MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

Augustana 32
N. Central 23 halftime

[diehardfan]

With their senior seasons now officially at an end, I just want to say thank you to our seniors.

It is with a great deal of sadness that I say goodbye to our two senior captains, Johnnie and Michael.  I had the privilege of seeing these guys as freshman on the JV team. They stuck through some tough years and have grown and improved tremendously. Our future is bright, but we are just plain not going to be the same with out these guys, and I will pubically chastize anyone who acts like they're replacable and that wheaton will start off the season with a bang just cause we still have Kent Raymond. My guys have frequently been bashed as a team that "only has Kent Raymond." In fact, there are 5 other players who have averaged over 8ppg, and I truly believe that it's our balance in our starters and 6th guy John Mohan that has made the Thunder so strong this year. That's why it's so important to me to thank him for the job that they have done, and publicly acknowledge how important they have been to our success.

First off, Matt Ankeny is apparently graduating in the spring despite only being a soph by eligibility.  He got some good minutes in tonight. Thanks to him for his short time with us. I laud all student who performs the rather thankless job of giving it all in practice, devoting so much time to making the team better, without the personal accolades to show for it.

Michael Fiddler was hyped to no end when coming into Wheaton as a Frosh and it didn't make the transition any easier for him, that's for sure! As the son of a guy who is 10th on Wheaton's all time career rebound list, you gotta know there was a ton of pressure on him with an expectation to excel, and that has been reflected in in the harsh comments by many on CCIW chat early in his career. Obviously with his 3.93 cumulative grade point average in Ancient Languages, he more than excelled in the classroom and will graduate from Wheaton Summa Cum Laude in the spring. At the same time he has steadily improved on the court. In the few Wheaton games I got to see this year, it was immediately apparently how he has undergone vast deal of improvement since his freshman days. Senior leadership, confidently driving to the basket, and frequent clutch plays have characterized so much of his season this year. The worst part about this for me as a fan is that his dramatic improvement has gone completely unnoticed. While people have been quick to be harsh his entire career, he played with poise this season and has averaged 9 pts a game shooting with a very strong .592 from the floor. Take away all the hype and people would be noting his strong efforts this year. As one who heard the hype almost before anyone else, I note his efforts anyway, and thank him for all the important ways he has contributed to the Wheaton program for the past four years.

[diehardfan]

This season marks the last year involving Wheaton players that I have actually met and talked to. It's always basically a given that the guys on the Wheaton team are great guys: intelligent, hard-working, humble, classy... all the things Harris has to look for on the recruiting trail in addition to the stats and talent in order to find a player that would work well under his system. This is the last group of guys, however, that I've gotten to experience that first hand. It's just not going to be the same next year. I first met Johnnie Standard on orientation weekend his freshman year. I was sitting at a booth at the Wheaton "Welcome Tent" advertising for the Unidad Cristiana club, Wheaton's Latino-American club, for which I was the secretary my 5th year senior year (despite obviously not being Latino). Paul Ferguson walks by with Johnnie on the way to the locker rooms or something and suddenly stops and says, "You need to meet this girl. Her name is April, and she is our biggest fan." Johnnie gives a slightly quizzical look with a friendly smile and says hi. Flash four years forward...

Johnnie will go down as one of my favorite Wheaton players of all time, because every moment he's on the court, he make everyone else on both teams look bad no matter how much effort and hustle they're putting out because he just plain wants it even more. I was more than a little nervous when Jon Nielson graduated a few years back, but my nervousness was quickly assuaged as Johnnie stepped in and provided that heart and spark that Nielson always did. Johnnie's career has hardly gone as planned, as an injury in the Benedictine game last season put a huge damper on his rapidly improving game. He started off the nonconference season last year this way:

Concordia: 14pts, 5a, 5rb, 7-10fg
Aurora: 14pts, 3a, 7rb, 6-12fg
Chicago: 15pts, 2-5 a, 7rb, 6-11fg, 3 s
Hope: 13pts, 3rb, 5-8fg
Calvin: 15pts, 5rb, 6-10fg
Benedictine: 21pts, 3rb, 8-15fg

When he finally got healthy enough to start playing major minutes again toward the end of the season, he played a major role in the close of our season last year that shocked and impressed everyone. He finished this season with an average of 11ppg, 6 boards, .463 from the floor, 25 steals, a strong A-TO ratio in only 28mpg. It was hard for me to listen to his career end on the bench tonight, but there are so many good memories over the last several years that they very much temper the bittersweet aspects of a quiet game tonight... including his 24pt, 13 board (9 offensive rebounds!), 8-14fg, 2-3 3pt, 6-6ft effort on Senior Night.

