MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Late nite]

Didn't see Carthage-Augie last night---Question---Did Augie play any zone against the Redmen?---The Vikes don't have the defensive personnel to match up man to man against the small lineup that Carthage puts on the floor---I know that Carthage has some great shooters, but I would zone this team and take my chances---They get so many good looks from their penetrate and kick offense---Just curious to know---

[AndOne]

Question to the Prikkel, Q, Sager and Mr. B (or anyone else who might know):  What is the most teams that have made received a tournament bid from the CCIW.  And, what is the over-under on the number that make it this year?

Not sure if its the record, but it would seem like it w/b hard to beat---In the 2005-06 season, 3 CCIW teams made the national tourney following the inaugural CCIW conference tourney:
1. North Central--22/5 after the conf. tourney (Conf. tourney winner)
2. Augie--21/5
3. Wesleyan--20/6

I don't believe there is a set number as far as making the tourney--GS, TQ, Mr.Y or someone else can explain the intricacies far better than I can. The only conference team guaranteed a spot in the national tourney is the winner of the CCIW conference tourney. If all the conference teams keep knocking each other off during the remainder of the season, the conference tourney winning team may well be the only CCIW representative this year.

[devildog29]

#3--There won't be a 7-7 conference champ.  Do the math.

technically there could be, say if a 7-7 team makes the conference tourney and runs the table. 

that's the tournament champ, not the conference champ.  There's a difference.

I never claim to be the smartest guy in the room, but I'm pretty sure if the conference champ for the regular season were 7-7, that would mean we have an 8-way tie for conference champs.  That would be an interesting tiebreaker for the conference tourney.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Regarding what record the champ will finish with: since the CCIW went to a 14-game schedule in 1993, no champ has ever finished lower than 11-3 (somebody always gets hot however tight the conference seems early on).  Historically, several teams won with 12-4 records in the 16-game era; percentage-wise the worst winning record came in 1961, when IWU took the hardware with a 7-3 record.

Thus, even 10-4 would be uncharted territory.  Having said all that, things seem so balanced this year that 10-4, possibly even 9-5, would not shock me.  But no way someone doesn't beat 8-6 - just a matter of 'who?'.

[Mr. Ypsi]

On a different topic, while the specific details differ, the 'dropped-jaw' reports on Stevie D. seem awfully reminiscent of posters' reactions to the freshman year of Kent Raymond.  Any takers on this comparison?

[Titan Q]

On a different topic, while the specific details differ, the 'dropped-jaw' reports on Stevie D. seem awfully reminiscent of posters' reactions to the freshman year of Kent Raymond.  Any takers on this comparison?

I saw Raymond as a freshman about 5-6 times and I've only seen Djurickovic once so far.  In my opinion, though,
Djurickovic is on a different level.  He just does more things well as a first year player than Raymond did.  I mean, Steve D. has a very good chance to not just be the CCIW's M.O.P. this year, but also an All-American.  (Has there even been a freshman on the D3hoops.com All-American team?)  There is a really long way to go, but these things are possibilities.

Note, however, these two 6-3 non-traditional point-guards are very different players.  Djurickovic's offensive game is built around his ability to penetrate -- he has an incredibly quick first step and uncanny comfort level in drawing contact.  His points come from mid-range jump shots off penetration, post-ups of smaller guards, and of course, free throws.  Djurickovic is also a terrific passer and a great rebounder.  The one thing he is not is a pure shooter - in fact, his 3-point jumpshot looks ugly.  He is just 8-34 (.235) from beyond the arc this year.

Kent Raymond is a pure shooter from all over the floor (mid-range and beyond the arc).  The respect opposing defenses have to give his jumpshot sets up opportunities to penetrate, which he is very good at.  Raymond is also a good passer, but nowhere near as good as Djurickovic.

