MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

They should've alted it and gone blue floor, wood colored accents.  That would've been cool, especially in that shade of blue.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

Freshman Connor Heaton not on IWU's website roster. All other incoming freshies are there. Any rumors?

[Titan Q]

Freshman Connor Heaton not on IWU's website roster. All other incoming freshies are there. Any rumors?

As I understand it, Connor's intention is to be a freshman at IWU, eligibility wise, next year.  This is due to all of the uncertainty with the pandemic, etc. this season.

I am not sure if he is taking this semester off, or the whole year.  I have heard both.

But I do know he remains committed to attend IWU and play basketball.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

Thanks for the news.

[Titan Q]

Thanks for the news.

He is calling it a "gap semester."  He is going to evaluate before 2nd semester, with eligibility being a key driver of his decision.

I've confirmed, his desire is to be a FR (in terms of eligibility) next season.

[Titan Q]

Tough break (literally) for the Titans last week as CCIW Freshman of the Year Luke Yoder broke both wrists in a freak pickup game accident.

The 6-0 PG should be back by 11/1.  With the season expected to start 1/1 it's likely Luke won't miss any games.

Luke Yoder was cleared to start practicing yesterday.

If there is a season (starting in January), he will be ready to go.

[tomt4525]

Cave Creek(AZ) G/F, Nate Williams, has committed to play basketball at Augustana.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/13895802/Nate-Williams

[tomt4525]

Lafayette(CO) 6'0" PG, Mario Everett, has committed to Augustana.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/13966029/Mario-Everett

[USee]

Wheaton finally posted their 2020 roster, which is the first confirmation I have seen of their incoming class (previously posted by Titan Q), made up of 3 freshmen:

Luke Bitters, 6-0 G, Duxbury, MA
Nate Sock. 6-4 G, Littleton, CO
Nick Schiavallo, 6-4 G, Columbus, IN

No Luke Anthony or Spencer Peterson on this roster.

Also not on this years roster from last year:

Chris Swardstrom, 6-4 G Irvin, CA
Thomas Lipscomb, 6-9 F, Overland Park, KS
Stone Sinek, 6-1 G, Fullerton, CA
Christian St Germain, 6-5 G, Apopka, FL
JT Reeves, 6-6 F, Lexington, SC

Besides Anthony and Peterson (who was out with an ACL last year) it appears only Lipscomb played any significant minutes last year.

[Gregory Sager]

I think that one big question for Wheaton is whether Logan Francis will follow his big brother's lead by leaving his juco after one year to transfer to Wheaton. Or, if he does the full spread in junior college, where will he choose to go afterward? Even two years spent in King Arena rather than the three his brother put in at Wheaton would be a huge shot in the arm for the Schauerites.

[Titan Q]

I think that one big question for Wheaton is whether Logan Francis will follow his big brother's lead by leaving his juco after one year to transfer to Wheaton. Or, if he does the full spread in junior college, where will he choose to go afterward? Even two years spent in King Arena rather than the three his brother put in at Wheaton would be a huge shot in the arm for the Schauerites.

Logan is not playing basketball this year.  He is attending a junior college, but saving a year of eligibility by not playing.  He will make a decision later this school year on where he goes next...he will still have 4 years of eligibility at that point.

Wheaton is in the mix, but several others are too.

[Gregory Sager]

He is attending a junior college, but saving a year of eligibility by not playing.

This point may be moot, since it seems more and more likely that everybody outside of the NAIA (and perhaps a few stray NCAA schools here or there) is going to save a year of eligibility by not playing.

I continue to hold out hope for at least some sliver of a basketball season (and a men's volleyball season as well, since that's another winter sport that I call for NPU), but we went down this road already this past summer with fall sports ... and this is beginning to look like a reprise of that in terms of falling dominos and ever-tightening deadlines.

[USee]

He is attending a junior college, but saving a year of eligibility by not playing.

This point may be moot, since it seems more and more likely that everybody outside of the NAIA (and perhaps a few stray NCAA schools here or there) is going to save a year of eligibility by not playing.

Isn't it a fact, according to the NCAA, that most everyone is going to save their eligibility even WHILE playing? (to the extent there is a season)

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

He is attending a junior college, but saving a year of eligibility by not playing.

This point may be moot, since it seems more and more likely that everybody outside of the NAIA (and perhaps a few stray NCAA schools here or there) is going to save a year of eligibility by not playing.

Isn't it a fact, according to the NCAA, that most everyone is going to save their eligibility even WHILE playing? (to the extent there is a season)

The President's council approved the blanket waiver for all athletes this year today.  This season will not count towards a player's eligibility or to their 10 semester window for using that eligibility.  It's essentially a free year.  If we do manage to have an NCAA Tournament this year, the winners will be able to run it back, if they so choose.

[jaybird44]

Hello CCIW friends!

It seems that I have been the only member of the only (unofficial) fall sport at WashU, with my 100-mile ultramarathon attempt earlier this month to promote the fight for a cure during Rett Syndrome Awareness Month.  That attempt fell a bit short in miles and fundraising, so I'm going into overtime to try and reach $5,000 in donations.

Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K will commence Friday, October 30 at 8 pm Central, and end at 8 am Halloween morning.  Counting donations received (thanks to retired WashU men's basketball coach Mark Edwards and his wife Mary, and to Mike McGrath and his  University of Chicago men's basketball program for their donations!) and those yet to be sent and processed, I am at $4,440.53.  Very, very close to my goal...which will fund a researcher's work for a month.  Wouldn't it be cool if he or she cracked the code for a cure of Rett syndrome, on our dime?!

I reached 86 miles in my "Rett Gets Rocked Virtual Ultra Weekend" October 3-4.  I'm very proud of that result, but there's more work to be done.  Proceeds from the event will be split between Rettsyndrome.org (the only national organization spearheading research and providing resources for affected patients and their families) and the Rett Spectrum Clinic--a collaboration between the WashU School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Rett syndrome is a rare, non-inherited neurological disorder that is caused by a gene mutation in the brain.  Rett strikes typically when a child is 6-18 months old, and it has the characteristics of ALS, autism, epilepsy, and Parkinson's...all rolled into one sinister disorder.
It takes away the child's ability to move and communicate.  Most of them end up in wheelchairs with active minds, but mired in the physical rubble that Rett creates.  And, the neurological damage prevents verbal communication and arm and hand movement for sign language.

In essence, Rett does to a child what Lucy in the "Peanuts" comic strip does to Charlie Brown when he tries to kick the football that she is holding.  The only difference is that Charlie Brown can get back up to try again.  Those who are afflicted with Rett syndrome don't get another chance to enjoy a vibrant life.

Researchers are working to re-engineer the gene mutation that turns on Rett, so it can be forever turned off.  Four drug therapies are in the FDA review pipeline, with one (trofanitide) one level away from review.  And, iPad tablets with retinal scan technology are giving those with Rett a voice they haven't had since they were toddlers.

The full court press on Rett is paying off.  You can help keep the pressure on Rett, by going to my Rett Racers donation page:  https://rettracer.everydayhero.com/us/rett-gets-rocked-2020

Thanks for your time and consideration, and let's hope that we get back to playing and broadcasting sports much sooner than later!

Jay Murry
Play-By-Play Announcer, Washington University in St. Louis
Event Director, Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K