MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Good point, Greg - it would seem that you are right.  Unlike the usual case in bball, the CCIW is starting to look this season like the old 'Big Four, Little Four' days of CCIW fball.

For anyone who has actually seen Millikin this year, IF the freshmen all stick around and show the usual year-to-year improvement, ARE we looking at an actual contender in 2-3 years?

Having seen the Big Blue play 4 times this year (if you include their scrimmage against Wash U), I suppose that makes me one of the few on here who can answer the question. (I will be interested to hear Greg's answer on Saturday). Ironically, the more I watch of this young squad, the more intrigued I get.

My answer would be a qualified yes that they can contend in 2-3 years (and I reserve the right to change my mind once I see games against the top 4 in the conference).

The ability of Millikin to be a contender in 2-3 years (provided all the freshman stay around) is going to rest on two things:
-  Not only will it require the usual year to year improvement of the players, but I think they will need a "greater than usual" improvement from their forwards. In Wilfer they have someone with a body similar to Luke Scarlata (though an inch shorter) who loves to bang. He's just very raw in the post right. Owens has a similar body type to Landon Gamble / Nick Sanford (again, very raw). And Johnson could easily be the most athletic player in the CCIW but, (in the words of Nathan Bedford Forrest) is the "mostest" Raw.  For MU to be a contender they need to have forwards to match the inside presence of NCC, Augie, etc.
-  For MU to be a contender they will also need another solid recruiting year (now, they don't need 25 more freshman, but they need 1 or 2 that can improve the depth.


If they are able to do the above, here are 2 things they have going for them which should help them in the years to come.
-  Point Guard Play - one of the reasons I was so interested in seeing this first CCIW match up was because it pitted TJ Griffin vs. Donte Logan, the second best returning point guard in the league (obviously Tyler Peters is the best). As I said before, though their stat line was similar (edge to Griffin), Griffin clearly dominated the match up. He was able to get anywhere he wanted on the offensive end of the floor, did a great job forcing Carthage out of what they wanted to do. Going into next year, Griffin has the ability to be the best point guard in the conference.
-  Shooters - for the first time in years, I think Millikin has players that you must guard from the perimeter.  They have 3 shooters over 40% from three, shooting what I would term a significant number of threes (and a 4th player just under 40%).  This is the first time teams cannot pack the paint against Millikin and simply dare them to hit from 3.

Those are just a few thoughts on the little I've been able to watch of Millikin live. I look forward to watching more games, and to the feedback from y'all as MU comes through your town.

I can't wait to see all the CCIW teams play down here when I have the chance -- there is something very special about this league that is so much fun to watch! Makes being a CCIW fan enjoyable.

Good stuff, newCCIWfan.  Thanks for your take on the Big Blue.

This is very consistent with what I've heard about Millikin from several IWU fans who saw them play at the Shirk on opening weekend.  Generally the word seemed to be:

* Millikin has legitimate talent in that freshman class, including 1-2 future 1st Team all-CCIW candidates and a couple other potential all conference players

* The Big Blue can contend for a Top 4 spot in the CCIW with this group in 2014-15 and 2015-16

* With 1-2 more really good players in the class behind the current freshmen, Matt Nadelhoffer's team could contend for a CCIW title in 2014-15 and 2015-16


Matt Nadelhoffer is going about this rebuilding process in exactly the right way in my opinion.  I follow him on Twitter, and reading 140 character snippets certainly doesn't make me an insider on his program, but it's clear to me he has:

1) Worked very hard to establish a new culture around Millikin basketball -- "#newera" as his hashtags often read.

2) Recruited his tail off since he walked in the door.  I heard from multiple people that last year he often missed practice during the season to go recruit.  Last February Ron Rose told me, "For the first time since I've been here kids are telling me they're either going to Augie, Wesleyan, or Millikin."

3) Celebrated small victories and milestones in the rebuilding process along the way with his team - their first win this year, hanging with decent teams in losses, the first CCIW win Wednesday, etc


He's building something that can be the foundation for longterm success if he keeps executing that plan.  It's clear he's not working towards a quick fix.

I give Nadelhoffer a ton of credit for the way he's approaching this -- he inherited an absolute freakin' mess and is making progress.

[Pat Coleman]

Good point, Greg - it would seem that you are right.  Unlike the usual case in bball, the CCIW is starting to look this season like the old 'Big Four, Little Four' days of CCIW fball.

After one conference game?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good point, Greg - it would seem that you are right.  Unlike the usual case in bball, the CCIW is starting to look this season like the old 'Big Four, Little Four' days of CCIW fball.

After one conference game?

AND over 80 pre-conference games, yes.

Actually, I had had that thought even BEFORE Wednesday's games.  Four CCIW teams are in the Top 25; the other four all seem to have serious issues.  Millikin taking out Carthage just confirmed it for me.  I'm NOT saying none of the 'little four' will beat any of the 'big four', but I am saying I'll be shocked if we can't already identify the four conference tourney teams.

[AndOne]

Naperville Sun article on North Central basketball and their trip to the D3Hoops. Com Classic in Las Vegas:

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/17356942-419/north-central-mens-basketball-rises-to-no-1-in-rankings.html

***Sorry all. After having posted the above link, I now see you have to "register" (for free) to read the entire article. When I first did the post the entire article showed up when I checked the link. Now the registration requirement has popped up. 

