MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[thunderstruck88]

It was another well balanced game for the Thunder.
Also, the freshman Phil Carr saw some game time last night.  I was under the impression that he was academically ineligable.  How is he now available?  I am not sure of the story there, but he helps to add a little depth to the front lines of Wheaton with his athleticism. 

Apparently there were some errors in the computerized grading system that affected one of his semester classes enough to make him ineligible, but it's all cleared up.

The game should be a good one on Wednesday with Wheaton back to full strength and Elmhurst coming off a loss they will probably feed off of. 

I'm counting down the minutes until I leave for Elmhurst.

Have Kent back will indeed make a huge difference for the Thunder, but it remains to be seen which team comes out and executes. Wheaton won't have all the mismatches they have enjoyed against Millikin and North Park. We'll see how far the Thunder have come in reestablishing their rhythm in what is sure to be a physically and mentally demanding game at Elmhurst's place.

[augiefan]

Thanks Titan Q for the info on possible recruits. You are a fount of information as usual.

It soumds like all of these players can go DI or DII, so it may be a stretch for Augie or any CCIW team to land one or more of them. No harm in having high expectations. Any big man will have early playing time at Augie with Collins and Bertrand graduating.

[petemcb]

Thanks Titan Q for the info on possible recruits. You are a fount of information as usual.

It soumds like all of these players can go DI or DII, so it may be a stretch for Augie or any CCIW team to land one or more of them. No harm in having high expectations. Any big man will have early playing time at Augie with Collins and Bertrand graduating.

Yeah, like Nelson and Voiles who have both looked quite impressive this year at different times.  I'm not so sure that "any big man" is guaranteed much playing time for Augie next year.  I like what I've seen out of Nelson and Voiles.

[AndOne]

As Pete indicates, Nelson and Voiles have looked good this season. Both are only sophomores. Voiles is 6'8" and averages 17 minutes a game, and 4.8 ppg. He can shoot 3s from the corner. Nelson, who is 6'7" and more of an inside player is a 6'7" player who plays 15 mins a game and scores 5.9 ppg. Additionally, Augie has 6'10" Terrence Green, who I believe is injured this year, is only a junior. Look for these 3 players to get the vast majority of "big man" minutes for Augie next year, or even for the next 2 years!

By contrast, North Central loses 6 seniors, including 3 who start, as well as the 6th, 7th, and 9th men. They will have only 1 player over 6'4" returning next year, and he is a 6'5" freshman who has played in only 1 game all year.
If you are a good high school big man and want to play sooner rather than later in a highly rated DIII conference at a great school, North Central is where you will have a much better opportunity to earn PT at an early point in your college career than at Augie who already has established bigs on the screen for next year. 

[OurHouse]

This group of Titans has a chance to be an outstanding offensive team down the road.  We'll see if the defense catches up.
[/quote]

Have to wait till next year when the talent isn't as good - maybe recruit some studs from a larger schools to help round out the lack of toughness

[Titan Q]

Have to wait till next year when the talent isn't as good - maybe recruit some studs from a larger schools to help round out the lack of toughness

6 of the 8 players in IWU's rotation are from "larger schools" (3A/4A)...

Starters:
G Sean Johnson (Washington H.S.)
F John Koschnitzky (Oak Forest H.S.)
C Doug Sexauer (Lockport H.S.)

Bench:
G Sean Dwyer (Hersey H.S.)
C Brett Chamernik (Benet Academy)
F Edmond O'Callaghan (St. Patrick H.S.)


Only Travis Rosenkranz (Macon-Meridian) and Jordan Zimmer (Delavan) are small school products.

Rounding out the roster, every other player is from a 3A or 4A school...

Ryan Connolly (Springfield-Lanphier H.S.)
Eliud Gonzalez (Richards H.S.)
Michael Kempf (Hersey H.S.)
Duncan Lawson (Glenbard West H.S.)
Eric McCullough (Normal U High)
Jordan Morris (Pekin H.S.)
Steve Rudnicki (Evanston H.S.)
Matt Schick (Lincoln H.S.)
Sean Seibring (Normal West H.S.)
Josh Sutton (Lincoln H.S.)
Dexter Walker (Morton H.S.)


17 Large School
2 Small School

[dansand]

As Pete indicates, Nelson and Voiles have looked good this season. Both are only sophomores. Voiles is 6'8" and averages 17 minutes a game, and 4.8 ppg. He can shoot 3s from the corner. Nelson, who is 6'7" and more of an inside player is a 6'7" player who plays 15 mins a game and scores 5.9 ppg. Additionally, Augie has 6'10" Terrence Green, who I believe is injured this year, is only a junior. Look for these 3 players to get the vast majority of "big man" minutes for Augie next year, or even for the next 2 years!

