MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

IWU moves to 5-0 with a 70-44 win over Webster.  The Gorlocks to 0-4. 

For Webster:
Luster 17
For the game, shooting only 28%, 33% from three.

For IWU:
Wilmsen 14 and 7
Anderson 10 and 6
Colak 9
Hakim Williams 7 with 5 steals

12 Titans scored in this one, Ron Rose continuing to use the large, 10+ man rotation early in the season.

IWU shot 40%, 33% from three and again a weak 59% from the FT line.  Much to be improved on.

I watched both games in St. Louis and can't say IWU looked particularly sharp this weekend.  It must be said both opponents this weekend were rather weak.   IWU better play better.

But, again, a win is a win . . . and 5-0 is a great start for the year, one-fifth of the regular season schedule in the books.

IWU roams to Chicago next, on Wednesday -- a trip to Ratner.  The CCIW opener will be December 4th, a Wednesday, at The Shirk facing Carthage.  Surely a stiffer test than this weekend.

IWU'70

P.S.  I stand by my appraisal that Josh Fridman is going to be a good CCIW player.  He handles the ball well, shots FTs well, plays hard on defense, and can effectively shoot the three when put in a good position to do so. IMHO

[Gregory Sager]

UW-Oshkosh 87
North Park 71

Rico Powell: 28 pts, 14 rebs
T.J. Gardner: 14 pts

This was a competitive game three-quarters of the way through, but the Vikings were not able to slow down either of UWO's very talented 6'5 wings, Michael Metcalf-Grassman (28 and 12) and Brandon Beck (22 and 6). The Vikings had a lot of success driving to the rim in the first half, but didn't compensate by emphasizing the "kick" part of the drive-and-kick in the second half once UWO adjusted and began collapsing into the paint.

The amazing thing is how young UWO is; Metcalf-Grassman, who was averaging 25 ppg coming into today, is only a sophomore, and Beck is only a freshmen. Their supporting cast is mostly underclassmen as well, and the big man, 6'8 Jonah Rindfleish, is only a junior. Titans HC Matt Lewis may have another ring coming in his near future.

This was a real eye-opener of a performance by Rico Powell. I watched him practice all fall, so I knew that he was good. I didn't realize that he was this good until today.

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

[Gregory Sager]

The CCIW's secret is out. After the postgame show was a wrap and I had packed up my laptop and put on my coat I walked out the door to cross Kedzie Avenue and eat my usual postgame meal at Charcoal Delights. Lo and behold, the entire restaurant was packed out by UW-Oshkosh players, coaches, and parents. Not a seat to be found anywhere; just a sea of black and gold. For all of the visiting teams that I've seen eat their postgame dinner in that place over the decades, I've never seen anything like that happen before. So I just chuckled and walked away. To the victor go the spoils, I guess.

[tjcummingsfan]

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

I haven't watched Carthage play any other games... but I honestly wonder... did Anderson look impressive, or was Carthage just really bad today?  The number of passes they telegraphed for AU to pickoff and take for easy layups was shocking.  I think at one point it happened at least 3 Carthage possessions in a row. 

[Gregory Sager]

As I mentioned before, Carthage took one on the chin down in Anderson, IN today, falling to the Ravens by 88-74 to drop to 2-2 on the season. Riley Brooks and Griffin Daun paced the Firebirds with 17 apiece, while A.J. Williams joined them in double figures with 10. The Johnson brothers were held to a combined six points on 1-5 shooting, although Ryan Johnson did lead CC in rebounds with a dozen. Carthage turned the ball over 19 times, 16 of them courtesy of Ravens steals,as AU topped the Firebirds in points off turnovers, 31-15. The Firebirds certainly miss Antuan Nesbitt.

Wash U traveled up to Waukesha and dispatched Carroll in Van Male, 81-66. Evan Bland, Eckahelo Simpson, and Eric Victorson all reached double figures for the Pios (2-3), with 14, 13, and 12, respectively.

Defending national champion Trine easily polished off Elmhurst in northeastern Indiana, 95-67. Leading the way for the 'jays in the losing effort were Dom Trellenberg with 21 and 8 and Jaiden Malichi with 15.

Visiting Berea took down Millikin in the Griz, 80-77, in double overtime. Nate Straughter missed a trey at the buzzer that would've forced a third extra stanza. Lane Thomann led the way for the Big Blue (1-3) with 23, while Straughter had 15, J.T. Welch contributed 14, and Drake Stevenson had 10 and 8.

And Wheaton topped Olivet, 72-56, in the Pfund conso. Soren Richardson and Noah Hedrick each had 18 for the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance, with Kyle Neibch kicking in 15 and 10 for the Orange and Blue, who are now 3-3.

[Gregory Sager]

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

I haven't watched Carthage play any other games... but I honestly wonder... did Anderson look impressive, or was Carthage just really bad today?  The number of passes they telegraphed for AU to pickoff and take for easy layups was shocking.  I think at one point it happened at least 3 Carthage possessions in a row. 

