MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

3) I hesitate to bring this up, but how good could Augustana be with Luke Scarlata and Kam Norton as senior post players?

But since you did - I have thought about it too.  I have to think that with Scarlata and Norton together with Kunz (Sr) , Ryan (Fr), Johnson (Fr) and others that Augustana would be pushing, if not at, the top of the CCIW and in the Top 25 D3 teams.  Augie has only three upperclassman with includes Kunz whom will be hard to replace when he graduates.

You're forgetting 6'8, 265 junior center Kevin Schlitter, who was a regular part of the Augie rotation last season and was averaging 9.7 and 4.0 before tearing his ACL in December. That's made a big difference -- literally and figuratively -- for Augie this season.

[Gregory Sager]

I am fairly impressed with NPUs endowment given that it only became a 4 year institution in the early 60's.  JC graduates may have given their money to Augie, Wheaton or some other school of coise.

North Park actually became a four-year institution in 1958, the year after the crackerbox was built. The class of '60 was the first four-year North Park class, and thus the first class to receive bachelor's degrees upon graduating.

I've been told by older people connected with NPU that the three schools most frequented by North Park's junior college graduates for their third and fourth undergraduate years were Wheaton, Augustana, and the University of Minnesota, in that order. One has to think that a lot of NPJC grads either gave their money to Wheaton or Augie over the years, or split it between NPJC and the four-year institution at which they finished.

But, yeah, it took a long time for alumni giving to start picking up for NPU, because the prime earning years of those first four-year classes were relatively recent, and they've only begun reaching retirement age even more recently.

Of course, the other big problem with North Park's alumni giving is that the school is not exactly cranking out captains of industry left and right. The old joke that NPU basically turns out "teachers, preachers, and nurses" has a ring of truth to it.

The enrollment was also quite small until a little more than a decade ago and the recent graduates are still reaching towards their earning potential.

It's amazing how many more bodies are walking around that crowded little campus than was the case back in the day. Traditional undergraduate enrollment is close to three times the size of what it was when David Horner took over as president, back in the dark days of the late '80s. (Well, not dark for the basketball team, but dark for the school in terms of enrollment, fiscal health, and physical plant.)

NPU has also had quite a few enhancements to the campus over the last 10 years or so - Brandel Library, Helwig Rec Center, Holmgren Athletic Center, plus lots of expense local real estate being purchased for student housing.  The school has also raised 40+ mm over the last couple of years for the new Johnson Center.

One thing that outsiders who keep harping on NPU's antediluvian gym and bare-bones, overused outdoor stadium don't seem to realize is how incredibly expensive real estate on the North Side of Chicago truly is. Simply buying up a two-flat adjacent to campus for additional student housing costs NPU an arm and a leg. For something with a larger footprint, such as a new gym or athletic field? Fuggedaboudit.

Tuition is like a car - its just a 'negotiable' list price and would I be curious to know the actual average cost per student (on campus vs. commuter).

Me, too. Perhaps Rob Berki has access to such numbers and will deign to share them with us.

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin beat Carthage in their conference opener, which means they will tally 7 wins between them at a minimum.

NPU and Elmhurst also each have a game remaining with Carthage, which is at least a remote chance for an upset for either team.

In that 1952-53 season that Gregory mentioned, each team played a nine-game conference schedule rather than a double round-robin.

1953
Wheaton 9-0
Illinois Wesleyan 7-2
Millikin 7-2
Augustana 4-4
Lake Forest 4-5
North Central 3-6
Illinois College 1-8
Elmhurst 0-8

Yeah, I didn't have a chance to peruse the history too closely. I just picked out the first season that caught my eye.

The lowest number of wins in CCIW play accumulated by the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-place teams under the current format (eight teams, double round-robin schedule) is seven, set two seasons ago by, sadly, the same three teams that are currently bringing up the rear. NPU, in Paul Brenegan's final season, had four wins, Elmhurst had three, and Millikin bought a goose-egg.

[Titan Q]

http://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-nation/2012-13/illinois-wesleyan-louisiana-college-montclair-state-on-a-roll

Another case in point that points to a another potentially special season in Bloomington: The case of junior forward Eric Dortch, who went from starting the season's first five games to becoming a seldom-used reserve in the ensuing weeks.

