MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[tuvwxyz]

Freeman is a senior.

It is his to lose.

For an underclassman to win it over a senior he needs to be have stats that are head and shoulders better.

[Titan Q]

Here are the last 4 M.O.P. winners and the other top candidates...

2006: Rick Harrigan - Sr. (Augustana, 1st): 21.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 34-80 3-pt (.425)
(Chris Martin - Sr., Elmhurst: 20.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg)
(Kyle Jeffery - So., Carthage: 21.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
(Keelan Amelianovich - Sr., IWU: 18.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
(Adam Dauksas - Sr., IWU: 14.4 ppg, 6.2 apg, 2.7 A:TO)
(Anthony Simmons - Jr., NCC: 20.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg)


2005: Adam Dauksas - Jr.  (IWU, 1st) - 15.1 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.67 A:TO
(Chris Martin - Jr., Elmhurst: 18.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg)
(Kent Raymond - Fr., Wheaton: 18.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
(Keelan Amelianovich - Jr., IWU: 17.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg)


2004: Keelan Amelianovich - So. (IWU, 1st) - 18.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 36-74 3-pt (.486)
(Joel Kolmodin - Sr., Wheaton - 19.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg)
Theo Powell - Sr., Carthage - 18.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg)


2003: Joel Kolmodin - Jr. (Wheaton, 4th) - 23.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg

2003 top candidates from the tri-champs:

Luke Kasten (IWU): 17.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Drew Carstens (Augie): 19.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Antoine McDaniel (Carthage): 16.5ppg, 2.3 apg

[79jaybird]

I have spent a great amount of time with Brent and his family and know the first thing Brent would say is this:  "I don't care if I get 1st team AC or MOP, it doesn't mean anything if we don't A) win the conference or B) make the NCAA Tourney.  The team is the most important and we as a team are very good."
He is a very unselfish ballplayer as are most of the other Bluejays on this year's squad.  All the AC, MOP, MVP talk is just that, and Ruch doesn't really focus on that.

[Mr. Ypsi]

FWIW, April came up with scoring for the fantasy league that may capture 'all-around' performance about as well as statistics alone can do it.  It consists of points+rebounds+assists+steals+blocks, then minus turnovers and missed free throws.  After 8 conference games (9 for NPU and Augie players), 12 players were averaging at least 16 fpts/game:

1.  Zach Freeman, 33.13
2.  Brent Ruch, 30.50
3.  Dan Walton, 26.13
4.  Kent Raymond, 22.25
5.  Ryan Burks, 21.50
6.  Brian Schlemm, 20.63
7.  Drew Gensler, 19.00
8.  Dain Swetella, 18.56
9.  Anthony Simmons, 17.50
10 Brian Lee, 16.88
11 Nick Michael, 16.25
12 Mike Gavic, 16.13

[79jaybird]

Dansand, where's the faith in your boys? 
IMO, Drew Wessels is a great player that has been underrated for a long time.  I think the other Vikings feed off of Wessels play.  Delp, both Swetallas, etc. benefit from Wessels' assists and strong, disciplined play.
Wessels would get my vote for AC.

[dansand]

FWIW, April came up with scoring for the fantasy league that may capture 'all-around' performance about as well as statistics alone can do it.  It consists of points+rebounds+assists+steals+blocks, then minus turnovers and missed free throws.  After 8 conference games (9 for NPU and Augie players), 12 players were averaging at least 16 fpts/game:

1.  Zach Freeman, 33.13
2.  Brent Ruch, 30.50
3.  Dan Walton, 26.13
4.  Kent Raymond, 22.25
5.  Ryan Burks, 21.50
6.  Brian Schlemm, 20.63
7.  Drew Gensler, 19.00
8.  Dain Swetella, 18.56
9.  Anthony Simmons, 17.50
10 Brian Lee, 16.88
11 Nick Michael, 16.25
12 Mike Gavic, 16.13

That's interesting, but the problem with it is that it treats all statistics as equal, but they're not. I also think that missed field goals would have figure in somehow as well.

[Titan Q]

FWIW, April came up with scoring for the fantasy league that may capture 'all-around' performance about as well as statistics alone can do it.  It consists of points+rebounds+assists+steals+blocks, then minus turnovers and missed free throws.  After 8 conference games (9 for NPU and Augie players), 12 players were averaging at least 16 fpts/game:

1.  Zach Freeman, 33.13
2.  Brent Ruch, 30.50
3.  Dan Walton, 26.13
4.  Kent Raymond, 22.25
5.  Ryan Burks, 21.50
6.  Brian Schlemm, 20.63
7.  Drew Gensler, 19.00
8.  Dain Swetella, 18.56
9.  Anthony Simmons, 17.50
10 Brian Lee, 16.88
11 Nick Michael, 16.25
12 Mike Gavic, 16.13

The problem with the fantasy stats is that they really undervalue a player like Drew Wessels.  Most of the things he does do not end up in the boxscore.  The league coaches will have Wessels on the 1st or 2nd team All-CCIW (probably 2nd).

