MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU will be a three-guard offense this year:  Sodemann,  Nelson, and fill in the blank.  One will probably be called a wing, but they will definitely be three guards (much like they had Keelan Amelianovich).  Mayberry will be a servicable 5; who the 4 will be is a mystery (Seibring?))

They should start the CCIW as #2 or #3.  Natiionally, I would think they start at the mid-teens.

[Gregory Sager]

Mayberry?

[AndOne]

IWU will be a three-guard offense this year:  Sodemann,  Nelson, and fill in the blank.  One will probably be called a wing, but they will definitely be three guards (much like they had Keelan Amelianovich).  Mayberry will be a servicable 5; who the 4 will be is a mystery (Seibring?))

They should start the CCIW as #2 or #3.  Natiionally, I would think they start at the mid-teens.

Come on Ypsi. This is your team. You know the third starting guard will be Dylan Overstreet, an all-conference player. 
Also, Mayberry graduated so there is no way he will be "a serviceable 5." 
Rather, the serviceable 5 will be Marietti. The Green Team 4 will indeed be a mystery. 

It will also be a mystery to me how a team with three very good guards, a serviceable 5, and a mystery 4, could be ranked in the mid teens. That being said it wouldn't be surprising. 

[iwu70]

Guys, it's Mayberger.  Sadly, he has graduated.  Yes, 5 for IWU surely Marietti, perhaps backed up significantly by Trevor Seibring, who will surprise.  He's a good player, takes up space, light on his feet, runs the floor well, and passes well.  A pretty good rebounder.  He reminds me a bit of Kevin Reed.  A smart player, with good hands, good timing, strong basketball experience, esp. playing @Shirk. 

The 3 and 4 still a mystery -- but perhaps Coyle, perhaps Heyen if healthy.  Others will be there competing for time at the 3 and 4.   Dolan will see major minutes at 1 and 2.  We'll see on others, newbies.  Could be some surprises.  Formal practices starting shortly.  Fitness will be good, as they have all been working out, lifting and having scrimmages.  Even with the big graduating group, this returning team has lots of experience and moxie. 

Of course, hard to replace Zman and Vic Davis -- and D off the bench of Dortch, spark in scoring of Mayberger, size and rebounding of Anderson. 

A new team, a new set of options, a new chemistry and new opportunities for the Titan program.  If I were voting, I'd rank them 15-20, to start out.  Augie surely higher in pre-season standing, WC likely ranked, but lower than IWU, IMHO.

We'll soon see how these new rosters come together for the pre-CCIW season games, testing.

IWU70

[AndOne]

Yes, yes, of course its Mayberger. But, the point is that he graduated and won't be playing this year.
It doesn't appear IWU will use a true 3 AND a 4 this season. I sense it will be more like a 1, a 2, a 2 1/2 (3rd guard maybe playing a wing), a 4, and a 5. If they want a quicker, and possibly better shooting lineup based on a certain game situation, they might go with a 1, a 2, a 2 1/2, a 3, and a 5. The thing is, it seems doubtful that they will employ both a true 3 and a true 4 on the floor at the same time very much this season.

[toooldtohoop]

Thrilled to see WC at 12.  We'll see if they can live up to that.  Different schedule this year. Some tough travel.

We will miss Haynes. 

Should have very good play 1-3.  4 and 5 positions will be the question. 

Go Thunder!

too old,

You have to consider the source of the rankings. As Pat said, it's DIIINews, not D3Hoops doing the rankings in this case. Not to burst your bubble, but the Thunderous Crusaders are ranked #21, not #12. But to say they are even the number 21 team in the country is a bit laughable. You bet they will miss Nate Haynes, one of my favorite enemy players in recent years, and the best pure center in the conference. BUT, I think they will certainly miss the CCIW POY, Tyler Peters even more. Don't you? I mean the guy was an All-American! You don't lose Haynes & Peters and even dream about being the pre-season #21 team in the country.
As you state, WC will have very good guard play this season with Teuscher & DeMoss. However, beyond those two, there is almost no experience returning. Peter Smith is a nice player, but not a league star, at least so far. Beyond that, I think you need to do a heap of hoping  that the Lord helps
Michael Berg come within a galaxy of the talent level he was projected as having when stepped on campus, and also that some of Wheaton's plethora of freshmen develop quickly.
One thing that's for sure is Mike Schauer will certainly get everything out of his troops that they are capable of producing.

