MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 91, Carthage 72

Nick Williams, 24 pts (5-7 treys)
Jason Gordon, 22 pts (3-6 treys), 8 rebs
Antonio Stevens, 15 pts
Ed Whitaker, 13 pts (3-5 treys)
Jay Alexander, 9 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks

Steve Djurickovic, 25 pts (3-5 treys), 8 asts, 0 turnovers
Trey Bowens, 17 pts (5-12 treys)

http://www.northpark.edu/athletics/mBasketball/Stats/2008stats/2-20mbb.htm

NPU should make every home game Senior Night. Just pick two or three guys at random before every home game, let them walk their moms out onto the floor and give them yellow roses, give the guys framed pictures, let Viking Blue introduce them and recite their stats ... and then let the Vikings roar out of the gate. Oh, yeah, and turn the thermostat in the crackerbox up to about 100 degrees, too. The ovenlike conditions were reminiscent of the old days, when Bosko Djurickovic was on the other bench and 19-point wins over Carthage were run-of-the-mill occurrences at Foster & Kedzie. It all added up to the best performance of the CCIW season for North Park, even better than the opening-night win over Augustana.

Although the Vikings didn't start to pull away until the last eleven minutes or so, they controlled almost the entire game. It was by far the best that they have looked all season on offense, as they broke the 90-point barrier for the first time in 2007-08. Ball movement on the perimeter was crisp, drives to the basket were well-timed and effective rather than random and futile, and Jason Gordon really made Sean Fendley and Trey Bowens pay in the low post. Most startling of all, NPU shot 13-24 (54%) from downtown -- only the second really good shooting night from the perimeter that the Vikings have had in the CCIW portion of the season (last Wednesday's win at North Central being the other). NPU seemed to answer with a three every time Carthage started to make noise, and you could tell that those retaliatory treys really took some of the heart out of the Red Men as the game wore on.

Nick Williams played the sort of game that I think Vikings fans have been waiting to see from him all season (or at least since the home game against Wesleyan). He was so on his game tonight that Bosko Djurickovic did something I thought I would never see him do -- he put a box-and-one on Williams. It marked the first time that I've seen any coach pull out that infamous gimmick defense in the crackerbox since Rust College used a box-and-one in a 1991 game in an effort to stop North Park's Dan Hill. It didn't work; Williams simply stood to the side at the free-throw line and gave Chris Brown and Antonio Stevens a clear lane to drive to the basket. That, combined with throwing Neb Franciskovic into a game in which he wasn't equipped to do anything useful except commit first-degree goonery (four fouls in six minutes of play, culminating in a Triple H throwdown of Williams on a baseline drive), told me that Bosko was clearly running out of ideas on how to stop the Park on a night in which the Vikings were feeling their oats.

Williams had plenty of company on the applause-o-meter. Ed Whitaker made his home farewell memorable by playing perhaps the best all-around game of his career. Jay Alexander was Jay Alexander, only more so -- tonight he was also Dikembe Mutombo against the smallish Red Men. Jason Gordon played the sort of solid game in all phases that he's always been capable of playing but hasn't done often enough. Antonio Stevens did a great job on defense and made a number of huge drives to the basket that were instrumental in helping NPU pull away in the second half. Chris Brown was a pest on defense, and Dan Oziminski quarterbacked a great floor game.

Steve Djurickovic made his debut in the gym where his mother and father had excelled as players and coaches, and he drew plenty of oohs and aahs from Vikings fans with his slick moves, improbable high-off-the-backboard layups, and spectacular passes. He got his points, but the Vikings made him work for them -- he only got to the FT line four times, and it took him 20 FGAs to get his 25 points. He did show a nice stroke from beyond the arc that hasn't been in evidence yet this year, so there's signs that he's adding to his arsenal. Trying to stop him over the next three seasons will be a daunting task for the other seven coaches in this league.

But the Vikings basically shut down everybody else. Fendley (8 pts) was a non-factor, and Bowens was quiet for most of the night until the game was already in the bag.

