MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Q, any word on a Rossi return?

70, as I have told you, Alex Rossi is done with basketball.

[veterancciwfan]

Not that I care about football, but one stat I found amazing: Carthage has 89 freshman football recruits from a reliable source. I didn't check it out on the Carthage site. If true, Carthage seems to be going against the new wisdom of fewer new students. Regarding Robinson, the Williams kid going to U. of Mich. His performance in the 1st half of the semifinal game vs. Amherst at Salem in March was as good of 20 minutes of b'ball I have seen in a long time in D3. He excelled in every phase of the game and did so unselfishly. Great shooter, passer, runs the floor like a guard, defends and rebounds. I think that covers it all.

[AndOne]

Q, any word on a Rossi return?

And, what about the summer work, the newbies or the returnees, bulking up, getting ready to compete for playing time.  I saw a picture the other day on FB of Spencer Seibring, along with Katy and Trevor, and it looks like Spencer has put on about an additional 3+ inches.  Is it so?  He looked even taller than Spencer.  Perhaps he was standing on a pile of Beer Nuts or something. 

In Denver now, last leg of my long western swing of the epic US road trip.  Enjoyed the pre-season game, Broncos vs. Seahawks, which the Broncos won.  Also enjoyed last eve a most amazing concert -- yes, Carlos Santana and his band for two hours, then Rod Stewart and his talented back-ups for two hours, at Fiddler's Green, south of Denver.  Even a Santana-Rod Stewart duet -- totally amazing.  Something you don't see every day.  Santana has to be one of the greats ever on the electric guitar, right up there with Jimmie Hendrix and Charley Byrd.  Sure did enjoy the ambiance, and didn't even have to breathe very deeply to feel even more high in Mile High. 

Heading back to Minneapolis, then on to B/N and IWU by August's end.  Summer drawing to a conclusion, with fall football coming very soon now.  Record numbers of new international students arriving at IWU in the next few days.  Shall we press for the beginnings of ping pong and badminton in the CCIW soon? 

Go TITANS!   

IWU'70

Q, any word on a Rossi return?

And, what about the summer work, the newbies or the returnees, bulking up, getting ready to compete for playing time.  I saw a picture the other day on FB of Spencer Seibring, along with Katy and Trevor, and it looks like Spencer has put on about an additional 3+ inches.  Is it so?  He looked even taller than Spencer.  Perhaps he was standing on a pile of Beer Nuts or something. 

In Denver now, last leg of my long western swing of the epic US road trip.  Enjoyed the pre-season game, Broncos vs. Seahawks, which the Broncos won.  Also enjoyed last eve a most amazing concert -- yes, Carlos Santana and his band for two hours, then Rod Stewart and his talented back-ups for two hours, at Fiddler's Green, south of Denver.  Even a Santana-Rod Stewart duet -- totally amazing.  Something you don't see every day.  Santana has to be one of the greats ever on the electric guitar, right up there with Jimmie Hendrix and Charley Byrd.  Sure did enjoy the ambiance, and didn't even have to breathe very deeply to feel even more high in Mile High. 

Heading back to Minneapolis, then on to B/N and IWU by August's end.  Summer drawing to a conclusion, with fall football coming very soon now.  Record numbers of new international students arriving at IWU in the next few days.  Shall we press for the beginnings of ping pong and badminton in the CCIW soon? 

Go TITANS!   

IWU'70

IWU70,

While we're all fascinated by your insightful analysis across a wide variety of sports, your incessant extolment of all  things Wesleyan, your vivid descriptions of scenic panoramas across the country and throughout the world, and, especially, your periodic explanations of the 12 year cycle of animal signs relative to the Chinese Zodiac, we would appreciate some brevity by means of non-duplication of your postings. ONCE was/is enough.    

[Gregory Sager]

Not that I care about football, but one stat I found amazing: Carthage has 89 freshman football recruits from a reliable source. I didn't check it out on the Carthage site. If true, Carthage seems to be going against the new wisdom of fewer new students.

So, less tuition revenue is "the new wisdom"? I suspect that Carthage's President Woodward is much more comfortable with the old wisdom.

[bbfan44]

And One, or others....how'd the summer games go?  Any potential impact players discovered?

[iwu70]

I think most of the CCIW Presidents and Admissions offices would prefer the old wisdom as well.

And One, And One, sorry sorry.

Q, just wish'in on Rossi.  Never hurts to ask.  We've been surprised by returnees before, even after injury.

IWU'70, back in the scenic Midwest.

[AndOne]

No problem 70. Just rufflin' your feathers. 

[iwu70]

Chirp chirp.

Ready for some football.  Still looks to me like everyone is playing for second behind NCC.  Hope there are some pleasant surprises amongst the Titans' returnees and newbies.  Gonna need to find a good, new QB for sure, play very tough D as usual.  9-1 for IWU would be grand, but tough to play both NCC and WC away this year.

Three weeks only, opening games.  IWU has a tough one opening day -- vs. Franklin.

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Chirp chirp.

Ready for some football.  Still looks to me like everyone is playing for second behind NCC.  Hope there are some pleasant surprises amongst the Titans' returnees and newbies.  Gonna need to find a good, new QB for sure, play very tough D as usual.  9-1 for IWU would be grand, but tough to play both NCC and WC away this year.

