a bit.

Francis' 49 was a career high and just a point off the program record set back during the Eisenhower administration.  While they missed Aiden Chang's doggedness tonight, I don't think North Central defended him badly; he's just ridiculously good.

Rounding out the scoreboard:
Augie 78, Millikin 56 in the Quad Cities

[lmitzel]

The Wheaton-North Central final was 82-71.

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  Francis' 49 was a career high and just a point off the program record set back during the Eisenhower administration.  While they missed Aiden Chang's doggedness tonight, I don't think North Central defended him badly; he's just ridiculously good.

Francis logged four quick triples early in this one, but after that for the most part the ones he hit were fade-aways with a hand in his face. He even heaved one from probably 40 (that one didn't go in, but if it had...)

I'm pretty sure he hit another one falling away with a hand in his face in the 10 minutes it took me to get home. Maybe more.

[duckfan41]

The Wheaton-North Central final was 82-71.

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  I did think the Sons of Warden got out of their offense a bit during this stretch as they spent a couple of possessions trying to iso Francis and entice him into picking up number five.  It was a logical reaction given how lethal his shot is, but that is where the Cardinals started to chase the game a bit.

Francis' 49 was a career high and just a point off the program record set back during the Eisenhower administration.  While they missed Aiden Chang's doggedness tonight, I don't think North Central defended him badly; he's just ridiculously good.

Rounding out the scoreboard:
Augie 78, Millikin 56 in the Quad Cities

To be fair, Francis' career high was a 54 point effort on the road at UW Plattville earlier this year. Tonight's performance was one of the best shooting performances I've ever seen...

[Titan Q]

The Wheaton-North Central final was 82-71.

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  I did think the Sons of Warden got out of their offense a bit during this stretch as they spent a couple of possessions trying to iso Francis and entice him into picking up number five.  It was a logical reaction given how lethal his shot is, but that is where the Cardinals started to chase the game a bit.

Francis' 49 was a career high and just a point off the program record set back during the Eisenhower administration.  While they missed Aiden Chang's doggedness tonight, I don't think North Central defended him badly; he's just ridiculously good.

Rounding out the scoreboard:
Augie 78, Millikin 56 in the Quad Cities

You guys get him in Round 2 of the CCIW tourney...enjoy.

[lmitzel]

You guys get him in Round 2 of the CCIW tourney...enjoy.

Is this where I sign up for the Aston Francis counseling group? I'm pretty sure I'm going to have nightmares of him hitting more ridiculous shots tonight.

Have to give some credit to his supporting cast though too. Luke Peters put up a 10-8-6 line, and Luke Anthony hit what ended up being the dagger three to make it a seven point game. Wheaton as a team also won the rebounding battle 44-30. They earned it.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 82 North Central  71

After 9 straight losses to NCC (going back to 2014), Wheaton finally gets a desperately needed W over the Cardinals in a classicly great college basketball game.  It was one the Thunder absolutely had to have and Aston Francis played with that urgency in a 49 pt performance ( 17-27, 10/19 from three, 5 rebs) that was remarkable to watch.  He was hitting from everywhere including a trey off the glass.

But even with Francis going off the way he did, someone else needed to step up and Luke Anthony (13 pts, 5 rebs)made several crucial offensive plays in the waning minutes that were a huge lift for Wheaton.  Luke Peters was also very steady again with 10 and 8.  And Kobe Eichelberger didn't score but played great defense and added 9 boards. 

NCC got great scoring balance from Matt Cappelletti with 20 pts and 8 rebs, Connor Raridon with 19, Aaron Jones with 17 and Will Clausel 11. 

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  I did think the Sons of Warden got out of their offense a bit during this stretch as they spent a couple of possessions trying to iso Francis and entice him into picking up number five.  It was a logical reaction given how lethal his shot is, but that is where the Cardinals started to chase the game a bit.

I agree with this Kiko.  8 minutes left when Francis picked up his 4th and I'm not sure many Thunder fans were optimistic.  But NCC was not able to take advantage much, going up by 3 with 5 mins left.  Francis came back in the game, immediately tied it with a trey.  Then NCC tried to go at Francis to foul him out of the game and I thought that put the Cardinals out of their offensive rhythm.  Instead of moving the ball, they tried to isolate Tommy Koth, Blaise Meredith on Francis which I don't think turned out well.  NCC never got their offensive mojo back after that.