The similiarity in these players is their incredible court savvy.  They are both great basketball players who see the floor and understand the game extremely well.  If I had to pick one to have on my team this year, it would be Raymond and I wouldn't even have to think that hard about it.  But I think Djurickovic is going to be the better player...and that is saying a lot, because I believe Raymond is a no-brainer 1st Team All-American this year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Question to the Prikkel, Q, Sager and Mr. B (or anyone else who might know):  What is the most teams that have made received a tournament bid from the CCIW.  And, what is the over-under on the number that make it this year?

Not sure if its the record, but it would seem like it w/b hard to beat---In the 2005-06 season, 3 CCIW teams made the national tourney following the inaugural CCIW conference tourney:
1. North Central--22/5 after the conf. tourney (Conf. tourney winner)
2. Augie--21/5
3. Wesleyan--20/6

I don't believe there is a set number as far as making the tourney--GS, TQ, Mr.Y or someone else can explain the intricacies far better than I can. The only conference team guaranteed a spot in the national tourney is the winner of the CCIW conference tourney. If all the conference teams keep knocking each other off during the remainder of the season, the conference tourney winning team may well be the only CCIW representative this year.

So far as I know, NO conference has ever placed four teams in the tourney (if one ever does it will probably be the UAA because they are dispersed among at least four regions), but three teams is only mildly rare.  My favorite was 2001, when IWU placed third in the conference, may well have been the last pool C selection, then finished third in the country.

Because of the cannibalization of conference teams this year, I suspect we'll be a 1-team conference.  (Though, if so, I confidently predict much wailing and gnashing of teeth! )

[Titan Q]

Freshman year comparisons (CCIW games only):

Kent Raymond (2005 - 14 games)
18.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 agp, 1.1 assist/turnover
.490 FG, 73-149
.425 3-pt, 31-73
.907 FT, 78-86
(34.4 min/game)

Steve Djurickovic (2008 - 4 games)
23.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.5 assist/turnover
.526 FG, 30-57
.500 3-pt, 4-8
.698 FT, 30-43
(37.0 min/game)

[tjcummingsfan]

Sorry Q, I'm not sure where to find it, what's the difference in mpg?

[AndOne]

Last evening North Central protected home court and remained undefeated at its Gregory Arena domicile this season by downing the Big Blue of Millikin U in a game which it felt like the Cardinals won by more than the final 75-65 margin would indicate.

The statistic that easily stands out is that despite the fact the NCC lineup features no player taller than 6'5" they out rebounded a Big Blue lineup consisting of four players standing 6'7" or more by a 37-28 margin. Add to this the fact that two of the Cards four  6'5" players, Jeremy Williams and Justin Johnson, were out with injuries, and Josh Corso saw limited minutes. The remaining 6'5 player, Chris Drennan, who was playing only his 3rd game since returning with a surgically repaired hand, pulled down 8 boards, while the 6'3" Mitch Raridon, doing his best Mr. Clean imitation, swept the glass for another 8 rebounds. 6'2" Dominique King who played a great all-around game, went around and over several much taller opponents to haul down 7 big boards himself.

Another factor that stood out was the. lets say, "erratic" substitution patterns of Millikin coach, Marc Smith. I believe 14 players dressed, and the same number saw action. At times it appeared the the most effective offensive pattern for the Big Blue was their imitation of a Chinese fire drill. With the frequent personnel changes, they never were able to develop any consistency at either end of the floor, and never resembled a cohesive unit, but rather a bunch of "shakers and bakers" doing their own thing.  6'7" Joscar Demby and 6'8" Robert Rexroade were deemed worthy of starting, but played only 13 and 9 minutes respectively with neither being able to tickle the twine during their limited appearance time. It appeared 6'7" Zach Ott who scored 8 points,  has more talent than either Demby or Rexroade. However, in addition to the talent he brings to the floor, he also excels in crying about being manhandled by much smaller players. Leading scorer Tunde Ogunleye saw 28 minutes of action, but was held to only 6 points. Late in the game, he completely lost it and was hit with a technical for pushing Matt Rogers who was inside both his jersey and his head for much of the evening.

