MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

And, is Schouten the Ed O'Callahan of the '11-12 season?  Didn't Schouten start at one point in the non-conference part of the season last year?

Dan Schouten is not on the 2011-12 roster...

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball&;

[Gregory Sager]

Have to agree that someone spouted a lot of baloney in their post.  I do not like baloney one bit, not even slapped between two pieces of bread, so I'll take this portion and see what I can make of it.

bopol- Why are you so worried about Steve being gone?

Speaking for myself as a Carthage fan, I'm worried about replacing the 22 PPG and the 6.6 APG as well as the on-court leadership.  I'd bet that is part of Bopol's worry as well.

With him gone, Carthage will be more of a team than a one man show. Last year, he would clearly go up to Malcom Kelly and other guards when they had the ball at the top of the key to get it himself. That isn't basketball. The man shot 85% of the time.

I won't even go into the lack of math here, but clearly a player who had 165 of the team's 338 assists was not shooting the ball 85% of the time (472 shots out of 1945 = 24%).  He did CLEARLY go to the top of the key and get the ball, I would agree, but it was a part of the offense.  He could create his own shot out of nothing, or draw multiple defenders to himself to create an open look for his teammates.  No one else on the team could do that.

I mean if the man is shooting that much everyone else isn't going to want to do the dirty work for him while he takes all the glory.

Someone doesn't understand the concept of a TEAM sport here.  You had a kid who set career and season records in scoring and ASSISTS.  Wake up!



I also don't understand the "sharing the ball" more argument that is being bandied about.  Passing the ball around to pass it around is one thing, but getting it to a teammate where he can do something with it is quite another.  Steve could work the court to do that.  Steve had 649 career assists.  By comparison, Adam Dauksas, from IWU, had 548 career assists with a much better cast around him.  I only chose to look up Adam's numbers because he was one of the finest true PG's in the CCIW in the past 15 years if not longer. 

Team's are only going to score so many points a season no matter how much they "share the ball".  I really do hope that Carthage can replace 22 PPG by playing better defense, rebounding the ball and a limiting the other team's scoring opportunities, hustling after loose balls, and playing intelligent basketball.  Addition by subtraction if you will.  I just don't see how they're going to replace it on the offensive side of the coin.

This is very nicely done.

When I read the original post from I'm Back it reeked to me of sour grapes, perhaps someone unhappy with Steve D. on a personal level.  I just didn't have the time or the effort to debunk it, but this was along the lines of what I was thinking.

Again, very nicely done.

I agree. Good job, mwunder.

It appears Aaron Garrriott , at 6'4" and 215, is a linebacker in his other life. Matchup problems anyone?

Sources close to Titan Q are reporting that Aaron Garriott is not a pound more than 190.

Dennis is channelling Frank Oz, and Bob is referring to himself in the third person. Strap yourselves in, people, it's going to be an interesting season.

[Titan Q]

and Bob is referring to himself in the third person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJIZo9DA-5g

[Gregory Sager]

NPU's roster is up.

[bopol]

Team's are only going to score so many points a season no matter how much they "share the ball".  I really do hope that Carthage can replace 22 PPG by playing better defense, rebounding the ball and a limiting the other team's scoring opportunities, hustling after loose balls, and playing intelligent basketball.  Addition by subtraction if you will.  I just don't see how they're going to replace it on the offensive side of the coin.

I wonder what you think the keys to defense are this year. 

Big for me is having a center that doesn't allow the opposing team's bigs get the ball so low, which Thompson had trouble with.  I do like that Thompson will be a shot blocking threat on opposing team's guards, but then the rotation needs to improve so that they can get the rebound on D.  I'd also like to see Pierce stay closer to the basket he doesn't need to be as mobile. 

I generally like Malcom's play, but I realize I don't have an opinion on Cary's defense.

I hope that Malcom's hustle is infectious for everyone.  That and Max Cary on 11 every night will make a big difference.

I think that the 2 and the 3 are set as far as defense goes!  Max hustles all over the court and Malcom is as quick as they come on defense.  As far as the bigs are concerned, I don't know what you can do.  There aren't any easy solutions.  Hopefully a freshman can step up and make a name for himself.  Maybe Mitch will start playing more like a 4 than a 2 on both sides of the court.  Maybe Tyler will make a concerted effort to not get beat back on defense 7 times out of 10.  We need some sort of toughness from our bigs.

The bigs are nice players, but they have some flaws.  A stronger Mitch would be nice, so that he can become a legit 4.  He's a good leader but he gets pushed around by the stronger players.  I hope they find a combination on D that can cover up the flaws, but they really didn't last year.  I do hope to see more improvement in Bauch, maybe Senior stepping up (seems like a nice athlete for the 3, but the game was moving much too fast for him last year) and Johnson contributing right away.  It's be great to have a bigger guy who can hustle enough to cover up other's mistakes.

[iwu70]

Pre-season Poll out:  Augie at #2, Wheaton at #25.  IWU and NC get some votes in the also ran, mentioned grouping. 

I'm ready for some basketball.

