2006-07 CCIW Men’s Basketball Preview

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The 2005-06 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s basketball season was a banner year for many of the schools competing in the conference. The CCIW had a different conference champion (Augustana) a different conference tournament champion (North Central) and a NCAA Division III Final Four team (Illinois Wesleyan).

The 2006-07 season is wide open up and down the conference as shown in the CCIW Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. North Central, Augustana and Wheaton all earned first place votes, with North Central predicted to win the conference title this season. Augustana came in second in the Nov. 1 poll, while Elmhurst was third and Wheaton was fourth. Illinois Wesleyan, Millikin, Carthage and North Park rounded out the poll.

Returning to North Central in 2006-07 is a strong frontcourt that features a pair of all-conference players from last season. Senior forward Anthony Simmons, a unanimous first-team pick a year ago, returns to the lineup along with second-team pick in forward Dan Walton. Senior center Adam Krumtinger is also back after averaging 11.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Simmons averaged a team-high 18.7 points a game, while Walton averaged 14.3 by shooting 53 percent from the field.

Augustana lost first-team all-conference member Rick Harrigan and second-team member Jay McAdams-Thornton to graduation, but head coach Grey Giovanine will look to have a successful encore to its conference title last season. The Vikings return three starters from last season, including senior Drew Wessels, who started 26 games last season en route to earning third-team all-conference honors. Senior Nate Swetalla and his brother, junior Dain Swetalla, each started 28 and 22 games at forward and center respectively.

Much like North Central, Elmhurst will have a strong frontcourt despite the loss of two-time all-American Chris Martin. The frontcourt will be anchored by two-time all-conference player Nick Michael. Michael, a 6-10 center, will run the post with 6-9, 250-pound sophomore Brent Ruch, who started the final five games last season and averaged 8.5 points per game. Michael averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season. Brian Lee, the starting point guard from last season, is back for his senior season after averaging 7.0 points per game last season.

For Wheaton, a familiar face returns to the program as Kent Raymond is back after sitting out the 2005-06 season. Raymond was recently named a D3Hoops.com Fourth Team Preseason All-American at guard. He led the Thunder in scoring at 15.9 points per game during the 2004-05 season, earning second-team all-conference honors. Sophomore center Andy Wiele played in every game last season, averaging 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Senior forwards Michael Fiddler and Johnnie Standard also return after gaining significant experience last season. Matt Akeny, a freshman from the 2004-05 team, returns after sitting out last season.

Illinois Wesleyan will enter the 2006-07 season with a new coach in former Bloomington High School’s Ron Rose, an Illinois Wesleyan graduate. The Titans lost all-Americans Keelan Amelianovich and Adam Dauksas, but return D3Hoops.com Preseason All-American Zach Freeman. Freeman averaged 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season. Freeman’s twin brother Andrew, along with Tyler Smith, Darius Gant and Andrew Gilmore also return.

Millikin sophomore guard Drew Gensler returns after earning third-team all-conference honors last season. Gensler led Millikin with a 17.8 points per game last season. Senior Korte Long returns after averaging 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Senior Mike Gavic missed the last nine games of the 2005-06 season because of a knee injury but still set a new Millikin season record by shooting .490 from 3-point range.

A leading returnee for the Carthage Red Men is Trey Bowens who averaged 13.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, along with forward/center Brian Schlemm (7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds). Guards Scott Hood and Navarro Thompson are also back. Hood averaged 3.57 assists per game last season, good enough for sixth in the CCIW. Thompson averaged 1.08 steals per game last season, good enough for eighth in the CCIW.

North Park head coach Paul Brenegan returns for his third season and will have Jason Gordon, Michael Ventura and Jay Alexander returning to the Vikings. Alexander averaged 8.6 points per game in 25 games last season, while Ventura started in 11 games and played in 22 last season.