MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Ed McGhee was interviewed by Dave McHugh on Hoopsville this evening. The interview starts at the 19:00 mark.

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan 79
North Park 59

Kolden Vanlandingham: 18 pts, 9 rebs, 6:0 a:to, 4 stls
Marquis Vance: 10 pts, 9 rebs
Mike Vuckovic: 10 pts

Mason Funk: 24 pts, 10 rebs
Karlo Colak: 15 pts, 7 rebs
Casen Lawrence: 15 pts (5-8 trey)
Noah Cleveland: 12 pts, 10 rebs, 4 blks

North Park played the worst half of its season in the opening stanza. It's not a coincidence that Illinois Wesleyan likewise played what's probably its best half of the season in that same half. NPU looked too scared by the length of the Titans to go into the paint, and as a result their offense never got started, while at the other end of the floor they were late on closeouts and the Titans made them pay for it. They were down by as much as 25 in the first half, and trailed by 20 at the intermission.

Still behind by 21 with under a dozen minutes to go, the Vikings finally got the run started that everyone was waiting for them to showcase, cutting the deficit to 11 with multiple chances to get it into single digits. Two problems with that run, though: One, Kolden Vanlandingham was doing all of the heavy lifting with little support. Two, the Vikings couldn't hit a shot from deep to save their lives. NPU attempted more than half of its field goal attempts from beyond the arc, and shot a hideous 5-29 (.172) from there. You're not going to come back against Maranatha Baptist shooting like that, let alone a ranked team in its own gym. The Vikings had to start gambling all over the floor, and the Titans with their trademark efficiency took what was given to them and built the lead back up.

The Vikings are a much better team than they looked today, but they fell flat on their faces with a lot of eyes on them, what with IWU being ranked and the Vikings knocking on the door of the Top 25. They need to put this game out of their minds immediately, however, because on Wednesday they're going to have just as stern as test as the one they had today, as they travel north to Tarble to take on league-leading Carthage.

[Gregory Sager]

Wow. Two buzzer-beaters today! Michael McNabb dropped in a putback off an Evan Bland miss to enable Carroll to top Millikin, 67-65, at Van Male, and Wheaton's Soren Richardson hit a trey off of a Carson Grier offensive rebound and kickout to drop North Central in the hangar, 72-71, a game in which Wheaton had the lead for only 46 seconds.

Elmhurst had a fairly easy time of it in beating Augie at Faganel, 77-64.

[iwu70]

Greg has covered it well.  I need not repeat.  IWU over NPU 79-59, holding the Vikings 30 points below their per game average. 

NPU at 32%, 17% from three/ and 73% from the line.
IWU at 49%, 46% from three/ and 65% from the line.

Lawrence is hitting his threes and playing much better defense.

Mason Funk continues to amaze defensively and with his intermediate range game off the dribble. 
Niego always key to a win like this, 3:1 ATO and running the show most of the night.

Vanlandingham had a great game, (see Greg, I can spell it!), but as Greg said, not enough around him to really challenge IWU in this one. 

A good win, IWU to 12-3, 4-2.

'70

[iwu70]

Get to 78, win the game. . .

'70

[GusD]

Wow. Two buzzer-beaters today! Michael McNabb dropped in a putback off an Evan Bland miss to enable Carroll to top Millikin, 67-65, at Van Male, and Wheaton's Soren Richardson hit a trey off of a Carson Grier offensive rebound and kickout to drop North Central in the hangar, 72-71, a game in which Wheaton had the lead for only 46 seconds.

With the way NCC lost last night it almost seems like the Gods are against them his season.
The loss ruined a great game by the Cards James Bullock Jr. who hit 9 of 15 shots for 22 points, pulled down 8 rebounds, and had 2 steals and 6 blocks.

[Jbothe]

It is the time of the year that teams are starting to separate themselves during the conference season. 

Everyone is chipper when they enter the new year with a winning record.  But the real tests occur every Wednesday and Saturday now.

Wesleyan is going to be hard to beat from here on out.  Carthage looks to be playing better.  Who steps up behind those two will be the question. 

[Gregory Sager]

It is the time of the year that teams are starting to separate themselves during the conference season. 

Everyone is chipper when they enter the new year with a winning record.  But the real tests occur every Wednesday and Saturday now.

Wesleyan is going to be hard to beat from here on out.  Carthage looks to be playing better.  Who steps up behind those two will be the question. 

