MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

wow .... looks like Overstreet played well!

Hard to gather much from a scrimmage obviously, but an encouraging sign for the Titans heading into the opener Friday.  The guards spots are clearly big question marks for IWU here in the preseason.

Dylan Overstreet was a very good high school player at a little school, averaging 17.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.7 apg on a 29-1 Paxton-Buckley-Loda team.  He was the Champaign News-Gazette's "Player of the Year" in 2011 and a 1st Team all-stater...

http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/prep-sports/boys-basketball/2011-03-22/pbls-overstreet-highlights-hoops-squad.html

http://www.ihssn.net/boy-s-basketball-news/ibca-all-state-boys-basketball-class-1a2a

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2803&path=mbball


From everything I've heard, he's a real high character kid and a strong leader.

IWU needs Overstreet to run the offense efficiently and also to score a little bit.  (Same for his backup, Brian Nelms.)

[y_jack_lok]

I am going to be in Chicago all weekend on business at the McCormick Center, but all my evenings are free. Can someone let me know which D3 schools are closest to downtown Chicago so I can check their schedules for possible games to attend.

Thanks.

Y_Jack

[AndOne]

I am going to be in Chicago all weekend on business at the McCormick Center, but all my evenings are free. Can someone let me know which D3 schools are closest to downtown Chicago so I can check their schedules for possible games to attend.

Thanks.

Y_Jack

Check your PM

[y_jack_lok]

I am going to be in Chicago all weekend on business at the McCormick Center, but all my evenings are free. Can someone let me know which D3 schools are closest to downtown Chicago so I can check their schedules for possible games to attend.

Thanks.

Y_Jack

Check your PM

Thanks. I replied to your PM.

[iwu70]

Looks like a very good scrimmage, Titans vs. Hanover.  Overstreet could have a major, breakout season, IMHO.  Dortch could be the CCIW defensive player of the year.  An interesting concept of the 2.  Time will tell.  Sure hope Zimmer, Molinari, Sodemann and the others can get healthy, return to full strength within a few weeks, get some PT before the CCIW season begins.

IWU70

[AndOne]

North Central roster:

http://northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

* The Cardinals lose only 1 starter--PG Kevin Gillespie.
* Only 7 players who were on the varsity roster at the end of last season return.
* Jack Burchett, who started as a freshman in 2010-2011, but sat out last season, returns.
* On the front line NCC will start pre-season All-Americans Derek Raridon and Landon Gamble, plus All-Conference Aaron Tiknis, widely regarded as the 2nd best all around player in the CCIW last year. With former starter Burchett, and Charlie Rosenberg, who would likely start on 90-95% of all D3 teams as backups, the Cardinals might very well possess the most talented front court corps in the country. 
* Unless NCC got a new set of home uniforms, look for Brandon Williams to wear #4 or #11 rather than #14.
* Look also for the possibility of 1 more roster addition.

[Titan Q]

Something I just ran into...IWU freshman Ryan Coyle was named IHSA Sports Person of the Year for 2011-12.

http://www.csnchicago.com/preps/news/Coyle-is-IHSAs-Sports-Person-of-the-Year?blockID=763263

[mailsy]

Titan Q,

Thanks for the well wishes for the Cavs. Good luck to your IWU team. Maybe we will run into each other again this year. 

mailsy

[petemcb]

Something I just ran into...IWU freshman Ryan Coyle was named IHSA Sports Person of the Year for 2011-12.

http://www.csnchicago.com/preps/news/Coyle-is-IHSAs-Sports-Person-of-the-Year?blockID=763263

I think it was Ryan Coyle who I saw playing a couple of times up at Joy of the Game this past summer with IWU.  He looked like a nice addition for the Titans.  The couple of times I saw him he was very active around the basket, in the mix for offensive rebounds, put backs, slashing from the perimeter to the glass, and seeing the floor well.  I never saw him in high school so I don't know if this was really how well he plays or if he just had two of the best nights of his life but he looked good and did not look like a freshman out there.

