MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

Now that practice has actually begun (at least at most schools), I'm hoping for insider reports.  Any unexpected no-shows?  Any promising walk-ons?  Anyone noticeably grow taller or bigger?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hello CCIW posters - longtime lurker & occasional visitor on your board from MIAC land.  

Earlier today on the MIAC board I posted the the 09-10 schedule for Hamline & noticed that Elmhurst is playing the 2nd half of a 2-year (?) home & away series with Hamline. The Hamline Pipers played a competitive game against Elmhurst last November, but lost by 5 points at Elmhurst.  Now Elmhurst will return the favor & make the trip to St. Paul, MN to play Hamline about a month from now.  

Over the Xmas break, Hamline will play in the Cal Lutheran tourney in CA & will match up with Wheaton in their first game.  I realize that Elmhurst & Wheaton lost a lot of firepower due to graduation last year – Kent Raymond, Brent Ruch etc. but I'm wondering what the CCIW board experts are forecasting from those two teams this season?

Aside from the Hamline coaches, players & families, not many of us are really expecting much from Hamline this season.  Team rosters aren't posted yet, but If I had to take a semi-educated guess, I would project Hamline to finish anywhere from the 7th to 10 spot in an 11-team league this year.  Apparently they did land a talented D1 transfer, but they really don't have a lot of depth.  So those two non conference games could give us a sense of where this young squad may be at.

Thanks

Welcome, Drake.

I'll leave a more complete answer to those closer to the Wheaton and Elmhurst programs, but early word here (which you've probably already read) is that Elmhurst is likely to drop quite a bit, and is mostly a mystery at this point.  While I have trouble believing Wheaton can lose both Raymond and Wiele and not drop off somewhat, at least so long as Bill Harris is coaching, they are always gonna be at least respectable, and probably a contender.

[John Gleich]

...at least so long as Bill Harris is coaching, they are always gonna be at least respectable, and probably a contender.

Uh, Chuck, Bill Harris retired.


Does that mean Wheaton's screwed?



(I don't necessarily believe that... I think Mike Schauer is more than capable... just giving Mr. Ypsi some crap!)

[sac]

Almen - Nebraska

Cornhusker-American

[Mr. Ypsi]

...at least so long as Bill Harris is coaching, they are always gonna be at least respectable, and probably a contender.

Uh, Chuck, Bill Harris retired.


Does that mean Wheaton's screwed?



(I don't necessarily believe that... I think Mike Schauer is more than capable... just giving Mr. Ypsi some crap!)

Oops!  Can I claim an old-age exemption for my memory?

As to the bolded sentence - I could probably name you 7 coaches who hope so!

[Gregory Sager]

...at least so long as Bill Harris is coaching, they are always gonna be at least respectable, and probably a contender.

Uh, Chuck, Bill Harris retired.


Does that mean Wheaton's screwed?



(I don't necessarily believe that... I think Mike Schauer is more than capable... just giving Mr. Ypsi some crap!)

And very well-deserved crap, since I can't believe that Chuck forgot that Bill Harris retired last spring, amidst much CCIW Chat hoopla and fanfare. But if we keep posting in 7 pt. type, maybe we won't embarrass him.

Almen - Nebraska

Cornhusker-American

Giraffe - Kenyan

[Mr. Ypsi]

My memory may be shot, but my eyes can still make out the 7-pt type!

But for THAT egregious a lapse of memory, I richly deserve the crap.  +k to you both.

[Gregory Sager]

Over the Xmas break, Hamline will play in the Cal Lutheran tourney in CA & will match up with Wheaton in their first game.  I realize that Elmhurst & Wheaton lost a lot of firepower due to graduation last year – Kent Raymond, Brent Ruch etc. but I'm wondering what the CCIW board experts are forecasting from those two teams this season?

The entire top half of the CCIW lost a lot of firepower due to graduation, not just Elmhurst and Wheaton, so it's hard to forecast exactly where those two teams will land. Wheaton lost two of the league's top players, Kent Raymond and Andy Wiele, as well as promising sophomore Jeremy Pflederer, but the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance still has a very good and heavily-experienced guard in senior Ben Panner, a versatile forward in Tim McCrary who had a breakout freshman season last year, a highly-touted D1 transfer in guard Aaron Garriott, and a couple of steady if unspectacular returning role players in guard Andrew Jahns and center/forward Jake Carwell. Wheaton will probably be touted by everyone, coaches included, to be a likely first-division finisher in 2009-10, but another deep tourney run might be a stretch for Mike Schauer in his first year at the helm in Belushiville.

