MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

Big win by the thunder up in kenosha to once again follow an egg laying performance with an improbable road victory. The big story was the rebounding. Wheaton 41 Carthage 23. also, Stevie bosko only had 5 pts until the Thunder were up almost 20 in the 2nd half. he finished with 18. Great perimeter defense by the Thunder and plenty of 1 and done makes for a big road win.

[kenoshamark]

Carthage got abused tonight....no nice way to say it.   Bosko needs to get in his car tomorrow and go out and start knocking on the door of any high school senior who is 6'6" or taller and while he is driving he needs to call his underclassmen and tell them to get into the weight room.  This was a game of men against boys !!!  Wiele is a nice player but they made him look like an All-American tonight.  Raymond didn't have a great shooting night from long range but he also showed why he is such a good all around player.

It was quite a contrast in styles on offense.  Wheaton ran a crisp motion offense setting good solid picks and getting the ball down low or working some nice give and goes.  Conversely, Carthage felt compelled to pass the ball around the perimeter and either take a three (which they couldn't hit consistently) or wait until the clock ran down and then have someone try to make a one on one move.  It was a coaching clinic on good fundamental basketball vs. lets hope we're hot and if not we try to make something happen off the dribble.

Bosko ran players in tonight who have barely seen the floor but when you don't have an answer to the size and strength that Wheaton has, I guess you have nothing to lose.  Every team has bad games and to Bosko's credit, he wasn't yelling and screaming.  It was evident he knew he was outmatched.  Now that teams have seen Carthage once they are making the proper adjustments.  From being at the top of the standings to losing three in a row (two at home) and a road trip to first place Augie on Saturday just doesn't bode well.   

Been awhile since I walked out of the gym so disappointed.    By the way, did I say that Bosko and staff needs to start finding some big men for next year.....

[RedMan1]

Kenoshamark- All I have to say is pathetic. Huge game for the Redmen and they play awful. No energy, nothing. Wheaton took it to the Redmen and it was far from an effort. Wheaton played well, but it's easy to play well/win a game when the other team has no want and desire to win a basketball game.

Wheaton dominated every aspect of this game and deserved to win the game. Raymond is a great player, and Wheaton has a great motion offense and plays great defense. As a fan of Carthage I am just shocked that the Redmen could play this bad with so much on the line.

The Redmen are in trouble, but I still hold hope that they will win Saturday.

[Titan Q]

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


Augustana (7-2): +2 (road wins at IWU, EC)
Illinois Wesleyan (6-3): +2 (road wins at MU, NPU, NCC...home loss to AC)
Wheaton (5-4): +1 (road wins at EC, CC...home loss to NCC)
Carthage (5-4): +0 (road wins at EC and MU, home losses to NPU, WC)
Elmhurst (5-4): +0 (home losses to CC, WC, AC...road wins at NPU, NCC, MU)
North Central (3-6): -1 (home losses to EC, IWU...road win at WC)
Millikin (2-7): -2 (home losses to IWU, CC, EC...road win at NPU)
North Park (3-6): -2 (home losses to EC, IWU, MU...road win at CC)


Location of remaining games (home/road):

Augustana (7-2): 2 home/3 road
Illinois Wesleyan (6-3): 3 home/2 road
Carthage (5-4): 2 home/3 road
Elmhurst (5-4): 2 home/3 road
Wheaton (5-4): 3 home/2 road
North Central (3-6): 3 home/2 road
North Park (3-6): 2 home/3 road
Millikin (2-7): 3 home/2 road

Upcoming schedule:

Sat., February 9
Carthage @ Augustana
Elmhurst @ Illinois Wesleyan
North Central @ Millikin
Wheaton @ North Park

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan  81
North Central 67

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2008/NCCM-IWU.HTM

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/07/usports/doc47abebccbcc50166133826.txt

http://www.wjbc.com/wire2/podsports/00805_0207RosePostgame_213810.htm


Last night in Naperville, North Central packed into a tight zone and dared IWU to shoot 3's.  The Titans were a little hesitant in attacking the zone in the 1st half, passing up some open looks.  Sean Johnson knocked down two 3's and had 7 points, but was only on the floor for 8 minutes due to foul trouble.

