MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

On the other hand, if ISU keeps ducking us, we will FOREVER have the final win of the series!

Neither school is ducking the other...the decision not to play (today this would most logically happen via exhibition) is mutual.  Also note, ISU and IWU have good relations right now, including the two head basketball coaches being friends.  There really isn't any animosity to speak of.

You've mention ISU dodging IWU quite a few times over the years, Chuck, so just making it clear that IWU is 50% responsible for the series not being renewed (via exhibition).

[Titan Q]

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...

Illinois Wesleyan
* Nick Anderson (6-9 F/C, Edwardsville H.S.) - 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg
* Victor Davis (6-5 F, Galesburg H.S.) - 17.8 ppg, 12.7 rpg
* Eric Dortch (6-4 F, Wilbaham & Monson Academy, Evanston H.S. '09) - ?
* Joe LaTulip (5-10 PG, Prospect H.S.) - 15.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
* Mike Mayberger (6-5 SF, St. Louis U. High, Mo.) - 12.1 ppg, 5.5 apg
* Kyle Miklasz (6-3 SG, Hersey H.S.) - 13.2 ppg  
* Trent Swigert (6-0 PG, Macon-Meridian H.S.) - 17.8 ppg   new
* Andrew Ziemnik (6-4 F, Oswego H.S.) - 18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg
* Brady Zimmer (6-4 G, Delavan H.S.) - 29.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.4 apg

Sources have advised me that Kyle Miklasz will NOT be completing his matriculation to Illinois Wesleyan, but will instead be "transferring" to Illinois State where he will be joining the Redbirds basketball program as a "preferred" walk-on.
He has been playing with the Wesleyan team in the Deerfield Summer League.

I had also heard rumblings of this recently...just had not heard any final word.

When Miklasz verbally committed to IWU, ISU head coach Tim Jankovich told Ron Rose they really pursued him aggressively as a preferred walk-on.  Knowing that Division I walk-on opportunity was still out there, I guess I'm not terribly surprised this shook up.

It will be interesting to see where Miklasz ends up down the road.  Most Division I walk-ons - even "preferred" walk-ons at high majors (which ISU is not) - are basically equivalent to good D3 players.  I don't think it's often one ends up with a scholarship, or on the floor.

[AndOne]

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...

Illinois Wesleyan
* Nick Anderson (6-9 F/C, Edwardsville H.S.) - 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg
* Victor Davis (6-5 F, Galesburg H.S.) - 17.8 ppg, 12.7 rpg
* Eric Dortch (6-4 F, Wilbaham & Monson Academy, Evanston H.S. '09) - ?
* Joe LaTulip (5-10 PG, Prospect H.S.) - 15.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
* Mike Mayberger (6-5 SF, St. Louis U. High, Mo.) - 12.1 ppg, 5.5 apg
* Kyle Miklasz (6-3 SG, Hersey H.S.) - 13.2 ppg  
* Trent Swigert (6-0 PG, Macon-Meridian H.S.) - 17.8 ppg   new
* Andrew Ziemnik (6-4 F, Oswego H.S.) - 18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg
* Brady Zimmer (6-4 G, Delavan H.S.) - 29.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.4 apg

Sources have advised me that Kyle Miklasz will NOT be completing his matriculation to Illinois Wesleyan, but will instead be "transferring" to Illinois State where he will be joining the Redbirds basketball program as a "preferred" walk-on.
He has been playing with the Wesleyan team in the Deerfield Summer League.

I had also heard rumblings of this recently...just had not heard any final word.

When Miklasz verbally committed to IWU, ISU head coach Tim Jankovich told Ron Rose they really pursued him aggressively as a preferred walk-on.  Knowing that Division I walk-on opportunity was still out there, I guess I'm not terribly surprised this shook up.

It will be interesting to see where Miklasz ends up down the road.  Most Division I walk-ons - even "preferred" walk-ons at high majors (which ISU is not) - are basically equivalent to good D3 players.  I don't think it's often one ends up with a scholarship, or on the floor.

This situation brings to mind a fairly similar scenario from last season when Nick Neari from St. Charles North, who was recruited by several CCIW and other regional D3 teams, chose instead to go the preferred walk-on route at Iowa.
He played a grand total of 11 minutes all year and scored 1 point. 
He doesn't even appear on this year's pre-season Iowa roster.

I think Miklasz could have played at Wesleyan. Maybe not this year, but at some point down the line. I've never seen Wesleyan recruit B. Zimmer play. Yet, I have little doubt he is a good one considering his scoring average of 29.3. However, I'd be willing to bet that the overall level of the competition he faced in high school was not close to what Miklasz played against.

[Titan Q]

[
I think Miklasz could have played at Wesleyan. Maybe not this year, but at some point down the line. I've never seen Wesleyan recruit B. Zimmer play. Yet, I have little doubt he is a good one considering his scoring average of 29.3. However, I'd be willing to bet that the overall level of the competition he faced in high school was not close to what Miklasz played against.

I know Ron Rose really liked Kyle Miklasz and definitely thought he'd be a player down the line. 

Having Brady Zimmer in the mix helps.  There is certainly a big difference between Class 1A and Class 4A, and Brady will have to make the same adjustments that Jordan is in the process of in order to compete at the CCIW level.  I think both Zimmers will be very good players as juniors and seniors.  With Brady I think it is just a matter of figuring out if he will be a 1, 2, or 3 at IWU.

