MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Naperick]

Alexander was a great player!  I think he was a CCIW MOP.  Might have been 1992.  The NCC teams from 1988-1990 were very good.  North Park and IL Wesleyan were strong as well.  I think 3 CCIW teams made the D3 tourney in 1990.  That didn't happen again for 11 years.

A great honor for Alonzo and well deserved!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Alonzo Alexander was a terrific 6'4 swingman for the Cardinals at the end of the Warden heyday. If that buddy of his whom he mentioned in the press release, Michael Patterson, had managed to avoid becoming an academic casualty, there's no telling what heights the Cardinals might've reached while 'zo was wearing NCC crimson. As it was, they were still very, very good during his underclassmen days, before fading out when he was an upperclassman. Fun player to watch.

Really looking forward to the season.  I always HOPE for a national title, but this year it seems very realistic.

We can't wait for you to post your percentage odds, Chuck.

You may have to wait awhile.  You may have noticed (or not ) that I have calmed downed significantly since 2006.

(On the other hand, I HAVE been lobbying on the 'Undefeated, Winless' board for 'home-court' advantage to have IWU - and it ain't to have the Titans for winless. )

[Gregory Sager]

Alonzo Alexander was a terrific 6'4 swingman for the Cardinals at the end of the Warden heyday. If that buddy of his whom he mentioned in the press release, Michael Patterson, had managed to avoid becoming an academic casualty, there's no telling what heights the Cardinals might've reached while 'zo was wearing NCC crimson. As it was, they were still very, very good during his underclassmen days, before fading out when he was an upperclassman. Fun player to watch.

Really looking forward to the season.  I always HOPE for a national title, but this year it seems very realistic.

We can't wait for you to post your percentage odds, Chuck.

You may have to wait awhile.  You may have noticed (or not ) that I have calmed downed significantly since 2006.

Yes, I'm aware of that. But I honestly miss the days when you would pull that sort of zealously enthusiastic stunt, because it used to drive Bob crazy, and I always chuckled at the mental image of an exasperated Bob pulling his hair out every time that you would "adjust" your IWU-wins-the-national-title or IWU-goes-undefeated percentage odds.

[Gregory Sager]

Recently, some dullard made a surprisingly cogent argument against pre-season polls (over in the WBB Multi Regional topics section). Some excerpts :
Their innate flaw is that they are based on 0 games. As long as there is a lot of volatility in the subsequent voting, pre-season ratings can be fairly harmless. But, one can imagine some team thinking they deserve to be number 5 if they "upset" the pre-season number 5 team. Or a team rated number 2 thinks they should stay there forever as long as they and number 1 don't lose.
Another issue is that somebody rated 24th has to leapfrog many more teams than does the team who is rated 11 in the pre-season poll.
The point could be summarized as this : every team in the country should be considered side by side at the starting line, as opposed to some teams getting favored "pole positions" as in an auto race.

I made the exact same argument to Pat on this site over a decade ago, Rog, so consider me the old-school dullard who blazed the trail for you next-generation dullards.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Alonzo Alexander was a terrific 6'4 swingman for the Cardinals at the end of the Warden heyday. If that buddy of his whom he mentioned in the press release, Michael Patterson, had managed to avoid becoming an academic casualty, there's no telling what heights the Cardinals might've reached while 'zo was wearing NCC crimson. As it was, they were still very, very good during his underclassmen days, before fading out when he was an upperclassman. Fun player to watch.

Really looking forward to the season.  I always HOPE for a national title, but this year it seems very realistic.

We can't wait for you to post your percentage odds, Chuck.

You may have to wait awhile.  You may have noticed (or not ) that I have calmed downed significantly since 2006.

Yes, I'm aware of that. But I honestly miss the days when you would pull that sort of zealously enthusiastic stunt, because it used to drive Bob crazy, and I always chuckled at the mental image of an exasperated Bob pulling his hair out every time that you would "adjust" your IWU-wins-the-national-title or IWU-goes-undefeated percentage odds.

I may have to revive that meme, just for your amusement!

We'll start with IWU, .0025% chance of undefeated; IWU 12% chance of 'the big doorstop'.

[Do NOT expect regular updates. ]

But this year, for a change, I do not see anyone who is obviously better.

[Gregory Sager]

I knew that I could goad you into it. You're an easy mark, Chuck.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I knew that I could goad you into it. You're an easy mark, Chuck.

Yeah, but note the very low numbers.

I AM more confident than any year since 2006.  (I wish there was a way to replay games/tournaments; I'm convinced that if 2006 was rewound numerous times, IWU would win more often than it lost.  Oh well. )

[iwu70]

Ahh, Ypsi, ever the statistics geek.  You can't help yourself, right? Chuck?

Share your view though on 2006.  That was a great year, but a lost opportunity for the top prize. 

This year looks very very good -- though the run through the CCIW will be as tough as ever, likely a very strong league this year.

Still sorry to see Parker Musselman depart.  He's a very useful player, IMHO.  Hope to see him back in future -- a la Shelby Jackson on the women's side.

Fall break on the IWU campus, so all is quiet and calm on the Quad, at Ames.  Only a few true loyalists like myself still around campus.  The strong chill in the air tells me we will all soon be inside watching round ball, not pigskin.  Some really great big big games upcoming for our football Titans -- vs. WC and NCC.   Those will be clashes of CCIW Titans, likely undefeated teams.  Hoping the true TITANS come out on top.

