MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

[purelyspeculativepost]To me, paperwork makes it sound to me like a summer class didn't transfer in properly.[/purelyspeculativepost]

[iwu70]

Kelly a huge loss for the Redfolks.  I agree this drops the CC team down the CCIW rankings quite far, unless he really is able to return by January.  Sounds a bit fishy. 

At IWU, Molinari and Heyen still not practicing due to various injuries.  Zimmer back to full practice schedule.  No word yet on time frame for Sodemann's recovery, return. 

ISU women play, open their season at The Shirk tonight -- due to State Volleyball Tourney at Redbird Arena -- so we'll see "Spread the Red" into Greenieland . . . "it's beginning to look alot like Christmas. . . . "  Tipoff for the Lady Redbirds is 7:05 p.m.

Have a good weekend all . . . should be interesting to see if the CCIW gets one or two or (unlikely) three teams into the DIII football playoffs.  Titans @Elmhurst 1 p.m. Saturday.  Seems WC and NCC will win out, be in or on the table for consideration. 

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

TQ's question is the same one I was wondering about.

"A paperwork eligibility issue." Hmmmm..........maybe a professor recorded an incorrect grade or something like that?

Its also interesting to note that Bosko said he could rejoin the team for the second semester Thats a little different than saying he will rejoin the team. Also, if its just a matter of paperwork, why the heck is it going to take all the way until 2nd semester to correct. A minor paperwork issue could seemingly be corrected in a few days.

Perhaps a little more Boskospeak......."He was an excellent, excellent shooter for us." Is "was" the operative word?

Kelly wore #25 last season. #25 on the current roster is listed as being one Trevor James.

When an institutional representative makes a statement of disclosure that has huge repercussions but nevertheless withholds some of the most crucial facts, it can create a worse PR situation than would either giving out all of the information or clamming up about it entirely. (See, for example, the firing of the DePauw football coach earlier this fall.) I understand why Bosko felt the need to say something about the soon-to-be-noticed absence of his top scorer from 2011-12, but his cryptic explanation is practically an open invitation for people to publicly speculate as to why exactly Malcom Kelly has to sit out at least the fall semester.

I'm not sure that I'd want to read too much into Bosko's use of the past tense when referring to Kelly's shooting. Nor would I read anything into the fact that someone else is wearing Kelly's old number. Of more relevance is his use of the conditional "could" when referring to the possibility of Kelly returning to the team for spring semester. It's certainly not a done deal, that's for sure. Whatever it is that is holding back Kelly is a pretty serious matter, something that can't be cleared up immediately by some clerical work ... and, apparently, it may not be able to be cleared up at all.

I certainly hope that whatever it is that is keeping Malcom Kelly out of uniform gets cleared up in time for him to rejoin the team this season. I would hate to see any senior have to miss his final season of college basketball, unless he plans to come back next year as a fifth-year senior to finish out his Red Men career.

[purelyspeculativepost]To me, paperwork makes it sound to me like a summer class didn't transfer in properly.[/purelyspeculativepost]

Wouldn't that make it a grade issue, then, contra Bosko? If Kelly needed a summer class in order to stay eligible, and that class (obviously taken elsewhere) didn't transfer in, then his ineligibility would be a consequence of his grades.

That is some serious Bosko spin. "Oh yeah, we can win the conference championship without our best player. We have some other guys who are actually better than him anyway....". Yeah right.

Stick a fork in the Redmen, they are done.

That's a premature assessment, USee. While it's highly unlikely that Carthage would be able to contend without Kelly, we don't know yet that Kelly won't be around for the CCIW portion of the season.

Carthage's fall semester ends with the last day of finals on Friday, December 14. That means that an ineligible player (or a player who is initially enrolling for spring semester) can begin practicing with the team on Saturday, December 15. Carthage will have played eight games at that point, and Kelly could therefore join the team in time for the two Florida games that the Red Men are playing that subsequent Monday and Tuesday. (Both Florida opponents are NAIA teams, by the way; this is another one of those Carthage schedules that blithely ignores D3's emphasis on in-region games, since the Red Men will only be playing six in-region opponents in non-conference play.) Kelly would thus have three games and two weeks' worth of practices to get up to speed in time for the CCIW opener at Millikin on January 2.

Calling it "paperwork eligibility issues" and "not a grade issue," Djurickovic said that the 26-year-old senior guard could rejoin the team for the second semester.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but is the age listed correct?

His birthdate is 5/17/86, so the answer to your question is a resounding yes.