I think the other player to keep in mind in the shooting guard mix post-Sean Johnson is sophomore-to-be Dan Oswald.  I have never seen Oswald play but it seems like everyone who has thinks he's going to be a good player.

[Pat Coleman]

To Q's point earlier, I think in fact that "preferred walk-ons" at lower Division I schools are prime candidates to transfer to Division III schools before their career is over. At some point they find out that riding the pine at a Division I school, dressing for home games (if that) is not all it's cracked up to be.

[dansand]

Augie's in the middle of practice for another trip to China (they also went in 2007). The NCAA allows 10 days of practice in preparation. The team's first game is scheduled for August 5. Four university and two professional teams on the schedule. It'll be a great experience for all involved.

http://www.augustana.edu/x20830.xml

[CCIWFAN3]

Agree with Pat and Q about P-walkons.  They aren't normally treated with the best of care.  Even pre-game meals are questionable.  Maybe one pair of shoes.  etc etc etc.

Regarding IWU ever playing ISU.  Won't happen as along as Jank is there.  ISU's pre-conference schedule is not much stronger than the CCIW.  In fact some of their opponents would probably lose a few in the CCIW.  But...it keeps ISU wins around 20 by season end:)

[CCIWFAN3]

Plus once you are a P-Walkon you will probably always be a P-Walkon...unless another school is interested in you.  A P-Walkon frees up another scholarship so why would they ever give you a scholarship even if you perform...you are already there.   I've actually heard that from a DI coach.

[AndOne]

Plus once you are a P-Walkon you will probably always be a P-Walkon...unless another school is interested in you.  A P-Walkon frees up another scholarship so why would they ever give you a scholarship even if you perform...you are already there.   I've actually heard that from a DI coach.

I sense Mr. CCIWFAN3 has a good point here.

[Just Bill]

Plus once you are a P-Walkon you will probably always be a P-Walkon...unless another school is interested in you.  A P-Walkon frees up another scholarship so why would they ever give you a scholarship even if you perform...you are already there.   I've actually heard that from a DI coach.

I'm aware of D-II schools who like to pull this tactic.  "We don't have any scholarships left, but pay your way as a freshman, and you can earn a scholarship as a sophomore."

Not going to happen. They won't give you that scholarship when they can use it to go get a new freshman the next year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Maybe Michigan coaches are more ethical - several walk-ons in both basketball and football have later received scholarships in recent years.  (Of course, both teams have kinda sucked in recent years. )

[Gregory Sager]

Plus once you are a P-Walkon you will probably always be a P-Walkon...unless another school is interested in you.  A P-Walkon frees up another scholarship so why would they ever give you a scholarship even if you perform...you are already there.   I've actually heard that from a DI coach.

I'm aware of D-II schools who like to pull this tactic.  "We don't have any scholarships left, but pay your way as a freshman, and you can earn a scholarship as a sophomore."

Not going to happen. They won't give you that scholarship when they can use it to go get a new freshman the next year.

It's not just D2 coaches that do that; mid-major D1 coaches do it as well. It's a huge scam, and it works. An eighteen-year-old kid who falls just short of a useful size/ability grade for that level lives on hope, especially since he's likely seen his scholarship options dwindle down over the course of his senior year. Coaches like that play on the kid's hope and use it to fill in their rosters at the far margins, without ever being straight with the kid by telling him, "You won't get a scholie this year, and, if this program is heading in the right direction in terms of getting the recruits we're seeking, you're not going to get one in future years, either."

I can guarantee you that the landscape of D3 would be a lot different if D1 and D2 coaches were held accountable for the line of crap that so many of them feed to marginal (for those levels) players whom they hope to bring on campus strictly as practice fodder.

Playing time is one thing. If you're that determined to wear a uniform for a scholarship-level team even though your chances of any steady playing time over the next four years is nil, well, then caveat emptor. But paying for your education is another matter entirely. If your prospective coach is asking you to pay for a year of your schooling on your own while dangling out the carrot of having the school pick up the tab when you're an academic sophomore -- a carrot dangled under false pretenses -- then you're being duped.

[Gregory Sager]

Maybe Michigan coaches are more ethical

File this one in the "man bites dog" category.

[AndOne]

Elmhurst names a new assistant coach:

http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/news/2010/7/15/MBB_0715101109.aspx?path=mbball

Too bad Digger Doyle resigned from EC a couple of weeks before John Baines left. If he  had stuck around until after Baines quit, Digger would probably now be the top EC assistant rather than a current resident of Mt. Vernon, Ia. Of course, neither he nor Baines likely knew Baines was leaving at the time Digger resigned, and Digger may be enjoying Mt. Vernon.  

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst names a new assistant coach:

http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/news/2010/7/15/MBB_0715101109.aspx?path=mbball

Too bad Digger Doyle resigned from EC a couple of weeks before John Baines left. If he  had stuck around until after Baines quit, Digger would probably now be the top EC assistant rather than a current resident of Mt. Vernon, Ia. Of course, neither he nor Baines likely knew Baines was leaving at the time Digger resigned, and Digger may be enjoying Mt. Vernon.  

Looks like Mark Scherer is keeping that Valpo connection active. I also wonder if hiring Jason Hawkins may be a deliberate attempt to tap into a recruiting base, northwest Indiana, that's nearby yet fairly underutilized by CCIW schools in terms of men's basketball.