MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

TQ, I'll assume the honeymoon will be short and sweet as you  couldn't miss opening day of practice for ANYTHING !!!!

A week at the Ritz in Grand Cayman...or watching the Titans struggle through sloppy first week practice drills??  Hmmmm.

Practice?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frsId3goYYE

[iwumichigander]

Nuptials two weeks from today in Palm Coast, Florida.  She appears to still be in but does have 14 days to get cold feet.  Will keep everyone posted.

MIZ-ZOU

I'll put my money on Rosemary to show-up.  She should have you sign over your hotel and airline points now! CCIW posters - do we need to start a cold feet pool?

And Q, thanks for telling us where the honeymoon will be.  We usually have to work a lot harder to find out that info http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/Default.htm

[kenoshamark]

Well, finally a chance to comment on one of the Carthage recruits that hadn't been mentioned to date.  Nothing has been posted yet under the roster on the website but I see there is some mention in the review/outlook for the year.  Waited a couple days to see if the roster and profiles were going to be updated but apparently not.  Besides Pace Bennett from Moline, the other key newcomer listed is Max Cary out of Geneva, IL. 

For a few the last name of Cary might be familiar as his dad, Rich Cary, played in the late 70's for Carthage.  I have mentioned his dad on a couple occasions as being one of my favorite players throughout the years.  Rich played the point and was a two-time all conference performer (third team as a sophomore in 78 and second team as a senior in 80). 

If Max is anything like his dad, Carthage will have gotten a very fine player.  Have heard good things about him already as well as the Bennett kid.  We'll see if they can contribute as freshmen.  If either or both can play the point it should allow Steve to play off the ball more which I think will make him even more effective in the offense. 

[AndOne]

I saw Max Cary play 3 times last season. He is definitely a very good player. As evidence of that fact, Batavia all-stater Nick Freundt who is headed to Northwestern called Cary the best player he went up against last year.

Max averaged 18.4 ppg along with 3.7 apg. He has the ability to play either the point or the 2 guard position. While he can adequately direct the offense from the point, he is adept at driving the lane, hitting the pull-up jumper, or spotting up for the three. Based on the times I saw him play, I'd say he is most dangerous on the pull-up from deep 2 point range. Many of his assists would come inside when he would drive and dish off under the basket.

KMark--You said if someone can emerge at point, that would allow Steve D to play off the ball more which you feel "will make him even more effective in the offense."

QUESTION-----> From observing Steve last season, my impression is that he would actually be more dangerous and valuable with the ball in his hands. rather than his playing off the ball. I say this for two reasons: 1. Who is better driving into someone and "creating' a foul call? He went to the line 234 times last year, and I'll bet the vast majority of those attempts were as a result of his initiating contact rather than the defensive man. And 80 percent of those attempts are going in the hole. 2.  If he were to play off the ball, I sense most of his "flow" in the offensive scheme would be to either spot up directly, or run through a series of screens by his teammates to gain an opportunity for the open look. Either way, the result of either of those moves is that he'll end up further from the basket initially. This puts him in the one phase of his game that probably needs the most improvement,  namely his outside shooting from longer range. This is evidenced by his his 24 percent 3 point field goal accuracy. Additionally, I don't believe his percentage from deep 2 point range is sparkling either. Also remember that with the 3 point line being moved back a foot this year, his percentage might further decline. Accordingly, I think the RedMen are more dangerous with the ball in his hands and closer to the basket initially. As far as a shooter who can either spot up for the 3 off the break, or be run through screens to create a long range shot, especially from the LEFT corner, the RedMen have a far more dangerous weapon in Sean Fendley. And Steve is a good enough assist man to hit him when he is open. Your comments please, Mark.   

[kenoshamark]

AndOne,

Very fair questions....I'm not opposed to having the ball in Steve's hands but after a year of coaches seeing him, I think they will be able to defense him better and get the ball out of his hands earlier than they may have last year.   Keep in mind, as the year progressed, the number of calls he got declined and he wasn't going to the line as much.  Depending on what side of the fence one is on it seemed as if a number of coaches started complaining about all the calls he was getting and this was one of the reasons for less opportunities at the line.  Now I will be the first to admit, Bosko thought Steve was fouled everytime down the court, so he may have gotten some calls early in the season that went away after awhile. 

I'd prefer seeing Steve run off screens and catch the ball and then attack the basket like he does so well.  Lets face it, having to bring the ball up the court, direct the offense and then try to create as the clock rolls down can be challenging.  Because of his size and knack for creating contact, running off screens or posting up can give him a chance to be creative too. 

Trust me, if he stays at the point I'm not disappointed.   I just see him becoming a more dimensional option on offense.  And to your point, if he can develop a more consistent outside shot, it creates more options no matter where he plays. 

[AndOne]

Mark----

Good points. I understand where you're coming from.
Another question that comes to mind is that if you play Steve D at the 2, what do you do with Fendley. I think he is unquestionably one of the better shooters, especially from 3 territory, in the league. However, he isn't a good enough ball handler or fast enough to handle the point. Therefore, the 2 is really the only place he can play unless Bosko wants to "go small" and use him as a wing 3. However, as I'm sure you'll agree, one of the primary things CC needs to do is get bigger, so playing Sean at the 3 is counterproductive to this objective. At any rate, as CC's best shooter, I think he needs to be on the floor. Also, as far as Steve vacating the point 2 more things to consider are:
1. If the RedMen had someone who is that good a point guard on the roster last year who is returning this year, wouldn't that player already have seen more PT? The fact Steve saw so much time at point tells me Bosko doesn't think anyone on the team previous to this year can handle it better.
2. As far as an incoming freshman coming in and starting at the point, its a very hard thing for a frosh to do. Sure its possible as we saw Rosenkranz do at Wesleyan last year, but its certainly not a common occurance. I don't know about any of the other new players for Carthage, but from my observations of Cary, I'd be surprised if he'll be ready to man the point as a freshman, especially in CCIW play. 