If he plays this season, Malcom Kelly would only be the second-oldest player in the league. NPU's Zach Cassita (born 5/11/86) is six days older than Malcom.

[Titan Q]

From Millikin's Hoop Mania the other night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWsc_dLOPGg&feature=youtu.be

[newCCIWfan]

From Millikin's Hoop Mania the other night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWsc_dLOPGg&feature=youtu.be

A link to an article on the same topic via Matt Nadelhoffer's Twitter page: http://herald-review.com/sports/millikin/tupper-big-blue-sparking-interest/article_1d652eb4-296a-11e2-9191-001a4bcf887a.html

[bopol]

Kelly's the heart and soul of the Redmen.  I don't see them contending without him.  There were times last year when it seemed like the only Redman on the court that cared about winning or losing was Kelly. 

Sad face...sad face...sad face...

[kenoshamark]

Here is another article from the Kenosha News yesterday on the Carthage basketball team:

KENOSHA — During preseason practice sessions, there has been one area of emphasis for the Carthage men's basketball team.

"Rebound the basketball. Rebound the basketball. Rebound the basketball," Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic said. "The last few years if we've had one Achilles' heel it's clearly been on the boards."

In three consecutive losses to close out last season, the Red Men were out-rebounded by Illinois Wesleyan (38-30), Elmhurst (46-22) and Augustana (40-24). The Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana defeats were by a combined six points. Five of Carthage's eight CCIW losses were by eight points or less.

"You just can't beat good teams if you don't hold your own on the boards," Djurickovic said. "We have very good size and very good size depth. We should be a good rebounding team. We have been in practice, but you never know until the games start."

Counting on Johnson
At 6-foot-9, sophomore Luke Johnson will be counted on to pull down his share of rebounds after averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds as a freshman. In the off-season, the Naperville, Ill., native took an elbow to the face during a pick-up game. As a result of the injuries, he will wear a Rip Hamilton-like mask all season.

"I think Johnson's numbers are going to double," Djurickovic said. "He is playing with such comfort right now. He's getting inside touches, outside touches. He's the guy that has a chance to be that guy."

Seniors Steve Jaskulske (6-7), Tyler Pierce (6-5) and Mitch Thompson (6-6), junior Nick Bauch (6-7) and sophomores Kiston Lee (6-3) and Cameron Van Wyk (6-6) are other key figures in Carthage reversing its rebounding woes of the past.

A slimmed-down Pierce
Djurickovic called Pierce "one of the real bright spots of our first three weeks." The rejuvenated Pierce has "lost considerable weight," the Carthage coach said. After starting in the first 62 games of his collegiate career, Pierce came off the bench for the final 18 games last season and his scoring average dipped to 6.5 points per game after averaging 12.5 as a freshman when he earned third-team All-CCIW honors.

"He is playing with that same quickness and energy that he played as a freshman," Djurickovic noted.

Thompson, who needs six blocked shots to become Carthage's career leader in that category, averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds last season.

"Mitch has had some monster games," Djurickovic said. "He's had a very consistent three-year career."

The wild card
An All-State performer and Southeast Conference Player of the Year at Racine Case, Jaskulske could be a wild card after transferring from UW-Parkside. Battling knee injuries, Jaskulske averaged 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 58 games (18 starts) for the NCAA Division II Rangers.

"I think Steve is going to be a key contributor," Djurickovic said. "He is a big, strong man. He is probably the best finisher in our building at the rim. He is a good post defender and a very, very valuable asset to us."

Point guard Donte Logan, a starter in 19 games last season as a sophomore, averaged 4.5 points and a team-best 3.7 assists. Those numbers could soar as a sophomore.

"The only question with Donte Logan is what kind of scorer is he going to be?" Djurickovic said. "He is going to be just a dynamic offensive player."

Herth in backcourt
Fellow sophomore Reese Herth is expected to join Logan in the backcourt. Herth played in 24 games off the bench last season, averaging 4.9 points.

Vastly improved 6-foot-5 junior Marlon Senior has also found his way into the starting lineup after receiving limited playing time his first two seasons.

"He is a much more confident player," Djurickovic said. "The shot is better. The ability to get to the rim is better. He was always a very good athlete."

Junior returnees Melvin Claybrook and Kevin Sykes Jr. provide backcourt depth.

With not much separating the second unit from the first unit, practices have been competitive.

"Our team is very deep," Djurickovic said.

[petemcb]

And just to pour a little gas on the fire, no mention of Malcolm Kelly.