[kiko]

The Wheaton-North Central final was 82-71.

North Central led 67-64 when Francis checked back in with 5:22 to go after sitting for a short period with four fouls.  He scored 13 down the stretch as the Thunder closed with an 18-4 run.  I did think the Sons of Warden got out of their offense a bit during this stretch as they spent a couple of possessions trying to iso Francis and entice him into picking up number five.  It was a logical reaction given how lethal his shot is, but that is where the Cardinals started to chase the game a bit.

Francis' 49 was a career high and just a point off the program record set back during the Eisenhower administration.  While they missed Aiden Chang's doggedness tonight, I don't think North Central defended him badly; he's just ridiculously good.

Rounding out the scoreboard:
Augie 78, Millikin 56 in the Quad Cities

To be fair, Francis' career high was a 54 point effort on the road at UW Plattville earlier this year. Tonight's performance was one of the best shooting performances I've ever seen...

Ah -- that's right.  Guess it makes sense that the school doesn't update the record book during the season.

You guys get him in Round 2 of the CCIW tourney...enjoy.

Marginally preferable to Augie, I suppose, given how many ways they can beat you.

[Titan Q]

Marginally preferable to Augie, I suppose, given how many ways they can beat you.

Honestly, I'd rather play Augie. It's more normal basketball.  When a guy hits step back, crazy ass 3s on you all night it's just extra painful.

[iwu70]

10 treys.  Truly remarkable.  Can anyone in the CCIW guard him?  (I guess obviously not!). 

I'm with Q, I'd rather play Augie at this point and take my chances on having one of those nights at Carver, as the Titans have had in the past, where everything goes right and you get them.

Titans are playing better and need to build the mojo in the last two regular season games to be ready for the CCIW tournament opportunities.  The Baker-Wallen combo is working out better, Bair playing better coming off the bench.  Even O'Neil had a good contribution tonight.  Would be nice to finish 17-8 entering the CCIW tournament.  But, 19-9 won't do it for Pool C.  (are you reading this Greg!?).  No gasping at straws here . . . IWU needs the AQ to get any games after Carver. 

I thought Wallen and Gregoire had quite good games tonight vs. EC.

We will miss the seniors -- esp. Rose and Bonnett.

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

10 treys.  Truly remarkable.  Can anyone in the CCIW guard him?   

Sure. Luke Peters.

But, 19-9 won't do it for Pool C.  (are you reading this Greg!?).

As I said here the other day, my work here is done.

[Gregory Sager]

Always good to see all of my old NPC basketball buddies like Dan Mulkerin and Mike Barach from the '87 national championship team, as they always turn out to see the old man bring his team to the crackerbox.

I should add to this that, naturally, Dan Mulkerin goes to all Carthage games in order to see his son play for the Red Men. And next season Mike Barach will do the same, as his son Luke is a Carthage-bound senior star for Hanover Central HS in northwest Indiana.

[lmitzel]

Marginally preferable to Augie, I suppose, given how many ways they can beat you.

Honestly, I'd rather play Augie. It's more normal basketball.  When a guy hits step back, crazy ass 3s on you all night it's just extra painful.

You also get to be on Grey Giovanine Jacket Watch, which brings a layer of fun to your night. Going, "Oh crap," every time #1 in navy and orange pulls from deep and knowing you have to turn your mic on to say, "Aston Francis for three" for the umpteenth time is on a separate circle of hell.

I agree with this Kiko.  8 minutes left when Francis picked up his 4th and I'm not sure many Thunder fans were optimistic.  But NCC was not able to take advantage much, going up by 3 with 5 mins left.  Francis came back in the game, immediately tied it with a trey.  Then NCC tried to go at Francis to foul him out of the game and I thought that put the Cardinals out of their offensive rhythm.  Instead of moving the ball, they tried to isolate Tommy Koth, Blaise Meredith on Francis which I don't think turned out well.  NCC never got their offensive mojo back after that.

I should really touch on this more. The one that bugged me was a late play with NCC down four. Meredith drove from the left wing, bounced off Francis trying to get a call, and missed the layup. Luke Anthony hit the dagger on the ensuing possession.