MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Next Man Up]

Impressions of the Green/White Scrimmage at IWU:

Not quite sure what to make of this either . . .  a strange set up of short quarters, half-court sets. etc.  Not a full scrimmage or game. 

Several of IWU's big men on the injured list still -- Wilmsen, Mitchell and Hardy, so not really a full contingent for this event.  (Yipsi, could have easily been the IWU "five guards" set up with all the 6' to 6'3" guys running around on the court most of the time).  This is a work in progress in terms of many things for this Titan team so far this year.   Hope it all gels, comes together in time for Yeshiva on November 12th, at the Shirk, for the Sikma Invitational -- games Saturday and Sunday.   Exhibition with Bradley next Wednesday, 11/2.

On offense, only Sroka and Heflen looked decent, in early season form.   Roper moving well, but not hitting shots too well just yet.  I think when it all comes down to it, we'll still see a starting line-up of Heflen, Sroka, Roper, Mitchell and Wilmsen -- if the injuries get sorted out.

I was impressed with the tenacity, the banging and rebounding of Schneider.  He's a blue-collar, working class kind of player.  I think he gets minutes for sure.  Also quite impressed with Marko Anderson, a 6'6" forward, and the pure shooter, Pankay.  The one who surprised me the most was the 6'10" Nathan Boldt, a freshmen.  He moves well, runs the floor, had some nice moves off the dribble, and even took a trey and looked comfortable with it.   He could surely be a good back-up, a very good CCIW player in future, perhaps backing up Wilmsen and Mitchell this year . . . we'll see.   I was surprised how polished he was, what a good impact he made.  Connor Heaton is likely going to play a part in the rotation. 

Heflen is going to be very good at PG.  Maybe not as fast, or as good at ball-handling as Yoder was/is, but he's a better three-point shooter, very strong, and bulked up some, and is the kind of guard who posts up smaller defensive players.   He's a big key to the success of IWU this year.     

Again, just first impressions and not at all the complete picture . . . much to be sorted out, and more on the defensive identity of this team to be developed, to be known.   

Coach Rose has many talented pieces to think about and to work out how best to put them all together for a successful season.   

IMHO.

'70

Is the Titans pure shooter referred to above not Punkay, rather than Pankay?

"Many talented pieces." Otherwise known as so many men so few minutes.   

IWU will pound Yeshiva.

Congratulations to Illinois Western.

[iwu70]

Thanks, Next  . . . yes, it is Price Punkay, not Pankay.  Pardon my old eyes and errant fingers.  I can assure you it won't be the last time this season this occurs.  You know, right, that I'm the Grandpa of this board. 

Ron Rose will have an issue with minutes, as he has a big roster, just like the IWU women.  Lots of pine-sitters and folks waiting their turn, which is the practice with the IWU program over the years.  Sometimes they get their chance, sometimes not.  For some, it will mean no minutes.  I hope IWU has some JV schedule this year for those guys, and for player development.  Coach Rose may go with an 11-12 man rotation for pre-CCIW time and then move in tighter for the conference run.  That's been his pattern in the past.  Key right now is to sort out the injuries to some of the IWU bigs.   

I agree IWU will likely pound Yeshiva this time . . . though, to be honest, we pounded them last time @Yeshiva, even with their 50+ game winning streak still in place.  And, now their All-America player is gone to graduation.   There will be stronger challenges on IWU's schedule during the conference season. IWU will play an exhibition at Bradley next Wednesday night.  If the scrimmage I saw is any indication, I don't think the current rendition of the Titans are ready for that one.  Not that it will matter much at this stage.   

Things will gel and move in a more focused and ready direction by November 12th/13th, for the Sikma Invitational Tournament, I'm pretty sure.   

Stay tuned.  The Greenies of Illinois Western will be ready.

IWU '70

[CarrollBooster]

First post. Just started following Carroll U basketball.

Last Friday night scrimmage vs. UW-Whitewater.

First half score: UW-W 36 Carroll 30
Second half score: Carroll 40 UW-W 34

[Gregory Sager]

Welcome, CarrollBooster!

Scrimmage or not, that's an impressively competitive performance against a perennially tough UWW squad.

Can you tell us anything about who Paul Combs has brought in this year?

[CarrollBooster]

Yes, it was a very competitive game. Whitewater was very physical. Trevon Chisholm from Whitewater is an excellent player. I had heard at the scrimmage that one UW-W big guy did not play by the way which could have impacted.

It looked like to me, the only incoming player at Carroll that was in the rotation at least in this game was Jake Naber, a 6-8 Freshman from Janesville. Big, physical inside player. All State Wisconsin HS player.  Looks like he will be a good CCIW player as he develops. Tyson Skalecki got some varsity game minutes as well and not sure if he will crack the regular rotation or not, he is a 6-6 wing.

Hudgens scored quite a bit early, Stieneke and Dante late for Carroll. I am aware the Pios struggled badly last year, hopefully they will be a little better this year.

[petemcb]

Welcome to the board, CarrollBooster! It'll be great to have more input from WI and great to hear that Carroll has added some much-needed size. Other than Tyler Ingebretsen who graduated a few years ago Carroll has been a largely perimeter-oriented team. These new additions to the roster could help make things interesting. And with or without one of UW-W's bigs, that is an impressive outcome for Carroll the other night.

