MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kenoshamark]

Carthage blows out Northland, as to be expected - 120 to 72.   All 20 players who suited up got to play

https://athletics.carthage.edu/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/northland-college/boxscore/8321

I was intrigued to see Bosko on the sidelines as an assistant coach, but he wasn't there.   

They had a number of freshmen who got some early minutes and looks like they recruited some shooters at least.  I know they won't get those same looks in conference play, but at least today, they shot lights out.

The most interesting aspect of the game was one of the new players on the team this year.  Transfer, Elijah Blake was one of the starters and he put up 18 points in the first nine minutes.  6 for 6 from the field and 2 for 2 on threes.  There was no one that could handle him off the dribble, he is very talented.   One of the better players I've seen come on board, but with a small sample size.   

Where it gets interesting is to see how he handles himself on the court.   I noticed he like to talk and be animated after he would score.   He then had a steal and was going in for a layup and got fouled.  It wasn't flagrant, but he seemed to take issue with the foul.   My thought was he has a short fuse and just a minute or so later, he got a technical and was taken out of the game for the rest of the half.   I didn't realize until I saw the box score that he got 2 technicals.   I didn't see anything specific, but he must have said something to get 2 of them.  To his credit, he sat on the bench and was cheering on his teammates, but he never came out and wasn't on the bench in the second half.   Not sure if there are CCIW rules about technicals, but he stayed on the bench for the balance of the first half, so not sure why he didn't come back out and at least sit on the bench (now, maybe he was in street clothes and sat behind the team, but it didn't look like it).   

He and Bulatovic could be quite a pair as they both are good at taking guys off the dribble and they have some shooters to kick to, but it was an odd how it played out.   Probably not a lot going to be discussed about it when you win by almost 50, but caught my attention.

[Next Man Up]

I was under the impression that 2 techs results in expulsion from the game. That could explain his absence.
Also, and I'm not at all sure about this, but I seem to remember some discussion a few seasons ago about possibly having to miss the next game if you are ejected.

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan vs Lake Forest, 3pm at the Shirk Center...

Probable Starters:

Illinois Wesleyan (0-0)
G - Luke Yoder, 6-0 Jr.
G - Cory Noe, 6-2 Sr.
G - Pete Lambesis, 6-4 Sr.
F - Ryan Sroka, 6-5 So.
F - Matt Leritz, 6-7 Sr.

Lake Forest (0-1)
G - Sean Espinosa, 6-1 Sr.
G - Rocco Ronzio, 6-3 So.
F - Ethan Augusto, 6-3 Fr.
F - Johnny Roeser, 6-4 Jr.
F - Val Oplchenski, 6-5 So.

Season Preview Q-cast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzg1U7hTyTo&t=2422s

Pantagraph - https://pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/watch-now-illinois-wesleyan-basketball-opens-season-against-lake-forest/article_2ca161a0-ff97-50fb-a7f6-459529220544.html

IWU Game Notes - https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/iwusports.com/documents/2021/11/5/mbb2122game01_LakeForest.pdf

Video - https://www.iwusports.com/watch/?Live=209&type=Live

Stats - https://www.iwusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

[Gregory Sager]

UW-Oshkosh dumped Augustana, 90-70, up in B'Goshtown. The Titans led wire-to-wire and ran away with it pretty early.

Dan Carr paced Augie with 19 and 14, while Matt Hawkins added 14 and Nate Ortiz came off the bench with 10 for the Doggies.

[Titan Q]

#17 UW-Oshkosh 90
Augustana 70

https://athletics.augustana.edu/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/uw-oshkosh/boxscore/4924

- Dan Carr: 19 pts, 14 reb
- Matt Hawkins: 14 pts
- Nate Ortiz: 10 pts


Augie played without 6-0 all-CCIW G Carter Duwa and 6-9 F/C Anthony Giliberto. 

The Vikings started 3 freshmen -- 6-4 F Chase Larsen, 6-5 F Nicolas Gilberto, and 6-0 G Matt Hawkins.  They did not start returning starter Justin Bottorff, which surprised me.  But in looking at the rotation last night, Bottofff was used to spell 6-8 starting 5 Dan Carr.  When 6-9 Anthony Giliberto returns, I think we'll see him spell Carr, with Bottorff starting at the 4. 

Augie seems to be very thin at the post.  6-8 Dan Carr is one of the best 5s in Division III, but last night - without 6-9 Anthony Giliberto - they did not have another true 5 in the rotation.  Bottorff is a really good player, but he is a combo F - certainly not a 5.

When healthy, I'd expect to see something like:

G - Luke Johnson, 5-11 Sr.
G - Carter Duwa, 6-0 Jr.
F - Chase Larsen, 6-4 Fr. (seems like several options here)
F - Justin Bottorff, 6-6 Sr.
C - Dan Carr, 6-8 Jr.

Then the bench is something like: 6-9 F Antony Giliberto, 6-5 F Nicholas Giliberto, 6-0 G Matt Hawkins, 6-3 Nate Ortiz, 5-9 Matt Hanushewsky, etc

I think getting Duwa and A. Giliberto back would be huge for Augie, as the rotation about would be much, much stronger than the one last night at Oshkosh.