Then came Wednesday night at Augustana. With the Titans trailing by 16 with 9:31 remaining, their aspirations of a perfect CCIW season about to evaporate, Dortch tallied five of his nine points during a decisive surge that ultimately resulted in a stirring 71-65 victory.

"The excitement his teammates exhibited (for him), as a coach, is as good as it gets," Rose said.


Great quote.

[iwu70]

Great quote indeed.  I love Eric Dortch's game and his strong team attitude.  Glad to see him get minutes and come through so significantly.  Eric is a great guy. 

Good luck to the Titans in the big home game vs. WC.  Let's keep it rolling, protect our House.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

D3 boards were down for a long while there.  I got the shakes and cold sweats. 

[Titan Q]

Seriously though, here is a thought - what if D3hoops.com all the sudden went away?  Think of how much we've all come to rely on not just the information here, but the community and the relationships we've developed.  Consider how this site has absolutely transformed the way we follow Division III athletics over the course of the last 15 years or so.

I take for granted what Pat Coleman and his supporters have built because it's just become part of day-to-day life.  Time to pause and say "thank you" to everyone involved in running this family of sites.

[D-3 watcher]

Ditto what Q said.
I personally would have to call Q and get the information I need. And like always he would big time me and not answer, waiting the, I'm to busy 1 hour call back delay.
Getting on the boards is easier and more diverse.
Thanks Pat, and others!

[matblake]

Seriously though, here is a thought - what if D3hoops.com all the sudden went away?  Think of how much we've all come to rely on not just the information here, but the community and the relationships we've developed.  Consider how this site has absolutely transformed the way we follow Division III athletics over the course of the last 15 years or so.

I take for granted what Pat Coleman and his supporters have built because it's just become part of day-to-day life.  Time to pause and say "thank you" to everyone involved in running this family of sites.

Absolutely.  Thanks so much!

  In all honesty, I think the family of sites, by way of the internet, have "forced" schools to develop their SID positions to SID departments.  Having a concise location for scores and stories, as well as neutrality, allows for good interaction with sport information.  We also aren't forced to get the national picture from fan or school sites (which definitely have their place and are fun, but aren't necessarily neutral).  As a kid, I remember looking for CCIW scores in the Tribune and if they were there, they were often wrong.  In addition, I feel a great connection with my alma mater because of the discussions about sports and non-sports that I have had here. 

[kiko]

What if d3hoops.com went away?  Two words: agate type.

Man, I don't want that world again for anything.  Progress is a very good thing.

[Titan Q]

Ditto what Q said.
I personally would have to call Q and get the information I need. And like always he would big time me and not answer, waiting the, I'm to busy 1 hour call back delay.
Getting on the boards is easier and more diverse.
Thanks Pat, and others!

I'm now moving you to a two-hour return call delay.

[Titan Q]

Wheaton @ Illinois Wesleyan, 7:00pm...

IWU (17-3, 9-0)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 So (9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.2 A/TO)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/190 So (11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.4 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-4/230 Jr (10.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Jr (10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
F - Kevin Reed, 6-6/230 Sr (8.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.8 apg)

G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Jr (14.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/220 Jr (3.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg rpg)
C - Nick Anderson, 6-9/220 Jr (3.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-3/210 Jr (3.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Wheaton (16-4, 6-3)
G - Tyler Peters, 6-4/190 Jr (17.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.7 A/TO)
G - Brayden Teuscher, 6-3/200 So (15.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.9 apg)
F - Peter Smith, 6-6/190 So (5.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
F - Michael Berg, 6-6/200 Fr (4.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
F - Nathan Haynes, 6-6/215 Jr (12.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg)

G - Michael Kvam, 6-2/185 So (11.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
G - Caleb DeMoss, 6-0/160 So (3.1 ppg)
G - Nate Serenius, 6-3/175 Sr (3.1 ppg)
G - Tad Fisher, 6-0/180 Jr (1.2 ppg)

Pantagraph: http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/ziemnik-s-contributions-instrumental-in-titans---cciw-start/article_c055239e-6cd7-11e2-a538-001a4bcf887a.html

Live video/stats: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

WJBC Radio: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

Massey predicts: IWU 67 Wheaton 63 (IWU #6, Wheaton #13)
http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&yr=2013&sub=11620

[Titan Q]

As far as the matchup at the Shirk tonight, my thoughts are basically the same as when these teams met one month ago today...

