MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mwunder]

First chance to see the Red Men in action tonight.

Random thoughts on the win:

Biggest hoop of the night:
GOOD! 3 PTR by Vukosavljevic, Milos             05:55  57-54  H 3
This gave Carthage a little breathing room after Augie took a 4 pt lead just a few possessions earlier.  After the 4 pt lead by Augie, Carthage rattled off 9 in a row (including that big 3), to kind of take the wind out of Augie's sails.  Steve D took over the game after that.

Carthage's defense won them the game.  They caused 18 turnovers tonight while only committing 6.  Higgins was a big part of that and played a huge role in deciding the game.  Nice to have him coming off the bench and harassing teams with his hustle and smarts.  He was in passing lanes all night creating havoc.

Bowens lit it up in the first half going 6-8 (2-3).  Steve almost had a double double at the half with 10 and 7.

The second half belonged to Stevie D.  20 pts, 3 boards.  He touched the ball every possession ('cept one where Bowens got the ball and was fouled, then made the two FTs) for the final 5 minutes of the game and made big (HUGE) shots when he had the ball.  I think Wessels is a heck of a defensive ball player, but Steve made a few moves on him late that were outstanding.

Not to take anything away from Augie, but with the inside / outside game they have, they sure don't get Swetalla the ball in places where he can do damage.  The biggest guy on the floor for Augie was the 'Invisible Man' tonight going for 6 and 3.  Augie moves the ball so well, that you would think they could draw up something to get the ball inside, but not tonight.

One guy who impressed me off of Augie's bench was Justin Bertrand.  High energy, physical, athletic.

One last note:  Did Carthage lower the tuition and can't pay their heating bills?  Fer cripes sake the building was cold tonight.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park just can't buy a break at Wheaton. Every year it's something ... this year it was unbelievable lights-out shooting from downtown by Ben Panner and Andrew Jahns (a combined 9-12 from beyond the arc, with Jahns' final trey being the backbreaker with 1:07 left and NPU only trailing Wheaton by three), combined with the inability of the Park to get the ball in the hole whenever the Vikings got the lead down to one possession. NPU had chance after chance after chance with Wheaton only up by one or two points in the final five minutes to either tie or take the lead, and a number of times the Vikings drove all the way to the hole to get that crucial basket ... but it never went in. And, in the end, Jahns made that one big trey that made it a two-possession game, leaving NPU to foul in a futile attempt to draw the game closer in the final minute.

Jay Alexander, who was absolutely magnificent tonight in spite of playing on a hyperextended knee, led the Park with 12 points and also snared six boards. Nick Williams, Antonio Stevens, and Joe Capalbo each added ten, and Williams was the co-leader in rebounds with six. Williams was really a bit too quiet tonight; part of that was the fact that Kent Raymond did a great job guarding him, but the Vikings really need Nick to step it up bigger in a huge game like tonight's. Raymond was also quiet by his standards -- only 13 points on 4-10 shooting from the field -- but Panner and Jahns more than made up for it. Panner had 21 and Jahns had 17, while Andy Wiele was able to cash in on his huge size advantage in the post to register a 13 and 12 game.

It was quite a contrast of styles. Wheaton's size advantage, even without Jacob Carwell seeing much in the way of playing time, gave the hosts a commanding 36-20 lead on the boards; NPU's quickness advantage and superior aggressiveness on defense led to a lopsided turnover advantage the other way. NPU only turned the ball over five times, while Wheaton turned it over a whopping 18 times. NPU actually took a lot more shots from the field than did Wheaton (60-41). But that amazing shooting exhibition by Panner and Jahns, coupled with a lot of Wiele layups, meant that Wheaton got much more quality from its comparatively few FGAs than did North Park.

Wheaton also did a good job of collecting layups early in the second half against NPU's overplay defense. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance would patiently wait for the Vikings to commit themselves to a steal attempt around the basket, and then make the extra pass that got them an easy deuce. It was a good demonstration of how a patient and smart team can make an overaggressive defense work against itself.

