MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

I saw the pictures the first time you posted them, Bob. No need to post them again. And you're forgetting that I also mentioned after the IWU @ Chicago game that Sexauer took two right-handed shots that afternoon -- an awkward scoop shot that went in, and an open layup that he short-rimmed. Doesn't change anything. He is still reluctant to use his right hand to shoot, and he will still use his left in most situations that are typically right-handed shot situations.

This isn't something that I'm just making up. Everybody knows this, and it's been a perpetual topic of conversation in this room throughout his career. Methinks you doth protest too much.

And I guess I protest because you have taken this to an almost bizarre level.  

* Is Doug Sexauer left-handed?  Yes.  
* Does he primarily use his left hand? Yes.
* Do left handed players primarily use their left hand? Yes.
* Do right handed players primarily use their right hand? Yes.
* Can Sexauer now go right?  Yes.
* Does Sexauer go right when necessary?  Absolutely (he has in every tourney game so far).

I could understand the "he is reluctant to use his right" argument if it actually impacted his effectiveness around the basket.  Sexauer led the CCIW in FG % this season (100-150, .667)!  In the NCAA tournament, he is 25-44 from the field (.568).

I just don't get it.

[Gregory Sager]

Just to clear up a little controversy from the second half last night...a quote from the Kenosha News

"After Djurickovic banked in a 3-pointer to cut it to 75-72 with eight seconds left, Johnson sealed the deal with two free throws with seven seconds on the clock."

And because of that banked-in desperation trey with eight seconds left, we can change this list (and Mike Krizman will have to update it on the CCIW website as well):

CCIW Two Thousand Point Club

player	school	final yr	pts
Leon Gobczynski	Millikin	1975	2635
Dave Shaw	Carroll	1977	2563
Mel Peterson	Wheaton	1960	2542
Kent Raymond	Wheaton	2009	2308
Jack Sikma	Illinois Wesleyan	1977	2272
Bill Warden	North Central	1955	2249
Jesse Price	Millikin	1969	2222
Scott Steagall	Millikin	1951	2127
Jason Wiertel	Carthage	2002	2113
Michael Thomas	North Park	1981	2085
Blaise Bugajski	Illinois Wesleyan	1984	2062
Marv Johnson	Wheaton	1951	2044
Justyne Monegain	North Park	1985	2039
John Laing	Augustana	1973	2035
Steve Djurickovic	Carthage	2011	2002

Congrats to Stevie D., although I'm sure that joining this elite club is small consolation for the fact that his team's season is over.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just to clear up a little controversy from the second half last night...a quote from the Kenosha News

"After Djurickovic banked in a 3-pointer to cut it to 75-72 with eight seconds left, Johnson sealed the deal with two free throws with seven seconds on the clock."

And because of that banked-in desperation trey with eight seconds left, we can change this list (and Mike Krizman will have to update it on the CCIW website as well):

CCIW Two Thousand Point Club

player	school	final yr	pts
Leon Gobczynski	Millikin	1975	2635
Dave Shaw	Carroll	1977	2563
Mel Peterson	Wheaton	1960	2542
Kent Raymond	Wheaton	2009	2308
Jack Sikma	Illinois Wesleyan	1977	2272
Bill Warden	North Central	1955	2249
Jesse Price	Millikin	1969	2222
Scott Steagall	Millikin	1951	2127
Jason Wiertel	Carthage	2002	2113
Michael Thomas	North Park	1981	2085
Blaise Bugajski	Illinois Wesleyan	1984	2062
Marv Johnson	Wheaton	1951	2044
Justyne Monegain	North Park	1985	2039
John Laing	Augustana	1973	2035
Steve Djurickovic	Carthage	2011	2002

Congrats to Stevie D., although I'm sure that joining this elite club is small consolation for the fact that his team's season is over.

That means he has averaged just over 667 points his first three seasons.  An average (for him!) senior year puts him atop the list.

[veterancciwfan]

Pistol: I guess you are more acutely aware of the travelling rules than D3 officials who work 20+ games a year and get paid to do so. Did you observe Sexhauer's numerous non-called travelling post moves last night while watching the game on the always reliable and big-as-life video stream on your computer?

[Gregory Sager]

I saw the pictures the first time you posted them, Bob. No need to post them again. And you're forgetting that I also mentioned after the IWU @ Chicago game that Sexauer took two right-handed shots that afternoon -- an awkward scoop shot that went in, and an open layup that he short-rimmed. Doesn't change anything. He is still reluctant to use his right hand to shoot, and he will still use his left in most situations that are typically right-handed shot situations.

This isn't something that I'm just making up. Everybody knows this, and it's been a perpetual topic of conversation in this room throughout his career. Methinks you doth protest too much.

And I guess I protest because you have taken this to an almost bizarre level. 

