MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Guess NCC has to prove itself . . . get the injured guys back, and put it all out on the floor.  I would have had them in the top 10 for sure.

Time will tell.

Augie gonna be real tough.

IWU'70

Some of the voters that are half the country away who aren't that familiar with midwestern teams are going to look at NCC's 11 losses last year and figure how good could a team with 11 losses be, and are not going to rank them very high.

I have a hard time believing that they gave much consideration to the fact that NCC beat the #2 ranked team to win the conference tourney late last season and Augie is basically the same team now (switch Wofford for Johnston), while NCC is improved. Or, that NCC lost by one point in the 2nd round to the #4 ranked team which is worse than they were that night (loss of Muchmore) while NCC is better with a starter returning from injury and some great new additions.
That is not to say Augie and Hanover don't deserve their rankings. It is to say that NCC should be ranked right there with them. But again, last year's record carries too much influence with some voters.

If you think NCC's #10 ranking is good, consider that Dave McHugh had them ranked #5 on his ballot. 

[Titan Q]

Looking at IWU's schedule relative to the preseason poll, the Titans have 6 games scheduled vs top 25 teams...

* #2 Augie (2)
* #9 Wash U
* #12 North Central (2)
* #17 Emory

I have to imagine that total of 6 ranks very high relative to all D3 teams.

The Titans will have plenty of opportunities to prove they belong in the Top 25.

[Greek Tragedy]

Guess NCC has to prove itself . . . get the injured guys back, and put it all out on the floor.  I would have had them in the top 10 for sure.

Time will tell.

Augie gonna be real tough.

IWU'70

Some of the voters that are half the country away who aren't that familiar with midwestern teams are going to look at NCC's 11 losses last year and figure how good could a team with 11 losses be, and are not going to rank them very high.

I have a hard time believing that they gave much consideration to the fact that NCC beat the #2 ranked team to win the conference tourney late last season and Augie is basically the same team now (switch Wofford for Johnston), while NCC is improved. Or, that NCC lost by one point in the 2nd round to the #4 ranked team which is worse than they were that night (loss of Muchmore) while NCC is better with a starter returning from injury and some great new additions.
That is not to say Augie and Hanover don't deserve their rankings. It is to say that NCC should be ranked right there with them. But again, last year's record carries too much influence with some voters.

If you th2ink NCC's #10 ranking is good, consider that Dave McHugh had them ranked #5 on his ballot. 

They also got smoked at home to Platteville who had 1 conference win all year and that was with Raridon. They also had a four game losing streak that included a home loss to North Park, 13-12 Carroll and 14-10 Stevens Point. Yeah, they beat Augie at the end of the year,  but also lost to them twice previously. Yeah, we know Raridon is back, but that doesn't mean #12 isn't a fair ranking.

[Titan Q]

Carroll lost to D1 IUPIU by 9 last night in exhibition play...

http://gopios.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-carroll-builds-confidence-in-exhibition.aspx

Carroll's rotation was:

G Ben Widdes, 6-0 Jr.
G Nick Penny, 6-2 So.
G Joel Heesch, 6-2 Sr.
G Tanner Zaeske, 6-3 Sr.
F Tyler Ingebrigtsen, 6-7 Jr.

F Kale Maupin, 6-4 So.
G Ray Pierce, 6-0 Jr.
F Alec Hamilton, 6-6 Fr.
G Charlie Soule, 6-2 So.

[Titan Q]

Q, any thoughts now on what you know to be the likely starting five and those likely to figure in the varsity rotation? 

In the Olivet Nazarene scrimmage Ron Rose started:

G Brady Rose, 6-3 Sr.
G Nick Coleman, 6-2 Jr.
F Doug Wallen, 6-5 Fr.
F Miles Curry, 6-6 So.
C Alex O'Neill, 6-9 So.

Colin Bonnett was out (concussion).

I wouldn't read too much into that lineup though.  It's early and I think safe to say all IWU rotation spots are wide open.  The Titans have a lot of talent and the staff will have to sort out which 9-10 guys, and which combos, give them the best chance.

[AndOne]

Guess NCC has to prove itself . . . get the injured guys back, and put it all out on the floor.  I would have had them in the top 10 for sure.

Time will tell.

Augie gonna be real tough.

IWU'70

Some of the voters that are half the country away who aren't that familiar with midwestern teams are going to look at NCC's 11 losses last year and figure how good could a team with 11 losses be, and are not going to rank them very high.

I have a hard time believing that they gave much consideration to the fact that NCC beat the #2 ranked team to win the conference tourney late last season and Augie is basically the same team now (switch Wofford for Johnston), while NCC is improved. Or, that NCC lost by one point in the 2nd round to the #4 ranked team which is worse than they were that night (loss of Muchmore) while NCC is better with a starter returning from injury and some great new additions.
That is not to say Augie and Hanover don't deserve their rankings. It is to say that NCC should be ranked right there with them. But again, last year's record carries too much influence with some voters.

