MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I should've been watching the game in Lisle instead of the game at MSOE. Carthage is taking 10-0 Benedictine right down to the wire.

[iwumichigander]

Oh no Q - it was WAY beyond ugly!  Terrible, awful, sloppy, no value of the ball, no defense, no focus, no finish
If this Titan team wants to get to the NCAA tournament, it is going to have to find a way to win the CCIW tournament.  At this point, this is the only way I see this team getting in.

[Gregory Sager]

Benedictine 82
Carthage 78

Tony Pierce (25 pts) is for real.

He Who Shall Not Be Named scored four points against his former team before fouling out.

Extremely impressive performance by Bosko's Boys. Make a few of the several missed FTs down the stretch, and this might've been the upset of the year.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 69
Robert Morris-Chicago 65

[AppletonRocks]

MSOE 89
IWU 69


Ugly

I did advise they cancel the season and play the grayshirts the rest of the year.  Still time to do that. 

[Gregory Sager]

NPU had a 35:9 a:to ratio as a team in the Defiance tourney. That's some insanely good floor play.

Juwan Henry had 18 assists in those two games. He made the All-Tourney team.

No surprise who won tourney MVP, though. Jordan Robinson had 55 points and 25 rebounds, as well as five blocks and a 5:1 a:to in the two games.

[Gregory Sager]

The CCIW ended the regular season portion of non-con play with a 58-30 (.659) record. Not bad by overall D3 standards, but the league has done much better than that in the past.

[markerickson]

Jordan Robinson arrived on the North Park campus knowing how to use his pivot foot (chanelling Rob Berki) and also knowing how to create a shot.  He can shoot the trey above .333%.  Additionally, he is a fierce competitor.

[veterancciwfan]

Home from Milwaukee, a trip made more tolerable listening to "An American Trilogy" by EP. 3 questions (remember humor soothes a troubled mind): 1) Is it too early for my wife and I to cancel our March reservations at the Hotel Roanoke? 2) What will be IWU's road record, currently 0-3, after 7 league games? 3) Is it too late to make hotel reservations in Mesa for the 3rd week in March? Have a glorious New Year Chat posters!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Home from Milwaukee, a trip made more tolerable listening to "An American Trilogy" by EP. 3 questions (remember humor soothes a troubled mind): 1) Is it too early for my wife and I to cancel our March reservations at the Hotel Roanoke? 2) What will be IWU's road record, currently 0-3, after 7 league games? 3) Is it too late to make hotel reservations in Mesa for the 3rd week in March? Have a glorious New Year Chat posters!

With 5 losses before they even enter the CCIW meat grinder, I'd say IWU is dead for a Pool C.  And being in a conference with #1 Augie and #6 Elmhurst, a Pool A is quite a long shot.  (At this point I'm becoming a bit nervous about even making the conference tourney - NCC and NPU both look better.)

[iwu70]

Ypsi, not sure about NCC, but NPU looks like they could challenge EC and Augie for one of the two top spots.

IWU has to get some focus on D or it's going to be a 7-7 CCIW season, or worse.  13-12 won't get you anywhere come March.

'70

[Titan Q]

My way-too-early look at 2015-16...

Clear Favorite (clear preseason national #1)
1. Augustana

Clear #2 (potential preseason top 10)
2. Elmhurst

Top challengers for 3rd
3. Illinois Wesleyan
4. North Park

Top 4 contenders but depends on some stuff
5. North Central
6. Wheaton
7. Millikin

They'll have to prove me wrong
8. Carthage

I believe the strength of the league, top to bottom, will be at an all-time high next season.  All 8 programs are really getting after it right now, and really trying to win.  As you look at my early predictions above I think you will agree that whichever teams end up in spots 6/7/8, the bottom of the league will be really strong.

Above is how I looked at 2015-16 just after 2014-15 had ended.  Now just two days before league play starts, I'd say...

