MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I'm going nuts listening to the announcer pronounce Anthony Lenoir's name "Len-warr"..maybe that's how you really pronounce it, but I've never said it and its grating!

It's "Luh-nore". Think Edgar Allan Poe.

[John Gleich]

GS,

Let me rephrase... the WONC games I heard a few years ago, when Randazo was doing the play-by-play, were high quality.  I really can't speak for any of the other radio guys that they've had, as my sample size doesn't go across more than about 2 of these past 5 years, at the very most, when he was doing the PBP!

... And maybe during the games that I listened to, the cheerleaders were only just so-so...?

[Gregory Sager]

GS,

Let me rephrase... the WONC games I heard a few years ago, when Randazo was doing the play-by-play, were high quality.  I really can't speak for any of the other radio guys that they've had, as my sample size doesn't go across more than about 2 of these past 5 years, at the very most, when he was doing the PBP!

... And maybe during the games that I listened to, the cheerleaders were only just so-so...?

I think you're actually directing those comments at April, not me. I didn't listen to WONC tonight.

[cciw watcher]

Game Note: Carthage was leading 17-9 when elmhurst went on a 20 -4 run to lead 29-21. Game over at that point as Carthage had nothing left in the tank after saturday's tough loss at IWU.  I know its J term at Carthage but WOW where were the students, if not for the Carthage band and cheerleaders Elmhurst fans would have outnumbered Carthage fans!
Carthage will have a long drive to Rock Island saturday.

[Gregory Sager]

Daryl Von Schouwen does a nice piece on Brian Lee in his "Small College Notes" column in today's Sun-Times.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/206628,CST-SPT-small11.article

[REDMENFAN]

I don't know the exact stat, but it sure seemed like Elmhurst absolutely dominated the boards. Carthage simply shot poorly lastnight. 64% from the free throw line and countless missed 3 point attempts, most that were open looks. Elmhurst has a nice team that plays unselfish. Once Schlemm got T'd up, you could just sense the Redmen were in big trouble.  As far as the crowd, there were actually a descent amount of people, but I agree not enough student support. It is J-term as stated before, but I would say 75% of the students are taking a class.  I know back in the day Carthage used to pack the home side, last night it was about half full and the students that were there were spread out sitting on the home side, and behind each basket instead of forming one large cheering section.  Congrats to NP on their big win

[Titan Q]

Here are links to the boxscore and Pantagraph piece from the IWU/Millikin game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/01/10/sports/doc45a5c85465141238954157.txt

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2007/iwumbb13.htm


The reaction for some to the IWU/Millikin result will be to say, "The Titans must have not played with intensity," or "IWU looked past Millikin," or "Millikin wanted it more," etc.  I disagree with those sentiments.  A few thoughts...

1) IWU just does not have a pure point-guard right now.  Andrew Gilmore, a 2-guard, is playing his heart out on those bad knees but he's just not a point.  Opposing teams with good perimeter defenders (like Carthage and Millikin have) can create easy turnovers vs IWU and really disrupt the entire Titan offense.  On the season IWU has 174 assists and 213 turnovers...for perspective, the Titans had 472 assists vs 396 turnovers last year.  The last time IWU had more turnovers than assists on a season was Scott Trost's first year, when 2-guard Chris Silagi was asked to play PG. The Titans had 323 and 338 in 2001-02 and finished 6-8 in the CCIW, 12-12 overall.  It is hard to win when you can't initiate the offense consistently and turn the ball over as much as IWU does.

2) Last night IWU shot 53.2%, out-rebounded the Big Blue by 13, and had a positive A:TO ratio.  19 times out of 20 that will win you a home game in front of 2000 of your own fans.

3) Millikin played great.  Mike Gavic came into the game 15-44 (.341) from 3 and went 6-9 from beyond the arc...Drew Gensler played like an All-American down the stretch and had an all-around terrific game, wth 23 points and 5 assists...the 3 6-7 freshmen (Rexroade, Ott, Demby) combined for 24 points on 11-19 from the field...Millikin shot 54.4% on the road in one of the CCIW's toughest venues.


Millikin has had two great recruiting classes in a row.  The sophomore class,  of course, has Drew Gensler.  I think all three of the 6-7 freshmen in the varsity rotation (Robert Rexroade, Zach Ott, Joscar Demby) are going to be very good.  Of Millikin's 84 points last night, 51 were scored by freshmen and sophomores. 

The Big Blue, kind of the like Illinois Wesleyan, is talented enough to beat anybody in the CCIW but inexperienced enough to loss to anybody.  Millikin will give a lot of teams trouble this season.

