MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I agree. It's good to see that Nate is still going to be around.

[Titan Q]

Uneducated August guesses on 2009-10 starting lineups for teams from Illinois and Wisconsin from a guy in Missouri...

(Just too much turnover at NCC and Elmhurst for this reporter to even wildly speculate.)


Augustana
G Matt Pelton, 6-2 (Sr)
G Brian DeSimone, 6-1 (So)
F Chris Anderson, 6-4 (So)
F Kyle Nelson, 6-7 (Jr)
C Luke Scarlata, 6-8 (Fr)


Carthage
G Steve Djurickovic, 6-3 (Jr)
G Sean Fendley, 6-1 (Sr)
G Max Cary, 6-3 (So)
F Adam Tolo, 6-6 (Sr)
C Richard Williams, 6-6 (Sr)


Illinois Wesleyan
G Travis Rosenkranz, 6-0 (Jr)
G Jordan Zimmer, 6-5 (So)
F John Koschnitzky, 6-6 (So)
F Doug Sexauer, 6-7 (Jr)
C Ryan Connolly, 6-9 (So)


Millikin
G Charles Warren, 6-2 (Sr)
G Corey Mitchell, 6-0 (Sr)
G Devin Demby, 6-2 (Sr)
F Robert Burton, 6-4 (Sr)
C Joscar Demby, 6-7 (Sr)


North Park
G Roshawn Russel, 5-10 (So)
G D.J. Cooper, 6-0 (So)
G Ryan Beigie, 6-2 (So)
F Nick Williams, 6-5 (Sr)
C Phil Schniedermeier, 6-7 (Jr)


Wheaton
G Aaron Garriott, 6-3 (So)
G Andrew Jahns, 6-2 (Jr)
G Ben Panner, 6-3 (Sr)
F Tim McCrary, 6-6 (So)
C Jake Carlwell, 6-7 (Sr)

[AndOne]

With regard to TQ's above post concerning projected starting lineups:

North Park--Based on observing NPU's Deerfield summer league team, I'd be surprised to see Ryan Beigie starting. I don't know all their names yet, but there were just too many faster, more athletic, and better all around players who weren't Beigie. Perhaps if the NPU coaching staff feels they need one particular skill he possesses to round out their lineup.

Elmhurst--The only sure thing at this point is  that Zack Boyd will be a starter, and that Dustin Bainter will likely also start, primarily because he has been around long enough that Mark Scherer doesn't have to explain everything to him twice. I personally like Mike McCurdy. I like how he pushes the ball and attacks the defense. Also, both his overall and 3 point shooting percentages are better than Boyd's, and he has a far superior  ratio of TOs vs assists. Whenever I've seen Chris Childs play, he has done well, but I don't think he is a Scherer favorite. I think he would have seen more PT, and possibly be a starter by now if he had gone to another school.   

North Central--There are only 2 sure starters for NCC at this point in time. Not really difficult to discern as Reid Barringer and David Twyman were starters last year. Besides Barringer and Twyman, I think as many as 9 other players may well see a good amount of PT. One blessing for NCC this year is that they will have several players who are capable of preforming at a couple of different positions. With this versatility, Coach Todd Raridon can put multiple lineups on the floor should he choose to do so. One good bet is that the lineup that begins the season will NOT be the same one that takes the floor in the conference opener.

Wesleyan--What in the world has happened to Sean Johnson?? As a freshman, he was all conference (although in my opinion his selection was a stretch at best), last season he was Wesleyan's 2nd leading scorer, but didn't come close to all-conference selection, and this year, TQ is projecting he will lose the starting position he has held the last 2 years!   

[AndOne]

RECRUITING NEWS

Joe Meyerhoff, a 6'8" 225 lb center out of Benet Academy in Lisle will be a member of the North Central College basketball team in the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

Meyerhoff, a primary target of NCC recruiting all last season, appeared ready to attend North Central until he was offered and accepted a scholarship from Dick Hunsacker at DI Utah Valley State following his last high school game in which he scored 26 points against #2 ranked Neuqua Valley in last year's state playoffs.
Joe later decided that Utah was not the place for him, and contacted NCC, renouncing his DI offer in order to play for the Cardinals.

