MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

#5: Michael Harper - 1977-80
#4: Michael Starks - 1986-88
#3: Modzel Greer - 1977-80
#2: Michael Barach - 1986-88
#1: Michael Thomas - 1978-81

2nd team
#5: Lars Anderson - 1984-85
#4: Greg Crawford - 1967-70
#3: Justyne Monegain - 1982-85
#2: Jim Carroll - 1968-70
#1: Keith McDonald - 1969-72

[Dennis_Prikkel]

"NPU's first trip to the East Coast since the 1980 national quarterfinal game at New Jersey City (then called Jersey City State)" GS

The 1980 game in St. Peter's gym in Jersey City was unique in that it was the Midwest-West quarterfinal.

Jersey City State won the two-team west regional and could not host in their own gym - hence the move across town to St. Peter's.  North Park had almost as many fans as JCS.

It was also the only North Park athletic event my parents ever attended.  They lived in the east Bronx then - just prior to retiring to central New Jersey.

Michael Harper had his worst game of the season with only 9 points before fouling out in a close contest with about six minutes to play.  North Park went into its four-corner offense after that and won going away (me things 96 to 73).

[Gregory Sager]

Interesting to see that North Park will play Williams, the Ephs' first game vs. a CCIW team (I think) since Wheaton ended the Williams record home winning streak back in 2005.

It will mark the first time that NPU has ever played a NESCAC team. And, of course, that record home winning streak of the Ephs of which you spoke broke the old 62-game record home winning streak held by North Park.

Where does North Park project in the CCIW pecking order (I assume that IWU and Carthage, as likely pre-season top five teams nationally, are at the top?). 

Carthage and IWU, in whatever order, will certainly be the top two teams in the annual CCIW coaches preseason poll, and as you say they're good bets for the d3hoops.com preseason top five as well. Augustana and Wheaton will undoubtedly be picked third and fourth by the coaches, and I would expect them both to get some recognition in the d3hoops.com preseason poll as well.

I can almost guarantee that NPU will be picked to finish again where it finished last season, fifth place. Given the national-level strength of the four teams mentioned above and North Park's current lack of performance credentials, fifth place isn't really an insult or anything. But, insult or not, NPU will most certainly use that fifth-place prediction as a motivational tool. The Vikings are deep, they're talented, and they're experienced, and I don't think that they're going to be intimidated by the four teams picked above them. The Vikings return four of their five 2009-10 starters, six of their top seven scorers, and will add as well two former starters who missed most or all of last year to injury, plus another former starter who took a sabbatical last season.

It should be a great game on December 28. I'm already looking forward to it.

"NPU's first trip to the East Coast since the 1980 national quarterfinal game at New Jersey City (then called Jersey City State)" GS

The 1980 game in St. Peter's gym in Jersey City was unique in that it was the Midwest-West quarterfinal.

Jersey City State won the two-team west regional and could not host in their own gym - hence the move across town to St. Peter's.  North Park had almost as many fans as JCS.

It was also the only North Park athletic event my parents ever attended.  They lived in the east Bronx then - just prior to retiring to central New Jersey.

Michael Harper had his worst game of the season with only 9 points before fouling out in a close contest with about six minutes to play.  North Park went into its four-corner offense after that and won going away (me things 96 to 73).

86-63

[nescac1]

Thanks for the info Greg.  Should be a fun neutral-court game.  While it's always dangerous to take too much from one game, it will provide at least some insight into how Williams stacks up against the CCIW, which should be interesting.  Sounds like a particularly brutal year in the CCIW next season.  NESCAC, in contrast, outside of a very strong top three, could be a bit down from usual standards.  Looking at the NPU roster and stats, they seem to be a quick but not terribly tall, guard dominated team, which I expect Williams to be next season (they will often sport a lineup that is 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'3, 6'0), so I expect running and gunning in that game. 

And I'm glad that Williams will get at least one stern test prior to conference play, because 10 days later they are at Amherst, and Amherst will almost certainly bounce back from a year in which everything that could go wrong, did.   

[Gregory Sager]

Thanks for the info Greg.  Should be a fun neutral-court game.

Williams to Salem, MA = 155 miles
North Park to Salem, MA = 1,010 miles

Some courts are more neutral than others.

Looking at the NPU roster and stats, they seem to be a quick but not terribly tall, guard dominated team, which I expect Williams to be next season (they will often sport a lineup that is 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'3, 6'0), so I expect running and gunning in that game.

NPU should be plenty tall enough to measure up against most D3 teams. The most likely starting lineup would be 6'7, 6'5, 6'4, 6'1, 5'9. Both of NPU's centers are solid, muscular types that go about 6'7, 235, and the five players that are in the mix for playing time at the two forward sports are 6'7, 6'5, 6'5, 6'4, and 6'4. Of course, the possibility exists that NPU head coach Paul Brenegan could opt for a three-guard lineup, given the team's depth at the guard spots.