It's been a tear-your-hair-out kind of a year in the crackerbox, as NPU definitely did not find the home court to its liking in January and February. But at least it ended on a high note.

[Greek Tragedy]

Listed is last week's regional ranking and record

New (2nd list) Regional Rankings; games played through Sunday, Feb. 17

Black is conference leader
Red is Pool C contender
Blue is Pool B contender

Atlantic
1. *(LW1; 1-1) Richard Stockton 16-6 16-5 (NJAC)
2. *(LW2; 1-1) William Paterson 17-5 17-5 (NJAC)
3. (LW3; 3-0) Farmingdale State 19-4 18-3 (SKY)
4. (LW4; 2-0) York (N.Y.) 19-7 17-6 (SUNYAC)-tied with Brooklyn
5. (LWNR; 2-0) SUNY-Old Westbury 14-9 14-7 (SKY)

*William Paterson leads the NJAC North Div.
*Richard Stockton leads the NJAC South Div.

Dropping out:  St. Joseph's (L.I.)-5th (2-0)

East
1. (LW2; 2-0) Plattsburgh State 21-2 18-0 (SUNYAC)
2. (LW1; 0-2) Rochester 17-5 16-5 (UAA)
3. (LW3; 2-0) Brockport State 18-6 15-4 (SUNYAC)
4. (LW4; 1-1) Stevens 20-4 20-4 (Empire 8 )
5. (LW5; 2-1) Nazareth 17-6 17-6 (Empire 8 )

Great Lakes
1. (LW1; 2-0) Capital 20-3 19-3 (OAC)
2. (LW2; 2-0) Wooster 20-3 13-2 (NCAC)
3. (LW3; 2-0) Hope 19-3 13-2 (MIAA)
4. (LWNR; 2-0) Albion 16-5 12-3 (MIAA)
5. (LW6; 2-0) Penn State-Behrend 19-4 17-3 (AMCC)-tied with Lake Erie
6. (LW5; 2-0) Heidelberg 18-5 16-4 (OAC)

Dropping out:  Ohio Wesleyan-4th (1-1)

Middle Atlantic
1. (LW1; 2-0) Ursinus 22-2 19-1 (Centennial)
2. (LW2; 2-0) Gettysburg 19-3 17-2 (Centennial)
3. (LW3; 2-0) Widener 19-4 16-3 (MACC)
4. (LW5; 2-0) DeSales 19-4 16-3 (MACF)
5. (LW7; 1-0) York (Pa.) 17-6 17-5 (CAC)
6. (LW4; 0-2) Messiah 15-8 14-7 (MACC)
7. (LW8; 1-1) Moravian 18-6 17-6 (LAND)-tied with Juniata and Susquehanna
8. (LWNR; 2-0) Lycoming 15-8 13-7 (MACC)

*The MACC has 6 teams-Pool B conference.  LAND (Landmark) is also a Pool B conference.

Dropping out:  Albright-6th (0-2)

Midwest
1. (LW2; 2-0) Washington U. 18-4 15-3 (UAA)
2. (LW1; 1-1) Augustana 18-5 17-5 (CCIW)
3. (LW3; 2-0) Lawrence 18-2 16-2 (MWC)
4. (LW5; 2-0) Chicago 15-7 14-7 (UAA)
5. (LW6; 2-0) Illinois Wesleyan 15-8 14-6 (CCIW)
6. (LW4; 1-1) Wheaton (Ill.) 17-6 13-6 (CCIW)
7. (LWNR; 2-0) Elmhurst 17-6 16-6 (CCIW)
8. (LW7; 0-1) Carroll 14-6 13-6 (MWC)

Dropping out:  Webster-8th (2-0)

