MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[tjcummingsfan]

Does anyone actually have information regarding Bruce Durham, and why he hasn't played in Cali?

Also, wondering why Brian Nussbaum didn't see any PT in the 21 point loss to Occidental?  Seems like that would be a good start at working the senior back into the rotation.

[spencer44]

Q---From the scores of the Titan games, it appears that the current group is very similar to past teams---Try to outscore the other team and don't worry too much about the defensive end---Is this true?---The least amount of points given up in a game has been 66 points---That may lead to some success in non-conference games, but may be a problem in the CCIW---Youth has something to do with it, but surrendering 80 plus points to any opponent is more scheme and execution---Your thoughts

While Illinois Wesleyan has been an offense-oriented team as long as I've been around the program, I think the suggestion that the Titans "don't worry too much about the defensive end" is a little bit of a myth.  Here are opponent FG% numbers for IWU's four Final Four teams, for example:

2005-06: .422
2000-01: .423
1996-97: .424
1995-96: .425

Last year's CCIW leader in FG% defense was North Central (.431 in 26 games), followed by Augustana (.436 in 28 games).  North Central was also the leader in 2005-06 (.421 in 28 games), followed by Illinois Wesleyan (.422 in 32 games).

IWU certainly has never been a team built around defense, like Augustana under Coach G, but I think Dennie Bridges and Scott Trost-led Titan teams were a lot better defensively than people realize.  IWU has always been an up-tempo team, which leads to a lot of field goal attempts...field goal attempts obviously lead to points and scores in the 70's, as opposed to the 60's.

I don't think opponent FG% is the perfect and only measure of team defense, but I think just looking at opponent PPG can be misleading.

This Titan team is poor defensively right now.  From what I see, it is simply just a matter of an inexperienced group of perimeter players trying to learn how to play man-to-man defense at the college level.  IWU's 5 perimeter players in the rotation are:

Travis Rosenkranz (freshman)
Sean Johnson (freshman)
Jordan Morris (junior who started 7 games last year)
Matt Schick (freshman)
Sean Dwyer (sophomore who missed his FR year with injury)


Ron Rose has stuck with man-to-man almost exclusively, not bailing them out by trying to play zone, and I like that.  That's the only way they're going to get better...and I think they will with more experience and more muscle and strength.

Titan Q:

I saw the game last night and there are only a FEW players (perimeter & post) that can play defense - when you let a great shooter get into rhythm early, it is tough to stop the momentum even when others try to come in to help (mistake by Rose)

Rose will need to STOP starting Sean Johnson and or Travis Rosenkranz if he wants to win and be a contender (cannot wait to see if they develop or not)....they need to come out intense from the tipoff - here is my assessment of your list above:

1) Sean Johnson CANNOT play defense
2) Travis Rosenkranz does NOT have the athletic body to play "yet")
3) Matt Schick is too light
4) Jordan Morris has potential
5) Sean Dwyer is a great defensive player but needs to get into basketball game shape

The post players DO NOT play alot of HELP defense - they need a leader from the start of tip off - there are too many players worried about who is starting and who is not (Rose needs to play the BEST players and forget favoring those that he recruited)....if things do not change soon, I will rank Rose as ONLY a high-school coach. A great college coach needs to do what it takes to WIN and not worry about stuff around him!!!!

I still don't understand why Sean Johnson is a starter - I see him as coming in off the bench as a role player. IWU is NOT a great 3 point shooting team as compared to others I have seen so they need to get it done on defense or it will be a LONG season, PERIOD

jmho~

[spencer44]

Our House is obviously a relative of Sean Dwyers.  I think Sean is a great kid and a decent player.  If I were Sean, I would ask that person not to be so blatant on his praise of Sean while criticizing teammates and the head coach.

Sean is too class to let someone else make him look bad.

[dlawrenz]

IWU defeats Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tonight, 70-61.  According to TitanQ, Rosenkrantz and Dwyer had big games for the Titans.

Wheaton leads Dickinson, 49-32 at the beginning of the 2nd half.

[dlawrenz]

Wheaton defeats Dickinson, 78-52.  Raymond had 22 pts, Panner had 19, and Wiele contributed with 12. 

