MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Augie scrimmaged Lake Forest this past Wednesday.  The Vikings started:

G - Jack Jellen, 5-10/176 Jr.
G - Austin Elledge, 6-0/167 Sr.
F - Jacob Pauley, 6-4/178 Jr.
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-3/198 Sr.
C - Micah Martin, 6-11/242 Sr.

In the opener vs #2 UW-Oshkosh, it will be interesting to see if Augie goes small like this (with Wofford playing the 4), or if they slide Wofford to the 3 and start a more traditional post at the 4. 

[Titan Q]

Getting a little more scoop from that IWU/Wabash scrimmage.

* Sounds like those top four scorers (Pete Lambesis, Doug Wallen, Grant Wolfe, Charlie Bair) all played extremely well.

* One fan thinks 6-4 soph Lambesis is IWU's best player.

* Wabash played an 8-man rotation.

* Ron Rose played a 12-man rotation - worked 2 extra guys into the substitution pattern than wouldn't play in a real game.

* Keondre Schumacher played a bit tentatively - passed up some shots.

* PG Grant Wolfe played great in the 2nd half.

* IWU's low post D was a problem - their 5-man had 24 points.


Overall sounds like a good night for the Titans as they continue to put things together for the season.

IWU plays D1 Southern Illinois Tuesday at 7pm in SIU's season opener.  The game will be streamed on ESPN3 - https://siusalukis.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

I've been meaning to reply, but I've been having log in problems and passwords and...you know.

This is now a bit dated, but here's my take on the green/white scrimmage: 

Green and white scrimmage today. The tempo was quick with the guards pushing the ball up-court and penetrating when given half a chance. Coe played with confidence, which is a huge positive since I have no great love of short guards (Short = 6 ft or shorter). O'Neill has dropped 15 pounds and added some lean muscle. He looks great. He and Bair were dominant in their positions, so they ended up pair up against each other. Both shot comfortably from the perimeter too. The short guards--Yoder, Wolfe and Schumacher exploited their speed and had some fun picking pockets and driving to the rim. My wife made the comment "that new guy (Schumacher) is going to be fun to watch." Yeah. One of his best qualities and a bounce pass. He penetrates, draws the defender and then bounce passes into the big guys hands. A lot of guards low pass and expect the big guy to get down to his ankles to get it. Not Schumacher. Freshmen were perfectly confident playing with and against upper classmen. Two freshmen who stood out were Cole Khoury and Cody Mitchell. Cole is a big 6-9. He has no problem running with the horses up and down the court. He's obviously been told to go straight to the basket if he gets the ball in the paint, and he had zero hesitation in doing just that. O'Neill made him eat his lunch twice, but he'll get to the free throw line. Cody, at 6-7 isn't as imposing as Cole, but he's faster and a smart defender. He can jump out and make the 3, too. Leritz on the bench and Coderre with a face protector. Must have mashed his nose.  If this counts, my wife also noticed coach Rose dropped some weight too.

Post script. Don't get mad just because I have no use for short guards. Grant is good and Yoder looks like his clone. But an opponent that does its research will put a tall, fast guard in his face and limit his scoring. Ok, so they'll run the offense and pass. But why not have a guard who can run the offense and be a scoring threat at the same time? However, once in a while (read: rarely) there is that short guard who transcends. Was it Carroll that had a guard like that? He's going to get his 25 points no matter what you do. Wolfe and Yoder don't transcend. Schumaker does. I just saw some of the reviews of the Wabash scrimmage. I don't see where Schumaker was a factor at all. I'd like to know the back story to that.

[Titan Q]

Post script. Don't get mad just because I have no use for short guards. Grant is good and Yoder looks like his clone. But an opponent that does its research will put a tall, fast guard in his face and limit his scoring.

Can you name a lot of tall, fast point guards in Division III? I can think of some tall point guards, and I can think of some fast ones.  But I can't think of too many tall and fast ones.

Grant Wolfe is 5-11 and Luke Yoder 6-0.  Thinking of some great PGs I saw last year, Augustana had 2nd Team All-American Nolan Ebel (6-1)...Elmhurst had 1st Team All-CCIW Jake Rhode (5-10)...national champion UW-Oshkosh had 1st Team All-American Ben Boots (6-1).  Those guys were all fast...but not really much taller than IWU's PG duo.

I think the tall and fast PG guys you are talking about are in D2 and D1. 

We'll see how it plays out, but I don't see the height of IWU's PGs (Wolfe, Yoder) hurting the Titans much at all...and their quickness is certainly a huge advantage.

