MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin blew a 17-point second-half lead at Van Male Gym, as Carroll came all the way back to take a 60-59 lead with two and a half minutes remaining. But Chase Travis broke a 62-all tie by making a layup with three seconds left and the visitors prevailed, 64-62. Lane Thomann had 23 and Travis scored 21 for the Big Blue, and Drake Stevenson pulled down seven boards; the Pioneers were paced by Erik Victorson's 14, with Lamar Smith chipping in 12 and 8 off the bench and Aaron Wafford adding 10.

Overtimes continue to not be kind to North Central, as the Cardinals lost yet another game in an extra session, 80-76, at Augustana. Tyler Knuth led the way for the Rock Islanders with 18, with Staishaun Kelley adding 16, Evan Ambrose contributing 11, and Ray Maurchie doing his bit with 10 and 7. Mike Hamilton led Augie in rebounds with 8. Tyler Swierczek played really well for NCC, posting 23 and 7 with outstanding shooting numbers (9-14 FG, 5-6 trey). Drew Gaston added 17, and Terrance Moncrief poured in 15.

[GusD]

A pleasant trip to Elmhurst and two IWU wins.

Well, not quite to 78, but still a big win, a blowout actually.  It was 45-17 at the half.  Final from EU,  IWU 77 EU46.  Not a single Bluejay in double figures.

For IWU (playing so well in the first half):

Williams 16 4 assists, and no TOs
Roper 15
Funk 14 and 7
Anderson 9 rebounds

The Titans winning the TO line 6-11 and the rebounding line 45-29.  You get the picture.

IWU shooting 45%, 30% from three, and 59% from the FT Line.

EU shooting 34%, 25% from three, and 56% from the FT line.

The gym was very warm, with about 60-70% of the big crowd being IWU fans.  Coach Baines has a tough job this year.

IWU'70

So you're saying the IWU fans brought a lot of hot air? Very understandable. 

[iwu70]

Yes, of course, IWU fans bring a lot of hot air -- I think 60-70% of the fans were green.  EU surely not drawing very well this time. 

The women needed the fan support for sure, squeaking by in their game.  Saved by Ava Bardic's tremendous game. The men's game was a total beat-down, 45-17 at the half.

Seemingly no circulation of air in that gym and rather poor lighting too.  Sorry, it's not that great a place to play basketball.

Yes, I know we are spoiled with Shirk.  Go ahead and make comments, I don't mind.

'70

[Gregory Sager]

[markerickson]

North Park displayed its "mettle" last night whereas three nights ago against an inferior team...mettle was MIA.

Stevie D was HOT when Williams picked up his second foul mid first half, and NP's Berry also sat after his second foul of the half. The Vikings had scoring balance from both the interior and trey land though they launched too many quick trey shots as NP extended its lead in the second half.

Bosko and a handful of players from championships #4 and #5 attended the game.  Kolden Vanlandingham and Marquis Jackson also attended the game.

Oddly, NPU did not have a Star Spangled Banner played or sung last night.  Maybe before my arrival during pregame with 9 minutes before tipoff?  Plenty of loud music throughout, which once again prompted another "old timer" to complain to me. I agree.

[Pat Coleman]

Oddly, NPU did not have a Star Spangled Banner played or sung last night.  Maybe before my arrival during pregame with 9 minutes before tipoff?

A couple of hours before. It's not customary to have a new national anthem performance at the second game of a doubleheader, so I presume it was performed before the women's game.

[Gregory Sager]

Oddly, NPU did not have a Star Spangled Banner played or sung last night.  Maybe before my arrival during pregame with 9 minutes before tipoff?

A couple of hours before. It's not customary to have a new national anthem performance at the second game of a doubleheader, so I presume it was performed before the women's game.

Exactly right, Pat. When NPU plays Saturday women's/men's hoops doubleheaders, the national anthem is played before the women's game but not repeated before the men's game.

Same thing goes with baseball and softball doubleheaders. We play the national anthem at Holmgren Athletic Complex before the first game, but not the second game. We just announce the lineups.

[Gregory Sager]

Bosko and a handful of players from championships #4 and #5 attended the game.  Kolden Vanlandingham and Marquis Jackson also attended the game.

Marquise came up to the broadcaster's perch before the game to say hello. I was kicking myself afterward, because my halftime interview guest couldn't make it, and I should've asked 'quise to fill in. For those of you who are unaware, former NPU point guard Marquise Jackson is a professional basketball player in Ukraine. Last season he played for Stariy Lutsk, a Ukrainian Superleague team located in the city of Lviv, and ... well, it seems that you end up with a lot of interesting stories when you are a professional athlete competing in a country at war.

[mwunder]

Sager padding his post stats...

[Gregory Sager]

I thought that it was a perfectly succinct reply to the post directly above it.

[iwu70]

The normal snark . . . so enlightening.  LOL. 

[Gregory Sager]

Count your blessings that it was succinct snark.

[Gregory Sager]

Wednesday's slate:
Carthage (14-5, 8-2) @ Carroll (6-13, 2-8)
Millikin (11-9, 5-6) @ Elmhurst (9-11, 5-6)
Illinois Wesleyan (18-2, 10-1) @ North Central (11-9, 4-7)
Wheaton (3-16, 0-10) @ North Park (14-6, 9-2)

Augustana has the bye.

Massey sez:

Carthage 76, Carroll 72	CC 61%, CU 39%
Elmhurst 72, Millikin 64	EU 77%, MU 23%
Illinois Wesleyan 74, North Central 69	IWU 67%, NCC 33%
North Park 78, Wheaton 70	NPU 76%, WC 24%

Ordinarily I'd laugh at this, because on paper Millikin @ Elmhurst is the likeliest candidate to be a close game, what with the two teams being tied with Augie for 4th place at 5-6, yet Ken's computer has a bigger probability spread for that game than for the other three. But JT Welch didn't play at all for the Big Blue on Saturday in their narrow win at Carroll, and Demarcus Bond has been missing for the past two Millikin games. In fact, even when he's been on the floor Welch hasn't really looked like himself since the January 11 game at Carthage; although he did play 27 minutes and scored 8 points at Wheaton, the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance aren't exactly playing scintillating defense these days. Other than that Wheaton game, he's pretty much been a cipher before vanishing altogether two days ago at Van Male. I noticed in NPU's trip to Decatur two Saturdays ago that Welch didn't seem to be moving and playing like his normal self, and, believe me, I noticed, because that guy has always terrified me.

Welch and Bond play very large roles in the Big Blue's rotation; Welch is MU's primary outside shooter and Bond is the team's PG and best perimeter defender. Without them, beating Elmhurst at Faganel will be a bit of an uphill battle for Jimmy Millikin.

Since the Massey Ratings don't involve themselves with the minutiae of lineup changes, we'll chalk this up as a stroke of luck on the part of the Massey computer.

[iwu70]

Yes, Greg I appreciate that you are a literate and well-informed snark.    LOL.

Big games upcoming.  Are you coming down for the NPU-IWU game at The Shirk?

IWU Women have their key game Wednesday at home vs. Carroll.  Basically for the regular season championship. 

On the women's side, I don't see NYU losing in any game through deep into the D3 dance.  Perhaps same with Wesleyan on the men's side.

All the best,

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Big games upcoming.  Are you coming down for the NPU-IWU game at The Shirk?

I'm calling a game here that night. North Park's women's team is hosting Carroll.

I don't travel on Wednesdays during CCIW basketball season. If the NPU men are at home, I call their game. If the NPU women are at home, I call their game.