On the other hand, I thought that NPU played with a lot more energy than did Wheaton, and that on a number of occasions the Vikings were able to score in the second half through sheer willpower more than anything else. Wheaton's offense was sound, textbook basketball, whereas NPU's would win no beauty pageants. It was scrap-iron ugliness, but it worked often enough to keep the Vikings in the game. That was exemplified in the play of Alexander, who would get the ball on the perimeter and drive by the slower Wiele time after time, only to encounter Wheaton help defenders when he got close to the rim. Somehow Jay managed to pinball off of defenders to drop in one six-foot floater after another. Boy, I wish North Park could clone Jay Alexander. There would be room for him on any North Park team I've ever seen, national championship teams included. He plays the game of basketball with immense heart.

Another year, another aggravating loss in Wheaton. Close ones like this one are even worse on the digestion. I walked out of King Arena convinced that NPU ought to win big against Wheaton in the February rematch in Chicago ... but, then again, I'm sure that the Augustana and North Central people walked out of the crackerbox saying the same sort of thing. It's that kind of a year in the CCIW.

[Gregory Sager]

I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to the Carlson Crazies, who were terrific tonight. It was dueling theme nights in King Arena -- Braveheart Night for the Crazies, Superhero Night for the Wheaton football players -- and the Crazies were at their loud and boisterous best. They even brought a bagpiper with them, which brought a hearty round of applause from the CCIW's most conspicuous bagpiper, Marc Horner (NPC '92).

Unfortunately, the Wheaton event staff did everything within their power to throw cold water on the Crazies, including calling out an entire phalanx of Wheaton police officers. There were about a dozen Barney Fifes present by the end of the game (I kept wondering which one had the bullet) who were pointing out Crazies at random and tossing them out of the building, as apparently someone in the gym must've tipped off the WPD that there were a bunch of young males from the big city loose on the Wheaton campus and that they should do something about it. Well, if a bunch of goofy-looking white boys in kilts and blue paint are what passes for the Latin Kings in Wheaton, then some of the locals should get out more.

I jest, but it honestly made Wheaton look bad. The Crazies weren't doing anything out of the ordinary -- and, in fact, I think that they got themselves in more hot water with les gendarmes by correctly pointing out that they weren't doing anything different than their superhero-clad alter egos from Wheaton who were sitting behind the opposite basket. Nobody uttered any words that would've made their mothers wash their mouths out with soap. Nobody got physical. Nobody threw anything. Ostensibly the crackdown came because the piper played "Scotland Forever" and the Crazies got down on the walkway between the endline and the bleachers -- at halftime, when there were no players on the floor -- and danced the Highland fling. During a timeout in the second half they attempted to construct a pyramid ... and it was at that point that the event staff came over to break it up and simultaneously called out the cops. It was a total case of overkill by the Wheaton College event staff and the Wheaton Police Department.

They were just a bunch of college kids having good, clean, loud fun. In spite of my rivalry jests, I have a lot of respect for Wheaton College; but the way that the Crazies were treated tonight made Wheaton College look like a poor host.

[usee]

mrs ypsi...i dont care if wesleyan beat millikin..would have been by 100 if beauchamp got the opportunity to play. and as for Titan Q...robert might not be the POINT GUARD that sean and travis are...but i bet you 1000 bucks that he would  beat..no no, not the right term...DOMINATE  them in a game of 1-on-1. robert is a 2 guard. and for your info...i knew exactly why robert left the team. cause the coach is a flippin MORON!! since you know travis and sean so well...get them together and i'll get robert to meet them at the gym and see who is better? u down?? oh yea, and dont forget to bring my money either! little trivia for ya mr Q....who was the last player at IWU to play both basketball and football? did anyone else do it this year?? I DIDNT THINK SO. the dude is a STUD! would dominate anyone on that team!!

Not that I would give any credence to your opinion over Q's, but last I checked basketball was a team sport and required 5 players at a time. Maybe Mr Boychamp left because he didn't get enough opportunities for the isolation game ala allen iverson? maybe he doesn't like Rose's pass the ball to the open guy style or the emphasis on post play? who knows, I am pretty sure you don't though.

[usee]

North Park just can't buy a break at Wheaton. Every year it's something ... this year it was unbelievable lights-out shooting from downtown by Ben Panner and Andrew Jahns (a combined 9-12 from beyond the arc, with Jahns' final trey being the backbreaker with 1:07 left and NPU only trailing Wheaton by three), combined with the inability of the Park to get the ball in the hole whenever the Vikings got the lead down to one possession. NPU had chance after chance after chance with Wheaton only up by one or two points in the final five minutes to either tie or take the lead, and a number of times the Vikings drove all the way to the hole to get that crucial basket ... but it never went in. And, in the end, Jahns made that one big trey that made it a two-possession game, leaving NPU to foul in a futile attempt to draw the game closer in the final minute.

