MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (2-1) vs Rose-Hulman (2-0), 4:00pm...

Rose-Hulman (2-0)
G - Dillon Reynolds, 5-10/165 Sr.
G - Collin Wojcik, 6-4/195 Jr.
F - Tyler Duffy, 6-5/190 Sr.
F - Jimmy Miller, 6-5/210 Sr.
C - Matt Loesing, 6-9/260 Sr.

F - Mitch Williams, 6-10/225 Sr.
G - Stephen Schueth, 6-3/180 So.
F - Luke Callahan, 6-7/205 Fr.
G - Wade Stallings, 5-6/155 Jr.
F - Charlie Aimone, 6-6/175 Fr.

Illinois Wesleyan (2-1)
G - Brady Rose, 6-2/190 So.
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-1/165 Sr.
F - Andy Stempel, 6-4/192 Jr.
F - Alec Bausch, 6-6/210 Jr.
C - Trevor Seibring, 6-8/235 Jr.

G - Colin Bonnett, 6-3/195 Fr.
G - Joel Pennington, 6-0/180 Sr.
F - Jaylen Beasley, 6-6/180 So.
G - Brian Nelms, 5-11/170 Sr.
F - Rob Mahlke, 6-8/220 Sr.


Live video/stats - http://portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu/

WJBC radio - http://portal.stretchinternet.com/wjbc/

[Titan Q]

Big game today for the Titans against a good team.  This is one of those games that doesn't feel like a big deal because we are still in November, but come tournament selection time both teams will really want to have this one. In Division III, timing of games doesn't matter at all - this means as much as a game in late-February.

A couple weeks ago I projected Rose-Hulman as IWU's 5th toughest non-conference game (with those top 6 all being very strong teams).  I believe the Engineers are better than the Benedictine team IWU lost to. 

1. Ohio Wesleyan (#13), 22-6/16-2 NCAC/picked 1st in NCAC
2. Chicago (#17), 16-9/8-6 UAA; picked 1st in UAA
3. Washington U. (ORV), 20-6/9-5 UAA; picked 4th in UAA
4. Texas Lutheran, 18-10/11-3 SCAC; picked 2nd in SCAC
5. Rose-Hulman, 14-10/10-7 HCAC; picked 2nd in HCAC
6. Benedictine, 18-9/15-5 NACC; picked 2nd in NACC (lost 86-88)
7. Southwestern, 15-11/8-6 SCAC; picked 5th in SCAC
8. Milwaukee School of Engineering, 13-13/10-10 NACC; picked 4th in NACC
9. Loras, 10-15/5-9 IIAC; picked ? in IIAC
10. Wilmington, 11-14, 8-10 OAC; picked 8th in OAC (won 84-61)
11. Greenville, 13-12/10-8 SLIAC; picked 5th in SLIAC (won 150-117)

I'm interested to see how the Titans play today against a very big Rose-Hulman team.

[Titan Q]

Very intriguing game in Naperville today at 2:00pm - #17 U. of Chicago (2 losses already) vs the reloaded NCC Cardinals.  Another November game with big implications.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 83
#7 Mount Union 68
(Alex Sorenson - 27 pts, 11 reb; Kevin Honn - 17 pts, 7 reb)

Solid debut for Sorenson, but not a very efficient one. He went 13-27 from the field, so he scored a point per shot. That's not what you'd expect from a 6'8, 240 center. Of course, he didn't shoot a free throw until there was two and a half minutes left, which had something to do with that.

But the fact of the matter is that scoring 27 points in his very first game while playing under a completely new offensive system, and with an entirely new cast of teammates, might really be the thing you wouldn't have expected from Sorenson last night. 🍸🍸🍸
And of course his measly total of 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 steals only further contributed a few more degrees of inefficiency to his overall lackluster performance. 😏

A little touchy, aren't we, Mark?

Nobody called Sorenson's performance "lackluster". In fact, the adjective I used was "solid". I simply pointed out the pertinent fact that his scoring was inefficient. When a player that big who is clearly able to dominate inside against that particular opponent only goes 13-27 from the field and doesn't shoot a free throw until the game's almost over, it's worth pointing out. The "new offensive system" thing is a red herring; playing with your back to the basket down low doesn't really change much from one system to the next.

