MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

I missed the initial reference to Henry Boucha.

My dad and brother were at that North Star v Bruin game when Boucha got attacked from behind and got jabbed in the eye with the butt of the opponent's stick.  I recall said family members talking about the massive amount of pooled blood on the ice.  Boucha had to hang up the skates as a result of the carnage.

[Fox 40]

I don't believe Augustana has "Officially" announced Josh Evans as coming yet, but today's local paper did announce the coming of a very familiar name to Augustana faithful:  http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=381995

Great addition for the three time defending champs!!

[Gregory Sager]

It's always interesting to see a legacy player arrive in the CCIW. I don't think that the league had one last season aside from Carthage's Steve Djurickovic, while Michael Fiddler of Wheaton and Wes Littrell of Millikin were legacy players the previous season. I wonder if 6'5, 205 forward Zach Opheim of Rockford Boylan, the son of former Carthage and Rockford Boylan standout Craig Opheim, is going to play for his dad's alma mater?

If Max Artis is even 80% of the player that his father was for Augie, he's gonna be tough to handle in this league.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

It's always interesting to see a legacy player arrive in the CCIW. I don't think that the league had one last season aside from Carthage's Steve Djurickovic, while Michael Fiddler of Wheaton and Wes Littrell of Millikin were legacy players the previous season. I wonder if 6'5, 205 forward Zach Opheim of Rockford Boylan, the son of former Carthage and Rockford Boylan standout Craig Opheim, is going to play for his dad's alma mater?

If Max Artis is even 80% of the player that his father was for Augie, he's gonna be tough to handle in this league.

Certainly have to agree with GS on Max Artis.

His father's Augie teams were a little different than the current ones in that Max Artis, Craig Brittnum and Shane Price were all stars and played a lot of minutes together as a unit - something we don't always see with the present Augie style of mass use of players, we don't see the 35 minutes a game player much in Rock Island these days.

DoS

[petemcb]

It's always interesting to see a legacy player arrive in the CCIW. I don't think that the league had one last season aside from Carthage's Steve Djurickovic, while Michael Fiddler of Wheaton and Wes Littrell of Millikin were legacy players the previous season. I wonder if 6'5, 205 forward Zach Opheim of Rockford Boylan, the son of former Carthage and Rockford Boylan standout Craig Opheim, is going to play for his dad's alma mater?

If Max Artis is even 80% of the player that his father was for Augie, he's gonna be tough to handle in this league.

The CCIW has a shot at another legacy if they want it.  Jeff Heiden, a senior at Prospect High School, obliterated the school record for 3 pointers made in a season with something in the 80's  -  breaking the previous Prospect record of 60 something.  His 3 pt percentage was something like 48 or 49% on the season.  He handles the ball well and has a great understanding of the game.  He is also the son of Glenn Heiden from Augie in the 80's.  He's had D3 interest, but I'm not sure what he's heard from the CCIW.  He sure would give Elmhurst something they've been lacking...........

[Jim Matson]

A friend has asked me about North Park and basketball.  His boy is a college senior from the Midwest and is looking for a Christian school and a hoops school.  He is a 6-1 shooting guard who plays well and regularly is one of the top players in their lcoal HS conference (it is a smaller conference).

How does the Park look next year with regard to guards and should this opportunity be pursued?

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Mention of Jeff Heiden's father Glen, reminds me that Glen played on one of the best CCIW teams never to win a CCIW title.

my all-time list of best teams never to win a CCIW title

Lake Forest, mid-fifties with Tom Lewis

Carthage, late-sixties with Jack Lutz and Jerry Parks, Johnny Butler

Wheaton, early seventies, Kerry Pfund, Randy Pfund, Robin Cook, Steve Clum

Millikin, mid-seventies, with Leon Gobczynski, Gary Dietelhoff, and Parker (last_name escapes me)

Augustana, late-seventies, Glen Heiden and Chet Jacks

North Park, early nineties, Marc Horner and Chris Stanley

[Dennis_Prikkel]

A friend has asked me about North Park and basketball.  His boy is a college senior from the Midwest and is looking for a Christian school and a hoops school.  He is a 6-1 shooting guard who plays well and regularly is one of the top players in their lcoal HS conference (it is a smaller conference).

How does the Park look next year with regard to guards and should this opportunity be pursued?

