MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mac Attack]

Instead of (or in addition to) casting doubt on Millikin's team, there might be a little room to give the Eureka team some credit. The Red Devils have some nice size, quickness, can play inside and out, and are very well coached. I know Eureka is now a SLIAC team - but maybe, just maybe, the best team (at least on this night)won. MacMurray sliced a 25 point lead in half in the final 20 minutes of their earlier game with Millikin, and had the Big Blue on the ropes with about five minutes to play. Not sure what that means - but we'll see how Millikin does against the CCIW before drawing any other conclusions.

[markerickson]

As I was getting ready to start my day by working at home, my wife called at 7:20.  Her car got stuck in the snow after she dropped #2 son at band practice.  Why she turned down an unplowed road is something she could not explain.

Rob:  Greg and I have a friend who also has tix to the Big 12 title game.  He lives near Woodfield Mall and is a HUGE fan of the Huskers of Corn!  Me?  I've been on the Sooner Schooner since Billy Sims' sophomore year.

[TitanBacker]

If anyone in CCIW-land has to travel today, be safe -- we certainly got hammered here in B-N.  I gotta believe the Windy City got it bad too?

It's terrible here in the Loop, Bob. Ron just showed up and said that he couldn't even see out the windows on the el coming into work.

I'm going to call Carthage around noon just to make sure, but I'm betting that the doubleheader in Kenosha is not going to happen this evening.

robberki-

Roads through STL are fine and easy to travel.  I haven't heard much about I-70 but even in good conditions it's one of the most dangerous stretches of highway to travel in the US.  Not sure if you were planning to fly or not, but roads seem to be OK to go to KC.

Update:  I-70 has two hour delays each way when you get outside of St. Louis and St. Charles counties.  Sorry for the mistake.

Most of the problems here are due to the ice buildups on tree limbs and power lines.  Ameren (power supplier) estimates that it may take 5 days to get 500,000 people back to having power.


Any word on CCIW games tonight being cancelled?  Also, are any CCIW teams playing in the St. Louis area?  I'd love to go watch and cheer on the greatest league in D3!

An even worse tragedy is afoot as I'm supposed to go to kansas city for the big 12 title game but due to the weather and a variety of other factors i probably won't be going now...darn it all.

[petemcb]

Carthage's website indicates that, despite Ol' Man Winter's best shot for December 1, the games are still on tonight.  Good luck and safe travel to everyone who braves the elements.  I'll be at my son's game  -  ten easy blocks from home. 

[Titan Q]

Wheaton led coast to coast in defeating #10 Calvin tonight.  The Thunder led for about 10 most of the game.  Final: Wheaton 73-62.

Unfortunately for the Thunder, it is an "out-of-region" game  -- the game basically doesn't count.  What a silly rule.

Raymond: 24 pts, 7 assists

Wheaton went 1-8 from 3 in the 2nd half and still had no trouble with Calvin.

[Titan Q]

Game 2 from the CCIW/MIAA Challenge (@ Carthage):

Carthage 71
#5 Hope 65

Impressive.

[GoRedMen]

wow carthage looks really good        vukosavljevic playing his first game did very well he  made a few key threes down the stretch and gave them much needed rebounds
when carthage is on they are really really good

[Mr. Ypsi]

WOW!!

The CCIW, MIAA (and for that matter, the NCAC who also featured these games) pickems had the MIAA wnning AT LEAST 3 of 4 (most had a clean sweep).

The CCIW (with teams picked in the bottom half) 2, the MIAA (with teams generally picked 1 and 2) 0!

Is this really bad picking by one or both conferences (AND d3basketball.com, who had Hope #5 and Calvin #10), or a sign that those thinking the CCIW is down are full of beans!  (Or just a one night fluke!)  More data tomorrow!

[petemcb]

Not to take too much wind out of our CCIW sails here, because those are great wins, but how long do you suppose Hope and Calvin spent on the bus on their commute through western Michigan, north-west Indiana, the bottom of Chicago and up to Kenosha in that snowy slop we were served up yesterday?

[Titan Q]

WOW!!

The CCIW, MIAA (and for that matter, the NCAC who also featured these games) pickems had the MIAA wnning AT LEAST 3 of 4 (most had a clean sweep).

The CCIW (with teams picked in the bottom half) 2, the MIAA (with teams generally picked 1 and 2) 0!

Is this really bad picking by one or both conferences (AND d3basketball.com, who had Hope #5 and Calvin #10), or a sign that those thinking the CCIW is down are full of beans!  (Or just a one night fluke!)  More data tomorrow!

Just to clarify, when I've talked about the CCIW being "down" this year, I'm speaking about the very top of the league -- my suspicion is that there is not one team as good as the top four were last year and certainly not multiple teams that good.  A very well-respected Division III coach (non-CCIW) made the following statement to me recently: "I'm not sure this year's CCIW winner would have finished 4th last year."  At this very early stage, I tend to agree with that.

The CCIW/MIAA games - regardless of what happens tonight - won't change my opinion.  First of all, I considered Wheaton vs Calvin a toss-up...actually took Wheaton in the pick 'em.  Calvin got pounded at home last weekend vs Hope.  I know they are rated #10, but should they be?  (I know I am starting to feel like I have had them way too high on my ballot.)  The Carthage win over Hope was extremely impressive, but again, it is early...what do we really know about Hope?  Should they be ranked #5 or #20?  (Did the voters over-react to the win at Calvin in moving Hope from 14 up to 5?)  Who knows.  If they are really more like a #15-20 team, you'd expect Carthage to play 'em tough in Kenosha.

