MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Q - Best wishes to you and Rosemary!

Thanks...everything worked out great.  Got lucky with some perfect weather that weekend.

is there a comma missing in that second sentence, Q? 

dgp (sorry couldn't resist)

[AndOne]

Was curious regarding which teams had the most/least starters returning this year.
Reviewing the starters for each conference team in its final game last season reveals North Park and Carthage present, on paper, the most opportunities for new faces to break into the lineup. Both teams have only 2 players returning who started the final game last season. Millikin is next with three. All the remaining teams have 4 starters returning, except Wheaton and *North Central which have all 5 players who started the final game last season returning this year. 

AUGIE:
Collins
Pelton
Washington
B. Wessels

CARTHAGE:
Fendley
Djurickovic

ELMHURST:
Burks
Childs
Rider
Ruch

IWU:
Johnson
Rosenkranz
Dwyer
Chamernik

MILLIKIN:
J. Demby
Patrick
Ogunleye

NORTH CENTRAL:
Prince
Barringer
Drennan
*Raridon--Sr. J. Williams was injured, and was on the floor only for the opening tip
*Rogers---Sr J. Johnson started due to the fact it was senior night. Otherwise
                 Rogers would have been the starter.

NORTH PARK:
Stevens
Williams

WHEATON:
Jahns
Panner
Raymond
Wiele
Carwell

This, of course, does not take into account any other teams besides North Central who may have been honoring seniors in their last game. Also, newcomers can always break into a starting lineup by winning a spot from an incumbent. This list just shows how things stacked up ending last season and beginning this year.

[iwumichigander]

AO - As for IWU, I think opportunites are there for new faces to break into the lineup.  I see Rosenkranz as the only 'sure' starter.  Beyond the point, I really think every spot is 'open'.  We know Chamernik is out for 4 weeks or more.  Ron Rose has a problem most coaches would like to have - talent, 2-3 deep each position skilled talent. 

And, I'm not all that sure the Titans will have, or need, a 'set lineup'.  IWU could very well have a 'best match-up lineup'.

[Titan Q]

The CCIW was really loaded in 2005-06 when Augie, Elmhurst, North Central, and IWU were all outstanding.  Augie hosted the conference tournament, North Central won it, IWU went to the Final Four, and Elmhurst was right there with the other three.

I think the league will be even better in 2008-09.  Augie is a candidate to be the preseason national #1...Wheaton might be a Top 5-7 team as well...Elmhurst should be in the preseason Top 25 poll...and IWU should be in the discussion.  Then, as noted below, North Central returns 5 starters.  Carthage has one of the best players in Division III along with several other solid players (and maybe a big guy transfer per K-Mark?).  North Park has a lot of talent as well.  1-7, the CCIW should just be outstanding this season.  (I have no idea what to think of Millikin.)

I think there will be multiple Final Four caliber teams in the CCIW in '08-09 (like '05-06).  Should be a great year.

[Titan Q]

AO - As for IWU, I think opportunites are there for new faces to break into the lineup.  I see Rosenkranz as the only 'sure' starter.  Beyond the point, I really think every spot is 'open'.  We know Chamernik is out for 4 weeks or more.  Ron Rose has a problem most coaches would like to have - talent, 2-3 deep each position skilled talent. 

And, I'm not all that sure the Titans will have, or need, a 'set lineup'.  IWU could very well have a 'best match-up lineup'.

Sean Johnson is a lock to start for the Titans.  3rd Team All-CCIW as a freshman, 12.9 ppg in CCIW play, 37% shooter from beyond the arc. 

It is very safe to say Travis Rosenkranz, Sean Johnson, and Doug Sexauer would be locks to start for the Titans if the season began today.

[cardinalfanrochelle]

And One,
              How about a Card update?

[Gregory Sager]

Was curious regarding which teams had the most/least starters returning this year.
Reviewing the starters for each conference team in its final game last season reveals North Park and Carthage present, on paper, the most opportunities for new faces to break into the lineup. Both teams have only 2 players returning who started the final game last season.

NORTH PARK:
Stevens
Williams

This is a misnomer, because Stephano Jones was a starter in 2006-07 and would've been a starter last season as well if he hadn't taken a year off from school.

