MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[petemcb]

Just wondering  -  is the source for the Kent Raymond scoop the same as the source for the IWU 5 guard offense?

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think it is the same source as for the 7-foot Australian at an ODAC school (such a perennial rumor as to have become a standing joke on the ODAC board). 

But, if true, it would certainly set back Wheaton - with their graduation losses, I would imagine they would fall to (at best) 3rd or 4th anyway; that would probably send them to 6th or 7th.

[Titan Q]

I heard the Kent Raymond rumor from someone pretty close to the Wheaton basketball program.  He may change his mind before the season starts, but at this point it sounds like the All-American candidate is planning not to play.

[True Basketball Fan]

Does anybody know who is going to score this year for Wheaton, IF Raymond doesn't play?  Here is a better question, does anybody know anybody on the Wheaton roster that might be playing this season?  I can't think of one.

[Mr. Ypsi]

So, PERHAPS Raymond doesn't return but APPARENTLY Martin does - boy, is this gonna mess up posters who made predictions too early! 

Speculation is fun, and continue if you wish, but I think I'm gonna wait 'til practice starts! 

[This, of course, from a guy who has speculated ever since March!]

[b_holmgren]

Weighing in Wheaton...

Off the top of my head, here are the key returnees for Wheaton. I know nothing about the incoming freshman class.

SR - Tony Bollier (6'0 G)
SR - Jordan Kemper (6'3 G)
JR - Johnny Standard (6'4 F)
JR - Luke Trenz (6'8 C)
JR - Luke Bennett (6'4 F)
JR - Michael Fiddler (6'6 C)
SO - John Mohan (6'0)
SO - Matt Ankeney (6'5 F)
SO - Phil Denham (6'5 F)

Tony Bollier has seen plenty of time off the bench that past three years and will take over the point full-time from Nielson. It will be tough for him to match that level of play, but Bollier is about as battle-tested as Wheaton has at the moment.

Kemper is the only other guy who saw much varsity time last year... and that was only three or four minutes a game. Trenz was supposed to play a lot before he gave in the chronic foot problems about eight games in.

Raymond was penciled in as the shooting guard, and I don't know that there is an obvious replacement in the group of returnees. I'll say it right now... Standard can flat out score. He will average double figures easily (especially since it looks like scoring options will be limited).

IF Luke Trenz is healthy and becomes the center the Thunder so badly need him to be.... IF guys like Bennett and Fiddler can step up and play big minutes... IF there are a couple of solid newcomers in the newest recruiting class... Wheaton might be better than expected. But judging by what everyone else seems to have back, it may be a tough rebuilding year for the Thunder.

My hope is that the sophomore/junior classes are ready to step up. They had to wait their turn behind last year's talented group of seniors. Now it's time to sink or swim.

[MilkMan25]

Just to add to the new discovery of Kent Raymond possibly not playing, I thought I would share that fairly recently I was told from a reliable source that Luke Trenz would also not be playing for Wheaton this season.  Once again, Wheaton is in the bind of having no post players.

[tjcummingsfan]

I must admit I've very torn reading about how Wheaton will likely be struggling this season.  On one hand, as a North Park grad I'm inclined to always (in good fun, well sort of fun) hope for the worst for Wheaton teams.  On the other hand... it is always much more satisfying to beat a good team.  The way it sounds right now, and from what I know about the North Park program this year, we shouldn't have too big of a problem handing over our bottom of the conference spot this year, to Wheaton, or someone else.

[MilkMan25]

Thats a bold statement.  Although it looks as of right now that Wheaton has lost a ton,  they always seem to prove themselves, whether its due to their hard work ethics and hustle or amazing freshman recruits.  And no offense TJ, but after seeing how North Park ended up last season, I just cant see Wheaton finishing below them.  Whats the word on North Park this season anyways?     

[tjcummingsfan]

Well, Coach Brenegan finally will have players he recruited in position.  It will be a young team, with just a few returners, most notably Mathisen (who will finally be able to play where he should at the 4).  The talent, and work ethic of the players Brenegan recruited seems leaps and bounds above what Rees was able to find his last few years as coach.  Will North Park be in the top 3 in the Conference, I'm sure not, will they be around .500, I definitely think so.  Instead of having players recruited to play the game Rees wanted them to play playing in Brenegans system, now there are players who fit what Brenegan wants.  I think this will be a bright new season for the Vikings.  I'm sure Greg can elaborate more on the new players we have, and more specifics, but that, I think, is the general consensus of the North Park basketball community (at least of those coaches etc. I have spoken with). 

[b_holmgren]

North Park is going to jump from 0 for the conference to .500 in one year??? I'll believe it when I see it. Wheaton is well-coached enough to the point where I have a hard time believing the apple will fall TOO far from the tree.

[petemcb]

TJ  -  going a little heavy on the Viking koolaid. 

[True Basketball Fan]

They may win 2, maybe 3 games at the most.  I think that is being very generous.

[dansand]

If Raymond (and Trenz) don't play, I'll obviously have to go back on my prediction that they'll get votes in the pre-season poll. That said, solid programs (which Wheaton certainly is) don't generally fall from 20 wins to last place in the conference. Everyone was predicting a bad season for Augie last year with the loss of Carstens, Clements, Thomas, etc. Of course several players "stepped up" (I hate that cliche) and the Vikings had a pretty good season with a 17-8 record. Solid programs usually find ways to fill holes, although, unexpected losses like Raymond's are more damaging.

[emeritusprof]

What does it do to the situation if I explain that God told me that Raymond should play?