MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

It would seem, at this point, that this year's co-champs will enter the 2018-19 season as the favorites for the top 2 spots. 

Augustana (25-6, 12-4 CCIW)
G - Nolan Ebel, 6-1/175 Jr.  16.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Chrishawn Orange, 6-2/180 Jr. 15.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Dylan Sortillo, 6/3/180 Sr.  12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.7 apg
F - Brett Benning, 6-6/191 Jr. 10.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
C - Micah Martin, 6-11/240 So. 7.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg

F - Pierson Wofford, 6-4/202 Jr. 14.7 ppg  11.7 rpg (3 games) ??
C - A.J. Dollmeyer, 6-9/260 Sr.  3.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg
G - Joe Kellen, 6-1/180 Jr.  3.3 ppg
F - Donovan Ferguson, 6-9/221 So. 3.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 12-4 CCIW)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Jr.  21.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.1 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Jr.  12.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/195 Jr.  8.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 apg
F - Jaylen Beasley, 6-6/185 Sr.  5.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg
C - Alex O'Neill, 6-9/245 So. 9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg

G - Zach Knobloch, 6-2/180 So.  7.3 ppg
F - Miles Curry, 6-6/205 So.  4.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
G - Grant Wolfe, 5-11/175 Fr.  4.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.2 apg


Pierson Wofford is really the X factor.  If he is 100% healthy and Augie can slide him back into the starting lineup for Sortillo...look out.

I believe IWU has a chance to be quite a bit better next year.  There are some key JV guys that could step in and make a nice impact - Doug Wallen (6-5/210 G/F; Fr.), Charlie Bair (6-7/205 F; Fr.), and Brice Robinson (6-7/205 F; So.) all seem ready.  However the position battles shake up, the Titans should go into the 2018-19 opener with a really strong squad.

And obviously several teams ready to push these two.  It will be another fun season.

[AndOne]

AO, pretty amazing shooting by NWU tonight -- I watched part of it, and they were still in the second half shooting 70% from the floor and 70% from trey.  Out of their minds.  Don't think Whitman knew what hit them.   130!  Your alma might now be the favorites now, I don't know.  But Oshkosh looked good tonight too.  Other two I think not even getting votes in the top 25 poll -- Springfield over a very good Swarthmore team, and Ramapo, always a tough team.  IWU has seen them back in the day.

Should be interesting in Salem.

On the women's side, more predictable -- #1, #2, #3, and #5, going for the trophy, with two of the four teams still unblemished for the season -- Amherst and Wartburg. 

'70

I can honestly say I am not surprised that NWU beat Whitman. I thought it was possible because of watching the Whitman-CMS game where I felt Whitman had the game but then let CMS come back to send the game to OT. What I never expected is that they would shoot 70%, score 130, and win by 33. Out of their minds is a good description. Doubtful they can win again by throwing almost anything at the basket and having it go in. One thing they need to pick up is their defense as you don't win many games by giving up 97 points.

[Greek Tragedy]

AndOne,

I heard Nebraska Wesleyan was your alma mater. Is that true? 

[Titan Q]

AO, pretty amazing shooting by NWU tonight -- I watched part of it, and they were still in the second half shooting 70% from the floor and 70% from trey.  Out of their minds.  Don't think Whitman knew what hit them.   130!  Your alma might now be the favorites now, I don't know.  But Oshkosh looked good tonight too.  Other two I think not even getting votes in the top 25 poll -- Springfield over a very good Swarthmore team, and Ramapo, always a tough team.  IWU has seen them back in the day.

Should be interesting in Salem.

On the women's side, more predictable -- #1, #2, #3, and #5, going for the trophy, with two of the four teams still unblemished for the season -- Amherst and Wartburg. 

'70

I can honestly say I am not surprised that NWU beat Whitman. I thought it was possible because of watching the Whitman-CMS game where I felt Whitman had the game but then let CMS come back to send the game to OT. What I never expected is that they would shoot 70%, score 130, and win by 33. Out of their minds is a good description. Doubtful they can win again by throwing almost anything at the basket and having it go in. One thing they need to pick up is their defense as you don't win many games by giving up 97 points.

I have not been sold on Whitman throughout the year.  They've been #1 wire to wire and just seems like their schedule was much weaker than almost everyone else in the Top 25 discussion. 

