MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Around the league this weekend:

* Dan, how mobile was Wessels on that bad ankle on Saturday night?

* Bosko Djurickovic couldn't have asked for much more than what he got from his team on Saturday night at Redlands. Did anyone notice Steve D's line? He had a Martinesque 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists; he only turned the ball over twice; and he got to the free throw line 18 times. I shudder to think of what he is going to do to Silver Lake on Wednesday up in Manitowoc; it might put the Lakers coaches off of their Thanksgiving dinner the next day. Also, Sean Fendley hit four treys, which is exactly what Bosko is looking for from him, and the Red Men as a whole only turned over the ball seven times. The one thing that Bosko can't like is the fact that the Red Men were outrebounded by a 40-27 margin. I can't remember the last time that I saw a team get outrebounded by 13 boards and still win the game by a dozen points or more.

* Elmhurst has the league's best front line, but the 'jays will only go as far as their guards can take them -- and Mark Scherer's gambling in a big way that his freshman backcourt duo will be able to handle the load in January and February.

* I saw Wheaton on Saturday night, and the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance looked very impressive. Ohio Wesleyan is nowhere near as good as last year's Sweet Sixteen edition that featured the now-graduated Dustin Rudegair, but the Battling Bishops still have enough of a team left to be capable of giving most CCIW squads trouble on a good night. On Saturday night, they gave Wheaton no trouble at all. The Bishops were spent before the end of the first half, as they could not keep pace with Wheaton; even their free throws consistently fell short. I was a little puzzled by OWU coach Mike DeWitt's insistence upon putting his one solid big man, Brent Pleiman, on the weak side post and utilizing constant attempts at dribble penetration to get OWU's points. That appeared to play right into Wheaton's hands; stopping the drive is Wheaton's specialty, and defending the low post is Wheaton's weakness (or at least it was last year; I couldn't tell if it is this year or not, because Pleiman hardly touched the ball -- the one time he did get it strong-side, early in the game, he schooled Andy Wiele and got an easy layup). Also, the two Wheaton freshmen, Tim McCrary and Jeremy Pflederer, looked very solid. They're definitely CCIW-ready.

Having seen both teams now, I put Wheaton a little ahead of Augustana at this point. But once Wessels is fully healthy, that could easily change.

* This didn't get mentioned yet, but Millikin dodged a bullet and escaped two missed treys by Dominican in the last ten seconds to beat the Stars, 63-62, in Concordia (IL)'s Greisman Gym in the River Forest Classic on Saturday. The Big Blue, who led from wire-to-wire but blew an 11-point second-half lead, were led by Tunde Ogunleye's 26 points and Joscar Demby's 12 points.

[sac]

Hope played Mt. Vernon Naz last year and won 96-77, but no one who was there described it as easy.

Mt. VN lost in the first round of last years NAIA II tournament by 3 to Oregon Tech, Tech went on to win the Championship.  They finished 23-8 last year beating everyone outside their conference except Hope and Oregon Tech.  They've have won 20+ games for 7 years running, and 12 of 14.   Thats a solid program by any measure.

[Gregory Sager]

CCIW pick'em participants, don't forget that there is a Monday night game this week. Please get your picks in before Carthage's 9:30 pm Central tipoff at Cal Lutheran.

[Titan Q]

I need to preface my remaining remarks with the caveat that I am NOT trying to disrespect our fellow CCIW players by what I am about to report, and I'm not mashing sour grapes by attempting to "down" the opposition in any way. So, please read this post only in the framework of my presenting an honest analysis of the personal mentioned. We're all familiar with Wheaton's Kent Raymond and the greatness he brings to the floor. While this may be hard to believe, I think if you saw Mt. Vernon's Ben Falkenberg play, you would say he is a better all around player than Mr. Raymond. Kent can rebound better, and probably shoot as well, but Falkenberg   (9/15 (3/8), 7/7, 7 assists, 28 pts) is quicker, stronger, better defensively, and is a much better passer and ball handler than Kent. Falkenberg is most probably the best guard I've seen play in the last 4 years of viewing CCIW, and other DIII basketball.

In looking at '07-08 stats, it's clear 5-11 Ben Falkenburg and 6-3 Kent Raymond are both elite players in their respective divisions...

