MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[oldknight]

Thanks for the info on how overrated Alma is Sager. I agree they are overrated. It is too bad Alma lost their 2 top players from last year.

By the same token Augie has no business being ranked #18, as they lost their top 6 scorers from last year and are in a total rebuild this year. So nearly every win early this year is kind of a tribute to the unlikeable Coach G's coaching skills. Happy have this one in the win column. Sorry they spoiled your day GS.

Actually, Alma lost what I consider to be their top 4 players--both Beckmans brothers, Nikodemski (conference MVP) and Doug Bradfield (to a season ending knee injury). In addition, Kevin Gamble, a big body and a key reserve last year who should have a prominent role this season, is currently injured and tonight's box score shows he didn't play. Still, a double digit win at Art Smith Arena is a good win for Augustana. Given Bob's statement that Augie's team this year is more talented that last season's, I'm really looking forward to the Vikings' arrival in Grand Rapids tomorrow afternoon. I'm particularly curious to know if the 24 turnovers the Scots committed tonight were caused by Augustana pressure or primarily poor execution by Alma. That's an awful lot of turnovers even if the Scots lack experience. From the box score, it looks like that's where Augustana won the game as the visiting team took 20 more shots than did the host.

[kenoshamark]

Now I have to decide between a high school game I was planning to go to on Tuesday or check out the Carthage game Greg mentioned. 

Such tough decisions....next I may have to update my moniker since I live in Pleasant Prairie and not Kenosha anymore, although that has been almost 14 years now.

Let me work on my choice for Tuesday first.

[AndOne]

Perhaps, with more maneuverable pieces to move abound the chess board, Bosko will be more involved this season. Many times last year he seemed so resigned to ineptitude that he would slink down in his chair until his butt was barely still on the chair, extend his hands with palms up, and stare up toward the heavens for some form divine intervention. It seemed like he suffered periodic episodes of lack of interest/involvement to the point it appeared that Stevie was sometimes doing the majority of the coaching.

[Gregory Sager]

I'm particularly curious to know if the 24 turnovers the Scots committed tonight were caused by Augustana pressure or primarily poor execution by Alma. That's an awful lot of turnovers even if the Scots lack experience. From the box score, it looks like that's where Augustana won the game as the visiting team took 20 more shots than did the host.

It was definitely some of both, but I think that I'd lean slightly more towards poor execution by Alma. The Scots tried to force it too much on dribble penetration, especially freshman PG Luke Lamoreaux, and they don't kick out very well, either, which is probably something that will iron itself out with more practice and more familiarity with each other.

I also don't think that Alma was ready for Augie's physicality, which is always an advantage that Augie has whenever it plays a non-conference foe.

[AndOne]

Hi Bob,

Well, if they can keep this group together, it will give me more reason to head across town to watch games.  Just because I don't post  doesn't mean I'm not on regularly to catch up on the great commentary you, Greg, and AndOne provide!

I'm honored to be mentioned in the same sentence with HOFers TQ and GS. 

[Gregory Sager]

The CCIW went 5-2 tonight, making the league 8-5 on the young season.

Saturday's games
Augustana (2-0) @ Calvin (1-0)
Blackburn (2-0) @ Carroll (1-0)
Westminster (MO) (1-0) vs. Elmhurst (0-2)  (@ Decatur, IL)
Loras (2-0) @ Illinois Wesleyan (2-0)
Greenville (2-0) @ Millikin (0-2)
Heidelberg (1-0) @ Wheaton (1-1)

[hopefan]

Westminster (MO) 80
Millikin 54

That's definitely got to be the most lopsided SLIAC win over a CCIW team ever.

Millikin might have been a good pick for the winless contest... They darn well better handle Earlham and Principia, or they could be in trouble...   Something I haven't heard very often at D3 games but I heard tonight.. catcalls from some very dissatisfied Millikin fans....

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (2-0) vs Loras (2-0), 7:00pm at the Shirk Center...

