MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I'd like to see two alley-oops to Jay A. per game, plays designed for the interior, and better perimeter D.

Every play NPU runs, in theory, is designed to put the ball into the post. The problem is that the Vikings haven't been trying to feed the post at all. As I've said a couple of times already on CCIW Chat, the coaches are having trouble identifying a CCIW-ready big man who can score with his back to the basket on a consistent basis. The Vikings really miss Stephano Jones, because his ability to be effective in that area made opposing defenses play NPU honest. If the Vikings can't get it together in terms of scoring from the low post, they'll effectively become a doughnut offense and will invite opponents to simply extend the defense and pressure the perimeter.

Mike Ventura is a defense-first center, and a very good one at that. He completely bottled up Dominican's star center Mike Haiduc in that scrimmage I spoke about, and he did it with minimal double-team help; Ventura will be an enormous asset against the likes of Brent Ruch, Dain Swetalla, and Andy Wiele. Ventura has the size and the strength to put the ball in the basket from down in the blocks; he has to demonstrate, however, that he has both the technique and the will to do it. And in part that will depend upon the willingness of his teammates to feed him. I've seen defensive-minded centers come through this league and play for four years without ever really developing a low-post offensive game (North Park's Adam Chavarria from the mid-'90s being the best example; his game was much like what Ventura's is now), and I don't want to see Ventura be another Vikings center who has only a partially-effective career. He's a hard worker and a tough-minded kid, and I think that he's capable of being much more than what he is right now ... but we shall see.

Jon Chimino showed promise in this area when he posted up Eureka's undersized big men in Tuesday night's game, but he'd be undersized himself as a center in the CCIW and it's problematic whether he'd be able to maneuver his way into effective scoring position against Ruch, Swetalla, Wiele, and Jared Hintzsche. The best aspect of Chimino's game is the effective range on his jumpshot, which indicates that he's more suited to forward than center. Jorge Gonzalez is likewise undersized for a CCIW center, and he's still really too raw as a basketball player to expect any refined technique from him in the low post. At this early stage of his development, he's best suited to be a garbageman who'll give North Park a whole pile of rebounds and putbacks and who can play center when the Vikings are in an end-to-end running game rather than a halfcourt battle.

The true offensive low-post centers are sophomore Glenn Woodside and freshman Phil Schniedermeier, and neither appears ready at this point to handle extended CCIW varsity minutes. As big men, they require more patience on the part of coaches and fans in terms of their development than do perimeter players.

It's a significant problem for the Park, and it's a problem that has a twofold aspect to it: First, the ballhandlers have to be willing to look for the entry pass into the post; and, second, whoever is playing center at the time has to be able to demonstrate that he can be effective with the ball in his hands and his back to the basket.

There are other alternatives available, such as posting up other players besides the center -- Jason Gordon, who did so a couple of times on Tuesday against Eureka, is tailor-made to post up opposing guards, and both Jay Alexander and Nick Williams will post up their opponents when they get good size mismatches -- but ultimately there's really no substitute for having your big man be a threat with his back to the basket. I will defer to our resident NPU big man expert, Rob Berki, on this, but my take is that NPU's got eight more games to solve this problem before it ceases to be a problem and begins to be a crisis.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Prospect HS coach John Camardella (IWU) posted his first win with the Knights varsity last night beating rallying to score the final ten points of the game in a 60-57 win over the hosts in the consolation of the St. Charles East Tournament.

The night before the Knights had two trey attempts in the closing seconds with a chance to beat powerhouse Saint Joseph, but neither went in.

One of the Knights' best players is a senior guard named Heiden (my old mind can't doesn't remember first names real well).  Just wondering if he's the son of former Augustana guard Glen Heiden, who I used to see shooting hoops all the time at Lattof Y in Des Plaines?

[mr_b]

Prospect HS coach John Camardella (IWU) posted his first win with the Knights varsity last night beating rallying to score the final ten points of the game in a 60-57 win over the hosts in the consolation of the St. Charles East Tournament.

The night before the Knights had two trey attempts in the closing seconds with a chance to beat powerhouse Saint Joseph, but neither went in.

One of the Knights' best players is a senior guard named Heiden (my old mind can't doesn't remember first names real well).  Just wondering if he's the son of former Augustana guard Glen Heiden, who I used to see shooting hoops all the time at Lattof Y in Des Plaines?