[Titan Q]

Now, where is gets interesting is at the 2.  Keondre Schumacher (5-11) is a very short SG.  Most Division III SGs are taller than Schumacher.

But there are not many Division III SGs than can keep up with Schumacher in terms of speed and quickness.  So the taller defender gets in his face...and he goes by them off the dribble.

One the other end, teams will certainly try to post up Schumacher with bigger guards.  But from what I have found, this always sounds better on paper than it actually plays out.  There are not many Division III SGs that are comfortable/good at posting up down low, back to the basket.

That will be interesting to watch play out once real games start.  Schumacher is probably the shortest SG I've seen IWU start...but it sounds like he is probably the fastest player ever to play for the Titans.

Lots of stuff to watch play out.  IWU has typically had big guards on the floor in the past.  This year they will have small and extremely quick guys out there on the perimeter.  Totally different look.

[Augie6]

Post script. Don't get mad just because I have no use for short guards. Grant is good and Yoder looks like his clone. But an opponent that does its research will put a tall, fast guard in his face and limit his scoring.

Can you name a lot of tall, fast point guards in Division III? I can think of some tall point guards, and I can think of some fast ones.  But I can't think of too many tall and fast ones.

Grant Wolfe is 5-11 and Luke Yoder 6-0.  Thinking of some great PGs I saw last year, Augustana had 2nd Team All-American Nolan Ebel (6-1)...Elmhurst had 1st Team All-CCIW Jake Rhode (5-10)...national champion UW-Oshkosh had 1st Team All-American Ben Boots (6-1).  Those guys were all fast...but not really much taller than IWU's PG duo.

I think the tall and fast PG guys you are talking about are in D2 and D1. 

We'll see how it plays out, but I don't see the height of IWU's PGs (Wolfe, Yoder) hurting the Titans much at all...and their quickness is certainly a huge advantage.

Hunter Hill was 5-9 and had a pretty good career at Augie. 

[Titan Q]

Hunter Hill was 5-9 and had a pretty good career at Augie.

Another great example.

I don't think 5-11 and 6-0 is really even short for a Division III PG.  I think if we had some data that averaged all 400+ starting D3 PGs we'd find the average height at like 6-0 or a little below?

Where IWU is short is at the 2.

[WUPHF]

It is one of those things...

I am sure Emory would rather have a 6'4 Romin Williams than a 5'7 Romin Williams but the latter is better than almost anyone who is coming to Emory. And the 6'4 equivalent is headed for Division I.

[iwu70]

Thanks for all the comments, assessments of the IWU-Wabash exhibition.

I only saw the first 10 minutes or so -- then had to run off to another event.

Lambesis impressed me with his movement and shooting early.  Schumacher's speed is impressive too and he seems to be able to get to wherever he wants to on the floor and has some nice mid-range shots and floaters.  Defense in the paint needs some sorting out, clarification. . . for sure.

IWU has lots of talent and options.  Just going to be interesting to see how it all comes together.  If it comes together well, I think this IWU team is a top 25 team.

'70

[Gregory Sager]

According to Wabash poster CollegeGolf18 over in the NCAC room, Little Giants star Jack Davidson -- the reigning NCAC POY, who averaged over 25 ppg last season -- only played 12 minutes in the scrimmage against IWU before leaving with an injury.

IWU led 17-14 at the 13:19 mark of the 1st, so looks like the Titans are better than Wabash w/ Jack Davidson, but worse than Wabash without him.

Augie scrimmaged Lake Forest this past Wednesday.  The Vikings started:

G - Jack Jellen, 5-10/176 Jr.
G - Austin Elledge, 6-0/167 Sr.
G - Jacob Pauley, 6-4/178 Jr.
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-3/198 Sr.
C - Micah Martin, 6-11/242 Sr.

In the opener vs #2 UW-Oshkosh, it will be interesting to see if Augie goes small like this (with Wofford playing the 4), or if they slide Wofford to the 3 and start a more traditional post at the 4.

"Small"? Well, everything's relative, I guess. That is as small a lineup as Grey Giovanine has put on the floor in ages. But it's not a small lineup by any means when looking at D3 as a whole. F'rinstance, it would be a gargantuan lineup by North Park's or Carroll's recent standards.

Wofford has been very successful as a power forward in the CCIW. I can't imagine why Giovanine would want to ruin that by putting him farther out on the floor, especially when he doesn't have to.

[AndOne]

Getting a little more scoop from that IWU/Wabash scrimmage.

* Sounds like those top four scorers (Pete Lambesis, Doug Wallen, Grant Wolfe, Charlie Bair) all played extremely well.

