Olivet Nazarene University

Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009

2009-2010 CCAC D1 Preview

There’s no question that the 2009-2010 edition of the Division I side of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference will be just as exciting and unpredictable as the 2009 season proved to be. At the same time, only a few would have predicted the standings the way they looked in the March of 2009; and maybe they were located in South Bend, Ind. or downtown Chicago, Ill.

No longer, Robert Morris College, but now, Robert Morris University (Ill.), finished its third consecutive season as CCAC regular-season champion with an unblemished 10-0 record. The Eagles marched through the Conference Tournament, finished off St. Xavier University (Ill.) in the Semifinals and beat Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 72-62 in the Championship to march their way to Kansas City, Mo. for the NAIA Division I National Championship Tournament.

However, the unpredictable part of the 2009 conference season was the final regular-season records. Conference powerhouse Robert Morris finished 10-0 in first place, out-of-nowhere IU-South Bend finished 7-3 in second place, steady ONU finished 6-4 in third place, underachieving St. Xavier finished 4-6 in fourth place, the University of St. Francis (Ill.) finished 2-8 in fifth, and IIT finished 1-9 in sixth. Indiana University-South Bend was clearly the biggest surprise as the squad had a great year beating ONU and St. Xavier, earning a first round bye and second round home game in the Conference Tournament. Preseason indications had IU-South Bend finishing in the middle of the conference pack.

For the first time in eight seasons the CCAC did not send two teams to the NAIA Division I National Championship Tournament. However, it did continue its streak of good showings, with Robert Morris University (Ill.) making it all the way to the Final Four before being ousted by the eventual National Champion Rocky Mountain College (Mont.). This year the CCAC looks to be stronger and hopefully will send its regular number of teams to Kansas City.

One of the major differences in the CCAC this year will be the absence of the Illinois Institute of Technology. IIT’s administration and Director of Athletics decided in the spring of 2009 to dissolve the men’s basketball program, as well as the women’s program. With the decrease in number of participating schools to only five, the CCAC needed to find a school to solidify its automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament. Later in the summer Holy Cross College (Ind.) located in Notre Dame, Ind. decided to put in a bid to join the Division 1 side of the conference for the 2009-2010 campaign and then starting in the 2010-2011 season Holy Cross will join the CCAC Division II side. Soon there after, the CCAC accepted HCC as an official CCAC member this season.

Compared to many of the other NAIA conferences across the nation, the CCAC is one of the smallest in number of teams, but for the 2009-2010 season will display some of the better teams and talent the NAIA has to offer. Following the 2008-2009 season, the conference lost a number of quality of players. The CCAC Player of the Year in IU-South Bends Tyler Leighton, and the second leading vote getter for Player of the Year, Robert Morris point guard Kenny Page both graduated.

The leading scorers from both St. Xavier and St. Francis, Rob Broughton and Rob Rabenau have both moved on after graduation. Also, a host of Eagles from Robert Morris; Jeff Wilson, Marcus Hall, and Tim Baker, the Sixth Man of the Year in the conference have played their last year. A few other top players; Derrick DeShone (IUSB), Nick Wirth (SXU), Scott Campbell (SXU), and Sam Robison (USF) have played their last game in uniform.

However, the most exciting thing about the Chicagoland Collegiate is the excellent cast of returning players for this season. Each team will look to these individuals to form the best team they can put on the floor and hopefully have a chance to claim the conference title.

In their first and only year in the CCAC Division 1 side of the conference, Holy Cross College (Ind.) coached by second year head coach Steve Baumgartner, will look to a few returners to lead the way. Sophomore guard Elliot Jones Jr., averaged 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game as a freshman, leading the team in all three categories. He will be joined by junior guard 6-foot, 3-inch Mark Wilkins. Wilkins averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Low post play for the Saints is provided by Andrew Tullis standing at 6-7 who posted a decent 2008-2009 season averaging 8 points and a team-leading 5.3 rebounds. The rest of the young Saints will join these three to hopefully have a good conference season.

In a 2009 CCAC fifth place finish that doesn’t indicate the normal showing of a Pat Sullivan led team, the University of St. Francis (Ill.) will look to a host of returning players to change that in 2010. The Fightin’ Saints will first look to sophomore guard Billy Hubly, who averaged 8 points per game and shot 44 percent from the three-point line. They also return sharp-shooting guard Ryan Gunderson who averaged 7.7 points and led them in three point percentage at 46.7 percent. They also return point guard Tristan Therkield who averaged 9.9 points per game. The Saints add two transfers to the mix this season, big-man 6-7, 250-pound. Bruce Watson and a 6-5 wing Greg Leavell from Schoolcraft Junior College in Detroit, Michigan. Coach Sullivan will have some work to do get back to top of the CCAC standings, but with these returners and newcomers it should make it a little more manageable.