[iwu70]

Nice piece on Coyle.  Sounds like another "high character" type of kid.  He won't start for the Titans this year, but good prospects in years to come, esp. after this big current junior class exits.  I watched him in the G/W game and he has a nice game, moves well, strong on the boards, good court sense, doesn't waste any motions . . . a solid, efficient kind of game.  Lots of good, experienced bigs in front of him this year and next.  Assume he'll spend lots of minutes playing JV ball this year, esp. as the current Freshmen/Sophomore IWU group has fewer bigs than perhaps usual. 

Titans open on Friday @Shirk, vs. Coe, 8 p.m.  I think Loras vs. Millikin at 6 p.m. -- IWU-hosted Tip-Off tournament.  Games Saturday are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with IWU vs. Loras at 4 p.m.  FYI.

Let the games begin.  Good luck to Coach Rose, all coaches and all the Titans for another excellent season . . . and good luck to all the CCIW teams, coaches, and players for a good, injury-free season.

IWU70

[augiefan]

The season is almost upon us. Great time of year.

Wondered if we are going to have a CCIW MBB pickem this year? Perhaps no one wants to take the responsibility of tabulating the totals. If I had the time and skill I would do it, but I'm not in aposition to do so.

At least we can give our picks on the final conference standings now with the opportunity to try again before the first conference games.Here's my best shot at it:

1. NCC
2. IWU
3. Wheaton
4. Augie
5. Carthage
6. Elmhurst
7. NPU
8. Millikin

If Kelly returns for the second semester I would reverse picks 4 and 5. I also think it's pretty much a crap shoot other than NCC and IWU being the cream of the crop. Of course, I thought Augie would prevail last year, but senioritis struck and Augie disappointed its fans big time.

[AndOne]

I don't think Augie's main problem last season was "senioritis" as much as it was Luke Scarlata quitting.

My 2012-13 CCIW picks (With Carthage having Kelly)

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

If Kelly doesn't return to Carthage

1. North Central
2. Wesleyan
3. Augie
4. Wheaton
5. Carthage
6. NPU
7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin

[AndOne]

North Central roster:

http://northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

* The Cardinals lose only 1 starter--PG Kevin Gillespie.
* Only 7 players who were on the varsity roster at the end of last season return.
* Jack Burchett, who started as a freshman in 2010-2011, but sat out last season, returns.
* On the front line NCC will start pre-season All-Americans Derek Raridon and Landon Gamble, plus All-Conference Aaron Tiknis, widely regarded as the 2nd best all around player in the CCIW last year. With former starter Burchett, and Charlie Rosenberg, who would likely start on 90-95% of all D3 teams as backups, the Cardinals might very well possess the most talented front court corps in the country. 
* Unless NCC got a new set of home uniforms, look for Brandon Williams to wear #4 or #11 rather than #14.
* Look also for the possibility of 1 more roster addition.

Final/revised North Central roster:

http://northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

[Titan Q]

The latest from Randy Reinhardt of the Pantagraph on the Titans...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/coach-rose-says-size-experience-will-help-titans-this-season/article_bdcf984a-2dfb-11e2-b833-001a4bcf887a.html

[robertgoulet]

North Central roster:

http://northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

* The Cardinals lose only 1 starter--PG Kevin Gillespie.
* Only 7 players who were on the varsity roster at the end of last season return.
* Jack Burchett, who started as a freshman in 2010-2011, but sat out last season, returns.
* On the front line NCC will start pre-season All-Americans Derek Raridon and Landon Gamble, plus All-Conference Aaron Tiknis, widely regarded as the 2nd best all around player in the CCIW last year. With former starter Burchett, and Charlie Rosenberg, who would likely start on 90-95% of all D3 teams as backups, the Cardinals might very well possess the most talented front court corps in the country. 
* Unless NCC got a new set of home uniforms, look for Brandon Williams to wear #4 or #11 rather than #14.
* Look also for the possibility of 1 more roster addition.

Final/revised North Central roster:

http://northcentralcardinals.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

Just noticed no Spandiary (Schaumburg, HS) on the roster. As short as NCC was at the guard position, I was expecting big things out of him when I heard he was on his way there. Any idea what happened? Did he decide not to attend? Or just not playing bball?