MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

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.

I agree, not sure where the "2-loss" theory came from. (back and to the left?). the sad thing is the CCIW is destined to get only 1 team in the NCAA playoffs and there is a good chance it won't even be the regular season champion. The way this season is playing out there will be a huge premium on simply being in the 4 team field for the conference tourney to earn the AQ.

[kenoshamark]

Quite a game tonight at Carthage...I would have bet money that the shot that Oziminski hit to send the game into overtime wasn't going to go in.  It was a runner from the baseline and as he released it the ball barely had any arch on it but sure enough, it went in.  Carthage inbounded the ball with 2.9 seconds and Steve drove and got about a 25 footer off that glanced the rim.  At the end of overtime Carthage took the lead on a shot by Bowens and NP called timeout to set up a play with 32 seconds to go. North Park ran the clock down and got a shot off with probably about 10 seconds left.  As the ball came off the rim, Billy Jacklin tapped the ball out towards the top of the key and as Oziminski and Higgins went after it, a foul was called on Higgins.  No conspiracy here, Oziminski had the better angle and Higgins clearly fouled him.  He hits the two free throws and NP smothers Steve so he can't get the in bounds pass.  Higgins takes the ball the length of the court and passes the ball out to Bowens on the wing but just wasn't a good shot.  Bowens really didn't have time to get set and not sure if it would have counted anyway.

[Titan Q]

Home win = 0 points
Home loss = -1
Road win = +1
Road loss = 0


Augustana (5-2): +1 (road win at IWU)
Carthage (5-2): +1 (road wins at EC and MU, home loss to NPU)
Illinois Wesleyan (4-3): +1 (road wins at MU, NPU...home loss to AC)
Wheaton (4-3): +1 (road win at EC)
Elmhurst (4-3): +0 (home losses to CC and WC, road wins at NPU, NCC)
North Central (2-5): -1 (home loss to EC)
North Park (3-4): -1 (home losses to EC, IWU...road win at CC)
Millikin (1-6): -2 (home losses to IWU and CC)


Location of remaining games (home/road):

Carthage (5-2): 3 home/4 road
Augustana (5-2): 3 home/4 road
Elmhurst (4-3): 3 home/4 road
Illinois Wesleyan (4-3): 4 home/3 road
Wheaton (4-3): 4 home/3 road
North Park (3-4): 3 home/4 road
North Central (2-5): 4 home/3 road
Millikin (1-6): 4 home/3 road

Upcoming schedule:

February 2
Augustana @ Elmhurst
Carthage @ Illinois Wesleyan
Millikin @ North Park
North Central @ Wheaton

[Mr. Ypsi]

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.

In the giddiness of the 8-way 1-1 tie, some were suggesting that 8 or 9 wins might be enough.  I pointed out that in the 14-game era the lowest winning total had been 11 (but also suggested that this year might break new ground at 10-4).  I'll stand by that, though a 2 or 3-way tie at 9-5 would not totally shock me, nor would someone getting hot and still winning 11; 12, no way).

It has become quite clear that every game has the potential to be a barn-burner, with the possible exception of Millikin on the road.

[kenoshamark]

Give NP credit for a smart game plan tonight...they showed right from the start they wanted to shorten the game (and obviously Steve's touches).  They were very content with running the clock down before taking the shot and I believe only once did they commit a shot violation.  The other aspect of their game plan was to put a modest three quarter court zone press on.  Surprisingly, Carthage had three or four turnovers during the game from the press that really wasn't designed to trap but once again, limit the time Carthage had to set up their offense.  It wasn't one of Steve's better games offensively but that was due to quickness and athleticism of NP.  I've seen him break down a lot of players this year and he just wasn't able to do that tonight.  Stevens covered him but had some foul trouble so both Gordon and Williams spent some time on him when NP wasn't in their zone.   Both Gordon and Williams were a load tonight...Williams is going to be something else if he puts on another 5 to 10 lbs of muscle.  He showed his inside and outside game tonight.   He is one of those players you look at in this league and wonder why he isn't playing a level higher.  He leads a very good sophomore core that will be trouble for others the next couple of years. 

[Titan Q]

If the home teams all win Saturday (and I think all 4 will be favorites), we would have...

