MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Warren Thompson]

... and the Silverswords [Silver Swords?] in 1982/83 did a ....

[David Collinge]

...thing that IWU will not do against...

[Pat Coleman]

... a Big Ten team playing in its home time zone and on its home floor ...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Applause to all for that choreographed reply (spread out over 1.5 hours, that was quite a feat)!

We might also reply (if I remember correctly) that Chaminade was d2, not d3.

Nonetheless, that was probably the single greatest upset in bball history!

Just in case the choreography was still continuing, my addition:

but, on the other hand, who knows what could happen in a scrimmage...

[augiefan]

I think Illinois will not beat IWU by more than 15 points, possibly less. Last year's great squad struggled against the likes of Delaware State and Chicago State in the early season, and IWU is better than either of those DI doormats.

I think Illinois will be lucky to finish in the top 5 in the B10 this year. MSU, Mich., OSU, IU and Iowa all have better returning talent, although Weber can outcoach Alford and Amaker pretty much every time out. Brown and Augustine have had injuries that kept them from practicing over the summer, and they will both be rusty and out of shape. There is no one else of any particular proven talent or skill on the rest of the team. It will be scary for the overconfident and overhyped Illini, but on their home court they will prevail due to greater size and athleticism.

[Titan Q]

Illinois soldout both exhibitions last year - the 78-58 win over D2 SIU-Edwardsville and the 92-61 win vs D2 Lewis. 

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/110504aab.html

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/111404aab.html

This year add in the fact that this will be the first time the Illini take the Assembly Hall floor vs an opponent since the national championship game vs North Carolina.  There will be 16,618 in the house and while I am sure they will not take Illinois Wesleyan all that seriously, I wouldn't count on them not playing hard.

Illini single game tickets go on sale November 1.  Anyone wanting to attend the IWU exhibition needs to go through regular Illinois ticket channels...IWU was only given 50 tickets.

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100605aab.html 

[Titan Q]

Probable starting lineups are:

Fighting Illini

G Dee Brown (6-0/185, SR)*
G Rich McBride (6-3/205, JR)
F Brian Randle (6-8/215, SO - redshirt)
F Warren Carter (6-9/215, JR)
C James Augustine (6-10/235, SR)

* Division I All-American

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/ill-m-baskbl-mtt.html

Titans

G Adam Dauksas (6-3/185, SR)**
G Matt Arnold (5-11/160, SR)
F Keelan Amelianovich (6-6/210, SR)**
F Zach Freeman (6-7/205, JR)
C Cory Jones (6-6/225, SR)

** Division III All-American


While Augustine is a huge problem for IWU, he's not exactly Sean May.  He is somewhat containable.  The enormous problem is Dee Brown, considered by most to be the best point-guard in the country.  There is no one in Division III who can begin to guard him.  I have no idea what Scott Trost and the Titans will do with him.

The other guy who could be a huge problem, and probably the key to the Illini's season, is Brian Randle (Peoria Notre Dame H.S.).  This is a guy Coach K wanted and lost to Illinois...he has potential to be a Big Ten star.  Of course, he also has to guard one of the best small college players in the country and I'd love to see Keelan hit a few 3's early and at least give him something to think about.

A guy not even in the Illini probable starting lineup is transfer Marcus Arnold (6-8/245, JR),  who was All Missouri Valley as a sophomore at Illinois State...and the Valley is a darn good Division I league.  Marcus Arnold would be the M.O.P. in the CCIW....and he'll be their 7th or 8th man.

There's a real big gap between the CCIW and an upper half Big Ten team.  Glad we have Adam Dauksas to bring it up the floor though...that will be fun to watch. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Whether one wants to rate the Big 10 as the best, #2, 3, or even #4 D1 conference, the fact remains that there is VERY little overlap in recruiting.  (A Jack Sikma may NEVER come to d3 again [yeah, Pat, I know IWU wasn't d3 then!])

BUT:

Who can TOTALLY predict what a 17-year-old is going to be 4 years later?
Which of those D1 recruits will either go NBA or flunk out in 2-3 years?

My point?  (I usually have one eventually!)  Top d3 teams are usually better than bottom d1 teams.  Alas, Illinois is NOT a  bottom-feeder.  Our chances are near zero, but they are NOT zero.

[Pat Coleman]

A Jack Sikma may NEVER come to d3

Should have quit while you were ahead.

Chaminade was actually NAIA then, not NCAA Division II. Good piece revisiting the game ran in USA TODAY a few years ago. D3hoops.com junkies will recognize the writer.

[True Basketball Fan]

Additionally, the game Virginia vs. Chaminade was not only on Chaminade's home court, but also in Hawaii.  Those familiar with Hawaii college basketball (whether it be DI, NAIA, or DII) know that they have an advantage not just from location, but the officials are extremely biased, more than anywhere else in US.  I didn't see the game, but I imagine the calls were most likely in Chaminade's favor more often than not.

Unfortunately for IWU, Illinois has this advantage, but not to the extreme that Chaminade had back when they defeated Virginia.  I don't think Illinois needs this advantage, so it will probably go unnoticed to most.

[Warren Thompson]

There was a time when the mainland teams went to Hawaii to play not only the University of Hawaii but also the many armed forces teams in the islands. Eventually, the CONUS coaches refused to play the latter, in large part because of what they saw as "biased" referees. Amongst other things, they were tired of their players coming up from the floor, blood flowing, only to be charged with a foul.

Apparently some of the Army and Navy players played basketball as if it were a back-of-the-barracks brawl, and rebounding was seen as an opportune time for a little mugging under the boards.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That would explain the ex-marines in the game I play in every week.

[devildog29]

hoops fan, ok, i gotta be the one to point it out and it may get me negative karma, but considering my screen name here it has to be done.  there is no such thing as an "ex-marine."  once a marine, always a marine.  we prefer "prior marine" as ex implies we are no longer one.  stupid and anal, yes i know.  but if we weren't stupid and anal, we wouldn't be marines.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not sure that the Marines would want to claim some of these guys as lifelong members...they certainly aren't helping their reputation any.

[devildog29]

even with the disclaimer, you still nail me hoops fan.......such is life.  but as crazy and ridiculous as those guys are, i didn't want anyone else next to me when i found myself stuck in the middle of the desert 2 years ago.  as mean and nasty as they may be on the basketball floor, they're just as dependable along side of you when it counts the most, life or death.