Northeast
1. (LW1; 1-0) Amherst 22-2 22-1 (NESCAC)
2. (LW2; 1-1) Mass-Dartmouth 21-2 21-2 (LEC) tied with RIC
3. (LW6; 2-0) Brandeis 18-4 17-4 (UAA)
4. (LW7; 2-0) Worcester Tech 18-5 17-4 (NEWMAC)
5. (LW8; 2-0) Rhode Island College 18-5 18-5 (LEC) tied with Mass-Dartmouth
6. (LW3, 1-1) Bowdoin 19-5 19-5 (NESCAC)
7. (LW4; 1-1) Trinity (Conn.) 18-6 16-5 (NESCAC)
8. (LW5; 1-1) Middlebury 18-6 17-5 (NESCAC)
9. (LW9; 2-0) Emerson 20-3 19-3 (GNAC) tied with Emmanuel
10. (LW10; 2-1) Bates 17-7 16-6 (NESCAC)

South
1. (LW1; 1-0) Centre 21-1 16-1 (SCAC)
2. *(LW2; 2-0) Mary Hardin-Baylor 20-3 18-2 (ASC)
3. (LW3; 3-0) Guilford 19-4 18-4 (ODAC)
4. (LW5; 2-0) Virginia Wesleyan 19-5 18-4 (ODAC)
5. (LW4; 1-0) Maryville (Tenn.) 21-2 15-2 (GSAC)
6. (LW6; 0-1) DePauw 18-5 15-4 (SCAC)
7. (LW7; 2-0) Millsaps 21-3 16-2 (SCAC)
8. (LW8; 1-1) Randolph-Macon 18-5 13-5 (ODAC)

*Mary Hardin-Baylor leads ASC-West

West
1. (LW6; 2-0) UW-Stevens Point 19-4 17-4 (WIAC) tied with Whitewater and Oshkosh
2. (LW2; 1-0) St. Thomas 20-3 18-2 (MIAC)
3. (LW1; 1-1) Occidental 19-3 12-2 (SCIAC) tied with Cal. Lutheran
4. (LW4; 1-1) UW-Whitewater 19-4 17-4 (WIAC) tied with Stevens Point and Oshkosh
5. (LW5; 2-0) Cal Lutheran 19-3 15-3 (SCIAC) tied with Occidental
6. (LW7; 1-0) Buena Vista 19-4 15-2 (IIAC)
7. (LW3; 0-2) UW-Platteville 17-6 15-5 (WIAC)
8. (LWNR; 1-0) UW-Oshkosh 17-6 14-5 (WIAC) tied with Stevens Point and Whitewater

Dropping out:  Loras-8th (1-0)

[knarocky22]

Congrats to Augie for their 3rd consecutive CCIW championship.  When was the last time that Augie swept IWU in the regular season series 3 years in a row?

Augie is pretty much a lock for the NCAA tourney now.  Hopefully another CCIW team can sneak in, although I think the only way that will happen is if someone knocks Augie off in the conference tourney.

I know Carver isn't the Shirk, but there are plenty of things to do in the quad cities besides watching CCIW tournament action.  Hopefully a lot of CCIW fans will make the trip to Rock Island for the conference tourney.

As an Augie fan I hope they win the conference tournament.  However, as a CCIW fan, I wouldn't be incredibly disappointed if Augie happened to lose in the conference tourney and the CCIW got 2 teams into the NCAA tournament.

[petemcb]

OK, for longer-range planning purposes, does anyone know how and when the first round or two of D3 tournament sites are chosen?  Are they pre-determined already and, if so, where are they?  I remember going to a great double-header at Aurora last year that included Hope and Calvin.  Packed house.  High energy.  Great time.

[Gregory Sager]

OK, for longer-range planning purposes, does anyone know how and when the first round or two of D3 tournament sites are chosen?

The selection committee will choose them on Selection Monday.

Are they pre-determined already?

No. We'll just have to wait until March 2 to find out where the nearest tourney games are being held.

I know Carver isn't the Shirk, but there are plenty of things to do in the quad cities besides watching CCIW tournament action.

You shouldn't be so defensive about your team, your gym, and your town. The CCIW tourney is Augustana's (and Rock Island's), fair and square, and if Veteran CCIW Fan or anybody else complains about it not being held at the Shirk, just give 'em a raspberry. Don't feel the need to make excuses on behalf of the Carver Center and Rock Island. To the victor goes the spoils.