Not saying they weren't a very good team...but I think they got a huge pass on their strength of schedule all season long.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Does my alma mater from Lincoln, who put up 130 points on the #1 team in the country, now become the favorite to take home the trophy?

I think if anything has been shown this tournament... no one is a favorite. I didn't even have Whitman as a favorite to be honest. Matchups make things different each game. I think the final four could be wide open. Maybe not as much as I think here five days out, but it feels that way.

I can honestly say I am not surprised that NWU beat Whitman. I thought it was possible because of watching the Whitman-CMS game where I felt Whitman had the game but then let CMS come back to send the game to OT. What I never expected is that they would shoot 70%, score 130, and win by 33. Out of their minds is a good description. Doubtful they can win again by throwing almost anything at the basket and having it go in. One thing they need to pick up is their defense as you don't win many games by giving up 97 points.

I have not been sold on Whitman throughout the year.  They've been #1 wire to wire and just seems like their schedule was much weaker than almost everyone else in the Top 25 discussion. 

Not saying they weren't a very good team...but I think they got a huge pass on their strength of schedule all season long.

I actually agree with a lot of what you say. I think I have stated publicly a number of times that I have been nervous about Whitman. I expected them to lose a few games this season. I watched them nearly lose two in front of me in Vegas. I was surprised they didn't lose their first until the conference title game. I think many considered their schedule strength, but also remembered it didn't see to affect them last year and I would argue this year's schedule was harder (though, I'd have to double check that). I honestly was starting to lean towards WashU as my #1 late in the year - even had a debate with Ryan on Hoopsville about whether that was a legit thing to consider.

Here is what is scary. Already mentioned is how much IWU and others in this conference bring back for next year. I think Whitman will be better next year. They lose Howell, but they should return the two starters from last year's team who didn't play this year (knock on wood), plus reportedly have a stud coming into the program - though time will tell. On top of that, there are programs like MIT who lose no one from their programs and others. Next year could be really, really interesting.

(modified by GS for formatting)

[Gregory Sager]

I think if anything has been shown this tournament... no one is a favorite. I didn't even have Whitman as a favorite to be honest. Matchups make things different each game. I think the final four could be wide open. Maybe not as much as I think here five days out, but it feels that way.

This. This doesn't get said enough. Basketball is not a static sport in which a good team will always perform the same way regardless of opponent. Matchups really do make a difference, from one opponent to another and from one game to the next.

[AndOne]

AndOne,

I heard Nebraska Wesleyan was your alma mater. Is that true? 

Well, Greek, while you may be having problems in other areas, your hearing 👂🏽 is working well. 
What you heard is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 

[Gregory Sager]

Uh, Mark, I think that you left your sarcasm detector in the "off" position.

[Mike Rejniak]

​Dear D3 Faithful ,
     I have read many of your posts throughout the years and even met some of you in person, but for those who I haven't met, let me introduce myself: my name is Michael Rejniak and I have spent over 14 years coaching Division 3 basketball and love what our division has done and continues to do for  the sport of basketball. One of the greatest things about Division 3 basketball is the brotherhood that we all have with one another (coaches and players alike). My wish is to showcase the talents of D3 on a national stage in The Basketball Tournament (TBT).  You may have heard me speak about this on the Hoopsville Marathon with Dave McHugh of D3hoops.com (at the 6:11 mark). The TBT is a national tournament that is televised in July/August on ESPN after the NBA season is over. My goal is to put forth an all-star D3 team (current players are ineligible) and have them compete in this tournament to take on Former D1 / semi-pro's to prove that D3 deserves the same respect as other NCAA divisions. The team is mostly complete with former student-athletes from all over the country competing. Once the roster is complete we will be sure to release it through d3hoops. Former Babson College National Champion Matthew Droney '17 will also be assisting me on this journey.

