MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

USee, I didn't see the first game back on January 22. I was doing PBP for the Wheaton @ North Park women's game that night. I tend not to have as much to say about games I haven't seen, anyway (not having as much to say being relative, of course ), and the next day I was distracted by both an argument with carthage guy over whether the final minute of a game ought to be reffed differently than the previous 39 and by iwu70's sudden decision to start using CCIW Chat as a vehicle to promote Illinois Wesleyan opera singers.

[AndOne]

They have opera at IWU? Who knew?
What about a medical school like Augie? Would make sense as we already know that every biology major at Wesleyan is also (pre-med).           

[Gregory Sager]

They have opera at IWU? Who knew?

[veterancciwfan]

Wash. U wins at Brandies. Wash. U. basically receives minimal output from its bench. In 43 minutes, their bench players scored 4 with starters logging 39, 36, 27, 32, and 23 minutes. Their starters can handle that in UAA play with the Friday night-Sunday noon schedule, but things might be different in NCAA tournament with back-to-back nights.  If IWU wins out and Wash. U. does the same, IWU will move up to #1 in the final Midwest Region rankings (a fairly safe prediction). IWU, of course, has a much more difficult task trying to win out than Wash. U. does (with no silly conf. tournament like the CCIW has which rewards only the winner).

[iwu70]

Sure looks like Wash U and Wheaton are peaking at the right time.  Some great games upcoming in the CCIW, CCIW tourney and down the road toward Salem.  Wash U and IWU could likely meet again with high stakes for Elite 8 or Final Four.

Greg and AndOne, you guys are so un-reconstructed . . . don't you know IWU has a distinguished Music School, celebrating 150 years this fall at Homecoming.  Of course we have opera, several performances and recitals every year.  Do I need to lecture you two about Dawn Upshaw again?!?!    We've also had several graduates who went professional in Europe (yes, in opera) just like Olivia Lett and Brian Crabtree and others in hoops.  Just say'in.

Congrats to all the Seniors around the CCIW -- thanks for the memories -- hope they have well-deserved Senior Days with all the parents and supporters in attendance.  IWU is losing a great group of seniors on both sides -- men and women.  They will surely be missed.  Let's hope both squads have a happy Senior Day night with wins over Carthage at The Shirk, again both men and women. 

IWU70

[iwu70]

Gee, I thought the biology major at IWU was a pre-med major.  Was back in my day . . . and surely now, too.  Surely was for my brother and sister-in-law in the early 60s.  Doctors galore.



'70

[jaybird44]

Not sure that IWU would be assured of moving ahead of WashU in the final regional rankings if both teams win the rest of their games.  Even if IWU gains a couple of extra wins by winning the CCIW tournament, it wouldn't necessarily be easy to leap over a WashU team with a long winning streak and an unbeaten run through the UAA.  Even with the early head-to-head win by a wide margin.

One could argue that since WashU is currently placed above the Titans after the first rankings, the committee has placed substantial value on that streak inside and outside the UAA.  Therefore, if both teams run their tables by expected margins, I sure wouldn't put on a paycheck on a flip of the top two teams. 

Unless, of course, one has a direct pipeline to a committee member and what that person is thinking.

[AppletonRocks]

The girls are prettier at Wash U.

[iwu70]

AppleRocks, how wrong you are!

Where Wash U and IWU end up in the D3 poll doesn't really matter, both surely top 10 or even top 5 teams.  Both are in either via AQ from their conferences or early on via Pool C.   Some others on the edge better hope IWU and Wash U win their conferences/AQ so that they get to the table earlier.  Could be important for a third CCIW entrant, via Pool C, given where all the CCIW teams are in the regional rankings.  The majority of these CCIW teams will take another loss or losses, due to the CCIW tournament format.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (19-3, 9-2) vs Carthage (15-8, 8-4) - 7:00pm

(CCIW-only stats)

Illinois Wesleyan (19-3, 9-2)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Jr (8.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.5 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Jr (9.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/205 Sr (8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5/220 Sr (13.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Sr (11.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Jr (10.8 ppg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-4/210 Sr (5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
C - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 So (4.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/160 So (3.8 ppg)


Carthage (15-8, 8-4)
G - Donte Logan, 5-11/160 Jr (5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.3 apg)
G - Malcom Kelly, 6-0/185 Sr (20.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 apg)
G - Kevin Sykes Jr, 6-3/160 Jr (8.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - Marlon Senior, 6-5/195 Sr (13.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
C - Mike Kastel, 6-7/235 Jr (6.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

G - Reese Herth, 6-2/170 Jr (9.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
F - Cameron Van Wyk, 6-6/185 Jr (3.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
G - Myles Olsen, 6-1/195 So (1.2 ppg)
F - Sean Valentine, 6-4/200, Jr (1.0 ppg)


Pantagraph - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-hopes-to-return-favor-to-carthage/article_4103b458-82f9-5f87-91d3-995cbc8ca871.html

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

Live video/stats - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

[Titan Q]

As IWU prepares to celebrate Senior Night, a huge thank you from this alum and fan to the 6 honorees this evening:
  - Nick Anderson
  - Victor Davis
  - Eric Dortch
  - Mike Mayberger
  - Andrew Ziemnik
  - Brady Zimmer

When I interviewed Ron Rose back in November for my IWU season preview, he said the following:

"I am firm believer that a team only cares as much as its seniors, and this group of seniors really cares.  They are all about the team.  I don't worry in the least bit about these guys being consumed with what they can do individually.  They care about the program.  They understand the window of time they have and the legacy they can pass on to the younger guys in the program.  From a coaching standpoint this is a luxury to coach a class like this.
http://www.iwuhoops.com/preview13-14.html

Anyone who has followed the Titans the last few years has seen this.  These six guys have been great on the court, helping IWU to a Final Four as sophomores, a 13-1 CCIW record and a Sweet 16 as juniors, and a current national #5 ranking as seniors.  In doing so, they have been a team-first group, and have just played the game the right way. The biggest compliment I can give these guys is that the way they carry themselves on and off the court makes me proud to be an IWU alum.

