MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Denny McKinney]

The young man has added 20 lbs. since the end of season. The video shown was an AAU tournament in Indy. His first season of AAU. He told anyone that would listen, " I just want someone to give me a chance to play college basketball." Great attitude and good student.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Mark and Denny, I certainly was not intending to mock young Mr. Scholle.  When I was a freshman, I was 5'7" or 5'8" (don't recall if I had reached my full 'height' of 5'8" yet ), and planned to try out for track as a middle-distance guy (until I tore my ACL running the indoor 'track' in the Fred Young Fieldhouse).  I posted weight before and after workouts, and often finished just over 110; I overheard a number of football players wondering who the featherweight was!

But 6'10", 190, is early Manute Bol territory!  Glad to hear he has already bulked up a little bit, and I'm sure more is to come.  Often a 6'10" guy who is in d3 has come by his growth so recently that he has trouble not tripping over his own feet; that doesn't look to be his problem, so I have high hopes that in a couple of years he may be a real contributor.

[sac]

Mark and Denny, I certainly was not intending to mock young Mr. Scholle.  When I was a freshman, I was 5'7" or 5'8" (don't recall if I had reached my full 'height' of 5'8" yet ), and planned to try out for track as a middle-distance guy (until I tore my ACL running the indoor 'track' in the Fred Young Fieldhouse).  I posted weight before and after workouts, and often finished just over 110; I overheard a number of football players wondering who the featherweight was!

But 6'10", 190, is early Manute Bol territory!  Glad to hear he has already bulked up a little bit, and I'm sure more is to come.  Often a 6'10" guy who is in d3 has come by his growth so recently that he has trouble not tripping over his own feet; that doesn't look to be his problem, so I have high hopes that in a couple of years he may be a real contributor.

Manute Bol was 7-6 or 7-7 depending on who you ask so, uh, no!


How many of you know a 6-10 guy who has a pretty, fluid, quick jump shot?  Anyone who isn't already playing in the NBA?

Here's Manute's son   Bol Bol, for real
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e23RE0aONr8

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac, I was obviously talking 'proportionately' (otherwise there would have been no point to my talking about being a 5'8", 110 lb freshman).  I'm not positive, but I think Manute was slightly over 190 when he started out (maybe 210-220, which is still ridiculously slender for 7'6").

[newCCIWfan]

The young man has added 20 lbs. since the end of season. The video shown was an AAU tournament in Indy. His first season of AAU. He told anyone that would listen, " I just want someone to give me a chance to play college basketball." Great attitude and good student.

Wow, so Scholle's HS playing weight was 6-10, 170.

sac, I was obviously talking 'proportionately' (otherwise there would have been no point to my talking about being a 5'8", 110 lb freshman).  I'm not positive, but I think Manute was slightly over 190 when he started out (maybe 210-220, which is still ridiculously slender for 7'6").

For the record, and according to Wikipedia (perhaps not admissible in a class, but maybe acceptable in this discussion) ... Manute Bol is listed at  7-7, 200lbs

[sac]

sac, I was obviously talking 'proportionately' (otherwise there would have been no point to my talking about being a 5'8", 110 lb freshman).  I'm not positive, but I think Manute was slightly over 190 when he started out (maybe 210-220, which is still ridiculously slender for 7'6").

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

Using Body Mass Index, I had to drop poor Max down to 163 lbs to get the same BMI of 7-7, 200 Maunte Bol.

Good thing he put on that 20 lbs.

[iwu70]

We can send Mssr. Scholle off to Tobins or Lucca's and get him bulked up, all in good time.  Schooner's cheeseburgers and great onion rings may help too -- and some Steak n'Shake double burgers and thick milkshakes.  With this lovely, nutritious diet, I'm sure he has a great bulked up future (otherwise Parker Musselman or Vic Davis may wipe the floor with him).

He needs the Sikma tutelage -- footfook, quicker wrist release of a jumper at the top of his extention (like Jack back in the day), and some seriously development of baby or sky hooks with both hands from 5' and in.  A "project" worth pursuing.

