MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Consider me even more blue--I was really looking forward to calling the game tonight at the Crackerbox, but my voice has mysteriously disappeared.

Nurse those golden pipes, TD. You'll need them when you have an actual student section to out-shout in the crackerbox. (Your stand-in Phil Staurseth did do a nice job of putting emotion into his P.A. calls.)

[Gregory Sager]

Sounds like Augie lost to the type of team that will continue to give them fits---Quick and penetrating---Can I have a mulligan on my conference predictions??? (sorry the name escapes my old brain)

I think that the name you used was "pygmies".

[Gregory Sager]

The first home game I've had to miss in several years, and the Chicago Vikings pull off a well-deserved victory!  (I hope that's not a cause-and-effect statement).

It better not be, Mr. B, because I don't want to have your scorekeeper gig on a permanent basis ... although you do have the best seat in the house.

(That reminds me of an interesting side note in light of the loss of Bruce Durham: Before the game, when he came over to the table to check out NPU's starting lineup, Augustana assistant coach Tom Jessee tapped his finger on Dan Oziminski's name in the book and said to me, "You guys have the right point guard in the lineup now." While I still don't know if I agree with that in light of Durham's long-term potential, Oziminski certainly proved Tom Jessee right last night. As NPC-Alum and Rob Berki said, Oz played exactly the sort of calm, cool, and collected game at the point that the host Vikings needed against a physically tough foe. He has great leadership potential, and as NPC-Alum said to me afterwards, "You can tell how much Oziminski's teammates like him. He is all about the team.")

[Gregory Sager]

How about Jeff Becker?---Did he play?---He was the leading scorer on the JV team last season and a very good shooter---With the shooting percentages that Q has mentioned, I'm surprised that he isn't seeing a lot of minutes

Becker didn't play for Augie last night.

I think that North Park's commitment to pack it inside - stick with their zone - and make Augie beat them from the outside (which they could not do) - and the fact that they did not panic when they went down by eight in the 2nd half was the difference.

With Jordan Delp out, I think Augustana is going to see a whole bunch of zone thrown at them.  It just seems like an obvious thing to try against them. 

The Vikings have just two starters now who are 3-point threats and neither is shooting a high %:

Brett Wessels: 14-48 (.292)
Matt Pelton: 6-22 (.273)

Last year Augie shot an incredible .440 from 3 on the season.  This year vs UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, and North Park - the best 3 teams they have played since Delp's injury - they are 16-54 (.296).

Based on Augie's 3-point struggles and their impressive size/strength (as noted by the NPU posters), it just seems logical to zone them.  (While that sounds good on paper, you still have to have the personnel and scheme to play the zone effectively.)

I wonder if at some point Augie will be tempted to start another 3-point threat (Avallone?) and bring Washington off the bench.

I like Mike Avallone. He's going to be a good one in this league. Aside from him, though, Augie doesn't have any perimeter shooters who really scare me. Alex Washington and Matt Pelton tossed up a number of really ugly-looking bricks from beyond the arc, and although his 4-12 night from three-point range shows that Brett Wessels can hit the trey, down the stretch he threw up some very questionable shots from downtown as well. In fact, his bad decision-making with his shooting in the last four minutes during NPU's 13-4 final run was symptomatic of last night's biggest surprise: In crunch time Augie faltered mentally as well as physically, while NPU really stepped it up in both categories -- the reverse for both teams of what have been their trademarks in recent seasons.

Several members of CCIW Chat's North Park commentariat have mentioned the zone that NPU played last night. While it was very effective -- and, I agree, Bob, that zone is a logical choice to employ against the Doggies -- North Park played a lot more man than zone. The collapsing double teams that so frustrated Dain Swetalla came off of man-to-man defenses -- which is why he tried several times to rifle a cross-court pass to the weak-side corner from the low post. And Jason Gordon, Dan Oziminski, Chris Brown, Joe Capalbo and (especially) Antonio Stevens did a magnificent job of sealing off any potential penetration attempts by the Augie guards in that man defense.

To me, the keys to last night's NPU win were:

1) Antonio Stevens' all-around game. He's not a flashy scorer like Nick Williams or a game-changing bomber like Capalbo or Gordon, but Tone is a phenomenally talented sophomore who can find ways to beat you at both ends of the floor. He was a huge thorn in Augie's side down the stretch with his drives to the hole and his defensive pressure.

2) Chandlor Collins' foul trouble -- two quick fouls in the first three-plus minutes of the game, followed by two quick fouls in the first two minutes of the second half. He only saw the floor for 15 minutes, and for most of those 15 minutes he was a defensive non-factor because he had to play with foul fouls. That really opened up the game for Williams and Jay Alexander.

3) Augie's inability to get anything working in the low post for Swetalla and Dan Rukavina for most of the game. As NPC-Alum said afterwards, for a team with so much height, beef, and ability inside, Augie's low-post advantage is somewhat neutralized by the fact that the Rock Islanders don't really do entry passes very well -- yet another area in which they really miss Drew Wessels.