IWU70

[AndOne]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

[petemcb]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

I say there's more than a "little doubt" about those being the top four, regardless of order.  I still have North Park as a distinct possibility for the top four.  I also see Carthage as way too wild of a card to count out.  If there 6'9" freshman (whose name I'm blanking on) shows the offensive side of his game that he showed in Deerfield this summer, they could be in the mix. 

[Titan Q]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

The CCIW head coaches will put a lot more weight on North Central's co-CCIW championship than the D3hoops.com Top 25 voters did.  I don't think there is much doubt at all that Augustana will be picked #1 and North Central #2.

I'm sure NCC was a difficult team for the Top 25 voters to assess.  On one hand the Cardinals finished 11-3 (and earned the #1-seed) in one of the nation's best leagues.  On the other, they went 4-7 in the non-conference and finished with 11 total losses (including the conference tournament loss).  Whereas those who follow the CCIW closely are apt to acknowledge all of the young players NCC was working into the rotation during the non-conference, and basically write off that 4-7 part of 2010-11, I'm sure 11 losses scared off most of the D3hoops pollsters.  The CCIW head coaches will only remember what happened last January and February.

My guess is that we will see the following from the coaches on Thursday:

1. Augustana
2. North Central
3. Wheaton
4. Illinois Wesleyan
5. North Park
6. Carthage
7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin

[AndOne]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

I say there's more than a "little doubt" about those being the top four, regardless of order.  I still have North Park as a distinct possibility for the top four.  I also see Carthage as way too wild of a card to count out.  If there 6'9" freshman (whose name I'm blanking on) shows the offensive side of his game that he showed in Deerfield this summer, they could be in the mix.

The freshman in question is Luke Johnson. If you will remember there was a great deal of surprise when, given the degree of spirituality associated with the 2 high schools he attended, it was revealed that he had chosen Carthage.
As far as his offensive output, my sense is that he will make a sizable contribution to the Carthage attack. In fact, one of the more interesting aspects about Carthage to follow this season will be to see how Johnson and Tyler Pierce share the ball/points inside, and whether they will be able to play with just one ball. Where Johnson will be slower to develop will be on the defensive end of the floor where, despite his size, he has sometimes displayed an aversion to mixing it up down low.

[cardinalpride]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

I say there's more than a "little doubt" about those being the top four, regardless of order.  I still have North Park as a distinct possibility for the top four.  I also see Carthage as way too wild of a card to count out.  If there 6'9" freshman (whose name I'm blanking on) shows the offensive side of his game that he showed in Deerfield this summer, they could be in the mix.

The freshman in question is Luke Johnson. If you will remember there was a great deal of surprise when, given the degree of spirituality associated with the 2 high schools he attended, it was revealed that he had chosen Carthage.
As far as his offensive output, my sense is that he will make a sizable contribution to the Carthage attack. In fact, one of the more interesting aspects about Carthage to follow this season will be to see how Johnson and Tyler Pierce share the ball/points inside, and whether they will be able to play with just one ball. Where Johnson will be slower to develop will be on the defensive end of the floor where, despite his size, he has sometimes displayed an aversion to mixing it up down low.

I believe the CCIW will have as many as 4 teams crack the top 25 at some point this season...Any takers?

[wheaton.thunder]

Wheaton's roster the victim of attrition as Matt Krause is no longer listed

[realist]

Mickey De Vries from last year's Wheaton team is showing on Calvin's roster.  One assumes he wasn't going to see much p.t. correct?
He is just one of 10 players Calvin is showing 6' 7" or taller.

[markerickson]

I strongly believe North Park will finish in the top four.

[Gregory Sager]

It will be interesting to see if the Coaches' poll parallels the D3Hoops pol,l and results in the coaches voting:
1. Augie
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. NCC

There seems little doubt that these teams will be the choices for the top 4 spots in whatever order.

The CCIW head coaches will put a lot more weight on North Central's co-CCIW championship than the D3hoops.com Top 25 voters did.  I don't think there is much doubt at all that Augustana will be picked #1 and North Central #2.

I'm sure NCC was a difficult team for the Top 25 voters to assess.  On one hand the Cardinals finished 11-3 (and earned the #1-seed) in one of the nation's best leagues.  On the other, they went 4-7 in the non-conference and finished with 11 total losses (including the conference tournament loss).  Whereas those who follow the CCIW closely are apt to acknowledge all of the young players NCC was working into the rotation during the non-conference, and basically write off that 4-7 part of 2010-11, I'm sure 11 losses scared off most of the D3hoops pollsters.  The CCIW head coaches will only remember what happened last January and February.

My guess is that we will see the following from the coaches on Thursday:

1. Augustana
2. North Central
3. Wheaton
4. Illinois Wesleyan
5. North Park
6. Carthage
7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin

I think Bob nailed it here. I agree with everything he said, except that I suspect that the CCIW coaches might put Carthage ahead of NPU in the preseason poll.

Speaking of which, the poll will be released on Thursday following the third annual live chat on www.cciw.org with the league's eight head coaches at 10 am that morning.