MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[martin]

Jordan Smith has had a great start - 17.7 ppg and 4.7 boards - in three games.  It is rare for freshmen to have an impact.  I do not count Steve Djurickovic - he never really was a freshman.  Adam Dauksas started as a freshman and was good but on a good team where he could blend in.  The last CCIW freshman to have a big impact was Drew Carstens in 2000-1. 

I don't know that it is fair to dismiss Steve Djurickovic so easily unless you are simply aiming to narrow the conversation enough to bubble all of your Maroons to the top of the list.  Yes, he basically grew up on the court, and came in with a rarified level of ability and court sense.  But to have an 18-year-old's body and dominate as much as he did amongst 21/22-year-olds is no easy feat.  To his credit, there wasn't really any transition period in which he struggled.

Sorry for creating confusion.  I was not dismissing Steve Djurickovic.  I was pointing out that he never played like a freshman.  He stepped onto the court as an 18 year old with more poise than just about anyone.  That is what I meant by "he was never really a freshman."  I was not trying to bubble Jordan Smith to the top of any list.  He has only played three games and who knows what the future brings.  It is hard to excel as a freshman.  I cannot think of another player in recent D3 history who has had anywhere near the impact of Djurickovic.  That includes all the CCIW players I mentioned - Carstens, Dauksas, Raridon.  Korey Coon, who was the point guard as a freshman on IWU's 1997 National Championship team, and Djurickovic are in a class by themselves as impact freshmen.

[Titan Q]

Here are the top CCIW freshmen that came to my mind over the course of the last 10 seasons.  I'm probably missing some...

(sorted by scoring avg)

1. Steve Djurickovic, PG (Carthage, 2007-08): 23.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.3 apg
2. Derek Raridon, SF/PF (North Central, 2009-10): 21.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
3. Drew Gensler, G/F (Millikin, 2005-06): 17.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.9 apg
4. Kent Raymond, PG (Wheaton, 2004-05): 15.9 ppg, 2.2 apg
5. Landon Gamble, F/C (North Central, 2010-11): 14.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
6. Tyler Pierce, C (Carthage, 2009-10): 12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg
7. Sean Johnson, SG (IWU, 2007-08): 11.6 ppg, 2.7 apg
8. Zach Freeman, PF (IWU, 2003-04): 11.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
9. Chris Martin, SF (Elmhurst, 2001-02): 10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 apg
10. Travis Rosenkranz, PG (IWU, 2007-08): 9.6 ppg, 3.2 apg
11. Adam Dauksas, PG (IWU, 2002-03): 9.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.0 apg
12. Tim McCrary, PF (Wheaton, 2008-09): 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg
13. Brent Ruch, C (Elmhurst, 2005-06): 8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Augustana has some freshmen who are going to have big years this season.

[AndOne]

When talking about "impact" freshmen, I think its important to note that there are instances when such a player may appear to regress in future years, especially from a statistical standpoint. In actuality, even though their stats may decrease, they actually get better, both in terms of becoming a more complete player instead of just a scorer, and additionally by reaching an overall skill level that enables them to make the players around them better.

A players early averages, especially his scoring average, may also decrease due to the fact that his team adds more good players later in his career, and the necessity of him scoring as high a percentage of his team's points decreases.

[Titan Q]

Is it easier for a guard than a big man?  I think Chicago's Nate Brooks has enormous potential but is not at Smith's level yet. 

I definitely think it's easier for a freshman perimeter player to make an impact than a freshman low post player.  The physical demands at the 1, 2, and 3 spots are just much less than the phsical demands at the 4 and 5.  The typical CCIW freshman just is not ready to bang with Landon Gamble or Victor Davis or Brandon Kunz, etc.

What Landon Gamble did a few years ago as a freshman at NCC was very rare.  I think back to IWU's Luke Kasten and Carthage's Jason Wiertel, who both averaged about 18 ppg as freshmen - that just doesn't happen very often.   

6-5 Nate Brooks at Chicago, who I believe plays the 4, could end up being a superstar...but it will take him longer to settle in than 6-4 Jordan Smith, who I assume plays the 2/3.  Another D3 4-man to watch is Wheaton's 6-6 Michael Berg, who was a superstar in the IHSA small school ranks last year...

http://www.pjstar.com/preps/players/x586832910/JS-Small-School-Boys-Basketball-Player-of-the-Year-Michael-Berg-Midwest-Central

He's probably one of those guys that will take some time to adjust to the physical nature of the CCIW.  He'll need to get bigger and stronger to become a great player at this level.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I hereby predict (with high confidence) that one or more Millikin freshmen this year will emerge as 'an impact freshman'.  When the first nine guys in your rotation are all freshmen, someone (or ones) will emerge as team stars!