4) Augie's inability to shoot well. As everyone from North Park has noted thus far, Augie couldn't open up the NPU defense because the poor outside shooting meant that the Park didn't have to play honest and loosen up the interior D.

5) Turnovers. North Park only turned the ball over ten times. The homestanding Vikings took care of the ball -- the visitors didn't.

6) The paint game. For all of Augie's size advantage, the Doggies only outboarded the Park by two (41-39), one apiece in the offensive and defensive departments, and the points in the paint were even. It erased the one aspect of the game that Augustana really should've dominated.

and

7) Mental toughness. Augie's had North Park's number during the Giovanine era because the physical way that Augie plays has invariably taken a mental toll on the NPU players, to the point where Augie's mastery of NPU became as much psychological as physical. But for all the hard hits, grabbing, and shoving going on last night (by both teams, incidentally), North Park never once backed down. And that's the most gratifying thing to see as a North Park fan -- this team showed a focus and tenacity against its most intimidating foe that leads me to believe that things might be different with this group of NPU players.

[Viking Blue]

Man---all that after just ONE GAME.  But I had a feeling it would be more than that.  The fear that I have, however, after reading Greg's comment about North Park standing up to the psychologically and physically tough standard set by Augie, is of the inevitable let down.  There's no doubt that a team of college athletes can, and should, get themselves excited to play a conference opener, at home, against the #5 team in the nation, which has devastated them in years past.

Can that level of intensity and toughness (sounds cliche, but true) really carry over night after night?  That's the sign of a good team....sustaining the effort.

Guess we'll see....

[Titan Q]

It looks like Millikin has returning starter Joscar Demby back now.  He played 22 minutes last night at Elmhurst, going 5-6 from the field, finishing with 13 points and 7 rebounds.  6-7 Demby was the most impressive young CCIW post player I saw last year...I think he has a chance to be a very good player.  His presence should really have an impact for the Big Blue.

The consensus here seems to be that Millikin is a lock for 8th place.  While I'm probably guilty of assuming that too based on MU's recent past and the coaching transition, I'll bet Millikin is better than we think.   The sophomore big guy trio of 6-8 Robert Rexroade, 6-7 Zach Ott, and 6-7 Joscar Demby has a lot of potential.  Junior transfer Tunde Ogunleye has become a big impact player for Millikin at the 3 --  he is averaging 16.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg.  Millikin is probably one stud guard away from being a dangerous team...maybe someone like, uh, Drew Gensler.  Right now their guard play is just so-so.  Looking towards 2009 and 2010, Millikin is very quietly positioned in pretty good shape.  Tim Littrell did not leave the cupboard bare.

North Park will have to come to play in Decatur Saturday.  I think that game could go either way.

[usee]

From the wheaton game I don't see wheaton playing the intense mtm defense they have been known for in the past. Carthage really spread them out in the first half and was beating wheaton with their first step creating open shots or easy layups. Bosko's kid made 2-3 3pt FG's in first half and a bunch of layups beating Raymond off the dribble.  The second half they played better defense  (as latenight noted) and carthage simply didn't make as many shots after they went up by 16 (where they made everything they threw up). Wheaton got back in this game by turning up the defensive pressure and creating opportunities. Panner was great on both ends of the floor and really was the key to this game.

If the Thunder give up 40 pts a half to most teams they won't win many games. they gave up 24 in the second half which is why they won.

[tjcummingsfan]

Man---all that after just ONE GAME.  But I had a feeling it would be more than that.  The fear that I have, however, after reading Greg's comment about North Park standing up to the psychologically and physically tough standard set by Augie, is of the inevitable let down.  There's no doubt that a team of college athletes can, and should, get themselves excited to play a conference opener, at home, against the #5 team in the nation, which has devastated them in years past.

Can that level of intensity and toughness (sounds cliche, but true) really carry over night after night?  That's the sign of a good team....sustaining the effort.

Guess we'll see....

I think , going from what Greg talked about, the mental toughness NP showed throughout the game, is the mark of a much improved team (if only in that capacity).  Someone else has given the facts before, but North Park lost a great deal of close games (1-5pts) last year.  The fact that they were able to pull out a close game, against a team like Augie shows huge strides in their mental toughness.  At Millikin Saturday will no doubt be another huge test.  Starting off 2-0 would be a nice feat.  But for now I'm pumped knowing we knocked off the #5 team in the nation, and the preseason conference #1 to start the conference season 1-0.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It looks like Millikin has returning starter Joscar Demby back now.  He played 22 minutes last night at Elmhurst, going 5-6 from the field, finishing with 13 points and 7 rebounds.  6-7 Demby was the most impressive young CCIW post player I saw last year...I think he has a chance to be a very good player.  His presence should really have an impact for the Big Blue.