[Titan Q]

Augustana 83
IWU 68

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/21/usports/doc47bd1d5a6bb4a594480680.txt

http://www.wjbc.com/wire2/podsports/00847_IWURonRose221WEB_002038.htm

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/mbasketball/stats/2007-08/08mbb24.htm


For the first time since the game at Elmhurst way back on January 19, the Titans seemed to be caught on their heels last night in Rock Island.  In IWU's 7-1 run since that loss at Elmhurst, the Titans have done a great job of coming out as the aggressor, and that just wasn't the case last night.  Augustana had all of the energy from the opening tip.

There is no question that Augie is not a good matchup for the Titans due to their size and athleticism down low and how well they defend the perimeter.  Elmhurst is huge, but the Bluejays don't guard the perimeter like the Vikings do...and while Wheaton has 6-8 Andy Wiele, the Thunder don't have much else in the way of big guys who make an impact on both ends of the floor.  Against Augustana, IWU - with 6-4 Darius Gant and 6-5 Brett Chamernik - really does not have a consistent inside game.  Then on defense, they really struggle to contain Swetalla, Collins, and Bertrand.  All of that said, IWU still had a chance to beat Augie at the Shirk Center (up 5 with the ball with 2:57 to play), so last night's performance was disappointing.

IWU's 2nd half defense was poor last night.  Here is a list of points given up by IWU in the 2nd half since the Jan. 19 game @ Elmhurst:

vs Wheaton 32
@ North Park 30
vs Augustana 36
vs Carthage 34
@ North Central 36
vs Elmhurst 41
vs Millkin 31
@ Wheaton 36
@ Augustana 49

Certainly Augie's offensive gameplan and execution vs IWU was very good, but the Titan D was just not what it was been for a month now.

Now, I guess the big picture is that back in December there is no way I could have envisioned being disappointed the Titans lost at Augustana. The Titans have clinched the #2 seed in the CCIW tournament and quite honestly, I wasn't sure this team could finish 6-8 coming into the year.  They have played very well the last month of the season and I'm confident they will regroup and make a run at the CCIW's automatic bid.

IWU's freshman point-guard was good last night - Travis Rosenkranz had 11 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists (and just 2 turnovers against defense designed to take the ball from him).  IWU's other starting rookie guard, Sean Johnson, has broken IWU's freshman 3-point record.  Johnson has now made 53 3's (Korey Coon 49 in 1996-97, Adam Dauksas 45 in 2002-03).  The Titans needs these two to really play well Saturday and then in the conference tournament.

[markerickson]

Greg is on target with his assessment of the NP v CC game.  NP used crisp passing and overall superior ball movement to generate open looks.  Timely dribble penetration from Stevens and Gordon led to "easy" buckets all night long.  Consequently, Carthage's D looked like a sieve.

Last night's program listed Steve D as the conference leader in APG, and his passing skills were on display last night.  During the NP v. Wheaton game, Raymond led the conference in assists, but as of last night he was not in the top two.

Thank you, Mr. Jay Alexander, Mr. Jason Gordon, and Mr. Ed Whitaker for your time, talents, and treasures.  Best wishes.

[Viking Blue]

Last night's NP-CC game was a double-edged sword. 

On the one hand, it WAS great to see the "energy" (again, how amazing that the energy looks good when the ball is going in the basket) from NP, and nice to see the seniors go out with a nice memory of a win in their last game.  Let's face it...for other seniors around the league, unless they win the tournament, their careers will end with a loss.

On the other hand, I think this game showed, once again, the ultimate problems that NP (and Carthage for that matter) have:  NO INSIDE PRESENCE.  NP shot 54% from behind the arc.  How often is that going to happen?  Not very often, according to their final conference record.  Carthage seems to be a very similar team to the Vikings, in that if Bowens and Fendley are shooting it well from behind the arc, they're tough to beat.  If they're not, they are an average team at best.