[robertgoulet]

Naperville Sun article on North Central basketball and their trip to the D3Hoops. Com Classic in Las Vegas:

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/17356942-419/north-central-mens-basketball-rises-to-no-1-in-rankings.html

***Sorry all. After having posted the above link, I now see you have to "register" (for free) to read the entire article. When I first did the post the entire article showed up when I checked the link. Now the registration requirement has popped up. 

worked fine for me, no registration required.

[Titan Q]

Article on the Elmhurst @ IWU game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/rose-not-settled-on-rotation-for-iwu-men/article_aa96662a-56e9-11e2-a982-0019bb2963f4.html

Probable starters and top reserves...

IWU (9-3, 1-0)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 So (9.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/190 So (13.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-4/230 Jr (10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Jr (7.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
F - Kevin Reed, 6-6/230 Sr (9.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg)

G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Jr (9.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/220 Jr (8.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
C - Nick Anderson, 6-9/220 Jr (3.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

Elmhurst (4-8, 0-1)
G - D'Ante Foster, 5-11/170 Sr (8.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.3 apg)
G - Taylor Baxter, 6-5/195 Jr (9.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)
F - Bryant Ackerman, 6-2/180 Fr (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
F - Nick Sanford, 6-5/210 Jr (16.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg)
C - Alex DeBack, 6-7/240 Jr (1.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

C - Alex Morgunov, 6-9/270 Jr (8.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
F - Erik Dornfield, 6-7/215 Sr (4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
G - Kyle Wuest, 6-2/175 Fr (3.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)

[Titan Q]

Many people have asked me about the availability of NCC games on video. A couple of weeks ago I spoke with NCC SID Clark Teuscher who advised plans were in the works to hopefully make this a reality.

I can now report that all NCC home basketball games will be available on video as NCC has partnered with the local Naperville cable TV outlet (NCTV) to broadcast NCC basketball and wrestling.

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/news/2013/1/2/MBB_0102135305.aspx

This is good news. 

I have updated my links on IWUhoops.com...links to all CCIW men's basketball websites, live stats, and video here:

http://www.iwuhoops.com/schedule12-13.html

[AndOne]

CCIW NEWS

1. It seems that 6'8" 265 lb. Augie center Kevin Schlitter has sustained a torn ACL, and is subsequently lost for the remainder of the season.

2. There had been recent speculation that Luke Johnson's recent absence from the Carthage lineup might be due to an injury, most likely involving his back. However, rather than injury, it seems there is a good chance that the true reason is ineligibility.

I need to mention that there is still some question regarding the above. Sources I spoke with were not absolutely 100% sure of the information, but indicated that to the best of their knowledge, it would be surprising if the information ultimately proved not to be true. At this moment, it appears the information regarding Schlitter is slightly more solid than that regarding Johnson, but the odds heavily favor both being factual.

[veterancciwfan]

USee: Your thorough analysis of the IWU/Wheaton game was perfect. Great post. Wheaton, I predict, will improve greatly, but faces an 0-2 start in league play.

[D-3 watcher]

I'm sorry And One, but that's just stupid. To put that out there about Luke Johnson before it has been officially released is reckless and dumb. I hope it's not true, but even if it is, it's not right.

[AndOne]

Whats stupid is you thinking there will be some sort of "official" release on the subject. Do you really think the school is going to do that? What do you expect them to say?

I hope its not true too, but, unfortunately, odds appear very high that it is.
Additionally, there is more than one reason why someone might not be eligible.
The sources of the information in both cases are very well placed.
Because it prob won't be a certainty until the players don't appear in additional games beyond what they have already missed is why I added the information at the end of the post.

[Titan Q]

Final from Chicago...

Millikin 68
North Park 59

The Big Blue dominated this game almost the entire way.  Millikin's lead got done to 1 somewhere in the second half, but other than that little NPU run it was all Big Blue.  I think MU led by about 18 at one point.

TJ Griffin had 17pts and 4 assists for the Big Blue.

Millikin is 2-0 and has a lot of reason for excitement.  North Park is 0-2 -- the Vikings are going to really, really struggle over 14 CCIW games. 

[Titan Q]

For some reason I'm not seeing a video link for IWU tonight.  Might be just WJBC audio and live stats.  Disappointing.

[chairman]

I was able to catch the second half of the Millikin/ North Park game online this afternoon . (Ok, to clarify, I was able to catch the 60 some-odd percent of the second half when the ball was on the screen. I know staffing is tough, but there is no excuse for whole possessions where the ball is not in the screen.)

That is outside my point.

Millikin appears to have the ability to score in a variety of ways. My guess is that some of the uncertainty they showed down the stretch is directly related to the newness of the group. As they have more time together, they will know their roles and it will look less rugged.

It is great to see two in a row for the Baby Blues. There is still a lot to do, but Coach Nadelhoffer and his staff appear to be ahead of schedule on their rebuild.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The evening games are now all finals.  The winners all had monster second halves.

IWU over Elmhurst, 80-51.  They were the only winner with a halftime lead, but quickly made it a laugher, winning the second half 40-24.

NCC trailed Wheaton, 28-25, at the half, but won the second 44-27, to win 69-55.

Augie trailed Carthage, 30-25 at the half, but quickly came back to win the second half, 43-26, and the game, 68-56.

BTW, Nathan Haynes of Wheaton had a monster game (15 pts. and 16 rbs.).  We Titans are grateful you were unable to play on Wednesday!

The standings feel weird: Millikin 2-0; Wheaton 0-2.