MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Practice starts Sunday.  I leave for Florida tomorrow - just in time it looks like based on the weather - so I will not get a chance to see the official start of the Ron Rose era.

If the season started tomorrow, my guess is that IWU's starting lineup would be:

G Sean Dwyer (Fr - 5-11/180, Arlington Heights - Hersey H.S.)
G Andrew Gilmore (So - 6-3/185, Stillwater, MN - Stillwater Area H.S.)
F Andrew Freeman (Sr - 6-6/200, Bloomington, IL - Normal Community H.S.)
F Darius Gant (Jr - 6-4/205, Oswego, IL - Oswego H.S.)
C Zach Freeman (Sr - 6-7/210, Bloomington, IL - Normal Community H.S.)


There will be a lot of water under the bridge between now and November 17 of course, but this is my guess for now. 

I'm confident IWU has one of the best post players in Division III in Zach Freeman.  And I think by the time the league season starts the young backcourt will be solid.  For me, the X factors to the whole season are Andrew Freeman and Darius Gant.  If those two both emerage as good players, IWU will be a good team...if they don't, IWU will struggle.

Gant is an undersized post player, but he is as athletic as any player in the league.  The only player I can compare him to is former Carthage 1st Teamer Rob Garnes -- he has every bit that much athleticism.  The question is, does he have the feel for the game Garnes did? 

Andrew Freeman looked good on the floor when he got time from Scott Trost, but he never really got consistent minutes.  His sophomore season he started 4 games when his brother was injured and he averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 17-32 (.531).  Andrew was just stuck behind too much talent in front of him.  He is a much different player than Zach -- definitely more of a face-the-basket player and a jump shooter.  Andrew is long and athletic...actually jumps a little better than his brother.

A Titan to keep on eye on is 6-5 senior small forward Tyler Smith (Tolono Unity H.S.).  All summer and fall when I'd run into one of the players and would ask, "Who's playing well?" the answer was always Tyler Smith.  Smith was a 1st Team Class A all-stater as a senior at Tolono-Unity...

http://www.illinoisprephoops.com/2003/2003IBCA_AllState.txt

He was recruited very hard by several small colleges, including Augustana.  Another kid who has been waiting his turn.  I'd like to see him have a big senior year.

Could be a long season in Bloomington or a surprisingly good one -- not sure yet.

[Pat Coleman]

If the season started tomorrow, my guess is that IWU's starting lineup would be:

G Sean Dwyer (Fr - 5-11/180, Arlington Heights - Hersey H.S.)
G Andrew Gilmore (So - 6-3/185, Stillwater, MN - Stillwater Area H.S.)
F Andrew Freeman (Sr - 6-6/200, Bloomington, IL - Normal Community H.S.)
F Darius Gant (Jr - 6-4/205, Oswego, IL - Oswego H.S.)
C Zach Freeman (Sr - 6-7/210, Bloomington, IL - Normal Community H.S.)

Wow -- tough to put a freshman in the starting lineup tomorrow with no practices. How's he going to know the offense?

[Gregory Sager]

North Park's roster lacks beef.  Only one guy is listed above 215 lbs.  Even then, the numbers are probably padded just like Keith Willert being 6'.

Looks like NPU opened that fantastic new weight room in Helwig just in the nick of time. 

I had hoped 6' 9" 250 lbs Chalkias would try the U.S. for a longer stint than just one year.  Jeremiah Sargent had some thickness, but he too didn't return for his sophomore year. 

I'm not sure what happened to Themis Chalkias, but my guess is that he returned to Greece. Jeremiah Sargent is still at NPU, but he's chosen not to play basketball this season.

North Park better rely on many fast break points because I doubt they'll be able to consistently establish a low-post presence.  Oops, NP doesn't have an established PG to run the show. 

Anthony Lenoir is a post-up player, and from what I'm told he's a very good one. Glen Woodside has made a lot of progress in developing back-to-the-basket skills, and I have confidence that he's going to be a tremendous CCIW center before it's all said and done. But you're exactly right about NPU not having an established point guard. That, to my mind, is the biggest question mark regarding the Vikings this season, just as it was last season -- and of the five positions on the floor, it's the worst one to have as your team's major enigma. Will Jason Gordon get another crack at it, or will he move to his more natural position off the ball? Will Antonio Stevens or one of the other freshmen take the job? Has Keith Willert improved enough to warrant big minutes at the point? Will Devin Burnett or some other returnee step in and be a surprise starter there?

The NPU coaching staff has its own ideas about the PG job, but I'm not sure that they've set anything in stone yet. We may have to wait until the first scrimmage in November before we know how this is going to shake out.

[robberki]

Wow, 22 points in 24 minutes off the bench, shooting over 70%.  They gotta love that.  I wonder how long it will be until he's starting.

Heck, I wonder how long until he's an NBA all-star!

I assume once he's starting next week in Spain, those numbers will go up, attract an NBA team, say the San Antonio Spurs and he gets invited to camp, where he makes the team, plays well and appears in the Rookie-Sophomore game this February.

