MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augie77]

Augustana made the Final Four in the initial two D3 tournaments (1975 and 1976).  Both years the Vikings finished behind IWU in the conference standings.  We were happy that the Titans opted for NAIA those years. 

[iwu70]

Ypsi, I take your points . . .  yes, Horenberger surely had his ideas, his own reasons.  That is all such ancient history now, I can barely remember the details.  But, I surely remember those great trips, fun times in Kansas City . . . loading up Grady's huge Olds and getting as many IWU fans down there as we could to cheer on our great teams of those years.  It's what I call the pre-Sikma years of IWU basketball, in that lovely, strange basketball venue known as the Fred Young Fieldhouse!   Those were the days, heh?  LOL

The Shirk Center is a total palace by comparison!  We are so so lucky to have one of the most special and spectacular D3 sports facilities in the entire country.  I marvel at it each day I go there to workout, to stay healthy -- to walk, lift and practice my putting on the indoor golfing green . . . and to yak with the coaches, athletes and current IWU students enjoying same.  I swear now we have a machine for every muscle in your body . . . and some you didn't even know you had! 

Chuck, I hope you and all your family are safe and well.  All best for 2022 . . . and the Year of the Tiger soon to arrive.

'70

[Titan Q]

#3-Illinois Wesleyan (10-2, 3-1 CCIW) vs Augustana (8-6, 3-2), 4pm CT at the Shirk Center...


#3-Illinois Wesleyan (10-2, 3-1 CCIW)
G - Luke Yoder, 6-0 Jr. (11.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
G - Lucas Heflen, 6-2 Jr. (5.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
G - Ryan Sroka, 6-5 So. (4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
F - Cody Mitchell, 6-7 Jr. (9.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
F - Matt Leritz, 6-7 Sr. (16.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg)
---
G - Nick Roper, 6-7 Fr. (2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
F - Evan Schneider, 6-6 Fr. (0.8 ppg)


Augustana (8-6, 3-2)
G - Matt Hanushewsky, 5-9 Jr. (6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Luke Johnson, 5-11 Sr. (12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Nate Ortiz, 6-3 Jr. (8.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
F - Nicolas Giliberto, 6-5 Fr. (6.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
C - Dan Carr, 6-8 Jr. (12.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg)
-----
G - Carter Duwa, 6-0 Jr. (10.6 ppg)
F - Justin Bottorff, 6-6 Sr. (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg)


Pantagraph
https://pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/watch-now-ron-rose-back-on-bench-as-illinois-wesleyan-takes-on-augustana/article_77a9e66a-3e51-533a-83be-ac683528f703.html

Video
https://www.iwusports.com/watch/?Live=214&type=Live

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

IWU Game Notes
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/iwusports.com/documents/2022/1/14/mbb2122game13_Augie.pdf

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think it's an NCAA call, even for teams with dual affiliation, if you take the NAIA route, they don't count the season. You can't find stats for those years in the NCAA. I'd have to see if that holds true more recently. NWU had dual affiliation after they went digital with the database.

[iwu70]

Q, I think Lambesis, Heaton and Hardy are back today, for the Augie game.

Not sure about Cory Noe.

'70

[Titan Q]

4 CCIW MBB student-athletes named to the 2021-22 Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List.

https://7a1ba232-3dea-4038-a71e-d12a51c15c3d.filesusr.com/ugd/cb7218_57c940c073074c5aad3016a7eea96d45.pdf

-Nyameye Adom, 6-1 Sr. G (Wheaton)
-Matt Helwig, 6-4 Sr. G (North Central)
-Matt Leritz, 6-7 Sr. F (Illinois Wesleyan)
-Jake Rhode, 5-11 Sr. G (Elmhurst)


Huge honor...congrats to all!

[Gregory Sager]

OK, OK, I get it . . .  I only said the "D3 realm" -- give me a break guys.

But that's simply inaccurate. Although, as Chuck mentioned, Illinois Wesleyan did establish a dual affiliation at some point in the late '70s -- and I'm not certain as to whether or not Illinois Wesleyan AD Jack Horenberger did so while Sikma was still enrolled -- IWU simply was not in the "D3 realm" in even an adjacent sense. The CCIW was not a D3 member conference during Sikma's playing years (1974-77); it was a mixed conference. Carroll, Carthage, and Illinois Wesleyan remained NAIA throughout Sikma's four seasons, while Augustana, Millikin, and North Central each opted for NAIA classification for at least part of Sikma's career. As Steve noted, Augustana was in the D3 Final Four twice during Sikma's career at IWU, because Augie cannily saw the writing on the wall and switched over when Sikma was a Titans sophomore -- a move which paid immediate dividends for the Rock Islanders. But they did not get an automatic bid to the D3 tourney, because, as I said, the CCIW was a mixed conference, not a D3 conference. Augie got in as an at-large during those seasons.

