MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[wheels81]

Wheaton's roster is going to be short another week thanks to their playoff win over the south dupage college football team today.   

[Titan Q]

A few observations of the 2016-17 Titans in the very early going...

* The Titans have a strong starting perimeter group.  6-3 PG/SG Brady Rose (14.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, .536 3-point), 6-4 SG Colin Bonnett (11.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, .400 3-point), and 6-4 G/F Andy Stempel (15.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, .457 3-point) are all versatile players who can score in different ways.  In Rose and Stempel, the Titans have pure 3-point shooters who cannot be left.  Physically, the Titans are big and strong on the perimeter.

* IWU is very productive at the PF spot for 40 minutes.  6-6 Jaylen Beasley (6.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .565 FG) and 6-6 Alec Bausch (10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .636 FG) pretty evenly split time.  Bausch's production as a 6th man is one of the Titans' competitive advantages this season.

* 6-8 Trevor Seibring (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, .621 FG) is a smart and patient big man.  He has a strong understanding of how he is being defended and based on that, what role he needs to play to help the offense.  Seibring has become a great passer out of the low post.

* 6-9 C Tyler Burdine is a nice backup to Seibring's for 10 minutes per game or so.  Burdine is not a scorer, but he has to be accounted for when in the low post or he can score.  Most importantly, he moves well and is a good post defender.  With Burdine, IWU has 6-8 or 6-9 on the floor for 40 minutes.

* IWU has two X-factors off the bench as I see it.  6-1 PG Nick Coleman really struggled to shoot the 3 in his first two games but has settled in since then.  6-6 freshman G/F Miles Curry was inserted into the rotation after two games - he is clearly being eased in (8 min/game) and not being asked to do a lot. I believe how Coleman and Curry - two guys in the first few games of their collegiate varsity career - settle into their roles and produce off the bench is a big factor for the 2016-17 Titans.  These are two very talented players who could really be difference makers as the season goes on.

* The Titans have made huge strides defensively from last year.  It's still too early to evaluate IWU's 2016-17 defense, but I do know this is a much better defensive team.  Last year's Titans would not have been able to handle the difficult matchups presented by Ohio Wesleyan.  Defensively, IWU is bigger, stronger, and more versatile than they were in 2015-16.


Yesterday was the start of a nasty 7-game stretch for IWU - at #8-Ohio Wesleyan, at #13-North Central, vs North Park, at Elmhurst, at #20-Wash U, vs Chicago, vs #24-Middlebury (in New York).  We will get a very good feel for how strong the Titans are over the course of the next 30 days.  So far I like what I see.

[Titan Q]

Really big and intriguing game today in Rock Island (3:00pm)...

#18-Augustana (4-0)
G - Chrishawn Orange, 6-2 So.   9.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg
G - Dylan Sortillo, 6-3 Jr.   13.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-4 So.   9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
F - Jacob Johnston, 6-5 Sr.   15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
C - A.J. Dollmeyer, 6-8 Jr.   7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg

G - Brett Benning, 6-6 So.   11.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg
G - Nolan Ebel, 6-1 So.   8.3 ppg

#20-Washington U. (3-0)
G - Kevin Kucera, 6-2 Jr.  15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
G - Michael Bregman, 6-4 Sr.   5.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.7 apg
F - Clinton Hooks, 6-5 Sr.   8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.7 rpg
F - Andrew Sanders, 6-5 Jr.   15.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg
C - David Schmelter, 6-9 Jr.   5.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 apg

F - Matt Highsmith, 6-7 Jr.   10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg
G - Jake Knupp, 6-1 Jr.   10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg

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


On paper, this seems like a toss-up to me.  These are two big and talented teams.  Augie is a little stronger and more athletic...Wash U maybe a bit more skilled.  Both teams are deep - Augie a tad deeper in that they play 10 (sometimes 11), but Wash U is plenty deep with their 9.

One number that jumps out to me from Augie's season boxscore is opponent FG% - .459.  That is very unlike a Grey Giovanine Augie team -- it's just 6th best in the CCIW.  No reason to overreact to that number through 4 games with a brand-new nucleus, but worth keeping on eye on how the Vikings defend the Bears -- Wash U's offense is always so efficient and hard to defend.

Wash U and Augie both look like legitimate Top 25 teams to me and contenders in their respective conferences.  Games in November don't always feel big but in Division III there is no difference in a result from November vs a result from late-February -- this game is really big in the Central Region picture.

Since the game is at the Carver Center, I'll favor Augustana by 4-5 points.

[hopefan]

Couldn't get by Jumers on my way to Augie, but I will be there for opening tap

[AppletonRocks]

Carroll is playing East-West?  Who is that?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

OK. Some thoughts - With 5-0 just off a win against pre-season #8 OWU (and I do not understand how they got ranked),

Ohio Wesleyan got ranked because they went 25-5 last year, tied for the NCAC championship (15-3), went to the Sweet 16, and returned their top 3 scorers (Nate Axelrod, Seth Clark, Ben Simpson). 

Whether or not they finish the season as a Top 25 team, who knows.  But in terms of the preseason poll, I think they were a no-brainer to pencil in pretty high.

Yeah, I understand just not sure I would have had them as a top ten.  The nice thing about penciling in - you get to use the eraser !

Considering those three top returners were also first-team selections in the conference last year a lot of voters have high expectations for OWU. I am not sure what you are basing your confusion on: the loss to IWU or their two loses so far. Either way, I would remind people that in Division III men's basketball (and in DI as well), parity has become the standard. Many, many, many teams can win against a lot of Top 25 opponents. I think a lot of people would have had CNU as their number one or top three picks heading into the season and they did end up #2 - would you then discount that vote after the fact they lost big to Marietta?

