MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

There is a CCIW alum up for an Oscar tonight.  IWU's Richard Jenkins is nominated for Best Actor...

http://www.iwu.edu/CurrentNews/newsreleases09/alm_JenkinsNom_00109.shtml


He is a longshot, but if Millikin can sweep Elmhurst, anything is possible.

[thunderstruck88]

Can a Wheaton Thunder follower please enlighten me on Ben Panner's status.  He was recognized last evening as a Senior.  In the program, he's listed as a Junior.  I know he is a transfer from Texas but is he going to graduate this year?  Could we have another 5 year player for the Thunder in the near future?

You're right, Ben Panner is a junior athletically, but he is a senior academically. He is expected to graduate with his academic class, and while the possibility that he will use his last year of eligibility can't completely be ruled out, it seems unlikely. Then again, at this time last year few people would have predicted that Kent would have two "senior nights."

[Gregory Sager]

This may be true, but the fact is that Bosko and staff have not been getting it done on the recruiting trail the last several years now.  Imagine where the Carthage program would be without Steve Djurickovic, a D1 player who happens to be Bosko's son (no recruiting necessary). 

After Bosko came out of the gates in Kenosha with Wiertel, Garnes, McDaniel, and Powell, I figured he'd be loaded every year up there.  That has not been the case.  Bosko needs to have a successful recruiting year to take advantage of the opportunity he has been handed with Steve. 

Yes, we've discussed Carthage's recruiting failures ad nauseam on CCIW Chat for several years now. But here's the thing -- it won't take a recruiting string like Wiertel, Garnes, McDaniel, Ktistou, Powell, etc., for Carthage to make a breakthrough. it'll only take one strong CCIW-level big man. Two would probably make Carthage a Top Five team, but one could very well make the Red Men the 2010 CCIW champions.

In other words, the criterion for a "successful recruiting year" could be condensed into acquiring one individual, which is different than what we've talked about in past years for Carthage.

Don't discount the possibility that Augie will again be in the mix---Graduation will cut deeply into their rotation from this year---No doubt---But the return of two 6'7" kids who can play and the return of 2 point guards is a pretty good starting point for any team---Giovanine will find the other parts to remain competitive

Augie's got a number of nice pieces that it will retain after graduation takes away the bulk of the 2008-09's team's production. However, the problem is that Giovanine insists upon a rotation that goes 10-11 deep to implement his system. That's going to require more than Nelson, Voiles, Pelton, and DeSimone. Mike Avallone, who has been a member of the rotation for two years now, returns next year as well, but aside from Drew Crogaert (who has accumulated 146 minutes of garbage time over the past two seasons) there's nobody else on the current Augie roster who has gained any appreciable varsity tick. It's almost inevitable that he's going to have to use a rotation next season of which half of the players don't have extensive varsity experience.

The 4 CCIW tourney teams happen to be the 4 teams with the conference's top seniors. Elmhurst and Wheaton both lose their one two punch, and Augie and NCC have a bunch of quality players graduating. I'd go with IWU and Carthage as 1 and 2 teams going into next season. I do not think the conference will be as deep or as talented as this year, but this was a special year, when teams as good as Carthage, IWU and Miilikin, all of whom would win or be in the mix for a championship in at least 50% of the other DIII conferences, didn't even make the conference tourney.

I've talked about the importance of seniors this year, and you can't ask for a better illustration of that than the unexpected success of NCC and Millikin. There really is no substitute for senior experience; more often than not, it trumps raw talent. The power of the CCIW this season can be directly attributed to the depth and ability of its senior class, and both the top and the middle of the CCIW standings reflect that.

By contrast, this year's junior class is extremely weak. If Ben Panner indeed is going to hang it up after this season, next year's senior class will likely have only two All-CCIW players in it: Nick Williams of NPU and Sean Fendley of Carthage (if Bob's forecast that the two of them will make the soon-to-be-announced All-CCIW team is correct, and I think that it is). You can count the number of next year's CCIW seniors who will be returning starters on both hands and have fingers left over.

