MBB: Northwest Conference

[David Collinge]

UPS beat Penn St.-Behrend 98-83 tonight at CalTech.  I'm not anxious to draw conclusions based on one game, far from home, against a mediocre opponent,  but UPS wasn't very impressive tonight.  Their defense was intense and kept Behrend off-balance most of the night, but the offense was ragged.  It's possible that they were taking this trip lightly, so I'll reserve the benefit of the doubt.  But if I'm Illinois Wesleyan (and I'm NOT  ), I'm not too scared at this point.

[Loggerville]

but UPS wasn't very impressive tonight.  Their defense was intense and kept Behrend off-balance most of the night, but the offense was ragged.

Dave, sounds like you saw UPS basketball as it has become as of late – controlled ciaos.  Defensive pressure is their hallmark, so if that was there last night - as you indicate - I wouldn't worry too much about the offensive.  If the team can put up 98 and have three scorers over 18 on a night the offense looked "ragged" then Logger fans will take it.  Coming off a flight, finals week that ended Dec. 15th, and just over two weeks since the last game I wouldn't have expected a world beating effort last night.  Should get one tonight as well and then see how the game against UC Riverside goes on the 21st.

Titan Q, thanks for the update on the schedule/travel.  They have had some good trips and success as well; looking forward to their trip West this year.

[1992]

Has anyone seen Pacific play?  I know about Kawazzoe, but do they have anyone else?

Lowery has them at 6-3 with their only losses being to UPS and Southern Oregon twice, and it looks like they played them well in Ashland the second time. 

[Loggerville]

Loggers rally from 13 def. at half to drop UC-Riverside 115-111.  Anyone know the last NWC win over a D1 team?   

[blackhawks4]

WOW! Watch out when you come to Cali Illinois Wesleyan, the Loggers seem comfortable down there! 115-111 over D1 UC Riverside

[Pat Coleman]

Illinois Wesleyan is significantly better than UC Riverside.

Congratulations to Puget Sound, however. We love any D-III win.

[Titan Q]

Congrats, Loggers!  Looking forward to the big game in Santa Barbara! 

Here is what I posted on CCIW Chat this morning...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the second time this season IWU will face a team recently after a D1 win.  On 11/23 NAIA D1 St. Xavier defeated Illinois-Chicago 74-73.  IWU defeated the Cougars 81-61 on 11/28. 

Now, before we make too much of the Puget Sound win over UC Riverside, let's realize that Riverside is now 0-8.  Their losses are...

@ Washington St 55-86
@ U. of Portland 74-92
@ USC 48=81
@ San Diego 67-94
vs Eastern Washington 70-85
vs Montana 67-77
vs Puget Sound 111-115

Recently on the Top 25 board I stated that I think IWU fits in in the 150's of the Sagarin rating, near Illinois State...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkt0506.htm

UC Riverside is #328 in the Sagarin with only 6 teams in all of D1 listed below - Liberty, North Florida, N.C. A&T, Morehead St, Morgan St, Savannah St.

Regardless, the PS win over a D1 was big and it sets up a big neutral court game in Santa Barbara.  How stupid is it that according to the NCAA, the #1 IWU vs #5 Puget Sound game is basically a non-factor (not an in-region game)?!

[briefcase]

Congrats to the UPS team on beating a D1! However, quite a challenge ahead, can't wait to see another big win.

[veterancciwfan]

We seldom get to see any NWC teams play in the Midwest. The last one the CCIW fans saw was Lewis & Clark in the 2001 D3 sectional held at U. of Chicago in which 2 CCIW teams, Elmhurst and IWU, participated. Lewis and Clark stayed with the U. of C. (their best team ever) and sort of self-destruced in the 2nd half with terrible shot selection decisions and several unforced tournovers. I know the D3 fans from Illinois were very suprised at the marked difference in the style of play. L&C had a tall blond guard who played with a headband who liked to pop 26-28' jump shots and his coach seemed to encourage it. It was sort a "first guy down the floor with an open shot pulls the trigger" offensive approach. As I recall, L&C had some athletic players on that 2000/2001 team. Could you fill me in on how the current UPS team compares with that 00/01 L&C team (I realize I'm talking 5 years ago).

There is tremendous interest among IL D3 hoops fans over the Dec. 29 matchup. This might be one of the best D3 games in terms of pre-game hype all of the 05/06 season. Unfortunately, due the distance, there will be few IWU fans at Westmont, unlike most road games IWU plays. In the CCIW, IWU routinely draws the biggest road crowd of the year for an opponent, with 50-75% of the fans wearing green. The same scenario plays out for nonconference road games the Titans play. IWU played Wash U. on 12/10/05 in St. Louis where 300 fans typically show up. The attendance was about 1400 with at least 800 IWU fans.