OWU is a very good team who many from that region and others around the country think will be in the national conversation the entire year. That doesn't mean they might not falter, especially early in the season. But IWU has also proven that maybe they are better than expected (I haven't looked at all the details as of yet, to be honest) as well as Capital. Proving this is going to be yet another tough year to vote in the Top 25 poll because there are just so many good teams no-a-days and no clear separation indicating the best of the best.

[augiefan]

Wash U. is in the process of proving my theory that this is a major rebuilding year at Augie. Beating up on the Vikings in Rock Island late in the 2nd half. The first real test this season is not going well for my favorites.

[Titan Q]

But IWU has also proven that maybe they are better than expected

IWU was picked 2nd in the CCIW (behind North Central) - so the Titans came in expected to be a good team.  I'd say through 5 games IWU has played like a CCIW contender, as expected.

[4samuy]

Augustana can't hit the back side of a barn, shooting under 30% from the field against a quality and experienced WashU side.

[Titan Q]

Washington U. 68
Augustana 61

* David Schmelter: 13 pts, 8 reb
* Kevin Kucera: 12 pts, 7 reb, 7 asssits
* Michael Bregman: 12 pts

* Nolan Ebel: 13 pts, 5 reb
* Dylan Sortillo: 13 pts
* Chrishawn Orange: 10 pts, 4 reb
* A.J. Dollmeyer: 10 pts, 4 reb


The Bears controlled this one from start to finish.  Augie couldn't consistently stop the Wash U offense - the Bears shot 50% from the field.  On the other end, the Vikings had a shooting day they'll want to forget - 32.1%.  Brett Benning was 1-11 from the field and missed a bunch of shots I think he normally makes.

IWU vs Wash U on Dec. 17 in St. Louis should be a great matchup.

[jaybird44]

Augie did bring a 16-point deficit down to 3 with :57 left, then had a chance to tie with a 3...but turned the ball over in the half-court without a shot.  Wash-U made free throws after that for the final margin of victory.

Yes, indeed...the Wash-U/IWU game will be a dandy.  Wouldn't want it any other way, would we?

[Titan Q]

Having just watched Augie vs the first Top 25-caliber team on their schedule, and a team with CCIW contender-like size, I think the biggest question for the 2016-17 Vikings is the 5 spot.  I am not quite sold on that Dollmeyer/Ferguson platoon yet.  In this game Augie never really established any type of  consistent low post presence that opened things up for the perimeter.  That said, Mark Edwards' Wash U teams are always good at defending the post - I've seen some all-CCIW IWU posts struggle against Wash U. over the years.

I think Augie will be fine on the perimeter as the season goes on.  I am guessing Benning won't have another shooting game like this the rest of the year.  I do wonder who the perimeter "go to" guy is - when Augie absolutely needs a basket, whose hands do they want the ball in? 

The Vikings definitely looked inexperienced and tentative in this one.  Right now I'd say there is pretty big separation between CCIW favorite North Central and Augustana -- which shouldn't be a surprise.  We'll see if that gap narrows as the year goes on.

The North Park at Augustana CCIW opener Saturday will be very interesting!

[AndOne]

Having just watched Augie vs the first Top 25-caliber team on their schedule, and a team with CCIW contender-like size, I think the biggest question for the 2016-17 Vikings is the 5 spot.  I am not quite sold on that Dollmeyer/Ferguson platoon yet.  In this game Augie never really established any type of  consistent low post presence that opened things up for the perimeter.  That said, Mark Edwards' Wash U teams are always good at defending the post - I've seen some all-CCIW IWU posts struggle against Wash U. over the years.

I think Augie will be fine on the perimeter as the season goes on.  I am guessing Benning won't have another shooting game like this the rest of the year.  I do wonder who the perimeter "go to" guy is - when Augie absolutely needs a basket, whose hands do they want the ball in?

The Vikings definitely looked inexperienced and tentative in this one.  Right now I'd say there is pretty big separation between CCIW favorite North Central and Augustana -- which shouldn't be a surprise.  We'll see if that gap narrows as the year goes on.

The North Park at Augustana CCIW opener Saturday will be very interesting!

1. I don't really know about Dollmeyer, but I'm kind of amazed Ferguson is even in the rotation for Augie at this point, especially considering the huge number of bigs AC brought in this year. In high school at Downers South, a school I am very familar with, Ferguson didn't even start most of the time. In most of the games I saw DGS play over the last couple of years he would normally only play about 1/3 of the game, and almost never over 1/2 of the game. He was usually brought in to clog up the middle and defend against teams that liked to drive or against especially taller teams to negate their possible rebounding edge. It was defense and rebounding. He certainly was not looked to for scoring as he would usually tally 2-6 points. Additionally, his decision making was often looked upon with wonderment. Maybe he took Basketball 101 over the summer, and worked really hard in the gym. Something had to happen as GG isn't about to play someone who isn't contributing.

2. My personal opinion is that Augie's "go to" guy would be considered Sortillo. Especially if they need a three.

3. I hope you're right about that degree of separation. One less thing to worry about.

[Gregory Sager]

Carroll knocked off East-West, 93-76, in the consolation game of the Chicago tourney. The Pioneers led most of the way, but had trouble putting the Phantoms in their rear-view mirror, as it was still a six-point game with less than four and a half minutes to go. Carroll (4-1) was sparked by Kyle Keranen, who finished up an outstanding weekend with 22 points. Ben Widdes and Tanner Zaeske each contributed 17 points, while Charlie Soule chipped in 16 off the bench.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I know it is necessary now that the conference season is 16 games long, but playing conference games before January just feels wrong!  But the conference season sure is starting off with a bang:  IWU @ NCC and NPU @ Augie!