MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[tjcummingsfan]

Now I realize I may sound rediculous saying this, but...  How come when North Park had an undersized roster, its basically understood that the coach recruited very poorly, and the team was going to have a very hard time winning games... but when IWU has an undersized roster its "Fun to watch and tough to defend". 

[tjcummingsfan]

and now I actually look at the roster, and see IWU really isn't undersized at all... why the 4-1 prediction?

[Titan Q]

Wow---Where is the inside scoring going to come from, other than Gant?---Saw Sexauer play last year and he was more of a high post than a low post player---Chamernik is quick inside, but at 6'4" will have trouble against the bigger front lines---I could see them playing a lot of 4 perimeter players and Gant roaming the lane, much like Stevens Point and Carroll played---Fun to watch and tough to defend

IWU's roster is up...

http://www2.iwu.edu/menssports/basketball/mbb_roster0708.shtml

I saw 6-7 Doug Sexauer play last year as well (multiple times) and he was purely a low post player at Lockport.  In the state semifinal game vs O'Fallon, Sexauer played exclusively in the paint.  The player he reminded me the most of when I saw him was Seth Hubbard (IWU '03), who was a 5.

6-7 Edmond O'Callaghan is also a low post player...he'll probably play the 5 at IWU.

Brett Chamernik is undersized at 6-5 (not 6-4), but he is also 230 pounds and really a big, strong kid after some good weight room work in the off-season.

6-6 Brian Nussbaum can play around the basket as well.


IWU's low post options outside of Gant are young and/or inexperienced, but I don't think those guys are undersized at all by Division III standards...and there are some good upsides.  Your post sounds like you are refering to Carthage, which has almost no size on the roster, and I don't think IWU is in that position at all.

[Gregory Sager]

IWU's low post options outside of Gant are young and/or inexperienced, but I don't think those guys are undersized at all by Division III standards...and there are some good upsides.  Your post sounds like you are refering to Carthage, which has almost no size on the roster, and I don't think IWU is in that position at all.

I agree. The only team that appears to be undersized coming into this season is Carthage. Illinois Wesleyan won't even be the second-smallest team in the league -- that will probably be Wheaton (although with Wiele, Denham, Ankeny, and sophomore Brad Smith all 6'5 or taller, and with three out of that four being fairly beefy, Wheaton is by no means a small team by overall D3 standards).

[cardinalfanrochelle]

Greg Sager,
                   My son is interested in attending North Park next year, I see you have the NP logo when you post. Can you offer any personal info about the school?

[Gregory Sager]

Greg Sager,
                   My son is interested in attending North Park next year, I see you have the NP logo when you post. Can you offer any personal info about the school?

Certainly! Send me an e-mail (click on my name; my e-mail address is in my profile), and I'll be happy to share with you anything you'd like to know about NPU.

[Late nite]

No mistake---I was referring to IWU---IMO, the strength of the team THIS YEAR will be the perimeter players---As you said, the inside players are young and inexperienced----Referring to Nussbaum as an inside player is a stretch---Still disagree with Chamernik and Sexauer being the answer---Not this season

Wow---Where is the inside scoring going to come from, other than Gant?---Saw Sexauer play last year and he was more of a high post than a low post player---Chamernik is quick inside, but at 6'4" will have trouble against the bigger front lines---I could see them playing a lot of 4 perimeter players and Gant roaming the lane, much like Stevens Point and Carroll played---Fun to watch and tough to defend

IWU's roster is up...

http://www2.iwu.edu/menssports/basketball/mbb_roster0708.shtml

I saw 6-7 Doug Sexauer play last year as well (multiple times) and he was purely a low post player at Lockport.  In the state semifinal game vs O'Fallon, Sexauer played exclusively in the paint.  The player he reminded me the most of when I saw him was Seth Hubbard (IWU '03), who was a 5.

6-7 Edmond O'Callaghan is also a low post player...he'll probably play the 5 at IWU.

Brett Chamernik is undersized at 6-5 (not 6-4), but he is also 230 pounds and really a big, strong kid after some good weight room work in the off-season.

6-6 Brian Nussbaum can play around the basket as well.


