MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

I know there are few NBA fans here (I'm not much of one either), but maybe some of you make an exception for the Bulls.  They forced game seven tonight against defending champion Boston in triple OT.  That makes seven OTs in the first six games!   I don't follow the NBA much (making an occasional exception for the Pistons), but I think I'll be watching some of THIS game seven.

[magicman]

I know there are few NBA fans here (I'm not much of one either), but maybe some of you make an exception for the Bulls.  They forced game seven tonight against defending champion Boston in triple OT.  That makes seven OTs in the first six games!   I don't follow the NBA much (making an occasional exception for the Pistons), but I think I'll be watching some of THIS game seven.

I also don't watch much of the NBA but I have watched this series and it's about as good as it gets. Saturday should be more of the same.

[AndOne]

This is a player that several midwestern DIIIs were on including, I believe, some CCIW members. Aurora from the NATHCon was also on him heavily.

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/1552977,043009-boys-basketball-anthony-kelley-commits.article

Kelley listened, but was always somewhat cool, to DIII pitches. It seems his patience was rewarded. We'll see how he makes the transition from a small private school to the DI level. 

[Above The Rim]

IWU received a verbal commitment from 6-2 SG Dan Oswald of Riverside-Brookfield H.S...

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/danoswald.html

I've never seen Dan play, but I know Coach Rose recruited him very hard.  Sounds like a very nice addition to the program.

Article on IWU recruits Bradley Ghere and Kevin Reed...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/04/29/usports/doc49f91578b0164503079992.txt

While the same may be applicable to Ghere, Oswald and Reed definitely have some smarts in addition to basketball skills, posting ACT scores of 30 and 31 respectively.

[Titan Q]

This blurb is the second mention I've heard of Aaron Garriott possibly ending up at Wheaton...

http://midstatehoops.com/v5/2009/05/03/msh-news-and-notes/
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/garriott.html
http://www.midstatehoops.com/articles/2007/garriottcommits.html

Garriott (Bloomington Central Catholic) is a 6-3 "combo guard" who decided to leave SIU-Edwardsville a few weeks ago.  When I saw him in high school, I thought he'd be a perfect CCIW recruit.  While I think he is in over his head vs average D1 competition, he would be a very good CCIW player -- a guy who could be in the discussion of "best guards in the league" down the road. 

As a freshman at SIU-E he averaged 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.  He was 36-121 (.298) from 3 and had an assist to turnover ratio of 0.86 to 1.  He is not really a good enough ball-handler to be a D1 PG, and not really a good enough shooter to be a D1 SG.  At the D3 level though, he can easily play either well.

Here is what Garriott did vs D3 and NAIA teams as a freshman at SIU-E (the Cougars lost to Millikin)...

http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE6.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE8.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE17.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE20.HTM


Garriott was on all of the same small school all-state teams with fellow central Illinois guards Jordan Zimmer (IWU), Zack Boyd (Elmhurst), and Jeremy Pflederer (Wheaton) like these:

http://www.illhoops.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2544&p=27653
http://www.ibsrecruiting.com/ibs-2008-illinois-bo.php
http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ihssallstate/2008IHSSClass1Aallstate.html
http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ihssallstate/2008IHSSClass2Aallstate.html


I think Garriott's CCIW upside would be very similar to theirs (although they are all very different players).  He's not Kent Raymond by any stretch, but would sure help with the post-KR transition.

[dansand]

The blurb is the second mention I've heard of Aaron Garriott possibly ending up at Wheaton...

http://midstatehoops.com/v5/2009/05/03/msh-news-and-notes/

http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/garriott.html

Garriott (Bloomington Central Catholic) is a 6-3 "combo guard" who decided to leave SIU-Edwardsville a few weeks ago.  When I saw him in high school, I thought he'd be a perfect CCIW recruit.  While I think he is in over his head vs average D1 competition, he would be a very good CCIW player -- a guy who could be in the discussion of "best guards in the league" down the road. 

As a freshman at SIU-E he averaged 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.  He was 36-121 (.298) from 3 and had an assist to turnover ratio of 0.86 to 1.  He is not really a good enough ball-handler to be a D1 PG, and not really a good enough shooter to be a D1 SG.  At the D3 level though, he can easily play either well.

Here is what Garriott did vs D3 and NAIA teams as a freshman at SIU-E (the Cougars lost to Millikin)...

http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE6.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE8.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE17.HTM
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MBB/20082009/SIUE20.HTM


Garriott was on all of the same small school all-state teams with fellow central Illinois guards Jordan Zimmer (IWU), Zack Boyd (Elmhurst), and Jeremy Pflederer (Wheaton) like these:

http://www.ibsrecruiting.com/ibs-2008-illinois-bo.php
http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ihssallstate/2008IHSSClass1Aallstate.html
http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ihssallstate/2008IHSSClass2Aallstate.html


I think Garriott's CCIW upside would be very similar to theirs (although they are all very different players).  He's not Kent Raymond by any stretch, but would sure help with the post-KR transition.