Ha!  Thanks AO.  Looks like I'm getting too old to read as well?

We will see about our Thunder soon.  Not sure they deserve to be ranked at all.  But I sure hope some guys step up early and often!

[AndOne]

Many of you will remember former all-conference player and 2011 NCC grad Brian Evans, a 6'3" forward who led the league in offensive rebounds, and finished 2nd in assists in his senior season.

This past Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending his marriage to the beautiful former Anna Wirtz, and their subsequent evening wedding reception. Brian's new, much better half Anna, also a 2011 grad, was a 4 year member of the Cardinal volleyball team, and has been the official scorer for NCC men's basketball for the last 5 years.
Hearty congrats to Brian and Anna!

One of the honored guests was Keith Bunkenburg, head basketball coach at neighboring Benedictine University, 2.9 miles down Chicago/Maple Ave. from NCC, and a frequent opponent of CCIW teams. Coach B was naturally accompanied by his lovely wife Karen, the NCC head volleyball coach, and Anna's coach during her North Central career.

[Gregory Sager]

Does anyone know what happened with Deavis Johnson?

Your question was effectively answered in this room the day before yesterday:

He was removed from the team for discipline reasons.

As to the specifics behind the disciplinary action, they weren't given out and I'm not sure that it's appropriate for any of us to inquire further. Let's just accept that Matt Nadelhoffer has removed Deavis Johnson from the Millikin men's basketball team, and leave it at that.

[petemcb]

Does anyone have any word on any CCIW-related exhibitions/scrimmages prior to the start of the season?  I need a fix.

[AndOne]

U might be rushing it a bit Pete.
I believe yesterday was the first day formal practice could begin per NCAA rule. Many teams don't start for some number of days after the first allowable date due to another rule which forces them to take days off from practice later during the season. NCC isn't even starting until Sun night. They have historically scrimmaged Concordia and Chicago most often, but I haven't yet heard of anything definite as far as scrimmages for this year. Usually like to get in a couple weeks or so of practice before the 1st one, and then have the second scrimmage approx. a week later.

[petemcb]

I wasn't expecting that anyone had an exhibition before they had a final roster, just for the record.  I just figured this was the time of year where various posters started mentioning some of the scrimmages that aren't otherwise advertised.  The last couple of years, I've found out about some at Benedictine, Wheaton, and (I think) Elmhurst after the fact.  Just hoping to avoid that this year.

[iwu70]

IWU usually has the Green/White scrimmage, intra-squad game first, then two exhibitions, sometimes vs. DII schools.  Last year wasn't it Wenona State or some such?  They won that game.  Don't know what Ron Rose has planned this year -- a return to the Assembly Hall/Big State Farm Hall -- to play U of I?  We'll soon see.  Would love to see the Titans scrimmage against ISU -- just across town here in Blo/No.  I'd be looking for a bell to steal.

Back on campus now for IWU Homecoming weekend.  Quad looks gorgeous -- lovely time of year with the autumnal glory. 

Good luck to all the players, coaches and staffs, as official practices begin.  Hope all can do well, stay healthy, and have a great season.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Ron Rose and his talented players come up with for the 2014-15 version of the Titans.

Happy Homecoming to all Titans -- returning alums and current students.  150th Anniversary of the IWU School of Music this weekend -- a great legacy and tradition, many many great performers, performances on tap for the weekend.  Yes, my lads, even some opera. 

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

I assume that will be Chinese opera!

[Pat Coleman]

Generally schools put exhibitions on their calendar (IWU did with Winona State last year) but there is nothing on the IWU MBB schedule like that this year. Scrimmages are a different matter and aren't generally publicized. However, it is not illegal to publicize them in D-III the way it used to be.

[augie77]

Does anyone have any word on any CCIW-related exhibitions/scrimmages prior to the start of the season?  I need a fix.

Augustana will be playing an exhibition at D-1 Bradley in Peoria, 7:00 pm, November 6.  This should be an interesting matchup--more winnable than last years game at Iowa where the Vikings lost by 20 plus points.