MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Greg, how does the NPU team stack up at this point?  Who do you think will be getting most of the minutes?

I'm playing it close to the vest on your first question. Let's just say that I'm as excited about where the North Park program is now as I've ever been since Bosko left in '94, and leave it at that.

As for your second question, I expect most of the minutes to go to Juwan Henry (duh), Jordan Robinson (duh, again), Colin Lake (yet another duh), and newcomer Brandon Berry -- with generous portions of clock ladled out as well to T.J. Cobbs, Michael Hutchinson, Kylee Beheler, Matt McNamara, and perhaps one or two others, with a surprise special guest star waiting in the wings.

Surprise special guest star?

Not sure how big a star he will turn out to be, but it will certainly be a rather special occasion when Luke Johnson makes NPU his 4th stop/school along the road to future NBA stardom! LOL. 

Wow, Mark, you're like a terrier working a chew toy with that whole Luke Johnson thing, aren't you?

I was going to comment on the Sporting News forecast, having thumbed through the issue in the magazine section of my local CVS pharmacy two nights ago.

This wasn't one of Chuck Mistovich's better efforts. Yeah, he's overburdened, having to cover D2 and NAIA as well as D3, but there's a couple of egregious errors in his piece. First, he doesn't even mention Elmhurst, not even among the "possible breakthroughs" (or whatever he called the "best of the rest" roll call of teams at the end of his piece). It's inexplicable to me how anyone who covers D3 could fail to see that the Bluejays are absolutely loaded coming into this season and are very much a national contender.

Gregory,

With the multitude of activities available in the Big City, you really should get out more often and think about expanding your horizons to include a few more exciting exploits than hanging out under the "L" tracks in the magazine section of the corner drug store. 

Hey, a man's gotta pick up his laundry detergent sometime.

Not only is the exclusion of Elmhurst egregious, it's just plain ignorant. If not a national contender, it should not be a surprise to anyone should the Baines Boys best Augie, or any other possible contender, for the CCIW title.

Not to pat our league on its collective back, but I think that it's fairly well established at this point that any team that wins the CCIW is almost always good enough to win the national title. It doesn't make them the national tournament favorite, of course, but you don't win the CCIW without sitting on the top tier of D3 that particular season. I'd say the same thing about the WIAC, NESCAC, UAA, and ODAC champs.

I'm pretty sure that Elmhurst is a national contender right now in the preseason. Again, for those of you who didn't catch this the first time I posted it, the Bluejays have eleven returnees this year that averaged double-digit varsity minutes last season for a team that went 20-8 and reached the second round of the dance ... and they've added a former starting CCIW point guard as a transfer, to boot.

[Titan Q]

* it seems that the majority of the Green Team's minutes at SG for the next three years have pretty much already been allotted. I feel sorry for this year's freshman recruits who play the position. Unless they can switch positions, over the next three years they will get a great education, and very likely have the opportunity to watch a lot of good basketball.

* No, I wasn't assuming Rose can only play the 2. I was assuming he would, most often anyways, play the 2.
* if his primary position turns out to be the PG, then it's the IWU recruits who play the point that I feel sorry for as they will be the ones watching a lot of basketball instead of playing much basketball over the next 3 years!

So I assume you feel sorry for a lot of North Central recruits too?

Updated 2015 CCIW RECRUIT LIST

North Central
* Jagger Anderson, 6-0 PG (Transfer from Lincoln College, Springfield Southeast H.S.) Jr.
* Anton Boethius, 6'2" SG (Ostersund, SWEDEN)
* Jack Bronec, 6-8 C (St. Charles East H.S.)
* Aiden Chang, 6-2 SG/PG (Aquin H.S., Freeport)
* Alec Epstein, 5'9" SG (Yutan, NE HS)
* Tanner Gardon, 6-7 SF/PF (Elgin Larkin H.S.)
* Logan Ivy, 6-6 F/C (Plainfield Central H.S.)
* Josh Jandron, 5-10 PG/SG (Woodstock North H.S.)
* Chris Jenkins, 6-0 PG/SG, (Luther North H.S.)
* Tommy Koth, 6-3 SF (West Aurora H.S.)
* Jaquan Phipps, 6-3 SG/PG/SF (Lyons H.S., LaGrange)
* Connor Raridon, 6-5.5 Wing/SG (Neuqua Valley H.S., Naperville)
* Alex Sorenson, 6-8 PF/C (Transfer from D2 Northern Michigan/Dunlap, IL HS '14) Soph.