Augustana 5-3
Carthage 5-3
Elmhurst 5-3
Illinois Wesleyan 5-3
Wheaton 5-3
North Park 4-4

That would be absolutely nuts.

Augie winning @ Elmhurst would be huge, as would Carthage winning at IWU.

[robberki]

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.

No such luck, there were some bad calls and some bad no-calls. Myself, and North Park greats Keith Peterson and Ben Palmberg made the trek to Kenosha tonight. I hadn't been there since 2001, so a lot has changed. We even took the wrong exit to get there (we were going by memory instead of google maps) but eventually made it.
First thoughts: the facility. I love what they've done with the place, a lot of what they've incorporated are similar to what I plan to do with the Crackerbox when I win Powerball. I was disappointed in the students, but then again I am spoiled with the Crazies.
It was nice to see Bosko's kid first hand, and if he could shoot from the outside they might have won the game. To quote Denny Green(e?) "they are who I thought they were" but North Park didn't let them off. They are loaded with shooters and have a great slasher in mini-Bosko.
It was a see-saw battle most of the night and I doubt either team led by more than 6 or so, but North Park seemed to lead most of the second half. At least until the very end when free throw shooting seemed to disappear from the Vikings repetoire. In particular, Capalbo seemed to uncharacteristically struggle. (BTW, the Carthage cheerleaders were touching the free-standing baskets during every free throw and on one attempt even managed to vibrate the basketball standard...an event that sent one of my colleagues through the roof...not sure what the deal is with that as the ref's didn't seem to even notice).
Overtime saw Carthage jump out early but NPU battled back and Jason Gordon and Nick Williams played very well down the stretch. Freshman post player Phil Schneidermeier (sic) got some quality minutes and scored some points down the stretch as well, providing a much needed boost in the post.
Paul's bench seemed thinner tonight, not as many players seemed to get in the game, or at least for as many minutes as normal.
I'll have more thoughts later but all-in-all it was a great game( bad officiating again though, a terrible over-the-back call and Carthage has a case for the no call at the end of the game...from my vantage point I saw a foul on the last second drive-draw-dish.).

[kenoshamark]

Boy, was sure when I went to the D3 hoops link for the "team of the week" that Steve was going to be included !!!   Thought 39 points (23-27 from the line) and a follow-up game of 20 points, plus two wins would have been a lock.

[Titan Q]

Quoting Coach Bosko Djurickovic on the Jan. 30 North Park Loss:  "We knew it was going to be a game in the 50s.  Give North Park credit.  They played better than we did.  They targeted what they wanted to do, and they did a nice job.  They seemed to beat us to every contested ball.  We just didn't close it down, like we've done at home all year.  When you win, sometimes you're a little lucky.  Tonight, we were a little unlucky, besides not being particularly good.  It's never acceptable to win games when you have a chance, and we just didn't get it done tonight. It's going to be a hostile environment at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday.  They're going to be on us from the time we get off the bus, and they may get on the bus to yell at me.   We have to play a better-quality game on Saturday."

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/basketball/release.html


If there is a more quotable coach in NCAA Division III than Bosko, I'd like to meet him/her.

[Mr. Ypsi]

If the home teams all win Saturday (and I think all 4 will be favorites), we would have...

Augustana 5-3
Carthage 5-3
Elmhurst 5-3
Illinois Wesleyan 5-3
Wheaton 5-3
North Park 4-4

That would be absolutely nuts.

Augie winning @ Elmhurst would be huge, as would Carthage winning at IWU.

Could happen, and would be exciting - it would also vitually guarantee that the CCIW will be a 1-team conference in the tourney with nearly a month to go!

Two questions for you, Bob (I only caught about the last 8 minutes of the game):
1. Sean Johnson scored 9 points in 4 minutes to almost get the win - what's the story on the other 36 minutes?
2. Regarding the Bosko quote in your later post, will YOU get on the bus to yell at him?

[Gregory Sager]

Give NP credit for a smart game plan tonight...they showed right from the start they wanted to shorten the game (and obviously Steve's touches).  They were very content with running the clock down before taking the shot and I believe only once did they commit a shot violation.