A staple in the top three of the CCAC year after year, St. Xavier University (Ill.) found themselves out the familiar top spots after dropping below the .500 mark after playing 10 conference games. In his 13th season, Coach Tom O’Malley plans on stopping that trend before it becomes one. He has some reliable help to do so; starting with the Co-Freshman-of-the-Year Ed Gilgenbach who averaged 7.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 2009. The Cougars also return All-Conference Honorable Mention senior guard Julian Scott who averaged 12 points, 4.8 rebounds, and shot 58.9 percent from the field. They also bring back shooter Mike Johnstone who chipped in with 8.6 points per game and 46 3-pointers made last year. OMalley and his staff brought in two transfers; the first, guard Stan Mayfield from McKendree University (Ill.) and big-man 6-7, 225-pound Jake Listebarger from McHenry County College (Ill.) to add size inside. Look for the Cougars to get back in the mix this year.

After a historic year for the Titans of Indiana University-South Bend, head coach Denny Parks looks to repeat and better it in 2010. After finishing 7-3 and hosting a Semifinal game in the CCAC Tournament, IUSB is not satisfied with its results and wants the same this season. With the huge hole left after graduating CCAC POY Tyler Leighton, Parks will look to his long list of other returners to carry the load. All-Conference junior 6-6 athletic big-man Ben Werner will return and look to contribute more on both ends of the floor after averaging 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last year. The Titans also return another junior big man in Dan Kunde, who averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and made 35 threes last year. Parks also has two guards returning that combined to start 27 games last year for the Titans. Mark Comparato averaged 6.9 points per game and shot 41.3 percent from the three-point line and Dylan Morris played the point guard averaging 3.2 points per game. IUSB will look to become familiar face at the top of the CCAC standings board after a watershed season last year.

After a disappointing 2009 conference season that left the Tigers at 6-4 overall and at home after a Tournament Championship loss to Robert Morris University (Ill.). Head coach Ralph Hodge in his 31st year has the purple and gold ready to regain the title that has eluded them for the last three seasons. With every starter returning and All-Conference Josh Bronke coming back after his redshirt the 2010 season looks to be prime for ONU to revisit the top of the CCAC standings. Bronke will move to the off-guard in his senior year after averaging 10.8 points and shooting 43.8 percent from behind the arc his junior year. Co-Freshman-of-the-Year Antonio Marshall will man the point again in sophomore campaign after averaging 10.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game and hitting 53 threes. Senior All-Conference wing man Rashad Mitchell will look to be disruptive self on the defensive end as well as help offensive after averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Inside for ONU will be NAIA All-American Honorable Mention senior Tyler Wallenfang who led the way for the Tigers averaging 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 2009. To join them, the ONU coaching staff has brought in two freshmen, guard Ben Worner and athletic big-man Jordan Harks who may crack the starting lineup by year’s end. Hodge with his personnel has the Tigers willing and ready to take the crown as their own again.

The reigning regular season champs three years running and tournament champions six years running, Robert Morris University (Ill.) will look to do both again. They also made it back to the NAIA National Championship Final Four last year making it four out of the last six years. Following the 2009 season, CCAC Coach-of-the-Year Al Bruehl lost seven players to graduation or their final year of eligibility, but he and his staff have returned just as good a squad for this year’s journey. Not to mention, the Eagles return two very athletic seniors in Billy Rush and Reggie Bunch. Senior Rush started 14 of his 23 games played and averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game off the wing. All-conference selection senior Bunch averaged 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and shot 60.1 percent from the floor, all three leading the team. Coach Bruehl and his staff also went out and brought in transfer Rob Eppinger from NCAA Division 1 the University of Illinois-Chicago. Eppinger started 11 of his 29 games in the post averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. They also have brought in a host of others transfers to play around these three and provide the depth they need to play the style of game they want. Bruehl will have the Eagles ready to defend their title again.

In 2010, the CCAC may or may not end up like it did in 2009, with every team having a number of returners and a few key newcomers. Each team will do their best to stay atop the standings and maybe someone new will end up in first, or Robert Morris will again repeat as champions. No one will know until March of 2010 is here, but one thing is known, the CCAC will show strong out of conference, in conference, and potentially in the National Tournament in Kansas City, and just maybe one of these six teams will find their way to the podium and be crowned the best.

Nick Birkey
Men's SID