MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[diehardfan]

Man its starting to get deep in here. Alice (or is it April? ) you had the pleasure of visiting Alliance on a sunny afternoon , I think it was Hug a Visitor Day. and you should be able to verify that its nothing but smoke and mirrors, LOTS of mirrors.

My name is April. I'm just screwing with you head right now with my name.

I think the title you (or possibly another Mt fan?) made up was "Hug A Raider Day" as in, I was supposed to seek you guys out, and hug you. I think there are a few male IWU senior citizens who would beat you up if you tried to steal their theoretical action. 

And it was sunny.... sunny, windy, and -20. 

I believe the young Mr. Oziminski has some Polish heritage (judging from his last name).  In Polish, ozimina means winter crops.  Zima is Polish for winter.  So he may come up strong as the winter progresses and be ready for a spring harvest.

I sleep well at night knowing that, whenever I don't have immediate access to a computer, someone like Martin can step in and supply the weird arcane facts upon which CCIW Chat thrives. It makes me feel as though the room is in good hands.

I'm just sorry that Martin came from such a great academic conference, and his guys can't muster up the intelligent conversation he deserves. Speaking of intelligence and the UAA... hopefan or David, do you remember that guy at Wash U that talked really loudly about the merits of cheesburgers while the Rochester guy was on the line?

It's April, not Alice, but if you ask her I'm sure that she'll admit that in posting here she often feels as though she's fallen down a rabbit hole. 

Amen Greg, Aaaaamen. 

[jdean]

I think the title you (or possibly another Mt fan?) made up was "Hug A Raider Day" as in, I was supposed to seek you guys out, and hug you. I think there are a few male IWU senior citizens who would beat you up if you tried to steal their theoretical action. 

And it was sunny.... sunny, windy, and -20. 

I thought I was doing you a huge favor by naming that day. I was sure you were going to be miserable watching the mayhem on the field and I knew it was going to be a couple degrees from absolute zero. A few hugs would have warmed you up. Besides, most of the Mount fans are wheeled in from the nursing home just before kickoff so you would have been doing them a favor too.
I can't understand why you have the Independent Workers Union as your posse?  Was it their silver hair or the Irish accent that won you over? As to beating me up, I am a peaceful man so I won't take on more than three at once

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think the title you (or possibly another Mt fan?) made up was "Hug A Raider Day" as in, I was supposed to seek you guys out, and hug you. I think there are a few male IWU senior citizens who would beat you up if you tried to steal their theoretical action. 

And it was sunny.... sunny, windy, and -20. 

I thought I was doing you a huge favor by naming that day. I was sure you were going to be miserable watching the mayhem on the field and I knew it was going to be a couple degrees from absolute zero. A few hugs would have warmed you up. Besides, most of the Mount fans are wheeled in from the nursing home just before kickoff so you would have been doing them a favor too.
I can't understand why you have the Independent Workers Union as your posse?  Was it their silver hair or the Irish accent that won you over? As to beating me up, I am a peaceful man so I won't take on more than three at once

Careful, jdean, I'm pretty sure IWU has the copyright on geriatric jokes!

And take care - some of them are a LOT tougher than they look.

[Titan Q]

Here is IWU's 2006-07 schedule...

http://www2.iwu.edu/menssports/basketball/mbb_sked0607.shtml

Ron Rose filled that remaining open date I mentioned a few weeks back with Albion of the MIAA. 

[diehardfan]

I wonder what it's like filling a schedule as a new DIII coach, must be interesting

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That is a pretty solid sched for IWU.  Probably getting Whitewater, along with Hanover and Albion.  I'm not sure how Hanover will bounce back, but those are some decent pre-conference squads.

[jdean]

Careful, jdean, I'm pretty sure IWU has the copyright on geriatric jokes!

And take care - some of them are a LOT tougher than they look.

The cane is mightier than the pen?

[Titan Q]

Wash U and Chicago should both be good next year as well.  The two NAIA's, Olivet Nazarene and St. Xavier, will be tough as always and those games are both on the road.

IWU's non-conference record probably won't look pretty, but the Titans should be ready to compete come CCIW time.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Careful, jdean, I'm pretty sure IWU has the copyright on geriatric jokes!

And take care - some of them are a LOT tougher than they look.

The cane is mightier than the pen?

I've always thought the quote you're paraphrasing (while probably true in the long run) was kinda dumb: in a one-on-one alley fight, you want a sword or a pen?

Likewise, you want a cane or a pen?

And duck like hell when they start swinging the walkers!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Wash U and Chicago should both be good next year as well.  The two NAIA's, Olivet Nazarene and St. Xavier, will be tough as always and those games are both on the road.