Great to see so many old friends, classmates at IWU Homecoming today.  Footbball feasted on the Parkers, 52-21, with the game basically decided in the first 15 minutes, with IWU up 28-zip.  Coach Norm Eash became the winningest coach in IWU football history with 169 wins overall.  He got a drenching from his players and was applauded loudly by the Homecoming crowd at the end of the game.

Looking forward to the basketball season -- both varsity and JV offerings.  GO TITANS!

IWU70

[AndOne]

IWU's 2013-14 roster posted on website.  29 players listed!!!!

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

  Gonna need at least a couple of more coaches and an additional gym.

What they're gonna need most of all, are lots of basketballs. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU's 2013-14 roster posted on website.  29 players listed!!!!

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

  Gonna need at least a couple of more coaches and an additional gym.

What they're gonna need most of all, are lots of basketballs. 

Those we've got, plus the additional gym.  I'm wondering if we have enough coaches (and potential opponents) to field TWO JV teams?

(And only 5-6 years ago, we didn't have enough players to field ONE JV team.  Scott Trost left the cupboard bare.  Ron Rose has obviously re-stocked it but good.)

[AndOne]

Yes, IWU's roster is now up -- for 2013-14 -- with 29 players listed.  That's ALOT of talent for Ron Rose to chose from. Some of the key players, said to be potential starters, have not even been given a number as yet.  Perhaps they don't have that many jerseys.    Both of the transfer guys, even the 6-5 one, are listed as "Guards!" And who the hell is Max Scholle, listed at 6-10, 190?  Haven't heard about him?  Looks like a banner year for varsity and JV play, with two full squads of 15, almost.  Bet those pre-season practices, battles for varsity PT are going to be pretty intense.   Well, we'll find out what's involved soon enough -- practices start next week.

IWU70

There are now 15 guards listed on the Greenie roster, including 7 returnees, 6 freshmen, and 2 junior transfers, both of who came from D1 programs. While none of the freshmen would realistically see varsity time this year, the unexpected addition of the D1 transfers (or transfer, see below) likely adds another year to the timetable as far as the possible arrival of any of the newbies on the varsity scene.

Pat Sodemann who started at the 2G last season might well be no more than 3rd string this season behind Valpo transfer Nelson, and Brady Zimmer. Bryce Dolan who appeared to be in good position to be the 4th guard, probably gets pushed back to #5 with Nelson's arrival.

While newcomer Rossi is listed on the roster as a guard, he likely will see the vast majority, if not all, of his PT at the SF/3.
With all-conference players Ziemnik and Davis being the established starting forwards, and the very capable Eric Dortch, and now Rossi in the primary backup roles, it appears logical that Michael Mayberger gets pushed from the #4 forward to #5. Accordingly, there appear few, if any, minutes available for soph. Ryan Coyle.   

From a coaching standpoint, its a great situation as far as talented available personnel. However, does the unexpected arrival of 2 D1 transfers present the possibility of team chemistry being negatively affected due to likely decreased PT for some established roster members? 

[Titan Q]

Yes, IWU's roster is now up -- for 2013-14 -- with 29 players listed.  That's ALOT of talent for Ron Rose to chose from. Some of the key players, said to be potential starters, have not even been given a number as yet.  Perhaps they don't have that many jerseys.    Both of the transfer guys, even the 6-5 one, are listed as "Guards!" And who the hell is Max Scholle, listed at 6-10, 190?  Haven't heard about him?  Looks like a banner year for varsity and JV play, with two full squads of 15, almost.  Bet those pre-season practices, battles for varsity PT are going to be pretty intense.   Well, we'll find out what's involved soon enough -- practices start next week.

IWU70

There are now 15 guards listed on the Greenie roster, including 7 returnees, 6 freshmen, and 2 junior transfers, both of who came from D1 programs. While none of the freshmen would realistically see varsity time this year, the unexpected addition of the D1 transfers (or transfer, see below) likely adds another year to the timetable as far as the possible arrival of any of the newbies on the varsity scene.