* Is Doug Sexauer left-handed?  Yes. 
* Does he primarily use his left hand? Yes.
* Do right handed players primarily use their right hand? Yes.
* Can Sexauer now go right?  Yes.
* Does Sexauer go right when necessary?  Absolutely (he has in every tourney game so far).

I could understand the "he is reluctant to use his right" argument if it actually impacted his effectiveness around the basket.  Sexauer led the CCIW in FG % this season (100-150, .667)!  In the NCAA tournament, he is 25-44 from the field (.568).

I just don't get it.

There's nothing bizarre about it, Bob. He can shoot with his right -- which is a completely different thing than going to his right, which he has done throughout his career -- but he very seldom does. I don't know whether it's because he knows that he's far less effective with it, or because he's simply used to shooting with his left when going right, but the fact of the matter is that he is reluctant to shoot with his right hand, even in situations in which the by-the-book shot is a right-handed shot. When he moves to his right, he will usually shoot left. (Last night was no exception, by the way.) That's unorthodox, and it's limiting, and I guess that in a way it's to his credit that he remains so effective when he does so; shots tend to be easier to block when you aren't moving away from the defender's body, but he knows how to use his size and height to loft lefty shots over the blocking hand of a defender (I think he's also more athletic than you might be willing to give him credit).

A defender who knows Sexauer's tendencies and who has the size and athleticism to attack his left hand can significantly limit him. I saw Nick Williams do exactly that three weeks ago tonight. Williams, who has certainly had his struggles in the past against Sexauer, zeroed in on Sexauer's left hand almost perfectly in that game. When Emanuel Crosby was guarding Sexauer, which was a little less than half of the 33 minutes that Sexauer played that night, the Titans junior shot 5-8 (including his trey) and scored 12 points. When Williams was guarding him (the rest of the time that Crosby wasn't, including down the stretch when Paul Brenegan used Williams and Jorge Gonzalez as his two bigs), Sexauer went 1-4 from the field and scored three points (Williams fouled him once, and Sexauer went 1-2 on the ensuing FTs). Williams focused entirely upon Sexauer's left hand and took it away from him -- and Sexauer did not respond by shooting with the hand that Williams left open, even when he had the ball on the right block. It was one or the reasons why I touted the defensive improvement that Williams made in the last segment of his senior year.

Pierce very consistently overplayed Sexauer's left hand last night. It worked in the first half. It didn't work in the second half whenever he guarded Sexauer -- Sexauer either shot over him (Pierce is a very good horizontal defender, but not much of a vertical defender) or outmaneuvered him to the spot. Guzman? His defense against Sexauer was a mess last night. Sexauer took the Morton grad to school when that was the matchup.

That means he has averaged just over 667 points his first three seasons.  An average (for him!) senior year puts him atop the list.

As I said before, it might come down to his being able to play extra games. Carthage played only the requisite 25 contests in each of his first two seasons, but it got to play five extra games this year (two in the CCIW tourney, three in the D3 tourney). If he only plays in 25 again as a senior, he might have difficulty catching Gobczynski. Again, though, as I said before I wouldn't bet against him -- if for no other reason than because I think Carthage is not going to be limited to 25 games next year.

[John Gleich]

With Lou Hurd at the 3, Point starts 6'2", 6'4", 6'5" 6'7", 6'7" and while the two inside guys Krull (Jeremy, the youngest of the bunch!) and Hoelzel aren't overly beefy, they can hold their old... I expect Krull to be put on Sexauer... he's really Point's defensive stopper.  And if Scott Hoelzel is having a good game, he's very crafty around the basket and can score in bunches.  He's not really big himself but is a great leaper.

I'm looking forward to this match up.  I think that the more conventional nature (spreading scoring around as opposed to a star like SD).  It isn't that Point lacks individual defensive stoppers (I was actually looking forward to seeing how they were going to deal with Steve), but they are a very, very sound TEAM defensive team (straight from the department of redundancy department!)

This should be a very good game!  I'm looking forward to it!

1.) Try NICK Krull.   

2.)  Department of said department.  Not redundant at all. 

Sorry... just got home from Florida and my brain is goo.  My 7 night stay included 4 doctor visits, a trip to the emergency room at 2 A.M. and an overnight stay in the luxurious accommodations of Mease Countryside hospital.  As an aside if anyone is traveling to the Clearwater area of Florida, I've got the name of a GREAT Pediatrician!


I thought of one more thing concerning the desired offensive attack of this Pointer team... because they're averaging shooting about 6 fewer 3's per game, they're taking those shots inside the arc... higher percentage shots, and this means an overall higher shooting percentage and a greater average scoring output.  On the defensive end, they've got a better defensive points-against average than teams from the past few years, and they're a better rebounding team... so that's what has propelled them through to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament instead of a being 1 or 2 and done.  And it doesn't hurt to be at home either!