Jay Alexander, who was absolutely magnificent tonight in spite of playing on a hyperextended knee, led the Park with 12 points and also snared six boards. Nick Williams, Antonio Stevens, and Joe Capalbo each added ten, and Williams was the co-leader in rebounds with six. Williams was really a bit too quiet tonight; part of that was the fact that Kent Raymond did a great job guarding him, but the Vikings really need Nick to step it up bigger in a huge game like tonight's. Raymond was also quiet by his standards -- only 13 points on 4-10 shooting from the field -- but Panner and Jahns more than made up for it. Panner had 21 and Jahns had 17, while Andy Wiele was able to cash in on his huge size advantage in the post to register a 13 and 12 game.

It was quite a contrast of styles. Wheaton's size advantage, even without Jacob Carwell seeing much in the way of playing time, gave the hosts a commanding 36-20 lead on the boards; NPU's quickness advantage and superior aggressiveness on defense led to a lopsided turnover advantage the other way. NPU only turned the ball over five times, while Wheaton turned it over a whopping 18 times. NPU actually took a lot more shots from the field than did Wheaton (60-41). But that amazing shooting exhibition by Panner and Jahns, coupled with a lot of Wiele layups, meant that Wheaton got much more quality from its comparatively few FGAs than did North Park.

Wheaton also did a good job of collecting layups early in the second half against NPU's overplay defense. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance would patiently wait for the Vikings to commit themselves to a steal attempt around the basket, and then make the extra pass that got them an easy deuce. It was a good demonstration of how a patient and smart team can make an overaggressive defense work against itself.

On the other hand, I thought that NPU played with a lot more energy than did Wheaton, and that on a number of occasions the Vikings were able to score in the second half through sheer willpower more than anything else. Wheaton's offense was sound, textbook basketball, whereas NPU's would win no beauty pageants. It was scrap-iron ugliness, but it worked often enough to keep the Vikings in the game. That was exemplified in the play of Alexander, who would get the ball on the perimeter and drive by the slower Wiele time after time, only to encounter Wheaton help defenders when he got close to the rim. Somehow Jay managed to pinball off of defenders to drop in one six-foot floater after another. Boy, I wish North Park could clone Jay Alexander. There would be room for him on any North Park team I've ever seen, national championship teams included. He plays the game of basketball with immense heart.

Another year, another aggravating loss in Wheaton. Close ones like this one are even worse on the digestion. I walked out of King Arena convinced that NPU ought to win big against Wheaton in the February rematch in Chicago ... but, then again, I'm sure that the Augustana and North Central people walked out of the crackerbox saying the same sort of thing. It's that kind of a year in the CCIW.

Gregory,

thanks for the thorough recap. It made not being there a lot more bearable. I am shocked by the 60-41 differential in shots taken and just as shocked at the inverse in shooting percentage. that seems to be the story of the game. That, and the fact that Harris decided to sit the inept Carwell in favor of a 3 guard lineup with Jahns. Hopefully the Thunder can take this game and build some momentum for the tough trip to the shirk wed (followed by at elmhurst--2 tough road games for wheaton).

[Gregory Sager]

Not that I would give any credence to your opinion over Q's, but last I checked basketball was a team sport and required 5 players at a time. Maybe Mr Boychamp left because he didn't get enough opportunities for the isolation game ala allen iverson? maybe he doesn't like Rose's pass the ball to the open guy style or the emphasis on post play? who knows, I am pretty sure you don't though.

"Mr. Boychamp" ... that one got a big laugh out of me, usee.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central beat Millikin this evening in the airplane hangar, 75-65. This game came complete with perhaps the weirdest stat of the night in the CCIW: North Central shot 39 free throws, almost one per minute, and yet Millikin ended the night with none of its players having committed more than three fouls.

Soooooo ... after two weeks, Carthage sits alone atop the CCIW with a 3-1 record. Millikin has the basement all to itself with a 1-3 record. And the other six teams are tied in the middle with 2-2 records.

Am I going out on a limb by saying that it's anybody's race at this point?