[badgerwarhawk]

That's a lot of guards Q.  Is this hoarding thing league wide? 

[iwu70]

Hoarding is league-wide now, Badger (if possible).  IWU led the way in this, due to our five guard scheme a few years back.  Due to possible injuries, departures, various forms of player disgruntlement, academic ineligibility issues etc. etc. always good to have a huge long cohort of pine-sitters, JV players.  Plus it's good for developing your program, assuming you can schedule a decent JV season.  You never know when a JV player becomes the next CCIW MOP the next season. 

Seriously, I agree with several here that Elmhurst is very much a league and national level contender this year. 

IWU Homecoming next weekend, October 9-11  . . . and Korey Coon is being honoured as the Robert Montgomery Most Outstanding Young Alumnus.   He skipped JV and freshmen pine-sitting and went straight to the D3 national title.  Remember him?  The little engine that could -- and also bomb in a few treys.  He could make FTs too.  Warm congrats to Korey on this much-deserved honour and award. 

Looks to be a very strong basketball season for the CCIW.

IWU70

[AndOne]

Greg, how does the NPU team stack up at this point?  Who do you think will be getting most of the minutes?

I'm playing it close to the vest on your first question. Let's just say that I'm as excited about where the North Park program is now as I've ever been since Bosko left in '94, and leave it at that.

As for your second question, I expect most of the minutes to go to Juwan Henry (duh), Jordan Robinson (duh, again), Colin Lake (yet another duh), and newcomer Brandon Berry -- with generous portions of clock ladled out as well to T.J. Cobbs, Michael Hutchinson, Kylee Beheler, Matt McNamara, and perhaps one or two others, with a surprise special guest star waiting in the wings.

Surprise special guest star?

Not sure how big a star he will turn out to be, but it will certainly be a rather special occasion when Luke Johnson makes NPU his 4th stop/school along the road to future NBA stardom! LOL. 

Wow, Mark, you're like a terrier working a chew toy with that whole Luke Johnson thing, aren't you?

Well, you know, sometimes a bit of levity, even of a familiar theme, is necessary in order to cut through the high degree of tension created by having to wait an inordinate length of time for such an earth shattering announcement to be made.   
I mean come on. A surprise special guest star? Inquiring minds want to know. Don't keep us waiting. We're dying here.   

[AndOne]

Based on the names posted here, I think it's real hard to say which CCIW staff has recruited the Illinois class of 2015 the best between Augustana, IWU, and North Central.

(recruits posted from the state of Illinois, class of 2015)

Augustana
* Jake Asquini, 6-2 SG (St. Charles East H.S.)
* Jordan Bradshaw, 5-10 PG (Hinsdale Central H.S.)
* Joe Kellen, 6-1 PG/SG (Rockford Lutheran H.S.)
* Jake Nowak, 6-3 G/F (Plainfield North H.S.)
* Chrishawn Orange, 6-2 PG (Jacobs H.S.)
* Pierson Wofford, 6-4 G/F (Springfield Lutheran H.S.)

Illinois Wesleyan
* Colin Bonnett, 6-3 SG (Benet Academy, Lisle)
* Nick Coleman, 6-2 PG (St. Patrick H.S., Chicago)
* Mark Falotico, 6-1 PG (St. Viator H.S., Chicago)
* Jason Gregoire, 6-4 SG (Cary-Grove H.S.)
* Chasen Peez, 6-7 F/C (Batavia H.S.)
* Ben Sestak, 6-5 SF (Sacred Heart-Griffin H.S., Springfield)

North Central
* Jack Bronec, 6-8 C (St. Charles East H.S.)
* Aiden Chang, 6-2 PG/SG (Aquin H.S., Freeport)
* Tanner Gardon, 6-7 SF/PF (Larkin H.S.)
* Logan Ivy, 6-6 F/C (Plainfield Central H.S.)
* Josh Jandron, 5-10 PG/SG (Woodstock North H.S.)
* Connor Raridon, 6-5 G/F (Neuqua Valley H.S.)
* Tommy Koth, 6-3 SF (West Aurora H.S.)

