MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

News of interest to CCIW fans on the D3hoops.com front page.
http://www.d3hoops.com

I figured it would either come to this or an embarrassingly ill-fated attempt with the Birmingham minor league baseball team that has been known to distract other Chicagoland basketball greats...........

You jest, O Bearded One, but there is actually a nugget of D3 basketball history behind your jest.

When Michael Jordan had his ill-fated experiment with baseball in 1994 as a member of the Birmingham Barons, one of his teammates was fellow outfielder Scott Tedder. Long-term D3 geeks may remember Tedder as the basketball All-American from Ohio Wesleyan who led the Battling Bishops to the 1988 D3 national championship. Jordan and Tedder played some one-on-one pickup games in Birmingham during their off hours that summer, and purportedly Jordan told his teammates or someone from the Birmingham press that Tedder was a pretty good basketball player. That's easily the highest compliment that a D3 basketball player has ever received.

Is there any random reference I could make to which you could not find, at minimum, a strain of a connection to some other D3 factoid?  It's like there's nothing that can be brought up here without you demonstrating the six degrees of separation principle, as it relates to D3.  I bow humbly.

Kevin Bacon's brother and music partner in the Bacon Brothers, Michael Bacon, is a graduate of D3 member Lehman College. Kevin Bacon is also the seventh cousin once removed of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States and a graduate of D3 member Whittier College.

You're welcome, Pete.

News of interest to CCIW fans on the D3hoops.com front page.
http://www.d3hoops.com

Great news for us Thunder fans. Of course I am not surprised and feel much safer now that I won't be punished by stoning by Old Testament aficionados for making this a prophetic prediction a few weeks back!

Rats! And here I was all set to be entertained by hearing about a plague of locusts flying out of your bedroom closet.

[pcarr]

News of interest to CCIW fans on the D3hoops.com front page.
http://www.d3hoops.com

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I MUST find a way to get to a Wheaton game next year.  Surely the Thunder need to squeeze a New England road trip into the schedule somehow. 

[petemcb]

In looking around to see if anyone had their 2008-2009 schedules up yet, I noticed an interesting Wheaton date.  Is anyone else intrigued by the thought of watching Kent Raymond go off for 75 or so at Grinnell January 3?

[Titan Q]

In looking around to see if anyone had their 2008-2009 schedules up yet, I noticed an interesting Wheaton date.  Is anyone else intrigued by the thought of watching Kent Raymond go off for 75 or so at Grinnell January 3?

Pete, vs Grinnell, it's not usually the guards that score the points.  Grinnell does a good job of getting it out of the guards' hands and making the big guys handle it.  It seems to me, it's usually the 3's and 4's that score most of the points, many off wide open layups/dunks.  Grinnell opponents barely take any 3's.  (Opponents only shot 58 3's this past season in 24 games...to Grinnell's 462 3-pt attempts!)

http://wm.grinnell.edu/athletics/mbasketball/statistics/MBK0708/teamcume.htm

It seems like Raymond should go off vs Grinnell, but don't be surprised if he doesn't.  He'll be trapped and harassed up and down the floor that day (something I don't think he really likes), while some of his teammates rack up the easy baskets.

[petemcb]

That's a good point, Q.  I recall seeing Grinnell at Lake Forest a few years ago where Lake Forest's chiseled post player, Franklyn Beckford, camped out near Grinnell's baseline and dunked his way to over 40 of the 48 points he had that afternoon.  That was a career high, probably needless to say.  Maybe it's Andy Wiele who should be licking his chops.  How 'bout putting both Raymond and Jahns down for 20 assists each?

[Titan Q]

That's a good point, Q.  I recall seeing Grinnell at Lake Forest a few years ago where Lake Forest's chiseled post player, Franklyn Beckford, camped out near Grinnell's baseline and dunked his way to over 40 of the 48 points he had that afternoon.  That was a career high, probably needless to say.  Maybe it's Andy Wiele who should be licking his chops.  How 'bout putting both Raymond and Jahns down for 20 assists each?

