MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Hey Q, Sager, et al--

How about a CCIW all decade team for basketball? There has to be some tough choices if you were only going to pick a starting 5 and a 6th man (non starter).

Using the d3hoops.com All-American method:

First Team
G Antoine McDaniel, Carthage '03
G Kent Raymond, Wheaton '09
F Chris Martin, Elmhurst '06
F Jason Wiertel, Carthage '02
C Joel Kolmodin, Wheaton '05

Second Team
G Adam Dauksas, Illinois Wesleyan '06
G Drew Carstens, Augustana '04
F Keelan Amelianovich, Illinois Wesleyan '06
F Rob Garnes, Carthage '03
C Brent Ruch, Elmhurst '09

Third Team
G Ryan Knuppel, Elmhurst '01
G Steve Djurickovic, Carthage '11
F Anthony Simmons, North Central '07
F Luke Kasten, Illinois Wesleyan '03
C Zach Freeman, Illinois Wesleyan '07

Fourth Team
G Drew Wessels, Augustana '07
G Rick Harrigan, Augustana '06
F Dan Walton, North Central '07
F Chris Drennan, North Central '09
C Lukas Moo, Wheaton '01

Fifth Team
G Jon Nielson, Wheaton '05
G Ryan Burks, Elmhurst '09
F Jay McAdams-Thornton, Augustana '06
F Shaun Clements, Augustana '04
C Theo Powell, Carthage '04

Player of the Decade: Kent Raymond, Wheaton '09
Coach of the Decade: Grey Giovanine, Augustana

5 teams? C'mon Greg. you have 1 coach, 1 POD and 5 teams? you have lost serious credibility with that. I thought 3 teams by Q was too deep. I am disappointed in you.

While GS and I don't always agree on everything, I personally was happy to see Greg list 5 teams. After all, when we're talking about a decade worth of players, that entails a lot of names. For someone whose knowledge of the conference only goes back 5 years it was nice to "learn" some additional names of players who had significant careers in terms of achievement when measured against the hundreds of players who comprised the conference teams over the period in question.
Also, I think its nice to see 5 teams listed as I don't think listing only 25 players out of the hundreds that played is too many. I think too often we recognize only the top few in whatever arena we choose to consider while ignoring those that were better than 98 or 99 percent of the others who participated, and who also deserve a little recognition for their significant achievements.
So---Thanks for the added insight, GS.

[magicman]

I agree with what AndOne said about Greg's list. It was interesting to see all those guys. Good job Mr. Sager.

[Gregory Sager]

5 teams? C'mon Greg. you have 1 coach, 1 POD and 5 teams? you have lost serious credibility with that. I thought 3 teams by Q was too deep. I am disappointed in you.

I thought about throwing in a Defensive Player of the Decade and a Most Improved Player of the Decade as well, and it's a good thing I didn't. I'd probably get shunned if I did.

Now, don't leave us hanging!  I'd assume that MIPD would have to be Keelan Amelianovich (going from JV to CCIW MOP in a single year), but who is your DPD?

And if you are truly going with the full decade, no room for Korey Coon?

I'd have to give MIPD more thought. Amelianovich seems like an obvious choice at first glance, and he's certainly a good one, but if you look at the entire arc of a four-year career rather than a one-season jump it'd have to be Dan Walton of North Central. Amelianovich was a star in the making when he arrived on campus at IWU out of Neuqua Valley. Walton was a kid that nobody wanted, and he was pretty much an afterthought at the bottom of Benjy Taylor's clipboard when he showed up as a freshman at NCC.

My Defensive Player of the Decade would be Michael Fiddler of Wheaton. I'd give it to Anthony Figueroa of Millikin, but he gets shut out for the same reason that Korey Coon gets shut out -- they only played one year in the decade (1999-2000), and that's just not enough. Heck, look at where I put Steve Djurickovic! He has a chance to be one of the greatest CCIW players in the entire six-decades-plus history of the league. Do you really think he'd merit only a third-team notice if he'd played more than two years in the Oughts? Steve D. might make the All-Oughts team and the All-Teens team.

While GS and I don't always agree on everything, I personally was happy to see Greg list 5 teams. After all, when we're talking about a decade worth of players, that entails a lot of names. For someone whose knowledge of the conference only goes back 5 years it was nice to "learn" some additional names of players who had significant careers in terms of achievement when measured against the hundreds of players who comprised the conference teams over the period in question.
Also, I think its nice to see 5 teams listed as I don't think listing only 25 players out of the hundreds that played is too many. I think too often we recognize only the top few in whatever arena we choose to consider while ignoring those that were better than 98 or 99 percent of the others who participated, and who also deserve a little recognition for their significant achievements.
So---Thanks for the added insight, GS.

I agree with what AndOne said about Greg's list. It was interesting to see all those guys. Good job Mr. Sager.

