MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Looks like I am going to get to see a Sectional at Wash U next weekend.

[iwumichigander]

Looks like I am going to get to see a Sectional at Wash U next weekend.

That would be my guess; and, I think Wheaton has a decent chance of coming out of their bracket - if they can get past Hope which will be an interesting contest.

Oh my, was Mr. Raymond special tonight!

[Jim Matson]

Congrats to Coach Harris for leading his team through 2 great games!

[usee]

I think Q said it about the beginning of the conference season.....there are no really strong top teams so alot of good teams can make a run in the post season. Congrats to the CCIW's #3 team making the sweet sixteen and proving what a tough conference we have. Augie could have easily advanced in a "toss up" game but I find it ironic the Bill "Lazarus" Harris has his team 2 wins from a final 4. I have a Joe Bean feeling coming on.......If wheaton makes it to the final 4 I bet Harris calls it quits along with K-Ray. On the other hand, If wheaton bows out this weekend in a tight game it may just spark K-Ray to play Lazarus and return next year to see if he can lead the Thunder and Coach Bill deeper into the tourney (If they can survive what will be a brutal CCIW slate). Just a thought.

[Hugenerd]

This is a bit unrelated to the teams themselves, but I thought I should give credit where it is due.  I have listened to many games online over the past few years, and I found Augie's announcers to be far superior to any that I can remember off hand.  They clearly were in favor of the home team (as they should be), but they werent overly fanatical, they were fair with their assessments and commentary, and, what is most key for radio, they updated the score and time remaining often (I always felt like I knew what was going on, which is rarely the case when listening to games on the radio).  Great job,  I hope there is reason for me to listen to more Augie games in the future.

[Mugsy]

Congrats to Wheaton on a very exciting weekend.

Yes, Wheaton received an unexpected break to even make the tourney, yes Wheaton has one superstar, 2 other solid players and little depth.  

But I believe that is why they call it "March Madness".  I believe that is why so many people just love NCAA basketball.  Because of the unexpected.  Unexpected teams, teams with lesser talent, suddenly catch fire and make the best of the situation.

I was going to post something that almost sounded apologetic that Wheaton made it to the Sweet 16, especially since perusing the various boards you will find "I'm amazed they even made the tournament", "they are a one man show", "they have little depth", etc...  for the most part I can not dispute or deny any of this.

Fact is they are still in the tourney (and their experience playing in a tough conference played a critical part).  

Raymond is only averaging 30+ pts a game over the past 5-6 games, Wiele averaged 20pts and 13 boards this week end.  Panner averaged over 15 pts.  In each game Wheaton had another player or 2 step in and make the plays when needed - Jahns did so tonight.

It isn't always pretty and they aren't the complete team that often represents the CCIW.  But it is "March Madness" and anything can happen.  It seems all the more true this year given the parity and the number of top ranked teams already out of the field.  At this point I wouldn't be surprised at what could happen next week.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Mugsy, very nice post - +k!  Next up is Whitworth - the Thunder should actually be favored (uh, oh! ); if they survive, they face either Hope or OWU - both known to be beatable by CCIW teams.  I think they genuinely have a shot at Salem!

Which this Titan would love to see - we whupped a Final Four team 3 times!

[Mugsy]

Reading my previous post...

I guess it does almost sound apologetic, though I didn't mean it too.    

I felt torn as if I almost needed to defend Wheaton.  Then I realized:

1. I'm not the one to do it.
2. They are a good, solid team (with some weaknesses, but how many D3  teams do not have weaknesses?)
3. They are executing when they need to and making the best of the opportunity they have been given.
4. It is the NCAA tournament and anything can happen.

[Mugsy]

Ok... that sounded apologetic too?   

Time for me to sign off and go back to the CCIW Football post.

[nwhoops1903]

Mugsy, very nice post - +k!  Next up is Whitworth - the Thunder should actually be favored (uh, oh! ); if they survive, they face either Hope or OWU - both known to be beatable by CCIW teams.  I think they genuinely have a shot at Salem!

Which this Titan would love to see - we whupped a Final Four team 3 times!

Uh, oh is right.  I would love for my Pirates to have the underdog tag in this game. Any truth to the idea that Hope won't host because of their womens team hosting (conflict)?  Or is the fact that Hope is hosting the womens final 4 going to work against their girls in the sweet 16?

[duhawkdanran]

Congrats to Wheaton. They just found a way to win and #10 came out of nowhere. I'm glad I got to see Raymond play 3 times this year, he is a real treat to watch.

Good luck the rest of the way. I know I'll be rooting for the underdog!

[Titan Q]

This is a bit unrelated to the teams themselves, but I thought I should give credit where it is due.  I have listened to many games online over the past few years, and I found Augie's announcers to be far superior to any that I can remember off hand.  They clearly were in favor of the home team (as they should be), but they werent overly fanatical, they were fair with their assessments and commentary, and, what is most key for radio, they updated the score and time remaining often (I always felt like I knew what was going on, which is rarely the case when listening to games on the radio).  Great job,  I hope there is reason for me to listen to more Augie games in the future.

Augie's webcast duo of Chris Ford (play-by-play) and Dan Sand (color) is the most objective and balanced hometown broadcast team I have heard in these many years of listening to D3 games online.  They are a pleasure to listen to.

[Titan Q]

Well Titan, you were right. The Wheaton announcer is every bit as bad as Hope's. I don't have enough objectivity to compare, but there's a lot of whining going on!

The Wheaton play-by-play student-broadcaster does a lot of things well (I think he has a great voice, follows the action very well, and paints a good picture), but he has to stop screaming on every play.  A shot with 18:00 to play in the first half is:

"ANDREW JAHNS FOR 3!!!!!  GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!"   

It just wears on the listener for an hour and a half of the broadcast.  There are many spots is every game that call for voice inflection, but when you do it every single play, it just doesn't work. 

And yes, there is too much complaining about calls (or lack of calls), but that is going to happen with most student broadcast teams.  Last night the color guy blaimed an Andy Wiele airball free throw in the 2nd half on the fact that Wheaton had only been to the line 4 times (so the Thunder obviously weren't fresh from the line).

[Titan Q]

Reading my previous post...

I guess it does almost sound apologetic, though I didn't mean it too.    

I felt torn as if I almost needed to defend Wheaton.  Then I realized:

1. I'm not the one to do it.
2. They are a good, solid team (with some weaknesses, but how many D3  teams do not have weaknesses?)
3. They are executing when they need to and making the best of the opportunity they have been given.
4. It is the NCAA tournament and anything can happen.

Mugsy, I am a fan of a program that has been to Salem 3 times as an at-large team ('96, '01, '06).  Never apologize for what happens in March!

[matblake]

Any truth to the idea that Hope won't host because of their womens team hosting (conflict)?  Or is the fact that Hope is hosting the womens final 4 going to work against their girls in the sweet 16?

I couldn't find any information in the NCAA handbook on determining where the site would be, only that one of the sectional competitors host, but I also only performed a cursory look.  Albeit a little biased (rightfully so), the MIAA board has some good arguments on why Hope would likely be hosting. However, maybe you should chant "2004" over and over for the remainder of the day if you want Whitworth to host.  See below:

I can't imagine even the NCAA would send everyone out to Spokane. Wheaton would seem most likely if it's not Hope - close to an airport, more centrally located. Raymond had 36 tonight and is carrying the Thunder right now. With Wiele back, they won't be an easy victory, first meeting notwithstanding. Of course, we have to get by a hot OWU team first.

They did it in 2004 with Stevens Point, Lawrence and Sul Ross State.  They all went to Puget Sound.