And I'm glad that Williams will get at least one stern test prior to conference play, because 10 days later they are at Amherst, and Amherst will almost certainly bounce back from a year in which everything that could go wrong, did.

I have the same feelings about North Park, because eight days after the Williams game the Vikings will host an Augustana team that'll most likely enter play ranked in the d3hoops.com preseason poll. NPU has had a bad habit of scheduling too light a non-conference schedule and then paying for it once the conference slate begins; last season was a classic example of that, as the Vikings gave up a 17-0 run at the start of their CCIW season opener at Augie a year ago and didn't score their first point in CCIW play until almost five minutes had gone by.

The idea behind playing a team like Williams just eight days before CCIW play begins is that it will prepare the Vikings for what they can expect from the upper echelon of the CCIW, which certainly includes Augie.

[Titan Q]

A very early look at IWU's personnel for 2010-11.  This is based purely on how I see things...


2009-10: 23-8 overall, 10-4 CCIW (2nd), lost @ eventual national champ UW-Stevens Point in Elite Eight


Probable Starters
PG - Travis Rosenkranz (6-0 SR) - 8.2 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 A:TO, 3rd Team All-CCIW
SG - Sean Johnson (6-1 SR) - 17.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.2 rpg, 75-181 3-pt (.414), 2nd Team All-CCIW
SF - Jordan Zimmer (6-5 JR) - 9.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 54-132 3-pt (.409)
PF* - John Koschnitzky (6-6 JR) - 5.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
C - Doug Sexauer (6-7 SR) - 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .565 FG,  1st Team All-CCIW

* The PF spot is probably the least settled.  Koschnitzky started there in IWU's final 6 games and would seem to be the lead candidate, but there will be strong competition here.


Bench Battles
PG - Stephen Rudnicki (6-3 JR), Eliud Gonzalez (5-9 JR), Brady Zimmer (6-4 FR)
SG - Dan Oswald (6-2 SO), Brady Zimmer (6-4 FR)
SF - Matt Schick (6-4 SR), Eric Dortch (6-4 FR)
PF - Duncan Lawson (6-7 SR), Victor Davis (6-5 FR), Kevin Reed (6-7 SO), Dan Schouten (6-5 JR)
C - Ryan Connolly (6-10 JR), Edmond O'Callaghan (6-7 SR)

Top JV Candidates

(any FR or SO listed above that does not end up making the rotation would obviously end up here)

PG - Joe Latulip (5-10 FR)
SG - Bradley Ghere (5-11 SO)
SF - Mike Mayberger (6-5 FR)
PF - Andrew Ziemnik (6-4 FR)
C - Nick Anderson (6-10 FR), Eric McCullough (6-9 SO) - not sure about McCullough's health status


This is as deep and talented as IWU has been since 2005-06 - the Dauksas/Amelianovich/Freeman team that went to Salem.  The Titans will enter 2010-11 with big expectations.  Like 2005-06, however, I believe the CCIW will be absolutely loaded this year.  As good as IWU will be, Carthage won the league last year and returns just as much.  And North Park, Augustana, and Wheaton should be talented enough to contend as well.  Looking outside the league, the road to Salem would most likely go through 2010 national champion UW-Stevens Point...which lost just one starter.  There will be some very good CCIW teams that a) don't win the league, and b) don't make it far in the tournament.  

I'm excited about 2010-11 but also about the presence of the "next wave" of Titans.  IWU should very good in 2011-12 and beyond too.  Ron Rose has the program in great shape right now.

[izzy stradlin]

Rumor mill has it that Wheaton's Aaron Garriott is not going to play for the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance this season. Confirm or deny, anyone?

Don't know about Garriott.

I am not at all certain of this yet, but it sounds like Jeremy Pflederer may be returning to give Wheaton a nice boost in the backcourt. 

If true, just a guess at Wheaton's first 5:
1. Pflederer (So)
2. Jahns (Sr)
3.   Kvam (Fr)/McCreary (Fr)/Peters (Fr)/DeMoss (Fr) -- not willing to go out on a limb here
4. McCrary (Jr)
5. Schultze (Jr) or DeVries (Fr)

[AndOne]

I think this is the last recruiting list I posted.  Did all of these kids show up at school?  IWU's guys are all on campus (I removed Kyle Miklasz from the list)...

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...