[AndOne]

And One,
              How about a Card update?

The Cards began the season with a 6-9 PM practice Sunday night that featured 32 bodies on the court, including those currently on the injured list. The local military enlistment office should do so well in terms of attracting bodies. How many will turn out to be players rather than bodies remains to be seen. My personal opinion, which counts for nothing, is that there actually too many kids currently out for the team. I think the coaches will make a distinction between the varsity and JV squads sooner rather than later if for no other reason than to be able to conduct  more efficient practices.

Should the season start tomorrow, I feel the only certain winning bet applicable to the Cards, would be that you would see Chris Drennan on the floor. I feel the odds would also VERY strongly favor Reid Barringer and Mitch Raridon joining Drennan. As there is intense competition for a couple of starting spots, and the Cards could actually feature multiple lineups, anything beyond what I mentioned above would be pure speculation at this point. Personally, I feel that the possibility exists that 1 or 2 players who have the ability to start will actually end up not starting in order to bolster bench strength from both an offensive and defensive perspective. The Cards DO have some interchangeable parts with several players having the skill and flexibility to play more than one position. Despite the fact that the majority of players on the roster at the end of last season have returned this year, I believe 3-4 freshmen have a very distinct chance of making the varsity traveling team. I also believe that out of the hordes of non-recruited kids, at least 1 dark horse will emerge to make a significant contribution at least at the JV level.   

Further updates to follow if and when the dust settles. Otherwise, stay tuned for an opening night surprise or two.   

[Gregory Sager]

What's wrong with Matt Rogers?

[Mr. Ypsi]

The CCIW was really loaded in 2005-06 when Augie, Elmhurst, North Central, and IWU were all outstanding.  Augie hosted the conference tournament, North Central won it, IWU went to the Final Four, and Elmhurst was right there with the other three.

I think the league will be even better in 2008-09.  Augie is a candidate to be the preseason national #1...Wheaton might be a Top 5-7 team as well...Elmhurst should be in the preseason Top 25 poll...and IWU should be in the discussion.  Then, as noted below, North Central returns 5 starters.  Carthage has one of the best players in Division III along with several other solid players (and maybe a big guy transfer per K-Mark?).  North Park has a lot of talent as well.  1-7, the CCIW should just be outstanding this season.  (I have no idea what to think of Millikin.)

I think there will be multiple Final Four caliber teams in the CCIW in '08-09 (like '05-06).  Should be a great year.

My sense is that this is spot on.  I could easily envision IWU making it to Salem, and fear that they won't even make the conference tourney - it's gonna be brutal.

WAY too early to prognosticate about the WIAC, UAA, NESCAC, etc., but I'll be a bit surprised if CCIW is not #1 when the dust settles.

[Gregory Sager]

My sense is that this is spot on.  I could easily envision IWU making it to Salem, and fear that they won't even make the conference tourney - it's gonna be brutal.

Chuck, if there was ever a year in which you didn't "easily envision IWU making it to Salem," I would immediately suspect that someone had stolen your log-in and password.

[AndOne]

What's wrong with Matt Rogers?

Up early on my birthday 
Happy birthday to me   

Matt has chosen to take advantage of a tremendous opportunity, and is enrolled in the North Central Student Exchange Program for the 1st term.

He is currently completing a course in Alternative Athletic Medicine and Transcendental Meditation at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. He will return to campus in mid November. In the meantime, he is working out with the Maharishi team.   8)

[Gregory Sager]

The Transcendental Meditation levitation exercises should certainly help with his hang time.

[petemcb]

Greg, you're on a roll.  Too bad I can't hit you up with positive karma twice.  I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow.  After watching Frank Caliendo's lame return to the airwaves last night, I'm thinking there might be an opening on TBS for a darkhorse comedian to emerge.  Got any more of that stuff?

[Titan Q]

My sense is that this is spot on.  I could easily envision IWU making it to Salem, and fear that they won't even make the conference tourney - it's gonna be brutal.

You can "easily envision" a team completely dominated by underclassmen (maybe 80%+ of the playing time from sophomores and freshmen) making it to the Final Four??  Oh my.