MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[gordonmann]

Dave -- Has D3hoops.com ever considered doing a regionally ranked type system throughout the year in addition to a top 20 poll?

Not to my knowledge, no.  Executing two national polls a week is challenging enough since we try to keep a diverse body of voters.

In past years Pat Coleman has done a mock regional ranking during the season and we always project the men's NCAA tournament field before it's announced, which requires us to do mock regional rankings.  In those cases we simulate what we think the NCAA committee will do. We don't actually pull together regional committees.

[gordonmann]

Slightly different answer but the same general idea. And we didn't even collaborate ahead of time.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

"Viking Mike's paranoia aside , I think we'd all like to see Augie regionally ranked. (Well, everyone but Dennis, that is.)"

I resemble that remark. 

[bopol]

Well, if it's any comfort, Hanover got dumped at home by Translyvania, so they wouldn't be ahead of Augie if the ratings came out today.

And yeah, I'm not really buying that there is a big statistical difference between 3-4 and 1-1.

As Gregory said... this isn't necessarily a "statistical" comparison but something the committee looks at. I am just pointing out the stat as a fact that the teams ranked ahead of Augustana do not have losing records in regional games... while Augustana did... that MAY have been a factor.

Eh, to me, it's trying to justify what in fact is too noisy to get a signal.  I don't think anyone can statistically distinguish those three teams, so why get worked up about it.  Augie has two more games to prove themselves before the CCIW tournament and then another in the tournament to prove they belong.  If they go 3-1, I think there is a good chance they'll dance, if not, they won't.

[Denny McKinney]

Titan Q - Just a heads up on a future Titan you should see in Columbia at the state tournaments. Word from an extremeley reliable source is that IWU has won the recruiting battle for Bryce Dolan. A 5'11 PG from St. Francis Borgia in Washington Mo. Dolan had 44 with 8 treys against Luthern South in St. Louis earlier this week. Borgia has produced a number of DI mid majors and early word was he would follow another Borgia player to Miami of OH,

I saw this young man score 25 in the 2nd half against my Little Brother's Sullivan HS (17-8) team earlier in the year. And, that was against every gimmick D he could throw at him.

Dolan has very good handles and unlimited range on a pretty jumper. Best part of his game is his ability to create his own shot. He will need to hit the weight room. But has been a prolific scorer.

IWU's asst coach Buddy Sordermann's brother is the head coach at Washington HS. Which could  be a big plus in 2 years. Scott Suggs (now playing for Coach Romar at U of Washington) has a younger brother who is a sophmore. 6'5 left handed combo guard at Washingtonn HS. The kid is silk.

Borgia is a Final Four fixture in Columbia. The young man will make a very good DIII player and made a good decision not to chase DI dreams.

[iwu70]

bopol, basically agree with you on Augie's chances to dance.  They need 3 to 4 wins in the next 3-4 games.

That's exciting news, if confirmed, about Bryce Dolan.  Titans are going to need a few more PGs, scorers, to join Molinari, Overstreet and Wheeler next year.  Looks like Oz, B. Zimmer and perhaps Heyen at the 2 next year.  With the deadlines looming soon for college application decisions, deposits, we should start to learn more about the CCIW recruiting classes, . . . well, at least some information initially. 

Hard to find another Jordan Zimmer, but let's try . . . and, on the women's side, very very hard to find another Olivia Lett, but again let's try. 

I'm with DP on attitudes toward Augie winning . . . I "resemble" that opinion, too.  I'll be cheering for Wheaton next Tuesday.  My hope, dream, is that NCC, WC and IWU all get bids.  Yes, probably a dream.

