MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[deepthroat]

I can name a couple of NPU's incoming freshmen. One is Zach Dungee, a 6'6, 225 kid from Wheaton North. I think that he got a lot more attention from football recruiters than from basketball recruiters, since football was his better sport in high school, but he's bound and determined to put his energies into hoops in college rather than the gridiron. He's considered to be raw but promising. Unlike his predecessor, Emmanuel Crosby, he'll have the benefit of JV seasoning as a Viking and won't get thrown into the deep end of the pool right away.

Another is David Williams, a 5'10 point guard from a Tinley Park program that really took off last year. He's supposed to be a defensive specialist -- after last season's atrocities at the defensive end of the floor, it's good to see defense be a focus of NPU recruiting -- cut in the Chris Brown mold. There's also three more recruits whose names elude me at the moment; one's a Minnehaha grad (for the uninitiated, Minnehaha Academy is the Covenant high school in Minneapolis that usually sends a lot of its new alumni on to North Park, CCIW Chat regular Mark Erickson being an example of a Minnehaha/North Park double alumnus), another is a product of the Gene Pingatore machine at St. Joe's, and the third is a 6'3, 200 football/basketball dual athlete from the suburbs who'll be spending the fall playing wide receiver for the Vikings.

The big fish, the one on whom I can't report, has been accepted at NPU but is still sorting out his financial arrangements. He's been at the top of the recruiting clipboard for the Park, and if Brenegan lands him he might be an immediate contributor as a freshman, in spite of the fact that there'll be a lot of experienced returnees this upcoming season.

All in all, I suspect that there'll end up being the usual six to eight freshmen present when fall practice starts. Sorry for the incomplete report vis-a-vis names, but I wasn't taking notes when I met with the coaches.

Greg - did the big fish end up going to NP?

no, went the juco route.

[Gregory Sager]

I can name a couple of NPU's incoming freshmen. One is Zach Dungee, a 6'6, 225 kid from Wheaton North. I think that he got a lot more attention from football recruiters than from basketball recruiters, since football was his better sport in high school, but he's bound and determined to put his energies into hoops in college rather than the gridiron. He's considered to be raw but promising. Unlike his predecessor, Emmanuel Crosby, he'll have the benefit of JV seasoning as a Viking and won't get thrown into the deep end of the pool right away.

Another is David Williams, a 5'10 point guard from a Tinley Park program that really took off last year. He's supposed to be a defensive specialist -- after last season's atrocities at the defensive end of the floor, it's good to see defense be a focus of NPU recruiting -- cut in the Chris Brown mold. There's also three more recruits whose names elude me at the moment; one's a Minnehaha grad (for the uninitiated, Minnehaha Academy is the Covenant high school in Minneapolis that usually sends a lot of its new alumni on to North Park, CCIW Chat regular Mark Erickson being an example of a Minnehaha/North Park double alumnus), another is a product of the Gene Pingatore machine at St. Joe's, and the third is a 6'3, 200 football/basketball dual athlete from the suburbs who'll be spending the fall playing wide receiver for the Vikings.

The big fish, the one on whom I can't report, has been accepted at NPU but is still sorting out his financial arrangements. He's been at the top of the recruiting clipboard for the Park, and if Brenegan lands him he might be an immediate contributor as a freshman, in spite of the fact that there'll be a lot of experienced returnees this upcoming season.

All in all, I suspect that there'll end up being the usual six to eight freshmen present when fall practice starts. Sorry for the incomplete report vis-a-vis names, but I wasn't taking notes when I met with the coaches.

Greg - did the big fish end up going to NP?

His dad decided at the last minute that NPU was just too expensive for the family budget, so, as deepthroat said, he opted to accept a juco scholie.

[dansand]

I've added another Carthage recruit to the list on page 1324. Tyler Pierce of Westmont, IL. Another nice pickup for the Red Men.

[AndOne]

Here's the updated recruit list. Keep the updates coming.


Carthage:
Raul Guzman, 6-5, 255, Cicero Morton...15.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.3 bpg, 37% 3p...West Suburban Gold Conference Player of the Year...Suburban Life Area Player of the Year...IBCA Class 3A/4A Special mention All-State

Tyler Pierce, 6-5, Westmont...Downers Grove Reporter Progress Area Player of the Year...IBCA 1A/2A 1st team All-State...IBS Small School Honorable mention All-State...AP 2A Honorable mention All-State...Two-time Interstate 8 All-Conference...Suburban Life All-Area as a junior...Brother of former Iowa Hawkeye Pierre Pierce

Westmont HS   GP   FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg   A  TO Blk Stl  Pts  Avg
2007-08......                                                              8.0                      18.8
2008-09...... 31  288-619  .465  19-80   .238 158-233  .678  104 207  311 10.0  53  64  53  52  753 24.3

Ben Potter, 6-3, Batavia...14.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 54 3pfg...Daily Herald All-Area...Suburban Life Honorable mention All-Area

Mitch Thompson, 6-6, Orland Park Sandburg...15 ppg, 9 rpg...Southwest Suburban Blue all-conference...IBCA Class 3A/4A Special mention All-State

I've added another Carthage recruit to the list on page 1324. Tyler Pierce of Westmont, IL. Another nice pickup for the Red Men.