* One fan thinks 6-4 soph Lambesis is IWU's best player.

* Wabash played an 8-man rotation.

* Ron Rose played a 12-man rotation - worked 2 extra guys into the substitution pattern than wouldn't play in a real game.

* Keondre Schumacher played a bit tentatively - passed up some shots.

* PG Grant Wolfe played great in the 2nd half.

* IWU's low post D was a problem - their 5-man had 24 points.


Overall sounds like a good night for the Titans as they continue to put things together for the season.

IWU plays D1 Southern Illinois Tuesday at 7pm in SIU's season opener.  The game will be streamed on ESPN3 - https://siusalukis.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball.

Lambesis is IWU's best player?  Really?

Grant Wolfe doesn't have to be "great" (as in tons of points) to be effective. He is a heady PG who lets the game come to him, takes care of the ball, and makes good decisions. Attributes you want in a PG. In a word, he is steady. That's all he has to be a valuable asset.

Wasn't poor low post D one of IWU's bigger problems last season?

[AndOne]

Augie scrimmaged Lake Forest this past Wednesday.  The Vikings started:

G - Jack Jellen, 5-10/176 Jr.
G - Austin Elledge, 6-0/167 Sr.
G - Jacob Pauley, 6-4/178 Jr.
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-3/198 Sr.
C - Micah Martin, 6-11/242 Sr.

In the opener vs #2 UW-Oshkosh, it will be interesting to see if Augie goes small like this (with Wofford playing the 4), or if they slide Wofford to the 3 and start a more traditional post at the 4.

Do Augie fans think this will be AC's starting lineup this season?
Unless the unknown Pauley proves adept at both point production and adequate defense, a 3 guard lineup featuring the names listed above isn't going to scare many upper division teams.
Wofford is an All Conference player and Martin very well might be, especially if the Augie offense becomes more interior oriented this year than they have been the last few years when they had stellar guard and SF play. But the two of them can't do it all, and are going to need some help.

[Titan Q]

Augie scrimmaged Lake Forest this past Wednesday.  The Vikings started:

G - Jack Jellen, 5-10/176 Jr.
G - Austin Elledge, 6-0/167 Sr.
G - Jacob Pauley, 6-4/178 Jr.
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-3/198 Sr.
C - Micah Martin, 6-11/242 Sr.

In the opener vs #2 UW-Oshkosh, it will be interesting to see if Augie goes small like this (with Wofford playing the 4), or if they slide Wofford to the 3 and start a more traditional post at the 4.

Do Augie fans think this will be AC's starting lineup this season?
Unless the unknown Pauley proves adept at both point production and adequate defense, a 3 guard lineup featuring the names listed above isn't going to scare many upper division teams.
Wofford is an All Conference player and Martin very well might be, especially if the Augie offense becomes more interior oriented this year than they have been the last few years when they had stellar guard and SF play. But the two of them can't do it all, and are going to need some help.

Guessing Coach G and staff aren't concerned about who they scare.  Just in winning.

[Titan Q]

Lambesis is IWU's best player?  Really?

From everyone I speak with - from the fans whose opinions I value the most, to the coaches - I'd say "maybe."

6-4 soph Pete Lambesis seems to be in a tie with Doug Wallen, Matt Lertiz, Grant Wolfe, and Keondre Schumacher when people speculate on who IWU's best 2019-20 player will be.

Lambesis is 6-4 and can play the 1, 2, or 3.  He is an aggressive penetrator who gets to the rim.   Off the dribble he can also pull up and make a mid-range jumpshot...and he can shoot it from 3.  He's also very athletic (can jump out of the gym kind of guy) and a great perimeter defender.

IWU won a big recruiting battle on Lambesis a couple years ago -- he was one of their top recruits.  It's not really a surprise to anyone that follows IWU that Lambesis is one of the best players this year.

[Titan Q]

Brady Rose led all scorers in Dusseldorf's 90-89 come-from-behind win yesterday over Iserlohn.  Brady had 28 points on 11-13 shooting (4-5 3-point) and 6 assists.

Sounds like he made some big shots down the stretch, including a 3 to tie the game at 86.

"Led by the powerful American Brady Rose (28 points / 6 assists), the giants were able to reduce the gap further step by step...the successful triple by Rose to 86:86 equalization."

https://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/Germany/2019/1102_6733_1614.asp

https://www.art-giants.de/news/art-giants-besiegen-iserlohn?fbclid=IwAR3FW71cIqv7a265bZ_tUZnZn6z4KkF9kFRAuwgHXWlEL-sU_6hYaHmnwo8