I think that the conference will contain just as much talent next season as it does this season, if not even more -- the sophomore and freshmen classes of the league's eight teams are loaded. But the league very likely won't be as deep next season, because the top four teams will all probably take significant steps backwards in terms of national status due to the fact that the Class of '10 will be a poor substitute for the Class of '09, and I'm not sold yet on the idea that any of the sliding teams will be replaced within the CCIW ranks as national powers.

Remember how well all of our teams except NPU played in the nonconference season.

Hey, wait a minute, augiefan -- NPU went 8-3 in non-conference play, same as NCC, Carthage, and IWU. While the Vikings didn't perform all that well in terms of putting away inferior teams, an 8-3 record is still an 8-3 record. And among those eight victims of the Park are four teams that finished their regular seasons with winning records: Indiana-Northwest (17-10), Edgewood (13-12), Loras (15-10), and Concordia WI (13-12). Edgewood is the North Division champion of the NAthCon. Perhaps as importantly, the Vikings never suffered any embarrassing losses (although some of those wins were nervously close); the three teams that beat NPU are Wash U (22-2), Carroll (16-7), and D1 Valparaiso.

[Gregory Sager]

And you can't discount NP either as they have a fine point guard, a very talented (but inconsistent) player in Williams and a center who is everything Carthage needs.  Millikin sure made a turnaround in one year...I'm not so sure NP won't be that team next year.  If both IWU and NP learn to play better defense, they both will be in the mix for the conference tournament next year.

Considering how awful NPU's defense was this season, that's a pretty big "if". It's never a guarantee that a young player will develop into a good, or even adequate, CCIW defender, or that a team that plays poor team defense will ever cohere as a unit at that end of the floor. That goes for IWU as well, but it really goes in spades for NPU, because unlike the Titans the Vikings did not demonstrate the ability to occasionally outscore their defensive miscues at the offensive end of the floor against CCIW competition.

Yeah, the returning core of Russell, Williams, and Schniedermeier (and a healthy Clayton Cahill) will make NPU a much better team next season, and there's talent and depth on the roster, but there's many, many, many miles that this team has to travel in terms of physical development, defensive concentration, judgment, the accumulation of mental and physical toughness, and technique refinement before the rest of the CCIW needs to take the Vikings seriously.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And you can't discount NP either as they have a fine point guard, a very talented (but inconsistent) player in Williams and a center who is everything Carthage needs.  Millikin sure made a turnaround in one year...I'm not so sure NP won't be that team next year.  If both IWU and NP learn to play better defense, they both will be in the mix for the conference tournament next year.

Considering how awful NPU's defense was this season, that's a pretty big "if". It's never a guarantee that a young player will develop into a good, or even adequate, CCIW defender, or that a team that plays poor team defense will ever cohere as a unit at that end of the floor. That goes for IWU as well, but it really goes in spades for NPU, because unlike the Titans the Vikings did not demonstrate the ability to occasionally outscore their defensive miscues at the offensive end of the floor against CCIW competition.

Yeah, the returning core of Russell, Williams, and Schniedermeier (and a healthy Clayton Cahill) will make NPU a much better team next season, and there's talent and depth on the roster, but there's many, many, many miles that this team has to travel in terms of physical development, defensive concentration, judgment, the accumulation of mental and physical toughness, and technique refinement before the rest of the CCIW needs to take the Vikings seriously.

Since you are usually very careful in your wordings, I'm assuming you mean worry about them challenging for the title.  THAT seems doubtful (though not impossible), but from my reading of posts and box scores, I suspect everyone had better take the Vikings VERY seriously next year if they don't want an L.

Obviously, I'm not going to start making specific predictions before recruits, transfers, off-season losses, etc., are even in the fold, but I'd be shocked if NPU doesn't pick up at least 5-6 more wins next year.

[AndOne]

Sssshhhh!  Andone is still sleeping!!!!!

I think he has a migrane after his head exploded last night.

Feel better now 74impala?
Another post reflective of your vast knowledge and basketball expertise.