Oshkosh has very little low post size (outside of an impressive FR who comes off the bench) - they are as perimeter-oriented as it gets.  Augie will struggle to guard teams with a lot of low post size without more low post help.

[Titan Q]

Entering 2021-22, there hasn't been an undefeated team in CCIW play in 48 consecutive seasons (Augie '72-73).

In this span the CCIW has had 6 D3 national champs and 14 other Final 4 teams, plus Jack Sikma's 4 IWU NAIA powers. None went undefeated.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Entering 2021-22, there hasn't been an undefeated team in CCIW play in 48 consecutive seasons (Augie '72-73).

In this span the CCIW has had 6 D3 national champs and 14 other Final 4 teams, plus Jack Sikma's 4 IWU NAIA powers. None went undefeated.

It's such a revered record that conference bylaws state, were any team to enter their final CCIW game without a loss, that team must play with blindfolds and run backwards.

[Titan Q]

Entering 2021-22, there hasn't been an undefeated team in CCIW play in 48 consecutive seasons (Augie '72-73).

In this span the CCIW has had 6 D3 national champs and 14 other Final 4 teams, plus Jack Sikma's 4 IWU NAIA powers. None went undefeated.

It's such a revered record that conference bylaws state, were any team to enter their final CCIW game without a loss, that team must play with blindfolds and run backwards.

That's what eventually hurt IWU in OT on 2/19/13...

https://static.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2013/HTML/iwmbk25.htm

[lmitzel]

Entering 2021-22, there hasn't been an undefeated team in CCIW play in 48 consecutive seasons (Augie '72-73).

In this span the CCIW has had 6 D3 national champs and 14 other Final 4 teams, plus Jack Sikma's 4 IWU NAIA powers. None went undefeated.

It's such a revered record that conference bylaws state, were any team to enter their final CCIW game without a loss, that team must play with blindfolds and run backwards.

That's what eventually hurt IWU in OT on 2/19/13...

https://static.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2013/HTML/iwmbk25.htm

That, or something about voodoo magic at Merner, because that's where 2019 Augie suffered it's only conference loss. Personally, I credit the kids in the student section who turned the Augie Viking logo into the Crying Jordan meme. I've never been prouder of a student section.

[Titan Q]

There could be 4 or 5 underclassmen in the rotation for IWU today:
-Ryan Sroka, 6-5 So.
-Connor Heaton, 6-5 Fr.
-Nick Roper, 6-7 Fr.
-Grant Hardy, 6-8 So.
-Harrison Wilmsen, 6-9 Fr.

The Titans have an exciting balance of experience and youth on this team.

[iwu70]

I surely hope Cody Mitchell gets his chance to start for the Titans, soon . . . I know he's got an injury now, but could be back soon.  He was terrific in the exhibition scrimmages, just flying around, making plays on the defensive end, and shooting it great from three.  I really hope he matches up with Leritz in the post area and gets his chance to really shine this year.  I'm looking forward to today's first game at The Shirk and to seeing the seasoned and the newbie Titans!

GO GREEN!

iwu'70

[Titan Q]

#4-Illinois Wesleyan 81
Lake Forest 61

-Matt Lertiz: 23 pts, 16 reb
-Cory Noe: 23 pts, 3 reb, 2 assists
-Pete Lambesis: 15 pts, 5 reb, 5 assists
-Cody Mitchell: 10 rebounds

https://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=13649&path=mbball


For large stretches, IWU looked like a team playing its opener.  But, big picture, I saw a team that has a chance to do special things this season. The Titans have a very unique combination of size, strength, athleticism, and skill.  And like all Ron Rose teams, they really move the ball well.

With 6-7 Matt Leritz and 6-7 Cody Mitchell on the floor together, I'm not sure there is another Division III low post duo that is as big and physical as the Titans.  26 rebounds between these two.

Nice start for the Titans.  The inaugural Jack Sikma Invitational next weekend will be really fun.  Jack will be there, which is always great.  And IWU is honoring all past men's basketball Academic All-Americans (including Matt Lertiz) -- all of them are making the trip to Bloomington for the event. 

The games vs Hope and UW-Oshkosh or St. John's will be huge tests for IWU.

[Gregory Sager]

Carroll blew out visiting Northland, 83-51, at Van Male in a walkover of a season opener. Justin Steinike looks like he's going to follow up a very successful freshman season lasts spring, as he had 22 points to lead the way for the Pioneers. Josh Hudgens had 16 and Justin Gruber added 11 for CU, as Paul Combs got 18 players into the game.

[Gregory Sager]

I see that Lake Forest followed up its 13-22 (59%) performance from the free-throw line in its loss to Aurora at Thornton Gym in the western suburbs on Friday with a 9-18 (50%) performance today from the charity stripe at Shirk. Sure hope that trend continues on Wednesday in the crackerbox when the Foresters open up NPU's season.

[y_jack_lok]

With 6-7 Matt Leritz and 6-7 Cody Mitchell on the floor together, I'm not sure there is another Division III low post duo that is as big and physical as the Titans.  26 rebounds between these two.

Yeshiva?