[Titan Q]

IWU 70
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 61

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2008/IWU-CMS.HTM

* Travis Rosenkranz: 18 pts
* Matt Schick: 10 pts
* Jordan Morris: 10 pts
* Sean Dwyer: 9 pts
* Sean Johnson: 9 pts

The Titans got 56 points (out of 70 total) from their 5 perimeter players, led by Travis Rosenkranz.  Rosenkranz had 11 in the 2nd half, including a big pull-up 3 with with 6:26 to go to give IWU a 54-48 lead, which at the time was their largest margin.  Fellow freshman Matt Schick had 7 big points in the final 8 minutes of the game, including 4-4 from the FT line to help seal it.  Sean Dwyer played very well too.

IWU finishes the non-conference season 6-5...time for the CCIW.  I can see the Titans finishing anywhere from 4th to 6th in league play.

[Pat Coleman]

As far as any drop in Karma, well, any little coward can sneak on here in the middle of the night and ding someone without even posting anything.

Only people with 200 or more posts can affect someone's karma.

[Titan Q]

Our old friend April Lee (aka "Diehardfan") was at the IWU/CMS game today.  April seems to be doing great.  Fortunately for me, she still whips up a mean batch of cookies.  They made the 45 minute drive back to Sherman Oaks much more enjoyable!

[David Collinge]

Our old friend April Lee (aka "Diehardfan") was at the IWU/CMS game today.  April seems to be doing great.  Fortunately for me, she still whips up a mean batch of cookies.  They made the 45 minute drive back to Sherman Oaks much more enjoyable!

What, with Wheaton playing a half hour down the road in Pasadena?  What an honor for you!  (Or were the games scheduled such that she could make both of them?)

I envy you the visit not less than the cookies.  If you're lurking, April, know that we miss you and hope for you the best in 2008. 

[GET BIG]

I see NCC only losing maybe 2 or 3 games in the conference. Don't forget Chris Drennen will only miss the first 2 of NCC conference games and NCC should eather win both or split

[cardinalfanrochelle]

Get Big,
            Are you sure about that I have a feeling he's been working out , I would like to see him back and continue on with a great year.

[devildog29]

Our old friend April Lee (aka "Diehardfan") was at the IWU/CMS game today.  April seems to be doing great.  Fortunately for me, she still whips up a mean batch of cookies.  They made the 45 minute drive back to Sherman Oaks much more enjoyable!

What, with Wheaton playing a half hour down the road in Pasadena?  What an honor for you!  (Or were the games scheduled such that she could make both of them?)

I envy you the visit not less than the cookies.  If you're lurking, April, know that we miss you and hope for you the best in 2008. 

The IWU game started at 3, while the Wheaton game started at 4, so logistically it worked out to see IWU play and still catch the 2nd half of the Wheaton game.  Wheaton is playing again in Pasadena tomorrow as well.  She told me she doesn't really follow the board too often anymore, but I will see her at the game tomorrow and pass along your well wishes.

And Q, no matter how much time you spend in Vegas for conventions, it should never get old.  Vegas is Disneyland, Six Flags, Chuck E Cheese, Christmas, New Years, and Casimer Pulaski day all rolled into one. 

[GET BIG]

That is just what i was hearing from Chris. He is very hopeful that he can come back soon

[79jaybird]

Elmhurst defeated Anderson yesterday in what was a very sloppy game.  The positive is that Elmhurst has 8 guys that can really score and keep the team rolling.  The negative is the turnovers and "no brainers"which against tougher competition will cost Elmhurst. 
These next 3 games are very winnable games for Elmhurst.  They cannot overlook their CCIW against Millikin (great to see the Big Blue at 7-2!) in preparation for Augie.

[AndOne]

In consideration of the facts that EC is a top 25 team from a highly touted conference, it seems they should basically steamroll its next 3 opponents. However, as both EC fans and followers have observed, they seem to have some problems that you would think such a highly ranked team wouldn't have--especially in light of the fact that other than a couple of games their competition to date hasn't exactly been top notch.

My questions to both EC fans and non fans familiar with EC are:
1. What are their major problem(s) and what do you think the solution(s) is (are)?
2. In light of the rather weak competition to date and the problems they have and are exhibiting, do you feel their #21 ranking is justified? Why or why not?

Thanks to all.