I happened to notice that your eyes were popping out of their sockets by the end of the game last night.  I just figured you were a little under the weather today and thought I'd let everyone know.

74impala---

My eyes are just fine, thank you. And, I doubt my physical well being is of any interest whatsoever to anyone here besides yourself.   

By the way big boy, some readers might wonder why you spent so much time looking at another guy instead of paying attention to the game.     

And tell me something else 74---How is it that rather than talking basketball, especially posting anything resembling any type of game/player analysis, over your last several posts, that instead the focal point of the majority of your recent posts seems to be concentrated on attacking me personally? Just what the heck did I do or say to tick you and your friends off so severely? All I can say is that you must be a very hateful person. By the way, are you a Wheaton grad as well as a WC fan? You know the school with the sign out front that states "For Christ and his Kingdom." If so, I wonder what the Lord would say about one of his "followers" who instead of making an effort to follow his teachings more closely spends much his time spewing the hate based garbage you've been been authoring lately. Sounds like you may be a hypocrite who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. Peace.

[74impala]

Sssshhhh!  Andone is still sleeping!!!!!

I think he has a migrane after his head exploded last night.

Feel better now 74impala?
Another post reflective of your vast knowledge and basketball expertise.

I happened to notice that your eyes were popping out of their sockets by the end of the game last night.  I just figured you were a little under the weather today and thought I'd let everyone know.

74impala---

My eyes are just fine, thank you. And, I doubt my physical well being is of any interest whatsoever to anyone here besides yourself.   

By the way big boy, some readers might wonder why you spent so much time looking at another guy instead of paying attention to the game.     

And tell me something else 74---How is it that rather than talking basketball, especially posting anything resembling any type of game/player analysis, over your last several posts, that instead the focal point of the majority of your recent posts seems to be concentrated on attacking me personally? Just what the heck did I do or say to tick you and your friends off so severely? All I can say is that you must be a very hateful person. By the way, are you a Wheaton grad as well as a WC fan? You know the school with the sign out front that states "For Christ and his Kingdom." If so, I wonder what the Lord would say about one of his "followers" who instead of making an effort to follow his teachings more closely spends much his time spewing the hate based garbage you've been been authoring lately. Sounds like you may be a hypocrite who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. Peace.

Wow AndOne, are you sensitive or what!?  I'm not sure where these personal attacks are.  I do see a little ribbing of a guy who takes himself WAY too seriously.   As I said before...maybe it's time for you to take a break.

I have noticed that you tend to call other people names when they question your posts or nick your Karma.  Is it a case where you can dish it out but just can't take it?   

[wheels81]

There should be another stat included in basketball record keeping. 
C.O.T.O.  Caused Opponent Time Outs.
My brother pointed this out in Wheaton's game on Saturday when he said Kent caused that time out with his 3 pointer.   To which I replied "Another time-out brought to you courtesy of  Kent Raymond."  I received the glory but it was all his idea.  I am nothing but a mouthpiece and I shouldn't get any credit for it.
I am making a public acknowledgment that it was his idea I just reworded it so let it be on record that I didn't pull a 'Biden" but listed my source.   Is that good enough Ernie?

[petemcb]

Brett Chamernik is, as Q said, undersized to play the post in the CCIW and he's always worked very hard at it. 

I have read about Brett's commitments to both academics and basketball and find them commendable.  When Bob mentioned Brett's commitment to studying his oversized Biology textbook on game day, I was impressed.  It's another great illustration of how D3 offers us a great view on true student-athletes.  What I don't see is the "undersized" part.  I see Brett listed at 6'5" and a solid 225 lbs.  That gives him the same height and a 5 to 10 pound advantage over Drennan and Rogers with North Central.  For Carthage, Tolo is listed at 6'6", 190 and Williams at 6'6", and a seemingly generous 202.  Down at Millikin, Demby checks in at 6'7" with no weight listed, but I'd guess he's not as heavy as Brett Chamernik.  If you mean that he's smaller than Ruch and Wiele, OK.  But so is the rest of the conference.  