My wife and I are in Florida visiting her parents for a week.  74 and sunny today and just finished 18 holes.  It definitely doesn't feel like IWU @ Wheaton day.  I associate that with some really cold late-January Saturday.  I'm trying to get my head in the game here -- huge game tonight.

Some thoughts...

* I think this should be a very good game -- I'll be shocked if it's lopsided.  I can't remember many blowout IWU @ Wheaton games in the last 15 years or so...they all seem to be thrillers.

* These are two extremely different basketball teams.  Wheaton is a perimeter-oriented team with a superstar player leading the way.  IWU is a big, strong, bruising frontcourt-oriented team with no superstar, and a bunch of equal parts.

* I'm pretty sure IWU will be the most physical team Wheaton has faced this year by a pretty good margin.  Wash U is tall, but IWU is just way more phsycial that the Bears.  I'm interested to see how that factor plays out. 

* I have no idea how IWU will contain Tyler Peters.  I think Ron Rose will need defensive specialist Eric Dortch on him quite a bit.  Peters is just a bad matchup for the Titans.

* I'm not quite sure how ready he is, but IWU could really use Brady Zimmer tonight on the perimeter.  Zimmer (concussion) played just 3 minutes @ Franklin.  This is a kid good enough to be one of IWU's top 2-3 scorers in CCIW play if healthy...the Titans really need his perimeter offense.  I hope he's ready to play 15 minutes or so.

* As an IWU fan, I like the Andrew Ziemnik/Victor Davis matchups in this one.  There can't be too many D3 teams with starting forwards as physical as these two -- I think they'll give Wheaton some trouble on both ends of the floor.  Ziemnik, with his long hair and his power forward build at the small forward spot, sure doesn't look like your typical IWU player...but he can play.  He really gets it.

* IWU needs good play out of its perimeter players - Overstreet and Sodemann in particular have to have really good games for the Titans to win.

* Turnovers and FTs -- these are two huge IWU problems.  I think we're past the point of saying, "IWU needs to turn the ball over less and shoot FTs better."  The fact is, IWU is a team that is going to turn it over more than average and a pretty poor FT shooting team.  IWU will have to overcome these by out-rebounding the heck out of Wheaton.


I'm glad I'm in Florida, but would love to be @ King Arena for a couple hours tonight.  For those lucky enough to be there, enjoy.

Go Titans.

Brady Zimmer led IWU with 20 points in the game at Wheaton.  He has missed IWU's last two games with back trouble and is "questionable" for tonight.  The Titans could sure use him - they are nowhere near as good without him.

[AndOne]

Also in the 1st round IWU-Wheaton battle Nathan Haynes did not play. With Zimmer's 20, the Weenies won by 3.
I think if Haynes had played in the 1st game, Wheaton would have won, mainly as his board work would have given IWU a few less possessions, every one of which was of prime importance in a 3 point game.

Subtract Zimmer's contribution, add in Haynes output, give Wesleyan some points for home court advantage, and you've got the makings of another very close contest. I'll venture the 3 primary deciding factors will be rebounds, turnovers, and bench scoring. Whoever wins 2 of those 3 battles earns the victory. We'll see how the crystal ball is working today.   

[Titan Q]

My Midwest Region ranking projection (through 1/30)
1.      Transylvania  .833 (15-3)/.577
2.      Ill. Wesleyan  .824 (14-3)/.515
3.      North Central  .833 (15-3)/.541
4.      Wheaton  .777 (14-4)/.537
5.      Washington U  .765 (13-4)/.574
6.      Rose-Hulman  .895 (17-2)/.460
7.      Augustana  .737 (14-5)/.571
8.      Grinnell  .813 (13-3)/.482
-----
9.      St. Norbert  .833 (15-3)/.499

Big result in the region this afternoon...

Rose-Hulman 54
@Transylvania 49