Elmhurst lost its entire front line from last season, a front line that was definitely the best in the league. Not only is two-time All-American Brent Ruch gone, but three-time All-CCIW second-team small forward Ryan Burks and power forward Rob Strzemp, a third-team All-CCIW selection last season, are gone as well. The 'jays lived and died by that front line; in comparison with other teams their backcourt was viewed as a push at best and a liability at worst. Now that backcourt is what's going to have to carry the 'jays, with Zach Boyd, Dustin Bainter, Chris Childs, Matt Bernier, and Mike McCurdy probably splitting the duties there. Ruch's backup last season, Aaron Hintzsche, will probably be the man in the middle. As Chuck indicated, I don't think people will be expecting too much from Elmhurst this season, but Mark Scherer is a veteran coach who has surprised people before. His teams always work hard and really get after you on defense, and if it turns out to be a particularly tough defensive team this year that could be an equalizer for a lack of punch up front.

[Gregory Sager]

The NPU roster is finally up. I'm not sure where he's gone, but, as I expected, Sean McNamee is not on the team this season. Along with the graduated Mike Ventura, the transferred Joel Benson, and Clayton Cahill (who, as I said last week, is sitting out the year to focus upon schoolwork but will probably be back next season), McNamee is one of four of last season's Vikings who aren't on this year's team. Four other players who sat out last season -- senior Nick Nielsen, junior Jorge Gonzalez, and sophomores Nick Hoekstra and Christian Alsing -- are back in the fold for 2009-10. Freshman Thomas Scholle-Malone is currently playing on the NPU football team, so he isn't practicing with the basketball team yet.

[dansand]

The NPU roster is finally up. I'm not sure where he's gone, but, as I expected, Sean McNamee is not on the team this season.

...Idi Amin?

Sorry.

So, Elmhurst and North Central are the only CCIW teams not to have their rosters up. The Bluejays are probably still trying to figure out all the newcomers' names.

[BlueJay21]

Sager did a pretty good job of summing up the Elmhurst season but I have a few things I think I can add to help solve the mystery. Aaron Hintzsche is not playing this year for the Bluejays so they will have completely new players in the paint this season. Sophomore Wes Dukeman has put on a lot of weight and also gotten a lot stronger so he should be in the mix. There are 2 freshman that the coaches are really excited about at the center position, but you never know with freshman. The new offense that the Bluejays run could allow Boyd and Acosta to play the 4 position on the offensive end, but not sure how it will work defensively. Transfer James Robertson and junior Erik Ellingson will also be in the mix at the guard position. The coaches are pretty excited about the recruiting class so I'm excited to see them in action. Either way the Bluejays are going to look a lot different this year without Brent Ruch dominating the paint.

[Gregory Sager]

Wow, no Hintzsche? That means that Elmhurst has a grand total of three minutes' varsity experience returning in the low post, since that's how much Dukeman played last year. Boyd was listed at 6'2, 190, and Acosta at 6'2, 180 on last season's roster, so that'll be interesting if they're playing the 4 this year.

Bob, your dream of seeing the five-guard offense in a CCIW game may actually come true!

[BlueJay21]

The new Elmhurst offense that the Bluejays ran last year for the first time is a 4 out 1 in type of Princeton offense. Last year Brent Ruch and Aaron Hintzsche were hardly ever on the court together all season. The "4" position was played by Robert Strzemp and Joe Acosta last year so it won't be a change with Acosta there. Like I said the real challenge for the Bluejays will be on the defensive end. Acosta or Boyd will have a tough time matching up with guys like Nick Williams or Doug Sexauer.

[markerickson]

I look forward to watching Gonzales, especially since Antonio Stevens is not on the roster.  Greg:  who is the best defender among the guards?

The Scholle recruit is the nephew of Tom Scholle who competed on North Park's wrestling team with me.

Go Sooners!

[AndOne]

Don't look for a North Central roster for awhile yet.

Practice doesn't even start until Sunday night at 6.
New top assistant Todd Kelly's contract wasn't effective until today.
It will take awhile after the beginning of practice to even determine who will be on the varsity roster, even though several of the open positions are pretty sure bets.
The majority of last year's roster has either graduated or is no longer in the picture, so this year's roster will look substantially different from the 08-09 version.
I would estimate when the final roster is posted, you'll see only 6 names that appeared last year.
Among the possible returnees, I think word is still out whether one player in particular will return. Personally, I hope he does play because if so, he'll be an important part of this year's squad.
The possibility also exists that 1 or 2 members of NCC's football squad will also join the hoops team.

However things finally shake out, you can bet there will be plenty of opportunity available for a number of people to step up and prove to the coaching staff that they deserve PT. We'll just have to wait and see who answers the bell and proves they deserve to be on the court with Reid Barringer and David Twyman, last season's returning starters.