MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[bluemom]

Don't get me wrong.  Coach G has done a good job, and now faced with going into the NCAA after losing 4 of his last 5, his COY will undoubtably be earned!

I do think that Augustana surprised the nation with their game-in and game-out stability until winning the conference.  But give a nod also to Raridon, in his second year making NCC a conference champ...tournament winner but nonetheless a champion........if NCC maintains itself as a strong program year in and year out, when is his coaching efforts acknowledged publicly by the conference?

As for the POY, we need some real definition on that one.  Harrigan lead that team that surprised the nation.  Simmons played strong and was a significant difference in a lot of contest.  Where would IWU be without Dauksas, or Elmhurst without Martin?  and I guess we could go on and on.......  There is something to say that the team leader of the championship team should have some advantage, but ho-hum.......  I want to make sure that what we honor and how we honor are worth the honor.......  AND COMMUNICATE IT!   Otherwise I get the  feeling  like I did when watching the mid-summer All-Star game, and Bud Selig calling the game a tie and told us, nothing but "Its Over!  This is the way it is!"

Where I come from when you give an award it is so valued that it is coveted for some inherit value! Let's honor those deserving honor.  And that includes the All-Conference Teams!

Let's add a little excitement to it.......hey, what about the CCIW All-Conference team playing the All-Conference team from the WIAC.  I would reccomend the Michigan conference, but having to play their eight first teamers to begin with, doesn't seem that it would be a level playing field!  If we did, I am sure that playing it at Hope with their fan-base would even up things!

[Gregory Sager]

I probably saw a 100 games in Van Male gym over the years (and I think Pauncho Palezze officiated half of them).  For players, learning to adjust to a different style of officiating is very important.  Wisconsin officials were more likely NOT to allow all the pushing and shoving that was the norm around Chicago.  Teams had to adjust and play a much more controlled defensive game.

The irony is that Carroll tended to stock their basketball team with a lot of dual football/basketball players during the latter part of their CCIW era, and they had a reputation for being extremely physical on the road. I don't want to say that the Pioneers were thugs, but if you drove the lane on them a lot, those big football players they had underneath the basket would make sure that you paid the price sooner or later.

[Gregory Sager]

But that CCIW first team is amazing - give 'em time to gel as a TEAM and I think they would be top 40 (MAYBE even top 25) in d1 - despite a slight height deficit, if they had time to become a TEAM, I'd pick them over Michigan (MAYBE over Michigan State, though that might be a stretch).

I doubt there is another d3 conference who can match them 5-on-5 - any takers?

Anyone think there has ever been a better CCIW first team?  (Or, for others, anyone think there has ever been a better D3  conference first team?)  I'm bowled over that the two returning first team All-Americans are the only ones who were NOT unanimous.  WOW!

I think they'd be a middle-of-the-pack D1 team, not a Top 40 team. Not enough size, and probably a tad too slow afoot, to be measured among D1's elite.

As for whether or not there's been a better All-CCIW first team ... c'mon, Chuck, this league is sixty years old. There have been some amazing five-man combos on the All-CCIW first team over the years. This year's combo is pretty terrific -- but let's not overhype them to the point where we disregard the incredibly prolific history of this league.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Keith McDonald was only a two-time first team selection, 71 and 72, he made 2nd team as a senior in 73.

MW

[Titan Q]

But that CCIW first team is amazing - give 'em time to gel as a TEAM and I think they would be top 40 (MAYBE even top 25) in d1 - despite a slight height deficit, if they had time to become a TEAM, I'd pick them over Michigan (MAYBE over Michigan State, though that might be a stretch).

I doubt there is another d3 conference who can match them 5-on-5 - any takers?

Anyone think there has ever been a better CCIW first team?  (Or, for others, anyone think there has ever been a better D3  conference first team?)  I'm bowled over that the two returning first team All-Americans are the only ones who were NOT unanimous.  WOW!

I think they'd be a middle-of-the-pack D1 team, not a Top 40 team. Not enough size, and probably a tad too slow afoot, to be measured among D1's elite.

As for whether or not there's been a better All-CCIW first team ... c'mon, Chuck, this league is sixty years old. There have been some amazing five-man combos on the All-CCIW first team over the years. This year's combo is pretty terrific -- but let's not overhype them to the point where we disregard the incredibly prolific history of this league.

Agreed.  This is a strong all-conference team, but there are probably dozens of past All-CCIW teams as good as (or better than) this one.  This has been a strong league for a long, long time.