What last night did for me is to reinforce the feeling I have that the 2006-07 CCIW is extremely balanced.  I still consider North Central the favorite, but so far, their starting guards have been suspect.  Bob Valker and Raymond Lawrence are averaging 7.8 ppg combined, and shooting 3-16 (.188) from 3-pt range.  Until either these seniors starting playing better, or until the freshmen are legimately ready to start (Smith/Barringer), I'm won't be as sold on NCC as I was in October.

After NCC, it seems we have a bunch of relatively even teams -- Illinois Wesleyan, Augustana, Elmhurst, and Wheaton seem to be the favorites for spots 2-5 in some order, but maybe Carthage is right in the middle of this picture too.  And I am still convinced that Millikin is going to be very competitive and that North Park is a lot better this year.  Every single team has some issues.  North Central -- the guards.  IWU -- depth.  Augustana -- go-to guy?  Wheaton -- low post play.  Etc, etc.   

It is very early and maybe some of these questions get answered positively.  Until then, I'll stick with my theory that the CCIW is extremely balanced but maybe without one Wooster-like team, and certainly without multiple dominant teams.

[Titan Q]

And all that being said, there aren't too many leagues around where the preseason coaches poll #7 could knock off national #5 (Carthage over Hope), the 5th pick could beat national #8 (IWU over UW-Whitewater), and the 4th beat the #10-ranked team (Wheaton over Calvin).  Maybe Hope, Whitewater, and Calvin are overrated or whatever, but those wins are all impressive and demonstrate how dangerous the CCIW is.

[sac]

Not to take too much wind out of our CCIW sails here, because those are great wins, but how long do you suppose Hope and Calvin spent on the bus on their commute through western Michigan, north-west Indiana, the bottom of Chicago and up to Kenosha in that snowy slop we were served up yesterday?

I can't confirm this but an article Friday morning made it sound as if Hope was in Wisconsin Thursday night.  I'll try and find out today.


Q--I kind of felt like the pollsters overeacted to last weeks Hope win.  I don't know where this Hope team fits in the top 25.  I think they have the talent to play with anyone, but they are still learning as everyone is at this point.  However they got 0 points from the 5 spot last night and that won't beat many teams.

Hope and Calvin should both do well in the MIAA this year so regardless of where Wheaton/Carthage finish last nights win will look like very good ones at season's end.

[GoRedMen]

Not to take too much wind out of our CCIW sails here, because those are great wins, but how long do you suppose Hope and Calvin spent on the bus on their commute through western Michigan, north-west Indiana, the bottom of Chicago and up to Kenosha in that snowy slop we were served up yesterday?

Hope did arrive early thursday night and stayed over and even shot around early friday morning
Calvin however left friday morning and arrived just hours before tip off

[WahooThunder]

Quick thoughts before I head back out to Kenosha this morning:

Great win for Wheaton last night.  Raymond was on fire in the first half and really carried the team offensively.  The defense was drastically improved from Wednesday night and they played hard for a full 40 minutes, holding Calvin, who was averaging 78 per game to just 28 in the second half and they really shut down Caleb Veldhouse with the exception of a couple of long threes he hit at the end of each half.  Wheaton also showed off some of their depth, with Matt Ankeny and Jeremy Bernsten both putting in significant minutes off the bench.  They are going to need somebody other than Raymond to step up on the offensive end if they are going to win today though.  I was thoroughly unimpressed with Calvin.

Hope seemed undisciplined on offense and took a lot of bad shots, so I'm not really sure what to make of them at this point, but the talent seems to be there.  Carthage hit some big threes and Schlemm is imposing down low, but they were sloppy and undisciplined at times, so even after last night's game I'm still not convinced they will be a contender in the CCIW.

We'll find out more today.  Hopefullly it will be another great couple of games.

Wheaton vs. Hope at 2 p.m.
Carthage vs. Calvin at 4 p.m.

[REDMENFAN]

Just thought I'd give a few quotes from the Kenosha newspaper today:
Bosko: "We're not as talented as we were 3 years ago, but our commitment to playing hard and playing together is really good.  I really enjoy this group and I've said that a couple times. They really compete. We're a good defensive team and we have a little bit better depth than we've had. This was a heck of an early season college basketball game. It was two pretty good teams playing almost basket for basket in the last 30 minutes of the game. We're excited as heck to come away with a win."

Scott Hood (Senior reserve guard)- "I was telling Billy Jacklin, this is the most fun I've had since my freshman year, said Hood, one of two four-year players.  The last two years were struggles.  We keep preaching that we need to play 40 minute games.  The past two years we played 25 minutes.  If we can play 40 minute games like tonight, we can compete with anybody."

Bosko: "We're still a work in progress.  We're a long way from being a terrific team, but I really do like the effort."

Bosko also mentioned how big it was to have Junior College transfer Vukosavljevic back, and that he can really shoot the ball (I believe he had Bronchitis).  Lastly, he thought Joe Higgins played his best half in the 2nd half against Hope's 2-2-1 press and was solid defesively.

Pretty good crowd at Carthage lastnight, could be better.  If Carthage would've ended up losing, it would have been due to missing several free throws down the stretch, while Hope was hitting what seemed like all of them.  Hopefully the CCIW can get the clean sweep.  One other thought, I saw the last ten minutes of the wheaton game, #24 is just an absolute STUD