[Next Man Up]

Thanks, Next  . . . yes, it is Price Punkay, not Pankay.  Pardon my old eyes and errant fingers.  I can assure you it won't be the last time this season this occurs.  You know, right, that I'm the Grandpa of this board. 

Ron Rose will have an issue with minutes, as he has a big roster, just like the IWU women.  Lots of pine-sitters and folks waiting their turn, which is the practice with the IWU program over the years.  Sometimes they get their chance, sometimes not.  For some, it will mean no minutes.  I hope IWU has some JV schedule this year for those guys, and for player development.  Coach Rose may go with an 11-12 man rotation for pre-CCIW time and then move in tighter for the conference run.  That's been his pattern in the past.  Key right now is to sort out the injuries to some of the IWU bigs.   

I agree IWU will likely pound Yeshiva this time . . . though, to be honest, we pounded them last time @Yeshiva, even with their 50+ game winning streak still in place.  And, now their All-America player is gone to graduation.   There will be stronger challenges on IWU's schedule during the conference season. IWU will play an exhibition at Bradley next Wednesday night.  If the scrimmage I saw is any indication, I don't think the current rendition of the Titans are ready for that one.  Not that it will matter much at this stage.   

Things will gel and move in a more focused and ready direction by November 12th/13th, for the Sikma Invitational Tournament, I'm pretty sure.   

Stay tuned.  The Greenies of Illinois Western will be ready.

IWU '70

Yes, although IWU certainly lost a lot from last year, I sense they will be still be strong this season. Maybe not as good as last season, but close. A formidable opponent for sure.
With regard to the Yeshiva game, Yeshiva also lost a ton of impressive talent. And while I know little about their team, it seems like they just don't have as many new people to step into the breach as IWU has as far as replacing their departed stars. Accordingly, there seems an even wider talent level between the teams than that which existed last year. Therefore my prediction of a fairly wide margin of victory for IWU.

[Next Man Up]

Nice to have a new Carroll source, and get more news about what's going on up there. 

[iwu70]

Next, agree with you on Yeshiva talent . . .  and, over the past few years they have not played a difficult schedule, very poor level of competition.  Very different than all CCIW teams in the pre-CCIW and CCIW season gauntlet each year.   IWU has a way to go to gel and have a clear focus and identity . . . but I'm pretty confident they will find both pretty early in the season.   The Bradley exhibition tomorrow is a tall order, but going into the regular season I'm pretty sure Coach Rose and the Titans will have sorted things out well.  Of course, injuries can always bite you, and the Titans seem to have some of that right now with a few of their key big men -- Hardy, Mitchell and Wilmsen.  I don't know how serious, how long these guys will be out. Hopefully, the Titans will be back to full strength soon. 

I'm looking forward to the CCIW season of basketball -- men and women.

'70

[CarrollBooster]

Thanks for the welcome.  I will try to give updates that are relevant.  Fun to talk some basketball.  I am new to the CCIW, I saw Carroll is picked 9th in the pre-season coaches poll.  Can't wait to see the rest of the conference teams -- must be loaded! 

[iwu70]

Welcome, CarrollBooster, glad to have you on the board.  Hope you can provide more details of Carroll's program and players.   We do have some fun here . . . so don't take it all too seriously, OK? 

And, by the way, it is Illinois Wesleyan University, not Illinois Western!     LOL

Good luck to your Pios this season.   I think your women will do far better than the men's team.

IWU'70

[kiko]

Welcome, CarrollBooster, glad to have you on the board.  Hope you can provide more details of Carroll's program and players.   We do have some fun here . . . so don't take it all too seriously, OK? 

And, by the way, it is Illinois Wesleyan University, not Illinois Western!     LOL

Good luck to your Pios this season.   I think your women will do far better than the men's team.

IWU'70

Don't listen to him.  Unless you wear green, it's Illinois Western.

And welcome!

[Gregory Sager]

Welcome, CarrollBooster, glad to have you on the board.  Hope you can provide more details of Carroll's program and players.   We do have some fun here . . . so don't take it all too seriously, OK? 

And, by the way, it is Illinois Wesleyan University, not Illinois Western!     LOL

Good luck to your Pios this season.   I think your women will do far better than the men's team.

IWU'70

Don't listen to him.  Unless you wear green, it's Illinois Western.

And it's not even the best Western.

This is the best Western:

[iwu70]

IWU Exhibition at Bradley.  Bradley picked second in the MWC. 

IWU playing well at points, a very big rotation getting in.  Final Bradley 79 IWU 64.  IWU big man Wilmsen back in the line-up.  Lucas Heflen the leading scorer for the Titans.   

Here comes the regular season, November 12th. 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Here comes the regular season, November 12th. 

The regular season starts next Tuesday, November 8. UW-Whitewater is at Augustana. Should be a fun one to watch -- two perennial powerhouses from whom little is expected this season (UWW picked 4th in the WIAC preseason poll, Augie picked 6th in the CCIW preseason poll), and which obviously have something to prove.

The day after, one week from tonight, the CCIW really starts in earnest, with three teams (Carthage, North Park, and Wheaton) making their 2022-23 debuts, followed by Elmhurst tipping it off for the first time the following night. Carroll and North Central start off their campaigns the night after that, and the two downstate teams finally open that Saturday.