If Connor Raridon is better than his brother Derek (CCIW M.O.P and all-American) -  which I have heard- than it's probably NCC. 

* it seems that the majority of the Green Team's minutes at SG for the next three years have pretty much already been allotted. I feel sorry for this year's freshman recruits who play the position. Unless they can switch positions, over the next three years they will get a great education, and very likely have the opportunity to watch a lot of good basketball.

* No, I wasn't assuming Rose can only play the 2. I was assuming he would, most often anyways, play the 2.
* if his primary position turns out to be the PG, then it's the IWU recruits who play the point that I feel sorry for as they will be the ones watching a lot of basketball instead of playing much basketball over the next 3 years!

So I assume you feel sorry for a lot of North Central recruits too?

Updated 2015 CCIW RECRUIT LIST

North Central
* Jagger Anderson, 6-0 PG (Transfer from Lincoln College, Springfield Southeast H.S.) Jr.
* Anton Boethius, 6'2" SG (Ostersund, SWEDEN)
* Jack Bronec, 6-8 C (St. Charles East H.S.)
* Aiden Chang, 6-2 SG/PG (Aquin H.S., Freeport)
* Alec Epstein, 5'9" SG (Yutan, NE HS)
* Tanner Gardon, 6-7 SF/PF (Elgin Larkin H.S.)
* Logan Ivy, 6-6 F/C (Plainfield Central H.S.)
* Josh Jandron, 5-10 PG/SG (Woodstock North H.S.)
* Chris Jenkins, 6-0 PG/SG, (Luther North H.S.)
* Tommy Koth, 6-3 SF (West Aurora H.S.)
* Jaquan Phipps, 6-3 SG/PG/SF (Lyons H.S., LaGrange)
* Connor Raridon, 6-5.5 Wing/SG (Neuqua Valley H.S., Naperville)
* Alex Sorenson, 6-8 PF/C (Transfer from D2 Northern Michigan/Dunlap, IL HS '14) Soph.

Actually, no, I don't.
Furthermore, by your own statement, highlighted above, you yourself have removed a major portion of the question and subsequent suspense involved in the comparison between whatever playing time Connor Raridon gets as opposed to the other student-athlete involved in this case. Raridon was and is a top tier recruit who, based on talent alone, will be deserving of substantial PT, including a likely starting position. The other player in the equation is undeniably talented. However, statistics exist which could easily call into question whether his level of talent merits a starting role.

* It seems there was some discussion on the board last year regarding this question, and statistical documentation was presented that supported the possibility that IWU could have fielded a stronger starting lineup with different personnel.
As Casey Stengel would say, You can look it up. 

[CCIW >]

No NCC recruits will be justified in being upset for sitting behind Connor Raridon.
Top recruit in the CCIW this year, 4 year starter, 4 year team captain (Very rare), and likely to be a 4 year All-Conference Player...

[Titan Q]

Actually, no, I don't.
Furthermore, by your own statement, highlighted above, you yourself have removed a major portion of the question and subsequent suspense involved in the comparison between whatever playing time Connor Raridon gets as opposed to the other student-athlete involved in this case. Raridon was and is a top tier recruit who, based on talent alone, will be deserving of substantial PT, including a likely starting position. The other player in the equation is undeniably talented. However, statistics exist which could easily call into question whether his level of talent merits a starting role.

* It seems there was some discussion on the board last year regarding this question, and statistical documentation was presented that supported the possibility that IWU could have fielded a stronger starting lineup with different personnel.
As Casey Stengel would say, You can look it up. 

My point has nothing to do with Connor Raridon, Mark.  It has to do with playing time at the guard spot at NCC.