A bit of both, I think. Extending the zone and full-sell-out jumping passing lanes is kinda Anderson's calling card; the Ravens are quick enough to make that unusual defensive philosophy work. But Carthage looks to me like a really static team without Nesbitt. Riley Brooks is fairly dynamic, but it took him 18 field goal attempts to get his 17 points today.

Anderson @ NPU on Tuesday is going to be a very interesting game.

[Gregory Sager]

We had our first-ever video review in crackerbox history this afternoon to determine whether an NPU player committed a foul before the first half ended or not. I'm reminded of that by the fact that they just had a video review of a shot-clock violation at UW-Platteville's Williams Fieldhouse, where North Central is trying to protect a second-half lead that is in double digits over the host Pioneers.

I feel badly for the UW-Platteville play-by-play guy who, judging by the extreme echo on his voice, is apparently calling the game while watching it on a computer inside an empty warehouse somewhere.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I feel badly for the UW-Platteville play-by-play guy who, judging by the extreme echo on his voice, is apparently calling the game while watching it on a computer inside an empty warehouse somewhere.

At first I thought they were putting the broadcast over the speakers in the arena.

[Gregory Sager]

UW-Platteville outlasts North Central in overtime, 76-69, in a very weird contest. NCC had a double-digit lead throughout much of regulation, but the Pioneers defense put the Cardinals in a deep freeze for over eight minutes, turning a 50-40 UWP deficit into a 54-50 UWP lead. Despite that, the Cardinals almost won it in regulation; it took Logan Pearson going coast-to-coast and dropping in a finger roll for the Pioneers with two seconds left to force the extra session.

Tyler Swierczek paced NCC with 16, while Sean Molloy had 13 and 7, Ethan Helwig logged 12 and 8 in the losing cause, and Drew Gaston (who was North Central's money man late in regulation) added 12.

Four different times the game was stopped for a video review. I can see how that new wrinkle could get old very quickly.

[lmitzel]

NCC couldn't hold onto its double digit lead, managed to fight back and take the lead on a Drew Gaston bucket with 8.7 left in regulation. But Logan Pearson got too easy a layup to tie and force overtime, and Platteville slowly pulled away for a 76-69 overtime win.

Tyler Swierczek: 16 pts
Sean Molloy: 13 pts, 7 reb
Ethan Helwig: 12 pts, 8 reb
Drew Gaston: 12 pts

No birthday upset for me, but to force overtime against the #2 team in the country, I'll take it. Cardinals open their home schedule on Tuesday against Benedictine.

Four different times the game was stopped for a video review. I can see how that new wrinkle could get old very quickly.

NCC got a three taken away in the extra stanza off one of those. Didn't get a great look at it, but between the fact that we had the crapton of stoppages combined with that...

[GusD]

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

I haven't watched Carthage play any other games... but I honestly wonder... did Anderson look impressive, or was Carthage just really bad today?  The number of passes they telegraphed for AU to pickoff and take for easy layups was shocking.  I think at one point it happened at least 3 Carthage possessions in a row. 

From what I saw of this game I'd say the the quickness of Anderson was the primary determining factor in the game. The more deliberate style played by Carthage basically played into Anderson's hand allowing them to jump the passing lanes both picking off passes and otherwise disrupting the Firebirds offensive flow. I don't know if you would say Carthage was "really bad," but they certainly didn't play at the level they're capable of. As mentioned by others Carthage really misses Nesbitt but I think Anderson would still have won even if he had been able to go today. Anyone with any idea of when he might be able to return?

[GusD]

UW-Oshkosh 87
North Park 71

Rico Powell: 28 pts, 14 rebs
T.J. Gardner: 14 pts

This was a competitive game three-quarters of the way through, but the Vikings were not able to slow down either of UWO's very talented 6'5 wings, Michael Metcalf-Grassman (28 and 12) and Brandon Beck (22 and 6). The Vikings had a lot of success driving to the rim in the first half, but didn't compensate by emphasizing the "kick" part of the drive-and-kick in the second half once UWO adjusted and began collapsing into the paint.

The amazing thing is how young UWO is; Metcalf-Grassman, who was averaging 25 ppg coming into today, is only a sophomore, and Beck is only a freshmen. Their supporting cast is mostly underclassmen as well, and the big man, 6'8 Jonah Rindfleish, is only a junior. Titans HC Matt Lewis may have another ring coming in his near future.

This was a real eye-opener of a performance by Rico Powell. I watched him practice all fall, so I knew that he was good. I didn't realize that he was this good until today.

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

It light of the Vikings early success in getting to the rim it was surprising that they settled for chucking up 28 threes, especially when so few (5 for the game) were falling. Considering their 75% from the line, better to keep attacking the rim and possibly getting to the line of unable to finish? Also, given their poor results from downtown, it seems odd that Davante Robinson, NPU's top 3 point marksman played only 9 minutes.

[GusD]

NCC couldn't hold onto its double digit lead, managed to fight back and take the lead on a Drew Gaston bucket with 8.7 left in regulation. But Logan Pearson got too easy a layup to tie and force overtime, and Platteville slowly pulled away for a 76-69 overtime win.