[kenoshamark]

AndOne,

Moving Steve to the 2 does create the problem of where to play Fendley, so I agree there.  I think they can play certain teams with Steve, Fendley and another guard as Steve has enough size to play the 3.  He played low on defense (zones) so that can be an option and then offensively you have both Steve and Fendley in the game together with another guard. 

I don't think there was anyone from last years group that could step in at the point other than Higgins but not sure that is his role.   Your right, for either of the two freshmen to step in as starters at the point seems to be a long shot at best but I do think there is a nice rotation that could emerge among a number of the guards.   

I do think Shemerdiak is the natural 3 due to his size and athletic ability.  Depending on what they do at the 4 and 5, it would allow Shemerdiak to play his more normal position.   

[AndOne]

I agree Shemerdiak's best position is the 3. The problem I've observed with him is inconsistency. He can go off for 20 one night, and then go off the deep end the next.

[kenoshamark]

Picked up the Sporting News College Basketball Edition and found the CCIW to be well represented in a number of areas.

Wheaton is ranked third and Augustana is fourth.  IWU and Elmhurst are noted as possible breakthroughs.

Kent Raymond is a first team pick and Brent Ruch is a second team pick.

Honorable mention - Steve D., Brett Wessels and Andy Wiele.

Top Ten is as follows:

St. Thomas (MN)
Washington-St. Louis
Wheaton
Augustana
Wisconsin-Whitewater
Gettysburgh
Buena Vista
Wisconsin-Platteville
Brandeis
Capital

[AndOne]

Picked up the Sporting News College Basketball Edition and found the CCIW to be well represented in a number of areas.

Wheaton is ranked third and Augustana is fourth.  IWU and Elmhurst are noted as possible breakthroughs.

Kent Raymond is a first team pick and Brent Ruch is a second team pick.

Honorable mention - Steve D., Brett Wessels and Andy Wiele.

Top Ten is as follows:

St. Thomas (MN)
Washington-St. Louis
Wheaton
Augustana
Wisconsin-Whitewater
Gettysburgh Gettysburg
Buena Vista
Wisconsin-Platteville
Brandeis
Capital

Ahhhh. so North Central gets to play numbers 3, 4, & 5 in the country. Nice!      
Lots of opportunity for personal development. 

[OurHouse]

ADD THESE SIMPLE FUNDAMENTALS - (what do "they" see)    

These 5 following skills are the skills that almost all coaches look for in a point guard to lead the floor and command the team on the court. A team does not win the BIG games without them.

1. Leadership & Confidence
As the point guard of your team, you MUST have leadership.
As a leader, you never reveal fear, for he goes down with the ship. Show to your teammates that you guys are a great team, and run the floor and handle the rock with confidence, and your teammates will automatically respect your decisions and trust you more with the ball.

2. Strong Defense
Talk on defense. Great point guards talk constantly on defense helping their teammates to recognize potentially dangerous points of attack by their opponent. They keep their focus throughout the course of a game, and pay attention to details at nearly all times.

3. Court Vision
Court vision is the most important skill that a point guard must possess. The role of the point guard is to be the floor general. He must command the team like a captain commands a ship. Court vision is the ability to locate all your players at all times, and to always know where they are standing, and where they will run to.

4. Speed
What do the top NBA point guards Steve Nash, Tony Parker and TJ Ford have in common?
They're incredibly quick and nimble on their feet.  Speed forces multiple defenders towards you so you can dish the ball out to an open teammate. Speed allows you to break down the defense to create holes and open up passing lanes.
Speed is what starts off the offense, to get the offense moving on its feet so more chances arise and better shots are taken.

5. Ball Handling
Great ball handling skills are super super important for a point guard because he can focus more on controlling the flow of the game and less on whether he can perform a proper crossover.
The better you handle the ball, the easier it is to keep your head up and spot your teammates for that critical pass. Work on your ball handling every day, because there is not one point guard I've talked to that does not stress ball handling as a critical skill.

[iwumichigander]

Q - Best wishes to you and Rosemary!

[Dennis_Prikkel]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

where is everyone?

dgp

when does practice begin?

who's injured?
who are the surprising rookies?
what happened to those fountains of CCIW basketball info - TQ & GS?

[iwumichigander]

Yes, dgp - this board has taken a nap.  NCAA offical first practice date is 10/15 so let's get this board going again.  Did TQ actually tie the knot Oct 11th?  Did he take his laptop on his honeymoon?  And, if yes, will Rosemary let him post this week?  And, has GS recovered from the Cubbies and Sox going down in their respective LCS?

Posters and lurkers want to know!

[thundermike11]

Practice gets rolling at Wheaton today. Open gyms have apparently been very competitive and the team is eager to get after it. Obviously, the guys have high expectations going into the season considering last years run in the tourney and the return of all but one player. But there is also an understanding of certain key breaks the team received in their favor last year, and that nothing will be handed to them. Word is that freshmen Tim McCrary and Jeremy Pflederer have been impressive and could compete for time right away, we'll see what happens.

I think it is safe to say that, top to bottom, this as deep as the conference has ever been. Here's to a great season.