IWU's non-conference record probably won't look pretty, but the Titans should be ready to compete come CCIW time.

I was speaking with the QOWI in mind, but yes those will be good tests for the team as well.

[Titan Q]

Yes, I think when you look at a non-conference schedule nowadays you have to look at the Quality of Wins Index implications.  IWU has a chance to play 7 in-region games:

Clarke (n)
@ UW-Whitewater
vs Illinois College
@ DePauw
vs Wash U
vs Chicago
@ Hanover

I think 5 or 6 will end up .500 or better...some will even be in that .667+ band...and that helps.

[Gregory Sager]

Wash U and Chicago should both be good next year as well.

Chicago could use another big man to help fill the shoes of departed seniors Clay Carmody and Jason Hicks, but with an outstanding senior backcourt of Brandon Woodhead and Jesse Meyer the Maroons should be very dangerous. And Pat reported in a Daily Dose recruiting post that the Maroons have just landed Jake Pancratz of Schaumburg as well, which is a huge coup for Mike McGrath. Pancratz has to be the most highly-touted fish Chicago has caught since Derek Reich back in the spring of 1999.

[petemcb]

Wash U and Chicago should both be good next year as well.

Chicago could use another big man to help fill the shoes of departed seniors Clay Carmody and Jason Hicks, but with an outstanding senior backcourt of Brandon Woodhead and Jesse Meyer the Maroons should be very dangerous. And Pat reported in a Daily Dose recruiting post that the Maroons have just landed Jake Pancratz of Schaumburg as well, which is a huge coup for Mike McGrath. Pancratz has to be the most highly-touted fish Chicago has caught since Derek Reich back in the spring of 1999.

Greg, you're right.  Pancratz is a great pickup for the Maroons.  He comes from a solid program that emphasizes skills, teamwork, sacrifice, toughness (both mental and physical), and commitment.  Schaumburg is the team that took down Eddie Curry and his touted teammates a few year ago.  They are battle-tested every year, much like IWU, playing a lot of the toughest tournaments around, including Pontiac, I believe.  Jake Pancratz comes from an extended family full of ballplayers and was the backbone of another tough Schaumburg team this year, along with Grant Monroe, a junior who, along with Pancratz, is a CCIW caliber player.  Pancratz would have done well in the CCIW.  He should have a great  career at U of C.  His game is well-rounded, and if he's not going to be in the CCIW, at least he's staying local where we can continue to watch his development.  That is a great commitment for U of C.

[petemcb]

Dennis, I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the MSL.  My son has now finished his sophomore season in that conference, and the basketball often appears to be mechanical and rote.  The size of the crowds typically does not match the general support of the community in other areas. 

However, I see Pancratz as one of the exceptions to the rule  -  not in a Rob Garnes kind of way.......more of a small step down from Sean Dwyer  (another MSL alum, who will do well at IWU....a little louder...) -  a tough-minded, well-rounded player who can often find/create his own shot and who makes the players around him better.   I still say he's a great pickup for U of C.  I think he compares favorably, at his position, with Sean Wallis who, if I remember correctly, is going to be squaring off against him for Wash U.  I guess time will tell.

[petemcb]

Dennis, I don't know if you have watched the CSL much over the last few years, but their style and pace of play is similar to the MSL's.  In thinking of alumni from those two conferences at the D3 level, I think it's safe to assume that there is good product coming from those two conferences.

Antoine McDaniel  (Schaumburg-MSL)
John Camardella  (Hersey-MSL)
Bart Fabian  (Maine West-CSL)

Additionally, NPU has a 6'5" incoming freshman from Niles North (CSL).  I've seen him play, and believe that, in time, he will be a factor in the CCIW.  Alex Washington (Wheeling, MSL) will make people pay attention this year or next for Augie.  Chris Childs (Barrington, MSL) was being recruited by a few CCIW schools, and recruited pretty hard by Elmhurst.  All these players are able to create their own show opportunities.

The much lauded Derek Reich from U of C is also a Niles (CSL) grad.  Eric McDonald, an all conference (I believe) Lake Forest College anchor for the last four years is a grad of Elk Grove (MSL).  Bobby Smith (Prospect, MSL) has been perhaps the only bright light for CU-RF the last two seasons.

I suspect there are more.  While I agree that 14-12 is an unexciting, and not unheard of, halftime score in the MSL, there are individual players from that conference who clearly have been able to make considerable contributions at the D3 level. 

Can anyone else think of any others?

P.S.  It's hard to resist bringing up Jon Scheyer's name as a CSL alum who seems to have developed a game for himself......