MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[buf]

Wheaton is in

[Greek Tragedy]

@ Augie

Augie v Aurora
Wash U v Wooster

Wow.

[jagluski]

@ Augie

Augie v Aurora
Wash U v Wooster

Wow.

I just posted the same thing on the Pool C board.  That's one strong regional.  And I don't think I can say anything about it besides Wow. 

[mwunder]

I studied the sonogram when Betrand's mom was pregnant, and I could tell he would have skills.

I saw both his mom and dad play in high school and knew that if they ever got together their kid would be a stud basketball player.  Tall, too.

This may be true, but you didn't post it on the board prior to today...at least mine was relevant in that I posted commentary to that end...and was dead on after all was said and done.

[mwunder]

One guy who impressed me off of Augie's bench was Justin Bertrand.  High energy, physical, athletic.

I called Mr. Bertrand after seeing him against Carthage earlier in the year.  Glad to see him come up big in the CCIW tourney championship game!

Hate to one up you---But I will---I was calling for more Bertrand after the NIU scrimmage in November (page 770)---Sometimes, all it takes is a little opportunity

I don't think it's one-upping me at all.  You saw him play before I did.  I can't help that.

Our first impressions were both correct.  But, if you feel the need to call it a "one-up", that's fine with me.

[devildog29]

Congrats to Wheaton getting the Pool C.  Being a team the Titans swept 3 games from this year, it sure is disappointing looking back on a couple of those overtime losses and games we could have won earlier in the year.  Just 2 or 3 of those games makes all the difference of getting in the dance or going home.  

Good luck to Wheaton and Augie.

[andrewmp]

Wheaton is in

I see this, and I see on the d3hoops website that Wheaton is in.
How?!?!  I was sure that Wheaton was dead after their third loss to IWU.  Can anyone help out with that?  Could their wins against Augustana and Chicago (now the UAA Champ) , and Loras (another tournament participant) be what pushed them over?  I don't see any other explanation for this.  Can some more familiar with the process chime in? 
I am really excited, but somehow feel like Wheaton didn't "earn it." 

[LU_nut]

Andrew:

I think the strength of schedule against regionally ranked teams makes a big difference.    That is the only explanation I can come up with.   Lawrence, who will be playing Wheaton, has a better record and a much high OWP than Whitewater, but has to play at Whitewater.   I think the difference was that Whitewater won more games against regionally ranked opponents..........having a greater opportunity given the conference they are in.

LU Nut

[Titan Q]

I don't really understand how the process played out, and how Wheaton obviously ended up ranked higher in the Midwest region final poll than IWU (based on IWU's 3-0 vs Wheaton and IWU's better OWP), but I am happy for Wheaton and glad to see a second CCIW team in.

Good luck to Wheaton and Augustana.

[andrewmp]

LU Nut or anyone else with knowledge
How do Lawrence and Wheaton compare?  I don't know much about Lawrence, beyond who they played. 
My concerns would be if they have a strong offensive post presence (Wheaton can handle one, but not two, see Elmhurst and North Central), and if they are really physical on defense (seems to me one of the keys as to how IWU was able to beat Wheaton three times this year, and seemed to be the case up at Hope).
Questions for Lawrence fans and those who know the team:
How will you handle Raymond?  Have you faced a player like him this year?  Where do you see your strengths, and what would you be concerned about from Wheaton?

PS - I feel like an idiot because I posted new subjects, not knowing that it would place them elsewhere after my original log in timed out.  I meant it to be only on this board, and not on its own.  Is there a way to get them off the other places?

[Mugsy]

Not sure how Wheaton got in this year, though I can't say I'm too disappointed given they were royally hosed a few years back.  I guess it evens out in the end?  Not sure Cal-Lutheran (or IWU) see it this way right now.

I'm hopeful they will represent the CCIW well.

[Greek Tragedy]

Though Cal. Lutheran had a better record, Wheaton, off the top of my head, probably had a better record against regionally ranked teams (Cal. Lutheran beat Stevens Point but lost to Oxy twice).  Wheaton also has huge advantage in opponents winning % and also a slight advantage in opponents' opponent's winning %...among other things.