The consensus here seems to be that Millikin is a lock for 8th place.  While I'm probably guilty of assuming that too based on MU's recent past and the coaching transition, I'll bet Millikin is better than we think.   The sophomore big guy trio of 6-8 Robert Rexroade, 6-7 Zach Ott, and 6-7 Joscar Demby has a lot of potential.  Junior transfer Tunde Ogunleye has become a big impact player for Millikin at the 3 --  he is averaging 16.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg.  Millikin is probably one stud guard away from being a dangerous team...maybe someone like, uh, Drew Gensler.  Right now their guard play is just so-so.  Looking towards 2009 and 2010, Millikin is very quietly positioned in pretty good shape.  Tim Littrell did not leave the cupboard bare.

North Park will have to come to play in Decatur Saturday.  I think that game could go either way.

Q, I'd have to agree that Millikin is NOT a last place team, EXCEPT who do you see in their place?  We'd probably all agree that Augie, Elmhurst, or Wheaton will not finish last.  You've already ruled out the Titans for that spot (and I agree) - both history (until last year they had never finished below 5th) and potential (already 1-0, with those freshmen they are likely to become more dangerous, not less).  I'd have a hard time betting on Carthage finishing last, with Bosko pere et fils.  North Park just knocked off Augie.  That leaves NCC - IF Drennan never returns to form, maybe, but even then I doubt it.

By looking at the alternatives, I conclude that Millikin will finish last, but they will almost certainly be the best last place team in the country!   The CCIW may not have a Final Four team this year, but they are STILL in the running for best top to bottom league around.

[Titan Q]

Quotes from the Wheaton/Carthage game...

Quoting Carthage Coach Bosko Djurickovic on the Jan. 9 Wheaton (Ill.) Loss:  "It was a terribly frustrating and disappointing second half.  For 28 minutes, we could have not played better, and we put ourselves in a position to win a nice conference game on the road.  Over the last 12 minutes, Wheaton made some shots they probably shouldn't have made, but I don't want to make excuses.  We have to go back to work, and we have to do a better job of creating shots for each other.  We're playing four small guys in the lineup, and we have to do a better job of getting to the free-throw line.  A win Saturday night over Illinois Wesleyan, and we're in pretty good shape.  We know we're as good as any team in the league, but we have to prove that over 40 minutes." 

Quoting Wheaton Coach Bill Harris:   "The last 15 minutes of the game was determined by our half-court defense.  Carthage blew us away in the first five minutes of the second half.  After that, it was just a long battle back.  We hit some huge shots and finally got our offense into a rhythm. 

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/basketball/release.html


Here is the Pantagraph story on IWU vs NCC...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/01/09/usports/doc4785ab129f5fa252152050.txt

[mr_b]

The first home game I've had to miss in several years, and the Chicago Vikings pull off a well-deserved victory!  (I hope that's not a cause-and-effect statement).

It better not be, Mr. B, because I don't want to have your scorekeeper gig on a permanent basis ... although you do have the best seat in the house.

Usually, but not always... I often get screened out of a play by a ref or the visiting coach if he walks around a lot.

[Goo 62]

All this talk about CCIW and nothing said about how good the bluejays are playing.  One loss to a very good osh kosh team at the buzzer.  The bluejays are the team to beat in the CCIW and will prove it Saturday.  Burks and Ruch are unstoppable.  They are going to dominate the CCIW and have already started with Milikin.

[iwumichigander]

All this talk about CCIW and nothing said about how good the bluejays are playing.  One loss to a very good osh kosh team at the buzzer.  The bluejays are the team to beat in the CCIW and will prove it Saturday.  Burks and Ruch are unstoppable.  They are going to dominate the CCIW and have already started with Milikin.

If nothing is being said then maybe it is the lack of Bluejay posters?  It's tough to see Elmhurst as the team to beat in the CCIW when the combined record of its non-conference opponents is 48-75 (.390); and, when you take out Oshkosh and Hope W-L, the combined records of the Bluejays' remaining non-conf opponents is 29-70 (.293) [0-15 against CCIW] nothing many posters will get really excited about unless the topic is who played the most popcorn teams in non-conference.

Burks and Ruch are obviously stoppable, or at least containable, given last years 10-4 CCIW finish. As posters have noted there is a concern about the guard play.  A win in Rock Island might change the mind of a few but I don't see anybody getting trampled trying to get on the Elmhurst bandwagon even with a win.  A loss? ....

[79jaybird]

I wouldn't say Elmhurst is THE team to beat, however I would say Elmhurst is one of the top 3 teams to beat with Wheaton and Augustana up there also.  There is a still a ton of time left in the CCIW season (we have only played 1 game), plus injuries, fatigue, and good night/bad night intangible factors in.
IMO, the only team that really played a dynamic schedule was Augie, loaded with some top teams in the nation. 
Like last year, I don't think any team is going to run the table.  I think a 2-3 loss team will win the conference, but I don't see anybody going 14-0 or 13-1.\

Goo62, there aren't too many pro-Elmhurst posters on either the d3hoops or d3football boards.  The support on the boards is down, however I was inspired by the turnout at the Millikin game.  Granted it is (what Elmhurst calls) J-Term, which is the interim term between 1st and 2nd semesters, and the EC side was packed. 

[robberki]

not sure if Augie is a team to beat in the conference anymore, North Park appears to be better team. Of course, I could be wrong...