Three weeks only, opening games.  IWU has a tough one opening day -- vs. Franklin.

IWU70

We're all painfully aware of your predilection to post about Wesleyan sports other than men's basketball in this space, Mark, but the thing is ... you never post in the CCIW football room and you never post in the CCIW baseball room, even though you post about your alma mater's teams in those sports in this room. You do post in the CCIW women's basketball room, so it's not like you're afraid you'll get lost if you wander off the CCIW Chat reservation.

Is there any particular reason why you don't venture into the CCIW football room or the CCIW baseball room? Are you allergic to cybernetic pine tar or virtual pigskin? I know that getting you to post about those sports in their proper rooms rather than here is a vain hope, but your aversion to those rooms (yet not to the sparsely-used and sparsely-read CCIW women's basketball room) is a persistent mystery.

[newCCIWfan]

Chirp chirp.

Ready for some football.  Still looks to me like everyone is playing for second behind NCC.  Hope there are some pleasant surprises amongst the Titans' returnees and newbies.  Gonna need to find a good, new QB for sure, play very tough D as usual.  9-1 for IWU would be grand, but tough to play both NCC and WC away this year.

Three weeks only, opening games.  IWU has a tough one opening day -- vs. Franklin.

IWU70

We're all painfully aware of your predilection to post about Wesleyan sports other than men's basketball in this space, Mark, but the thing is ... you never post in the CCIW football room and you never post in the CCIW baseball room, even though you post about your alma mater's teams in those sports in this room. You do post in the CCIW women's basketball room, so it's not like you're afraid you'll get lost if you wander off the CCIW Chat reservation.

Is there any particular reason why you don't venture into the CCIW football room or the CCIW baseball room? Are you allergic to cybernetic pine tar or virtual pigskin? I know that getting you to post about those sports in their proper rooms rather than here is a vain hope, but your aversion to those rooms (yet not to the sparsely-used and sparsely-read CCIW women's basketball room) is a persistent mystery.

Being a product of the "Facebook age" I want to take a moment to "LIKE" Mr. Sager's post. I laughed out loud.

[AndOne]

And One, or others....how'd the summer games go?  Any potential impact players discovered?

I would rate the overall "alternate" 2014 summer league experience as adequate. The concept of a "no cost" league was solid, especially given the distance the majority of CCIW kids had to drive plus the mostly incompetent level of officiating that existed at Joy Of The Game in Deerfield, particularly over the last 2-3 years. For $900 a team, the kids weren't really getting either what was advertised or what they were paying for, other than the fact that JOG is a nice facility. This year the majority of games were played at Elmhurst and Benedictine which graciously donated their facilities. I believe North Central also hosted once. I didn't make every session throughout the summer. With the combination of the schools donating the gym space without charging a fee, and the kids calling their own fouls, thus eliminating the need for paid refs, the league became "no cost."   

CCIW teams participating were Elmhurst, North Central, and Wesleyan. Other teams were Benedictine, Aurora, and (NAIA) Judson. EC and NCC usually had 7-10 players there while Wesleyan featured a smaller contingent of 4-5 ( I think most often Nelms, Stempel, Turner, and Amann? , and sometimes Marietti). Wheaton and Millikin had understandably never played in Deerfield. North Park took part about half the time, while Augie and Carthage were Deerfield league regulars along with EC, NCC, and IWU.

IMHO the main problem encountered was games were usually played only once a week. In itself this is on a par with the Deefrield schedule. However, there were at least 3 times that I was aware of where games were scheduled for the week, but then had to be cancelled for an unknown, to me, reason. Additionally, it would have been nice to have had Augie and Carthage included. Both again played in Deerfield. For their sake, I hope the officiating improved over the last 2-3 years. I think Augie dominated there and CC was about .500

As far as impact players, on the cumulative nights I attended, Kyle Wuest of EC was the MOP. I'd be very surprised if he isn't an all-conference player this year. While a doubtful all-conference level performer, EC's Kenny Payonk is clearly improved. For NCC, the return of Charlie Rosenberg with his combination of power and quickness will pay nice dividends. When coupled with the reliable and capable Jack Burchett, NCC could very well have 2 front line A-C players. Kevin Honn has added both strength and range, and should be an important contributor.   

[iwu70]

Guys, gotta give you guys something to complain about.  As you'all know, I'm mainly an IWU basketball fan -- men and women, so mostly post in and follow those two rooms.  I do lurk in the football room, just for the good info I find there, but rarely post.  Don't really feel any particular expertise during the football season.  Never to the baseball room at all -- in my life.  Sorry.  Guys you just have to read my nonsense, . . . or not.  Both AOK with me. 

Happy remnants of summer to all.  Heading back to B/N and the IWU campus in a few days.  It's been a wonderful 4 months, 15,000+ miles and 33 states in all  -- and so so many friends, colleagues and former students all along the way. 

IWU'70

[kiko]

As you'all know, I'm mainly an IWU basketball opera fan 

IWU'70

Fixed that for you.

[Gregory Sager]

As you'all know, I'm mainly an IWU basketball opera fan 

IWU'70

Fixed that for you.

ROTFL!

[veterancciwfan]

Regarding Alex Rossi, he's back at IWU and says he has two years left in Bloomington due to transferring twice. He looks great. Fantastic young man. Glad to have him at IWU.