According to the Daily Herald write-up, the guard's name is Jeff Heiden:

Daily Herald article

[dansand]

Prospect HS coach John Camardella (IWU) posted his first win with the Knights varsity last night beating rallying to score the final ten points of the game in a 60-57 win over the hosts in the consolation of the St. Charles East Tournament.

The night before the Knights had two trey attempts in the closing seconds with a chance to beat powerhouse Saint Joseph, but neither went in.

One of the Knights' best players is a senior guard named Heiden (my old mind can't doesn't remember first names real well).  Just wondering if he's the son of former Augustana guard Glen Heiden, who I used to see shooting hoops all the time at Lattof Y in Des Plaines?

At least we had a Prospect kid advance in the three point shooting competition  -  with a CCIW connection!  Jeff Heiden, a junior at Prospect and son of Glen Heiden, former Augie sharpshooter from the late 70's (?) or early 80's (?) advanced with 9 treys.  I'm sure Dansand or other Augie posters can give us a little historical refresher on Glen....who still shoots lights out at the local Y.

[79jaybird]

Prospect HS is my alma mater and John Camardella will certainly bring many positives to PHS.  Yes, the player is Jeff Heiden and yes he used to shoot hoops in the upstair gymnasium at Lattof YMCA. I also used to chat with him in the basement weight room (which we called the dungeon b/c it was cold, drafty, and relatively "hidden").  Very good ballplayer.

[Fox 40]

Is Dan Sand doing a audio cast of the Augie/Wash U game on Saturday?  If so, where do I find it?

[dansand]

Is Dan Sand doing a audio cast of the Augie/Wash U game on Saturday?  If so, where do I find it?

That should be:
"Is Dan Sand doing an audio cast of the Augie/Wash U..." 

Play-by-play is handled by ex-Boston Celtic, Chris Ford...oh, not the same Chris Ford? OK. I just do the color commentary. That makes me the "Ron Santo" of the audiocast, so to speak. "Boy, oh boy!"

http://www.audiosportsonline.net/Augustana/Basketball.htm

[Gregory Sager]

Is Dan Sand doing a audio cast of the Augie/Wash U game on Saturday?  If so, where do I find it?

That should be:
"Is Dan Sand doing an audio cast of the Augie/Wash U..." 

Play-by-play is handled by ex-Boston Celtic, Chris Ford...oh, not the same Chris Ford? OK. I just do the color commentary. That makes me the "Ron Santo" of the audiocast, so to speak. "Boy, oh boy!"

http://www.audiosportsonline.net/Augustana/Basketball.htm

Do you wear your #2 toupee or your #3 toupee when you're on the air, Dan?

[dansand]

Is Dan Sand doing a audio cast of the Augie/Wash U game on Saturday?  If so, where do I find it?

That should be:
"Is Dan Sand doing an audio cast of the Augie/Wash U..." 

Play-by-play is handled by ex-Boston Celtic, Chris Ford...oh, not the same Chris Ford? OK. I just do the color commentary. That makes me the "Ron Santo" of the audiocast, so to speak. "Boy, oh boy!"

http://www.audiosportsonline.net/Augustana/Basketball.htm

Do you wear your #2 toupee or your #3 toupee when you're on the air, Dan?

Neither. Any hair catchin' on fire will be my own.

[petemcb]

Prospect HS coach John Camardella (IWU) posted his first win with the Knights varsity last night beating rallying to score the final ten points of the game in a 60-57 win over the hosts in the consolation of the St. Charles East Tournament.

The night before the Knights had two trey attempts in the closing seconds with a chance to beat powerhouse Saint Joseph, but neither went in.

One of the Knights' best players is a senior guard named Heiden (my old mind can't doesn't remember first names real well).  Just wondering if he's the son of former Augustana guard Glen Heiden, who I used to see shooting hoops all the time at Lattof Y in Des Plaines?