Tyler Swierczek: 16 pts
Sean Molloy: 13 pts, 7 reb
Ethan Helwig: 12 pts, 8 reb
Drew Gaston: 12 pts

No birthday upset for me, but to force overtime against the #2 team in the country, I'll take it. Cardinals open their home schedule on Tuesday against Benedictine.

Four different times the game was stopped for a video review. I can see how that new wrinkle could get old very quickly.

NCC got a three taken away in the extra stanza off one of those. Didn't get a great look at it, but between the fact that we had the crapton of stoppages combined with that...

1. After NCC got that nice lead, they seemed to begin playing tentatively instead of continuing to attack. Playing not to lose rather than playing to win.
2. The Cardinals perimeter defense was good, but they had no answer for UWP's interior game. The Pioneers scored 42 points in the paint. Miles Hettinger basically camped under the basket and scored a career high 25 points.
3. At least 4 times UWP missed a layup and NCC got hands on the ball, but rather than pulling in the rebound, the ball bounced off the Cards' hands into the hands of  Pioneer who put it back up and in.

[Gregory Sager]

UW-Oshkosh 87
North Park 71

Rico Powell: 28 pts, 14 rebs
T.J. Gardner: 14 pts

This was a competitive game three-quarters of the way through, but the Vikings were not able to slow down either of UWO's very talented 6'5 wings, Michael Metcalf-Grassman (28 and 12) and Brandon Beck (22 and 6). The Vikings had a lot of success driving to the rim in the first half, but didn't compensate by emphasizing the "kick" part of the drive-and-kick in the second half once UWO adjusted and began collapsing into the paint.

The amazing thing is how young UWO is; Metcalf-Grassman, who was averaging 25 ppg coming into today, is only a sophomore, and Beck is only a freshmen. Their supporting cast is mostly underclassmen as well, and the big man, 6'8 Jonah Rindfleish, is only a junior. Titans HC Matt Lewis may have another ring coming in his near future.

This was a real eye-opener of a performance by Rico Powell. I watched him practice all fall, so I knew that he was good. I didn't realize that he was this good until today.

This brutal schedule NPU's playing won't get one bit easier, as Anderson, yet another 2024 D3 tourney team on the NPU sked, enters the crackerbox on Tuesday night. I watched the Ravens take apart Carthage earlier today, and AU looked very impressive in doing so.

It light of the Vikings early success in getting to the rim it was surprising that they settled for chucking up 28 threes, especially when so few (5 for the game) were falling. Considering their 75% from the line, better to keep attacking the rim and possibly getting to the line of unable to finish? Also, given their poor results from downtown, it seems odd that Davante Robinson, NPU's top 3 point marksman played only 9 minutes.

They weren't able to get to the rim nearly as much in the second half, though, because the Titans kept collapsing into the paint and played great help defense. The Vikings kept trying and trying, with little success. As for the plethora of trey attempts, most of them felt like bailouts. I know that they all weren't, but there were no true drive-and-kicks that produced good wide-open looks from beyond the arc, which helps to explain why the Vikings went a ridiculous 2-15 from downtown in the second half.

As for Davante Robinson, Matt Lewis and his staff clearly felt that he was a major threat based upon his performance against Loras, and thus game-planned for him. He was locked up tighter than a Mexican cartel boss in a Fed supermax for all nine minutes that he was on the floor, which is a tribute to how well UWO can guard. Unfortunately, the Vikings weren't doing the things necessary to spring him free, which wasted one of their best offensive weapons. It wouldn't kill NPU to set a screen or two for Davante now and again.

1. After NCC got that nice lead, they seemed to begin playing tentatively instead of continuing to attack. Playing not to lose rather than playing to win.
2. The Cardinals perimeter defense was good, but they had no answer for UWP's interior game. The Pioneers scored 42 points in the paint. Miles Hettinger basically camped under the basket and scored a career high 25 points.
3. At least 4 times UWP missed a layup and NCC got hands on the ball, but rather than pulling in the rebound, the ball bounced off the Cards' hands into the hands of  Pioneer who put it back up and in.

100% agree with all three points. in the last ten minutes of regulation the Cardinals played like they were hoping that the game clock would magically speed up so that they could get off the floor with the W and back onto the bus without having to sweat it out. The lone exception seemed to be Drew Gaston, who basically carried the Cardinals to the finish line in regulation after the Pioneers had caught up and gone ahead.

[ChickenHoops]

The CCIW's secret is out. After the postgame show was a wrap and I had packed up my laptop and put on my coat I walked out the door to cross Kedzie Avenue and eat my usual postgame meal at Charcoal Delights. Lo and behold, the entire restaurant was packed out by UW-Oshkosh players, coaches, and parents. Not a seat to be found anywhere; just a sea of black and gold. For all of the visiting teams that I've seen eat their postgame dinner in that place over the decades, I've never seen anything like that happen before. So I just chuckled and walked away. To the victor go the spoils, I guess.

Maybe you should have joined them.....Coach Lewis is a class guy.

You did a nice job on the broadcast, I was able to hear most of the second half. Thank you.