There has been no separation yet. Carthage is 4-1 and remains the only team in the league with one loss, but there are three teams -- IWU at 4-2, NPU and Wheaton at 3-2 -- with two losses apiece that are within a game of the lead. Heck, the entire league except for 1-5 North Central is within two games of first place.

[iwu70]

IWU has definitely come into better form with better three-point shooting and better perimeter defense.  Noah Cleveland is a load in the paint.  I haven't seen anyone really handle him yet this season.  He's an almost automatic double double. If they all stay healthy, I think IWU has a great chance to win the regular season.  And, IWU has a deep bench now with Boldt healthy, and David Williams and Brady Ruggles both playing well, especially Williams.  Niego is the stick that stirs the drink, with very few TOs.  Both Funk and Colak are playing better, with only fouls a concern for Funk.  He is a very under-rated defensive player.  Lawrence has improved on the defensive end in recent games and is hitting a better % from three now.  IWU in a good position for the stretch run in the CCIW.  IMHO.

IWU'70

[Jbothe]

It is the time of the year that teams are starting to separate themselves during the conference season. 

Everyone is chipper when they enter the new year with a winning record.  But the real tests occur every Wednesday and Saturday now.

Wesleyan is going to be hard to beat from here on out.  Carthage looks to be playing better.  Who steps up behind those two will be the question. 

There has been no separation yet. Carthage is 4-1 and remains the only team in the league with one loss, but there are three teams -- IWU at 4-2, NPU and Wheaton at 3-2 -- with two losses apiece that are within a game of the lead. Heck, the entire league except for 1-5 North Central is within two games of first place.

Oh the separation is starting on the courts.  The standings will catch up over the next few weeks, it always does.

[Jbothe]

IWU has definitely come into better form with better three-point shooting and better perimeter defense.  Noah Cleveland is a load in the paint.  I haven't seen anyone really handle him yet this season.  He's an almost automatic double double. If they all stay healthy, I think IWU has a great chance to win the regular season.  And, IWU has a deep bench now with Boldt healthy, and David Williams and Brady Ruggles both playing well, especially Williams.  Niego is the stick that stirs the drink, with very few TOs.  Both Funk and Colak are playing better, with only fouls a concern for Funk.  He is a very under-rated defensive player.  Lawrence has improved on the defensive end in recent games and is hitting a better % from three now.  IWU in a good position for the stretch run in the CCIW.  IMHO.

Love them or hate them but IWU is starting to really play well.  CCIW teams will need to get them off their home court to beat them. 

IWU'70

[iwu70]

New Poll:  IWU #15, ORV Carthage.

I don't quite get it.  IWU beat #2 Chicago and #13 Wash U, yet is ranked lower. 

IWU has Wheaton @Wheaton this weekend.

'70

[blue_jays]

New Poll:  IWU #15, ORV Carthage.

I don't quite get it.  IWU beat #2 Chicago and #13 Wash U, yet is ranked lower. 

IWU has Wheaton @Wheaton this weekend.

'70

Pretty simple reason why: IWU has 3 losses and they have fewer.

[mwunder]

New Poll:  IWU #15, ORV Carthage.

I don't quite get it.  IWU beat #2 Chicago and #13 Wash U, yet is ranked lower. 

IWU has Wheaton @Wheaton this weekend.

'70

Really??  I mean, you post from a biased perspective here more than most, but are your glasses really THAT green? Loses to a 4-9 Stout team and a 5-10 North Central team don't matter?

I think IWU is probably the best TEAM in the CCIW WHEN THEY ARE ALL PLAYING TOGETHER. They have all the pieces, but until they learn how to do that every time they step on the court, without Josh Fridman who's apparently injured, they are a team that has shown they can be beaten by just about anyone.

[iwu70]

Yes, I take your points about IWU's earlier inconsistent play.  I commented on that myself.  But, head-to-head doesn't count for anything?  Just seems odd to me. 

Yes, I support my Titans, always will.  Just as others on this Board support their teams.  Nothing new about that.

Fridman is out for the season, just had shoulder surgery from an earlier game injury, dislocation.  I think Niego and Williams have superbly filled in for Fridman so far this season, especially in recent big wins over Wash U and North Park.  Wash U and Chicago now face the regular season games in their tough league, so I expect them to take additional losses, perhaps road losses, soon. 

IWU has a big challenge @ Wheaton on Saturday, so we'll see if they have really rounded into form and can escape their earlier inconsistencies. 

IWU'70