Clear Favorite
1. Augustana (12-2)

Clear #2
2. Elmhurst (9-5)

Top Challengers for #3
T3. North Central (8-6)
T3. North Park (8-6)

Top 4 Contender
5. Illinois Wesleyan (7-7)

Bottom 3
T6. Carthage (4-10)
T6. Millikin (4-10)
T6. Wheaton (4-10)


I will be shocked if Augie doesn't win it by 2 or more games - the Vikings are outstanding and clearly the favorite to win the national championship.  I will be very surprised if Elmhurst doesn't finish 2nd, but I think the Bluejays are going to lose 4 or 5 games.

I see the biggest drama this season with North Park, North Central, and Illinois Wesleyan battling for 3rd and 4th.  North Park and North Central are better than IWU right now, but I think IWU will be in the mix.

I see Millikin, Carthage, and Wheaton as the bottom three, and i can't really find any separation there.  (I would have put Carthage #8 before the addition of Tony Pierce Jr, but he seems to be making a big difference.)  I will be surprised if one of these three makes the top 4, but I think all three will inflict damage on the North Park/North Central/Illinois Wesleyan group.

Whichever teams end up in the 6/7/8 spots, like last year (Carthage 5-9, Wheaton 4-10, Millikin 3-11) I believe the bottom 3 will be very strong relative to most seasons in the last 20 years or so.  Outside of Augustana and maybe Elmhurst, I don't see many blowout wins this year.

Like always, there is a lot of reason to be excited about CCIW play -- should be fun.

[GoPerry]

My way-too-early look at 2015-16...

Clear Favorite (clear preseason national #1)
1. Augustana

Clear #2 (potential preseason top 10)
2. Elmhurst

Top challengers for 3rd
3. Illinois Wesleyan
4. North Park

Top 4 contenders but depends on some stuff
5. North Central
6. Wheaton
7. Millikin

They'll have to prove me wrong
8. Carthage

I believe the strength of the league, top to bottom, will be at an all-time high next season.  All 8 programs are really getting after it right now, and really trying to win.  As you look at my early predictions above I think you will agree that whichever teams end up in spots 6/7/8, the bottom of the league will be really strong.

Above is how I looked at 2015-16 just after 2014-15 had ended.  Now just two days before league play starts, I'd say...

Clear Favorite
1. Augustana (12-2)

Clear #2
2. Elmhurst (9-5)

Top Challengers for #3
T3. North Central (8-6)
T3. North Park (8-6)

Top 4 Contender
5. Illinois Wesleyan (7-7)

Bottom 3
T6. Carthage (4-10)
T6. Millikin (4-10)
T6. Wheaton (4-10)


I will be shocked if Augie doesn't win it by 2 or more games - the Vikings are outstanding and clearly the favorite to win the national championship.  I will be very surprised if Elmhurst doesn't finish 2nd, but I think the Bluejays are going to lose 4 or 5 games.

I see the biggest drama this season with North Park, North Central, and Illinois Wesleyan battling for 3rd and 4th.  North Park and North Central are better than IWU right now, but I think IWU will be in the mix.

I see Millikin, Carthage, and Wheaton as the bottom three, and i can't really find any separation there.  (I would have put Carthage #8 before the addition of Tony Pierce Jr, but he seems to be making a big difference.)  I will be surprised if one of these three makes the top 4, but I think all three will inflict damage on the North Park/North Central/Illinois Wesleyan group.

Whichever teams end up in the 6/7/8 spots, like last year (Carthage 5-9, Wheaton 4-10, Millikin 3-11) I believe the bottom 3 will be very strong relative to most seasons in the last 20 years or so.  Outside of Augustana and maybe Elmhurst, I don't see many blowout wins this year.

Like always, there is a lot of reason to be excited about CCIW play -- should be fun.

Agree with a lot of this. 

I think NPU is the most intriguing early story of the CCIW this year.  Coach Slyder will have the best(you choose who) player on the floor every time the ball goes up for the next 2 months and you could possibly argue even the two best.  Of their 3 losses, Dubuque is a big head scratcher that gives me pause.  Alma is only surprising in how badly they lost and Trine is very good. 