North Central
* John Colao (6-3 SG, Libertyville H.S.) - 6.8 ppg, 4 rpg   
* Matt Dickinson (6-8 PF, Warren Township H.S.) - ?   
* Mortell Flowers (6-4 F, Oak Park-River Forest H.S.) - ?   
* Landon Gamble (6-5 F/C, Lockport Township H.S.) - 9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg 
* Brad Hallstein (6-8 PF, Normal West H.S.) - 16.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg
* Porta Harris (6-3 SG, Prosser H.S.) -17.0 ppg   
* Vince Kmiec (6-4 SG, Sandburg H.S.) - 16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 spg 
* Adam LeTourneau (6-4 G, Batavia H.S.) - 6.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg
* Sam Maple (6-2 PG, Lincoln-Way Central H.S.) - 8 ppg, 5 agp  
* Eric Miller (6-0 SG, Willowbrook H.S.) - 15.8 ppg   
* Kyle Pembrook (6-2 SG, Neuqua Valley H.S.) - 9.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg   
* Brock Pezanoski (6-3 SF, LaSalle-Peru H.S.) - 11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg
* Charlie Rosenberg (6-6 F, Fremd H.S.) - 8.1 ppg   
* Pat Rourke (6-3 PG, Dekalb H.S.) - 12 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.5 apg   
* Tyler Smeltzly (5-10 PG, Riverdale H.S.) - 13.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.1 apg 

Today was freshman move in day at North Central. I believe all 15 players listed showed up plus 4-5 more. Looks like there will be approx  32 players on hand for the 1st day of practice next month.

[Titan Q]

Live video, Bloom ('99-00) vs Brother Rice ('99-00), from a sold out Shannon Center @ St. Xavier...


http://www.replaytheseries.com/pages/liveevents_bloomtownshipvsbrotherrice/

http://www.southtownstar.com/sports/2677958,090610sptREPLAYtreys.article


Go Crusaders!

[Titan Q]

First crack at a preseason ranking of CCIW teams...

T1 Illinois Wesleyan
T1 Carthage
3 Augustana
4 North Park
5 Wheaton
6 North Central
7 Elmhurst
8 Millikin


I'm not sure how to create any separation between IWU and Carthage.  The Titans and Red Men split in the regular season...played a game that went to the final seconds in the CCIW tournament in Kenosha (won by Carthage)...and played a very close game on a neutral floor in the NCAA tournament (won by IWU).  Carthage has the best player in Division III...IWU has tremendous balance and depth.

[Gregory Sager]

I strongly doubt that the coaches are going to pick NPU over Wheaton. I think that North Park is going to be slotted fifth by most of the other seven coaches, if not all of them.

[AndOne]

First crack at a preseason ranking of CCIW teams...

T1 Illinois Wesleyan
T1 Carthage
3 Augustana
4 North Park
5 Wheaton
6 North Central
7 Elmhurst
8 Millikin


I'm not sure how to create any separation between IWU and Carthage.  The Titans and Red Men split in the regular season...played a game that went to the final seconds in the CCIW tournament in Kenosha (won by Carthage)...and played a very close game on a neutral floor in the NCAA tournament (won by IWU).  Carthage has the best player in Division III...IWU has tremendous balance and depth.

Based primarily on the depth factor, I'd have to rate Wesleyan the slight favorite over Carthage. When you have a player of the caliber of Andrew Ziemnik listed as SIXTH on the depth chart (according to TQ's chart above) thats saying a lot.

[iwu70]

IWU does have remarkable depth.  Seems almost all CCIW teams have really added quality players to their rosters for the upcoming season.  Should be quite a year . . . and the normal meetings with Wash U and WAIC teams too.  Looking forward to seeing some games in November, before I head back to Asia.

[Titan Q]

Here is the Sporting News preseason Top 10...

1. UW-Stevens Point
2. Franklin & Marshall
3. Randolph-Macon
4. Wooster
5. St. Norbert
6. Eastern Mennonite
7. Williams
8. UW-Whitewater
9. St. Mary's (Md)
10. Virginia Wesleyan

And their "possible breakthroughs" (listed alphabetically)...

Albright
Anderson
Augustana
Baruch
Cabrini
Carthage
Chapman
DeSales
Gettysburg
Hobart
Hope
Illinois Wesleyan
Ithaca
John Carroll
Maryville
MIT
Plattsburgh
Ramapo
Rhode Island
Ripon
Rochester
St. John Fisher
St. Lawrence
St. Thomas
Scranton
SUNYIT
Texas-Dallas
Wash U
Wesley
Wheaton
Whitworth
Wittenberg
York (NY)

[Titan Q]

Sporting News preseason All-America Team...

First Team
Steve Djurickovic (Carthage)
Marcel Esonwune (York-NY)
Ian Franks (Wooster)
James McNally (Franklin & Marshall)
Todd Phillips (Eastern Mennonite)

Second Team
Noel Hollingsworth (MIT)
Tim McCrary (Wheaton)
Tyler Nicolai (St. Thomas)
Andrew Powers (Gettysburg)
James Wang (Williams)


Among 30 players listed as "Honorable Mention" are Doug Sexauer (IWU) and Kyle Nelson (Augustana).