MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I've actually seen the Costa Rican National Team play, although it was last year's iteration.  A 20 point win would be amazing if they were at full strength.  I would have compared them to a mid-level D-I school.  Not that a top D-III school beating a mid-level D-I would be suprising (if only they would be brave enough to put it on the schedule).

Anyway, do you think IWU is a shoo-in for the preseason #1 again?  I'm wondering what your thoughts are Titan.

[The Roop]

Being the preseason #1 doesn't mean anything when the post season starts.

[Titan Q]

The Titans lost in overtime last night to the Barbados National Team, 91-90.  From Scott Trost's comments, it sounds like they were pretty tough...


"It was a great game. They're good," said IWU coach Scott Trost, whose team is 2-1 in its visit to the Central American country. "They were big and physical. They went 6-10, 6-9, 6-9. We played pretty well."


"They had a kid who started at Iowa State, a guy who played at Nevada-Reno and a guy who played at Central Connecticut," Trost said. "It was a good experience for our kids to play against older people."




http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/082405/spo_20050824025.shtml

[Titan Q]

Hoops fan,

IWU was the preseason #2 last year, not #1...so I am not quite sure what you mean by "again."   

2004-05 D3hoops.com Preseason Top 5:

1 UW-Stevens Point (24) 29-5 622 
2 Illinois Wesleyan  21-7 532 
3 Hanover  26-2 522 
4 Wooster  26-4 466 
5 Rochester (1) 25-2 406 


Based on the season IWU had last year (21-5 and a CCIW title) and the fact the Titans return their entire rotation, they will probably be #1 or #2 in preseason polls. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, I'm not sure either.  Again just another example of my laziness.  Usually though its only Pat who points out my embarassing errors, so now there's two of you.  Great.


I have nothing against IWU, its just fun to rib you all occasionally because IWU seems to have the biggest following both on the boards and at most games.  Until someone can really prove otherwise (with good play through their own schedule, not necesarrily one or two IWU losses) they'll be the top team in my mind this season.

[Titan Q]

More Costa Rica pics courtesy of Jay Dauksas (Adam's father).  These are from yesterday's game vs Barbados National.  Their best player is Michael Nurse who played at Iowa State in the Marcus Fizer era.


http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn1.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn2.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn3.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn4.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn5.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn6.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn7.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn8.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/bn9.jpg

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So did they play international rules or NCAA?  I can't imagine the IWU guys playing international rules could help for the coming season.  You can get into a lot of bad habits doing that.

[The Roop]

Negative Karma for my last post.................. Sounds like a conspiracy to me. Anyway. My point was that if you win your games they will still let you go to Salem even if you are unranked to begin the year.

[True Basketball Fan]

Besides Wesleyan being ranked #1 in the pre season most likely, how many other teams in the CCIW might get some votes or creep into the top 25.

[dansand]

It's awfully early, but if I had to guess I'd say that Elmhurst (assuming Martin returns) might make the top 25 and Wheaton, and possibly Augie, might receive some votes as well.

[Titan Q]

IWU football player Doug Schmied passed away yesterday, after suffering a heat stroke on Friday.  Your thoughts and prayers for his family are appreciated.


http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/082505/new_20050825031.shtml

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/082405/new_20050824016.shtml

[petemcb]

Dansand, between what I saw of Elmhurst and Augie last year, coupled with what I saw of them in the Des Plaines summer league this summer, it's possible that they would have a chance for a preseason ranking, but with what Wheaton lost last year, and the shallow bench that Bill Harris plays, I haven't seen enough of them to predict a top 25 spot for them.   While Kent Raymond looks like a 4 year all-CCIW performer, it would take a major step-up by some of last year's freshmen and sophs, who didn't play that much, or one or two more Raymondesque recruits to garner any serious votes for Wheaton, don't you think?  Has anyone heard anything about who might be showing up on campus for Wheaton this year.  They seem to be the biggest question mark this CCIW season.

[dansand]

Pete,
No, I don't think Wheaton will be a top 25 pre-season pick.
Including them among teams that might receive votes was really more of an expectation that the voters might give them some recognition as a solid program that's been in or near the top 25 for the last few years. Of last year's contenders, I think they definitely lost the most. But Raymond is an excellent building block and I imagine Harris will find enough talent to put around him to contend (at least for 2nd--I have a tough time thinking anyone's going to finish ahead of IWU) again this year. Finally, let me also express my sadness at the death of Doug Schmied. I wasn't familiar with him as a player, but it's such a awful thing anytime a young person dies.

[fcnews]

My deepest sympathy to the entire IWU family on the tragic loss. We at Fontbonne had a bball player die on the floor during practice 6 years ago and know the pain. Our prayer are with you.

[True Basketball Fan]

I did not know the young man at IWU, but I do know that he was a son, a brother, a friend, a teammate.......and those are relationships that we all share and can relate to.  My deepest sympathies go out to all of the people who cared for and loved him.