MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[titanhammer]

take heart North Parkers, if what happened to NPU had happened to any of the other CCIW teams, their fans would be in here screaming and hollering. You know it, I know it, and the American people know it. The only thing to do now is focus on the upcoming games, we can't change what happened so we might as well move on....

That is the only way you can look at it, no matter what your argument...what's done is done.

What an exciting CCIW season to unfold....

[AndOne]

Augie downed North Central Sat night in a 3 act drama that played out in Rock Island. Act 1 saw Augie led by 8-10 points throughout much of the 1st half. NCC had narrowed that lead to 6, but Justin Bertrand scored inside with 5 seconds left, and AC took an 8 point lead into the locker room at halftime. Act 2 opened with NCC's Matt Rogers (23 pts) hitting a jumper after 19 seconds of action, followed by a 3 point bomb by AC's Brett Wessels (17 pts) just 9 seconds later to push their lead to 9. At that point a steal by Chris Drennan (12 pts, 8 boards) helped to light a fire under the Cardinals butts that propelled them on their way to a 17-6 run over the next 7 + 1/2 minutes enabling them to turn the 9 point deficit into a 2 point lead. However, the Cards dramatic and determined effort that resulted in both a scoring and defensive surge against the taller Vikings also severely depleted their gas supply and left them with little fuel with which to complete the journey to the finish line. Accordingly, in Act 3, the Vikings afterburner kicked in and over the final 11:25 they ran out to a 23-11 advantage that ended in a 10 point victory as the final curtain fell.

[AndOne]

QUESTION FOR AUGIE FANS (and anyone else who has an opinion)

Augie's early season loss of Jordan Delp was naturally a very disheartening blow to the Vikings. As I saw they started 3 guards against North Central Sat night, and played 2 more guards as subs, I just wondered what the posters familiar with the Vikings play feel about:

1. Have the Vikings basically gone to a "committee" approach to fill the void left by
    Delp's loss?
2. If so, do you feel this is the best approach or should they be giving fewer guards             
    more minutes?
3. Weird as it may sound, has Delp's loss actually turned into a positive?
Thanks all.

[AndOne]

Lately, many of us regular, as well as "irregular" posters in here who are fans of several of our conference teams, have complained about the level of officiating in the CCIW. I myself have been among the biggest offenders. I've pledged to try to cut down on this subject. In keeping with that, I'm not bitching on this occasion as I certainly don't feel the refs cost the team I root for a victory in its most recent game.

However, I do have a tidbit of information that will serve to illustrate just how screwed up the officiating in the CCIW appears to be. I heard that during one of the conference games Sat evening a participant asked one of the refs how/why a certain type of interaction between the players was frequently being whistled as a foul. The  ref that was asked the question was the only one of the 3 NOT calling the situation in question a foul. The ref questioned responded with something on the order of "I don't know why they're calling that a foul, I don't." Of course, the ref who was asked the question could be the one calling it incorrectly.

The bottom line here is that the refs certainly don't appear to be on the same page as far as how to call a game. As such, maybe its no surprise that so many games are being called unevenly resulting in our collective complaints.

I wish the CCIW, which widely promotes itself as the pinnacle of D3 basketball, would conduct a review of its officiating. I'd think a top flight league would insist on top notch officiating. I understand calling the game of basketball is probably the most difficult of sports to officiate. However, I bet there are lots of good high school or other area college conferences refs who would like to "move up." Maybe the league should look into infusing the officials ranks with some "new blood?" 

Any opinions?   

[knarocky22]

Is it possible that the "sub-par" officiating is simply being noticed more this season because the CCIW is more competitive top-to-bottom this year and the majority of the games are going down to the wire?

[usee]

Lately, many of us regular, as well as "irregular" posters in here who are fans of several of our conference teams, have complained about the level of officiating in the CCIW. I myself have been among the biggest offenders. I've pledged to try to cut down on this subject. In keeping with that, I'm not bitching on this occasion as I certainly don't feel the refs cost the team I root for a victory in its most recent game.

