MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

So now that Benedictine's roster is up, I am compelled to ask if anyone on the board has any idea which stop is next on the Luke Johnson NBA Express. 

I'm guessing he'll end up at D2 or NAIA.  He can contribute at that level immediately and with only 2 years of eligibility left, I just don't see a D1 school taking him and hoping he develops really quickly unless they are desperate for size.

Or maybe he's back at Carthage.

From a very well placed source............

It seems Luke "NBA" Johnson discovered Benedictine, as Carthage beforehand, was not the ticket to NBA stardom. He wanted to transfer to a D1 this year, but it seems his NBA body is giving him some difficulty, particularly with regard to some back issues he has encountered. Accordingly, his current plan is take some time off to rehab his back, then transfer to a D1 next year to complete his remaining 2 years of eligibility before entering the NBA draft.
Of course that is all predicated on a D1 taking a kid who spent his 1st 2 years out of HS at Carthage and Benedictine, and then his being talented enough to play in the NBA after completing his college eligibility. Some dreams die hard. 
As far as the possibility of his returning to Carthage, I sense Bosko would have a good laugh before telling him to "go scratch." 

Is he getting interest from D1 schools?

Not as far as anyone I've talked to knows about. And now, if his back is acting up, he is not likely to draw much, if any, interest until he can show he has the back issues under control.
The truth is this kid's idea that he is a D1 player is largely a fantasy that has been dancing around in his head for some time. At 6'9" he might have some D1 potential, but he will have to demonstrate more fondness for rugged play and physical contact than he has shown here to fore. He loves to shoot the 3, but D1s have plenty of good shooters.
Additionally, part of the fantasy of his being a D1 level player stems from a situation that college coaches/recruiters see much too often nowdays. Namely, that problem is called fatherly love and (false) pride. It occurs when a dad is for whatever reason convinced that his son has more ability than what reality dictates. The father, who often times was not even an athlete himself, and is totally unfamiliar with the characteristics of a high level player, just refuses to acknowledge that his son is less than a D1 level player. This can be for any number of reasons---a false sense of the son's ability, a sense that if the son can play D1 it somehow makes the dad look better, or even stemming from a family financial situation where sometimes if there is no athletic scholarship $, the family cannot afford higher education. I don't know which, if any, of those possibilities is present in this case, but from what I have heard from several sources--mostly coaches and other dads whose sons have played against Luke, the sense is that the elder Mr Johnson is at least partially fueling the idea that Luke's skill set is north of the line at which his talents realistically sit.
Luke is a talented basketball player. There are plenty of VERY talented basketball players at the D3 level. There is certainly no shame in playing D3 ball, especially if thats the level your skills are consistent with. If he was a D1 player, why did he end up at Carthage? Why when he left Carthage did he end up at Benedictine? Having left Benedictine, why hasn't there been any publicized interest by D1s reported by any of the college basketball scouting/tracking services? It seems like the best thing would have been for Luke to have stayed at Carthage where he started, played at a high level of D3 competition, and let a coach who has been good enough to win national championships further help develop him into a more complete player who would possibly be ready for something like European play or even D League play in the future.     

[AppletonRocks]

I will be at all 4 games over the weekend and will provide some feedback.

Thanks, its appreciated.

[iwu70]

Zman is in better shape, slimmed a bit for this year -- but stronger and better it would appear.  He's going to have a big year.  Did you see what he did up at Winona State against a very good D2 opponent ?  He went off for 27 and 14, the Titans winning going away 94-81.  He's just a very tough, sound and smart D3 basketball player, uses his positioning and body very well, even against bigger defenders.  Very hard match-up in D3 at the 3.  Will hit the trey at key times in games. 

Time to get it going -- one more day and we're off and running.  Good luck to all the CCIW squads.

Off to Lucca's -- for the Baldini pizza, some of the best in town.  A few libations to celebrate the new basketball season upcoming.

IWU70

[AndOne]

Take it easy on those "libations" iwu70. At your age, they might result in your sleeping into the night tomorrow and missing some of the opening game action. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

AndOne, don't worry about Mark.  I've seen him handle 'libations' pretty well!   He'll not only make the bball game on time, he'll make the fball game on time.  (I wish I lived closer, but then I wouldn't be Mr. Ypsi! )

Besides, elder son may be coming home soon.  His wife (also from near here) is intensely homesick, especially as her sister has now moved back home (from Idaho) with her family and d-i-l is pregnant with my first grandchild (due in April), and no doubt wouldn't object to family help with the baby.  They're currently in Michiwaka (a suburb of South Bend); David is feisty enough that he delights in wearing his Michigan apparel (despite living less than a mile from Notre Dame; and even during the week of the UM/ND fball game)!

So I'll be staying in Ypsi, though we are becoming more and more tempted to become 'sunbirds' and avoid Michigan winters.  Besides every other reason, our snow shovelers have flown the coop!

[Titan Q]

I checked out this board last year and was amazed at the quality and intensity of discourse.  Very shortly thereafter I watched an IWU/North Central game.  Along with a few other NESCAC posters, I commented on the relatively 'soft looking' Andrew Ziemnick from IWU.  Got most of my negative K from that mistake.
After watching how effective he was in games through the rest of the season, I adapted to the fact that (as many D3 players) he is a great basketball player if a limited athlete, by unrealistic D1 standards.
Congrats to Mr. Ziemnick and IWU for his pre-season all america pick and hoping multiple CCIW and NESCAC teams meet in Salem.
Let the games begin!