Have a good weekend, all CCIW chatsters.  Warm greetings from chilly Btown.

IWU70

[veterancciwfan]

I think there is a possibility that Parker Musselman could return next year as IWU has 6 significant seniors this year. Parker worked hard this summer getting in better shape in the IWU weight room and I hope he has not permanently removed basketball from his future. He's fun to be around.

[veterancciwfan]

One more IWU item. Don't count out Bryce Dolan this season. He has improved his ballhandling and passing game and he can still shoot the lights out. I think he will get considerable PT, especially in the nonconference games. 

[iwu70]

Vet, share your hopes that Musselman will return.   I really enjoy watching him play with that wry, smirk-like smile on his face.  Agree a lot of senior talent will be departing after this season.  Perhaps more PT for Parker.  Guess there were some foot issues for him, need to focus on academics.  Hope he's back next season.  I, too, would love to see Dolan make more key contributions, perhaps back up Overstreet -- but pretty tough as the newbies are bumping him down the depth chart.  Guess it depends on whether Jordan Nelson is for real and whether he plays mostly the 2, or PG backup too.  Dolan needs to really find his 3 point stroke, which he has not really done in varsity competition as yest, . . . along with Sodeman and Zimmer, or also back up Overstreet at the PG.  Seems Dolan would be the logical player to get those back-up minutes when Overstreet needs a short break.  There are other Titans who can also potentially play some backup PG and also play the 2 at times, depending on matchups and defensive needs.  I would think Nelms is still in the mix too for some backup minutes at PG.  Time will tell. We've always had some guys with injuries, other issues too -- esp. in the pre-CCIW phase, as Coach Rose experiments, gives various combinations a try -- so I'd expect that again.  Already some reference in the Pgraph piece to Zimmer's back problems.  If Jordan Nelson and Alex Rossi are the real deal, then this Titan team has tremendous depth, variety and versatility -- which they basically had pretty much before these two transfers appeared.  Overall, they got stronger than last year.   Lots of pretty good players waiting in the wings for their chance (Coyle, Heyen, Marietti, etc.) -- in the next two seasons after the 6 seniors graduate (Mayberger, Dortch, Davis, Anderson, Zman and Zimmer).  One can think of a pretty darn good team following with the juniors and sophomores from this current roster -- not counting on anything from this year's new freshmen group.   

Practices underway, Green/White scrimmage Saturday morning October 26th --9:00 a.m. @ Shirk -- same day at Tucci Stadium for the big showdown football game with Wheaton.  Jazz Band Halloween Concert that evening too -- 7:30 p.m. at Presser Hall.  Trick or Treat!  A great, full, fun green Titan Day!  Fine basketball, fine football and fine fine music.  What more could a D3 sports fan ask for?

IWU70

[Denny McKinney]

VetCCIW - Thanks for giving some hope for Bryce. I don't understand his shooting difficulties. He was money out to 30' in HS. Maybe the weight lifting has messed with his shot. The Kid won't get out worked. So I am sure he'll find that stroke. May have to make a trip to IWU after all.

[AndOne]

Don't forget that baring injury, Dolan will be, at best, the Green Weenies 5th guard behind Overstreet, Nelson, Zimmer, and Sodemann. And that is only provided that one of the freshman guards doesn't go crazy in practice and emerge as guard #5--a prospect which probably isn't likely. Accordingly, Dolan should be able to retain his #5 position which would probably translate as mostly mop up duty in blowouts. A blessing for the coaching staff, but so many men and so few minutes doesn't provide the same advantage to squad members fighting for PT. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Don't forget that baring injury, Dolan will be, at best, the Green Weenies 5th guard behind Overstreet, Nelson, Zimmer, and Sodemann. And that is only provided that one of the freshman guards doesn't go crazy in practice and emerge as guard #5--a prospect which probably isn't likely. Accordingly, Dolan should be able to retain his #5 position which would probably translate as mostly mop up duty in blowouts. A blessing for the coaching staff, but so many men and so few minutes doesn't provide the same advantage to squad members fighting for PT.

Reportedly, Zimmer's back is already acting up.  Alas, I fear he may miss some games entirely, and may be in only very sparingly for others.  Also, who was better last year doesn't guarantee who is better this year.  We may have to wait and see what Dolan's chances are for significant PT this year.

[iwu70]

Time will tell.  So many options, player combinations for Ron Rose this year.  A plethora of riches.  (But, if Zimmer is injured, then Sodeman and the new Jordan Nelson at the 2, could make Dolan the key back-up for Overstreet at PG when he needs a break).  Sure hope Dolan improves his strength, on-ball defence, ball-handling, and finds his 3 point stroke for the coming few years.  Could be a huge contributor if that all happens.  I have no doubt he is talented, hard-working.  Needs playing time and his confidence built up.  Perhaps some JV minutes would be a good thing?

Practices underway now -- Green/White scrimmage coming this Saturday morning -- before the big football showdown with Wheaton.  Basketball at 9 a.m., football at 1 p.m., Halloween Jazz Concert at Presser at Hall at 7:30 p.m.  GO ALL TITANS!!!

Opening game vs. Manchester is three weeks from this Friday. (Nov. 15th @Shirk -- Aurora or Ripon the following night).  Football into the second half now . . . and soon we'll all go inside and enjoy the basketball season. 

It's going to be a very exciting season for the Titan Nation.


IWU70