You said you "feel sorry" for IWU guard recruits because they may not get playing time.  Yet North Central has 10 returning players listed as a guard:
* Geoffrey Godwin
* Jayme Moten
* Joe Kennell
* David Fuller
* Zachary Branch
* Brandon White
* Marcus Agee
* Evan Fendley
* Erwin Henry
* Brian Harvey

And 8 new recruits (freshman in 2015-16) who are guards per your list:
* Jagger Anderson
* Anton Boethius
* Aiden Chang
* Alec Epstein
* Josh Jandron
* Chris Jenkins
* Jaquan Phipps
* Connor Raridon


I think we'd all agree that a whole bunch of these guys will never play.  Don't you feel sorry for them too?

[devossed]

I was going to comment on the Sporting News forecast, having thumbed through the issue in the magazine section of my local CVS pharmacy two nights ago.

This wasn't one of Chuck Mistovich's better efforts. Yeah, he's overburdened, having to cover D2 and NAIA as well as D3, but there's a couple of egregious errors in his piece. First, he doesn't even mention Elmhurst, not even among the "possible breakthroughs" (or whatever he called the "best of the rest" roll call of teams at the end of his piece). It's inexplicable to me how anyone who covers D3 could fail to see that the Bluejays are absolutely loaded coming into this season and are very much a national contender. Indeed, he has St. Norbert among the possible breakthrough teams, and, leaving aside the fact that the next time that a MWC team appears in the Final Four it will be the first, the truth of the matter is that St. Norbert is not going to be as good as Elmhurst in 2015-16. That's not to denigrate the Green Knights; SNC is a very fine program, the Knights have some good players coming back, and over the past few seasons it's become apparent that Gary Grzesk has everybody else's number in the MWC. But the Knights lose their top three scorers, Schwoerer, Elliott, and Hofacker (the team's top two rebounders were Schwoerer and Hofacker, as well). Even if you're of the "they don't rebuild, they reload" mindset regarding the Green Knights, this is the national stage we're talking about, not the MWC.

The other big error is that he lists Jordan Brink of Calvin as one of his picks to be among the top players in D3 this coming season. (He's in the Honorable Mention category; you can see him at the bottom of Bob's Twitter post.) Brink used up his senior year of eligibility last season. He graduated in May and is no longer a Calvin student. Considering all of the hoopla surrounding Brink over the past few years, it's hard to see how anyone who follows D3 men's basketball could've made that oversight.

I almost feel some deja vu, inasmuch as we've been saying the same thing about Chuck for the last 3-4-5 years now 

But it was good to see Hope big Brock Benson get some preseason love on that AA list. If anybody local to the suburbs recalls, Brock was a standout with the Chicagoland-based Illinois Wolves AAU program (Hinsdale South HS).

Luckily for most other MIAA (and CCIW?) schools, Brock's younger brother Barrett has decided to go the aforementioned "Luke Johnson route" and seek to make history by matriculating in B1G country next year with Mr. Collins, and help lead them to green pastures. Personally, I hope he has a nice career there and think it will be a great fit.

Both are sons of former NFL TE (and Purdue standout) Cliff Benson.

[markerickson]

Maybe the families of those guards got "tuition discounts" (Google NACUBO) that is unrelated to their ability to ride the bench.  Same would be true for dozens of Carthage football freshmen from last year.

[Gregory Sager]

Greg, how does the NPU team stack up at this point?  Who do you think will be getting most of the minutes?

I'm playing it close to the vest on your first question. Let's just say that I'm as excited about where the North Park program is now as I've ever been since Bosko left in '94, and leave it at that.

As for your second question, I expect most of the minutes to go to Juwan Henry (duh), Jordan Robinson (duh, again), Colin Lake (yet another duh), and newcomer Brandon Berry -- with generous portions of clock ladled out as well to T.J. Cobbs, Michael Hutchinson, Kylee Beheler, Matt McNamara, and perhaps one or two others, with a surprise special guest star waiting in the wings.

Surprise special guest star?

