MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[petemcb]

Nonetheless, it's basketball in October, and there's nothing wrong with that!

[Gregory Sager]

The Wheaton 2007-2008 roster is available on the school's website.

Five new freshman join the Thunder along with sophomore transfer Jacob Carwell.

Also, John Mohan is not listed on the Wheaton roster for this season.

As I said here back in August, for the second straight season Mohan is going to sit out fall semester and then return in uniform once the calendar changes to 2008.

Several other players whom I thought would be pushing for playing time this year for Wheaton -- Dave Noell, Jeff McKay, and Brad Smith, all of whom appeared in anywhere from five to eight varsity games last year -- aren't listed on the 2007-08 roster, either. Add Matt Ankeny, who decided to graduate last May rather than use his final year of eligibility, to that list and you're looking at a lot of non-senior attrition from last season's Wheaton roster. Wheaton has actually endured quite a bit of attrition over the past couple of years; the only senior on this season's roster is Phil Denham (although Kent Raymond came in with Denham as a freshman in the recruiting class that made its debut in 2004-05).

Wheaton will certainly miss John Mohan in November and December; he's a hard-nosed, savvy, and experienced player who can make an impact at both ends of the floor. His absence, and the knee injury to highly-touted freshman Andrew Jahns that will sideline him until sometime in December, will put a lot of pressure on Bill Harris early on in terms of his perimeter rotation. Jeremy Berntsen, who played a very modest role off the bench for Wheaton last year, will be counted upon to step it up in a big way, and someone else besides Berntsen is going to have to emerge and play a prominent role in the Wheaton backcourt until Jahns is at full speed and Mohan is back.

[Gregory Sager]

Here's another reminder that on Saturday evening at 7 pm in the crackerbox NPU will be hosting "Viking Madness' -- the official opportunity for fans to get their first look at the 2007-08 North Park Vikings. Details are now posted on the NPU athletics page.

There has been a late change in the schedule for the Vikings, and I think it's definitely a beneficial one for the Park in terms of preparing the team for CCIW play. Instead of Oberlin visiting the crackerbox on the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving it'll be Cardinal Stritch. The Oberlin game was never really anything more than Paul Brenegan doing that program a favor (since the Yeomen have a couple of Chicago guys on the roster), and if I had to guess why the game was canceled I'd venture that the new Oberlin coach who took over last year apparently didn't want to carry out that contract. Can't say that I blame him; it was a one-year, no-return-game contract.

Oberlin, of course, is annually a part of the dross that piles up at the bottom of the NCAC; the Yeomen are coming off of three straight 20-loss seasons, and I'm pretty sure that Oberlin hasn't finished the season with a win total in double digits since Ronald Reagan was in the White House. Cardinal Stritch, on the other hand, tends to be fairly respectable as local NAIA-2 outfits go; the Wolves went 20-12 last season and were nationally ranked in NAIA-2 at one point.

This is a big upgrade for an NPU non-conference schedule that could use some more quality competition.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So they've simply added a "play-in" round, but the official tournament is still just 4 teams?  That's seems very CCIW of them.

I still do not understand it.  Seems to me it only hurts the CCIW teams.  Since it is not officially considered an 8-team tournament, the "play-in" game is not exempt -- meaning, each CCIW team will have to lose one of their 11 non-conference games to open up a spot for what we are not, I guess, supposed to refer to as a the "first round."  So basically, you have 8 teams all losing the opportunity to win a regional game in November and December (the cumulative affect of which is significant), and you are replacing it with a night in which 4 CCIW teams are guaranteed to lose. 

This has something to do with the CCIW wanting all teams, all sports to have the same conference tournament setup and I guess a few sports do not want an 8-team tournament.  But if you create an 8-team "play-in" to a 4-team tournament, guess what -- you have an 8-team tournament.   

It seems not only silly to me, it seems like it is bad for the league.   Just call it an 8-team tournament.

That's silly.

[cardinalfanrochelle]

AndOne,
               Does NCC have anything like a red/white or a red/black game before they play in Nov? If so is it open to friends and family or just NCC students?

[devildog29]

Q, any details on the Titans' trip out here to SoCal in December?  Will you be enjoying a warm weather New Year's Eve party?

devildog, I'm trying to work through a couple conflicts to get out there, but nothing confired yet.  I've made the last five IWU holiday trips and always had a great time...hoping to be in L.A.!

