This is one I'm more able to write about, as I didn't get to see a ton of women's games this season (though I still tried to follow as best I could). For the men though, I saw every home game and chunks of many road games, and this is maybe the most excited I've been for a conference tournament in a long time.
Of course, there's a reason for that as we go into the second year with the six team format. As with the women, the top two teams get byes to the weekend, while the higher seeds host the play in games on Tuesday.
2020 CCIW Men's Basketball Tournament
I'm almost more excited for this than I was getting to announce a couple NCAA Tournament games last March. The Cardinals were the preseason pick to host this, so to actually get it is great. This will be the third time the Cardinals have hosted the tournament and first since 2012. North Central has the benefit this year of a 10-2 mark at home, including a perfect 8-0 against CCIW opposition. We'll see if they can make it 10.
Quarterfinal #1
17-8 (11-5), 12th appearance (3rd consecutive), 0 titles
The Titans are in interesting team. They're dangerous... but also wounded. They came into the year with a good junior point guard in Grant Wolfe... who played just seven games before suffering a concussion, and he hasn't played since. This pushed freshman Luke Yoder into the spotlight... where he earned Freshman of the Year honors before breaking his hand a couple weeks ago, so he's out for the remainder of the year as well. This is putting the load now on guys like Second Team All-CCIW Peter Lambesis (11.7 PPG, 41/31/73) and Cory Noe (7.8, 41/33/81). But First Team All-CCIW Matt Leritz (10.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 43% FG) has been on a tear the past few weeks, and the addition of Keondre Schumacher (12.8, 45/41/80) as well as the development of Doug Wallen (11.0, 5.6, 58/42/55) mean this team is still going to be a handful.
15-10 (7-9), 4th appearance (1st since 2017), 1 title
After a couple down years, the Red Men leaders finally put it together enough to get this team on a run. They had a bit of a letdown in the middle of conference play, then put it together before dropping a couple games they should have won (especially this past Wednesday). That game has me nervous if I have to see them again. Jordon Kedrowski (15.9, 46/34/83) and First Team All-CCIW Kienan Baltimore (15.4, 4.7, 43/38/79) form a fantastic 1-2 punch on offense. Down low, especially on defense, they are anchored by the towering Brad Perry (9.6, 6.1, 69% FG, 38 blocks) and Sean Johnson (11.0, 8.5, 61% FG, CCIW-leading 58 blocks). They're going to be a very tough out for Illinois Wesleyan and anyone else they come across.
Quarterfinal #2
20-5 (11-5), 8th appearance (2nd consecutive), 0 titles
The Blue Jays have been something of a national darling this season, winning their first six before dropping a heartbreaker at home to North Central, then winning another 11 straight before running into their first bump in the road, losing three straight before eventually righting the ship. They're led by unanimous First Team All-CCIW Jake Rhode (20.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 48/45/83) and Second Team All-CCIW Derek Dotlich (16.3, 41/39/94), with a healthy dose of another Second Team player in Lavon Thomas (13.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 51/28/69), who gave them the legitimate low post threat they needed to take it to the next level this season. They're almost underrated as the #4 seed, but no one in the conference is taking them lightly.
15-10 (9-7), 11th apperance (3rd consecutive), 2 titles
A year after Aston Francis did a crapton of Aston Francis things and helped send the Thunder to the Final Four, Wheaton is back with a lot of his supporting cast as a pretty good, but not top tier team. They struggled against most of the upper echelon of the conference (except Illinois Wesleyan). This year it's a more balanced attack on offense led by unanimous First Team All-CCIW Nyameye Adom (18.7, 46/43/78) and Second Team All-CCIW Tyson Cruickshank (14.8, 5.9, 45/38/87). Cade Alioth has really come into his own (11.0, 8.6), while Luke Anthony (11.2, 42/42/55) is a good two-way player, as is Anajuwon Spencer (9.2, 5.3, 40 blocks). Their balance will make them a tough team to top.
First Round Bye Teams
18-7 (12-4), 15th appearance (15th consecutive), 6 titles
Grey Giovanine once again has his team in the conference tournament, and for the second straight year his team earned a bye straight to the weekend. They graduated arguably their best player from last year in Nolan Ebel, but almost didn't miss a beat, as unanimous First Team All-CCIW Pierson Wofford (17.2, 6.9, 52/42/85) leads the way with a great two-way game. Size is the name of the game for the Vikings, with First Team All-CCIW Micah Martin (12.5, 6.4, 61% FG) protecting the rim and adding some scoring. Second Team All-CCIW Austin Elledge (13.3, 46/40/90) and Lucas Simon (6.0, 44/39/78) provide a solid backcourt along with the floor generalship of Jack Jelen (4.9 PPG, 92 assists). They're just a good team; maybe not as good as prior iterations, but not one to take lightly.
21-4 (14-2), 11th appearance (6th consecutive), 5 titles
The preseason favorite did what it needed to, taking care of business at home, albeit sometimes dramatically, and for the most part going out and winning tough games on the road. Their 21 wins are the most since their Final Four team seven years ago, and this group is just as experienced. Led by Fred Young Most Outstanding Player/unanimous First Team All-CCIW Connor Raridon (14.1, 7.0, 5.3, 50/35/81) and another unanimous First Team guy in Matt Cappelletti (14.2, 6.8, 51/32/76), this team doesn't have a true big, but plays elite defense. They've gotten a huge addition with Matt Helwig (9.0, 53/43/84) taking on the two-guard role, Second Team All-CCIW Blaise Meredith (8.8, 5.6, 40/34/63) turning into a defensive monster while still playing pretty good offense, and Aiden Chang (6.8, 47/43/88) bouncing back extremely well from his injury last year. Factor in a three-headed monster off the bench in Aaron Jones, Will Clausel, and Mike Pollack, and this group will be a nightmare to knock off at home.
Tournament Predictions
I feel like this is anyone's tournament; any of these six teams can realistically win two or three games over the next week and punch its ticket to the Big Dance. Despite their injuries, I think the Titans win a third time over Carthage, making me breathe a sigh of relief, while I don't see Elmhurst missing out on an opportunity to make the Tournament. I think on Friday, they find a way to upset Augie, while the Cardinals take care of business against the team in green. Then on Saturday, the Cardinals get to celebrate in front of their home crowd, cut down the nets, and not have to worry about an at large bid on Selection Monday.
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