MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

When October rolls around it will be fun to see how the Titan rotation develops.  I'm not sure what recruiting will bring, but right now it seems like IWU has pretty good players ready to step in.

PG - Andrew Gilmore/Teddy Toliver
SG - Jordan Morris/Mike Harrigan/John Caywood/Kevin Bryant
SF - Andrew Freeman/Brian Nussbaum/Tyler Smith
PF - Darius Gant/Steve Manus/Brett Chamernik/Jason Bloom
C - Zach Freeman

Based on the way Zach Freeman played in IWU's final 10 games or so, I think it is safe to say the Titans will have one of the best big guys in the nation next year.  That's a great start.

A player I feel very confident will become an All-CCIW performer at some point is 6-1 lefty guard Andrew Gilmore (Stillwater, MN).  Not Adam Dauksas, but more your protypical steady ball-handler, very good shooter, etc.

The X factor for the 2006-07 Titans as I look at it is Darius Gant (Oswego H.S.).  Gant is 6-4/210 and as athletic as any CCIW player I've ever seen...every bit as athletic as Rob Garnes.  Garnes went for about 15 & 9 each game just by out-jumping everybody and knowing how to play.  Maybe Gant can be that kind of player.  He'll have to work hard...Garnes was really something.

Brian Nussbaum (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S.) was a heavily recruited player as well, selecting IWU over a Division II scholarship, Lawrence, and a few other D3's.  Brian had surgery this season to repair a torn labrum, so we'll see how he responds.  He'll have a chance to be a big part of things next year.

I don't know how it will work out, but a frontline of Andrew Freeman, Darius Gant, Zach Freeman would actually be more athletic than this year's...6-6 A. Freeman is actually a better leaper than his 6-7 brother.  That trio would be fun to watch.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q,

You've got to stop these positive forecasts - you're gonna get me in 'prediction' trouble again (even for predictions I don't make)!

I've already noted the historical record, that the last time they finished 3rd in the country and graduated 4 of 5 starters (96), they merely won the national title the following year (97).  You trying to goad me into some 'every decade' sort of repeat?! 

[iwumichigander]

A player I feel very confident will become an All-CCIW performer at some point is 6-1 lefty guard Andrew Gilmore (Stillwater, MN).  Not Adam Dauksas, but more your protypical steady ball-handler, very good shooter, etc.

I share your confidence in Andrew Gilmore.  In some ways, Gilmore - with his ability to stop on a dime and elevate - reminds me of former Titan point guard Tom Gramkow.  Gilmore does not have the Gramkow speed but seems to be a better pure shooter.  Whether Gilmore plays point or the 2 guard, he is going to create some excitement.  He is fun to watch.

[iwumichigander]

Q,

You've got to stop these positive forecasts - you're gonna get me in 'prediction' trouble again (even for predictions I don't make)!

I've already noted the historical record, that the last time they finished 3rd in the country and graduated 4 of 5 starters (96), they merely won the national title the following year (97).  You trying to goad me into some 'every decade' sort of repeat?! 

Mr Ypsi - I am not reading any predictions in Q post just fact.  I think the 2006-07 Titan will be quicker and more athletic than the current team with the trade-off likely being less physical play than the current Titan but more finesse.

Zack Freeman needs to continue working on strength & muscle mass.  If he continues the progress he made over the last 10 weeks of the season then not many, if any,  in D3 would be able to stop him one on one. 

Andrew Freeman could really be something special next year.   He handles the ball well for a big guy and brings a decent mid-range/perimeter shooting range and likely needs to continue work on high percentage makes from those ranges. 

Gant has the ability to really be something.  He needs to apply himself on a consistant basis; and, he needs to get stronger in the off season - maybe 15 - 20 pounds of muscle.  So Darius - hit the weight room.

I think Nussbaum is also an X-Factor.  He could see minutes or start if he works on quickness, continues to rehab and improve overall strength.  Needs to continue working with trainor and hit the weight room harder.

[Mr. Ypsi]

et tu, IWUM?!

You guys are gonna get me in trouble with giddy predictions!

But certainly good to hear that the cupboard is not as bare as losing 4 of 5 (and, what, 7 of top 9, 8 of top 10?) to graduation would make it seem.  Since I saw many of these prospects in the JV vs. alum game last year, I'm not all that surprised - there was obviously some real talent there, however raw.

[advoice]

The finalists for the Lewis University job include two CCIW current coaches...Trost and Scherer.  Other finalist is Jack Bennett. All three have interviewed for the job along with current assistant Ben Wierzba and an annoucement could come any day.

[augiedad]

I've also heard Trost to Lewis or Trost somewhere...out of IWU for sure.  Probably can't get a Titan Q comment, huh?

Who is on the IWU shortlist to replace Trost?

John Baines?
Ron Rose at Bloomington H.S.?
What other Titans are out there?

As far as current D3 coaches, what about Tharp at Lawrence?  Could IWU get him?

[LU_nut]

Titan Q

Given my name, I am not an Ill.  Wes. follower...however I saw them play 4-5 times over the past three years.  I will be the first to say that I think Freeman was the best player on the team this year.  Better than the two all-americans.  Better than Jones(who was darn good). He should absolutely be a beast next year.  Might be the best big guy in D3.

Should be an interesting year next year with so many guys graduating.  I have no doubt they will be strong.

Nut

[Gregory Sager]

I've also heard Trost to Lewis or Trost somewhere...out of IWU for sure.  Probably can't get a Titan Q comment, huh?

This is the worst-kept secret in the CCIW. I'm very cautious about speculation regarding this particular rumor. But I have been hearing for over a year now from several reasonably well-informed sources that Trost was out the door once the class of '06 was history -- and the reasons why (which I won't get into) seem to be pretty consistent between those various informants. From what I've heard, Lewis wouldn't seem to be the likely next destination for Trost. But I reiterate that everything I'm hearing is second- or thirdhand, multiple sources or not.