Last season at Benet he averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg on a team that did a good deal of scoring from beyond the arc. For a "big" Joe runs the floor exceptionally well, and often fills a lane on the the break. Additionally, he is familiar with the low post position, unlike former Benet player Brett Chamernik, who did a nice job in the post for Wesleyan the last couple of years, but who was primarily a wing in high school and was not as accomplished a low post player entering college as Joe is. At 6'8" he also naturally provides some height that the Cardinals have desperately been lacking the last couple of years. Joe was a Daily Herald All Area Honorable Mention selection.    


   

[petemcb]

Uneducated August guesses on 2009-10 starting lineups for teams from Illinois and Wisconsin from a guy in Missouri...

(Just too much turnover at NCC and Elmhurst for this reporter to even wildly speculate.)


Augustana
G Matt Pelton, 6-2 (Sr)
G Brian DeSimone, 6-1 (So)
F Chris Anderson, 6-4 (So)
F Kyle Nelson, 6-7 (Jr)
C Luke Scarlata, 6-8 (Fr)


Carthage
G Steve Djurickovic, 6-3 (Jr)
G Sean Fendley, 6-1 (Sr)
G Max Cary, 6-3 (So)
F Adam Tolo, 6-6 (Sr)
C Richard Williams, 6-6 (Sr)


Illinois Wesleyan
G Travis Rosenkranz, 6-0 (Jr)
G Jordan Zimmer, 6-5 (So)
F John Koschnitzky, 6-6 (So)
F Doug Sexauer, 6-7 (Jr)
C Ryan Connolly, 6-9 (So)


Millikin
G Charles Warren, 6-2 (Sr)
G Corey Mitchell, 6-0 (Sr)
G Devin Demby, 6-2 (Sr)
F Robert Burton, 6-4 (Sr)
C Joscar Demby, 6-7 (Sr)


North Park
G Roshawn Russel, 5-10 (So)
G D.J. Cooper, 6-0 (So)
G Ryan Beigie, 6-2 (So)
F Nick Williams, 6-5 (Sr)
C Phil Schniedermeier, 6-7 (Jr)


Wheaton
G Aaron Garriott, 6-3 (So)
G Andrew Jahns, 6-2 (Jr)
G Ben Panner, 6-3 (Sr)
F Tim McCrary, 6-6 (So)
C Jake Carlwell, 6-7 (Sr)

I've seen Brandon Kunz, an Augie recruit, 3 or 4 times.  It wouldn't shock me if he worked his way into that lineup.


I could see moving Connolly to the bench, unless he's improved a ton this summer, moving Sexauer to the 5, and Reed working his way into the lineup for IWU.

I'm with AndOne on the Beigie spot.  He definitely plays hard and provides a spark, but two of NPU's transfers, Collins and the player from the WIAC look really good this summer.  If they come off the bench, NPU's bench is significantly stronger this year.  Plus the return of a 6'5"ish player who returns from his one year hiatus presents other possibilities in terms of mixing up the starting lineup for NPU.


Are you a fan of Jahns over Pflederer?

[petemcb]

RECRUITING NEWS

Joe Meyerhoff, a 6'8" 225 lb center out of Benet Academy in Lisle will be a member of the North Central College basketball team in the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

Meyerhoff, a primary target of NCC recruiting all last season, appeared ready to attend North Central until he was offered and accepted a scholarship from Dick Hunsacker at DI Utah Valley State following his last high school game in which he scored 26 points against #2 ranked Neuqua Valley in last year's state playoffs.
Joe later decided that Utah was not the place for him, and contacted NCC, renouncing his DI offer in order to play for the Cardinals.

Last season at Benet he averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg on a team that did a good deal of scoring from beyond the arc. For a "big" Joe runs the floor exceptionally well, and often fills a lane on the the break. Additionally, he is familiar with the low post position, unlike former Benet player Brett Chamernik, who did a nice job in the post for Wesleyan the last couple of years, but who was primarily a wing in high school and was not as accomplished a low post player entering college as Joe is. At 6'8" he also naturally provides some height that the Cardinals have desperately been lacking the last couple of years. Joe was a Daily Herald All Area Honorable Mention selection.    


   

Well that certainly changes NCC's look for the next four years, doesn't it?

[AndOne]

NCC RECRUITING NEWS

Additional North Central Recruits:

Brandon Stanciel--Brandon is a 6'7" PF from Walther Lutheran HS.
      He was Private School League All Conference, and a Suburban Life
      newspapers  All Area Honorable Mention selection. Brandon put up
      12 ppg and pulled down 10 rpg. Additionally, he averaged 2 blocks per
      game, and showed his overall ability by dishing out 4 assists per contest.
      He has a very quick 1st step and is a tremendous leaper who the Cards
      will look to to clean the glass on a consistent basis and to deposit a
      plethora of offensive boards.

