MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GusD]

Coaches' poll is out:

1. Carthage (8)	64
2. Illinois Wesleyan (1)	57
3. Elmhurst	41
4. Wheaton	37
5. North Park	35
6. Augustana	33
7. North Central	31
8. Millikin	16
9. Carroll	10

In the D3hoops.com preseason poll, Carthage was picked #8 and Illinois Wesleyan was picked #16.

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2025-26/preseason

I prefer being the hunter, not the hunted.  Still think we're too small for this ranking, but I look forward to seeing the athleticism, length (long is different than big), and maturity that this year's team will hopefully bring to the floor.

Indeed, with long usually referring to height, and big to girth or thickness. Of course, some players are a combination of the two therefore being both long and big! 

[iwu70]

Glad to be back on the CCIW board.  Looking forward to the season with the Sikma Invitational now just 3 weeks away, at The Shirk.

IWU'70

[GusD]

One more time, and we'll believe you're truly happy to be back, IWU'70. 

[Gregory Sager]

After watching a bunch of open gyms and practices this fall I'll finally get a glimpse of how the Vikings look against somebody else, as North Park entertains Judson here in the crackerbox for a scrimmage that starts in 20 minutes or so.

[iwu70]

IWU has a lot coming back.  Picked second after Carthage.  My own view is that three spots are set with Colak, Funk and Fridman.  Ron Rose will have to sort out the 2 and the 5, with Nathan Boldt likely at the 5, though he's not played much there before, more a perimeter big. Boldt hasn't really played with his back to the basket that much.  Maybe a newbie or Kuehl.  The 2, main shooting guard seems to be up for grabs.  We'll know soon enough.

IWU'70 -- sorry about the multiple postings as I get used to the new Chat setup. 

 

[Gregory Sager]

IWU has a lot coming back.  Picked second after Carthage.  My own view is that three spots are set with Colak, Funk and Fridman.  Ron Rose will have to sort out the 2 and the 5, with Nathan Boldt likely at the 5, though he's not played much there before, more a perimeter big.

Nope. Newbies Noah Cleveland and Brady Ruggles will be in IWU's starting lineup alongside Colak, Funk, and Fridman.

[Gregory Sager]

After watching a bunch of open gyms and practices this fall I'll finally get a glimpse of how the Vikings look against somebody else, as North Park entertains Judson here in the crackerbox for a scrimmage that starts in 20 minutes or so.

It was an interesting scrimmage. I only saw the first half before I had to depart to call the soccer doubleheader at North Park's stadium two blocks east on Foster. A few caveats:

* Two of NPU's projected starters and the backup center were in street clothes due to injury. Not sure when they'll be back, but the early prognosis is soon for at least two of them;

* Because of that, plus the massive turnover caused by a large graduating class, a grand total of two players from last season's team were on the floor;

* I'm still not 100% sure that I have a good fix on who will be getting time at the start of the season, much less who will be getting time by the middle or the end of the 2025-26 campaign, particularly since there are some freshmen in the mix; and

* There was a lot of the sort of miscommunication and what-was-he-thinking kinds of mistakes that are rife in first scrimmages, especially considering that nine of the 12 Vikings that Ed McGhee used in that first half were newbies. (I'm not counting Kolden Vanlandingham as a newbie.)

Having said all that, the scoreboard read 66-33 in favor of North Park when I walked out of the crackerbox at the end of the first half. The final score at the end of the two varsity halves was 108-69. (The two teams concluded the affair by playing a continuous-clock 15-minute JV half.)

Now, it needs to be said that Judson wasn't much of an opponent. But there was plenty to be excited about if you're a Vikings fan, nevertheless. I'm just hoping that the injured players are back and in form soon, and that the team can gel quickly. These Vikings look promising.

[bopol]

Coaches' poll is out:

1. Carthage (8)	64
2. Illinois Wesleyan (1)	57
3. Elmhurst	41
4. Wheaton	37
5. North Park	35
6. Augustana	33
7. North Central	31
8. Millikin	16
9. Carroll	10

In the D3hoops.com preseason poll, Carthage was picked #8 and Illinois Wesleyan was picked #16.

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2025-26/preseason

I prefer being the hunter, not the hunted.  Still think we're too small for this ranking, but I look forward to seeing the athleticism, length (long is different than big), and maturity that this year's team will hopefully bring to the floor.

The thing with Carthage last year was that, despite not being that 'big', all the guys crash the boards well.  It's like a team where the taller players are more wings or guards than centers or power forwards.  More an NBA/D1 team style than a traditional D3, if you know what I mean.  It creates mismatches on offense and, as long as there isn't a monstrous big on the other team, they can cover it up on D.

Nesbitt has a number, so, with him back, that's a lot of talent on that team.  They listed the freshman, but only by weight, which is hilarious when you find out one of the guys listed is 6'7" and listed at 176 pounds.  I'll let you figure out who.

[Pat Coleman]

IWU has a lot coming back.  Picked second after Carthage.  My own view is that three spots are set with Colak, Funk and Fridman.  Ron Rose will have to sort out the 2 and the 5, with Nathan Boldt likely at the 5, though he's not played much there before, more a perimeter big. Boldt hasn't really played with his back to the basket that much.  Maybe a newbie or Kuehl.  The 2, main shooting guard seems to be up for grabs.  We'll know soon enough.

IWU'70 -- sorry about the multiple postings as I get used to the new Chat setup. 

 

Glad you got back in -- I responded to at least two of your emails asking for more information, but I never heard back.