In the 2nd half, it was a different story.  Johnson made 5 3's against the NCC zone.  The Cardinals finally came out of the zone after Johnson's final 3 with 6:00 left, but NCC was already down 12 at that point. 

Darius Gant had another double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds.)  Gant now has 48 rebounds in the last 3 games.  Doug Sexauer had a nice game as well, finishing with 10 points on 4-6 from the field.  Point-guard Travis Rosenkranz had a strong 2nd half and had 13 points and 5 assists on the game.

IWU freshman Sean Johnson has now made more 3's than anyone in CCIW play (2 more than Panner, 3 more than Wessels), and he's also shooting a great percentage, 29-64 (.453).  In 9 conference games, Johnson is averaging 14.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

[Titan Q]

Carthage has been out-rebounded 88-52 the last two games.

[Titan Q]

Quoting Coach Bosko Djurickovic on the Feb. 7 Wheaton College (Ill.) Loss:  "The better team clearly won.  They were better coached.  They were much better in their execution.  We could never break their rhythm.  I don't know that I can find any part of the game where we had a significant advantage.  It wasn't to be tonight.  There are no excuses.  We have to go back to the drawing board and see if we can play well on Saturday at Augustana (Ill.).  Andy Wiele was dynamite.  Two years ago, he was a perimeter, three-point shooting guy with very little interest in being inside.  It was the toughest night of the year for Steve Djurickovic.  Kent Raymond took him out of everything with strength and by bodying him up.  He bumped him he hit him, and he made things miserable for him." (courtesy of the Kenosha News)

[Dennis_Prikkel]

It was quite a contrast in styles on offense.  Wheaton ran a crisp motion offense setting good solid picks and getting the ball down low or working some nice give and goes.  Conversely, Carthage felt compelled to pass the ball around the perimeter and either take a three (which they couldn't hit consistently) or wait until the clock ran down and then have someone try to make a one on one move.  It was a coaching clinic on good fundamental basketball vs. lets hope we're hot and if not we try to make something happen off the dribble.

Sounds like all the North Park games this season.  MOTS

DoS

[79jaybird]

Can Elmhurst play the rest of the season on the road?  Sheesh,  with all the road victories you would think the Jays would be in/tied for first place,  but home has not been cozy.
I was not able to listen to the second half, but it does appear that the inconsistency card came up again allowing MU to climb back into the game.  When you have a comfortable lead, you have to keep building on that lead and put a team away.  EC has yet to show that. 
Nevertheless, a sweep of MU for the first time in a few years, a road win, and now the showdown in B-Town on Saturday.  No matter where the Titans are, the Shirk is always a tough place to grab a W.

Looking at the Carthage/Wheaton game, I am reminded of the Wheaton/EC game.  Wiele was the main difference in that game, with rebounding and physical play. (especially in the second half)  I like the way he plays with that muscle presence in the paint.

[augiefan]

An interesting night. The early season trend of home team victories seems to be ancient history. The most significant development so far this season is how good IWU is with so many young players. If they remain injury free, this frosh-soph dominated team will be the class of the CCIW the next few seasons. Augie needs to keep up the good work and get that home court advantage for the conference tourney this season. Somehing tells me the tourney will be at the Shirk the next three years.

[aceon2]

Carthage got abused tonight....no nice way to say it.   Bosko needs to get in his car tomorrow and go out and start knocking on the door of any high school senior who is 6'6" or taller and while he is driving he needs to call his underclassmen and tell them to get into the weight room.  This was a game of men against boys !!!  Wiele is a nice player but they made him look like an All-American tonight.  Raymond didn't have a great shooting night from long range but he also showed why he is such a good all around player.