Pat Sodemann who started at the 2G last season might well be no more than 3rd string this season behind Valpo transfer Nelson, and Brady Zimmer. Bryce Dolan who appeared to be in good position to be the 4th guard, probably gets pushed back to #5 with Nelson's arrival.

While newcomer Rossi is listed on the roster as a guard, he likely will see the vast majority, if not all, of his PT at the SF/3.
With all-conference players Ziemnik and Davis being the established starting forwards, and the very capable Eric Dortch, and now Rossi in the primary backup roles, it appears logical that Michael Mayberger gets pushed from the #4 forward to #5. Accordingly, there appear few, if any, minutes available for soph. Ryan Coyle.   

From a coaching standpoint, its a great situation as far as talented available personnel. However, does the unexpected arrival of 2 D1 transfers present the possibility of team chemistry being negatively affected due to likely decreased PT for some established roster members?

I ran into several basketball players while on campus for homecoming this weekend.  I got the sense that things are going extremely well in terms of chemistry.  This is a very unselfish/team-first group of IWU players (that was acknowledged by several around the league last year), so I think that makes fitting new pieces in quite a bit easier.  I'm not saying putting all of these pieces together will be easy, but this would be a lot more complicated with a different type of guys.

I also picked up on the fact that the depth of talent is really pushing the level of competition -- guys seem to be working extremely hard, trying to win jobs.

In terms of individual players, a couple names kept coming up in different conversations I had:

* Pat Sodemann -- sounds like he had a great off-season and is playing extremely well in preseason open gyms.  Sounds like he has a great chance to win his starting SG job back.  It will be quite a battle at the SG spot.

* Alex Rossi -- everyone seems to acknowledge that this is the most talented player on the team.  By all accounts it sounds like Rossi has the potential to be a huge difference maker the next two seasons.


The Titans should be good this year.

[AndOne]

No, Bob.
Your Green Team should be very good this year.

[iwu70]

If Rossi is the real deal, likely at the 3, seems more and more likely that Zman moves to the four and Davis to the five, with Anderson playing major minutes subbing at the 5 . . . and Musselman, Dortch, Mayberger and the others subbing at the 3 and 4.  What a range of talent Ron Rose is going to have.  Especially so if he has Jordan Nelson and Brady Zimmer subbing at the 1 and 2 respectively.  It's like two full first team varsity squads -- interchangeable given the circumstances, match-ups, and who is hot or especially healthy on the night.  Perhaps the deepest Titan roster in several decades.  Looking forward to it all.

IWU70

[Denny McKinney]

Sounds like my hometown kid, Bryce Dolan, may be relegated to some JV action. That's a shame. I was planning a trip up to watch him play.

[iwu70]

Yes, several guys who contributed, played important roles last season, are being bumped down the depth chart at IWU.  Hope many of the FR and SO guys do get more JV time, and can further develop in game-like conditions.  Rose has such high quality players in all spots at the 2nd and 3rd spots in the depth chart now.  Gotta love it.  Looking forward to seeing what Jordan Nelson and Alex Rossi got . . . as we know pretty well already how good many of the other returning players are. 

Great Homecoming weekend -- sorry to miss you at the game, Q -- I looked for you.  Had to run off to the retirement event, reception for Paul Bushnell in History -- caused some overlap of events with the delayed start of the football game.  I did get back for the last 8-9 minutes of the game, when the Titans 2nd and 3rd squad guys were getting their chances too in mop up time.  Great game, esp. first half and the dynamic and exploisive run game of the Titans this past weekend.  Devonte Jones is the real deal -- really coming into his own as the key RB and kickoff return guy.  Great stuff.  FINAL:  IWU 52 NPU 21. 

Hope all Titans had safe trips home, and enjoyed the Homecoming weekend as much as I did.  Great to see so many classmates back from the Class of '70 and surrounding years, in a non-major reunion year.  Thanks to IWU, Alumni affairs staff and all the student and alumni volunteers for an excellent weekend on campus.

A good week ahead for all --

IWU70