MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[David Collinge]

Matt Nohren's tip came with the ball just off of the rim and a little below it from the right side, and it was CLEARLY before the buzzer.  The CCIW supervisor of officials was sitting in the row directly behind me and he definitely said and I quote, "the refs got it right"....  So all of the pissing and moaning about it being after the red light or whatever is not in anyway shape or form correct.

44, first let me say it's great to hear another pro-Big Blue voice in here.  Millikin has suffered from poor representation over the years, relative to the other seven.  I hope you choose to stay, especially if you go to all the games.

I must say, however, that if you think the Augie fans (in here) have been "pissing and moaning" about the shot possibly being late, then you haven't seen "pissing and moaning."  I think the reaction has been incredibly subdued, especially when you consider the import of the game, the fact that it was at Millikin, and that it's at least doubtful that all of the things that happened after the last Augustana hoop happened in just 4.7 seconds.  Despite all of that, the general reaction from the Augie posters seems to me to have been "the shot might have been late, but that's the way the cookie crumbles."  As an impartial observer who has seen fans of his own team react in a far, FAR more uncharitable manner, I was actually impressed with the reserve of the Augie posters.

Congratulations to the underdogs tonight.

[Ralph Turner]

As a Titan fan, I really wish Augie would have won tonight.  The feeling of letting an opportunity to win the league slip away like that is just tough to swallow.

Not a good night at all in terms of getting multiple CCIW teams in the tournament.  Wow.

Titan, I still think that the CCIW gets 2 bids, an A and a C.

[Ralph Turner]

As a Titan fan, I really wish Augie would have won tonight.  The feeling of letting an opportunity to win the league slip away like that is just tough to swallow.

Not a good night at all in terms of getting multiple CCIW teams in the tournament.  Wow.

Titan, I still think that the CCIW gets 2 bids, an A and a C.

I wonder if we are seeing a "D3Hoops.com" effect in that this board is helping to level the playing field across the division.

The site provides the ability for fans, media, coaches and players to keep up with D3 almost as well as D1. (We don't see the games, but the scores are 3 clicks away every morning when we log on.)

[Greek Tragedy]

Titan, I still think that the CCIW gets 2 bids, an A and a C.

Outside chance of two Pool C bids...I explained my thoughts in the Pool C board, of course...

Augie doesn't get a Pool A bid and Ill. Wes runs the table, but loses in the conference tourney final, finishing with a record of 17-5...that should get them in with their high QOWI, imo.

[dtown2]

As a Millikin Alumnist I don't believe the shot was off in time.. Spoke with the people behind me as well who were apart of the University and they agreed. None the less, congratulations Millikin!

[dogtired]

How about this scenario and I think it's very possible:

Augie wins out in the regular season and wins the tournament.
That would mean IWU and North Central get at least two more losses (one to Augie, one in the tournament) and Elmhurst would get at least one more loss with already shaky Pool C hopes.
And somebody has to lose Wednesday's North Central-Elmhurst game. Yikes.

Would that mean Augie and only Augie in the NCAA?
It would be a shame as tough as the league has been. But I've got to think it's a possibility.

[Stat]

How sporadic  and inconsistent are the Redmen?
How far have the Greenies fallen?
Milikin and Wheaton do show up on occasion.
NCs typical late season collapse.
Augie, even the Sox did not play well for a time.
Poor North Park.
Elmhurst? sorry can't think of a thing to say. At least they have no blue curtain.

[Titan Q]

Was at the Augi game... Both teams played tough...

Augi tied it with 4.7 seconds. Keanon Harrington went end to end, missed a lay up and it was tipped in. It looked like the ball was tipped in AFTER the red light went on behind the backboard. It was close however I think Augi may of gotten the short end of the stick..

Big Blue player very very tough throughout the game! Great game in Decatur!!

I've having trouble visualizing how you could in-bound the ball, dribble the length of the floor, shoot a layup, and tip the ball back in all in 4.7 seconds. 

(For anyone there, did Harrington catch the in-bounds pass at about the FT line?  If he caught it at halfcourt, that would change my thinking...but it doesn't sound like that happened.)

To put into perspective, I Googled "Tyus Edney, 1995" to figure out how much time was on the clock when the UCLA guard went coast-to-coast to beat Missouri...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyus_Edney

UCLA was favored in their second round match against 8th seeded University of Missouri - Columbia, but with just 4.8 seconds remaining, the Tigers grabbed a one point advantage 74-73. UCLA Head Coach Jim Harrick called a timeout. He decided to call on the team's MVP, 5'10", 152 pound Tyus Edney. Cameron Dollar inbounded the ball to Edney who took off up the left sideline. As Edney moved up the floor, the Missouri defenders all appeared fearful of fouling him, which might have allowed him to win the game at the free throw line. Though they moved into his path, they then took great care to stand still, not touch him and nor reach for the ball, which allowed Edney to weave around them far too easily and then continue advancing down the court. They may have felt that with such weaving, Edney would not have time to get all the way to their basket, but if som they underestimated his speed. Edney did in fact make it all the way to the Missouri goal and laid the ball up at the last possible moment. The ball hit the backboard and fell in as time expired, giving UCLA a 75-74 victory.