Not sure how big a star he will turn out to be, but it will certainly be a rather special occasion when Luke Johnson makes NPU his 4th stop/school along the road to future NBA stardom! LOL. 

Wow, Mark, you're like a terrier working a chew toy with that whole Luke Johnson thing, aren't you?

Well, you know, sometimes a bit of levity, even of a familiar theme,

There's a "familiar theme", and then there's this:

is necessary in order to cut through the high degree of tension created by having to wait an inordinate length of time for such an earth shattering announcement to be made.   
I mean come on. A surprise special guest star? Inquiring minds want to know. Don't keep us waiting. We're dying here.   

Oh, I think that somehow you'll pull through.

I was going to comment on the Sporting News forecast, having thumbed through the issue in the magazine section of my local CVS pharmacy two nights ago.

This wasn't one of Chuck Mistovich's better efforts. Yeah, he's overburdened, having to cover D2 and NAIA as well as D3, but there's a couple of egregious errors in his piece. First, he doesn't even mention Elmhurst, not even among the "possible breakthroughs" (or whatever he called the "best of the rest" roll call of teams at the end of his piece). It's inexplicable to me how anyone who covers D3 could fail to see that the Bluejays are absolutely loaded coming into this season and are very much a national contender. Indeed, he has St. Norbert among the possible breakthrough teams, and, leaving aside the fact that the next time that a MWC team appears in the Final Four it will be the first, the truth of the matter is that St. Norbert is not going to be as good as Elmhurst in 2015-16. That's not to denigrate the Green Knights; SNC is a very fine program, the Knights have some good players coming back, and over the past few seasons it's become apparent that Gary Grzesk has everybody else's number in the MWC. But the Knights lose their top three scorers, Schwoerer, Elliott, and Hofacker (the team's top two rebounders were Schwoerer and Hofacker, as well). Even if you're of the "they don't rebuild, they reload" mindset regarding the Green Knights, this is the national stage we're talking about, not the MWC.

The other big error is that he lists Jordan Brink of Calvin as one of his picks to be among the top players in D3 this coming season. (He's in the Honorable Mention category; you can see him at the bottom of Bob's Twitter post.) Brink used up his senior year of eligibility last season. He graduated in May and is no longer a Calvin student. Considering all of the hoopla surrounding Brink over the past few years, it's hard to see how anyone who follows D3 men's basketball could've made that oversight.

I almost feel some deja vu, inasmuch as we've been saying the same thing about Chuck for the last 3-4-5 years now 

True, alas. But I don't want to be too hard on him, given the great journalistic service that he's rendered to small-college basketball over the decades.

[iwu70]

Full new season IWU roster now posted on the IWU website.  27 players in all -- so a hoard of guards and potential pine-sitters. Hopefully a good JV schedule to help develop all this talent. 

Of course, good senior and junior talent coming back.  8-9 guys back who played lots of varsity minutes previously.  Practices about to commence. 

Looks to me like CCIW will be exceptionally strong and competitive this year.  Time will tell.

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

I changed my signature line this afternoon. As laudable as that Roberto Clemente quote happens to be, it doesn't seem right that I should have a quote from a Pirate as my sig tonight.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I changed my signature line this afternoon. As laudable as that Roberto Clemente quote happens to be, it doesn't seem right that I should have a quote from a Pirate as my sig tonight.

Understood - but I hope it is just for the day.  Roberto Clemente far transcended being just a Pirate hero, just like Ernie Banks went way beyond 'just' being "Mr. Cub".  Unfortunate that the THREE best teams in the NL will be reduced to only half of the NL championship series, just because they are all in the same division.

[sac]

I changed my signature line this afternoon. As laudable as that Roberto Clemente quote happens to be, it doesn't seem right that I should have a quote from a Pirate as my sig tonight.

Understood - but I hope it is just for the day.  Roberto Clemente far transcended being just a Pirate hero, just like Ernie Banks went way beyond 'just' being "Mr. Cub".  Unfortunate that the THREE best teams in the NL will be reduced to only half of the NL championship series, just because they are all in the same division.

Maybe they have the best records because Milwaukee and Cincinnati were terrible.