Kyle Julius--Kyle is a 6'4" SG out of Naperville Central in 2005.
      Since HS, Kyle has been a basketball nomad. He began his college
      career at Illinois Central College, moving on to Santa Fe CC. In 07-08,
      he transferred to D2 Northern Kentucky where he took a redshirt year.
      Last  year he played in 7 games at D2 St. Andrews Univ in NC before
      sustaining a season ending injury. Kyle will have one season of eligibility
      remaining, possibly 2 depending on last year's injury review.
      At Naperville Central, Kyle averaged 20 ppg and scored 1,100 points. He
      was a DuPage Valley Conference All Conference player, and one of the
      most highly sought after recruits in the Chicagoland area.

Eric Kraft--Eric is a 6'4" 216 lb PF from Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park.
        At "Naz," Eric averaged 15 ppg and 9 rpg. He was a Suburban Life All Area
        Honorable Mention pick. Eric is a nice addition to the Cardinal squad.

Banny Baylis--Danny is a 6'2" 2G from Lake Park HS in Roselle who averaged
                       12.4 ppg  

With this recruiting class, the Cardinals, who graduated 6 seniors from last year's team, have addressed several needs including perhaps the most glaring deficiency for the last couple of years---height. With 6'6" All Stater Derek Raridon (see previous posts/reports), 6'7" Brandon Stanciel, and 6'8" Joe Meyerhoff, the Cards have added some sorely needed height. Raridon and Julius also provide outside firepower as a nice compliment to Cardinal sharpshooter Reid Barringer, and Mike Saris (see prev reports) will team with returning veteran Jonny Knapczyk to provide floor leadership.  

[AndOne]

RECRUITING NEWS

Joe Meyerhoff, a 6'8" 225 lb center out of Benet Academy in Lisle will be a member of the North Central College basketball team in the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

Meyerhoff, a primary target of NCC recruiting all last season, appeared ready to attend North Central until he was offered and accepted a scholarship from Dick Hunsacker at DI Utah Valley State following his last high school game in which he scored 26 points against #2 ranked Neuqua Valley in last year's state playoffs.
Joe later decided that Utah was not the place for him, and contacted NCC, renouncing his DI offer in order to play for the Cardinals.

Last season at Benet he averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg on a team that did a good deal of scoring from beyond the arc. For a "big" Joe runs the floor exceptionally well, and often fills a lane on the the break. Additionally, he is familiar with the low post position, unlike former Benet player Brett Chamernik, who did a nice job in the post for Wesleyan the last couple of years, but who was primarily a wing in high school and was not as accomplished a low post player entering college as Joe is. At 6'8" he also naturally provides some height that the Cardinals have desperately been lacking the last couple of years. Joe was a Daily Herald All Area Honorable Mention selection.    


   

Well that certainly changes NCC's look for the next four years, doesn't it?

               

[Gregory Sager]

I'm with AndOne on the Beigie spot.  He definitely plays hard and provides a spark, but two of NPU's transfers, Collins and the player from the WIAC

Davone Robinson

look really good this summer.  If they come off the bench, NPU's bench is significantly stronger this year.  Plus the return of a 6'5"ish player who returns from his one year hiatus

Jorge Gonzalez and Nick Hoekstra are both 6'5 players returning from a year's hiatus. You probably mean Gonzalez, though, who is currently #2 on the depth chart at power forward behind Williams.

presents other possibilities in terms of mixing up the starting lineup for NPU.

I seriously doubt that Beigie will start. In fact, it's altogether possible that he will be relegated to JV duty. I also doubt, contra Bob's speculation, that D,J. Cooper will start at the off guard spot -- but that could change if Cooper has a strong fall's worth of practices.

[AndOne]

I think perhaps North Park's #1 strength this season may be its depth.
From what I saw in summer league plus the players who were missing, I sense they will be able to substitute almost an entire 2nd five without sustaining any real appreciable drop in production. The only caveat being I think either Williams or Schneidermeier needs to be on the floor. 

[Titan Q]

Wesleyan--What in the world has happened to Sean Johnson?? As a freshman, he was all conference (although in my opinion his selection was a stretch at best), last season he was Wesleyan's 2nd leading scorer, but didn't come close to all-conference selection, and this year, TQ is projecting he will lose the starting position he has held the last 2 years!   