How YOU can help our former elite D3 basketball players

While the end prize of this tournament is a monetary prize, being a D3-lifer, the goal is not the money (we all know that's not why we get into coaching), the goal is to bring an end to the stigma of Division 3 basketball, an awareness of how talented our student-athletes are and that we can compete (and win) against the best. We do need to raise funds for an entry fee, travel, meal and housing expenses for the athletes. In order to do this, we are conducting a crowd-funding campaign through GoFundMe to help make this a reality. These athletes need your support! Just think -- if every Division 3 school donated just $10, we will have raised over $4,000!!!! The link to the GoFundMe Page is below and please SPREAD THE WORD and email me with any questions/concerns at WeAreD3TBT@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support and Dave and I look forward to this "D3 Dream Team" taking the court this summer.-Mike Rejniak

Support "We Are D3" In The TBT

https://www.gofundme.com/WeAreD3TBT

[AndOne]

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES ALL-CENTRAL DISTRICT TEAM

1st team —- Alex Sorenson of North Central, and Aston Francis of Wheaton

2nd team —- Chrishawn Orange of Augie, and Brady Rose of IWU

The NABC only names 2 teams per district (region)

Congrats to the above CCIW stars on this honor. 🏀 😀

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Congratulations to Augustana on another great season: CCIW co-championship and Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. Well done.

I was kind of glad they didn't make the Final Four, it's kind of nice to give another school the chance to finish second.

[duckfan41]

Big Congratulations to all CCIW players named to the All Central Region Teams. Francis and Sorenson to the First Team. Ebel, Rose, and Raridon to Second Team. Orange and Kruse to Third Team. All players more than deserving of such accolades. Francis of course named the Central Region POY after his outstanding season that seems will only continue to draw him more personal accomplishments.

To talk specifically about Ebel and Orange, their experience and leadership in the backcourt for Augustana has taken the Vikings to new heights as a program, and their legacy is essentially cemented at this point. Though they did not "get over the hump" and win a Natty, they have brought Augie to the national stage as a contender every year, and I don't see that changing any time soon, especially when the Angry Man is still their coach, because he is quite honestly one of the best D3 coaches in the country. As I typed that I remembered that Orange and Ebel are both Juniors, so take that for what it's worth 

It will certainly be nice to not have to see Sorenson in a Cardinals uniform anymore, but his dominant presence was fun to watch, even though he did torch my team many times. I'm curious how much the NCC offense is going to miss him, as they don't really have another big that makes other teams sweat like Sorenson did, and that is certainly due to the fact that Sorenson is a unique player and one of his caliber does not come into the D3 level very often.

It's looking to be a very entertaining Final Four, and I am personally leaning towards Nebraska Wesleyan as the favorite having seem them play on a few different occasions this year. Happy Championship Week!

[lmitzel]

Alex Sorenson's collegiate career will continue for one more night, as he was named a Central region representative for the NABC All Star Game.

Looks like I'll have to sneak a peek at that game now...

[AndOne]

Congratulations to North Central senior Alex Sorenson who was chosen to play in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division III All-Star game which will be played at 3:30 PM, Eastern Time, on Saturday, March 17 just prior to the NCAA Division III Championship game at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA. Alex will be one of two representatives from the Central Region.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2018/03/nabc-all-star-rosters

[Gregory Sager]

To talk specifically about Ebel and Orange, their experience and leadership in the backcourt for Augustana has taken the Vikings to new heights as a program, and their legacy is essentially cemented at this point. Though they did not "get over the hump" and win a Natty, they have brought Augie to the national stage as a contender every year,

Ebel and Orange are among the best backcourts in D3 in recent seasons, and collectively they're very worthy of accolades. I think as well that their legacy is established at this point. But I think it's a stretch to say that they've "taken the Vikings to new heights as a program", given that: a) Hunter Hill and Griffin Pils were Augie's starting backcourt, and Ebel and Orange were still high-school seniors, when Augie made it to the national championship game in '15 at the start of this four-year Elite Eight streak; and b) Augie had been to five Final Fours as a program, including three national championship game appearances, before Ebel and Orange ever joined the team.

and I don't see that changing any time soon, especially when the Angry Man is still their coach, because he is quite honestly one of the best D3 coaches in the country.

That's a beautiful nickname: "the Angry Man". It's so much better than "the Stomper", because it really captures more of his overall persona.

It will certainly be nice to not have to see Sorenson in a Cardinals uniform anymore, but his dominant presence was fun to watch, even though he did torch my team many times. I'm curious how much the NCC offense is going to miss him, as they don't really have another big that makes other teams sweat like Sorenson did,

Agreed. I've never been impressed much by Jack Bronec, although it's certainly possible that he could step up and greatly improve now that he's going to be The Man In The Middle for NCC and will play big minutes. I thought that Sam Fehrle, the kid that Todd Raridon brought in last season, had a much brighter future as Sorenson's heir apparent than did Bronec, but Fehrle didn't make grades and vanished from the roster after only four games in 2016-17.