Coach Camardella picked up the second win of his varsity coaching career tonight.  Prospect beat Proviso West 70-55 out at Saint Charles East tonight.  Glen's son, Jeff, showed up in a big way again tonight.  I don't remember what he finished with, but it was somewhere in the upper teens, at least.  He is a sweet shooter with a very soft touch.  The Knights have some players worth watching, including more than one or two who are looking to play possibly at the D3 level after high school.  Prospect will be playing in the the Wheeling Hardwood Classic December 26-29th  -  a tournament that typically includes Loyola Academy (Phil Schneidermier or however he spells that), host Wheeling (led by one of Lewis coach Scott Trost's recruits, Chris McLellan), Lake Park, Naperville Central, Deerfield, Stevenson (coached by Pat Ambrose: Augie alum) among others.  Coach Camardella is looking more comfortable on the bench each game.  He brings a really nice touch of class to the program.  His assistant coach is Brad Rathe, who graduated just over a year ago after manning the post for Lake Forest College for four years.  Our boys are getting their heads filled with the merits of D3 ball.  It's a great environment.  Come watch it sometime. 

[Titan Q]

Per today's Pantagraph, Ron Rose is going to insert freshman point-guard Travis Rosenkranz into the starting lineup.  Against Dominican today (3:00pm) the Titans will start...

G Travis Rosenkranz, 6-0 FR
G Sean Johnson, 6-1, FR
F Jordan Morris, 6-3, JR
F Darius Gant, 6-4, SR
C Brett Chamernik, 6-5 JR

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/11/24/sports/doc4747c04d2d884124840393.txt

Rosenkranz would have started from day one if he hadn't missed the entire preseason with injury.  The Titans are a much better team with him on the floor.  Freshman Matt Schick, who started IWU's first 3 games, will come off the bench w/ Jordan Morris moving to the 3.  Morris is a very good spot-up shooter and has the ability to do well at the wing.

In South Carolina rooting for a Titan win today!

[martin]

Rob, the guy at the door was also spreading the rumor that the NPU administration is going to let you go and replace you with an old boot or plankton.

impossible, Nebraska is using both to coach the football team and NPU can't afford the buyout.

Looks like NPU can get him now with no buyout.

[buf]

Augustana wins over Wash U.  By 4, I think

[Viking Mike]

BIG WIN FOR AUGIE !!!  Augie shot 63% in the first half against No. 1 ranked Washington en route to a 39-22 halftime lead.  The Vikes then hung on for a huge 66-60 win at the Webster Gorlock Classic.  Delp had a poor shooting afternoon but Brett Swetella was huge with 21 points.  Great win Vikings and good luck against Webster tomorrow...Good news Viking fans...all basketball games this year will be broadcasted on the web at Audiosportsonline.net or check the school site for the link.  The broadcast was incredible! 

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana 66
Washington (MO) 60

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/MBasketball/stats/2007-08/07mbb02.htm

Brett Wessels, 21 pts
Alex Washington, 12 pts
Dain Swetalla, 10 pts
Jordan Delp, 10 pts (5-16 FG, 0-8 trey ... yikes!)
Chandlor Collins, 8 pts, 8 rebs

Tyler Nading, 20 pts, 12 rebs
Aaron Thompson, 17 pts, 6 TOs
Troy Ruths, 7 pts, 2 rebs
Sean Wallis, DNP

It was a tale of two halves for Augie. The Doggies shot a blistering 63% from the field in the first half, en route to a 39-22 lead at the intermission. After bolstering the lead to a high of 19 points (46-27) at the 15:42 mark on a Brett Wessels trey, the Augie offense went into the deep freeze. Augie shot less than 30% from the field in the second half as the Bears roared back to come within two (62-60) with forty seconds left in the game after a Troy Ruths layup. However, Augie made four free throws in the waning seconds and Tyler Nading missed a huge trey as the CCIWers held off the soon-to-no-longer-be-#1 team from gaining a huge comeback win.

No mention of this game would be complete without discussing the absence of third-team d3hoops.com preseason All-American Sean Wallis from the Wash U lineup. In fact, Wallis wasn't even listed on the travel roster on Wash U's game notes. You take Wallis off of that team, and they're vastly more vulnerable. I have no idea why Wallis was absent, but it appears that he was sorely missed; starting Bears guards Danny O'Boyle and Aaron Thompson had six turnovers apiece, and the Bears only had ten assists on the day. The win doesn't come with an asterisk, of course; you have to play with the team that suited up that day, and for whatever reason Wallis didn't. But it has to somewhat take the edge off of the achievement of beating Wash U in the Bears' own backyard.

In spite of that, this is still a big win for Augie. I doubt that anyone else will hold Troy Ruths to only seven points and two rebounds this season. Congratulations to the Doggies!