Falkenberg (29 games): 21.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 A:TO, 220-462 FG (.476), 126-290 3-pt (.434), 99-108 FT (.917)

Raymond (30 games): 24.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 A:TO, 237-549 FG (.432), 75-217 3-pt (.346), 185-208 FT (.889)

[Titan Q]

North Central went down to a 91-75 defeat at the hands of NAIA Div II Mt. Vernon Nazarene last night in the final of the NCC Tip-Off Tourney in Naperville. As TQ referenced above, Mt. Vernon was the the NAIA's pre-season #3 ranked team.

IWU might get a crack at the team ranked one spot behind Mt. Vernon Nazarene in that preseason NAIA II poll.  The Titans play at the Northwood U. tourney Dec 29-30. 

http://seahawks.gonorthwood.com/mbasketball/

IWU would have to get by NAIA I St. Xavier (Chicago) first though.

[Titan Q]

Forgot to mention in my comments on the IWU/Manchester game that the 10 guys who went out to the center circle to start the game were all sophomores and freshmen.  I was trying to remember another game I'd seen where not a single upperclassmen started, and couldn't come up with one.  I'm sure I'm just forgetting about another occassion that happened, but that has to be a pretty rare thing in a college basketball game at any level.

[dansand]

Forgot to mention in my comments on the IWU/Manchester game that the 10 guys who went out to the center circle to start the game were all sophomores and freshmen.  I was trying to remember another game I'd seen where not a single upperclassmen started, and couldn't come up with one.  I'm sure I'm just forgetting about another occassion that happened, but that has to be a pretty rare thing in a college basketball game at any level.

Q,
It's pretty common at the junior college level. 

Around the league this weekend:

* Dan, how mobile was Wessels on that bad ankle on Saturday night?

Considering he's also been battling a hip flexor issue as well as the ankle, he seemed to be moving pretty well. I'm sure he's nowhere near 100%, but if you know Brett, he's going to play the same way regardless of his health issues. He hit the floor probably half a dozen times Saturday night. Friday was the first day he practiced, so I imagine his conditioning might be a little behind. That's especially important for a guy who succeeds not by superior skills or athletic ability, but mostly by out-hustling and out-working everybody else.

[wheels81]

I don't think anyone has posted about the North Central/Mt Vernon Nazarene game yet.  Looks like NCC lost 91-75...

http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/athletics/stats/basketball_m/08-09/MBK02.HTM


Mt Vernon Nazarene is an NAIA DII team, ranked #3 in the preseason poll:

http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl-div2/spec-rel/102708aab.html

http://www.mvnu.edu/sports/nazmbb/

NAIA DII is more of a mixed bag than NAIA DI is, but generally the top 5-10 teams are very good - comparable to NCAA D3 top 25 teams.  I didn't see the game, but I'm guessing North Central played a very good team last night. 

North Central went down to a 91-75 defeat at the hands of NAIA Div II Mt. Vernon Nazarene last night in the final of the NCC Tip-Off Tourney in Naperville. As TQ referenced above, Mt. Vernon was the the NAIA's pre-season #3 ranked team. They have now, already played 6 games this season, losing only to NCAA DII Ashland Univ., 109-99. The Cards stuck with the Cougars early and trailed by only 2 at the half. However, the Cougars athleticism and skill took over with about 12 minutes remaining in the 2nd half as they extended an about 5 point lead out to 22 over the next several minutes.

The Cardinals were led by Chris Drennan (6/9, 7/8, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) with 19 and Reid Barringer (5/13 (3/7), 4/4) with 17. Mitch Raridon was the remaining Cardinal in double figures with 12. The Cards forced 18 Cougar TOs, the majority of which came in the 1st half when tenacious defense kept them in the game. Mt. Vernon's dominance can perhaps best be evidenced by the fact that they out-rebounded the Cards by a 36-22 margin.

This game can serve as a very good basis of comparison of the level of play between a #3 NAIA DII team and the CCIW. The CCIW team that immediately came to mind for comparison sake is the Wheaton Thunder. In fact, Mt. Vernon's Head Coach Scott Fleming was formerly a Crusader assistant many years ago.