Oh, and the last thing that was nice to see...you could almost see a demon popping through Bosko's open collar last night and slapping him in the face.  How nice it must have been for him to see his old Vikings stick it to the Redmen TWICE this year.

One quote from him says it all.  As the game was coming to an end, he was standing directly in front of the table, and said, out loud (not sure to whom exactly),

"Am I missing something here?"

Priceless.

[augie22]

I read somewhere that "Carver is no Shirk Center."  I was wondering if we could compare the home court atvantages between all the CCIW teams of the past three years to see how important home court is tied along with the conference championship.

Also do we have all the records of the coaches in the CCIW since they took over a team and what their home and roads records are respectively???

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I read somewhere that "Carver is no Shirk Center."  I was wondering if we could compare the home court atvantages between all the CCIW teams of the past three years to see how important home court is tied along with the conference championship.

Also do we have all the records of the coaches in the CCIW since they took over a team and what their home and roads records are respectively???

This is a non-gloating zone....
This is a non-gloating zone....

DoS

[Viking Blue]

One more observation from last night:

This was my first opportunity to see Djurikovic play, and I certainly was impressed.  If you saw this kid walking down the street, you would be hard pressed to believe that he was good enough to dominate in a video game.  But his first step is as quick as any I have seen in a long time.

That being said, I have read several posts relating to his father's ranting and raving about every call (or non-call) relating to his son.  I wanted to see for myself before making a decision.

Man, the posters were right on.  Not that I can blame Bosko.  It's not difficult to pick out who a player's parents are in the stands by listening to their gripes at the officials.  Just so happens that this parent is the red-faced one on the sidelines.

And, much to the shagrin of Paul Brenegan, Bosko's incessant whining did pay off in several occasions, leading to less-than-touch fouls being whistled on NP defenders who were crazy enough to even dream of guarding the immortal freshman.

Just an observation....

[knarocky22]

How was the crowd support for Augie last night?  I would hope with the conference title on the line, Viking supporters would outnumber their Titan counterparts.

[mwunder]

One more observation from last night:

This was my first opportunity to see Djurikovic play, and I certainly was impressed.  If you saw this kid walking down the street, you would be hard pressed to believe that he was good enough to dominate in a video game.  But his first step is as quick as any I have seen in a long time.

That being said, I have read several posts relating to his father's ranting and raving about every call (or non-call) relating to his son.  I wanted to see for myself before making a decision.

Man, the posters were right on.  Not that I can blame Bosko.  It's not difficult to pick out who a player's parents are in the stands by listening to their gripes at the officials.  Just so happens that this parent is the red-faced one on the sidelines.

And, much to the shagrin of Paul Brenegan, Bosko's incessant whining did pay off in several occasions, leading to less-than-touch fouls being whistled on NP defenders who were crazy enough to even dream of guarding the immortal freshman.

Just an observation....

Don't all coaches complain every trip up and down the floor??  Bosko gets singled out because it's his son?  You're telling me that Raridon doesn't complain when his son doesn't get calls?  Perhaps it's because the ball is in Steve D's hand's so often that your perception is thrown off?

To that end...Steve is 8 made free throws from tying the single season Carthage record for Free Throws made.  Currently he sits at 182 made free throws and the record is 190.

He also has an outside shot at hitting the top 5 in single season scoring as well.  He's currently at 8th overall, but a 13 pt game pushes him into the top 5 at #5.  Not bad for a freshman....

[Viking Blue]

Don't all coaches complain every trip up and down the floor??  Bosko gets singled out because it's his son?  You're telling me that Raridon doesn't complain when his son doesn't get calls?  Perhaps it's because the ball is in Steve D's hand's so often that your perception is thrown off?

No.  I don't believe they do.  I am not a homer, and I believe several will back me up on this.  Paul Brenegan tends to be about as cool a cat as they come.  If he's voicing his disagreement, you know it's legit.

Please note, I also said I was extremely impressed with the kid.

[sac]

When a player has a first step as good as "little D's" he's going to get the defense out of position alot.  Consequently more fouls called.