MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

The IWU/Concordia game was unlike any I have seen in my 30+ years watching Division III basketball.

I spent 2 hours color commentating and still don't know how to begin to describe that one.

[AndOne]

Unlike in what way(s)?
And in 30 years? Wow, long time!

[Pat Coleman]

This tournament was a very late add for the Titans after the tournament in Phoenix (at the gym with the crazy floor) fell apart somehow.  They were lucky this worked out.

Two words: LAS VEGAS!

[Titan Q]

Two words: LAS VEGAS!

I have been pushing on that for sure, Pat.  Just talked to Ron Rose about it a couple days ago.  The barrier so far has been the cost...he said the all-in cost of the D3hoops.com tourney in Vegas is a ton more than a trip like this one (Austin) or others they have taken.  But I've encouraged him to keep digging into the it - would love to see the Titans out there.

[Titan Q]

#23-Illinois Wesleyan (7-4, 2-1 CCIW) vs Sul Ross State (5-5, 1-0 ASC) , Monday 12/30, 2:00pm...

#23-Illinois Wesleyan (7-4)
G - Luke Yoder, 6-0/170 Fr.  8.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg
G - Keondre Schumacher, 5-11/175 So.  13.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.3 apg
G - Pete Lambesis, 6-4/195 So.  13.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.9 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 Jr.  11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg
F - Charlie Bair, 6-7/220 Jr.  8.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg
---------
G - Cory Noe, 6-2/175 So.  6.4 ppg
C - Alex O'Neill, 6-9/245 Sr. 4.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg

Sul Ross State (5-5)
G - Tristen Licon, 6-0/170 Jr.  16.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.5 apg
G - Jake Lopez, 6-0/180 Jr.  1.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.0 apg
G - Jezreel Griffin, 6-3/195 Jr. 3.4 apg, 3.6 rpg
F - B.J. Hollis, 6-3/200 Sr.  11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg
F - Logan Dixon, 6-4/185 Jr. 18.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg
----------
F - Cole Avery, 6-6/190 Sr. 6.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg
G - Aldon Johnson, 6-4/180 Fr. 3.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg


Links
IWU Notes - https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/iwusports.com/documents/2019/12/23/Game11_12_ConcordiaClassic.pdf

Concordia TX site - https://athletics.concordia.edu/sports/mens-basketball

Season preview - http://www.iwuhoops.com/preview2020.pdf

WEXG Radio - http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WWHP

Video - https://athletics.concordia.edu/watch/?Live=1098&type=Live

Live stats - https://athletics.concordia.edu/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

[Titan Q]

The Titans need a big bounce back game today. 

Realistically, the season has shifted from pretty good Pool C shape to very bad shape with one game.  But need to play well today to get some confidence back and get ready for the CCIW slate -- the Titans have two huge wins already (vs Carthage, at Augustana) and should be right in the middle of the CCIW contention picture till the end.

I think today's game is very important for the Titans.

[GoPerry]

I don't really recall Wheaton hosting an end of December holiday tournament before.  But they will do so today and tomorrow with all 4 participating teams sporting winning records.  The Thunder take on the 6-1 Cardinals of St Mary's (MN) tonight and then tomorrow will face either 6-2 Hanover or 7-2 Dubuque.  With such a competitive draw, winning two games will certainly be no pushover but it's what Wheaton needs heading into CCIW resumption.  1-1 will give them almost no wiggle room the rest of the way while losing both games would be a disaster for their Pool C prospects.  In fact, according to Matt Snyder, the 8-2 Thunder are not even close to making the Central Reg Ranking(16th).  It's still early and the CCIW and WIAC intra destruction hasn't really begun yet.  But that data suggests Wheaton can ill afford to lose either game.

Zero students on campus so let's hope the community can cheer the Thunder on (free admission/free parking).  All D3Board contributors welcome.

[Pat Coleman]

Two words: LAS VEGAS!