Hopefully, Mr. Pierce emulates his older brother, Pierre, on the court only.
Pierre may have played at Iowa, but for the majority of basketball fans in the western suburbs, he is best known and remembered for his frequent and very serious confrontations with the law culminating in his having to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. You can Google Pierre Pierce, Westmont and click on the Wikipedia article for some interesting reading if you so choose.

[AndOne]

North Central has finally been able to complete its scheduling for the 09-10 season. A copy of the Cardinals schedule can be found by clicking on the link below. 
Tip Off Tourney guests will be Lakeland, WI, Oberlin, OH, and Mississippi College.

http://northcentralcardinals.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

[dansand]

Augie and Millikin have their rosters up.

Augustana roster

Millikin roster

[augiefan]

So who are the current frontrunners to start for Augie in the season opener? Pelton is a given, but the rest of the starting five is a little less certain. Avallone probably starts at guard with Pelton, and Voiles and Nelson probably are the starting forwards, but I have no idea who starts at the center position. Green's the biggest guy on the team, but he's coming off the injury list and did not play much the year before. A lot of rebounding strength to replace on this team.

A real rebuilding year for Augie with some good freshmen, but freshmen seldom excel in the CCIW, unless their name is Raymond.

[AndOne]

So who are the current frontrunners to start for Augie in the season opener? Pelton is a given, but the rest of the starting five is a little less certain. Avallone probably starts at guard with Pelton, and Voiles and Nelson probably are the starting forwards, but I have no idea who starts at the center position. Green's the biggest guy on the team, but he's coming off the injury list and did not play much the year before. A lot of rebounding strength to replace on this team.

A real rebuilding year for Augie with some good freshmen, but freshmen seldom excel in the CCIW, unless their name is Raymond.

OR Djurickovic   

*********************************************************************
Not sure if he'll start or not but if not, DeSimone will still see considerable PT. Personally, I'd start him over Avallone.

Also, don't be surprised to see frosh Luke Scarlotta start at center.

Fellow frosh Brandon Kunz is a good bet to be the 1st sub in at a forward spot.

[Titan Q]

Not sure how long it has been up, but IWU has posted its 2009-10 roster (pretty sure heights and weights have not been updated since last year)...

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball&


22 players listed (4 freshmen, 10 sophomores, 7 juniors, 1 senior).

A name I had almost forgotten about is back - Dan Schouten (6-5 F).  Schouten was a pretty solid recruit out of Downers Grove South but has been injured his entire time at IWU ('07-08 and '08-09 seasons).  He is now listed as a sophomore, so not sure if he's taken a medical redshirt or what the deal is.

IWU should be very deep and very talented this year.  If the Titans become a good defensive team, they have a chance to be very good in 2009-10.

[Titan Q]

Seems to me IWU's biggest question mark is at the starting center position.  When the dust settles with position battles, the Titans should have 4 very solid starters/reserves...

1 - Travis Rosenkranz/Sean Dwyer
2 - Sean Johnson/Jordan Zimmer
3 - John Koschnitzky/Matt Schick
4 - Doug Sexauer/Duncan Lawson?/other?
5 - Ryan Connolly?/Ed O'Callaghan?/other?


I guess either someone proves they belong at the 5, or Koschnitzy slides down to the 4, Sexauer to the 5 (with Zimmer at the 3)...I personally believe they'd be better with Koschnitzky at the 3.    

This is probably what I'll keep my eye on as the preseason plays out.

[kenoshamark]

The Carthage roster is up now as well:

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/basketball/roster.html

[augiefan]

I was going to mention Djurickovic in my last post along with Rasymond as frosh phenoms, but I knew I would butcher the spelling of his name and was too lazy to look it up.

[dansand]

I was going to mention Djurickovic in my last post along with Rasymond as frosh phenoms, but I knew I would butcher the spelling of his name and was too lazy to look it up.

Ironically, you spelled Djurickovic right and misspelled Raymond.  

[Titan Q]

Here are the freshmen who have scored 10.0 ppg + in CCIW games this decade (2000 through 2009):


1. Steve Djurickovic, CC (2008), 23.4 ppg
2. Drew Gensler*, MU (2006), 19.2 ppg
3. Luke Kasten, IWU (2000), 18.6 ppg
4. Kent Raymond, WC (2005), 18.2 ppg
5. Brandon Smith*, NCC (2007), 16.0 ppg
6. Rob Garnes, CC (2000), 15.2 ppg
7. Roshawn Russell, NPU (2009), 14.9 ppg
8. Drew Carstens, AC (2001), 14.8 ppg
9. Reuben Slock, EC (2000), 13.0 ppg
10. Sean Johnson, IWU (2008), 12.9 ppg
11. Chris Martin, EC (2002), 12.6 ppg
12. Zach Freeman, IWU (2004), 11.6 ppg
13. Nick Williams, NPU (2007), 11.5 ppg
14. Kevin Blomstrom*, WC (2001), 11.4 ppg
15. Tim McCrary, WC (2009), 10.1 ppg

* did not stay all 4 years

Let me know if I've missed anyone or have someone listed as a freshman who wasn't that season.

[Gregory Sager]

Nice research, Bob. But you should've asterisked Reuben "Fadeaway" Slock, too, since he did not play out his full eligibility.