MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

But wait... there was an over the back foul and a lane violation that waved off both FTs.   Bedlam ensues...  

Hopefully there were no incredibly controversal calls so that there will be some real bball discussion and not the garbage of the past few weeks.

Amazing games!  2 in OT, one other very close game.  A very, very fun season to watch in the CCIW.

[Titan Q]

Augustana 65
IWU 61

* Darius Gant: 18 pts, 15 reb

* Brett Wessels: 14 pts

The Titans led 61-56 with 3:06 to play and did not score another point.  A combination of Augustana making plays and shots down the stretch and IWU just not able to close out a big game.

[cardinalfanrochelle]

Sounds like the 3 pointers of Elmhurst beat NCC tonight other than that it sounded like a good game. , congrats to NPU with the win over Carthage.

[Gregory Sager]

The big surprise for me tonight was that NPU got to the line 28 times (although the Vikes only made 16 of those attempts), while Carthage shot only 12 FTs. The Red Men have the most prolific free-throw shooter anyone's seen in ages in Steve Djurickovic, yet the Carthage phenom had only eight trips to the line tonight.

My guess as to what's behind this oddity is that NPU employed the spread offense and forced the issue with more dribble penetration than its used over the past few games, whereas at the other end of the floor Carthage settled for far too many trey attempts. The Red Men jacked up 28 shots from downtown tonight, making only nine of them.

[ecdubb420]

Great win for the Bluejays.  Mark and Tim, great job tonight.  First EC game I've ever listened too and must say, you guys are carrying the torch very well (for those close to this site, you'd remember I was the color guy for EC hoops for the last four seasons). 
Another close game at North Central, what else is new?  Always a tough place to play, but outside of last year, EC seems to own them in the close games. 
Elmhurst still needs someone to attack the basket, but if its not happening yet, not gonna happen at all.  Pat Bacon you still around?? 
Great to see/hear that Jared Hintszche is playing well, he couldn't do anything his first two years on the offensive end and his success is a testament to his hard work.
Still dying to see Steve D., thank goodness the Crackerbox is a close ride from Lincoln Park.

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton ran away and hid from Millikin tonight, winning easily at King Arena by a 67-51 score in a game that was described to me over the phone as "very sloppy."

[iwumichigander]

Wesleyan did a good job particularly in the second half to overcome Augie's size advantage.  Despite IWU not scoring in the last 3:30, this is still a young team making young team mistakes.  You just aren't going to win too many close games in the conference shooting 2-9 22% 3-Pt or 13-20 65% FTM; and, folks that FTM looks good compared to the 1st half.

Augie's defense was very tough, as usual, all night long.  Early in the game, I really thought Chandlor Collins was going to win this one all by himself! Aaugi got good balance in scoring with Dain Swetella, who did not start tonight, stepping up in the second half
Congratulation to Augie

[Gregory Sager]

We've now completed the first round robin of CCIW play. It's hard to imagine that the second round robin could be any more tense and exciting than the first one was.

Carthage and Augie are now knotted at 5-2, with the Red Men holding the head-to-head advantage. Elmhurst, Wheaton, and Illinois Wesleyan are all 4-3, with Elmhurst holding the advantage over IWU, IWU holding the advantage over Wheaton, and Wheaton holding the advantage over Elmhurst. North Park is 3-4, while North Central (2-5) continues to play everyone close but fall just short. Millikin (1-6) is fading.

[Gregory Sager]

Boxes:

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/basketball/npu1.htm

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/mbball/mbbstats/mwhe18.htm

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2008/IWMBB18.HTM

http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/athletics/stats/basketball_m/07-08/NCCM-ELM.HTM

[knarocky22]

Just looking at the box score, it seems that Justin Bertrand came up huge off the bench for Augie tonight.

[iwumichigander]

We've now completed the first round robin of CCIW play. It's hard to imagine that the second round robin could be any more tense and exciting than the first one was.

Carthage and Augie are now knotted at 5-2, with the Red Men holding the head-to-head advantage. Elmhurst, Wheaton, and Illinois Wesleyan are all 4-3, with Elmhurst holding the advantage over IWU, IWU holding the advantage over Wheaton, and Wheaton holding the advantage over Elmhurst. North Park is 3-4, while North Central (2-5) continues to play everyone close but fall just short. Millikin (1-6) is fading.

It's been a real interesting first round.  Most posters said 2 or more losses could win the CCIW.  It looks like 3 or 4 a real possibility.  I think 6 teams still have good opportunites to get into the 1- 4 slots for the conference tournament. I don't see a clear #1 team as yet.  North Central is not completely out of that race but a long shot.  I think Millikin has no chance to make the tournament but an opportunity to improve and be a spoiler for one or more teams. Carthage tried to make a slice of Top 25 toast and it got burnt tonight.

[iwumichigander]

Just looking at the box score, it seems that Justin Bertrand came up huge off the bench for Augie tonight.

Justin did nice work tonight, but really the enitre Augie bench responded well by out scoring IWU bench 25 to 17.  This was definitely a team win tonight for Augie as IMHO no one player stood out for the Vikings - everyone contributed.

I just wish Augie's 6th man on the court would wear a uniform instead of a suit 

[usee]

The big surprise for me tonight was that NPU got to the line 28 times (although the Vikes only made 16 of those attempts), while Carthage shot only 12 FTs. The Red Men have the most prolific free-throw shooter anyone's seen in ages in Steve Djurickovic, yet the Carthage phenom had only eight trips to the line tonight.

Ironically, in wheaton's overtime win at Elmhurst last Saturday night the Thunder had 10 FT's to Elmhurst's 26. Kent Raymond is the other prolific FT shooter in the CCIW and he went to the line only 6 times. The obvious difference between these two games is that Wheaton won the game and Stevie D's Redmen did not.

[Titan Q]

IWU had the ball up 5 points with 2:57 to play, and then the next Titan offensive possessions went this way...

2:33 turnover by Sean Johnson
2:14 Darius Gant shot blocked by Justin Bertrand
1:30 turnover by Darius Gant
0:49 turnover by Travis Rosenkranz

After that last turnover, Augie had the ball up 1.  The Vikings were forced to call a timeout with :05 on the shotclock and :18 on the gameclock as a Viking guard was trapped and in trouble.  Out of the timeout, Brett Wessels buried the dagger - a 3 pointer from the left wing to put Augie up 4 with :15 to play.

The Titans didn't even get a shot to the rim in the final 3:00 of the game.  Very frustrating.

IWU was able to get up 5 via an impressive flurry by Sean Johnson and Darius Gant.  Again, the Titans just couldn't close out the win.

[Titan Q]

It's been a real interesting first round.  Most posters said 2 or more losses could win the CCIW.  It looks like 3 or 4 a real possibility.  I think 6 teams still have good opportunites to get into the 1- 4 slots for the conference tournament. I don't see a clear #1 team as yet.  North Central is not completely out of that race but a long shot.  I think Millikin has no chance to make the tournament but an opportunity to improve and be a spoiler for one or more teams. Carthage tried to make a slice of Top 25 toast and it got burnt tonight.

I don't think anyone here has suggested that 2 losses could win the league, mich.  I think just about everyone has agreed that this could be the first time we see 10-4 win it.  11-3 at best, but I certainly haven't read anyone talk about 12-2.