MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr_Downtown]

Augustana will be fine in the CCIW if Swetalla plays like he did tonight.

Ruch vs Swetalla has to be a fantastic match-up after seeing both guys play.

[markerickson]

I believe NP's game had a 3pm tipoff.

Thank you, UW-W, for defeating Mount Union in the D3 football championship!!!!

[augiefan]

NPU lost to RM-S 93-75 today. Elmhurst beat Mt. St. Joseph.

[augiefan]

A great road win for Augie. I'm just glad I was out in the blizzard tonight and did have to listen to UWO's near comeback. Dansand was probably nervous enough for both of us. It looks like Mike Avallone had a frosh reality check after his great game against Cornell. The 5 starters carried the load tonight.

[Titan Q]

Here is the Pantagraph's article on the IWU/Chicago game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/15/sports/doc4764743a313f7771493926.txt

After a very even 1st half (35-34 Chicago at the break), the Maroons outscored the Titans 18-0 in the first 4:39 of the 2nd Half.  After playing so well vs Wash U one week ago, and hanging right with Chicago for the first 20 minutes today, I'm still not sure what happened to the Titans during this stretch.  Whatever it was, today was a disappointing step backwards for the Titans.  

It was obvious Chicago had a great gameplan and knew exactly how they wanted to attack the Titans, and they executed that gameplan very well.

The Titans host Hanover Tuesday.  The Panthers lost 57-44 @ DI Evansville tonight.

[Titan Q]

That win by Augustana would have been impressive with Jordan Delp.  To win @ UW-Oshkosh in just the second game after his injury seems extremely impressive to me.

Sounds like Swetalla is coming alive.

[robberki]

NPU lost to RM-S 93-75 today. Elmhurst beat Mt. St. Joseph.

yikes, that doesn't sound good. Does anyone have any details?

[Titan Q]

Here is the Elmhurst/Mount St. Joseph boxscore...

http://elmhurst.edu/~athletic/Home/M-Basket/stats/2007-2008/melm05.htm

Junior Ryan Burks had a huge game, scoring 29 points on 11-19 shooting.  Brent Ruch had 16 & 8.

The biggest story from this one is that Elmhurst made a change at the point.  Freshman Jimmy Saris started and played 27 minutes.  He finished with 5 points (all on FT's) and 4 assists (2 turnovers).  Sophomore Chris Childs, who started EC's first four games, came off the bench.

Saris is listed at 5-9/155, but he may only be about 5-7.  I know they like him a lot at Elmhurst though.  This gives the Bluejays a pure point-guard to get the ball up the floor and distribute it.

[Titan Q]

North Park's 18-point loss to Robert Morris-Springfield is surprising.  RM-S was 6-9 coming into the game, including two losses to Division III teams -- 74-67 at Blackburn and 89-76 at Fontbonne (their 9 losses do include a few vs D2 teams)...

http://www.robertmorris.edu/athletics/mensbasketball/springfield/schedule/

It sounds like NPU is a team with some questions and things to figure out right now.

[Titan Q]

As we near the holidays it seems to me at this point there are three favorites to contend for the CCIW title:

Augustana (8-1) - After Delp's injury, I was ready to push Augie to about the #2 or #3 spot in my mind, but last night's win was impressive and a sign the Vikings are still a big force in the CCIW race.  Any team that can play defense like Augustana has a chance every night out.

Wheaton (7-1) - I'm starting to think Wheaton has as good of a chance as any team to win it.  The Thunder certainly don't have a lot of depth, but that trio of Raymond, Wiele, and Panner has been terrific.

Elmhurst (4-1) - The outstanding inside/outside combo of Ruch and Burks is good enough to lead the Bluejays to a lot of CCIW wins.  Seems like it is just a matter of guard play...we'll see how Saris does with the PG job.


And it seems like that 4th spot is just completely up for grabs:

Millikin (5-1) - The record is a little deceiving.  Millikin's wins are over Blackburn (1-5), Rose-Hulman (3-6), MacMurray (1-6), Knox (3-4), and Eureka (2-7)...the loss is to Aurora (6-2) at home.  I saw the Millikin/Aurora game and definitely was not real impressed by the Big Blue.