Thanks, guys, although I'm pretty sure that USee was just messing with me. He's probably trying to get back at me for that crack I made about him being the group project of a Wheaton computer science seminar.

[Titan Q]

and radio guy?

Art Kimball

Just for anyone interested, here is a video piece WJBC did a couple years ago when Art won the IBA Pioneer Award...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNVs2I_jJk

[AndOne]

5 teams? C'mon Greg. you have 1 coach, 1 POD and 5 teams? you have lost serious credibility with that. I thought 3 teams by Q was too deep. I am disappointed in you.

I thought about throwing in a Defensive Player of the Decade and a Most Improved Player of the Decade as well, and it's a good thing I didn't. I'd probably get shunned if I did.

Now, don't leave us hanging!  I'd assume that MIPD would have to be Keelan Amelianovich (going from JV to CCIW MOP in a single year), but who is your DPD?

And if you are truly going with the full decade, no room for Korey Coon?

I'd have to give MIPD more thought. Amelianovich seems like an obvious choice at first glance, and he's certainly a good one, but if you look at the entire arc of a four-year career rather than a one-season jump it'd have to be Dan Walton of North Central. Amelianovich was a star in the making when he arrived on campus at IWU out of Neuqua Valley. Walton was a kid that nobody wanted, and he was pretty much an afterthought at the bottom of Benjy Taylor's clipboard when he showed up as a freshman at NCC.

Walton is a solid choice for most improved Player of the Decade----
*He wasn't really even recruited out of HS at Glenbard North
*As a freshman he was underused by Benjy Taylor and played a total of only 188 minutes and scored a whopping 44 points.
* Despite his limited 1st year PT and scoring, he still wound up as North Central's 7th leading all time scorer with 1308 points.
*As a senior Walton finished 3rd in the CCIW in rebounds, 5th in scoring, 5th in FG percentage, 11th in assists, 15th in FT percentage, T5th in steals, T10th in off. rebounds, and 1st in def. rebounds
*He is NCC's all time leader in FG percentage.
*2nd team All CCIW in 05-06.
*1st team All CCIW in 06-07.

[usee]

While GS and I don't always agree on everything, I personally was happy to see Greg list 5 teams. After all, when we're talking about a decade worth of players, that entails a lot of names. For someone whose knowledge of the conference only goes back 5 years it was nice to "learn" some additional names of players who had significant careers in terms of achievement when measured against the hundreds of players who comprised the conference teams over the period in question.
Also, I think its nice to see 5 teams listed as I don't think listing only 25 players out of the hundreds that played is too many. I think too often we recognize only the top few in whatever arena we choose to consider while ignoring those that were better than 98 or 99 percent of the others who participated, and who also deserve a little recognition for their significant achievements.
So---Thanks for the added insight, GS.

I agree with what AndOne said about Greg's list. It was interesting to see all those guys. Good job Mr. Sager.

Thanks, guys, although I'm pretty sure that USee was just messing with me. He's probably trying to get back at me for that crack I made about him being the group project of a Wheaton computer science seminar.

Greg is partially right. I was messing with him on this specific post but I should mention that listing 15-25 guys was not the question I posed. I purposely asked for 5 guys on a Team of the Decade because I would much rather see the old schoolers debating the merits of Dauksas vs McDaniel or Kolmodin vs Ruch than see posts like AO and Magicman (i.e. "it was interesting...thanks Mr Sager") .

Having said that, the same excercise in the football chat room hasn't generated any debate at all so what do I know??

[usee]

While last nights 4 OT game between Wheaton and Pomona was entertaining and a nailbiter, it doesn't give Thunder fans much confidence going into the brutal conference schedule. Instead of beating 3-4 Hamline and getting tested against a tough Cal Lutheran team, the Thunder ended up struggling to a 2-1 record against teams with losing records that should have been a 1-2 record.  The emergence of Shultze, Pierotti and Eske are encouraging but I am not convinced these guys are good enough to help Wheaton win during the course of a conference schedule. And its clear from Titan Q's analysis that most CCIW teams have neutered their chances at a playoff appearance without an AQ.

The Thunder open up on Wednesday in Kenosha and then host Augie and IWU as 3 of their first 5 CCIW games. The pre-season is over.

[augiefan]

Now that the nonconference games are behind us, we are still challenged to come up with a clear cut favorite for the CCIW regular season title. Let's put our prognostication powers on the line and predict (guess) the final CCIW standings. Here's my prediction (actually a guess):

1. IWU
2. Carthage
3. Wheaton
4. Augie
5. NCC
6. Elmhurst
7. NPU
8. Millikin

No prediction on records, but I'm guessing the 1st place team will have 3 losses minimum.

[Moser]

Now that the nonconference games are behind us, we are still challenged to come up with a clear cut favorite for the CCIW regular season title. Let's put our prognostication powers on the line and predict (guess) the final CCIW standings. Here's my prediction (actually a guess):

1. IWU
2. Carthage
3. Wheaton
4. Augie
5. NCC
6. Elmhurst
7. NPU
8. Millikin

No prediction on records, but I'm guessing the 1st place team will have 3 losses minimum.