I think it's an NCAA call, even for teams with dual affiliation, if you take the NAIA route, they don't count the season. You can't find stats for those years in the NCAA.

Actually, you can in some cases. There were NAIA-route dual affiliates who are nevertheless listed in the NCAA season-by-season database. For example, here's Carroll's NCAA seasonal stats report for 1980-81. The Pioneers were a dual affiliate that season that opted to participate in the NAIA for postseason play; it was the final year of Carroll's membership in NAIA, leaving IWU as the only NAIA-member holdout in the league. (IWU finally switched over and made it an all-D3 league two years later after Horenberger retired.) Carroll participated in the NAIA District 14 playoffs that season and was bounced by host UW-Eau Claire in the first round, 76-64, as you can see on the report's second page.

I think it all came down to whether or not the SID of an NAIA-route dual affiliate bothered to fill out the NCAA's seasonal stats report and mail it to the NCAA home office, which was in suburban Kansas City at that point. I can understand why the SIDs of NAIA-route dual affiliates frequently didn't do so; typing up those seasonal stats report for the NCAA was painstaking work, so why bother if your team didn't even participate as a member of D3 that year?

(I think that Carroll submitted its seasonal stats report in 1980-81 because, as you can see by the signature at the bottom of page two, the Carroll SID made his assistant do all the work. )

[iwu70]

Thanks, Greg, for all the details, for setting me straight.  I guess I was too busy opposing the Vietnam War and trying to stay out of the Southeast Asian jungle . . . or something like that.

Some great times in KC, no matter.

Horenberger kept the IWU sporting ship-of-state going well in those days . . . his daughter, Jill, in my class at IWU.  Those were the years of the four great, long-serving IWU coaches -- Horenberger, Larsen, Keck and Bridges . . . the Athletic Department miniscule by today's standards at IWU and The Shirk . . . with over 100 coaches . . .  and extras and specialists all about.  Many more sports offered, often initiated with admissions / recruitment as a rationale . . .

Heading for Shirk now . . . time for two good games vs. the Augie Doggies . . .  Mike Wagner won't know who to cheer for! 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

No Boyd brothers, Gabe Johnson, Jonathan Johansson, or Karl Polk for NPU today.

The Covid quarantine protocol continues to wreak havoc upon North Park's basketball season.

[Gregory Sager]

Carroll 76
North Park 59

Adam Bulwa: 12 pts, 3 blks, 3 stls
Michael Osborne: 12 pts
Anthony Diaz: 10 pts, 3:0 a:to
Jarviss Sutton: 3:0 a:to

Ryan Mendoza: 13 pts
Justin Steinike: 13 pts
Paradisio Dante: 10 pts
Ethan Balinao: 3:0 a:to

Even as badly short-handed as the Vikings found themselves today, this was still a disappointing performance by NPU. Carroll just sliced up the Vikings with back cuts and got to the rim with impunity, shooting 57% from the field.

Here's hoping that someday soon North Park will be able to field a full complement. The last time that Tom Slyder had his entire rotation in uniform was the Elmhurst game on December 11. You play with what you have, though, and the "next man up" principle clearly isn't working for the Vikings. They've simply got to play crisper and more effective basketball with the players they have available.

[Titan Q]

IWU 83
Augustana 78

https://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=13664&path=mbball

-Matt Leritz: 26 pts, 7 reb
-Luke Yoder: 15 pts, 4 reb
-Pete Lambesis: 12 pts, 3 reb, 4 assists
-Nick Roper: 11 pts, 4 reb

-Dan Carr: 28 pts, 14 reb
-Matt Hanushewsky: 16 pts, 5 reb, 4 assists
-Nicolas Giliberto: 12 pts


IWU led most of the game - probably by an average of 8 or so - but things ended up getting a bit dicey in the final couple minutes.  IWU PG Luke Yoder, who I think is one of the more "underrated" guys in the CCIW, was awesome for the Titans in closing it out.