I need to preface my remaining remarks with the caveat that I am NOT trying to disrespect our fellow CCIW players by what I am about to report, and I'm not mashing sour grapes by attempting to "down" the opposition in any way. So, please read this post only in the framework of my presenting an honest analysis of the personal mentioned. We're all familiar with Wheaton's Kent Raymond and the greatness he brings to the floor. While this may be hard to believe, I think if you saw Mt. Vernon's Ben Falkenberg play, you would say he is a better all around player than Mr. Raymond. Kent can rebound better, and probably shoot as well, but Falkenberg   (9/15 (3/8), 7/7, 7 assists, 28 pts) is quicker, stronger, better defensively, and is a much better passer and ball handler than Kent. Falkenberg is most probably the best guard I've seen play in the last 4 years of viewing CCIW, and other DIII basketball. As fine a player as Thunder Center Andy Wiele is, Cougar Center Jadin Thomas (10/12 (1/2), 3/6, 24 pts, 10 rebounds) would take him to school. Specifically, Thomas would be able to continually use his quickness to "beat" Andy to the majority of rebounds. He would also be able to take Wiele outside, and then use that same quickness to blow by him to the basket. Thomas is a much superior mid range shooter, and could continually use his quick & powerful springs to score on Andy underneath. Cougar guard Brandon Short (6/10, 4/6, 16 pts) would be the quickest player in the CCIW, and 6th man Andy Francis (3/3 (1/1), 2/2, 9 pts, 6 rebounds) with arms as big and powerful as most player's legs, would be a starter on any team in our league.

Again, no disrespect intended to any player mentioned. Just using 2 of our best to illustrate the level of play on a comparative  basis.   

Don't you mean no disrespect to Wheaton players, what other CCIW players were you not "disprespecting"?   Wow for North Central just to stay in the same gym as Nazarene was just amazing!

[Pat Coleman]

Dan, thanks for introducing yourself the other night.

I'm finally getting my bearings back after the long day Saturday -- Joe and I did the football playoff game at North Central, then drove to Augustana. My brother and I drove the six hours home after the game and I got about three hours of sleep Saturday night.

Great atmosphere and a great game. To hearken back to a conversation we had on the air that drew some discussion on the Top 25 page, my point was that even if these two teams turn out to be two of the best teams in the country on Selection Sunday, odds are the committee wouldn't separate them so that that kind of game could potentially be played in Salem. Maybe it's a little early to start thinking about March but the men's basketball committee has shown very little imagination of late and it's to the detriment of Division III.

The conversation was not meant to state hands-down that these are the best two teams in Division III and will be in March. I don't know enough about the other 390-plus teams to make that assessment. But even if they were, we would not likely get treated to an Augustana-Wash U matchup in Salem.

[ecdubb420]

One alarming feature I have noticed with this EC team over the last few years has been once they establish a comfortable lead, they get complacent and almost sit on a lead.   

That has definately been a problem and typically occured due to poor guard play.  I still remember blowing a 20 point lead against Kalamazoo back in 2003, where they led for 39:57 and lost by 2 points.
Outside of Brian Lee's two years as a starter, EC has really had its problems at the point over the last 7 years.  This is  nothing new.  DJ Cooper, Craig Schau, Jimmy Saris, Childs (plays more like a 2), Bainter (not a point), have all been what they call in the NFL game managers, guys who don't do anything flashy but at the same time try to not make too many mistakes. 
Its really too early to tell what you have in Boyd or McCurdy and honestly, I wish we were playing one of the UWSP and UWL games on the road and then we might have a better answer.  Those freshman might not be quite ready for the daunting task of opening the CCIW season at Augie, then again EC (and the rest of the CCIW) has just been owned in Rock Island.
If all goes to plan, Coach Scherer will be going for his 200th career win against UW-SP.  Quite an accomplishment.
One more note, its great to see Robert Strzemp playing as well as he has.  They say it takes a few seasons to recover from knee injuries and even though he had a solid junior year, you can tell that his confidence and explosiveness is back.  Makes me remember to January '06 in Chicago when he dropped 13 in the second half to lead EC to an ugly win against North Park.  If he goes 12-5 this year EC can win 20 games, even with average guard play.

[Gregory Sager]

If he goes 12-5 this year EC can win 20 games, even with average guard play.

True ... but Elmhurst didn't get average guard play last season. It got below-average guard play. Honestly, in this scenario "average guard play" is the goal to which you aspire if you're Elmhurst, not the already-established base that you can automatically assume and for which you're willing to settle if you absolutely have to.

I don't envision seeing the Bluejays guards walking around in t-shirts that say "MEDIOCRITY = VICTORY", but if they did it would be an accurate statement.