[augiefan]

Although his freshman year was 2000-01 ( a little more than 10 years ago), I would think Antoine McDaniel of Carthage was one of the greatest impact freshman ever in the CCIW. What an incredible career he had in his 4 years at Carthage. It seemed like he would never graduate and would forever keep doing what it took to beat the rest of the CCIW teams not just Augie.

[Titan Q]

Links for tonight's action...

* Elmhurst vs Dubuque (7:00pm)
   live stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/elmhurst/mbball/scoreboard.aspx
   video - http://new.livestream.com/elmhurstcollege

* North Park @ Wisconsin Lutheran (7:00pm)
   live stats - http://wlcsports.athleticsite.net/livestats/mb/xlive.htm

* Illinois Wesleyan vs Illinois College (7:30pm)
   video/live stats - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#
   radio - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

* Wheaton vs Loras (7:30pm)
   video - http://www2.wheaton.edu/learnres/mediares/WETN/wetn_livewindow/WETN-TV.html
   live stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/wheaton/mbball/scoreboard.aspx

* Augustana @ St. Norbert (7:30pm)
   video - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/snc.portal#
   live stats - http://www.snc.edu/athletics/teamfiles/livestats/xlive.htm

* North Central vs Aurora (7:30pm)
   live stats = http://www.sidearmstats.com/ncc/mbball/scoreboard.aspx

* Carthage @ Lake Forest (7:30pm)
   live stats - http://campus.lakeforest.edu/foresters/livestats/xlive.htm

* Millikin @ Blackburn (8:00pm)
   ?

[petemcb]

Eyewitness account:  with 7:14 to go, Carthage is leading an intense and game, but otherwise non-descript Lake Forest squad 55-43.  Points of interest are highlighted by a noticeable improvement in the willingness, strength, and quality of Carthage's play in the paint....on both ends of the floor.  The three man rotation of Johnson, Thompson, and Jaskulske has changed the look of the Red Men.  CCIW opponents better be ready to mix it up in the paint when Jaskulske's on the floor......and he was just subbed for by Paul Pierce who appears to have regained his freshman year mobility.  Carthage will be tough this year.

[petemcb]

65-57 final for Carthage.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wisconsin Lutheran downs North Park 67-52. North Park tied it at 41 with under ten minutes left, but WLC used a 18-0 run to put the game out of reach.

[Titan Q]

Final in Bloomington...

Illinois Wesleyan 74
Illinois College 65

* Andrew Ziemnik: 17 pts, 7 reb
* Eric Dortch: 11 pts, 6 reb
* Brady Zimmer: 10 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists (21 min)
* Kevin Reed: 8 pts, 4 reb, 4 assists

- Rebounds: IWU 45 IC 25

Video didn't work...sounded ugly on the radio.  IWU led most of the game, but it was always pretty close due in large part to an atrocious night from the FT line for the Titans (16-27). 

Another tough game for Victor Davis -- the second game he's gone scoreless in the early going.  He's in a funk offensively.

Nice to see Brady Zimmer get his first significant minutes and play well -- Zimmer made some big plays for the Titans down the stretch with IC hanging around.  Also nice to see freshman PG Bryce Dolan get a chance and knock down a couple shots.  Those two could both be important perimeter players for the Titans moving forward.

IWU moves to 3-0.

[markerickson]

North Park will not exceed last year's total number of conference wins this year.  The number of home game attendees over 40 will regularly exceed the number of students in attendance.

[shepherd]

Wheaton 90 Loras 63  Final

Braydon Tesher 3-4 3pt  21 pts total
Tyler Peters 32 pts
Wheaton 10-17 3pt

Another Good performance from Wheaton next three games against Chicago, Calvin and Hope will let them know exactly where they stand against top 25 competition.
Go Thunder

[Titan Q]

Augustana 74
St. Norbert 60

* Ben Ryan: 18 pts, 11 reb (7-10 FG)
* Griffin Pils: 16 pts (4-6 3-point)

Augie completely dominated this game from start to finish.  A really good road win for the Vikings against the MWC favorite.

[Titan Q]

North Central 84
Aurora 77

* Aaron Tiknis: 21 pts, 5 reb, 5 assists


This was a 1-point game with about 3:00 to go.