Good luck getting out here.  I live about 10 minutes from Oxy, so I'll be glad to recommend or show you some good eats and places of interest

[AndOne]

AndOne,
               Does NCC have anything like a red/white or a red/black game before they play in Nov? If so is it open to friends and family or just NCC students?

North Central College will scrimmage University of Chicago at U of C at 5 PM next Thurs.
The schools don't typically publicize these pre-season scrimmages. Anyone can attend.

[Titan Q]

Sounds like the Titans were so-so tonight @ St. Francis.  They lost the 1st period by 13, then won the next two (the final being JV)...not sure of margins.   The starters were:

G Sean Johnson (6-1/175, FR)
G Jordan Morris (6-3/195, JR)
F Duncan Lawson (6-8/225, FR)
F Darius Gant (6-4/210, SR)
C Doug Sexauer (6-7/210, FR)


The people I talked to said that junior guard Jordan Morris play the best for IWU, followed by freshman guard Sean Johnson (playing out of position at the point).  Sounds like the freshmen big guys (Duncan Lawson, Doug Sexauer, Edmond O'Callaghan) were a little overmatched, which is to be expected.

Overall, sounds like a good experience for a real young team.

[AndOne]

Sounds like the Titans were so-so tonight @ St. Francis.  They lost the 1st period by 13, then won the next two (the final being JV)...not sure of margins.   The starters were:

G Sean Johnson (6-1/175, FR)
G Jordan Morris (6-3/195, JR)
F Duncan Lawson (6-8/225, FR)
F Darius Gant (6-4/210, SR)
C Doug Sexauer (6-7/210, FR)


The people I talked to said that junior guard Jordan Morris play the best for IWU, followed by freshman guard Sean Johnson (playing out of position at the point).  Sounds like the freshmen big guys (Duncan Lawson, Doug Sexauer, Edmond O'Callaghan) were a little overmatched, which is to be expected.

Overall, sounds like a good experience for a real young team.

1st half-----USF 39  IWU 26
2nd half----USF 38  IWU 40
JV half---IWU won by something like 25-15

Overall, I would have to say that IWU's most impressive player was Gant. Morris prob had more points, but Gant was really the only Titan that was able to match USF's overall physical superiority, especially on the boards. He was also the only reliable inside scorer. I believe Morris was the second best player. He hit some nice shots. He has less hair and more muscles this year. Must have spent some time in the barbershop and weight room. Johnson also played well and was no doubt the next best after Morris. He didn't take many shots and didn't look that good when he did, but he was the best Titan ballhandler under pressure, and made a couple of nice steals.

Lawson, Sexauer, & O'Callaghan did indeed seem overmatched. I consider Lawson and Sexauer the superior 2 of the 3, but I would have to say that O'Callaghan seemed the most effective of the 3 tonight. He started slowly, but came on later. He was able to muscle inside and to nicely finish some of his close in chances. Sexauer did manage to muscle inside several times, but failed to finish/convert. On the majority of his misses, he drove to the hoop and gained inside position, but seemed to hesitate just prior to releasing his shot thus allowing his defender to recover to the point of being able to strongly contest what would have been a fairly uncontested opportunity.  Lawson was the most over matched of the 3 tonight. He appeared content to fire from the outside. He threw up about 6 long
ones, and I don't believe he hit any of them. I remember him scoring just one point
Additionally, he struggled defensively trying to keep up with smaller, quicker opponents who went right around him on several occasions. While he started the scrimmage, he played sparingly for most of the 1st half and even less in the second when IWU played its best. He then started and played most of the JV/3rd half.

Other Titans who showed well in at least one area were Elias Washington who displayed a strong power game with some nice inside drives and some impressive work on the boards. His game tonight was in direct opposition to what he displayed this summer when he seemed to display a fondness only for shots of longer than 20 feet, while at the same time posting an anemic shooting percentage and frequently playing out of control.  Also, Kevin Bryant, hit a couple of
long bombs on which he displayed almost perfect form. Unfortunately, he was also frequently outquicked and overpowered.

There was another player for Wesleyan who played a very steady all around game. He shot pretty well, played above average defense,  and was cool under pressure and took care of the ball. I did not know this player and when I asked a couple of Wesleyan fans who seemed to know at least most of the players, I was told he is a transfer player. The fan with whom I was speaking said he thinks the player transfered from Ball State and that he last name is something like Hobson or Hopson. I have no idea if this guy knew what he was talking about or not. Perhaps Titan Q can clear this up. I had thought it might be either Stamas or Schick

[HCACBBALL]

How is NCC going to be this year?  I hear their best freshman transferred?