[petemcb]

I really don't like Bosko.

I recently heard that Bosko does not like you either.

+k for that one and I'm setting the alarm on my watch for the next few days to remind me to "applaud" you again at 24 hour intervals for this week. 

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Brett Chamernik is, as Q said, undersized to play the post in the CCIW and he's always worked very hard at it. 

I have read about Brett's commitments to both academics and basketball and find them commendable.  When Bob mentioned Brett's commitment to studying his oversized Biology textbook on game day, I was impressed.  It's another great illustration of how D3 offers us a great view on true student-athletes.  What I don't see is the "undersized" part.  I see Brett listed at 6'5" and a solid 225 lbs.  That gives him the same height and a 5 to 10 pound advantage over Drennan and Rogers with North Central.  For Carthage, Tolo is listed at 6'6", 190 and Williams at 6'6", and a seemingly generous 202.  Down at Millikin, Demby checks in at 6'7" with no weight listed, but I'd guess he's not as heavy as Brett Chamernik.  If you mean that he's smaller than Ruch and Wiele, OK.  But so is the rest of the conference.  

A "Solid" 225.  Brett is the all-time winner of the Rob Berki look-alike contest and easily tips the scale at 225 (perhaps on one leg).  -:)

dgp

[petemcb]

By the way, I was at the Elmhurst/Carthage game Saturday night and was really impressed with the Elmhurst crowd  -  particularly the student section.  They've taken a little heat on the board for being absent, or at least uninvolved for many of Elmhurst's games this year but they were very vocal Saturday night and spent a lot of time on their feet.  It felt to me like a real home court advantage thanks to the students and that has not been the case at other games I've been to there this year  -  including against Wash U in December!  Props to the Bluejays fans.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Sssshhhh!  Andone is still sleeping!!!!!

I think he has a migrane after his head exploded last night.

Feel better now 74impala?
Another post reflective of your vast knowledge and basketball expertise.

I happened to notice that your eyes were popping out of their sockets by the end of the game last night.  I just figured you were a little under the weather today and thought I'd let everyone know.

74impala---

My eyes are just fine, thank you. And, I doubt my physical well being is of any interest whatsoever to anyone here besides yourself.   

By the way big boy, some readers might wonder why you spent so much time looking at another guy instead of paying attention to the game.     

And tell me something else 74---How is it that rather than talking basketball, especially posting anything resembling any type of game/player analysis, over your last several posts, that instead the focal point of the majority of your recent posts seems to be concentrated on attacking me personally? Just what the heck did I do or say to tick you and your friends off so severely? All I can say is that you must be a very hateful person. By the way, are you a Wheaton grad as well as a WC fan? You know the school with the sign out front that states "For Christ and his Kingdom." If so, I wonder what the Lord would say about one of his "followers" who instead of making an effort to follow his teachings more closely spends much his time spewing the hate based garbage you've been been authoring lately. Sounds like you may be a hypocrite who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. Peace.

Wow AndOne, are you sensitive or what!?  I'm not sure where these personal attacks are.  I do see a little ribbing of a guy who takes himself WAY too seriously.   As I said before...maybe it's time for you to take a break.

I have noticed that you tend to call other people names when they question your posts or nick your Karma.  Is it a case where you can dish it out but just can't take it?   

Is it time for a time out, yet?

Even "I" (the royal I) didn't get this upset at the Karma bandits.

Let's all hug and make up (you wouldn't believe how good I look with eye shadow and blush).   

The King

[petemcb]

I meant to add that one thing I have always enjoyed about the Elmhurst program is how the players line up after the game and head over to the bleachers to shake hands and talk with all their fans, from the youngest to the oldest.  It's probably a thrill for some of the little kids in the crowd.  It's a nice tradition that I haven't seen anywhere else.  Every player participates, win or lose.  Classy.

[74impala]

Is it time for a time out, yet?

Even "I" (the royal I) didn't get this upset at the Karma bandits.

Let's all hug and make up (you wouldn't believe how good I look with eye shadow and blush).   

The King

Agreed