MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

We'll see if Parker Musselman comes a bit more into the regular varsity rotation.  Lincoln College beat IWU's JV something like 91-78 on Thursday night, with Mike Mayberger scoring 25, Musselman 17.

http://www.lincolncourier.com/newsnow/x1987745155/MENS-BASKETBALL-Lynx-have-balanced-attack-vs-Wesleyan

These are really good games for the young guys to play in.  There is no substitute for playing in actual games, and it seems like like are not many traditional CCIW JV games left due to a combination of the doubleheader format and JV roster attrition (the article mentions that IWU only had 6 guys in uniform).  In these JUCO games, the JV guys end up facing a lot of D1 and D2-caliber players.

Hats off to IWU JV's for going a perfect 21 for 21 from the FT line in this one.

Mike Mayberger, who scored 25 vs Lincoln College, is a guy to keep an eye on for next year.  He is a 6-6 small forward who can really shoot the basketball.  Mayberger has been hurt most of the last year it seems (I think knee problems) but sounds like he's getting back to healthy.  He'll be in the battle for that starting 3 job next season (with Eric Dortch and others), when John Koschnitzky is gone.

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2328&path=mbball

[augiefan]

I have been away from the board for a while, but it appears that Augie's fall from grace is directly attributable to the nonproduction of Bryant Voiles since he sat out the Knox game with a "minor" injury. Prior to that Voiles was one of the dominant offensive players in DIII MBB. Since returning to the court for the MacMurray game and the first 3 CCIW game, Voiles has not scored in double figures in any of those games and has had pathetically low shooting percentages from the field. One has to think that pehaps he is playing hurt.

I do not know if Dansand ventures here any more, but perhaps he has thoughts on what is wrong with Bryant. If Voiles does not return to form, Augie will be fortunate to make the CCIW tourney let alone be a NCCA tourney contender. Inquiring minds need to know what's up with Bryant Voiles?

[iwumichigander]

I have been away from the board for a while, but it appears that Augie's fall from grace is directly attributable to the nonproduction of Bryant Voiles since he sat out the Knox game with a "minor" injury. Prior to that Voiles was one of the dominant offensive players in DIII MBB. Since returning to the court for the MacMurray game and the first 3 CCIW game, Voiles has not scored in double figures in any of those games and has had pathetically low shooting percentages from the field. One has to think that pehaps he is playing hurt.

I do not know if Dansand ventures here any more, but perhaps he has thoughts on what is wrong with Bryant. If Voiles does not return to form, Augie will be fortunate to make the CCIW tourney let alone be a NCCA tourney contender. Inquiring minds need to know what's up with Bryant Voiles?

Whether hurt (or not), the loss of Scarlata has to be considered a factor, as it allows opponents to pay a little more attention to Mr. Voiles.  With no disrespect to the other Augie 'bigs', opponents can now afford to double up on Voiles in a help defense who is a handful in a one on one man to man situation.  Against a zone, opponents have been thus far more effective in containing (or at least contesting) Voiles.  Voiles seems to be a 'smart' player and IMHO will eventually figure out how to turn the double teams into his advantage.

[iwu70]

Looking forward to the IWU-Carthage games today.

Q, thanks for more on the IWU JV game.  It's great to see Mike Mayberger playing so well, getting his court time, and hopefully improving and healing up from the knee issues he had earlier.  That's clearly his best game of the approx 15 game JV season. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see more of the games remaining cancelled, as they only have six guys now, with Colin Wheeler apparently shut down for the season?  He and Overstreet were the two guards, with Musselman, Josh Wiggs and Brandon Heyen in the front court.  Sixth man on the JV now is Randy Azuogu.  As you've seen, as we've reported here, Mussleman is now very close to joining the varisty rotation and will have a key impact down the CCIW stretch, esp. when IWU's current bigs have foul troubles, or if there are any injuries down the stretch to any of IWU's bigs.  Musselman has, perhaps, the best skills on offense of any in the Titan bench rotation of bigs, IMHO.   Josh Wiggs has also played very well and could fulfill a similar role in varsity games, if needed, though he's still a true freshman, needs more lbs. and nastiness for the 7:30 hour, but he will surely come on, be an excellent CCIW player, in coming years.  He's a good player. with good length, court sense and vision, mainly for now from the post area.  However, on contention  at the 3 next year, I personally doubt if Mayberger will be the one, as he still has knee worries and is clearly a weaker defender than others on the JV.  My bet would be on Brandon Heyen, with his length, quickness, speed, better overall defending, jumping abilities, and a tremendous range of shooting, a really good trey shooter, and also a big shot blocker.  He reminds me a bit of Dortch, but without Eric's strength and tenacity just yet.  But, similar speed, much greater length.   If he hits the weight room this summer, bulks up a bit and still has his quickness and range, running the floor, and his trememdous length, I'd clearly see him in the varsity rotation at the 3 next year.  Bigtime match up problems, as he's 6'7".  If Heyen keeps improving, keeps his shooting range, gets stronger, and develops more and more the Zimmer type slashing game, I think the sky is the limit for this kid.  Overstreet, too, is going to be very good . . . in fact, he impresses me as much as Molinari so far, though he hasn't had the same chances for varsity minutes as yet.  I hope Wheeler is able to heal too, and can get back. He's also had some excellent games during the JV schedule earlier.  Reminds me a bit of Sean Dwyer.  I think Ron Rose must be giving special recruiting attention to finding a few more pure point guards, to replace Gonzalez and Rudnicki in future.  Of course, Molinari is the likely successor, but the Titans will need more depth at the PG position, surely moreso than at the bigs, as Titans indeed have several tons of good bigs coming back next year:  Reed, Davis, Anderson, Ziemnik, Dortch, Musselman, Wiggs.   Schouten?   We will greatly miss the four seniors:  Gonzalez, Rudnicki, Zimmer and Kman.  And, we haven't mentioned at all the prospect that Brady Zimmer returns fully healthy and ready to stretch defenses with the Zimmer family specialty, treys from near anywhere.   Can't help but be very optimistic about the next few years of Titan basketball!  (and, of course, success helps recruiting). 