[Titan Q]

I have a tough time believing anyone from Augie will win the Fred Young award, even though they have a great shot at winning the conference. They're just too balanced. As crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't be shocked if they don't have a first-team All-CCIW pick (although I think Wessels and Dain are both deserving--a lot depends on their last four games).

This is a credit to Augie's team and coaches, but I agree that the Vikings do not have a legitimate M.O.P. candidate.  Realistically, I just can't see D. Swetalla or Wessels or Delp winning it over Zach Freeman.  Now if Elmhurst wins it, I think Ruch will be a very strong candidate.

[dansand]

Dansand, where's the faith in your boys? 
IMO, Drew Wessels is a great player that has been underrated for a long time.  I think the other Vikings feed off of Wessels play.  Delp, both Swetallas, etc. benefit from Wessels' assists and strong, disciplined play.
Wessels would get my vote for AC.

I love Drew Wessels and I agree with you about him being underrated. Augie really missed him during the NCAA tournament last year. Before the season started I said one of the keys for Augie in replacing Harrigan's and McAdams-Thornton's scoring would be Drew becoming a threat on offense like he was as a sophomore. He's done that, and we all know what kind of defender he is. Like I said, I think he's deserving of a first team spot, I'm just not sure they'll select a guy who doesn't put up big numbers. I hope I'm wrong.

[tuvwxyz]

I have spent a great amount of time with Brent and his family and know the first thing Brent would say is this:  "I don't care if I get 1st team AC or MOP, it doesn't mean anything if we don't A) win the conference or B) make the NCAA Tourney.  The team is the most important and we as a team are very good."
He is a very unselfish ballplayer as are most of the other Bluejays on this year's squad.  All the AC, MOP, MVP talk is just that, and Ruch doesn't really focus on that.

Nice to say...but believe me he cares if he wins it or not.

[79jaybird]

tuv..... We will have to agree to disagree.  I usually sit with Brent's Father at EC games and have talked with the Ruch family and know that if the Bluejays were sitting at home during the NCAA Tournament and Brent did win the (solo) awards,  Brent would still not be very happy.

[diehardfan]

That's interesting, but the problem with it is that it treats all statistics as equal, but they're not. I also think that missed field goals would have figure in somehow as well.

Well, maybe not missed fgs, but FG% anyway. FT% is also probably preferrable to what I have. Too hard to make that a fantasy stat though.

Those numbers are pretty outdated, incidentally... especially since Brian Lee randomly decided to collapse on me.  I believe there have been what, four or five games played since I did that list.... I guess I could do another....

[ecdubb420]

any games being played this week?  oh yeah. the top four teams face off against each other tomorrow.
damn, never underestimate the power of awards and their ability to make people lose focus on the important things i.e the games.
I'm hoping that carthage doesn't make me eat my words from about a month ago when I said they were a team that would struggle to go 7-7 in conference.  Well with a loss, that struggle will continue, with a win, they are tied with the Bluejays.
Anyone else amazed that Zach Freeman is yet to have the title "CCIW Conference Player of the Week" next to his name for this season?

[Mr. Ypsi]

April, those were the latest figures you've posted (through games of last Wed) - keep up with the league standings and I'll have newer stats!!

I did carefully hedge my posting with 'about as good' (tinkering would help, though it might make fantasy scoring a nightmare!) ... 'as statistics alone can do it' (as a long-time stat prof as well as bball fan I'll be the first to acknowlege that stats ALONE cannot do it).

Just thought I'd put that forward as as nearly an objective piece of evidence as we're likely to get.

[diehardfan]

Just as an FYI, for what it's worth....

Current All Fantasy League Teams

Player                      Avg PPG

1st Team
C1 - Zach Freeman      31.56
Ry2-Brent Ruch      28.89
B1-Daniel Walton      25.11
G1-Brian Schlemm      22.78
A1-Kent Raymond      22.56

2nd Team
M2-Ryan Burks      21.33
G4-Dain Swetalla      18.60
Ry1-Anthony Simmons   18.56   
M1-Drew Gensler      17.78
R2-Nick Michael      17.22

3rd Team
M3-Mike Gavic      17.13
Ry5-Brandon Smith      16.78
A2-Brian Lee      16.22
A3-Johnnie Standard   16.00   
A5-Michael Fiddler      15.78

Honorable Mention
R1-Anthony Lenoir      14.80
B2-Andrew Freeman   14.67   
G5-Adam Krumtinger   14.67   
R4-Drew Wessels      14.30
A7-Vincent Brock      14.22

Taken into the context of how they vote (better finishing teams get more players) that's too many highly ranked Millikin players, not enough highly ranked Augie players, and there should be one actually selected NPU player, but that's probably actually not too far off.