Illinois Wesleyan (2-0)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3 Jr.   13.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4 So.   10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Andy Stempel, 6-4 Sr.   18.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Jaylen Beasley, 6-6 Jr.  5.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg
F - Trevor Seibring, 6-8 Sr.   15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg

F - Alec Bausch, 6-6 Sr.   11.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg

Loras (2-0)
G - Justin VanWambeke, 6-0 Sr.   26.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
G - Demond George, 6-0 So.   19.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Ryan DiCanio, 6-3 So.   12.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Christian Mathis, 6-3 Sr.  15.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg
F - Danny Quinn, 6-6 Sr.   13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg

G - Jake Toman, 6-7 So.   10.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg


Pantagraph - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-clicks-late-to-dump-webster/article_7b1a545b-c859-5d44-9fb9-84059b4dcd37.html

Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu/

WJBC Radio - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wjbc/

[AppletonRocks]

I am thinking about starting a new site called CCIWHoopsGeeks.com.  The ad revenue will be enough that I might be able to send my kids to a CCIW school. 

Anyone who posted in the past 2 days gets a 50% discount for the first year. 

What do you think is a reasonable annual price--no tiers--and how much should I pay Sager to write a weekly update? 

It's either this or the Big Ten.   

[augiefan]

I would certainly like to see Q's vision of a his year's Augie team come to fruition, but the simple truth is freshmen and sophomore dominated teams do not succeed in the CCIW.

[Titan Q]

I would certainly like to see Q's vision of a his year's Augie team come to fruition, but the simple truth is freshmen and sophomore dominated teams do not succeed in the CCIW.

Not often, but it happens:

* 2003-04 IWU (12-2, 1st) - Dauksas (So.), Amelianovich (So.), Freeman (Fr.), etc

* 1999-00 Carthage (11-3, 1st) - Wiertel (So.), McDaniel (Fr.), Garnes (Fr.), etc


And this Augustana team has nice senior presence with Jacob Johnston emerging as a leader.

[4samuy]

I also believe Brett Benning may fly under the radar early on, but could be a major factor as the season unfolds for Augie.  He's a long 6'6 lefty 2 guard/wing, who you may remember two years ago was one of the top scorers in the state of Illinois from small Dakota high school near Rockford. He went on to play his freshman season at div 2 Southern Indiana befor wanting to come back closer to home.

[Titan Q]

I also believe Brett Benning may fly under the radar early on, but could be a major factor as the season unfolds for Augie.  He's a long 6'6 lefty 2 guard/wing, who you may remember two years ago was one of the top scorers in the state of Illinois from small Dakota high school near Rockford. He went on to play his freshman season at div 2 Southern Indiana befor wanting to come back closer to home.

He is definitely a big part of that talent I'm referring to.  Division 2 scholarship kid (1st Team all-stater in H.S.) who comes off the bench - 6-6 wing that can really shoot it.  Add that to Wofford, Orange, Johnston, Sortillo, Ferguson, etc and you have an incredibly talented cast.

[Titan Q]

I'd say IWU and Augustana are extremely close this season.

G - Brady Rose vs Chrishawn Orange  - advantage Rose
G - Colin Bonnett vs Dylan Sortillo - push
F - Andy Stempel vs Pierson Wofford - push
F - Jaylen Beasley vs Jacob Johnston - advantage Johnston
F - Trevor Seibring vs A.J. Dollmeyer - advantage Seibring

F - Alec Bausch vs Brett Benning - push
G - Nick Coleman vs Nolan Ebel - push
F - Tyler Burdine vs Donavan Ferguson - push
Others - push

At this point I don't see much separation at all between the teams picked 2nd (IWU) and 3rd (Augie) in the CCIW race.

I need to see North Park more to know if the Vikings are better than these two or not.

[Titan Q]

Final from Grand Rapids...

Augustana 79
Calvin 60

* Ebel: 16 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists
* Benning: 10 pts
* Johnston: 10 pts, 3 reb, 4 assists
* Dollmeyer: 10 pts