[Titan Q]

AndOne, thanks for the report.

IWU's only transfer is not yet on the roster -- point-guard Robert Beauchamp from Parkland CC, who is a DB on the football team right now.   Your description ("There was another player for Wesleyan who played a very steady all around game. He shot pretty well, played above average defense,  and was cool under pressure and took care of the ball") makes me think it was freshman Matt Schick.  He is just very steady.

Your report on junior guard Jordan Morris is a good one -- less hair (much less), more muscles.  Jordan was a very good player at Pekin HS and he had a lot of college basketball options.  I know Coach G and Augustana recruited him hard.  I think he has a chance to be a good CCIW player.

I have stopped by 3 of IWU's early practices and there is a lot of talent on this Titan squad.  Unfortunately there is also a lot of talent on the sidelines right now (Travis Rosenkraz, Sean Dwyer, Andrew Gilmore, Brian Nusbbaum, Dan Schouten).  I believe by the time the CCIW season starts, the Titans will be a pretty good team. 

Here is where things seem to be for the Titans in terms of the varsity rotation...

PG Travis Rosenkranz*/Sean Dwyer*/Robert Beauchamp/Justin Anthony
SG Andrew Gilmore*/Jordan Morris/Kevin Bryant/Sean Johnson
F Brian Nussbaum*/Duncan Lawson/Matt Schick/Elias Washington
F Darius Gant/Brian Nussbaum*/Jason Bloom/Doug Sexauer/Edmond O'Callaghan
C Edmond O'Callaghan/Doug Sexauer/Brett Chamernik

* currently hurt


The only player who is a lock to start is Darius Gant at the 4.  All 4 other spots are completely up for grabs.  The good news is that IWU does have a lot of talent (much more than last year up and down the roster) -- just a matter of putting all of these pieces together.

Again, my goal for the Titans is for them to healthy, cohesive, and very competitive by January 9.

IWU has a freshman who I do not think is quite varsity ready, but the more I see him I think he is going to be a really good player someday - Josh Sutton, a 3/4 from Lincoln...

http://iwuhoops.blogspot.com/2007/05/6-5-lincoln-forward-josh-sutton-will.html
http://www.pantagraph.com/blogs/main/?p=1578

He was 6-5 last year and I think he is 6-6 right now.  Physically, this kid is going to be a specimen someday, and coming from Lincoln, he just knows how to play.  If I was buying stock in a Titan freshman, I'd buy low on Josh Sutton right now.

[commonsense]

Q or And One - how did Jason Bloom play? I think we are going to need his toughness and defense.

It's alway popular to talk about offense but our problem last year was stopping people. I just glanced at last year's CCIW stats. We were second in FG % and 2nd in scoring. We were 7th in points allowed and last in steals.

I know it's a hard question after only a week of practice and so many new players but did you see anything last night to make you believe we will be better defensively, more aggressive and tougher? Hopefully yes because from what Q and others have mentioned previously, we have some offensive talent that is pretty deep.

[AndOne]

In short:
Steady, not spectacular. Good hustle, very fundamentally sound and displays good court awareness. Knows his role and doesn't try to force things.

[Titan Q]

In short:
Steady, not spectacular. Good hustle, very fundamentally sound and displays good court awareness. Knows his role and doesn't try to force things.

This sums up Jason's game.  He works very hard and is a nice role player.  He is an important player on the team.

I'd like to see Darius Gant work as hard as Jason Bloom.

[Titan Q]

Q or And One - how did Jason Bloom play? I think we are going to need his toughness and defense.

It's alway popular to talk about offense but our problem last year was stopping people. I just glanced at last year's CCIW stats. We were second in FG % and 2nd in scoring. We were 7th in points allowed and last in steals.

I know it's a hard question after only a week of practice and so many new players but did you see anything last night to make you believe we will be better defensively, more aggressive and tougher? Hopefully yes because from what Q and others have mentioned previously, we have some offensive talent that is pretty deep.

Among many questions about the 2007-08 Titans, the most significant will probably be defense.  I honestly am not sure if this team will be able to stop good competition.