What happened last night seems like it would have taken at least a full second more.  The shot had to be missed and then tipped back in.  It seems to me that with 4.7, either the Millikin scorer's table started the clock late, or the tip in happened after the clock hit zero......or both.

[True Basketball Fan]

Speaking of COTY........

I agree that Bill Harris has done a great job with an undersized Wheaton team, and should receive praise for pulling out some great games this week against very good opponents.  As far as coach of the year, I'm not sold.  Wheaton still has a losing record in conference and overall.

A quick look back at last year.  Elmhurst was picked 7th following a year where they were 3-11.  They finished second with a 10-4 record in conference and 18-7 overall with basically the same team from the year before, yet no one really gave Mark Scherer a look at COTY.  With all fairness to Coach Scherer, I don't see how Harris could get COTY (still a maybe if the win out)

Coach G is the top candidate, even if they sputter into the tourney.

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph article on IWU vs Wheaton...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/02/12/sports/106426.txt

"We didn't execute anything we worked on in practice," Schweer said of the second half. "We didn't make adjustments our coaches told us to make. This is on us."

[True Basketball Fan]

On another note.......

Congrats to all the players and coaches at Carthage, Millikin, and Wheaton for having pride and continuing to play hard and compete even though they technically have nothing to play for (except for Wheaton's outside chance at a tourney bid).  However, I disagree with my previous statement.  Pride is always a reason to never quit, and that's what those teams showed.  Good job!

[79jaybird]

What a crazy weekend for the CCIW- but that is the norm in this conference.  Anybody can beat anybody which makes each and every game fun.
While the Jays took care of business tonight, ( and it was nice to see a good turnout at home) I think they have to play a little better and smarter to beat NC and Wheaton. 
The game vs. NC will help having home court, but that doesn't mean it's allready in the bag.  Both NC and Wheaton are fighting for tournament spots.
I think the CCIW has allready clinched at least 2 spots in the big tournament.  One I think is allready Augie's because they are at least Co-Champs and their record is very good.  The other is a toss between IWU/EC/NC  in that order.  What would really throw a wrench in the gears is if Augie doesn't win the CCIW Tournament.  Then you have the CCIW Tourney winner and Augie going to post season.
COY-- I still say Bill Harris, and tonight's win is another advocate for my voting.
My predict for the tourney  1) Augie 2/3  IWU/EC  4) NC   While I think Wheaton has a great chance to slide into the tourney picture, I don't see it happening.  Too many "ifs" have to take place for Wheaton to climb into that 4th seed.  If these pairings were true, you would have Augie vs. NC and IWU vs. EC  wow!  What great matchups for this tournament.  All 4 could do some damage in the big dance.

[augie_superfan]

Well what a disappointing week for Augie.  Right now, Augie would probably still be good in terms of Pool C but they still have 2 really tough games left.  Augie could finish 18-5 in region which will probably put them right around the bubble although their QOWI would slip dwn to around 10ish.  They really need to win vs. IWU or NCC.

Augie also had a bad night last night by a few of their previous opponents slipping down a level.  I think they lost 4 points last night on previous games.  I don't know if all teams have updated their scores but here are the updated QOWI:


Augustana   10.700
Illinois Wesleyan   10.471
North Central   9.353
Elmhurst   9.421

The loss for North Central puts them in some major trouble by giving them 5 in-region losses.  They would have a minimum of 6 by Pool C time and would have a low QOWI so a Pool C for them is looking much less likely.

[Jim Matson]

The problem with all this what-if scenario analysis is that we have a conference tourney to play.  In a "normal" year, the tourney could be somewhat predictable, but with the upset prone nature of this year's CCIW, its all a toss up as far as I'm concerned.

What I know instinctively is that the CCIW is worthy of 3 teams in the post-season this year.  Maybe it won't happen, but I'd put Augie and Wesleyan up against anyone in the playoffs and I'll bet Elmhurst could be in the same position.

[augiefan]

I am generally recovered from the initial major disappointment of Augie losing the opportinity to clinch the regular season title outright and an almost certain NCAA bid. The morning after brings to mind adages such as "it's only a game" and "get a life."

Now it's up to Augie to get back on track and win one of the remaining regular season games and at least one game in the conference tourney. It will be difficult but coniderably easier if Rick Harrigan is healthy. In last night's game Pat Brusveen did a great job of filling in for Rick, but we need him healthy for the stretch run.

I heard after the Wheaton game that he had a severe bone bruise, but there was no comment last night to verify that diagnosis. Anyone who knows more let us know. We really need him back on Wednesday for what should be yet another candidate for "Game of the Year."

Now I'll try not to get too upset if my Illini falter at OSU today.