[Gotberg]

That's freshman Joe Capalbo, Coat. Get used to that name. He's going to be a good one for the Park, and his fellow NPU plebes Nick Williams and Antonio Stevens have bright futures as well.

It's great to see this many impact freshman on the Vikes.  While I'm looking forward to what the team can do down the stretch this year, I'm looking forward to the years to come even more.

[Viking Blue]

Fellas....after about a four year hiatus, I'm back, and it's interesting that I still recognize a lot of these names.

As a couple of the veteran North Parkers on this board know, I get the chance to see a little less than half of the Vikings' home games a year, and thus far, have only seen Millikin.

I'm impressed with the seemingly veteran leadership of Lenoir.  I think he brings a great deal of intensity to the floor, which North Park desperately has needed, in my opinion.  Capalbo looks like a very good ballplayer, although I don't see the type of offensive output that he had last night coming through on a consistent basis.  The Vikings seem to have a very nice mix of youth and transfer leadership on this squad.

My question to the room, as I jump back in here, is: 

If you all had to see it shake down right now, how would you rank the conference, in terms of best chance to finish on top in the end (one through eight)?

[armywife]

I've been lurking a lot and posting a little, but I've been following the games as best that I could. It's great to see you back April, I've missed you.

Congratulations to Augie for their win at Wheaton, the Thunder are always tough especially at home. It looks like this conference is going to be up for grabs this year, a lot of teams starting strong and the historically strong teams have faltered a little. It's going to be an interesting season. I'm sure it's going to liven my January and February, in sun starved Germany, up a little.

[petemcb]

Daryl Von Schouwen does a nice piece on Brian Lee in his "Small College Notes" column in today's Sun-Times.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/206628,CST-SPT-small11.article

I'm not tech-savvy enough to give the link, but on the back page of the Daily Herald's sports section today is a very uncommon, and reasonably lengthy writeup on the North Park vs. North Central game last night.  That might be a first. 

[Dennis_Prikkel]

When is the last time that all four away teams won on the same night in the CCIW?  Crazy!

In the first 48 years of the league (1947-95, the only years I have on computer), there was only one instance where all four road teams won on the same night.

Jan. 18, 1975
IW at CT
NC at MU
EC at NP
AC at WC

also on Jan. 17 IW won at Carroll.

The most consecutive road team wins, 1947-95, was six done twice.

MW 70:3

[79jaybird]

I can't believe all 4 road teams won last night!  Congrats to all the winners.
Very solid, gutsy, physical game last night in Kenosha  and was glad to be apart of it.  You could tell these were arch rivals as emotions (Technical Foul) were really raised.  
As far as the crowds?  I thought both teams had a good turnout.  I love the Carthage Pep Band!  EC needs one of those!  My only thought though, was they were a bit loud and we had to yell at the person next to you.  Good atmosphere nonetheless.
As for the game, Carthage can sure shoot the 3 pointer and had a lot of open looks.  Elmhurst dominated the glass with Michael, Ruch, and Hintschke.  Unlike the 2001 team (Knuppel) and the 2006 team (Martin), there isn't that 1 "star" that carries the team.  All 5 guys on the court contribute, and have made it difficult for the Jays' opponent to isolate/focus on one player.
FT shooting-- I thought both teams struggled on FT's in the first half.  Second half, I thought one of the reasons why EC built up a 10 point lead, was clutch FT's by Burks and Hintzschke.  Carthage missed a lot of FT's in that 2nd half which allowed EC to build up a lead.
Overall, great heart shown by both teams and a great CCIW rivalry game.

[79jaybird]

Just for the record, I only broadcast EC football games and post-season BB.  Our broadcast crew does a nice job calling the (actual) game, but sometimes drifts and you lose track of the score and time of the game.  Overall, I think they do a nice job.

Somebody mentioned officials at Carthage and I too agree they were rather poor.  To start the game the foul differential was 6-0 with 6 fouls on Elmhurst.  Some were legitimate, but most were the type of fouls you would normally let go as part of the play.  Then, it appeared the officials felt a need to "even up" the difference and started getting whistle happy with bogus calls. 
Overall, the officials DID NOT decide the outcome of the game, which is all you can really ask for, but I do think those officials were poor.

[REDMENFAN]

Just read the kenosha news, if I remember right Carthage was 9-31 from the 3-point line, that's not going to win very many games. Jaybird, I agree the refs were bad both ways calling some ticky-tac calls. To start the game it was 6 fouls on Elmhurst to none. Five minutes later, it was Carthage 8 fouls, Elmhurst 7