That's interesting Q. When I saw Garriott was leaving  SIUE a few weeks ago, I thought he might end up back in Bloomington with IWU. Olivet Nazarene is putting together an impressive class if he ends up going there. As far as the walk on opportunity at Iowa, he'd be joining Nick Neari of St. Charles North, who had a lot of CCIW and other midwestern small school interest.

http://basketball.dailyherald.com/story/?id=290889

[pgkevin]

I have no idea who this mysterious D1 assistant coach is, but I am curious.   Since you guys don't want to give a name, I can't help but speculate for fun.

Names I can think of who might fit the description above ("religious philosophy" etc.):

Mark Morefield
Tim Maloney
Fred Quartlebaum
Rob Judson

Interesting that you would say you have "no idea" and then proceed to list four names

It will be interesting to see who Wheaton ends up choosing. It really all boils down to what type of coach the athletic department is looking for. The four candidates all bring something different to the table. I have my own inclinations as to who the choice will be, but that is fruitless conjecture at this point. The announcement will be made soon enough.

Sorry, bad choice of words.  What I meant was that I don't have the info that Greg and crusader nation have.  Feel free to share your inclinations.  Fruitless conjecture is what message boards are for (especially in the offseason).

I would, except my inclinations are based on the fact that I know who the 4 finalists are and I am not at liberty to disclose that information.

Alright, I'll let my curiousity (albeit sporadic) get the best of me.  Who was the mystery 4th candidate.  Assuming that since one of the other candidates has been chosen you are now allowed to disclose

[Titan Q]

I've heard that Luke Radliff, a 6-5 wing from Mahomet-Seymour (a 3A school near Champaign), verbally committed to IWU recently.  As a senior, Radliff averaged 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.  I know he was recruited heavily by Elmhurst...not sure who else was on him.

I believe IWU's 2009 recruiting is now complete...

* Dan Oswald, 6-2 SG, Riverside-Brookfield (17.0 ppg, 45% 3-pt)
* Kevin Reed, 6-7 PF, Prospect H.S. (13.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg)
* Bradley Ghere, 5-11 PG, Ridgeview H.S. (23.0 ppg, 5.2 apg, 130 3's made)
* Luke Radliff, 6-5 SF, Mahomet-Seymour (17.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

[Titan Q]

In the 3 IWU seasons since the graduation of the class of 2006 (Dauksas, Amelianovich, etc), IWU's rosters have either lacked depth or experience (or both).  Next season, the Titans will have a lot of both.  A very rough depth chart for 2009-10.

1
Travis Rosenkranz (6-0 Jr)
Sean Dwyer (5-10 Sr)
Eliud Gonzalez (5-9 So)
Michael Kempf (5-11 Jr)
Bradley Ghere (5-11 Fr)

2
Sean Johnson (6-1 Jr)
Jordan Zimmer (6-5 So)
Matt Schick (6-4 Jr)
Steve Rudnicki (6-3 So)
Sean Seibring (6-2 So)
Dan Oswald (6-2 Fr)

3
John Koschnitzky (6-6 Jr)
Jordan Zimmer (6-5 So)
Matt Schick (6-4 Jr)
Josh Sutton (6-5 Jr)
Luke Radliff (6-5 Fr)

4
Doug Sexauer (6-7 Jr)
Duncan Lawson (6-7 Jr)
Dexter Walker (6-5 So)
Kevin Reed (6-7 Fr)

5
Edmond O'Callaghan (6-7 Jr)
Ryan Connolly (6-9 So)
Eric McCullough (6-9 So)
Kevin Reed (6-7 Fr)


Despite a disappointing 2009 CCIW season, I'm very optimistic about next year.  The Titans have a lot of talent returning.

[hopefan]

TQ, please send the 6 or 7 guys on you depth chart who don't make the team down to the SLIAC  -  we'll find some playing time for them down here!!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q,

Am I correctly interpreting from your depth chart that you don't foresee any of the freshmen making varsity at all, much less getting significant PT?  (There is by now an awful lot of experienced talent ahead of them.)

[Above The Rim]

In the 3 IWU seasons since the graduation of the class of 2006 (Dauksas, Amelianovich, etc), IWU's rosters have either lacked depth or experience (or both).  Next season, the Titans will have a lot of both.  A very rough depth chart for 2009-10.

1
Travis Rosenkranz (6-0 Jr)
Sean Dwyer (5-10 Sr)
Eliud Gonzalez (5-9 So)
Michael Kempf (5-11 Jr)
Bradley Ghere (5-11 Fr)

2
Sean Johnson (6-1 Jr)
Jordan Zimmer (6-5 So)
Matt Schick (6-4 Jr)
Steve Rudnicki (6-3 So)
Sean Seibring (6-2 So)
Dan Oswald (6-2 Fr)

3
John Koschnitzky (6-6 Jr)
Jordan Zimmer (6-5 So)
Matt Schick (6-4 Jr)
Josh Sutton (6-5 Jr)
Luke Radliff (6-5 Fr)

4
Doug Sexauer (6-7 Jr)
Duncan Lawson (6-7 Jr)
Dexter Walker (6-5 So)
Kevin Reed (6-7 Fr)

5
Edmond O'Callaghan (6-7 Jr)
Ryan Connolly (6-9 So)
Eric McCullough (6-9 So)
Kevin Reed (6-7 Fr)


Despite a disappointing 2009 CCIW season, I'm very optimistic about next year.  The Titans have a lot of talent returning.