Congratulations on the big UPS win over Riverside. But I agree with Pat: IWU is a better team than Riverside.

[piofan]

Veterncciwfan-

I can give a little here, but some other guys posting will have a lot better idea of how UPS is now....the guard you are referring to is Scott Davis.  He was probably one of the best to ever play in the NW.  I know since I was part of the group that he replaced.  The Coach did give him a green light for almost anything.  He was a 4 time 1st Team selection.  For the others to help me also (havent seen UPS play yet either but real curious), LC had Davis, Oriard, Meitus and Speier that year.  Who do these guys compare to on the UPS squad now? 

Is McVey similar to Oriard or Speier? 
Is Curtiss a player similar to Davis?

But from my experiences past and present, the teams in the west seem to be more uptempo oriented (on the whole).  My experience with the midwest teams are limited but this includes the NAIA teams from the past I have seen.   

Some of the guys who see the games on a regular basis can help us both on this.....

[blackhawks4]

UPS will press all 40 minutes. They look to score quickly and probably won't be passing up too many shots.  They will play harder than any team you've ever seen.

Zack McVey will be the strongest and most athletic player on the court.  There are two concerns with him.  First if  he can stay out of foul trouble.  Second, if he can get touches.  When he touches the ball good things happen everytime (62% from the floor).

Chase Curtiss is not flashy, but he makes UPS go.  He does so many things other than score.  He may go 0-20 or 20-20.  Whether they're dropping or not he's their most valuable player in all aspects.  And if the game's on the line and he has the ball IWU is in trouble.

They also have a great supporting cast and talented freshmen.  They are young though, and an experienced composed team that can tolerate the pressure may give them trouble.

[Titan Q]

The battle of the Zach's should be great.  IWU's 6-7/210 junior center Zach Freeman is one of the best big guys in the Midwest.  He has amazing hops, good touch around the hoop, and can knock down the 18 foot jumpshot.  Freeman is averaging 16.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and shooting .582 from the field. 

http://www.iwuhoops.com/zf.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/utdz.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/wabz.jpg


Zack McVey is listed at 6-6/215 with numbers that are very close - 14.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .667 FG%.  This should be a matchup of two really good Division III post players.

IWU is led by two D3hoops.com preseason 1st Team All-Americans, 6-3 senior point-guard #22 Adam Dauksas (13.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 7.6 apg) and 6-6 wing #32 Keelan Amelianovich (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg.)  Keelan is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation...26-49 (.531) so far this year after connecting on 67-147 (.456) as a junior...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/adka.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/illiniad.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/ka.jpg


The heart and soul of IWU's team defensively is the identical twin combo of Chris (#34) and Cory Jones (#42).  6-6, extremely athletic, and very strong.  Cory (a starter) and Chris (the 6th man) are role players who do all of the dirty work, but can also score around the hoop and up to about 15 feet...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/illinich.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/utdcojo.jpg

IWU's starting 2-guard is #20, Jason Fisher - another very strong and athletic player who at 6-2 won the state of Illinois slam dunk contest as a senior at Delavan H.S. over a lot D1/some now NBA guys from the big schools.  Jason is backed up by 6-3 Mike McGraw.  Both are very good 3-point shooters, although Jason is off to a slow start from beyond the arc this season.

http://www.iwuhoops.com/wabjf.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/utdmcg2.jpg

#40, 6-6 Steve Schweer, is another "dirty work" guy.  Comes in to play good defense and rebound...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/illiniss.jpg



That's your IWU scouting report.  This should be a fun game - looking forward to it, and some weather that is much better than this crap!

[Titan Q]

And some matchup/stat info on the Tom Byron field...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/PREVIEWS.HTM

[iwumichigander]

Tonight's IWU v UPS contest will be really interesting.

Over the past four years, opponents of IWU have typically try to slow down the game tempo and play a half-court offense.  UPS fast tempo will be more to the Titans liking than not.  With outstanding ball handlers led by All-American Adam Dauksas and strong big men, I really do not see the UPS press or doubling down under the bucket being a major problem. 

[big_al]

59-38 IWU at half.

Sounds like the UPS up tempo game is working against them. Wonder how they might change it up, or if they can and still come back. It's thier run and gun style that has allowed them to make many of the comebacks they are known for.