Except for a brief spasm of chatter about Trost leaving Illinois Wesleyan that appeared here back on February 18 (page 252) -- chatter which originated amongst the Illinois Wesleyan fanbase, incidentally -- the subject hasn't come up on CCIW Chat at all. I think that that's a testament to the high standards of this room. You don't see a lot of idle gossip and far-fetched speculation bandied about here as compared to other rooms; people seem to value their credibility when they post on CCIW Chat.

I think it's interesting that Advoice identifies Mark Scherer as being in the mix among Lewis candidates. I remember how Elmhurst had been a wretched program for years and years until Jim Whitesell came along; for fourteen straight seasons the 'jays finished without a winning overall record and without even a .500 season in the CCIW. In his third year (1989-90) Whitesell got them to 15-11, 8-8, and two years later he helmed the 'jays to a 19-9 record, a tie for second in the CCIW, and the school's first-ever NCAA tourney berth. He then was promptly plucked by Lewis to head their program (he's now the head coach at D1 Loyola here on Chicago's North Side). His assistant, Scott Trost, was his successor at Elmhurst; after three more years of struggling, the 'jays finished 16-9 under Trost in his fourth campaign and tied for third place in the CCIW. And then he left to go to Michigan to work for Steve Fisher. And Trost's successor, of course, was Mark Scherer.

Scherer's certainly seen some success at Elmhurst; in fact, he's done something that no other Bluejays coach has ever done, which is win a CCIW title. He's the winningest coach in Elmhurst history, both in terms of total wins and winning percentage, and that goes for CCIW play as well as overall. I don't know if he's ever received any feelers to go elsewhere during the ten years he's spent in Faganel Hall, but if he hasn't and he chooses to use this opportunity to follow in Whitesell's footsteps and take the reins at Lewis I'd have to wonder if the Elmhurst folks would feel like the perpetual bridesmaid. Nobody wants their program to be a continual steppingstone for coaches who are looking for better opportunities down the road, but at some schools it's just the way that things are.

Scherer's a bit quirky, but the man can certainly coach. The CCIW will miss him if he goes.

[Gregory Sager]

Incidentally, I find it interesting that Lewis assistant Ben Wierzba would also be on Advoice's list of candidates to become the head coach of the Flyers. According to his bio on the Lewis website, Wierzba's only 26 or 27 years old.

I crack up every time that I go onto the Lewis website, because the school was unable to secure the www.lewis.edu domain name. Type that in, and you'll find yourself on the home page of Lewis Middle School in San Diego, CA. That's gotta stick in the craw of our D2 friends down in Romeoville. 

[dansand]

Coach G has announced his first recruiting commitment for the upcoming season. Brandon Carleton is a 6-6 forward from Moline. Carleton was a All-Western Big Six pick and made the All-Tournament team at the Pekin Holiday Tournament, which Moline won, including a win over Class AA runner-up Peoria Richwoods.

Carleton averaged 10.2 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior. He's a solid big kid, probably 220-225 lbs, and has pretty pronounced strengths and weaknesses.

I would say his strengths are definitely rebounding, passing and ball handling. He's very comfortable handling the ball and is as good a passing big man as you'll find. His own offensive game is somewhat limited at this point. He's not a good shooter (a particularly bad FT shooter) and needs to finish better around the hoop. He's very skilled and I think sometimes he just tries to be a little too cute with the ball. I think Grey will cure him of that.

Overall, a kid with a lot of skills and a good up side. A nice pick up for Coach G.

[advoice]

Ben Wierzba only was interviewed because he is the current assistant. He is not a legitimate candidate from what I hear. The offer to one of the other three could come today.

[tjcummingsfan]

I know I'm super late with this comment, but it was really nice to read that North Park already got a pretty decent recruit.  Hopefully we'll get some more players that have the potential to make an immediate impact.  I'll be around for more than just 1 game next season, so I'm counting on alot more wins.

[diehardfan]

I crack up every time that I go onto the Lewis website, because the school was unable to secure the www.lewis.edu domain name. Type that in, and you'll find yourself on the home page of Lewis Middle School in San Diego, CA. That's gotta stick in the craw of our D2 friends down in Romeoville. 

It's because the center of the universe is in So Cal. 

[augiedad]

A question I have about this Lewis thing:

From a professional standpoint, isn't the Illinois Wesleyan job better than the Lewis job?  I am sure Lewis pays a little more and I know a coach has scholarships to give there, but when you look at the big picture - facilities, fanbase, tradition, quality of the school, etc - isn't IWU a better job? 
IWU has to be a top 5 Division III job all things considered and probably one of the top "small college" jobs in the nation as well (D2, NAIA, D3).  To me, I don't see why you'd leave for a so-so D2 job.  I always thought Trost would leave IWU to be a head coach at a low D1 or back to an assistant at a D1 major.

The strangest thing about this Trost to Lewis rumor is that I heard from a very reliable source that Trost turned down the Lewis job just 2 years ago.  Jim Whitesell (now the head coach at D1 Loyola), the departing Lewis coach, is apparently very close to Trost (as in best of friends) and from what I've heard, Lewis wanted Trost and it would've been a done deal.  I've also heard Whitesell offered Trost the Loyola top assistant job during that same time, and he turned it down to stay at IWU.  So why now pursue the Lewis job?

I don't question Scherer's decision to pursue Lewis as it is clearly a better job than Elmhurst.  I know Scherer was also a final candidate for D2 SIU-Edwardsville a couple years ago.  The Trost thing doesn't seem to make sense to me though.