North Central (5-2) - With Drennan the Cardinals may be as good as any of these teams.  Without him, they just seem to be a much different team.  I guess the question becomes, how many CCIW games will he miss? NCC starts @ IWU, vs Wheaton, @ NPU, vs Millikin...I believe this takes the Cards through the 6 weeks he is expected to be out.

North Park (5-3) - The preseason pick to finish 4th by the coaches and I think most of us here....of the Vikings three losses, two are probably the kind the 4th best team in the CCIW doesn't lose (Milwaukee School of Engineering and Robert Morris - Springfield).  Probably still the 4th place favorite, but NPU clearly has things to figure out.

Illinois Wesleyan (4-4) - The Titans appeared to take a big step forward last week at Wash U, but took a big step backwards yesterday at Chicago.  IWU is talented enough to contend for that 4th spot...or could finish 8th.  Who knows.

Carthage (4-4) - What do we make of the Red Men?  It's hard to believe a team could lose to Trinity International and East-West, then turn around and beat an Olivet Nazarene team that's good enough to contend for the CCIW title behind 6-9 NAIA All-American Phil French, Ryan Paxson, and a nice cast.  Carthage seems to be one of the real wild cards in the 2008 race.

[cciwgrad]

Correct on the Millikin assesment.  The Wins were not over very good teams.  The Big Blue does show some signs of good play, but only at times.  Good news... they show just a little more every game.  Bad news... they have quite a way to go.  You can't look at final scores on teams they have played and make comparisions with similar opponents. Smith is still juggling players/lineups trying to find out what he has.  Patience will be the key for this coach and team. 

My take... The guard Patrick is a solid player most every game [I like his all around game and attitude].  Rexroad, Ongunleye, Ott are inconsistant and show flashes only a little here and there.  I know Harmsen is a good shooter, but he continues struggling from the arc [he appears to be pressing too much].  The inside presence is lacking and they go to the freshman Scott at times to give some them some good minutes but they don't get much scoring form him.

Bottom line... There is no "go to" guy [or guys] yet.... If they don't gel or get consistancey over the next few weeks, they will struggle out of the gait in the conference.  And the key will be how they deal with adversity of losing games.  If they get hot and/or get any consistancy, they can and will suprise a few teams.

[Titan Q]

Some strange comparative scores this year...

Wheaton 66 IIT 47
IIT 71 Cardinal Stritch 59
Cardinal Stritch 82 Robert Morris-Chicago 66
Robert Morris-Chicago 75 Aquinas 65
Aquinas 90 Hope 88 (OT)
Hope 83 Wheaton 53


St. Francis (IN) 99 Madonna 83
Madonna 84 St. Xavier 81
St. Xavier 101 Trinity International 65
Trinity International  82 Carthage 64
Carthage 70 Olivet Nazarene 66
Olivet Nazarene 76 St. Francis (IN) 53


Eureka 63 Blackburn 50
Blackburn 74 Robert Morris-Springfield 67
Robert Morris-Springfield 93 North Park 75
North Park 73 Eureka 48


Illinois Wesleyan 82 Webster 69
Webster 51 Hanover 49
Hanover 68 Wabash 63
Wabash 71 DePauw 60
DePauw 81 Chicago 67
Chicago 85 Illinois Wesleyan 70


Carthage 67 Bluffton 63
Bluffton 89 Adrian 63
Adrian 72 Cardinal Stritch 60
Cardinal Stritch 68 Ashford 67
Ashford 88 St. Xavier 62
St. Xavier 101 Trinity International 65
Trinity International 82 Carthage 64

[OurHouse]

It sounds like IWU sophomore point-guard Sean Dwyer (out since game #2 last year - 2 broken feet) and junior guard Andrew Gilmore (off-season surgery on both knees) both received positive news this week...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/15/sports/doc476341242f46d940713436.txt

Dwyer should be ready to go by IWU's first CCIW game (Jan. 9).  Gilmore's status isn't quite as clear, but at least there is still a chance he can contribute this season...it was starting to sound like he'd be shutdown for the remainder of 2007-08.