If you th2ink NCC's #10 ranking is good, consider that Dave McHugh had them ranked #5 on his ballot. 

They also got smoked at home to Platteville who had 1 conference win all year and that was with Raridon. They also had a four game losing streak that included a home loss to North Park, 13-12 Carroll and 14-10 Stevens Point. Yeah, they beat Augie at the end of the year,  but also lost to them twice previously. Yeah, we know Raridon is back, but that doesn't mean #12 isn't a fair ranking.

We know all that, Greek.
And what about that one conference win that Platteville got last year? Perhaps the team they beat that night was expected to beat the Platteville boys and just had a bad game just like NCC did? It happens.
And as far as a team losing four straight--I think that would befall many teams just after losing their best all-around player. Or don't you think so?
The point is, the Cardinals are, or at least should be, a better team than they were at the end of last season when they finished pretty strongly, and were basically the equal of teams ranked 2nd and 4th who they beat and lost to by one point.

As as I said, if you don't think my point has any merit, consider Dave McHugh has them at #5 on his ballot. 

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q, nice to see some of the new faces there, likely in the varsity rotation.  Let's hope Curry really has a break-out, developing season this year, in scoring and rebounding.  Bonnett will be back soon, right?  What's your take on Whalen and O'Neil so far, from what you are hearing?  And what about the gunner trey-shooting transfer who came down from WI.?

I'd expect Beasley back in the starting line-up.

Hope to see a few games in mid-November @The Shirk, then I'm back across the Pacific for Spring term teaching -- so will have to watch the TITANS in the morning --Instead of "Breakfast at Wimbledon" it will be "Breakfast at The Shirk."

Good luck to all the coaches and players this year -- I hope everyone has a great season and stays healthy, competes hard -- as per usual in the CCIW.  This may be Augie's year to finally go all the way.

IWU'70

[iwu70]

I share Dave McHugh's take -- well, NCC at least in the top ten pre-season.

'70

[Greek Tragedy]

And as far as a team losing four straight--I think that would befall many teams just after losing their best all-around player. Or don't you think so?
The point is, the Cardinals are, or at least should be, a better team than they were at the end of last season when they finished pretty strongly, and were basically the equal of teams ranked 2nd and 4th who they beat and lost to by one point.

As as I said, if you don't think my point has any merit, consider Dave McHugh has them at #5 on his ballot. 

Well, they were 3-1 immediately following his injury. 

Anyway, I think it's  kind of pointless to complain that they should be ranked higher in a preseason poll.   

[Titan Q]

I am pretty confident North Central is a Top 10-caliber team, but I think their placement in the preseason poll is just about right.  They can move up quickly by playing well.

I am surprised more voters didn't go with Augustana #1. 

[AndOne]

And as far as a team losing four straight--I think that would befall many teams just after losing their best all-around player. Or don't you think so?
The point is, the Cardinals are, or at least should be, a better team than they were at the end of last season when they finished pretty strongly, and were basically the equal of teams ranked 2nd and 4th who they beat and lost to by one point.

As as I said, if you don't think my point has any merit, consider Dave McHugh has them at #5 on his ballot. 

1. Well, they were 3-1 immediately following his injury. 

2. Anyway, I think it's  kind of pointless to complain that they should be ranked higher in a preseason poll.   

1. That's because CR is a very average run-of-the-mill player who doesn't really make much of a difference one way or the other.
It's a virtual certainty they would have had the same exact record had he played all year. 😉

2. I'm not arguing they should be ranked higher. What I AM saying is they they were right with this year's preseason #2 and #4 at the end of last season. So, if they were ranked, say, #5, it should not be surprising, and nobody would have much of an argument that they didn't deserve a higher ranking. Especially, given the fact they're better now than when last season ended. 🤔

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I am pretty confident North Central is a Top 10-caliber team, but I think their placement in the preseason poll is just about right.  They can move up quickly by playing well.

I am surprised more voters didn't go with Augustana #1.

There wasn't any specific mention in the information provided to voters about the injuries, so it's possible some of the voters didn't know or didn't remember that NCC has two all-american candidates out most of the year.  The names were there as returners, but nothing to specifically remind us of the injuries.  Those of us who did remember, I suspect, have them ranked pretty high.

[4samuy]

 Refresh my memory, Who was the other all American candidate out for most of the year? 

[Titan Q]

Refresh my memory, Who was the other all American candidate out for most of the year?

It was just one - Raridon.

[Greek Tragedy]

I am pretty confident North Central is a Top 10-caliber team, but I think their placement in the preseason poll is just about right.  They can move up quickly by playing well.

I am surprised more voters didn't go with Augustana #1.

There wasn't any specific mention in the information provided to voters about the injuries, so it's possible some of the voters didn't know or didn't remember that NCC has two all-american candidates out most of the year.  The names were there as returners, but nothing to specifically remind us of the injuries.  Those of us who did remember, I suspect, have them ranked pretty high.

Refresh my memory, Who was the other all American candidate out for most of the year?

It was just one - Raridon.

So, was it one or two?