[petemcb]

Mark, I'll post a review of the Wheaton scrimmage tonight if you get something on here about NCC's scrimmage the other night. 

[John Gleich]

Elmhurst and Whitewater scrimmaged on Friday night.

Here's a write-up from Voice, a UWW supporter:

http://voiceseyeonbasketball.blogspot.com/2012/11/warhawks-and-elmhurst-treat-fans-to.html

[Titan Q]

A Facebook post from MacMurray head coach Todd Creal...


Won the first half against an improved Millikin squad 34-24 and then lost the second half 36-31. Turnovers early in the second half were a problem. In the end we won 65-60 against a CCIW team. 15 points each from Brady Slagle, Dylan Guthrie and Spencer Pratt. Last tune up and we got a win! I will take that. On to Knox on Thursday to open the season. MacMurray hasn't opened the regular season with a win since 1999. We are going to try our best to change that history.

[Titan Q]

IWU scrimmages Hanover down in southern Indiana today at 2:00pm Eastern/1:00pm Central.  I believe IWU's starting lineup/rotation will be...

PG - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3 So (Brian Nelms, 5-11 Fr)
SG - Eric Dortch, 6-3 Jr (Dan Oswald, 6-2 Sr)
SF - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-4 Jr (Mike Mayberger, 6-6 Jr)
PF - Victor Davis, 6-5 Jr (Parker Musselman, 6-8 So)
F/C - Kevin Reed, 6-6 Sr (Nick Anderson, 6-9 Jr)

Brady Zimmer has been practicing but will miss the scrimmage due to the flu.

Hanover was 16-9 last year, 12-6 in the HCAC.  They are picked third in the HCAC preseason poll, behind Transylvania and Rose-Hulman.  Returning players of note are:

G - Ryan Nowicki*, 6-1 Sr (12.5 ppg, 38-107 3-point, .355)
G - Drake Hendricks, 6-1 Sr (7.0 ppg, 33-79 3-point, .418)
G - Tim Bass*, 5-5 So (6.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 22-66 3-point, .333)
F - Brian Gunter, 6-5 Sr (6.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
G - Kyle James*, 6-0 So (4.3 ppg, 28-67 3-point, .418)

* returning starter

http://www.hanover.edu/athletics/men/basketball

Facing a team with this many perimeter players returning should be good for the Titans -- the perimeter is really the biggest question for the Titans heading into the 2012-13 season (especially with all of the injury issues).

[Titan Q]

IWU @ Hanover scrimmage results...


First 20 minutes:  IWU 38  Hanover 33

Second 20 minutes: IWU 45  Hanover 39

Total: IWU 83  Hanover 72


IWU's statistical leaders:

- Dylan Overstreet: 18 pts
- Kevin Reed: 12 pts
- Victor Davis: 11 pts
- Andrew Ziemnik: 11 pts

- Nick Anderson: 10 reb

[newCCIWfan]

A Facebook post from MacMurray head coach Todd Creal...


Won the first half against an improved Millikin squad 34-24 and then lost the second half 36-31. Turnovers early in the second half were a problem. In the end we won 65-60 against a CCIW team. 15 points each from Brady Slagle, Dylan Guthrie and Spencer Pratt. Last tune up and we got a win! I will take that. On to Knox on Thursday to open the season. MacMurray hasn't opened the regular season with a win since 1999. We are going to try our best to change that history.

Couldn't get away from the family last night to go check out the Big Blue scrimmage at Mac. 3rd hand report was that Millikin played extremely young in the first half losing it by 10.

2nd half Millikin came out strong... they went on a 7-0 run to start the half and ended up building a 15 or so point lead. With 4 or 5 minutes left and Millikin leading the second half by 8 points it was clear that Matt Nadelhoffer decided to approach the remaining time up 8 and work on executing their stall offense. MU hung on to with the second half by 5.

Looking forward to trying to catch the MU vs. Loras and IWU vs. Coe games on Friday at the Shirk Center. We will see what the wife says.

[newCCIWfan]

IWU @ Hanover scrimmage results...


First 20 minutes:  IWU 38  Hanover 33

Second 20 minutes: IWU 45  Hanover 39

Total: IWU 83  Hanover 72


IWU's statistical leaders:

- Dylan Overstreet: 18 pts
- Kevin Reed: 12 pts
- Victor Davis: 11 pts
- Andrew Ziemnik: 11 pts

- Nick Anderson: 10 reb

wow .... looks like Overstreet played well!