I would think North Park would welcome any shooting guard that can score consistently from the outside.  Sophomore Joe Catalpo had a tough year from the field for the Vikings and he was supposed to be their best outside threat.  North Park, with the style of offense they used last year, was not able to run the kind of plays and set the kind of screens that would consistently get him good looks at the basket.

Besides looking for a good basketball program at a Christian school, I would recommend that the prospective student also visit the campus and see if the college life at a small school in a big city is what he wants.

My son - who for years had a tough time thinking of North Park as a college choice - has enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the musical community (choir, band, gospel choir) at North Park, in this his first year at the school.  He was also accepted at Truman State and Illinois State - but he has definitely found the opportunity to be in Chicago - and especially all of the musical opportunities in the city as well - to be much to his liking.

DoS

[Jim Matson]

Thanks Dennis - good feedback.

[Titan Q]

IWU grad Jim Molinari will be named head coach at Western Illinois...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/11/usports/doc47fedcd2ad5c3729389906.txt

Tough D1 job - it can't be easy getting kids to Macomb and WIU.

[Titan Q]

IWU recruit Jordan Zimmer was named 1A/2A "Player of the Year" by the Peoria Journal Star.  There is a ton of small school talent in the Journal Star's wide coverage area, as evidenced by the quality of past POY winners...

2008 - Jordan Zimmer, Delavan (Illinois Wesleyan)
2007 & 2006 - Carlton Fay, Putnam County (Southern Illinois)
2005 - Ryan Burks, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)
2004 - Micah Lavender, Peoria Christian (Olivet Nazarene)
2003 - Chad Cox, Macomb (?)
2002 - Nathan Koster, Lewistown (Western Illinois)
2001 - Jake Sottos, Monmouth (U. of Hawaii)
2000 - Barry Welsh, Abingdon (Western Illinois)
2000 - Rhet Wierzba, Farmington (Austin Peay)
1999 - Seth Nelson, Farmington (Nebraska-Omaha)
1998 - Shawn Jeppson, Hall (Illinois State)
1997 - Travis Lewis, Williamsfield (Louisiana Tech)
1996 - Ryan Knuppel, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)


Here is the complete story...

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/041108/ALL_BGAEC22E.080.php

Few is the number of high school basketball players given the chance to play in college at the Division I level. Even fewer is the number of those who pass on the opportunity.

Early this past season, Delavan senior Jordan Zimmer was extended an invitation to attend Saint Louis University as a walk-on player. The Rick Majerus-coached Billikins were even more interested shortly after Delavan's season had ended.

"(Assistant coach) Porter Moser called and said they wanted to come up and watch me work out again," Zimmer said. "I had already thought a lot about it and told him I was no longer interested.

"He asked me if they offered a scholarship, would that make a difference," Zimmer said. "I said 'thanks but no' and told them not to waste the trip. I had already made my decision."
-----
"My dream coming into the season was to get a Division I scholarship, but eventually I realized the level I was going to play in college wasn't the most important thing," Zimmer said. "Wesleyan is close to home, and Division III feels right for me. It feels more like (small school) basketball. It feels more like Delavan."


Looking forward to seeing Jordan in a Titan uniform.  I think he's going to be a great CCIW player.

[Titan Q]

Here is the complete PJ Star 1A/2A All-star team.  The 1st Team also includes Wheaton recruit Jeremy Pflederer...

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/041108/ALL_BGAE3KMG.081.php


Jordan Zimmer
BEST PLAYER HE'S FACED: Jeremy Pflederer


Jeremy Pflederer
BEST PLAYER HE'S FACED: Jordan Zimmer of Delavan


Get used to it, boys.


Note the 2nd Team includes 6-2 Jr guard Billy Molinari (Peoria Christian)...wonder if he'll be a Leatherneck?

[petemcb]

Those are two great off-season posts, Q.  Positive k for you.

[petemcb]

..........or, Greg, just in the interest of internal CCIW board consistency, would those be pre-conference posts?

[Mr. Ypsi]

..........or, Greg, just in the interest of internal CCIW board consistency, would those be pre-conference posts?

Unless the CCIW starts making the schedule as confusing as many of our fellow d3ers, I think we can assume that November and December are pre-conference; April is clearly off-season!