Wheaton only had to have Washington U come off the board before "sitting" at the Pool C table, while Cal. Lutheran had to go through Stevens Point, Occidental and Buena Vista before they got their place at the table...and I'm sure Washington U. went off the board pretty fast.


Midwest Region
1. Augustana  20-5  19-5 .575 .555 (CCIW):  Def. Elmhurst 69-68 OT in CCIW semis; def. Illinois Wesleyan 71-60 in CCIW final
POOL C 2. Washington U.  19-5  16-4 .647 .565 (UAA):  LOST at Chicago 74-66
3. Lawrence  20-2  18-2 .555 .515 (MWC):  Def St. Norbert 59-58 in MWC semis; def. Carroll 98-95 OT in MWC final
POOL C 4. Wheaton (Ill.)  19-6  15-6 .577 .549 (CCIW):  LOST Illinois Wesleyan 81-78 in CCIW semis at Augustana.
5. Chicago  17-7  16-7 .605 .568 (UAA):  def. Washington U. 74-66
6. Elmhurst  18-7  17-7 .505 .537 (CCIW): LOST at Augustana 69-68 OT in CCIW semis.
POOL B 7. Aurora  20-5  18-5 .465 .496 (NathCon):  Def. Benedictine 96-75 in NathCon quarters; def. MSOE 89-64 in NathCon semis; LOST to Lakeland 82-77 OT in NathCon final (POOL B CANDIDATE)
8. Webster  19-5  17-5 .492 .481 (SLIAC): Def. Westminster (Mo.) 62-40; LOST to Maryville (Mo.) 76-73 in SLIAC semis.

West Region
1. UW-Whitewater  21-4  19-4 .492 .540 (WIAC):  Def. Stout 78-67 in WIAC quarters; Def. Superior 77-73 OT in WIAC semis; def. Stevens Point 75-71 in WIAC final
2. St. Thomas  21-4  19-3 .499 .522 (MIAC):  Def. Bethel 69-68  in MIAC semis; def. Gustavus Adolphus 76-73 in MIAC final
POOL C 3. Occidental  20-4  13-3 .531 .527 (SCIAC):  Def. La Verne 67-57; LOST Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 66-62 in SCIAC semis.
POOL C 4. UW-Stevens Point  20-5  18-5 .575 .525 (WIAC):  Def. La Crosse 74-66 OT in WIAC quarters; def. Eau Claire 88-65 in WIAC semis; LOST at Whitewater 75-71 in WIAC final
POOL C 5. Buena Vista  20-5  16-3 .496 .528 (IIAC):  Def. Dubuque 91-86 in IIAC semis; LOST to Loras77-69 in IIAC final.
6. Cal Lutheran  20-4  16-4 .498 .529 (SCIAC):  Def. Ponoma-Pitzer 70-51; LOST to Pomona-Pitzer 54-44 in SCIAC semis.
7. UW-Platteville  19-6  17-5 .526 .535 (WIAC):  LOST to Eau Claire 84-80 in WIAC quarters.
8. Loras  19-6  16-4 .518 .535 Def. Coe in 82-64 IIAC semis; def. Buena Vista 77-69 in IIAC final

[mactitan]

Congratulations to the Thunder.  I hope they represent the CCIW well.  Is it possible that IWU's late season loss to North Park cost them a Pool C bid?

And how about Augustana's bracket?  I know they don't pay attention to national rankings, but how do two top 10 teams play against each other in the round of 32?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Congratulations to the Thunder.  I hope they represent the CCIW well.  Is it possible that IWU's late season loss to North Park cost them a Pool C bid?

And how about Augustana's bracket?  I know they don't pay attention to national rankings, but how do two top 10 teams play against each other in the round of 32?

Second thought first: a way-too-early matchup of top 10 teams happens every year - nothing unusual there, alas.

Since the selection committee doesn't care when results occurred, you could equally point to ANY of the Titan losses as the culprit.  But, yeah, without that loss they might be dancing.

With IWU going 3-0 over Wheaton, and a top 10 OWP, I still can't understand how the Thunder got in ahead of the Titans (I didn't think either would get selected).  Nevertheless, sincere congratulations to the Thunder - represent the CCIW well!

[sac]

It would probably be the right assumption, that IWU was not ranked in the final invisible Midwest Poll, thus Wheaton's 0-3 mark vs IWU was not a factor in the Pool C process.