The Cards led 36-31 at the half, mainly due to the strong play of Dominique King, my personal choice for player of the game. King poured in 12 1st half points and finished with 17, including 5 for 8 shooting (3 of 6 on threes), 4 of 4 FTs, and pulling down 7 big boards. For the game, NCC was led in scoring, as usual, by Rogers with 23, and Chris Drennan with 18. In the second half, the Cards ran out to a 16 point lead before the Big Blue mounted a comeback to trail by only 4 with 3:48 left to play. Following a short jumper by Drennan and a drive through the trees to the basket by Reid Barringer, the Big Blue were forced to resort to fouling as a means of clock management. However, the Cards would have none of it, and responded to the pressure by hitting 10 of 10 free throws in the final 1:14, including 2 by both Drennan and King, and 6 by "Mr. Automatic" Mitch Raridon. 

 

[Titan Q]

The next 3 games...

Carthage (3-1) - vs NCC, @ MU, @ NPU
Augustana (2-2) - vs MU, vs NCC, @ IWU
Elmhurst (2-2) - @ NPU, vs WC, @ NCC
Illinois Wesleyan (2-2) - vs WC, @ NPU, vs AC
North Central (2-2) - @ CC, @ AC, vs EC
North Park (2-2) - vs EC, vs IWU, @ CC
Wheaton (2-2) - @ IWU, @ EC, vs MU
Millikin (1-3) - @ AC, vs CC, @ WC

[Titan Q]

It looks like Wheaton made a pretty significant change to their lineup last night, starting freshman Andrew Jahns.  Now Wheaton goes...

G Kent Raymond (6-3/195, Jr) - 22.6 ppg, 4.3 rgp, 4.7 apg
G Andrew Jahns (6-2/180, Fr) - 5.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg
G Ben Panner (6-3/175, So) - 14.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
F Stephen Young (6-3/175, So) - 2.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg
C Andy Wiele (6-8/230, Jr) - 15.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg

The bench is thin.  Last night, the Thunder had just 36 bench minutes: Jeremy Bernsten, 6-2/185 Jr. (21 min.), Phil Denham 6-5/225 Sr. (12 min.), and Jacob Carlwell 6-7/205 So. (3 min).  Carlwell started the first 12 games of the year.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/mbball/mbbstats/mwhe15.htm

[tjcummingsfan]

Sorry Q, I'm not sure where to find it, what's the difference in mpg?

Just added above.

Thanks!

I'm surprised Raymond played that much as a freshman, I had the feeling it was going to be in the high 20's, but it really isn't that different from Steve D.

[79jaybird]

Elmhurst showed against IWU and played the way we are used to seeing them play.  Now they just need to address the "consistency" button and play this way every night.
As many have noted, Elmhurst size was a big weapon tonight.  You know about Burks and Ruch, but I think the player who made the biggest difference for EC was Jared Hintzsche. He was rebounding, fighting for loose balls, and scoring points.  I think that is the best game I have ever seen Jared play.  Matt Ryder 4 for 4 from the 3-point line with 2 3's in the first 3 minutes helped the Jays get going early.  First time EC has ever beat IWU 3-straight games. 
IWU is young and spunky, I like their enthusiasm and their drive to take a 16-point deficit and make it a 1 possession game.  I was worried on the air, but every time IWU threatened, EC had an answer.

"Which former EC player would you want shooting an FT...?"

Well, Ryan Burks is not a "former" player.     And Ryan Knuppel is the best FT and 3 point shooter I have seen at Elmhurst. 

[Dennis_Prikkel]

ESPN Poll Question:

If you needed a former Elmhurst player to shoot a free throw, whom would it be:

Ryan Burks
Chris Martin
Ryan Knuppel
Other

I'll take Bill Simpson, Elmhurst '75, who shot about 92% his senior year - also set the league record of 27 fields (no free throw attempts) in a 54-point night versus Wheaton.

DoS