What's cool about this all-conf team is that based on positions, they really could go play a game:

G Adam Dauksas
G Rick Harrigan
F Keelan Amelianovich
F Chris Martin
C Anthony Simmons

Martin is going to have to play the 4, but I've seen that kid play enough games to know that he'll find a way to do his thing from the 4.  As good as Dauksas is in finding guys, and as well as Amelianovich (80-170, .471) and Harrigan (61-133, .459) shoot the 3, as tough as Anthony Simmons is in the low post, and as good as Chris Martin is at everything, I'd like to see these guys play.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this team would soundly defeat Illinois State, a Division I team I have seen play many times this year.  Not enough size in the post though to play with mid-major powers (like the Missouri Valley's tops - Wichita State, Missouri St, Creighton, Southern Illinois).

[titanhammer]

But that CCIW first team is amazing - give 'em time to gel as a TEAM and I think they would be top 40 (MAYBE even top 25) in d1 - despite a slight height deficit, if they had time to become a TEAM, I'd pick them over Michigan (MAYBE over Michigan State, though that might be a stretch).

I doubt there is another d3 conference who can match them 5-on-5 - any takers?

Anyone think there has ever been a better CCIW first team?  (Or, for others, anyone think there has ever been a better D3  conference first team?)  I'm bowled over that the two returning first team All-Americans are the only ones who were NOT unanimous.  WOW!

I think they'd be a middle-of-the-pack D1 team, not a Top 40 team. Not enough size, and probably a tad too slow afoot, to be measured among D1's elite.

As for whether or not there's been a better All-CCIW first team ... c'mon, Chuck, this league is sixty years old. There have been some amazing five-man combos on the All-CCIW first team over the years. This year's combo is pretty terrific -- but let's not overhype them to the point where we disregard the incredibly prolific history of this league.

Any All-CCIW team that doesn't have Jeff Kuehl as the MOP (as a senior) has to be rather impressive.  However, I don't recall the entire group.  Wheaton and IWU also donated some great first teamers around '96 and '97, that includes one of Titan Q's favorite Wheaton grads...initials of W.P.

All that being said, this is a VERY strong first team.

[Titan Q]

Hammer, my boy was Matt Nadlehoffer.  I liked Wesley Pitts, but Nadlehoffer is one of my all-time favorite CCIW players. 

[Dennis_Prikkel]

1970 Gramkow & Evans of IWU, Crawford & Carroll of NP and Dykstra of Wheaton.

The 1972 CCIW team had 10 first team selections, no second team selections.

I think any all CCIW team with Sikma or Harper on it for 3 years would have been tough as well.

How about the 1976 team with Rosenbalm & Sikma (any 3 other stiffs and they still would have had a great team), but I think the guards were Shaw of Carroll (a 2000 point scorer and Harbeck).

Somebody help me with the other first teamers from 1980 that Harper, Greer and Thomas (that trio won three straight D3 titles).

MW

In our discussion a couple of weeks ago on great shooting guards, Dave Shaw has to be in the top 5 all-time in CCIW shooting guards I've seen.  It's too bad he was their only quality player.  He finished his career as the league's #2 career scorer - before the 3 pt era even began.

[Jim Matson]

Bob, if I can find out how to do it, I'm going to clip a video of a Matt Nadelhofer play I have that you might enjoy.  A hint: it was against your Titans.  But it is on VHS so I've got a bit of work to do...

Pitts really killed Wesleyan in his first year, but by his junior year, the men in green had him figured out.  No one ever figured out Matt Nadelhofer.

[Jim Matson]

Dennis, how about Mel Peterson? 

[Knightstalker]

I would be curious to see what lineup other top conferences would be able to bring against the CCIW first team. 

In the MIAA we have 8 on the first team........we'll be pressing a lot.

But that CCIW first team is amazing - give 'em time to gel as a TEAM and I think they would be top 40 (MAYBE even top 25) in d1 - despite a slight height deficit, if they had time to become a TEAM, I'd pick them over Michigan (MAYBE over Michigan State, though that might be a stretch).

I doubt there is another d3 conference who can match them 5-on-5 - any takers?

Anyone think there has ever been a better CCIW first team?  (Or, for others, anyone think there has ever been a better D3  conference first team?)  I'm bowled over that the two returning first team All-Americans are the only ones who were NOT unanimous.  WOW!

The NJAC has a pretty good all conference first team, only problem is all five are listed as forwards.
Matt Byrnes Rowan SO F Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest
Scott Findlay # % + TCNJ SR F Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central
Gian Paul Gonzalez * % Montclair State SR F North Haledon, NJ/Manchester Regional
Luis Martinez William Paterson JR F Passaic, NJ/Clifton
Mark Washington @ NJCU SR F East Orange, NJ/West Side

Washington is a swing and can play the point and Byrnes and Findlay could both play the off guard and Gonzalez is really a five anyway.