Like Q, I'm doubtful that anybody will challenge a veteran and experienced Augustana at the top.  I have yet to see Elmhurst play this season but I know they are good despite their very weak non-con schedule (notably their sole loss against BU, the only ranked team they've played).  My sense also is that Park is right there with NCC for 3rd/4th and could legitimately challenge the 'Jays for 2nd as long as the team that lost to Dubuque is clearly in the rear view mirror.  At the very least, not making their first CCIW tourney would be a huge disappointment. 

They probably need to go 10-4 (very tall order!) in the league(then 1-1) just to get them on the bubble for a Pool C(IIT win won't count right?).  All of which means Saturday's game at NCC is as big an opening league game as it gets for NPU.

Last year the Vikings made things surprisingly interesting down the February stretch.  This year they will sneak up on no one.

Happy New Year to everyone!  Enjoy and drive safe.

[Titan Q]

IWU's biggest issue right now, as I see it, is that here in late-December, the rotation is in flux due to the injury comings and goings.  They lost Marietti...lost Coyle...got Marietti back...lost Rose...lost Marietti...got Coyle back.  Just complete rotation chaos.

Without key players Brady Rose, Mike Marietti, and Ryan Coyle, Ron Rose had landed on a rotation in San Antonio of:

G - Dolan (Nelms)
G - Pennington (Falotico)
F - Stempel (Bonnett)
F - Bausch (Beasley)
F - Seibring (Mahlke)

Not without some flaws, but against a team that is much better than MSOE (#25 Texas Lutheran), this rotation played very well and looked good.

Last night they tried to work 6-6 F Ryan Coyle, who is about 85%, back in.  I think they absolutely had to get him in there to try to get him ready for CCIW play, but it really threw things out of whack - there was just no flow to the rotation last night (like there was in San Antonio).  And non-conference game #11 is a very tough time to be searching for a rotation. 

The loss of Brady Rose is big, as in addition to being a scorer and a great shooter, he is a strong, physical kid who can defend the perimeter.  I'm hoping they get him back maybe by CCIW game #3.

IWU is a flawed team any way they go - they can't guard quick/versatile perimeter players - but I would go this way Saturday and see how it looks:

G - Falotico (Pennington)
G - Dolan (Pennington)
F - Stempel (Bonnett)
F - Beasley (Bausch)
F - Seibring (Coyle)

I like Dolan playing off the ball - he can play the point well, but he's more dangerous at the 2.  I'd play freshman Mark Falotico 28 minutes or so at the 1 and use Pennington as the backup at both the 1 and 2, which would have him on the floor 20+ minutes.

At the 4, I like Bausch as an energy guy off the bench.  I like Beasley as the starter there - he brings athleticism and versatility to the floor.

Even though it's not his natural position, I'd use Coyle to spell Seibring at the 5 for 10 minutes per game.

In addition to playing terribly and not being able to guard anyone, IWU got caught in big-time rotation flux last night.  Starting Saturday, they have to lock one in and roll with it.  Getting Rose back will help, and should be a fairly easy adjustment in the type of rotation I'm proposing above.

[Gregory Sager]

Ypsi, not sure about NCC, but NPU looks like they could challenge EC and Augie for one of the two top spots.

I think that this is an overstatement. Nobody outside of the team itself or the coaching staff would be happier than yours truly if the Vikings cracked the top two, but I see very clear separation between the Augie/Elmhurst duo and everybody else.

Now just two days before league play starts, I'd say...

Clear Favorite
1. Augustana (12-2)

Clear #2
2. Elmhurst (9-5)

Top Challengers for #3
T3. North Central (8-6)
T3. North Park (8-6)

Top 4 Contender
5. Illinois Wesleyan (7-7)

Bottom 3
T6. Carthage (4-10)
T6. Millikin (4-10)
T6. Wheaton (4-10)


I will be shocked if Augie doesn't win it by 2 or more games - the Vikings are outstanding and clearly the favorite to win the national championship.  I will be very surprised if Elmhurst doesn't finish 2nd, but I think the Bluejays are going to lose 4 or 5 games.

I see the biggest drama this season with North Park, North Central, and Illinois Wesleyan battling for 3rd and 4th.  North Park and North Central are better than IWU right now, but I think IWU will be in the mix.