He won't be in the All-Star game this year, but he'll be around for the weekend.  I'm not that delusional.

I suspect the bigger issue is, once he's inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame, will it be in a Spurs, Spanish, or Titans jersey.

Good point, I suspect that he will go in wearing the jersey that he broke the NBA all-time scoring record in. My vote is for the expansion team the Omaha Riverrats that will be starting play in 2012. With a color scheme featuring heavy doses of green, I'm sure he'll be comfortable with it.

[Jim Matson]

Bob, last year's Wheaton team is a good example of how much fun a rebuilding year can be.  And we didn't have a Zach Freeman.

[devildog29]

Wow, 22 points in 24 minutes off the bench, shooting over 70%.  They gotta love that.  I wonder how long it will be until he's starting.

Heck, I wonder how long until he's an NBA all-star!

I assume once he's starting next week in Spain, those numbers will go up, attract an NBA team, say the San Antonio Spurs and he gets invited to camp, where he makes the team, plays well and appears in the Rookie-Sophomore game this February.

He won't be in the All-Star game this year, but he'll be around for the weekend.  I'm not that delusional.

I suspect the bigger issue is, once he's inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame, will it be in a Spurs, Spanish, or Titans jersey.

Good point, I suspect that he will go in wearing the jersey that he broke the NBA all-time scoring record in. My vote is for the expansion team the Omaha Riverrats that will be starting play in 2012. With a color scheme featuring heavy doses of green, I'm sure he'll be comfortable with it.

Did I miss something a while back as to why all the hate towards Keelan?  Didn't someone say they thought he had the chance to be a good pro player with his physical size, but I don't remember anyone making any crazy predictions about him being in the NBA?   And I think it's pretty well known that Keelan is one of the most humble individuals both on and off the court, so I don't think he shot off his mouth about anything.  I know who his fiance is, so I don't think he stole anyone's girlfriend.  What gives?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

This is all the typical sarcasm that we've come to know and love here.  Although, I will have to claim guilt in being the first to associate Keelan with the NBA, however not in the same way that it was interpreted by some.

No one is hating.  It's all in good fun. (i.e. Grotberg on the MWC Board)

[petemcb]

Bob, last year's Wheaton team is a good example of how much fun a rebuilding year can be.  And we didn't have a Zach Freeman.

.....or a Clark Kent Raymond......

[Jim Matson]

Right on!

[devildog29]

This is all the typical sarcasm that we've come to know and love here.  Although, I will have to claim guilt in being the first to associate Keelan with the NBA, however not in the same way that it was interpreted by some.

No one is hating.  It's all in good fun. (i.e. Grotberg on the MWC Board)

My bad then, I totally misinterpreted the banter.  I thought the sarcasm was directed at an individual or IWU fans or something for making Keelan playing in Europe an amazingly huge deal and he is going to the NBA or something.  I didn't take anyone's prior comments about Keelan as such, so I couldn't figure out why the sarcasm.

[Knightstalker]

Cause sarcasm is fun...

[robberki]

Did I miss something a while back as to why all the hate towards Keelan?  Didn't someone say they thought he had the chance to be a good pro player with his physical size, but I don't remember anyone making any crazy predictions about him being in the NBA?   And I think it's pretty well known that Keelan is one of the most humble individuals both on and off the court, so I don't think he shot off his mouth about anything.  I know who his fiance is, so I don't think he stole anyone's girlfriend.  What gives?

Well, I can't speak for everyone else here but I'm just jealous because the NBA told me they don't need any more slow, fat, and undersized power forwards. Their loss I guess...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Did I miss something a while back as to why all the hate towards Keelan?  Didn't someone say they thought he had the chance to be a good pro player with his physical size, but I don't remember anyone making any crazy predictions about him being in the NBA?   And I think it's pretty well known that Keelan is one of the most humble individuals both on and off the court, so I don't think he shot off his mouth about anything.  I know who his fiance is, so I don't think he stole anyone's girlfriend.  What gives?

Well, I can't speak for everyone else here but I'm just jealous because the NBA told me they don't need any more slow, fat, and undersized power forwards. Their loss I guess...

Hey now, Keelan is not a power forward!

Oops, you were referring to yourself?  In my best Emily Litella: "never mind..."

But Hoops Fan nailed it best - Keelan's not getting nearly the (loving) 'mockery' that Grinnell's Grotberg got on the MWC board.  So far no one has attributed supernatural powers to Keelan!

And if he DOES make the NBA (which I doubt), more power to him!

[Gregory Sager]

Well, I can't speak for everyone else here but I'm just jealous because the NBA told me they don't need any more slow, fat, and undersized power forwards. Their loss I guess...

The NBA just doesn't place enough value anymore on good looks and magnetic charisma, Roberto.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well, I can't speak for everyone else here but I'm just jealous because the NBA told me they don't need any more slow, fat, and undersized power forwards. Their loss I guess...

The NBA just doesn't place enough value anymore on good looks and magnetic charisma, Roberto.

Yeah; they're totally lacking now that Charles Barkley is gone.  Give it up for the Gov.