If it had been He Who Shall Not Be Named who went 13-27 from the field and scored precisely one point per shot against a team whose starting and backup centers were both 6'5, you would've been all over him like a cheap suit.

[Titan Q]

Regarding NCC's 6-8 transfer Alex Sorenson, my take after watching a lot of that Mount Union game is that Sorenson:
  - Will be a 3-year 1st Team all-CCIW player 
  - Will be a 3-year D3hoops.com All-American (and a 1st Teamer at least once)

When you hear about a kid who started for an NCAA Division II school transferring to Division III, I think you automatically assume he's going to be really good.  I certain did.  In watching him play a little, that was validated for me.  Sorenson is not only big (listed as 6-8/240 - doesn't look 240 to me), but he's bouncy (Ron Rose term), mobile, and very skilled around the basket.

In an era when it is really hard for Division III schools to find good low post, back-to-the-basket guys, North Central added what is now the best 5-man in the CCIW, and one of the elite low post players in Division III.  I think Alex Sorenson - combined with everything else NCC has - makes the Cardinals a legitimate challenger to Augustana.

[AndOne]

TQ,

I am sure Alex appreciates your comments.
With regard to his listed weight, 225-230 is more accurate.

[AndOne]

North Central 83
#7 Mount Union 68
(Alex Sorenson - 27 pts, 11 reb; Kevin Honn - 17 pts, 7 reb)

Solid debut for Sorenson, but not a very efficient one. He went 13-27 from the field, so he scored a point per shot. That's not what you'd expect from a 6'8, 240 center. Of course, he didn't shoot a free throw until there was two and a half minutes left, which had something to do with that.

But the fact of the matter is that scoring 27 points in his very first game while playing under a completely new offensive system, and with an entirely new cast of teammates, might really be the thing you wouldn't have expected from Sorenson last night. 🍸🍸🍸
And of course his measly total of 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 steals only further contributed a few more degrees of inefficiency to his overall lackluster performance. 😏

A little touchy, aren't we, Mark?

Nobody called Sorenson's performance "lackluster". In fact, the adjective I used was "solid". I simply pointed out the pertinent fact that his scoring was inefficient. When a player that big who is clearly able to dominate inside against that particular opponent only goes 13-27 from the field and doesn't shoot a free throw until the game's almost over, it's worth pointing out. The "new offensive system" thing is a red herring; playing with your back to the basket down low doesn't really change much from one system to the next.

If it had been He Who Shall Not Be Named who went 13-27 from the field and scored precisely one point per shot against a team whose starting and backup centers were both 6'5, you would've been all over him like a cheap suit.

If touchy means correct, Greg, then yes, I'm very guilty. 

Also, according to what offensive set the Cardinals are running, Alex sometimes plays with his back to the basket, but often plays facing up as well. He is capable of both. As I mentioned last night, my opinion is that he did take a few ill advised, too quick shots. I chalk this up largely due to first game adrenaline. Like a baseball pitcher who needs to learn to let his teammates work for him, I expect that Alex will become more comfortable with, and learn to use his teammates more, and be comfortable making the extra pass for an even better open look.
Call his performance Friday evening inefficient if you will, but i think you will find a great many coaches who will gladly accept an "inefficient" 27 point, 11 rebound, 2 block, 3 steal game time and time again. 

[WUPHF]

Speaking of Division II transfers, do you know what Soedemann is doing this year?  Curious is he is entering the family business as a coach?

[Titan Q]

Speaking of Division II transfers, do you know what Soedemann is doing this year?  Curious is he is entering the family business as a coach?

http://www.mbuspartans.com/coach/0/1.php

[Gregory Sager]

Call his performance Friday evening inefficient if you will, but i think you will find a great many coaches who will gladly accept an "inefficient" 27 point, 11 rebound, 2 block, 3 steal game time and time again. 

I didn't call his performance inefficient. I called his scoring inefficient. There's a big difference.