I see Emory and Williams lost last night.  Still alot of undefeated teams in DIII men's hoops.  Will be interesting to see where the Titans are in the poll (and Augie too!), after this week's results.  My guess would be something about 12th - 15th, but just guessing. Augie will still be in.  Seems NCC should be getting more attention, more votes now too.  Again, IMHO.

Very key game for the IWU women tonight.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see more of the games remaining cancelled, as they only have six guys now, with Colin Wheeler apparently shut down for the season?

Connor Wheeler

Seems NCC should be getting more attention, more votes now too.  Again, IMHO.

North Central has 5 losses:

@ Aurora (7-6)
@ Albion (6-8)
@ Simpson (5-9)
@ UW-Platteville (9-7)
vs Scranton (11-4)

Despite NCC's great win @ Augustana, and 3-0 CCIW start, there is just no way a D3hoops.com Top 25 voter can list the Cardinals as one of the nations best 25 teams right now.  For all I know NCC has all of their non-conference problems solved, and is in the process of making another CCIW title run, but you can't expect the voters to erase 5 very shaky losses from the resume.  Wouldn't you agree that would be an enormous stretch at the present time?

[Titan Q]

Note, the IWU/Carthage game tonight in Bloomington is at 7:00pm...not the usual 7:30pm start.  Live video and radio links below...

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal# (video)

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal# (WJBC radio)

http://www.wlip.com/  (WLIP radio)

[cardinalpride]

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see more of the games remaining cancelled, as they only have six guys now, with Colin Wheeler apparently shut down for the season?

Connor Wheeler

Seems NCC should be getting more attention, more votes now too.  Again, IMHO.

North Central has 5 losses:

@ Aurora (7-6)
@ Albion (6-8)
@ Simpson (5-9)
@ UW-Platteville (9-7)
vs Scranton (11-4)

Despite NCC's great win @ Augustana, and 3-0 CCIW start, there is just no way a D3hoops.com Top 25 voter can list the Cardinals as one of the nations best 25 teams right now.  For all I know NCC has all of their non-conference problems solved, and is in the process of making another CCIW title run, but you can't expect the voters to erase 5 very shaky losses from the resume.  Wouldn't you agree that would be an enormous stretch at the present time?

I'm in agreement with TQ.  NCC has more work to do before receiving any top 25 consideration!  The NCC/Wheaton game tonight should be another good one.  Can NCC get another road win in the conference tonight?  Is Wheaton still considered by many on this board to be the better team.  The game tonight will answer at least one those questions.  It just may answer both.  Go Cards!

[robberki]

I have been called the King of Empty Promises...but it appears our technical issues are a thing of the past. Check out the NPU-Millikin game at 4 pm today, Greg and I will be on the call. Click the link!

http://athletics.northpark.edu/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=basketball

[shepherd]

FYI:
The Wheaton vs North Central game is at 8:00pm central time and not at the 5:30 eastern time as stated on D3hoops.  Other than that all I have to say is wow, what a conference race this is shaping up to be barring injuries.
Go Wheaton!

[Titan Q]

We have some pretty nice staggering in start times today...


4:00pm - Millikin @ NPU

7:00pm - Carthage @ IWU

8:00pm - North Central @ Wheaton

8:00pm - Augustana @ Elmhurst

[TitansIWU]

I have been called the King of Empty Promises...but it appears our technical issues are a thing of the past. Check out the NPU-Millikin game at 4 pm today, Greg and I will be on the call. Click the link!

http://athletics.northpark.edu/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=basketball

Commentary of the day:

"Can you repeat all that Greg, I was listening to Young MC"

Classic!

[titanfan]

NPU 58
Millikin 55

I watched the broadcast.  Millikin was in it until the end with a chance to win with the ball down 1 and 20 seconds left. 

[augie_superfan]

NPU 58
Millikin 55

I watched the broadcast.  Millikin was in it until the end with a chance to win with the ball down 1 and 20 seconds left.

Wow, I can't wait to hear what Greg has to say about this game

[TitansIWU]

Millikin was absolutely in it until the end.

Had the Millikin player at the very end actually dribbled a few more times, he possibly could have gotten set for a better quality shot to force overtime.

That is an unrealistic, hard shot to make by the most proficient shooters, but I think it literally hit the ceiling or maybe a beam in the gym?

Couldn't see for sure.

[Titan Q]

IWU 69
Carthage 61

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/iwmbb15.htm


* Nick Anderson: 18 pts (6-7 FG, 6-6 FT)
* Jordan Zimmer: 12 pts, 3 reb

* Malcolm Kelly: 16 pts, 3 reb
* Luke Johnson: 15 pts, 3 reb


More than half of IWU's points came from the bench -- 35, led by 6-9 sophomore Nick Anderson's 18. 

Carthage played a zone most of the night that gave the Titans some trouble at the beginning of both halves.  The Red Men also applied fullcourt pressure for most of the game, which was effective at times, but also allowed IWU to get some easy baskets and FT's.

This was a tight game most of the way...IWU pulled away in the final 5 minutes or so with a few big shots and FT's.  Nick Anderson had a flurry of baskets during that key late stretch for the Titans.

Bosko said on the WLIP postgame show that the story of the game was IWU's defense, pointing to Carthage's 6 assists to 15 turnovers.

IWU (4-0 in the league) has won 9 in a row.  The Titans travel to North Central Tuesday.