IWU's low post options outside of Gant are young and/or inexperienced, but I don't think those guys are undersized at all by Division III standards...and there are some good upsides.  Your post sounds like you are refering to Carthage, which has almost no size on the roster, and I don't think IWU is in that position at all.

[Titan Q]

No mistake---I was referring to IWU---IMO, the strength of the team THIS YEAR will be the perimeter players

I don't disagree with that -- IWU's strength in 2007-08 will most likely be the perimeter.  The Titans have some guards that have a chance to be very good players this year, and we all know that it simply takes post players a lot more time to develop, due in large part to the physical demands.  But your original post made it sound like the Titans don't have any low post options outside of Gant, and I don't think that is the case.

I'm high on Doug Sexauer.  The kid has really long arms, huge hands, and knows how to play with his back to the basket.  I also think Edmond O'Callaghan is going to be a nice CCIW big guy...good hops and very strong already.  Neither is Zach Freeman, but I think both will be solid players. 

[Gregory Sager]

After thinking about it for awhile, I think that the second-smallest team in the league might be North Central, not Wheaton. Josh Corso is a big and strong 6'5, 225 (he may be even bigger and stronger this coming season, as those are last year's measurements), and I remember reading that the new transfer NCC picked up is 6'5 as well. Chris Drennan is 6'5, 210, and that's the extent of the size offered by North Central's returnees. Of course, one of the major pieces to Todd Raridon's puzzle on the front line is high-scoring junior transfer Matt Rogers, but I think Rogers is only around 6'4, 190. He'll have to rely upon his quickness and superb touch in CCIW play rather than size and strength, because this league features bigger and rougher defenders in the paint than does the NAthCon.

[Titan Q]

We're in October now, so I figured I might as well throw out some thoughts on where I see things at this very, very early stage...


1. Augustana - terrific perimeter with Pelton, Delp, and Wessels...very good big man in Swetalla...lots of depth...strong system built around defense.

2. Elmhurst - All-American center (Ruch), oustanding wing (Burks)...always in the mix.

3. Wheaton - Kent Raymond might be the best player in Division III this year...does he have enough help?

4. North Park - Vikings return a lot of talent and had a good recruiting year.

5. IWU - extremely talented but very young.  Not quite ready.

6. Carthage - should have a very good perimeter, but no size.

7.  North Central - lost an absolute ton...I am not familiar enough with the transfers to yet.  

8.  Millikin - coaching transitions are tough but the Blue still have that good group of big guys.  Getting Gensler back would be huge.

[petemcb]

Q, is that last post in any ol' random order, or a "very, very early" predicted order of finish?  It has a little bit of that feel to it. 

[Titan Q]

Q, is that last post in any ol' random order, or a "very, very early" predicted order of finish?  It has a little bit of that feel to it. 

That is definitely intended to be my predicted order of finish, Pete.

[cciwgrad]

I can't really argue with the predictions... but my thoughts anyway.

I'll agree on 1 through 4 based on performance and returning players. The #5-8 teams could all be ranked 5in my book... All depends on chemistry with alot of these young ball clubs.  Of the three I keep tabs on, IWU seems to have the best shot to make the upper tier.  Expectations are high there with a good recruiting class. So it will be interesting to see how they handle that.  Carthage has always been too unpredictable/steaky to me.  They should remain in the bottom tier this year with limited size. Millikin should remain there too, but they really have nothing to lose.  So that may be an advantage for a few suprises.  It will be interesting to see if the approach is to go mostly underclassmen and build for the next few seasons.

My hope is for not mediocrity, but strong play where on any night, anybody can compete and win.  That's the CCIW I'd like to see this year.

[IWU53]

Here I am again -- my annual post a a senior LURKER (IWU '53 = 76 years of occupancy of space on this planet).

Just want you all to know once more how your CHAT enriches those of us that can't be on the scene. I will say this though, I'm going to be in
Salem again to watch the TITANS !!!!

IWU53

[dansand]

I will say this though, I'm going to be in
Salem again to watch the TITANS !!!!

IWU53

Ya think UW-Oshkosh'll make the final four?