[Naperick]

I don't think anyone has posted about the North Central/Mt Vernon Nazarene game yet.  Looks like NCC lost 91-75...

http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/athletics/stats/basketball_m/08-09/MBK02.HTM


Mt Vernon Nazarene is an NAIA DII team, ranked #3 in the preseason poll:

http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl-div2/spec-rel/102708aab.html

http://www.mvnu.edu/sports/nazmbb/

NAIA DII is more of a mixed bag than NAIA DI is, but generally the top 5-10 teams are very good - comparable to NCAA D3 top 25 teams.  I didn't see the game, but I'm guessing North Central played a very good team last night. 

North Central went down to a 91-75 defeat at the hands of NAIA Div II Mt. Vernon Nazarene last night in the final of the NCC Tip-Off Tourney in Naperville. As TQ referenced above, Mt. Vernon was the the NAIA's pre-season #3 ranked team. They have now, already played 6 games this season, losing only to NCAA DII Ashland Univ., 109-99. The Cards stuck with the Cougars early and trailed by only 2 at the half. However, the Cougars athleticism and skill took over with about 12 minutes remaining in the 2nd half as they extended an about 5 point lead out to 22 over the next several minutes.

The Cardinals were led by Chris Drennan (6/9, 7/8, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) with 19 and Reid Barringer (5/13 (3/7), 4/4) with 17. Mitch Raridon was the remaining Cardinal in double figures with 12. The Cards forced 18 Cougar TOs, the majority of which came in the 1st half when tenacious defense kept them in the game. Mt. Vernon's dominance can perhaps best be evidenced by the fact that they out-rebounded the Cards by a 36-22 margin.

This game can serve as a very good basis of comparison of the level of play between a #3 NAIA DII team and the CCIW. The CCIW team that immediately came to mind for comparison sake is the Wheaton Thunder. In fact, Mt. Vernon's Head Coach Scott Fleming was formerly a Crusader assistant many years ago.

I need to preface my remaining remarks with the caveat that I am NOT trying to disrespect our fellow CCIW players by what I am about to report, and I'm not mashing sour grapes by attempting to "down" the opposition in any way. So, please read this post only in the framework of my presenting an honest analysis of the personal mentioned. We're all familiar with Wheaton's Kent Raymond and the greatness he brings to the floor. While this may be hard to believe, I think if you saw Mt. Vernon's Ben Falkenberg play, you would say he is a better all around player than Mr. Raymond. Kent can rebound better, and probably shoot as well, but Falkenberg   (9/15 (3/8), 7/7, 7 assists, 28 pts) is quicker, stronger, better defensively, and is a much better passer and ball handler than Kent. Falkenberg is most probably the best guard I've seen play in the last 4 years of viewing CCIW, and other DIII basketball. As fine a player as Thunder Center Andy Wiele is, Cougar Center Jadin Thomas (10/12 (1/2), 3/6, 24 pts, 10 rebounds) would take him to school. Specifically, Thomas would be able to continually use his quickness to "beat" Andy to the majority of rebounds. He would also be able to take Wiele outside, and then use that same quickness to blow by him to the basket. Thomas is a much superior mid range shooter, and could continually use his quick & powerful springs to score on Andy underneath. Cougar guard Brandon Short (6/10, 4/6, 16 pts) would be the quickest player in the CCIW, and 6th man Andy Francis (3/3 (1/1), 2/2, 9 pts, 6 rebounds) with arms as big and powerful as most player's legs, would be a starter on any team in our league.

Again, no disrespect intended to any player mentioned. Just using 2 of our best to illustrate the level of play on a comparative  basis.   

AndOne is right on!  I only stayed for the first half because it was getting late.  The womens title game went 3 OT's so they were behind schedule.  Mt. Vernon had some great athletes.  I was surprised.  I assumed that NCC stacked their tourney with bad teams to get a few easy victories.  That's what I get for assuming.  I left Merner Fieldhouse at halftime trying to figure out how the Cardinals stayed with Mt. Vernon for a half.  The final score made sense to me.  The better team finally took over in the 2nd half.  Falkenberg is very quick and can switch directions with ease.  He is very hard to guard.  He is an amazing player.

[Naperick]

Anyone know why Matt Rogers has only played 21 minutes in 2 games so far this season for North Central?  Is he recovering from an injury?  I apologize if this has already been mentioned.

[Titan Q]

Looks like tonight's Carthage/Cal Lutheran game can be watched via the following site...

http://www.kadytv.com/

Tipoff is at 7:30pm PST/9:30pm CST.

[petemcb]

Thanks for the link, Bob.