Thanks so much for everything guys... we will miss you!

[coebball70]

I've been thinking about this "doughnut team" concept all day.  I guess you could say I've been thinking a lot about/with nothing in the middle.  While I agree it's nice to have an "aircraft carrier" you can make it happen without one.
Think back to, I believe, Wooden's first two championships at UCLA.  No dominant post player...but guys like Keith Erickson and Gail Goodrich running and pressing like crazy.  Now, I'm really dating myself.  Here's my picks:
Wheaton and North Central tonight....North Central tomorrow.

Now you see why I don't gamble on CCIW sports!  Go Duhawks...bring me home at least one winner this weekend!

[Jim Matson]

Foul or no foul, Elmhurst won this one by outplaying Wheaton badly in the 1st half and by staying with it in the 2nd half.  Congrats to Elmhurst on the win.

Wheaton ends a good year with a close game in the Tourney.  After watching last year's squad develop, it was good to see results this year.  Congrats to all of the Wheaton seniors.  Here's hoping your Wheaton basketball experience was everything you hoped it would be!

[79jaybird]

I think Wheaton exceeded everybody's expectations and were overachievers all year.  My hat is off to the Thunder who very easily could have beat Elmhurst tonight.  On that note, my hat is off to the Elmhurst Seniors who turned it up and kept the team together when Wheaton was creeping up ( and eventually briefly led) in the 2nd half.  Good game all around.

[Late nite]

Late nite thoughts on the tourney games:
1---Burks flopped after HE initiated contact with a scissors kick---HOWEVER

2---EC deserved this break after numerous phantom fouls that were called for Raymond---At one point, an EC fan sneezed in the 8th row and Raymond went to the line to shoot 2

3---Augie wins consistently because of their depth and their guards

4---NCC ran out of gas---It took too much emotion and energy during their late season run---They battled, but it looked like they were a little worn down at the end

5---Foul calls aside, Raymond is the best player in the league

6---No chest beating or jersey popping from the two winning teams---just handshakes

[79jaybird]

OK, so here are my thoughts and I know Greg is going to chew me up on this one, but like April posted on the Wheaton Seniors, I have to get this off of my chest.
The final CCIW non-NCAA game has boiled down to the 2 best CCIW teams this year.  #1 Augie vs. #2 Elmhurst who have been separated all year by 1 extra CCIW loss to Millikin.  Gosh darn Big Blue had to play a great game on OUR COURT! 
Here is my thought:  You have the 2nd best team in arguably the best conference in the nation, making it to the CCIW Tourney Final, and (if they lose tomorrow) are not going to let them in with a 21-6 record?  1st place is 22-4?
I know Greg, the Committee only looks at those stats and figures that you mentioned, and I know there is a computer generated system.  HOWEVER,  last I checked, the human being's HEART is not computer generated.   Tonight was a great application of talent, emotion, and enthusiasm by both the Bluejays and Thunder.  I expect the same from the Vikings/Bluejays tomorrow.  You are going to tell me that #9 and #14 with very admirable 21-5 or 22-4 records are only going to get 1 team in?  I think that is a slap in the face to the CCIW if 1 of the teams is left sitting at home come NCAA time. 
Now, I feel better.  I just don't think this is right that if Augie wins the game tomorrow, there is a good chance Elmhurst doesn't get in.    Not right, but I know, I know that's City Hall.