Notice who led IWU in scoring when the Titans faced Grinnell in the '01 tournament...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2001/030101m.htm

[petemcb]

......in 14 minutes of action, to boot.

[AndOne]

Another recruiting rumor - 6-0 PG Mike McCurdy (24.5 ppg, 6 apg, 4 rpg), Burlington Central, to Elmhurst.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=152674

"He is considering Augustana and Elmhurst College, among others, and intends to make official visits to each before committing to his future path." (3/14/08)


http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/826048,030408bbkburlington.article

http://ibcaillinois.org/3A4ABoysState.php (3A/4A, 3rd Team)

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/sports/802998,3_2_EL20_B1ROCKETS_S1.article

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/820959,022908bbkburlingtonoswego.article


This would be a biggie.

A source who is exceptionally close to the EC program has advised McCurdy will indeed be attending Elmhurst. 

[usee]

Augustana
Max Artis (6-3 F, Kirkwood, Mo.) - 15.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .592 FG, .674 FT
Griffin Dwyer (6-1 G, Hersey H.S.) - 14.3 ppg

Carthage
Pace Bennett (6-2 G, Rock Island Alleman) - 11 ppg, 4 apg

Elmhurst
Mike McCurdy (6-0 PG, Burlington Central) - 24.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.0 rpg
Wes Dukeman (6-8/180 F, Arthur) - 16.0 ppg

Illinois Wesleyan
Eric McCullough (6-9/220 C, Normal U High) - 13.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.4 bpg, .540 FG
Jordan Zimmer (6-4 G/F, Delavan) - 23.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 123-293 3-pt (.420), .913 FT

North Central
Kenny Branch (6-3 G/F, Mundelein)
Kevin Gillespie (5-11 PG, Geneseo) -  12.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 66 3-pointers made
Josh Glenn (6-2 G, South Elgin) - 10.0 ppg
Lee Piccinelli (5-11 G, Henry) - 26.8 ppg
Tyler Ruschmeyer (6-5 F, Pekin) - 11.6 ppg

North Park
Joel Benson (6-5 F/C, Westminster Christian) - 18.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg

Wheaton
Kent Raymond (6-3/195, New Palestine, IN)-24.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .432 FG, .889 FT
Phil Carr (6-5 F, Southgate Anderson, MI) - 13.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, .438 FG, .624 FT
Drake Diamond (6-8/225 F/C, Centreville, VA) - 4.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 38-76 FG (.500), 29-45 FT (.644)
Tim McCrary (6-6 F, New Trier) - 10 ppg, 7 rpg
Jeremy Pflederer (6-0 G, Tremont) - 25.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, .544 FG, .813 FT
Steve Pierotti (6-1 G, Wheaton North)
Spencer Schultze (6-6 C, Grand Rapids Christian, MI) - 13.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .530 FT, .650 FT

Updated for the Biggest impact recruit of the offseason!! 8)

[April]

Did someone just mention John Camardella???

(It's funny cause he's probably married by now.)

I can't believe Wheaton is finally playing Grinnell.... and not only does jeffp not post anymore, I already know I can't make a game on that day. Dang it!

Incidentally, Paul, I assume that Phil is not any relation to you despite the very similar sounding name?

[Gregory Sager]

News of interest to CCIW fans on the D3hoops.com front page.
http://www.d3hoops.com

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I MUST find a way to get to a Wheaton game next year.  Surely the Thunder need to squeeze a New England road trip into the schedule somehow. 

Pull some strings and get your alma mater's team a slot on the Deuce some night, Paul.

Just don't make it a game in which the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance plays North Central.

Pete, vs Grinnell, it's not usually the guards that score the points.  Grinnell does a good job of getting it out of the guards' hands and making the big guys handle it.  It seems to me, it's usually the 3's and 4's that score most of the points, many off wide open layups/dunks.