[robberki]

mrs ypsi...i dont care if wesleyan beat millikin..would have been by 100 if beauchamp got the opportunity to play. and as for Titan Q...robert might not be the POINT GUARD that sean and travis are...but i bet you 1000 bucks that he would  beat..no no, not the right term...DOMINATE  them in a game of 1-on-1. robert is a 2 guard. and for your info...i knew exactly why robert left the team. cause the coach is a flippin MORON!! since you know travis and sean so well...get them together and i'll get robert to meet them at the gym and see who is better? u down?? oh yea, and dont forget to bring my money either! little trivia for ya mr Q....who was the last player at IWU to play both basketball and football? did anyone else do it this year?? I DIDNT THINK SO. the dude is a STUD! would dominate anyone on that team!!

cocaine is a hell of a drug...

[Gregory Sager]

mrs ypsi...i dont care if wesleyan beat millikin..would have been by 100 if beauchamp got the opportunity to play. and as for Titan Q...robert might not be the POINT GUARD that sean and travis are...but i bet you 1000 bucks that he would  beat..no no, not the right term...DOMINATE  them in a game of 1-on-1. robert is a 2 guard. and for your info...i knew exactly why robert left the team. cause the coach is a flippin MORON!! since you know travis and sean so well...get them together and i'll get robert to meet them at the gym and see who is better? u down?? oh yea, and dont forget to bring my money either! little trivia for ya mr Q....who was the last player at IWU to play both basketball and football? did anyone else do it this year?? I DIDNT THINK SO. the dude is a STUD! would dominate anyone on that team!!

cocaine is a hell of a drug...

My second big laugh of the night since I entered CCIW Chat!

[titanhammer]

Per Mr Sager:  "They even brought a bagpiper with them, which brought a hearty round of applause from the CCIW's most conspicuous bagpiper, Marc Horner (NPC '92)."

Greg, can we assume that Mr. Horner was arrested for "sharp enough elbows to penetrate his 'football white' elbow pads"?

Any comments taken in by Mr. Berki should consider the 72 - 70  thumping that Nebraska endured by the hands of Baylor, this evening.

[Gregory Sager]

Per Mr Sager:  "They even brought a bagpiper with them, which brought a hearty round of applause from the CCIW's most conspicuous bagpiper, Marc Horner (NPC '92)."

Greg, can we assume that Mr. Horner was arrested for "sharp enough elbows to penetrate his 'football white' elbow pads"?

Sixteen years sounds about right for that whine to age into a fine vintage, MT.

[titanhammer]

Per Mr Sager:  "They even brought a bagpiper with them, which brought a hearty round of applause from the CCIW's most conspicuous bagpiper, Marc Horner (NPC '92)."

Greg, can we assume that Mr. Horner was arrested for "sharp enough elbows to penetrate his 'football white' elbow pads"?

Sixteen years sounds about right for that whine to age into a fine vintage, MT.

Can't say that I was whining about anything, since we won for a record of 15 - 1 in the CCIW and a conference championship the last time I faced Mr. Horner.  Just having some fun with a name I'm familiar....

[Gregory Sager]

Marc Horner's a strange guy for a Wesleyan basketball alumnus to pick on, since Marc was famously allergic to green -- in contrast to his teammate Rob Bady, who always played about three times better against the Titans than he did against anybody else.

In retrospect, we should've tried to convince Marc that Illinois Wesleyan was actually Calvin, and that the Knights had changed their unis from maroon to green, since the best game of Horn's life was the one in which he singlehandedly shut down Calvin's superstud center Steve Honderd and led North Park to a big win over the Knights. It was the only loss Calvin suffered in its '92 national championship season.

[titanhammer]

It was admiring tonight to see Ryan Burks (a Manito native) have a 14 for 14 night from the free throw line.  I think the record is held by another Elmhurst player, Chris Martin, in 2006 for CCIW play.  Glad to see another player with Manito lineage make free throws with such accuracy.

[Gregory Sager]

It was admiring tonight to see Ryan Burks (a Manito native) have a 14 for 14 night from the free throw line.  I think the record is held by another Elmhurst player, Chris Martin, in 2006 for CCIW play.  Glad to see another player with Manito lineage make free throws with such accuracy.

Martin actually shares that CCIW record with Kent Raymond, who went 20-20 against your boys last season.