Findlay four time all NJAC, Gonzalez three time all NJAC and Washington two time all NJAC.  Give them some time and I would match them up with any other all conference team.  Would they win all the time, no but it would always be a game. 

The NJAC and CUNY play a senior all star game every year after the season, it is always entertaining.  They alternate hosting every year.

Greg, I couldn't agree more with your statement on transfers.  Gonzalez from MSU transferred there after a year at Messiah.  He just wasn't happy there and decided to come closer to home.  A great number of the students at NJCU and other NJAC schools transfer in from the various NJ County Colleges.  They either needed to improve grades, basic skills or it was financially feasible for them.

[Jim Matson]

I was looking over the all conference team and came across this on Tony Bollier, who led D3 in FT% this season.  I didn't realize that he also set the CCIW record:


Tony shot 93% (53-57) from the free throw line in CCIW games this year to set a new conference record. He surpassed the previous single-season mark of 92% (46-50) set by Millikin's Jerry Gray in 1974. Bollier's 90.56% (96-106) career free throw percentage in conference games is the second-best mark in league history, behind only Elmhurst's Ryan Knuppel of Elmhurst with 93.4% (185-198) from the charity stripe in his four seasons with the Bluejays.

[veterancciwfan]

King Dennis: I couldn't find the 1980 1st team players. The earliest I could find was the 81/82 1st team CCIW team. I'm sure you remember them well:

Maxwell Artis, Augie
Blaise Bugajski, IWU (one of the coolest names in CCIW history)
Greg Yess, IWU
Wayne Dunning, Millikin
Fred Kruse, NPC (I don't remember him but I do remember Mike McFadden of NCC who made the 2nd team as a junior-he killed IWU that year)

[cardinalpride]

But that CCIW first team is amazing - give 'em time to gel as a TEAM and I think they would be top 40 (MAYBE even top 25) in d1 - despite a slight height deficit, if they had time to become a TEAM, I'd pick them over Michigan (MAYBE over Michigan State, though that might be a stretch).

I doubt there is another d3 conference who can match them 5-on-5 - any takers?

Anyone think there has ever been a better CCIW first team?  (Or, for others, anyone think there has ever been a better D3  conference first team?)  I'm bowled over that the two returning first team All-Americans are the only ones who were NOT unanimous.  WOW!

I think they'd be a middle-of-the-pack D1 team, not a Top 40 team. Not enough size, and probably a tad too slow afoot, to be measured among D1's elite.

As for whether or not there's been a better All-CCIW first team ... c'mon, Chuck, this league is sixty years old. There have been some amazing five-man combos on the All-CCIW first team over the years. This year's combo is pretty terrific -- but let's not overhype them to the point where we disregard the incredibly prolific history of this league.

Agreed.  This is a strong all-conference team, but there are probably dozens of past All-CCIW teams as good as (or better than) this one.  This has been a strong league for a long, long time.

What's cool about this all-conf team is that based on positions, they really could go play a game:

G Adam Dauksas
G Rick Harrigan
F Keelan Amelianovich
F Chris Martin
C Anthony Simmons

Martin is going to have to play the 4, but I've seen that kid play enough games to know that he'll find a way to do his thing from the 4.  As good as Dauksas is in finding guys, and as well as Amelianovich (80-170, .471) and Harrigan (61-133, .459) shoot the 3, as tough as Anthony Simmons is in the low post, and as good as Chris Martin is at everything, I'd like to see these guys play.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this team would soundly defeat Illinois State, a Division I team I have seen play many times this year.  Not enough size in the post though to play with mid-major powers (like the Missouri Valley's tops - Wichita State, Missouri St, Creighton, Southern Illinois).

This is not a shot at Carroll College or any other school, but I did notice that none of our 1st teamers are transfers.  Now that's cool.  They were recruited and came to their institutions from high school.  Three of them are all americans (Dauksas, Amelianovich, Martin) and the other two probably will be (Simmons & Harrigan).  Again, really cool.  Congratulations to all the CCIW selections and best wishes to the CCIW teams in the tourney.  

[cardinalpride]

I was looking over the all conference team and came across this on Tony Bollier, who led D3 in FT% this season.  I didn't realize that he also set the CCIW record:


Tony shot 93% (53-57) from the free throw line in CCIW games this year to set a new conference record. He surpassed the previous single-season mark of 92% (46-50) set by Millikin's Jerry Gray in 1974. Bollier's 90.56% (96-106) career free throw percentage in conference games is the second-best mark in league history, behind only Elmhurst's Ryan Knuppel of Elmhurst with 93.4% (185-198) from the charity stripe in his four seasons with the Bluejays.

Hiker Jim please explain how Bollier can set a record in FT % at 93% when Knuppel has a career mark of 93.4% which is slightly higher?  Just wondering....