Yeah, I noticed in Steve Marovich's writeup that he drew special attention to NPU's "controlled-offense game." Looks like Paul Brenegan's strategy worked well for NPU this evening.

Williams is going to be something else if he puts on another 5 to 10 lbs of muscle.  He showed his inside and outside game tonight.   He is one of those players you look at in this league and wonder why he isn't playing a level higher.  He leads a very good sophomore core that will be trouble for others the next couple of years.

I'm sure that there's nothing Brenegan would love more than to see Nick put on some upper-body muscle, but even with that fancy new weight room NPU has in the Helwig Rec Center it's not a given that Nick's gonna muscle up. Heck, by all accounts Jay Alexander is one of the more dedicated weight-room inhabitants among Vikings athletes, and he's still as xylophone-ribs skinny as he was when he arrived on the North Park campus four years ago.

Quoting Coach Bosko Djurickovic on the Jan. 30 North Park Loss:  “We knew it was going to be a game in the 50s.  Give North Park credit.  They played better than we did.  They targeted what they wanted to do, and they did a nice job.  They seemed to beat us to every contested ball.  We just didn’t close it down, like we’ve done at home all year.  When you win, sometimes you’re a little lucky.  Tonight, we were a little unlucky, besides not being particularly good.  It’s never acceptable to win games when you have a chance, and we just didn’t get it done tonight. It’s going to be a hostile environment at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday.  They’re going to be on us from the time we get off the bus, and they may get on the bus to yell at me.   We have to play a better-quality game on Saturday.”

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/basketball/release.html


If there is a more quotable coach in NCAA Division III than Bosko, I'd like to meet him/her.

I burst out laughing at the part Bob's put in red when I read the Marovich recap. "They're going to be on us from the time we get off the bus, and they may get on the bus to yell at me." Absolutely classic.

[Viking Mike]

What a game in Bloomington!!! Listening to the Augie broadcast I thought the Vikes were done with 3 min left, but to their credit and the credit of Coach G, they pulled it out.  They shot poorly and were outrebounded by one, but they took care of the ball and created turnovers with their defense down the stretch.  Huge win for Coach G and his team!  Looking forward to seeing the Augie-Elmhurst game Sat...Let's keep it rolling Vikings!!!

[tjcummingsfan]

North Park pulls it out in Kenosha!  Huge win, and a must-win!

Wow, what a way to rebound from last week's debacles.

[Gregory Sager]

This is Steve Djurickovic's scoring lines for the CCIW season:

opp	W-L	FG-FGA	3FG-3FGA	FT-FTA	pts
@ Wheaton	L	7-16 (.438)	1-2 (.500)	5-7   (.714)	20
Ill. Wesleyan	W	8-14 (.571)	1-1 (1.000)	8-12 (.667)	25
@ Elmhurst	W	5-10 (.500)	0-2 (.000)	9-13 (.692)	19
Augustana	W	10-17 (.588)	2-3 (.667)	8-11 (.727)	30
North Central	W	8-17 (.471)	0-2 (.000)	23-27 (.852)	39
@ Millikin	W	4-15 (.267)	0-1 (.000)	12-13 (.923)	20
North Park	L	7-20 (.350)	0-5 (.000)	7-8   (.875)	21
TOTALS	5-2	49-109 (.450)	4-16 (.250)	72-91 (.791)	174 (24.9 ppg)

The key to beating Carthage appears to lie in keeping Steve D. off the FT line. Of course, that's easier said than done.

[Gregory Sager]

It has become quite clear that every game has the potential to be a barn-burner, with the possible exception of Millikin on the road.

Chuck, Millikin led Augie at the half, 30-24, at the Carver Center a week ago tonight. The Big Blue were down by three with less than five minutes to go in the game, and only ended up losing by eight.

Regardless of the Big Blue's record and the ease with which the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance dispatched them tonight, I would not take Jimmy Millikin lightly ... no matter where you're playing Marc Smith's team. The tightness of this race means that the other seven teams will all be walking the razor's edge in the second round-robin, and that in turn means that no one can afford to take a night off against Millikin. The Big Blue have enough talent to win games in this league -- not on every night, certainly, and not consistently. But they are capable of springing a big upset or two before it's all said and done.