MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Greek Tragedy]

https://cciw.org/news/2021/10/27/illinois-wesleyan-picked-to-win-2021-22-cciw-mens-basketball-title.aspx

1. IWU
2. Elmhurst
3. Wheaton
4. NCC
5. Augie
6. Carthage
7. Carroll
8. North Park
9. Millikin

[Gregory Sager]

More precisely:

1. Illinois Wesleyan 59 (4)
t2. Elmhurst 56 (3)
t2. Wheaton 56 (2)
4. North Central 42
5. Augustana 34
6. Carthage 30
7. Carroll 21
8. North Park 17
9. Millikin 9

[Gregory Sager]

I always take the CCIW coaches poll with more than a grain of salt, if not an entire shaker-full. But it's nevertheless interesting to view this one in particular. The three teams at the top are bunched so close together that two of them are tied, and they're all within three points of each other. Plus, each of them have multiple votes for #1. You almost never see this sort of thing happen in the CCIW men's basketball coaches poll. In fact, you have to go back to before the online history of the poll -- which starts at the 2000-01 season -- to find one as close in terms of the predicted hierarchy at the top.

There's a long drop between the top three and #4 North Central, which means that the coaches are a lot less sanguine about the Cardinals than are the multiple d3hoops.com voters who managed to put NCC right smack dab in the middle of the Others Receiving Votes category.

And, while I know that it doesn't mean a thing, it's nevertheless comforting in a weird way that the coaches have even less faith in Millikin than they do in NPU.

[GoPerry]

I always take the CCIW coaches poll with more than a grain of salt, if not an entire shaker-full. But it's nevertheless interesting to view this one in particular. The three teams at the top are bunched so close together that two of them are tied, and they're all within three points of each other. Plus, each of them have multiple votes for #1. You almost never see this sort of thing happen in the CCIW men's basketball coaches poll. In fact, you have to go back to before the online history of the poll -- which starts at the 2000-01 season -- to find one as close in terms of the predicted hierarchy at the top.

There's a long drop between the top three and #4 North Central, which means that the coaches are a lot less sanguine about the Cardinals than are the multiple d3hoops.com voters who managed to put NCC right smack dab in the middle of the Others Receiving Votes category.

And, while I know that it doesn't mean a thing, it's nevertheless comforting in a weird way that the coaches have even less faith in Millikin than they do in NPU.

The Thunder's largest hurdle to overcome might be continued success of the Thunder football team . . .

[Next Man Up]

I always take the CCIW coaches poll with more than a grain of salt, if not an entire shaker-full. But it's nevertheless interesting to view this one in particular. The three teams at the top are bunched so close together that two of them are tied, and they're all within three points of each other. Plus, each of them have multiple votes for #1. You almost never see this sort of thing happen in the CCIW men's basketball coaches poll. In fact, you have to go back to before the online history of the poll -- which starts at the 2000-01 season -- to find one as close in terms of the predicted hierarchy at the top.

There's a long drop between the top three and #4 North Central, which means that the coaches are a lot less sanguine about the Cardinals than are the multiple d3hoops.com voters who managed to put NCC right smack dab in the middle of the Others Receiving Votes category.

And, while I know that it doesn't mean a thing, it's nevertheless comforting in a weird way that the coaches have even less faith in Millikin than they do in NPU.

The Thunder's largest hurdle to overcome might be continued success of the Thunder football team . . .

More specifically, the Wheaties will have a starting team capable of playing consistently winning basketball. Where I sense their performance may wain is when substitutions are required as I think both IWU and Elmhurst will feature stronger, deeper benches with subs being a notch above those able to be thrown into the action by the orange and blue.

[Gregory Sager]

I always take the CCIW coaches poll with more than a grain of salt, if not an entire shaker-full. But it's nevertheless interesting to view this one in particular. The three teams at the top are bunched so close together that two of them are tied, and they're all within three points of each other. Plus, each of them have multiple votes for #1. You almost never see this sort of thing happen in the CCIW men's basketball coaches poll. In fact, you have to go back to before the online history of the poll -- which starts at the 2000-01 season -- to find one as close in terms of the predicted hierarchy at the top.

There's a long drop between the top three and #4 North Central, which means that the coaches are a lot less sanguine about the Cardinals than are the multiple d3hoops.com voters who managed to put NCC right smack dab in the middle of the Others Receiving Votes category.

And, while I know that it doesn't mean a thing, it's nevertheless comforting in a weird way that the coaches have even less faith in Millikin than they do in NPU.

The Thunder's largest hurdle to overcome might be continued success of the Thunder football team . . .

[Titan Q]

IWU lost the scrimmage at Wabash yesterday by 8.  IWU won the first 20-min by 7, then lost the second period by 15.  I am not sure if this was played as two separate 20-min periods, or as a "real game."

I do know IWU had a ton of trouble with Wabash All-American Jack Davidson.  Per someone connected with Wabash, Davidson had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

IWU played a 13-man rotation in the second period - the Titans are looking at several players for varsity rotation minutes at both the perimeter and post.  On the perimeter, I believe sophomore guards Ryan Sroka (6-5) and Connor Heaton (6-5), as well as freshman G/F Nick Roper (6-7), are in the mix for the additional minutes opened up by Keondre Schumacher's departure.  And then several guys in the post still competing for roles.

Pete Lambesis, IWU's starter at the 3, played just 15 minutes yesterday.

IWU PG Luke Yoder had 18 points and 9 assists unofficially.

Freshman Hakim Williams returns from a minor injury Monday - he did not play in any of the 3 scrimmages.  He is a guy who could find his way into the rotation as the season plays out.  Really talented guard.

Wabash is considered the favorite in the NCAC by many, including Ryan Whitnable...not sure if that preseason poll has come out yet.