I see Millikin, Carthage, and Wheaton as the bottom three, and i can't really find any separation there.  (I would have put Carthage #8 before the addition of Tony Pierce Jr, but he seems to be making a big difference.)  I will be surprised if one of these three makes the top 4, but I think all three will inflict damage on the North Park/North Central/Illinois Wesleyan group.

Whichever teams end up in the 6/7/8 spots, like last year (Carthage 5-9, Wheaton 4-10, Millikin 3-11) I believe the bottom 3 will be very strong relative to most seasons in the last 20 years or so.  Outside of Augustana and maybe Elmhurst, I don't see many blowout wins this year.

Like always, there is a lot of reason to be excited about CCIW play -- should be fun.

I think Bob's read is a pretty good one, although I consider Elmhurst to be capable of even reaching 11-3 in second place if everything breaks right for the 'jays, and I don't think that there will be a three-way tie at the bottom. Just as the CCIW usually sorts itself out at the top, it usually sorts itself out at the bottom as well. The only three-way ties for last in the nearly seven decades that the CCIW's been around were in 1984 (Carroll, Carthage, Elmhurst), 1996 (Millikin, Carthage, North Central), and 2000 (Augustana, North Central, and Elmhurst).

Agree with a lot of this. 

I think NPU is the most intriguing early story of the CCIW this year.  Coach Slyder will have the best(you choose who) player on the floor every time the ball goes up for the next 2 months and you could possibly argue even the two best.  Of their 3 losses, Dubuque is a big head scratcher that gives me pause. Alma is only surprising in how badly they lost and Trine is very good.

Dubuque's not really that bad. The Spartans are 7-4, and Andre Norris (23.9/12.5) is a legit All-American. Nevertheless, it's true that the Vikings really stunk it up that night. A loss to Dubuque would certainly not have been inconceivable, but it should never have been a blowout. NPU, which led at the intermission, played an incredibly poor second half in that game.
 

Like Q, I'm doubtful that anybody will challenge a veteran and experienced Augustana at the top.  I have yet to see Elmhurst play this season but I know they are good despite their very weak non-con schedule (notably their sole loss against BU, the only ranked team they've played).  My sense also is that Park is right there with NCC for 3rd/4th and could legitimately challenge the 'Jays for 2nd as long as the team that lost to Dubuque is clearly in the rear view mirror.  At the very least, not making their first CCIW tourney would be a huge disappointment. 

They probably need to go 10-4 (very tall order!) in the league(then 1-1) just to get them on the bubble for a Pool C(IIT win won't count right?).  All of which means Saturday's game at NCC is as big an opening league game as it gets for NPU.

You're correct that IIT doesn't count for Pool C purposes. The Scarlet Hawks got held back a year in the provisional process, due to Joe Hakes's predecessor not crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's to the NCAA's satisfaction. Therefore, IIT is still only a second-year provisional, and a program has to be in its third or fourth provisional year in order for the games to count for the provie's opponents n the eyes of the selection committee.

I would say that your estimate of what is required of the Vikings vis-a-vis CCIW play is correct. I wouldn't say that the Park's entire season hinges upon Saturday's game in the airplane hangar. What I will say, though, is that it's a significantly bigger game than NPU's been used to playing in recent years ... as was the case with NPU's finale last season, which took place in the same venue and decided the fourth and final CCIW tourney spot.

Last year the Vikings made things surprisingly interesting down the February stretch.  This year they will sneak up on no one.

I agree with that, too. Nobody's going to take lightly a team that has Jordan Robinson and Juwan Henry, that's for sure.

North Park is far from being a shoo-in for a CCIW tourney spot. I think it's a middle-of-the-pack team that's got a decent shot at fourth place (or, knock on wood, third place), but it's not a team that really has much in the way of safety margins. Nevertheless, given where the program was when Tom Slyder took over three years ago, I'm gratified that the Park is even a part of the CCIW tourney conversation right now.

Happy New Year to everyone!  Enjoy and drive safe.

Absolutely! Happy and safe New Year, everybody.