Don't ya think that's a little over-the-top, Mark?  It's not like Sean Johnson had a terrible sophomore season...

Freshman ('07-08): 12.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 37-102 3-pt (.363), 1.4 A:TO
Sophomore ('08-09): 10.6, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 21-59 3-pt (.356), 1.6 A:TO

And relative to his 2-guard CCIW peers...


Ben Panner (WC), 6-3 Jr. – 12.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.9 apg
Sean Fendley (CC), 6-1 Jr. – 12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.4 apg
Mitch Raridon (NCC), 6-3 Sr. -  10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg
Sean Johnson (IWU), 6-1 So. - 10.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg
Brett Wessels (AC), 6-3 Sr. – 10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
Reid Barringer (NCC), 6-0 Jr. - 10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg
Chris Childs (EC), 6-2 Jr. -  9.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
Jordan Zimmer (IWU), 6-5 Fr. – 8.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg
D.J. Cooper (NPU), 6-0 Fr. - 8.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.8 apg
Corey Mitchell (MU), 6-0 Jr. - 8.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg
Jordan Delp (AC), 6-0 Sr. - 7.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
Andrew Jahns (WC), 6-2 So. – 6.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.6 apg
Charles Warren (MU), 6-2 Jr. - 5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 rpg
Zack Boyd (EC), 6-2 Fr. - 5.5 ppg, 3.3 pg, 1.9
Sean McNamee (NPU), 6-3 So. - 4.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 1.4 apg


Johnson did not take that step forward you hope a player does from his freshman year to sophomore, but he also didn't have a bad season.  Maybe he benefited the year before having a 1st Team All-CCIW low post player on his team (Darius Gant)...maybe he was more of a marked man as a sophomore...who knows. 

The way I see it, Johnson or Jordan Zimmer is going to start at the 2 for IWU and the other will be one of the better reserves in the league.  I project Zimmer to start simply because the two bring similiar offensive ability, while Zimmer is 4 full inches taller.  Either way, I think it's safe to say both will play 20+ minutes per game for IWU in 2009-10.  Johnson has to be the favorite right now, simply because he has started there the last two years.

As far as Johnson not deserving 3rd Team All-CCIW honors in 2007-08, those type of numbers on a 2nd place finisher will lead to the all-conference team more times than not...especially considering how many game-changing shots he made that year.  He was the second most valuable player on the 2nd place team.

[Titan Q]

I've seen Brandon Kunz, an Augie recruit, 3 or 4 times.  It wouldn't shock me if he worked his way into that lineup.


I could see moving Connolly to the bench, unless he's improved a ton this summer, moving Sexauer to the 5, and Reed working his way into the lineup for IWU.

I'm with AndOne on the Beigie spot.  He definitely plays hard and provides a spark, but two of NPU's transfers, Collins and the player from the WIAC look really good this summer.  If they come off the bench, NPU's bench is significantly stronger this year.  Plus the return of a 6'5"ish player who returns from his one year hiatus presents other possibilities in terms of mixing up the starting lineup for NPU.


Are you a fan of Jahns over Pflederer?

I've heard Connolly has made huge strides since last season ended and should be right in the middle of IWU's center spot competition.

As far as Jahns vs Pflederer, I view Jahns as someone who can play the 1 or the 2, but Pflederer strictly as a 1.  With Garriott in the mix, I'm guessing Pflederer will be the backup PG.  I could be wrong.

[AndOne]

Wesleyan--What in the world has happened to Sean Johnson?? As a freshman, he was all conference (although in my opinion his selection was a stretch at best), last season he was Wesleyan's 2nd leading scorer, but didn't come close to all-conference selection, and this year, TQ is projecting he will lose the starting position he has held the last 2 years!   

Don't ya think that's a little over-the-top, Mark?  It's not like Sean Johnson had a terrible sophomore season...

Freshman ('07-08): 12.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 37-102 3-pt (.363), 1.4 A:TO
Sophomore ('08-09): 10.6, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 21-59 3-pt (.356), 1.6 A:TO

And relative to his 2-guard CCIW peers...