However, I do have a tidbit of information that will serve to illustrate just how screwed up the officiating in the CCIW appears to be. I heard that during one of the conference games Sat evening a participant asked one of the refs how/why a certain type of interaction between the players was frequently being whistled as a foul. The  ref that was asked the question was the only one of the 3 NOT calling the situation in question a foul. The ref questioned responded with something on the order of "I don't know why they're calling that a foul, I don't." Of course, the ref who was asked the question could be the one calling it incorrectly.

The bottom line here is that the refs certainly don't appear to be on the same page as far as how to call a game. As such, maybe its no surprise that so many games are being called unevenly resulting in our collective complaints.

I wish the CCIW, which widely promotes itself as the pinnacle of D3 basketball, would conduct a review of its officiating. I'd think a top flight league would insist on top notch officiating. I understand calling the game of basketball is probably the most difficult of sports to officiate. However, I bet there are lots of good high school or other area college conferences refs who would like to "move up." Maybe the league should look into infusing the officials ranks with some "new blood?" 

Any opinions?   

It is my understanding (although others who see more games live will know better) that CCIW games during the week are officiated by crews that do division I games on the weekends. As a result the games during the week are often officiated more consitently by experienced crews and on the weekends the league gets the moonlighters. I don't know if that's consistent with reality but I am pretty sure that's part of the issue.

[Titan Q]

Is it possible that the "sub-par" officiating is simply being noticed more this season because the CCIW is more competitive top-to-bottom this year and the majority of the games are going down to the wire?

Bingo.

Of the 24 CCIW games played through Jan. 26, 20 (83%) have been decided by 10 points or less and 13 (54%) by 6 points or less.  I don't know how that compares to past seasons, but those strike me as high percentages. 

The average margin after regulation (counting an overtime game as a zero) through 24 games is 6.4 points...and that includes two blowouts, both by Elmhurst - over Millikin by 20 and over North Park by 7.

http://www.cciw.org/winter_bball_m/2007_08_mbb_results.php

[Scream]

Is it possible that the "sub-par" officiating is simply being noticed more this season because the CCIW is more competitive top-to-bottom this year and the majority of the games are going down to the wire?

I don't think anyone would disagree that bad officiating is more glaring when the game is close.  Isn't that just all the more reason to have better refs?  Some of you guys border on ridiculous as you try to quiet us NP fans upset over a legitimately terrible call which directly took a W away from us and gave it to IWU.  I don't care to whom your allegiance lies, you can't deny that Park had the game won (as Nick buried the clutch j) and it was taken from us.  Yes, we'll move on but allow us to do that in our own time. 

[iwumichigander]

...In an important sense, what coaches tell their players -- never put yourselves in a position where the refs can decide the game at the end -- came back to haunt NPU tonight. After the two teams went into intermission tied 25-25, Wesleyan came out and really took it to North Park in the first five to seven minutes of the second half. The Titans pulled out to an eight-point lead, during which time the NPU offense went into one of its characteristic deep freezes while at the other end the Titans guards were driving to the rim with surprising ease. The Titans would never have a lead that big again, but that early stretch of the second half meant that the Vikes were climbing uphill the whole rest of the game. Kudos to Wesleyan for staving off every potential Vikings run until the very end of the game; the Titans showed a lot of gumption tonight. But a large part of the problem for NPU was that you have to expend much more energy playing from behind than you do playing from ahead. What Bobby Knight says about the first five minutes of the second half frequently being the most decisive stretch of the ballgame was proved true tonight.

... The Vikings just couldn't manage to make that one big shot that got them over the hump prior to that final sequence. Wesleyan's D had a lot to do with that, but North Park's shooting slump goes well beyond tonight's game. This was supposed to be a very good shooting NPU team this year, and they just haven't showed it since January rolled around. I think that it might say something about non-conference scheduling and pre-conference preparation; ...