It was quite a contrast in styles on offense.  Wheaton ran a crisp motion offense setting good solid picks and getting the ball down low or working some nice give and goes.  Conversely, Carthage felt compelled to pass the ball around the perimeter and either take a three (which they couldn't hit consistently) or wait until the clock ran down and then have someone try to make a one on one move.  It was a coaching clinic on good fundamental basketball vs. lets hope we're hot and if not we try to make something happen off the dribble.

Bosko ran players in tonight who have barely seen the floor but when you don't have an answer to the size and strength that Wheaton has, I guess you have nothing to lose.  Every team has bad games and to Bosko's credit, he wasn't yelling and screaming.  It was evident he knew he was outmatched.  Now that teams have seen Carthage once they are making the proper adjustments.  From being at the top of the standings to losing three in a row (two at home) and a road trip to first place Augie on Saturday just doesn't bode well.   

Been awhile since I walked out of the gym so disappointed.    By the way, did I say that Bosko and staff needs to start finding some big men for next year.....

An interesting night. The early season trend of home team victories seems to be ancient history. The most significant development so far this season is how good IWU is with so many young players. If they remain injury free, this frosh-soph dominated team will be the class of the CCIW the next few seasons. Augie needs to keep up the good work and get that home court advantage for the conference tourney this season. Somehing tells me the tourney will be at the Shirk the next three years.

Not to discount the talent of the freshmen at IWU, but I just thought I would point out that Carthage has some very good young guards in Djurickovic and Fendley, and if Bosko were to get a decent big man or two Carthage would definitely be one of the favorites in the CCIW year in and year out for the next three years. 

[aceon2]

That being said, I dont think there is a better venue in the CCIW than the Shirk to host the conference tournament! 

[Fox 40]

An interesting night. The early season trend of home team victories seems to be ancient history. The most significant development so far this season is how good IWU is with so many young players. If they remain injury free, this frosh-soph dominated team will be the class of the CCIW the next few seasons. Augie needs to keep up the good work and get that home court advantage for the conference tourney this season. Somehing tells me the tourney will be at the Shirk the next three years.

Interesting statement "Augiefan" (?) considering the team currently in first place in the CCIW, Augustana, will return four starters next year.  Into that mix, add the solid play of late of Justin Bertrand and the possible return of scorer Jordan Delp and I'm not ready to book my trip to B/N just yet.

[aceon2]

Remaining schedules:

AUGIE (7-2):
CC
@ WTN
@ MILL
IWU
@NCC

IWU (6-3):
EC
MILL
@WTN
@AUG
NPU

WTN (5-4):
@NPU
AUG
IWU
@MILL
ELM

CC (5-4):
@AUG
EC
@NCC
@NPU
MILL

EC (5-4):
@IWU
@CC
NPU
NCC
@WTN

NCC (3-6):
@MILL
NPU
CC
@ELM
AUG

NPU (3-6):
WTN
@NCC
@ELM
CC
@IWU

MILL (2-7):
NCC
@IWU
AUG
WHT
@CC

[aceon2]

Some Comments about the upcoming/remaining schedule:

I believe that it is safe, although nothing is really safe in this league to say that Millkin will not make the top 4.  I would also tend to say that NPU has its nail half way in the coffin being that they would have to win 4 outta 5 against a very tough schedule including @IWU @ELM @NCC and home against CC and WTN.  I think that means it is down to 8 teams for 4 spots.  Augie I would say is almost a lock to be in, especially if they are able to win this weekend vs Carthage.  On the flipside, NCC has an outside shot if they are able to win their next two which seems to be doable (@MILL and home vs NPU) which would set up huge games for them against CC and Elmhurst.  Wheaton is looking the best of the 5-4 teams being that they have won twice vs Carthage and at Elmhurst.  Just some tidbits I thought I would share...  Should be another exciting weekend of hoops...