MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Sean Dwyer was a very talented senior - I have doubts that his 17 minutes are up for grabs!  My gut hunch is that Travis, Sean Johnson, and Jordan are gonna grab onto most of those minutes and not let go.  The combination of back ups may only see a combined 15 minutes (plus 'garbage time') - but we shall see.

Just 15 minutes available off the bench at the 1-3 spots?  So you're saying Rosenkranz (29 min/game), Johnson (31 min/game), and Zimmer (24 min/game) are all going to average 35 minutes per game next year?  That is not going to happen, Chuck...zero chance.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sean Dwyer was a very talented senior - I have doubts that his 17 minutes are up for grabs!  My gut hunch is that Travis, Sean Johnson, and Jordan are gonna grab onto most of those minutes and not let go.  The combination of back ups may only see a combined 15 minutes (plus 'garbage time') - but we shall see.

Just 15 minutes available off the bench at the 1-3 spots?  So you're saying Rosenkranz (29 min/game), Johnson (31 min/game), and Zimmer (24 min/game) are all going to average 35 minutes per game next year?  That is not going to happen, Chuck...zero chance.

Doesn't Coach Rose like to occasionally go with the 'big' lineup and sometimes play Koschnitzky at the 3?  I was counting some of those minutes as his.

And don't forget I also added 'garbage time'.  Overall average minutes can be deceiving.

[Viking Mike]

All this recruit talk has me thinking about Augie's hopefuls for next year.
Does anyone have any insight on who Coach G is looking at for the upcoming freshman class?
I would imagine he is looking at guards as he really had a great year last year bringing in some very talented BIG.

Augie is really in need of a couple pure shooters......guys who have the green light to take the shot when open.  The Vikings seemed very offensively challenged this year.   Are there any Cartens or Harrigans out there to help Augie?

I am concerned about who will step in as our shooting guard for next year.  As much as I would like to see Anderson in that role, he doesn't seem to have great ball handling skills.  He appears to be more of a shooting forward.  Avallone has been disappointing with his streaky shooting and his perpensity for turnovers.  Rorer is athletic and a good rebounder, but is not a pure shooter nor a elite ball handler. Is Safranski a possibility?  I know he led the JV team in scoring.  I would imagine Croegaert is DeSimone's backup.

Any ideas from anyone?

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph's article on Brady Zimmer's commitment to IWU...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/article_e8ef0374-3b61-11df-8611-001cc4c002e0.html

BLOOMINGTON — When the brothers Zimmer played basketball in their basement as kids, Jordan and Brady had different styles.

"He would stand out by the 3-point line and shoot," said Brady, who is two years younger than Jordan. "I would put my head down and go as hard as I can to the basket."


That sums up the difference in Brady and Jordan's game much better than I did above!  Everything is easier in Nerf Hoop terms.

[AndOne]

All this recruit talk has me thinking about Augie's hopefuls for next year.
Does anyone have any insight on who Coach G is looking at for the upcoming freshman class?
I would imagine he is looking at guards as he really had a great year last year bringing in some very talented BIG.

Augie is really in need of a couple pure shooters......guys who have the green light to take the shot when open.  The Vikings seemed very offensively challenged this year.   Are there any Cartens or Harrigans out there to help Augie?

I am concerned about who will step in as our shooting guard for next year.  As much as I would like to see Anderson in that role, he doesn't seem to have great ball handling skills.  He appears to be more of a shooting forward.  Avallone has been disappointing with his streaky shooting and his perpensity for turnovers.  Rorer is athletic and a good rebounder, but is not a pure shooter nor a elite ball handler. Is Safranski a possibility?  I know he led the JV team in scoring.  I would imagine Croegaert is DeSimone's backup.

Any ideas from anyone?

While Augie returns 7 players 6'6" or taller, I've heard a lot of talk that Coach G is on several bigs again this year. Given the makeup of the roster, he must be on some guards, but talk about why he is supposedly after more bigs has overshadowed what I've heard about his pursuit of guards. But, you can pretty well bet Augie will come out of it with at least one very good backcourt player.

[AndOne]

Congratulations to North Central grad assistant coach Chris Drennan on his marriage to fellow NCC alum Katie Knapczyk (sister of this year's PG Jonny).

Regulars here will remember Chris as an '09 NCC grad who was 1st team CCIW all conference and also an all region player.

Chris returned from last week's honeymoon to Jamaica with enough energy for noon ball yesterday!          

[AndOne]

Look for a announcement shortly concerning a departure from the CCIW coaching ranks
similar to Steve Schafer's leaving North Park for Benedictine this past season.

Not posting the name or details at this time as a formal release has not yet been issued by the hiring institution.

[iwumichigander]

A very good start for Ron Rose this recruiting season!  My instincts say he's not done as yet.

A "good start"?  Yikes...you must be hard to please, mich.  Victor Davis was IWU's #1 post recruit and Brady Zimmer was the #1 perimeter target.  I don't think there is any question these two were Ron Rose's top 2 recruiting priorities.  Joe LaTulip is a solid third recruit.