These pics were taking a couple weeks ago.  Andrew Ziemnik is a big, strong, phsyical forward who is in tremendous shape.  He is a blue collar, hard-working kid.  He should have another big year.

http://www.iwuhoops.com/images/az5.jpg

http://www.iwuhoops.com/images/2014az2.jpg

[iwu70]

Great pics of Zman.   You can see the change, for sure.  Thanks Q.

Ypsi, congrats on the upcoming grandchild.  Sounds like your family will be moving closer to you -- that's great.

Back from Lucca's now and the Baldinii pizza and libations were excellent.  I still found my way back somehow.

Sure looks like a full weekend of IWU sports -- yes, football and basketball, perhaps some women's soccer too -- IWU vs. Transy.  Might even catch a film or two -- French film series on campus, lovely film on Paris, . . .  and tonight the third world, anti-colonial classic, "The Battle of Algiers."  Not exactly happy fare, but an important movie relevant to the French role in Africa even today, especially in Chad. 

Ypsi, I'll be seeing our classmate Spencer Sauter '70 -- too, as he makes a mean porkchop, dinner at his place Saturday, with additional libations involved.  Spen and I will be catching the Saturday Titan game @The Shirk together.  Let's hope it's the 7 p.m. game, not the 5 p.m. one. 

Let the games begin!

'70

[Gregory Sager]

It seems like the best thing would have been for Luke to have stayed at Carthage where he started, played at a high level of D3 competition, and let a coach who has been good enough to win national championships further help develop him into a more complete player who would possibly be ready for something like European play or even D League play in the future.   

Wherever he is, he seems to have vanished from Google. Of course, Luke Johnson is not an easy name to track; it seems as though the country is filled with basketball players named Luke Johnson. (Of course, North Park being North Park, I know three Luke Johnsons personally, one of whom is the NPU baseball coach.) It would seem, then, that Luke Johnson's backward step away from the NBA last year -- it's not much of a backwards step in the big picture to move from Carthage to Benedictine, but it is one, nevertheless -- was followed by another backwards step.

I don't wish ill upon the kid. I hope that he finds whatever it is that he's looking for, and I suspect that it's not an NBA contract. Life as a post-adolescent male can be difficult enough without also being 6'9 and having basketball skills and the expectations of others that come with it, without also having a Little League Dad hovering over you and plaguing your decision-making.

[bopol]

broken shift, so forgive the lack of capitalization...

yep, i didn't understand why johnson left carthage mid-season if he had d1 aspirations given that he could have played against fairly strong competition at carthage ...landon gamble for example.  in his year and a half at carthage, he struck me as a good d3 player, but slightly flawed.  he didn't seem to like getting into the paint and banging bodies - a fatal problem that would prevent him going to d1. 

i could see d2 or naia though.  whatever his difficulties at carthage, i hope he finds some joy in basketball whatever level he ends up at.

 

[Titan Q]

Welcome to the 2013-14 season!

Titans vs Manchester (8:00pm), probable starters and key reserves...

Manchester
G Greg Flores, 5-10 Jr
G Brady Dolezal, 6-5 So
G Silas Sims, 6-6 Jr
G Blake Brouwer, 6-7 Fr
F Jarod Schrock, 6-6 So

G Caleb Jackson, 6-5 Jr
G Chase Casteel, 6-6 Fr
G Grant Newlin, 5-9 Jr
G Nate Feitshans, 5-10 Jr

Illinois Wesleyan
G Dylan Overstreet, 6-3 Jr
G Pat Sodemann, 6-3 Jr
F Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5 Sr
F Victor Davis, 6-5 Sr
C Nick Anderson, 6-10 Sr

F Mike Mayberger, 6-6 Sr
G Bryce Dolan, 6-0 So
G Alex Rossi, 6-5 Jr
F Eric Dortch, 6-4 Sr
F Ryan Coyle, 6-6 So


Last meeting - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4Sd-TFhvM

Video - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

WJBC Audio - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

Pantagraph - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/davis-veteran-titans-ready-for-season-opener/article_acc59c04-4dbf-11e3-bf5b-001a4bcf887a.html

[hopefan]

Good luck to all you guys who post regularly here and to your teams for the upcoming season....  I admire the support you give to CCIW Basketball and to the concepts of D3.. it's exactly what I try to do over in the SLIAC room... unfortunately mostly by myself... hoping my SLIAC kids can put a little dent in this weekend's CCIW win-loss percentage..    

I'll be at Westminster today, so check out what I have to say about the Greenville-Milikin and Westmin-Elmhurst matchups tomorrow over in the SLIAC room....

[AndOne]

Thanks hopefan. 

[OurHouse]

Great pics of Zman.   You can see the change, for sure.  Thanks Q.

Ypsi, congrats on the upcoming grandchild.  Sounds like your family will be moving closer to you -- that's great.

Back from Lucca's now and the Baldinii pizza and libations were excellent.  I still found my way back somehow.

Sure looks like a full weekend of IWU sports -- yes, football and basketball, perhaps some women's soccer too -- IWU vs. Transy.  Might even catch a film or two -- French film series on campus, lovely film on Paris, . . .  and tonight the third world, anti-colonial classic, "The Battle of Algiers."  Not exactly happy fare, but an important movie relevant to the French role in Africa even today, especially in Chad. 

Ypsi, I'll be seeing our classmate Spencer Sauter '70 -- too, as he makes a mean porkchop, dinner at his place Saturday, with additional libations involved.  Spen and I will be catching the Saturday Titan game @The Shirk together.  Let's hope it's the 7 p.m. game, not the 5 p.m. one. 

Let the games begin!

'70

Thanks god he got a haircut

[havej]

It's great the season starts today - hopefully discussions of games and players will eliminate the need to talk about Luke Johnson.

[Titan Q]

Ron Rose interview from the WJBC morning show...

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=2105203