Ron Rose's program is in rock-solid shape because he has leaders like Nick Anderson, Victor Davis, Eric Dortch, Mike Mayberger, Andrew Ziemnik, and Brady Zimmer. He has an expectation that his upperclassmen are accountable for setting the tone for the program, and for teaching the younger guys what it takes to play in the CCIW.  As a Titan fan, I feel good about the future because kids like Ryan Coyle, Andy Stempel, and Trevor Seibring have been around this group of seniors.



 

[Titan Q]

What about a medical school like Augie? Would make sense as we already know that every biology major at Wesleyan is also (pre-med).        

I don't have context of what you mean by this, or if you are joking, but as far as I know, just about every kid that majors in Biology at IWU is pre-med.  (Probably the same at all CCIW schools with a Biology major?)  Certainly all of my classmates in the early-'90s who were Bio majors are doctors now, and same for the student-athletes I've been familiar with as an alum, who are in med school or are doctors - like former PG Travis Rosenkranz and current sophomore Danny Roadman.

I have no idea why one would subject themselves to the Biology major unless they were pre-med and preparing for med school.

[AppletonRocks]

As IWU prepares to celebrate Senior Night, a huge thank you from this alum and fan to the 6 honorees this evening:
  - Nick Anderson
  - Victor Davis
  - Eric Dortch
  - Mike Mayberger
  - Andrew Ziemnik
  - Brady Zimmer

When I interviewed Ron Rose back in November for my IWU season preview, he said the following:

"I am firm believer that a team only cares as much as its seniors, and this group of seniors really cares.  They are all about the team.  I don't worry in the least bit about these guys being consumed with what they can do individually.  They care about the program.  They understand the window of time they have and the legacy they can pass on to the younger guys in the program.  From a coaching standpoint this is a luxury to coach a class like this.
http://www.iwuhoops.com/preview13-14.html

Anyone who has followed the Titans the last few years has seen this.  These six guys have been great on the court, helping IWU to a Final Four as sophomores, a 13-1 CCIW record and a Sweet 16 as juniors, and a current national #5 ranking as seniors.  In doing so, they have been a team-first group, and have just played the game the right way. The biggest compliment I can give these guys is that the way they carry themselves on and off the court makes me proud to be an IWU alum.

Ron Rose's program is in rock-solid shape because he has leaders like Nick Anderson, Victor Davis, Eric Dortch, Mike Mayberger, Andrew Ziemnik, and Brady Zimmer. He has an expectation that his upperclassmen are accountable for setting the tone for the program, and for teaching the younger guys what it takes to play in the CCIW.  As a Titan fan, I feel good about the future because kids like Ryan Coyle, Andy Stempel, and Trevor Seibring have been around this group of seniors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_q8L8Tksd8

[iwu70]

Thanks Q -- you put it very well about this group of seniors.  Same could be said for the group of seniors on the women's squad as well.  A great group, hardworking and superb, on and off the court.  These eleven Titan seniors will be greatly missed.  IWU basketball is in great shape, with excellent coaches, good players coming up and working hard, and good school and athletic traditions.  As an alum, I'm very proud of our D3 athletics . . . and so many other programs and activities -- academic and extra-curricular -- at IWU as well.  (Sorry, Greg -- you can't keep a proud alum down.  You being one for NPU as well!).

For the IWU vs. CC game, IWU has to limit Gramps and do a much better job on Senior this time.  Hope the Titan D remembers he can step out and shoot the 3 quite well -- gotta defend him better this time.  Titans peaking at a good time, with Mayberger now starting, and lots of good contributions from Nelson, Dortch, Dolan and Marietti off the pine. 

Keep it rolling Titans -- and enjoy senior night.  My warm congratulations and thanks to Nick Anderson, Eric Dortch, Vic Davis, Jordan Zimmer, Andrew the Zman, and Mike Mayberger.  You guys are all appreciated by the Titan nation.

IWU70

[Hoosier Titan]

What about a medical school like Augie? Would make sense as we already know that every biology major at Wesleyan is also (pre-med).        

I don't have context of what you mean by this, or if you are joking, but as far as I know, just about every kid that majors in Biology at IWU is pre-med.  (Probably the same at all CCIW schools with a Biology major?)  Certainly all of my classmates in the early-'90s who were Bio majors are doctors now, and same for the student-athletes I've been familiar with as an alum, who are in med school or are doctors - like former PG Travis Rosenkranz and current sophomore Danny Roadman.

I have no idea why one would subject themselves to the Biology major unless they were pre-med and preparing for med school.

I also have no idea of the meaning of the original quote, nor do I wish to stray too far from the board topic.  But a sizable number of IWU students are indeed studying biology without planning for medical school.  They go to graduate school for advanced degrees and careers in academia, and they become high school teachers, among other careers.  I am sure the same is true for other CCIW schools. 

Let me add my congratulations to the seniors from all eight CCIW schools--if it's not Senior Day today, it will be soon.  When I came here twelve years ago, I had no knowledge of D3 basketball, and no idea what an adventure--whether nights at Shirk or road trips, wins or losses--lay ahead.  I've always thought that it's basketball that gets Midwesterners through the winters, and this winter has been the test of that belief!