Q,

Am I correctly interpreting from your depth chart that you don't foresee any of the freshmen making varsity at all, much less getting significant PT?  (There is by now an awful lot of experienced talent ahead of them.)

Not trying to play Mr. Curmudgeon here , but a better question might be will any of these freshmen ever play any significant minutes for IWU?

If Titan Q's analysis is correct, and I have every reason to suspect it is, none of the incoming frosh will dress for varsity games this year, and none will even start for the JV team--as the number 3 & 4 men at each position will prob fill those roles. Additionally, if each of the listed players remains with the team through his senior year and maintains his position on Mr. Q's current depth chart, none of the freshmen would seem to even have a chance to play at all until their junior year, and no chance to start until their senior year. Lastly, if they're not starting before senior year, the chances are high that a player entering school in the fall of '10 or '11 will be a better player and will beat them out for a starting position.   

While you can't argue with their college choice from an educational standpoint, it appears there is a good chance that their academic choice also signals a strong chance that their basketball playing days may have effectively ended or at least have been severly limited.   

[Titan Q]

Q,

Am I correctly interpreting from your depth chart that you don't foresee any of the freshmen making varsity at all, much less getting significant PT?  (There is by now an awful lot of experienced talent ahead of them.)

Note that I automatically placed the freshmen at the bottom of the depth chart for now since I am just not familiar enough with them.  Kevin Reed may very well be better than Ed O'Callaghan, Eric McCullough and Ryan Connolly for all I know, for example, but for now I consider him "behind" the older players.

[Titan Q]

Not trying to play Mr. Curmudgeon here , but a better question might be will any of these freshmen ever play any significant minutes for IWU?

If Titan Q's analysis is correct, and I have every reason to suspect it is, none of the incoming frosh will dress for varsity games this year, and none will even start for the JV team--as the number 3 & 4 men at each position will prob fill those roles. Additionally, if each of the listed players remains with the team through his senior year and maintains his position on Mr. Q's current depth chart, none of the freshmen would seem to even have a chance to play at all until their junior year, and no chance to start until their senior year. Lastly, if they're not starting before senior year, the chances are high that a player entering school in the fall of '10 or '11 will be a better player and will beat them out for a starting position.   

While you can't argue with their college choice from an educational standpoint, it appears there is a good chance that their academic choice also signals a strong chance that their basketball playing days may have effectively ended or at least have been severly limited.   

Since when are freshmen and sophomores supposed to be handed playing time?  At every great program around the country - which IWU is trying to become again - there are kids who spend a couple years developing (getting bigger, stronger, better defensively, etc) and then have successful JR and SR seasons as members of the varsity rotation.  Dozens of former IWU players come to mind, including:

* Chris Simich - 2 year JV player, 1995 CCIW M.O.P.
* Brent Niebrugge - 2 year JV player, 1998 CCIW M.O.P.
* John Baines - 2 year JV player, member of 1997 national championship team
* Matt Hoder - 2 year JV player, member of 1997 national championship team 
* Todd Wente - 2 year JV player, starter on 2001 Final Four team
* Jim Lehan - 2 year JV player, started on 2003 CCIW title team
* Darius Gant - 2 year JV player, CCIW 1st Teamer in 2008
* Brett Chamernik - 2 year JV player, starter in 2008 and 2009


There are stories like this often at the Wash U's, Hope's, Calvin's, UW-Stevens Point's, Wooster's, Amherst's, etc. - stories of all-conference-caliber kids who waited their turn behind good older players. 

I think you're exaggerating quite a bit here and also making some over-the-top assumptions (no freshman will dress varsity...none will start JV...none will play varsity until their JR year...none has a chance to start until their SR year...that the basketball careers of kids like Kevin Reed and Dan Oswald have basically ended by choosing to attend IWU).  Your logic seems to be that no member of IWU's 2009 recruiting class can pass any older player on the depth chart and any point, and that is pretty extreme.

Finally, note that every incoming freshman at IWU chose to come - over several other good small college options - knowing exactly what the "depth chart" looks like...opposing coaches spend a lot of time working that angle, as would I.  (This obviously was not an easy year for Ron Rose to recruit.)  These 4 kids decided they're comfortable competing for time at IWU and seeing what happens. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q,

Am I correctly interpreting from your depth chart that you don't foresee any of the freshmen making varsity at all, much less getting significant PT?  (There is by now an awful lot of experienced talent ahead of them.)

Note that I automatically placed the freshmen at the bottom of the depth chart for now since I am just not familiar enough with them.  Kevin Reed may very well be better than Ed O'Callaghan, Eric McCullough and Ryan Connolly for all I know, for example, but for now I consider him "behind" the older players.

Thanks.  I considered the possibility that you automatically listed the freshmen last, but thought I'd see if that was the case.  Just Q being cautious (something you've frequently tried to teach me).

To add to the list you gave ATR: Keelan Amelianovich, JV as freshman, CCIW MOP as a sophomore.