Matt Leritz had a tremendous game.  With Augie doubling him every time he touched it, Matt had 26 tough points.

IWU 6-8 freshman G Nick Roper is getting better and better.  He is going to be a stud for the Titans.  His 2nd half dunk - https://twitter.com/IWUhoopscom/status/1482491450571083783?s=20.

Dan Carr is a great player - IWU had no answer for him. 

Augie is playing with a ton of confidence right now - totally different team than the one that got pounded at Millikin.

This is a great IWU team -- every bit a national championship contender.  It will be nice to get 2nd leading scorer (and best shooter) Cory Noe back.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

IWU 83
Augustana 78

Dan Carr is a great player - IWU had no answer for him. 

Augie is playing with a ton of confidence right now - totally different team than the one that got pounded at Millikin.

Totally agree. If the Titans hadn't been on their A game (offensively) they would've lost.

[iwu70]

Good game, the Titans showing poise and care in closing it out, making some key shots and some important FTs.  They had no answer, esp. in the first half, for the high pick-and-role with Dan Carr.  He was really good.  Surely one of the best big men in the CCIW.  He and Matt Leritz trading treys . . . quite a scene at points.  Augie was pesky and never gave up, even when down 12-14 at points. 

Agree on Nick Roper and also the savviness of Pete Lambesis, coming back with a little rust.  Heflen is also getting better and better, and very strong when taking it to the basket.  Leritz is unrelenting and providing great leadership to the overall team. 

Q, totally agree with you about Yoder . . . he's just one fearless leader, slashing to the basket and going right up in the nose of the bigs in the paint.  He hit the key FTs in the last minute or so to clinch this one.

No rest, Elmhurst into the Shirk on Monday afternoon -- an unusual 2 p.m. start.  Then another game on Wednesday up at North Park . . . another three games in five days run, like the women almost had recently.  I'm sure glad IWU has the depth they have . . . getting most everyone back . . .  Coach Rose back . . . likely Cory Noe back sometime this week.  Not sure about his return for Monday.

11-2 -- marching on . . . a gritty win, protecting home court.

'70

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 83
North Central 79

Nyameye Adom  24 pts, 6 rebs
Tyson Cruickshank  19 pts, 5rebs, 7 asst
Cade Alioth   10 pts 12 rebs
Eli Considine 16 pts, 5 rebs

Matt Helwig   36 pts, 9 rebs
Ethan Helwig 18 pts

Wheaton needed to get this win but it was not at all easy.  They extended a 3 pt halftime lead out to 12 in the first 4 mins of the 2nd half.  But the Cards went on a 13-0 run to actually take a one point lead.  A Cruickshank trey out of the timeout gave the Thunder the lead again and once they got a little bit of a lead, they were able to keep NCC at bay.

It's nice to see Eli Considine contribute more significantly.  He has some very good offensive skills but there just aren't enough shots for him on this team as the fourth option. 

[Titan Q]

#3-Illinois Wesleyan (11-2, 4-1) vs #13-Elmhurst (11-2, 3-1), 2pm CT Monday at the Shirk Center...


#3-Illinois Wesleyan (11-2, 4-1 CCIW)
G - Luke Yoder, 6-0 Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.8 apg)
G - Lucas Heflen, 6-2 Jr. (5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
G - Pete Lambesis, 6-4 Sr. (12.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)
F - Cody Mitchell, 6-7 Jr. (8.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
F - Matt Leritz, 6-7 Sr. (17.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)
-----
G - Ryan Sroka, 6-5 So. (4.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
G - Nick Roper, 6-7 Fr. (3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg)


#13-Elmhurst (11-2, 3-1)
G - Jake Rhode, 5-11 Sr. (16.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.2 apg)
G - Dominic Genco, 6-3 Jr. (12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
G - Ocean Johnson, 6-3 Jr. (9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
F - Jay Militello, 6-4 Sr. (9.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)
F - Lavon Thomas, 6-5 Sr. (11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
-----
F - Bryce Drews, 6-4 Jr. (6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
F - Jonathan Zapinski, 6-6 Jr. (4.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg)


Video
https://www.iwusports.com/watch/?Live=214&type=Live

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

IWU Game Notes
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/iwusports.com/documents/2022/1/16/mbb2122game14_Elmhurst.pdf