[markerickson]

Doug Sexauer pivots well, but not as well as Rob Berki.  Seriously, Sexauer plays very well with his back to the basket.  NPU alum, Jay Alexander, had lots of potential to go with his enthusiasm.  Jay was a good player, but he never learned to create a shot with his back to the basket.  I see glimpses of Emmanuel Crosby learning the footwork, which is definitely a good thing.

[AndOne]

Just to clear up a little controversy from the second half last night...a quote from the Kenosha News

"After Djurickovic banked in a 3-pointer to cut it to 75-72 with eight seconds left, Johnson sealed the deal with two free throws with seven seconds on the clock."

And because of that banked-in desperation trey with eight seconds left, we can change this list (and Mike Krizman will have to update it on the CCIW website as well):

CCIW Two Thousand Point Club

player	school	final yr	pts
Leon Gobczynski	Millikin	1975	2635
Dave Shaw	Carroll	1977	2563
Mel Peterson	Wheaton	1960	2542
Kent Raymond	Wheaton	2009	2308
Jack Sikma	Illinois Wesleyan	1977	2272
Bill Warden	North Central	1955	2249
Jesse Price	Millikin	1969	2222
Scott Steagall	Millikin	1951	2127
Jason Wiertel	Carthage	2002	2113
Michael Thomas	North Park	1981	2085
Blaise Bugajski	Illinois Wesleyan	1984	2062
Marv Johnson	Wheaton	1951	2044
Justyne Monegain	North Park	1985	2039
John Laing	Augustana	1973	2035
Steve Djurickovic	Carthage	2011	2002

Congrats to Stevie D., although I'm sure that joining this elite club is small consolation for the fact that his team's season is over.

That means he has averaged just over 667 points his first three seasons.  An average (for him!) senior year puts him atop the list.

While this will be a noteworthy achievement if he attains it, lets not forget that almost every player on this prestigious list played prior to the 3 point shot being adopted in the college ranks. No doubt several of the top ranking players were successful on more than a few shots beyond the now established arc.

The 3 point shot was first used in a few conferences in 1980, and was made universal throughout the college game in 1986.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just to clear up a little controversy from the second half last night...a quote from the Kenosha News

"After Djurickovic banked in a 3-pointer to cut it to 75-72 with eight seconds left, Johnson sealed the deal with two free throws with seven seconds on the clock."

And because of that banked-in desperation trey with eight seconds left, we can change this list (and Mike Krizman will have to update it on the CCIW website as well):

CCIW Two Thousand Point Club

player	school	final yr	pts
Leon Gobczynski	Millikin	1975	2635
Dave Shaw	Carroll	1977	2563
Mel Peterson	Wheaton	1960	2542
Kent Raymond	Wheaton	2009	2308
Jack Sikma	Illinois Wesleyan	1977	2272
Bill Warden	North Central	1955	2249
Jesse Price	Millikin	1969	2222
Scott Steagall	Millikin	1951	2127
Jason Wiertel	Carthage	2002	2113
Michael Thomas	North Park	1981	2085
Blaise Bugajski	Illinois Wesleyan	1984	2062
Marv Johnson	Wheaton	1951	2044
Justyne Monegain	North Park	1985	2039
John Laing	Augustana	1973	2035
Steve Djurickovic	Carthage	2011	2002

Congrats to Stevie D., although I'm sure that joining this elite club is small consolation for the fact that his team's season is over.

That means he has averaged just over 667 points his first three seasons.  An average (for him!) senior year puts him atop the list.

While this will be a noteworthy achievement if he attains it, lets not forget that almost every player on this prestigious list played prior to the 3 point shot being adopted in the college ranks. No doubt several of the top ranking players were successful on more than a few shots beyond the now established arc.

The 3 point shot was first used in a few conferences in 1980, and was made universal throughout the college game in 1986.

This is true, and I was wondering about that myself.  I'm pretty sure the trey would have added very little to the totals of Gobzcynski or Sikma (I have no idea about the style of play for Peterson or Shaw).  But note that even Kent Raymond couldn't crack the top three - it would still be a tremendous achievement.

Anyone know if the trey would have significantly helped anyone on the list (or added others to the list)?  (Even though he was a big, having seen Jesse Price on 5 or 6 occasions I suspect it would have added 50-100 points to his total; maybe more, since he might have stepped back a couple of feet and buried 'em more often!)

[Gregory Sager]

Doug Sexauer pivots well, but not as well as Rob Berki.  Seriously, Sexauer plays very well with his back to the basket.  NPU alum, Jay Alexander, had lots of potential to go with his enthusiasm.  Jay was a good player, but he never learned to create a shot with his back to the basket.