Actually, Bob, it's not the forwards who usually rack up the biggest number of points against Grinnell. It's the centers. They're the ones who tend to get the cherry-pick layups. In the 23 games from last season for which Grinnell has box scores posted (the Ripon vs. Grinnell game isn't posted on either school's website), the starting centers for the Pios' opponents averaged 19.9 ppg and led their teams in scoring in 14 of those 23 games. In five of those other nine games the opposing center was the second-leading scorer for his team.

As Pete noted, former LFC center Franklyn Beckford had monster games against Grinnell. And last season it was guys like Monmouth's Joe Terwelp, St. Norbert's Tom Katzfey, Lawrence's Andy Hurley, Caltech's Bryan Hires, UWEC's Dan Beyer, LFC's Laird Walker, Carroll's Ryan Mueller, etc., who really got the chance to go off against the Pioneers -- and they were all centers.

Pete's right ... of all of Wheaton's players it'll most likely be Andy Wiele who posts career-high numbers against Grinnell next season.

[Jim Matson]

In the 90s when Wheaton hosted Grinnell in the post-season, Nadelhofer tore 'em up with his ball control and Rob Hamin poured in all the points - from about 2 feet out.

[Fox 40]

                       Augustana Vikings close to securing top prospect?

It appears that the Augustana staff is getting things in place to announce that they have landed their top priority recruit -- 6'4" Chris Anderson of West Carroll High School.  Anderson is an IBCA all stater who averaged 17.9 pts this year, and is said to have passed on four Div. II scholarship offers to join Coach Grey Giovanine's squad. 

Augie insiders describe Anderson as a tough multi-dimensional player who can shoot, slash to the basket, or post up an opponent.  If this is indeed true, Viking fans can look forward to a player that may best be described as a taller more athletic version of Viking great Drew Carstens... Stay tuned!

[Titan Q]

                       Augustana Vikings close to securing top prospect?

It appears that the Augustana staff is getting things in place to announce that they have landed their top priority recruit -- 6'4" Chris Anderson of West Carroll High School.  Anderson is an IBCA all stater who averaged 17.9 pts this year, and is said to have passed on four Div. II scholarship offers to join Coach Grey Giovanine's squad. 

Augie insiders describe Anderson as a tough multi-dimensional player who can shoot, slash to the basket, or post up an opponent.  If this is indeed true, Viking fans can look forward to a player that may best be described as a taller more athletic version of Viking great Drew Carstens... Stay tuned!

Anderson's name can be found on the small school all-state teams posted for J. Zimmer, J. Pflederer, and L. Piccinelli...

IBS Small School All-State Team

IBCA Class 1A/2A all-state team

IHSS Class 1A all-state team

AP Class 1A/2A all-state teams


(Edit...IHSS Class 2A team below)

http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ihssallstate/2008IHSSClass2Aallstate.html

[Titan Q]

An article on Anderson (17.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.7 agp)...

http://www.clintonherald.com/sports/local_story_100105135.html

With his high school playing days behind him, Anderson is looking to the future. A future that will include college and basketball.

"I have a few DII (Division II) offers right now and I'm still visiting those schools." Anderson shared. "The offers I have are Minnesota State, Wisconsin-Parkside and Hillsdale"



When word starting floating around that Augie was getting Anderson, I talked to someone last week who has seen him play.  His analysis was...

* Incredibly athletic, but hasn't necessarily put it all together as a basketball player yet.  He is a "combo forward" that should play the 3 in the CCIW.  Will need to develop his skills, but has a chance to be a CCIW star if he puts it all together.  When I asked how he compared to IWU recruit Jordan Zimmer he said, "Totally different players.  Zimmer is a shooter and ball handler (a 2/3 type) and Anderson is a 3/4 who is an athlete first and basketball player second right now."

Take it for what it's worth.