Real games start this week!

[Next Man Up]

IWU lost the scrimmage at Wabash yesterday by 8.  IWU won the first 20-min by 7, then lost the second period by 15.  I am not sure if this was played as two separate 20-min periods, or as a "real game."

I do know IWU had a ton of trouble with Wabash All-American Jack Davidson.  Per someone connected with Wabash, Davidson had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

IWU played a 13-man rotation in the second period - the Titans are looking at several players for varsity rotation minutes at both the perimeter and post.  On the perimeter, I believe sophomore guards Ryan Sroka (6-5) and Connor Heaton (6-5), as well as freshman G/F Nick Roper (6-7), are in the mix for the additional minutes opened up by Keondre Schumacher's departure.  And then several guys in the post still competing for roles.

Pete Lambesis, IWU's starter at the 3, played just 15 minutes yesterday.

IWU PG Luke Yoder had 18 points and 9 assists unofficially.

Freshman Hakim Williams returns from a minor injury Monday - he did not play in any of the 3 scrimmages.  He is a guy who could find his way into the rotation as the season plays out.  Really talented guard.

Wabash is considered the favorite in the NCAC by many, including Ryan Whitnable...not sure if that preseason poll has come out yet.

Real games start this week!

The 2022 National Champs will be fine without Keondre Schumacher. One guard does not a team make.

Lambesis is listed as a guard
Yoder
Noe (Not mentioned above. Assume he's a starter. If not, he'll certainly be a major minutes guy)
Sroka
Heston
Roper

Even if Lambesis spends all or most of his time at the 3, that still leaves a rotation of the 5 guys named above at the two guard spots. Does that really leave room for a 6th guy (Williams) or anyone else to see any meaningful time at guard? There are only 200 minutes in a game-and theoretically, 120 of them will be eaten by the 3, 4, and 5 men. What about P. Wolfe and the other All-State freshmen? And did L. Wolfe, who is listed as a guard, transfer to sit and watch? Looks like a traffic jam on the belt guard line. 🤔  🤗

[Titan Q]

IWU lost the scrimmage at Wabash yesterday by 8.  IWU won the first 20-min by 7, then lost the second period by 15.  I am not sure if this was played as two separate 20-min periods, or as a "real game."

I do know IWU had a ton of trouble with Wabash All-American Jack Davidson.  Per someone connected with Wabash, Davidson had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

IWU played a 13-man rotation in the second period - the Titans are looking at several players for varsity rotation minutes at both the perimeter and post.  On the perimeter, I believe sophomore guards Ryan Sroka (6-5) and Connor Heaton (6-5), as well as freshman G/F Nick Roper (6-7), are in the mix for the additional minutes opened up by Keondre Schumacher's departure.  And then several guys in the post still competing for roles.

Pete Lambesis, IWU's starter at the 3, played just 15 minutes yesterday.

IWU PG Luke Yoder had 18 points and 9 assists unofficially.

Freshman Hakim Williams returns from a minor injury Monday - he did not play in any of the 3 scrimmages.  He is a guy who could find his way into the rotation as the season plays out.  Really talented guard.

Wabash is considered the favorite in the NCAC by many, including Ryan Whitnable...not sure if that preseason poll has come out yet.

Real games start this week!

The 2022 National Champs will be fine without Keondre Schumacher. One guard does not a team make.

Lambesis is listed as a guard
Yoder
Noe (Not mentioned above. Assume he's a starter. If not, he'll certainly be a major minutes guy)
Sroka
Heston
Roper

Even if Lambesis spends all or most of his time at the 3, that still leaves a rotation of the 5 guys named above at the two guard spots. Does that really leave room for a 6th guy (Williams) or anyone else to see any meaningful time at guard? There are only 200 minutes in a game-and theoretically, 120 of them will be eaten by the 3, 4, and 5 men. What about P. Wolfe and the other All-State freshmen? And did L. Wolfe, who is listed as a guard, transfer to sit and watch? Looks like a traffic jam on the belt guard line. 🤔  🤗

Cory Noe started at SG last season and is a very safe bet to start in 2021-22.

FR Hakim Williams could earn his way into the rotation in time.

I don't see Parker Wolfe playing as a FR.

6-5 transfer G/F Landon Wolfe has been playing at lot in scrimmages and is a pretty safe bet to be in the rotation...they are playing him at the 4, like they did 6-5 G/F Doug Wallen the last few seasons.

[Next Man Up]

NORTH CENTRAL roster is up. Six new varsity players to which there might be a slight degree of future fluidity due to pending injury recovery.

https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

[kenoshamark]

The Carthage roster is up as well - https://athletics.carthage.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Not a lot of size or returning experience other than Bulatovic.  Some transfers who might help, but the saving grace would be having Crishawn Cook back as their PG.   He didn't play last year, but he is very talented and should help direct the offense. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Can somebody set me straight on which Bulatovic syllable should be emphasized?

[WUPHF]

The Serbian spelling may make the name easier to pronounce: Булатовић.

It is likely that first syllable is emphasized slightly.

Do remember that the ic is pronounced ich.

[lmitzel]

Can somebody set me straight on which Bulatovic syllable should be emphasized?

I'm pretty sure I effed this up his freshman year, because when I prepped for their trip to Naperville last year I remember it showing up differently in the pronunciation guide than how I'd done it the year before.

So, someone affiliated with the Firebirds (or elsewhere with appropriate connections), please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's boo-LAH-tuh-vitch.

[lmitzel]

NORTH CENTRAL roster is up. Six new varsity players to which there might be a slight degree of future fluidity due to pending injury recovery.

https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Only took me showing up to harass say hello to Coach Raridon yesterday afternoon to get it out there.