Ben Panner (WC), 6-3 Jr. – 12.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.9 apg
Sean Fendley (CC), 6-1 Jr. – 12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.4 apg
Mitch Raridon (NCC), 6-3 Sr. -  10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg
Sean Johnson (IWU), 6-1 So. - 10.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg
Brett Wessels (AC), 6-3 Sr. – 10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
Reid Barringer (NCC), 6-0 Jr. - 10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg
Chris Childs (EC), 6-2 Jr. -  9.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
Jordan Zimmer (IWU), 6-5 Fr. – 8.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg
D.J. Cooper (NPU), 6-0 Fr. - 8.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.8 apg
Corey Mitchell (MU), 6-0 Jr. - 8.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg
Jordan Delp (AC), 6-0 Sr. - 7.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
Andrew Jahns (WC), 6-2 So. – 6.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.6 apg
Charles Warren (MU), 6-2 Jr. - 5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 rpg
Zack Boyd (EC), 6-2 Fr. - 5.5 ppg, 3.3 pg, 1.9
Sean McNamee (NPU), 6-3 So. - 4.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 1.4 apg


Johnson did not take that step forward you hope a player does from his freshman year to sophomore, but he also didn't have a bad season.  Maybe he benefited the year before having a 1st Team All-CCIW low post player on his team (Darius Gant)...maybe he was more of a marked man as a sophomore...who knows. 

The way I see it, Johnson or Jordan Zimmer is going to start at the 2 for IWU and the other will be one of the better reserves in the league.  I project Zimmer to start simply because the two bring similiar offensive ability, while Zimmer is 4 full inches taller.  Either way, I think it's safe to say both will play 20+ minutes per game for IWU in 2009-10.  Johnson has to be the favorite right now, simply because he has started there the last two years.

As far as Johnson not deserving 3rd Team All-CCIW honors in 2007-08, those type of numbers on a 2nd place finisher will lead to the all-conference team more times than not...especially considering how many game-changing shots he made that year.  He was the second most valuable player on the 2nd place team.

Bob--

I don't think he had a "bad" season, but I do think he has failed to live up to the degree of hype that accompanied his entrance into the league. As you suggest, I  think its very possible that he benefited from having Gant as a teammate in 07-08. I do think his 07-08 all conference selection was more a result of his team's overall finish as opposed to his individual contribution, and that there were more deserving players who were left off--probably partly due to their teams lower finish. Being totally honest, I don't especially care for Johnson's court demeanor. He seems to wear a smirk more often than not, especially at the expense of a lessor opponent. I'm also not a fan of the fist pumps I've seen him display on more than one occasion. However, thats my problem. We all rub someone the wrong way, myself certainly included.

I guess, and this is in keeping with my initial statement that I don't think he had a "bad" season, that I was most surprised by your inclusion of Zimmer rather than Johnson in your projected starting lineup. If he had progressed as one might expect, there shouldn't be any question regarding his ability to hold his starting position after occupying it since his freshman season 2 years ago. 

[Titan Q]

As a two-year starter with 592 points scored and 104 3-pointers made, how exactly has Johnson " failed to live up to the degree of hype that accompanied his entrance into the league" through his sophomore season?  What was he hyped to be?

FYI, he's on pace to be one of IWU's all-time best 3-point shooters...

3-pointers made (career)
1. 252     Keelan Amelianovich (104 games) - 2002-06  
2. 245     Korey Coon (109 games) - 1996-00  
3. 235     Mark Edmundson (113 games) - 1986-90  
4. 208     Adam Dauksas (114 games) - 2002-06  
5. 179     Bryan Crabtree (114 games) - 1993-97  

And among his peers in the Class of 2011, he's second in scoring only to Steve Djurickovic...

CCIW Class of 2011 leading scorers (through 2008-09)
1. Steve Djurickovic (Carthage), 1271
2. Sean Johnson (IWU), 592
3. Travis Rosenkranz (IWU), 535
4. Doug Sexauer (IWU), 519
5. Phil Schniedermeier (NPU), 157

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q, with great trepidation, I'm stepping in on your debate with AO.

I think(?) AO's main point was not that Johnson was a disappointment, but surprise that you think he will be beaten out as a starter.  (You already partially addressed this point by saying you think Zimmer and Johnson will both be 20+ minute players.)  Is there anything besides the height advantage that leads you to the conclusion for starting role?

[BTW, I'm guessing AO slightly mis-spoke about the 'hype entering the league' - I'm guessing he was referring to the (deserved) hype by part-way thru his freshman year.  I haven't gone back to check, but I don't recall much hype before his freshman year.]