I'm sure IWU will add a few more recruits before it is all said and done, but I guess I'm just saying don't expect to see names here of prospects as good (or better than) Davis and Zimmer.

I'm not hard to please!  It is not a good start really - it is an outstanding start!  However, don't you think the Titan Nation would be disappointed if Ron did not add to these three?  Am I looking for another Davis or Zimmer?  No.   

Yet,  by the end of next season, IWU will have turned over at least 1/3  of its current listed roster.  If you are a freshman coming in, this is as good a time as any to get in the mix for the future.  If someone of the caliber of these three commits, we certainly aren't going to say you might be better off playing somewhere else?

[Gregory Sager]

Look for a announcement shortly concerning a departure from the CCIW coaching ranks
similar to Steve Schafer's leaving North Park for Benedictine this past season.

Not posting the name or details at this time as a formal release has not yet been issued by the hiring institution.

I don't have your insider info on this particular tidbit, but I'd be surprised if you're not talking about John Baines. Given the fact that he interviewed for the Carroll head coaching position last year, and add in his having to endure an epic tumble in Elmhurst's fortunes last season, and it seems logical to me that he'd be ready to move on.

[AndOne]

And the Carroll job is not the only one John has applied for in recent years. In fact, I believe he has even been a finalist upon an occasion or two.
While he may indeed be ready to move on, its not John that is the concerned party in this instance. Although, things can change quickly.   

[Titan Q]

Yet,  by the end of next season, IWU will have turned over at least 1/3  of its current listed roster.  If you are a freshman coming in, this is as good a time as any to get in the mix for the future.  If someone of the caliber of these three commits, we certainly aren't going to say you might be better off playing somewhere else?

First, it sounds like you are not aware how much talent is behind the current junior class.  These guys in particular can play...

Juniors in 2010-11
Jordan Zimmer, 6-5 G/F
John Koschnitzky, 6-6 F
Ryan Connolly, 6-9 C
Stephen Rudnicki, 6-3 PG/SG
Eliud Gonzalez, 5-9 PG
Dan Schouten, 6-5 PF

Sophomores in 2010-11
Dan Oswald, 6-2 SG
Kevin Reed, 6-7 PF
Eric McCullough, 6-9 C (soph not junior due to medical redshirt)


When you add Victor Davis, Brady Zimmer, and Joe LaTulip to that mix you are in good shape at all 5 positions when the Sexauer/Johnson/Rosenkranz class leaves.


Second, when you ask, "If someone of the caliber of these three commits, we certainly aren't going to say you might be better off playing somewhere else?", what I am saying is I don't think IWU is on any more recruits the caliber of Brady Zimmer or Victor Davis.  In the absence of some DI or DII transfer out of nowhere, I just don't know who that would be. 

I'm positive there will be more recruits in the class than the 3 already listed (good players), but when you start saying things like "However, don't you think the Titan Nation would be disappointed if Ron did not add to these three?", you really lose me.  I mean, no, I don't think "Titan Nation" would be disappointed.  In my opinion, when the head coach of the D3 school you follow lands Victor Davis and Brady Zimmer (to go along with other good players in the two classes ahead of them), you smile and get excited for the future...not demand more recruits.

[Titan Q]

In the frontpage picture of Butler head coach Brad Stevens from his playing days at DePauw, IWU is the opponent...

http://www.d3hoops.com/


Brent Niebrugge is guarding Stevens, with Korey Coon to the left, and Andy Boyden up top.

The photo looks like it's from the '50s (except the shorts are a bit long).

[Titan Q]

From the Pekin Times on Brady Zimmer's decision to attend IWU...

http://www.pekintimes.com/sports/x1664782036/Zimmer-joins-Illinois-Wesleyan-family


"Watching my brother play, I know the college game is so much more different," Brady said. "It's going to be a big transition for me, but I'm excited to make that transition. Ballhandling is going to be one of the big things for me to work on.

"I'm going to be a work in progress, but if I keep working at it, I think I'll be a success."

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the Pekin Times on Brady Zimmer's decision to attend IWU...

http://www.pekintimes.com/sports/x1664782036/Zimmer-joins-Illinois-Wesleyan-family


"Watching my brother play, I know the college game is so much more different," Brady said. "It's going to be a big transition for me, but I'm excited to make that transition. Ballhandling is going to be one of the big things for me to work on.

"I'm going to be a work in progress, but if I keep working at it, I think I'll be a success."

Gotta like his attitude!

[iwu70]

Congratulations to Victor Davis and Brady Zimmer on your acceptance by IWU.  And, welcome to the Titan nation of DIII basketball lovers and fans.  We wish you all success during your time at IWU. 

Now we have to find some good recruits to help replace Christina Solari!  That's near on impossible! 

Happy Easter (and Final Four weekend) to all.  Gotta love some of the stories about the old Butler Field House.  Reminds me of the old Memorial Gym at IWU, before it became Hansen Student Center.