On the women's side, I think Carthage deserves a bid for the dance too, but doubt they will get one, esp. if IWU wins the CCIW tourney.  Lots of good basketball to be played.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Titan Q - Just a heads up on a future Titan you should see in Columbia at the state tournaments. Word from an extremeley reliable source is that IWU has won the recruiting battle for Bryce Dolan. A 5'11 PG from St. Francis Borgia in Washington Mo. Dolan had 44 with 8 treys against Luthern South in St. Louis earlier this week. Borgia has produced a number of DI mid majors and early word was he would follow another Borgia player to Miami of OH,

I saw this young man score 25 in the 2nd half against my Little Brother's Sullivan HS (17-8) team earlier in the year. And, that was against every gimmick D he could throw at him.

Dolan has very good handles and unlimited range on a pretty jumper. Best part of his game is his ability to create his own shot. He will need to hit the weight room. But has been a prolific scorer.

IWU's asst coach Buddy Sordermann's brother is the head coach at Washington HS. Which could  be a big plus in 2 years. Scott Suggs (now playing for Coach Romar at U of Washington) has a younger brother who is a sophmore. 6'5 left handed combo guard at Washingtonn HS. The kid is silk.

Borgia is a Final Four fixture in Columbia. The young man will make a very good DIII player and made a good decision not to chase DI dreams.

Thanks Denny.  I was not aware that IWU was on Bryce Dolan.

His current season stats...

17.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 143-322 FG (.444), 90-202 3-point (.405), 64-71 FT (.901)

http://stats.stlhighschoolsports.com/sports/basketballboys/11/stats/overall21.php

Looks like a "pure shooter" based on those 3-point and FG percentages.  His 90 3-pointers made leads the STL metro area and his FT percentage is 3rd...

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/area-stats-leaders/article_bfe36265-ad0d-5551-a4cd-e7d8e3ce9d0d.html

I'll keep an eye out to see if he does indeed end up part of IWU's recruiting class.  Thanks for the heads-up.

[Titan Q]

Looks like Oz, B. Zimmer and perhaps Heyen at the 2 next year. 

6-7 "combo forward" Brandon Heyen has a chance to develop into a varsity-caliber 3-man, but certainly not a 2.  Some HS video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8N5Kl8D5uY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evlaKbWexUQ


There is a reason you don't see 6-7 shooting guards in Division III, and it's not because there aren't 6-7 guys who can shoot the 3 (Heyen can certainly shoot it) -- it's because 6-7 perimeter players who end up in Division III, 1) can't begin to defend a 2-guard on the other side of the floor, and 2) can't handle the ball well enough to play a guard spot.  Brandon Heyen is no exception to that.  If he is going to make the leap from JV to varsity at some point, it will be as a forward.

IWU's returning players for 2012-13 who could be in the 2 mix are:

* Brady Zimmer, 6-4 So SG (missed this season with injury - shoulder surgery)
* Dan Oswald, 6-1 Jr SG (missed last season with injury, not able to play much this year due to continued knee problems)
* Connor Wheeler, 6-1 Fr PG/SG (missed this season with injury - shin splints)
* Dylan Overstreet, 6-3 Fr PG/SG


IWU will have a lot of questions at the 2 next year because none of the 4 returning players in the mix really played meaningful varsity minutes this season.  That said, there is plenty of talent in this group - Brady Zimmer was every bit as good a high school player as his older brother (he passed Jordan's HS scoring total with the last basket of his career), Dan Oswald is a tremendous shooter (15 for 31 from 3 in his limited role this year), and Wheeler and Overstreet were both small school all-state kids last year and have nice upsides at IWU.

[iwu70]

