MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GusD]

I, for one, have been super pleased with the CCIW network this season.  Aside from the blue tint of the Millikin half court camera, everything else has been remarkably well done.  There are so many more opportunities for students who want to go into video production or broadcasting now than back in the early 90's when I was a student.

Agree on all counts ... including the blue-tinted Millikin halfcourt camera. I feel like I need to take a Dramamine tablet every time that I watch a game from the Griz nowadays.

How soon until the CCIW goes to a pay model like the WIAC?

Don't say that! 🤫
Don't even think it. 😏

[iwu70]

Please, never!

'70

[mwunder]

Thoughts on tonight?  Elmhurst and Carthage are pretty evenly matched if you look at the stats and this season's matchups.

Both average 77.6 PPG
Carthage gives up fewer PPG by 5.
Season series split, both teams won at home.  Carthage won by 15 in Kenosha.  Elmhurst won by 12 three weeks later.  Since that game in late January, Elmhurst is 7-2.  Carthage is 7-1.

Both shoot it at roughly 45.5%.  Carthage holds opponents to 40% while Elmhurst gives up 45%.

Elmhurst led the league in 3 pt accuracy, while Carthage was the best in the league at defending the 3.

Elmhurst shoots better from the line (and this might be the difference).

Carthage has the edge on the boards.  Both teams turn it over as often as they cause turnovers.

My three big questions for Carthage.
1--Which Ryan Johnson shows up tonight?  This is not a knock. I'll take Double/Double machine RJ, but would much prefer, the RJ that showed up the last time they played at the Shirk.
2--Bench play. In the loss at Faganel Hall, the bench contributed 2 pts and 3 boards in 45 minutes. That can't happen again.
3--Free Throws.  Carthage is shooting .714 this season, while they shot .774 a year ago with mostly the same team.  They need to take free points when they are given the opportunity.

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan 80
North Park 70

Kolden Vanlandingham: 30 pts, 7 rebs, 5:2 a:to, 6 stls
William Bates: 14 pts
Lazario Cornish: 13 pts, 6 rebs

Karlo Colak: 26 pts
Casen Lawrence, 15 pts, 3 stls
Mason Funk: 13 pts

NPU: 9-21 (.429) from range, 21-22 (.955) from the line (their only miss was their last one)

Winning two games this weekend with their leading scorer too sick to travel was going to be too big an ask for North Park. But the Vikings certainly gave it the legendary "college try" tonight. Without Mike Vuckovic the Vikings managed to hang around for the entire game, trailing by only five within the last two and a half minutes. But they just didn't have the firepower to match Karlo Colak (who was sensational), Casen Lawrence, and Mason Funk, although Kolden Vanlandingham did everything he could to match them. He exited his college career as an absolute warrior, putting the Vikings on his back and allowing them to make a serious game of it.

Can't point at the absence of Vuckovic for this outcome, because basketball is a next-man-up affair. IWU, UWSP, and I'm sure other teams as well have lost major stars, too. The Park didn't quite play well enough to overcome a team that had more weapons than they did. But the Vikings can get back on the bus tonight holding their heads high, because they gave it one heck of a try.

I couldn't be prouder of my guys.

[iwu70]

Greg has covered it well.  A tough, grinding win for the Titans.  As usual, get to 78 and win the game.  Colak and Vanlandingham both awesome.  Vanlandingham should have been first team All-CCIW.

Some key contributions tonight by Nathan Boldt, late in the game, a three, several blocks and several beautiful passes for easy scores. 

Elmhurst upset #2 seed Carthage in the first game, so its Elmhurst vs. IWU for the AQ.  Carthage and Elmhurst both playing very well tonight.

IWU moves to 22-4.  I'm hoping for hosting first round games at the Shirk.

7 p.m. tomorrow for the AQ.