Getting Sean Dwyer back would really help the Titans.  Currently, when starting point-guard Travis Rosenkranz leaves the game, Sean Johnson runs the point.  Johnson handles the ball really well for a 2...but he is definitely a 2.  A healthy Dwyer as a backup to Rosenkranz would give the Titans 40 really solid minutes at the point every night out.

Andrew Gilmore had a very good sophomore year, especially considering how much pain he was obviously playing through, and the fact that he was playing out of position (at the point) most of the time.  Gilmore averaged 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 2006-07.  It'd really help IWU to have a healthy Gilmore back in some capacity - he is a difference maker.       

Well, I watched Sean Dwyer play before he broke his feet - there are a couple things he brings to this team that is missing today, not in order:

1) Intensity
2) Leadership
3) Heart
4) Hustle

For you to say he would "play backup" to a freshman is crazy - I have watched Travis play and he is nowhere near the caliper of a Dwyer.

When IWU was one point behind at halftime yesterday at UofC and to get blown out in the second half proves to me that they need Intensity, Heart, Hustle and Leadership - this would not have happened if there was a leader on the floor and something they will not get with the current line-up.

Too bad Dwyer broke his feet....it might take him awhile to get back into "basketball shape" but once this happens and their coach realizes Dwyer's value to his team, they may start winning more games and will stop getting blown out the door!!

-JMHO

[Titan Q]

For you to say he would "play backup" to a freshman is crazy - I have watched Travis play and he is nowhere near the caliper of a Dwyer.

Whether or not Sean Dwyer is the caliper of Travis Rosenkranz, I think I may have gotten the idea of Sean backing Travis up from Sean...

"If I can get in two or three minutes (initially) to help T out, that's great," Dwyer said. "My goal is to be fully ready to play 20 minutes or whatever coach needs me to do by Jan. 9 (the CCIW opener against North Central)."

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/15/sports/doc476341242f46d940713436.txt

[AndOne]

It sounds like IWU sophomore point-guard Sean Dwyer (out since game #2 last year - 2 broken feet) and junior guard Andrew Gilmore (off-season surgery on both knees) both received positive news this week...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/15/sports/doc476341242f46d940713436.txt

Dwyer should be ready to go by IWU's first CCIW game (Jan. 9).  Gilmore's status isn't quite as clear, but at least there is still a chance he can contribute this season...it was starting to sound like he'd be shutdown for the remainder of 2007-08.

Getting Sean Dwyer back would really help the Titans.  Currently, when starting point-guard Travis Rosenkranz leaves the game, Sean Johnson runs the point.  Johnson handles the ball really well for a 2...but he is definitely a 2.  A healthy Dwyer as a backup to Rosenkranz would give the Titans 40 really solid minutes at the point every night out.

Andrew Gilmore had a very good sophomore year, especially considering how much pain he was obviously playing through, and the fact that he was playing out of position (at the point) most of the time.  Gilmore averaged 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 2006-07.  It'd really help IWU to have a healthy Gilmore back in some capacity - he is a difference maker.       

Well, I watched Sean Dwyer play before he broke his feet - there are a couple things he brings to this team that is missing today, not in order:

1) Intensity
2) Leadership
3) Heart
4) Hustle

For you to say he would "play backup" to a freshman is crazy - I have watched Travis play and he is nowhere near the caliper of a Dwyer.

When IWU was one point behind at halftime yesterday at UofC and to get blown out in the second half proves to me that they need Intensity, Heart, Hustle and Leadership - this would not have happened if there was a leader on the floor and something they will not get with the current line-up.

Too bad Dwyer broke his feet....it might take him awhile to get back into "basketball shape" but once this happens and their coach realizes Dwyer's value to his team, they may start winning more games and will stop getting blown out the door!!

-JMHO

Our----

Lord knows that Titan Q doesn't need me nor anyone else to stick up for him. However, you should realize that of all the posters on the planet, he probably knows more about Illinois Wesleyan than anyone else. I myself have never seen the freshman in question play, and have corresponded with Q regarding my reservations as far as his lofty predictions concerning the young man's ability level---at least at this stage of his college career. However, to discount the assessment of someone who has been as close to the IWU program for as long as TQ has, and who, on top of everything else, is, I believe, the radio broadcast voice of the Titans, seems---as Mr. Spock would say, "illogical."