By contrast, North Central loses 6 seniors, including 3 who start, as well as the 6th, 7th, and 9th men. They will have only 1 player over 6'4" returning next year, and he is a 6'5" freshman who has played in only 1 game all year.
If you are a good high school big man and want to play sooner rather than later in a highly rated DIII conference at a great school, North Central is where you will have a much better opportunity to earn PT at an early point in your college career than at Augie who already has established bigs on the screen for next year. 

...or if you are a good high school big man who's not afraid to compete for playing time in the 21st century's most successful CCIW program, come to Augustana. 

Good one AndOne. That's a good assessment of Augie's returning big men, but just to clarify, Augie graduates six seniors, four of whom are starters, and three bigs who average over 50 minutes a game. I've never known Coach G to play only three big men in his rotation.

Have to wait till next year when the talent isn't as good - maybe recruit some studs from a larger schools to help round out the lack of toughness

6 of the 8 players in IWU's rotation are from "larger schools" (3A/4A)...

Starters:
G Sean Johnson (Washington H.S.)
F John Koschnitzky (Oak Forest H.S.)
C Doug Sexauer (Lockport H.S.)

Bench:
G Sean Dwyer (Hersey H.S.)
C Brett Chamernik (Benet Academy)
F Edmond O'Callaghan (St. Patrick H.S.)


Only Travis Rosenkranz (Macon-Meridian) and Jordan Zimmer (Delavan) are small school products.

Rounding out the roster, every other player is from a 3A or 4A school...

Ryan Connolly (Springfield-Lanphier H.S.)
Eliud Gonzalez (Richards H.S.)
Michael Kempf (Hersey H.S.)
Duncan Lawson (Glenbard West H.S.)
Eric McCullough (Normal U High)
Jordan Morris (Pekin H.S.)
Steve Rudnicki (Evanston H.S.)
Matt Schick (Lincoln H.S.)
Sean Seibring (Normal West H.S.)
Josh Sutton (Lincoln H.S.)
Dexter Walker (Morton H.S.)


17 Large School
2 Small School

...and besides...look at all the guys Wesleyan has coming back! 

[augiefan]

Good rebuttal for going to Augie Dansand. Nelson and Voiles have developed this year, but do either of them really replace Collins' great rebounding skills? We can't blame AndOne for doing a little recruiting hype for his beloved Cardinals, just in case the big guys are lurking on this DIII website, which I'm sure many of them do.

[Titan Q]

Every team is looking for good big guys - that's what seems to separate the good teams from the great teams.

Consider...

Power Forward (4)
1. Nick Williams (NPU), 6-5 Jr. - 12.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 46-102 FG (.451)
2. David Twyman (NCC), 6-3 Jr. – 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 44-75 FG (.587)
3. John Koschnitzky (IWU), 6-6 Fr. - 9.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 36-66 FG (.545)
4. Robert Burton (MU), 6-4 Jr. - 8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 35-59 FG (.592)
5. Adam Tolo (CC), 6-6 Jr.  – 8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 19-49 3-pt (.388)
6. Justin Bertrand (AC), 6-6 Sr. - 8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 25-49 FG (.510)
7. Robert Strzemp (EC), 6-4 Sr. - 6.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 27-59 FG (.458)
8. Jake Carwell (WC), 6-7 Jr. – 4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 21-47 FG (.446)

Forward/Center (5)
1. Brent Ruch (EC), 6-9 Sr. - 19.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 71-111 FG (.640)
2. Chris Drennan (NCC), 6-5 Sr. - 16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 63-115 FG (.548)
3. Doug Sexauer (IWU), 6-7 So. - 15.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 61-102 FG (.598)
4. Andy Wiele (WC), 6-8 Sr. – 12.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 42-70 FG (.600)
5. Phil Schniedermeier (NPU), 6-7 So. - 10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 44-76 FG (.579)
6. Joscar Demby (MU), 6-7 Jr. - 9.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 41-70 FG (.586)
7. Chandlor Collins (AC), 6-7 Sr. - 7.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 35-69 FG (.507)
8. Richard Williams (CC), 6-6 Jr. – 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 20-42 FG (.476)

Of the returning starters at the 4, I believe five of the six are really more 3's (all but Carwell)...or "combo forwards" at best.  Like IWU's Koschnitzky, who has played most of his minutes at the 3 this year - more of a slasher (like Twyman and Burton).  Williams and Tolo are basically wing players.

As far as pure back-to-the-basket players, I think Doug Sexauer will be the best returning, followed by Phil Schniedermeier and Joscar Demby.

Augie's Kyle Nelson and Bryant Voiles have a chance to step into the starting lineup and be one of the better 4/5 combos next year.