Setting aside the end-game controversy, I think Greg has made astute and honest comments about the overarching problem in this game (or the Vikings in general). 

I have a lot of respect for what Paul Brenigan has accomplished in his short tenure as head coach. What stands out with respect to comments on this board from NPU posters is the Vikings, for whatever reason, lack of consistency and disciplined play over an entire 40 minutes.  When, and if, the players on the team fix that, the Vikings will put up more "W's"

But, when a team commits 5 fouls in less than 40 seconds (:55 - :15) in a desperate attempt to win one at home, how surprising is it really that a foul is called at the very end?

[Titan Q]

Is it possible that the "sub-par" officiating is simply being noticed more this season because the CCIW is more competitive top-to-bottom this year and the majority of the games are going down to the wire?

I don't think anyone would disagree that bad officiating is more glaring when the game is close.  Isn't that just all the more reason to have better refs?  Some of you guys border on ridiculous as you try to quiet us NP fans upset over a legitimately terrible call which directly took a W away from us and gave it to IWU.  I don't care to whom your allegiance lies, you can't deny that Park had the game won (as Nick buried the clutch j) and it was taken from us.  Yes, we'll move on but allow us to do that in our own time. 

Any thoughts on the first 39 minutes and 52 seconds?  Any North Park accountability for the loss during that small stretch of the contest?

[mwunder]

Congrats to Carthage's Steve Djurickovic for his second consecutive CCIW player of the Week honors.

An argument could be made that this should be his third in a row...I guess it's better than arguing about the officiating!!

[Scream]

Is it possible that the "sub-par" officiating is simply being noticed more this season because the CCIW is more competitive top-to-bottom this year and the majority of the games are going down to the wire?

I don't think anyone would disagree that bad officiating is more glaring when the game is close.  Isn't that just all the more reason to have better refs?  Some of you guys border on ridiculous as you try to quiet us NP fans upset over a legitimately terrible call which directly took a W away from us and gave it to IWU.  I don't care to whom your allegiance lies, you can't deny that Park had the game won (as Nick buried the clutch j) and it was taken from us.  Yes, we'll move on but allow us to do that in our own time. 

Any thoughts on the first 39 minutes and 52 seconds?  Any North Park accountability for the loss during that small stretch of the contest?

Newsflash!! 
It's the score at the end of the game that matters. 

I'm not saying the first 39 minutes don't matter (that's why we all enjoy watching games and not just highlights) but if you have put yourself in position to tie or win the game with your last possession, you've almost nullified the previous 39 minutes.  Also, why do you keep saying 39 minutes and 52 seconds?  What was the score at halftime again? Hyperbole.

[iwumichigander]

Congrats to Carthage's Steve Djurickovic for his second consecutive CCIW player of the Week honors.

An argument could be made that this should be his third in a row...I guess it's better than arguing about the officiating!!

Yes!  And, I would like to add congratulations also to Coach Bosko for win 200 as Carthage Head Coach which puts Bosko 4 wins away from #400 career wins.  With the way the Redmen are playing, #400 likely to come at the expense of a CCIW team.

[aceon2]

Congrats to Carthage's Steve Djurickovic for his second consecutive CCIW player of the Week honors.

An argument could be made that this should be his third in a row...I guess it's better than arguing about the officiating!!

Absolutely, Congrats to Steve, and to the Redmen for their great start to the conference season.  I know its early but hears to hoping I'll be watching the Conference Tournament at the beautiful Physical Education Center in Kenosha, WI.

Seriously, its been two and a half days... Everyone knows that their was a questionable call at the end of the North Park/IWU game!  I'm also sure that there have been questionable calls at the end of just about every basketball game ever played.  Enough about it... Congrats to the Titans on their victory.  Viking fans lets talk about the upcoming battle with the leagues top team thus far in Carthage...

[aceon2]

oops I meant Red    Men...