[AndOne]

OK, so here are my thoughts and I know Greg is going to chew me up on this one, but like April posted on the Wheaton Seniors, I have to get this off of my chest.
The final CCIW non-NCAA game has boiled down to the 2 best CCIW teams this year.  #1 Augie vs. #2 Elmhurst who have been separated all year by 1 extra CCIW loss to Millikin.  Gosh darn Big Blue had to play a great game on OUR COURT! 
Here is my thought:  You have the 2nd best team in arguably the best conference in the nation, making it to the CCIW Tourney Final, and (if they lose tomorrow) are not going to let them in with a 21-5 record?  1st place is 22-4?
I know Greg, the Committee only looks at those stats and figures that you mentioned, and I know there is a computer generated system.  HOWEVER,  last I checked, the human being's HEART is not computer generated.   Tonight was a great application of talent, emotion, and enthusiasm by both the Bluejays and Thunder.  I expect the same from the Vikings/Bluejays tomorrow.  You are going to tell me that #9 and #14 with very admirable 21-5 or 22-4 records are only going to get 1 team in?  I think that is a slap in the face to the CCIW if 1 of the teams is left sitting at home come NCAA time. 
Now, I feel better.  I just don't think this is right that if Augie wins the game tomorrow, there is a good chance Elmhurst doesn't get in.    Not right, but I know, I know that's City Hall.

79jay-----

As you know, EC is not the team I root for in the CCIW. However, I agree with you completely. No matter what team in the conference we regular CCIW board posters root for, I think the one thing we can all agree on without any negative arguing or Karma smiting, is that the CCIW is arguably the best basketball conference in the nation with the possible exception of the WIAC.

As such, speaking as a CCIW fan, it is hard to believe that if Elmhurst loses Sat night and finishes 21-6, that they would not be worthy of a bid to the national tourney. They would still be the 2nd best team in prob the best conference in the land. They could very well be the very best 6 loss team in the entire nation. To think a team with those credentials would not be worthy of being admitted to the big dance is ridiculous

Yes, I know about % of in region wins and Quality of Wins Index, etc, but the 2nd best team from the best conference with 6 losses is, as 79jay suggests, more than worthy. So hopefully we'll see 2 CCIW teams move on.

[Pat Coleman]

Elmhurst fans:

Can you please contain your enthusiasm and keep the in-game updates confined to the in-game updates board on Saturday?

Thanks.

[AndOne]

HOWEVER,  last I checked, the human being's HEART is not computer generated.  

If a team could qualify for post-season play based on HEART, I feel the NCC Cardinals would qualify this year. I know they stumbled a few times both before the conference portion of the scheduale started, and again once the conference portion got going. This was, as we all know, during the time they were searching for the right guard combination to compliment their great senior frontcourt. They stumbled so many times, they came to a point where they were in serious danger on not even making the CCIW conference tourney after being the inaugural tourney champs last season. They were 4-6 with 4 games left against teams which had all beaten them in 1st game of the season series. To make matters worse, 3 of the teams were ranked #15, #12, and #9 in the country. The Cards proceeded to beat all 3 in a row and then beat IWU and superstar Z. Freeman to qualify at 8-6 in the CCIW.

Whether you like the Cardinals or not, for whatever reason, they showed a truckload of heart in winning those last 4 conference games against some of the top talent in the land.  8)

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to North Central and Wheaton on good seasons.  As my team found, it's not easy to make the CCIW conference tournament field...making it to Rock Island last night was a significant accomplishment.

Congratulations to all of the seniors at Wheaton and North Central that played their final game. 

[Titan Q]

There is no question that Elmhurst would be very much on the bubble with a loss tonight, but I'd hope a little non-primary criteria discussion would take place at the national level.  Whether the CCIW is the best, second best, or third best league in the country (that is an entirely different debate), the bottom line is that Elmhurst finish 2nd in the one of the toughest leagues in Division III.  You'd have to hope that at some point they step away from the numbers and have a basketball conversation.

Would they really take 5 UAA teams and 1 CCIW? 

Elmhurst winning tonight would obviously lock the CCIW into 2 teams.

[BRLHSFAN]

Pat, yes, I promise not to post in game updates tonight.  Sorry!

[Gotberg]

I thought some may find this interesting:

http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=1865