[Gregory Sager]

Of the returning starters at the 4, I believe five of the six are really more 3's (all but Carwell)...or "combo forwards" at best.  Like IWU's Koschnitzky, who has played most of his minutes at the 3 this year - more of a slasher (like Twyman and Burton).  Williams and Tolo are basically wing players.

Nick Williams isn't a small forward any more, Bob. He's a 4, not a 3. He was best suited to be a 3 in the past, but that has changed this season. Check out his rebounding numbers again: 7.4 rpg in CCIW play, good for fourth in the league. Necessity may have made him a PF, but he has evolved into that role. He's bigger and stronger this year, and has become a very solid rebounder for NPU. In fact, that's become the most steady aspect of his game -- alas, he's still a streaky shooter, and his defense comes and goes. He's very comfortable playing the low post as well, another thing that makes him more of a PF than a SF. Plus, unlike a lot of wing players, driving isn't really a part of his game. It should be, but it isn't.

[AndOne]

You are right on about Williams Greg. I recently witnessed him drive the baseline and just fly by one of the most athletic and best defenders in the league. You know what I mean. You were there. If he would do that more often, the sky would be the limit for him. By the way, I'd love to see the defender he beat on that play, and who I'd bet would not let that happen so easily next time, also drive to the hole more often. With his quickness, not many could stop him. And the majority of those that did would only send him to the line.

[voxelmhurst]

Elmhurst beat Wheaton by 13 points on their home floor when they caught Wheaton without Kent Raymond and with a Wiele that wasn't playing like he should and while Wheaton was in the midst of a horrid free through shooting stretch.

Raymond is playing once again.  Wiele will probably play much better, and Wheaton is very unlikely to put that kind of performance from the line in once again.

The Jays, aside from some bad turnovers, played extremely well in that game, to boot.

While this Elmhurst team is very good, I don't know if it is beyond the previous best of what we have seen from them in the last four years, namely the 06/07 squad. 

This Wheaton game should let us know.

[AndOne]

HUGE game for North Central and Carthage tomorrow night up in the W portion of the CCIW.
I'm sensing that the winner has the inside track on becoming the 4th qualifier for the conference tourney. The Cardinals can either lament the fact that they would be in 1st place if they hadn't slipped up against Millikin and Wesleyan, teams I'm sure they figure they should have beaten especially after taking care of both in the 1st round of conference play, or they can step up and stay in the midst of the hunt for a conference tourney berth.
So far, no team has qualified for the conference tourney with less than 8 wins. Does anyone feel this is the year a team with 7 wins will do so?

[Thunder Dutch]

You are right on about Williams Greg. I recently witnessed him drive the baseline and just fly by one of the most athletic and best defenders in the league. You know what I mean. You were there. If he would do that more often, the sky would be the limit for him. By the way, I'd love to see the defender he beat on that play, and who I'd bet would not let that happen so easily next time, also drive to the hole more often. With his quickness, not many could stop him. And the majority of those that did would only send him to the line.

I'm just curious, who was this defender? A NCC or Wheaton player from last week? Panner or Raymond? an NCC player (im not really familiar with their good defenders...)?



I think that Wednesday's game between Elmhurst and Wheaton could not only go a long way towards determining conference champion, but also who wins the MOP. Right now, it seems like Raymond, Steve D, and Ruch could all win it, but with a great performance to lead their team from either Kent or Brent Ruch on Wednesday, it could push them over the top. (Incidentally, Kent has 4 POW, Ruch 3, and Steve D 1)

[Gregory Sager]

You are right on about Williams Greg. I recently witnessed him drive the baseline and just fly by one of the most athletic and best defenders in the league. You know what I mean. You were there. If he would do that more often, the sky would be the limit for him. By the way, I'd love to see the defender he beat on that play, and who I'd bet would not let that happen so easily next time, also drive to the hole more often. With his quickness, not many could stop him. And the majority of those that did would only send him to the line.

I'm just curious, who was this defender? A NCC or Wheaton player from last week? Panner or Raymond? an NCC player (im not really familiar with their good defenders...)?

David Twyman of NCC.

I think that Wednesday's game between Elmhurst and Wheaton could not only go a long way towards determining conference champion, but also who wins the MOP. Right now, it seems like Raymond, Steve D, and Ruch could all win it, but with a great performance to lead their team from either Kent or Brent Ruch on Wednesday, it could push them over the top. (Incidentally, Kent has 4 POW, Ruch 3, and Steve D 1)

Steve D. won't win the MOP -- not with two deserving seniors in contention for it. POW awards don't have a direct tie to the MOP, but they're usually good indicators of who is in contention. I think it's down to either Raymond or Ruch.