[iwu70]

Rose Hulman looked very good yesterday vs. a very poor Fontbonne team.  I think given their size, esp. the C, and their quality perimeter players and shooters, this squad will be a great challenge for the Titans today at 4 p.m.  I'm looking forward to it and hope the TITANS rise to the challenge.  It would be a good win to have.  Yesterday, the TITANS played well.  We got 10 and 10 from Bausch and Mahlke, a break out shooting day from Dolan with 19 and 5-5 from treyland, and the normal solid 15 and 7 from Trevor Seibring.  This team has so many weapons and you just don't know who will step up game to game.  Sad to see Marietti and Coyle in street clothes, with Coyle on crutches and in a boot.  Not good.  Let's hope Marietti is back in a game or two, and Ryan back and healthy not long after that.   If I have a favorite player this year, surely is Joel Pennington -- though a bit under-sized, he's just such a smart, quick, consistent, high-percentage shooting piece of the Ron Rose rotation.  He gives quality minutes always, plays good D, and always, like Bausch, brings high energy.  Bausch is just fiesty and cheeky, always one wrong look away from a T from the refs, but bringing the energy and edge that all good squads, esp. on D, need.  Pennington is the same way, but in a more senior-like, professional fashion, seemingly always making good decisions with the ball.  Nelms played very solid yesterday too, leading the TITANS in assists. 

My last game today in person for this season.   Soon to the FAR SIDE again.  Yes, I'm a wimp, when the snow flies, I fly back to Hong Kong -- actually have work to do, more teaching at my beloved The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in the Spring term 2016.  I'll be enjoying the rest of the season in the a.m. hours, on video streaming from Hong Kong.

GO TITANS!!!

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

My last game today in person for this season.   Soon to the FAR SIDE again.

[Gregory Sager]

The game to watch yesterday was clearly Millikin @ Greenville, which the Big Blue won narrowly, 115-113. School records tend to fall by the wayside when you play a System team, and yesterday's contest was no exception for Jimmy Millikin. T.J. Sims, who's sewed up the CCIW Player of the Week award that'll be handed out tomorrow -- as if he hadn't already with his 39-point game against Aurora on Wednesday -- went 23-25 from the free-throw line against the Panthers. That breaks the school record of 21 FT makes in a game set by Scott Steagal all the way back in 1951. Any time that you break a record that's stood for over six decades, you've done something special. Sims ended the game with 43 points.

Tommy Pilackas had a 21 and 12 double-double, T.J. Griffin's 11 points got him into the Thousand Points Club for his career (and his 9:2 a:to ratio was phenomenal for a player who had to handle the ball against a System team), and Jack Simpson had 10 and 9 for the Big Blue.

[hopefan]

The game to watch yesterday was clearly Millikin @ Greenville, which the Big Blue won narrowly, 115-113. School records tend to fall by the wayside when you play a System team, and yesterday's contest was no exception for Jimmy Millikin. T.J. Sims, who's sewed up the CCIW Player of the Week award that'll be handed out tomorrow -- as if he hadn't already with his 39-point game against Aurora on Wednesday -- went 23-25 from the free-throw line against the Panthers. That breaks the school record of 21 FT makes in a game set by Scott Steagal all the way back in 1951. Any time that you break a record that's stood for over six decades, you've done something special. Sims ended the game with 43 points.

Tommy Pilackas had a 21 and 12 double-double, T.J. Griffin's 11 points got him into the Thousand Points Club for his career (and his 9:2 a:to ratio was phenomenal for a player who had to handle the ball against a System team), and Jack Simpson had 10 and 9 for the Big Blue.

Sims was just incredible.. get the ball, go to the basket until someone fouls him, make 2...
2 points to make about the game... 2 starters out with injuries from Friday night, Brian Ehresman with an ankle, Kenny Greene with wrist injury... put GC at a big disadvantage with leadership and scoring, messed up the rotation... I kept on asking myself how they were staying close...
2nd point, they finally fouled someone other than Sims, the kid missed one and GC got the ball 2.6 second full court.. they ran a play perfectly, got a legit jump shot for the win, back of the rim, Millikin win

Both teams played so hard for forty... it was a pleasure to watch....

[WUPHF]

Speaking of Division II transfers, do you know what Soedemann is doing this year?  Curious is he is entering the family business as a coach?

http://www.mbuspartans.com/coach/0/1.php

Very cool, thanks!