I have been pushing on that for sure, Pat.  Just talked to Ron Rose about it a couple days ago.  The barrier so far has been the cost...he said the all-in cost of the D3hoops.com tourney in Vegas is a ton more than a trip like this one (Austin) or others they have taken.  But I've encouraged him to keep digging into the it - would love to see the Titans out there.

I understand that -- we will continue to be here and we won't have home-cooking officiating and we won't fall apart because the deal was too good to be true.

[Gregory Sager]

The Thunder take on the 6-1 Cardinals of St Mary's (MN) tonight

Contributions to the MIAC board have slowed to a trickle over the past couple of years, so former NPU and Benedictine assistant coach Joe Fano really isn't getting the credit he deserves for the remarkable turnaround he's starting to achieve in his second year as head coach at perennial doormat St. Mary's (MN).

[Gregory Sager]

Two words: LAS VEGAS!

I have been pushing on that for sure, Pat.  Just talked to Ron Rose about it a couple days ago.  The barrier so far has been the cost...he said the all-in cost of the D3hoops.com tourney in Vegas is a ton more than a trip like this one (Austin) or others they have taken.  But I've encouraged him to keep digging into the it - would love to see the Titans out there.

I understand that -- we will continue to be here and we won't have home-cooking officiating and we won't fall apart because the deal was too good to be true.

... and I'll bet that Pat can also promise that the gym floors and walls won't be painted black, either.

[Greek Tragedy]

The IWU/Concordia game was unlike any I have seen in my 30+ years watching Division III basketball.

I spent 2 hours color commentating and still don't know how to begin to describe that one.

You gonna expand on this?

[Titan Q]

Two words: LAS VEGAS!

I have been pushing on that for sure, Pat.  Just talked to Ron Rose about it a couple days ago.  The barrier so far has been the cost...he said the all-in cost of the D3hoops.com tourney in Vegas is a ton more than a trip like this one (Austin) or others they have taken.  But I've encouraged him to keep digging into the it - would love to see the Titans out there.

I understand that -- we will continue to be here and we won't have home-cooking officiating and we won't fall apart because the deal was too good to be true.

For sure.  I'm gonna keep pushing.

[Smitty Oom]

The Thunder take on the 6-1 Cardinals of St Mary's (MN) tonight

Contributions to the MIAC board have slowed to a trickle over the past couple of years, so former NPU and Benedictine assistant coach Joe Fano really isn't getting the credit he deserves for the remarkable turnaround he's starting to achieve in his second year as head coach at perennial doormat St. Mary's (MN).

It really is sad, basically stopped once I became a member! And UST leaving in the upcoming yers will not be great for the outlook. With that said, St. Mary's has shown growth over the past with Coach Fano. Roster and recruit retainment used to be a real problem. Plus overall depth of decent d3 athletes. So far, Coach Fano has done a good job fixing both of those things. I know Cav-J is a SMU (MN) fan and somewhat regular poster and he has said all offseason this will be the year the Cardinals take the big leap, and they have done so thus far. A big game for them stepping outside the UMAC and into the CCIW to see if they can hang. Plus, it will be a homecoming for some of their players, as Chicago area is a main recruiting ground for Mary's for sometime, and now even more so with the coaches connections.

Eli Cave is one of the best players in the MIAC. An athletic 4-man that can hurt you many different ways, face-up, jumper, even a back to the basket scorer at times if the matchup is right. I may be off here, but is Adyom not a spectacular defender? Will be a good battle and one I am quite excited for.

[Gregory Sager]

The Thunder take on the 6-1 Cardinals of St Mary's (MN) tonight

Contributions to the MIAC board have slowed to a trickle over the past couple of years, so former NPU and Benedictine assistant coach Joe Fano really isn't getting the credit he deserves for the remarkable turnaround he's starting to achieve in his second year as head coach at perennial doormat St. Mary's (MN).

It really is sad, basically stopped once I became a member!

I wouldn't take it personally, Smitty. If anything, you've done more than your share to keep that board alive.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Titans just barely escaped having a totally disastrous trip to Texas.  Doug Wallen had a game-winning layup with 2 seconds remaining to pull out a 1-point win over Sul Ross.