Q, I guess we just disagree on some of these player evaluation issues from the JV realm, for the time being, given what we've seen in JV games to date.  Of course, we don't know what will evolve with these guys, esp. as several had major injury issues this year.  I watched 4-5 JV games, saw some of them in action in varsity minutes, esp. Oz and Musselman.  The reason I suggested, perhaps, Heyen at the 2 is that in fact he does have the quickness and tremendous length to defend better than most guys his size out there.  He shoots the 3 well, and slashes well to the basket.  Yes, he played 3 on the JV.  Let's face it, B. Zimmer and Os also have some defensive liabilities, issues too (unless they improve in that area), though they can shoot it lights out from the arc.  Wheeler is a pretty good defender, but plays more like a PG than a 2.  When fully fit, he seemed the best on-ball defender of the JV group.  He's a strong, compact kid, reminds me of Sean Dwyer,  He has to get healthy.  Let's hope he can . . . don't want another Gilmore type of situation.  As for Overstreet, excellent ball-handler, good quickness, pretty good defender, high 3 point percentage, but played mostly PG on the JV.  I don't see him as much as a 2 as a PG in the mix with Molinari to start at PG next year.  Overstreet could bring more scoring to the PG position.  My own view is that Overstreet is as good as Molinari.  We'll see about Dolan, not yet clearly on the recruiting screen for IWU.  Sounds awfully good though.   Zimmer and Os are the pure shooters, but both have to improve defensively.  Zimmer and Wheeler will need to get fully healthy . . . let's hope they do.  Lots of questions on the perimeter for the Titans next year.  Sure need Eric Dortch to improve offensively, to match his tremendous tenacity on defense.  With off-season work and improvement, next year's Titans will have such a strong cohort of bigs, one of the strongest, longest, most experienced in the CCIW -- Reed, Ziemnik, Davis, Anderson, Dortch, Musselman, Heyen (if at the 3), add Wiggs and Mayberger.  Recruitment class yet to come.  We'll see.  In a way, it was too bad that some of these guys, (like Wiggs, Mayberger, Heyen and Azuogu) didn't get more JV time, more game-time experience this year).  The overall JV schedule for IWU and most CCIW teams this year was limited to non-existent. 

Seems to me that Brady Zimmer has the best shot at the 2 next year, should he be fully healthy, fully back.  Perhaps backed up by Os, again if healthy.  But, my idea of Heyen should be considered, IMHO.  To me, likely PGs would be Overstreet and Molinari.  Not quite sure yet where Wheeler fits in, assuming he too is fully healthy by next season.  I guess time (and off-season weight-room work and skills improvement) will tell the tale.

Looking forward to senior night.   

IWU70 

[Titan Q]

CCIW fans should send some well wishes to Wash U tonight.  On paper the Bears should beat Brandeis, but every road game is tough in the UAA, just like the CCIW.

7:00pm tip CST.  Live stats and video...

http://livestats.prestosports.com/brandeisjudges/

[TitansIWU]

CCIW fans should send some well wishes to Wash U tonight.  On paper the Bears should beat Brandeis, but every road game is tough in the UAA, just like the CCIW.

7:00pm tip CST.  Live stats and video...

http://livestats.prestosports.com/brandeisjudges/

I really like those kind of live stats.

[augiefan]

Simply stated Augie had better plan to win the CCIW tournament, if they want to get an NCAA bid. The probability is Augie will be the 4th seed in the tourney having to face NCC opening night on the Cardinals' home court. Not the best of situations. The loss at Elmhurst and at home to NCC are probably going to cost them big time, unless they suddenly rediscover an offense.

[iwu70]

Augiefan, I agree with you re:  Augie's chances.  Seems NCC and Augie have to win the CCIW tourney and the AQ to get in.  WC and IWU, if they finish out strong, have a better chance to get a Pool C bid.  Would love to see three CCIW teams get in, but the Pool A situation has to fall a certain way, the stars have to align well for that to be a possibility.  More likely two CCIW teams getting in.  Let's hope. 

Wash U leading Brandeis now.  Love the LiveStats too.  Video stream not bad.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Looks like Wash U goes down to Brandeis. 

[sac]

Brandeis 79 Washington 69
Carnegie Mellon 82 Emory 79
NYU 79 Chicago 69


WashU  9-3
NYU     8-4
Emory  7-5
Brandeis 7-5

Washington plays at NYU Sunday with a chance to win the UAA outright, a loss makes a tie with NYU but NYU would own the tiebreaker with 2 wins over WashU.

WashU travels to Chicago next Sun.
NYU travels to Brandeis next Sun.