Sure he did, Mark. He had the technique down. Jay's problem was that he's 6'5 and weighs about 180 pounds soaking wet. He never had the body mass that allowed him to back in opposing CCIW big men. Not that he didn't try to amend that; he was a hard worker in practice, and he certainly put in his time in the weight room. Some guys simply have too high a metabolism to put on pounds. Michael Harper was the same way. When I was a freshman and he was a senior I saw Harps sit in the dining hall for what seemed like an hour every day at dinnertime, making one trip after another to the food line and spooning protein mix into his milk -- he used to bring a jar of protein mix with him every time he went to the dining hall. Didn't help. He was about 6'10, 210 as a senior, and I think if he'd been able to put on some bulk he might've lasted in the NBA longer than two years.

While this will be a noteworthy achievement if he attains it, lets not forget that almost every player on this prestigious list played prior to the 3 point shot being adopted in the college ranks. No doubt several of the top ranking players were successful on more than a few shots beyond the now established arc.

The 3 point shot was first used in a few conferences in 1980, and was made universal throughout the college game in 1986.

Very true, but I don't think it'll detract from Steve D.'s achievement if he passes Gobczynski and takes over as the all-time leading overall scorer among CCIW players. While he has certainly made himself a more accomplished three-point shooter, Steve D.'s bread and butter has always been his drive to the basket and making the ensuing free throws that come from driving. It's not as though he's hung around behind the arc and made his living as a spot-up shooter for the past three seasons.

This is true, and I was wondering about that myself.  I'm pretty sure the trey would have added very little to the totals of Gobzcynski or Sikma (I have no idea about the style of play for Peterson or Shaw).  But note that even Kent Raymond couldn't crack the top three - it would still be a tremendous achievement.

Anyone know if the trey would have significantly helped anyone on the list (or added others to the list)?  (Even though he was a big, having seen Jesse Price on 5 or 6 occasions I suspect it would have added 50-100 points to his total; maybe more, since he might have stepped back a couple of feet and buried 'em more often!)

From what Dennis says, Scott Steagall was a guard who shot a ton of outside jumpers. The three-point rule would've helped him. Michael Thomas was a point guard who made a lot of outside shots. He would've augmented his total if there had been a three-point rule back then, too. Blaise Bugajski also had that range, although I remember him mostly being a deadly midrange shooter.

[Gregory Sager]

UWSP 72
IWU 56

[John Gleich]

UWSP 72
IWU 56

And Johnson with 32 of IWU's 56

[The Roop]

Free Bloodys (or drink of choice) at The Jim in Weston Sunday morning with ticket stub.

[Gregory Sager]

UWSP was a machine tonight, and the Titans got crushed under the wheels. The Pointers were so phenomenally quick that they completely gummed up the flow of the IWU offense -- with one singular exception -- and offensively they used that quickness to make great cuts to the basket for easy layups and to enable wide-open midrange shots, all of which they seemed to hit. After the first five minutes or so of the game, they completely dominated -- and they never let IWU get any closer than nine in the second half. They were up by margins in the mid-teens most of the second half, and they were pulling away when both coaches emptied their benches.

Harris, Jenkins, Moses ... there's some serious wheels on that team. But what most impresses me about the Pointers is their offensive versatility. Every guy on that team can shoot, and every guy on that team can take the ball to the hole. Five Pointers scored in double figures tonight, and after watching them for two nights I get the impression that this sort of everybody-and-anybody scoring approach is not an unusual occurrence for them.

The singular exception of whom I spoke was Sean Johnson. He played a phenomenal game for IWU tonight, scoring 32 points, and, just as he did last night in the first half against Carthage, he basically carried his team on his back tonight. He made some huge NBA-distance treys and did a tremendous job of driving to the basket and being pesky and opportunistic on the defensive end. Kudos to him. But his teammates were seriously lagging. The next-highest-scoring Titan was Travis Rosenkranz, and he had a mere seven points. Johnson just didn't get any support at all.

Nick Krull did a phenomenal job guarding Doug Sexauer, who fouled out with only six points and was a total non-factor in the game. Sexauer only rarely was able to establish good position down in the blocks, and Krull sat on Sexauer's left hand all night. Sexauer spun and spun, but just never seemed to shake Krull off of his left. That was one of the best defensive jobs I've seen a big man turn in in a long time.

The Titans have no reason to hang their heads. They had a great Cinderella run this March. I sure didn't have them pegged as an Elite Eight team. Heck, even Chuck didn't foresee them going that far. And those of us who support the royal blue and gold certainly owe the Titans our thanks for knocking off Wash U and preserving North Park's status as the only school to threepeat the D3 men's basketball championship. This tournament run was a great experience for a Titans team that should be pretty formidable next season. But it is UWSP's time to shine. They should be a strong addition to what sounds like a very solid Final Four field.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yep.  Even Chuck had them as only a mild favorite against Central, and an underdog against WashU, Carthage, and UWSP.  Alas, my pessimism was finally correct.

But helluva year, Titans!  Next year - Salem or Bust!