1. Carthage- The Red Men need to tighten up on 'D' (6th in ppg allowed), but I think Steve D. gives them the leg up much like Raymond did for Wheaton last year

2. Wheaton- The Thunder has more experience than they get credit for (Carwell, Panner, Jahns, McCrary), and role players (Schultze, Shackelford, Eseke) that can score. They have struggled against teams with good big men, however.

3. IWU- The Titans have improved defensively and have a nice cast of offensive stars.

4. Augie- No one really stands out offensively, but they can stop people and they will be in every game. Augie has a track record of winning grind-em-out games.

5. Elmhurst- Of all the years to be undersized, the Bluejays picked a pretty good one. No team really has a dominant "true 5" this season.

6. Millikin- Maybe this is too high, but Millikin's defense is pretty impressive.

7. NCC- This is probably too low for the Cardinals, but they lost some studs.

8. NPU- The Vikings did not do much in their non-conference games to show they are poised to contend.

[NPC-Alum]

Replying to USee's post - here is one fan's response that Antioine McDaniel was definitley the PG of the decade ahead of Dauksis.  Both were great players and both played on very good teams, but I think that McDaniel just did more for his team than Dauksis did. 

Dan Walton, without a doubt, went from an afterthought to a top tier player in the CCIW.  There may have been others, but his is a deserving MIP.

Rob Garnes was a tough call - at times I thought he was both under and over rated.  He did have to be accouted for at all times when he was on the court, though.

[Titan Q]

Replying to USee's post - here is one fan's response that Antioine McDaniel was definitley the PG of the decade ahead of Dauksis.  Both were great players and both played on very good teams, but I think that McDaniel just did more for his team than Dauksis did. 

No matter what your pick is, I think it's awfully hard to say one should "definitely" get the nod over the other.  I mean, it's close any way you look at "impact"...

Years as starter: Dauksas 4, McDaniel 4
CCIW Titles: Dauksas 3, McDaniel 3
Sweet 16's: Dauksas 3, McDaniel 2
Final Fours: Dauksas 1, McDaniel 1
CCIW M.O.P: Dauksas 1, McDaniel 1
CCIW 1st  Team: McDaniel 3, Dauksas 2
All-American: McDaniel 2 (2nd Team 2002, 2nd Team 2003), Dauksas 2 (1st Team 2005, 1st Team 2006)

Senior year stats:

Dauksas ('06): 14.4 ppg, 6.2 apg
McDaniel ('03): 16.5 ppg, 2.3 apg

McDaniel was a little bit better scorer, but Dauksas was a better distributor.  Both were phenomenal leaders and floor generals.

Whatever way you go here, it is hard to argue, but I think to say McDaniel was "definitely" the PG of the decade - when Dauksas was the 1st Team All-American PG his JR and SR years - is tough.

It's close...very, very close.

[usee]

Now that's what I'm talking about!

[Titan Q]

Carthage 69
King's 46

Djurickovic: 30 pts, 18-19 FT

[Titan Q]

I posted these numbers recently, but here they are (updated), with all non-conference games in the books.  Note, I removed the stats from the Augustana @ Gonzaga game from the calculation as they skew the Augie numbers.  All other teams' numbers are based on 11 non-conference games.

(As I said when I posted this the first time, keep in mind that non-conference strength of schedule is across the board, from strong to weak.)


Points per 100 Possessions (offensive efficiency) – non-conference games
1.   Carthage, 115.1
2.   Ill. Wesleyan, 114.8
3.   Elmhurst, 110.2
4.   North Central, 108.5
5.   Wheaton, 107.7
6.   North Park, 106.5
7.   Augustana, 101.1
8.   Millikin, 90.8


Opponent Points per 100 Possessions (defensive efficiency) – non-conference games
1.   Millikin, 89.0
2.   Ill. Wesleyan, 93.5
3.   Wheaton, 94.4
4.   Augustana, 94.9
5.   Carthage, 97.5
6.   North Park, 100.5
7.   North Central, 101.3
8.   Elmhurst, 109.8

Differential
1.   Ill Wesleyan, +21.3
2.   Carthage, +17.6
3.   Wheaton, +13.3
4.   North Central, +7.2
5.   Augustana, +6.2
6.   North Park, +6.0
7.   Millikin, +1.8
8.   Elmhurst, +0.4

[pcarr]

and radio guy?

Art Kimball, with honorable mentions for Johnny "Bud" Weiser and Bob Quillman and a special Student Broadcaster of the Decade plaque for Paul Carr.

Thanks!  I'll hang the plaque next to my runner-up trophy from the 2001-02 CCIW fantasy league. I think Wheaton C won that year.

Back to lurking in Bristol...