IWU'70

[Greek Tragedy]

https://d3datacast.com/npi/

Initial NPI rankings have Carthage a distant At-large 27 now after their loss, with Elmhurst improving to At-large 19. Probably still needs the AQ to assure safe passage to the NCAAs.

[GusD]

If I am reading the current NPI rankings correctly, IWU is 11th, Elmhurst is 39th, and Carthage is 47th.

[Greek Tragedy]

Elmhurst chokes away a huge lead against IWU without Cleveland...most likely costing them an NCAA tournament bid. Ouch. Amazingly, the CCIW is a one-bid league.

[Green Beer]

This is one of those games that begs the question what did the coach say at half-time?

Incidentally, I was in the stands, and at half-time, I pulled out my phone to watch the women's game because I was pretty sure the guys had no chance. My wife said "You're going to miss a great comeback." I should've listened. By the time I looked up, the Titans were down only 9 points.

[iwu70]

A few thoughts on IWU's epic comeback last night vs. Elmhust.

In the first half, Elmhurst could do no wrong, shooting over 60% and 50% from three.  Perhaps the worst half of basketball by IWU that I have ever seen in The Shirk, and that is saying something.  IWU down 18 at the half.

The comeback was due to tenacious defense, finally a decent shooting percentage, and very limited TOs.  When the story of this season is written for IWU, key contributions are low TOs due to the excellent play, ball control, and game management skills of Niego and David Williams.  And, this is a team that blocks shots -- top of the CCIW and one of the top in D3. 

Funk again coming up big offensively and defensively, with several IWU players leaving it all on the floor, making deflections, blocking shots, rebounding, and diving for loose balls, causing extra possessions. 

Elmhurst, with 16 seconds to go in regulation, had the chance for the winning shot.  They got a good look from about 15 feet away, from the left block, but it bounced out.

Niego and Funk had dagger threes, one in regulation and one in the OT.  A truly superb second half for IWU, coming all the way back and winning in OT. 

This one will go down as one of the epic comeback wins in the history of the IWU program.

A great crowd with a large, track and field championship contingent of Elmhurst students, and a boisterous IWU regular and student crowd too.  A wonderful D3 atmosphere.  Truly exciting.

I sure hope the Titans get to host first round games next weekend. 

Sadly, yes, it looks like the CCIW is a one bid league this year.  Maybe Elmhurst will get a bid, though it looks doubtful.  Stay tuned.

Cleveland's hard caste is off, so he's on to a soft caste . . . hopefully able to play at some point soon in the D3 dance. Brady Keuhl and Nathan Boldt have filled in admirably.   

Keep it rolling Titans . . . Again, congrats to Ron Rose and all the coaching staff, and to all the Titans for this championship, this great season, punching their AQ ticket, with still more meaningful games to play.

IWU'70

[Green Beer]

I was wondering of the women's team might be in a position to host too, but Q states "no chance," so I gotta trust the guys who crunch the numbers. But if the women were in the position to host, I don't think it would happen. I'm pretty sure it was last year (that's how bad my memory is) that both Titan teams had the option to host, and the women's team had priority (as it alternates). If the same occurred this year, now it's the men's turn.

[iwu70]

Beer, yes, that's my understanding too.  Women will be on the road, at least for the first weekend.  I think the men will likely host, with their record, conference and tournament championships, so a pretty high seed.  Let's hope the women get a good draw and can avoid WIAC teams the first weekend.     

'70

[iwu70]

Let's hope Cleveland can get back early on . . .

[GusD]

This is one of those games that begs the question what did the coach say at half-time?

Incidentally, I was in the stands, and at half-time, I pulled out my phone to watch the women's game because I was pretty sure the guys had no chance. My wife said "You're going to miss a great comeback." I should've listened. By the time I looked up, the Titans were down only 9 points.

Happy wife, happy life, Green.
You better listen to that lady. 😉

[iwu70]

Seems IWU got a pretty good draw -- two games to start at home. 

We'll see if Cleveland is back and can play.

IWU'70