IWU @ #12 Wash U

As a voter in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll, I didn't have to think too hard about which team to slot #1 on my preseason ballot. After seeing Wash U play 7 times last year - a year the Bears made their first trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four, where they finished 3rd - and knowing who they returned, picking the Bears over defending national champion Amherst (which lost a couple key players) was pretty easy. Most of the other voters agreed, as the Bears received 15 total first place voters (out of 25 possible) and were named the preseason #1.

Coming into the season, the Bears had a trio very similar to what IWU had in All-American point-guard Adam Dauksas, All-American wing Keelan Amelianovich, and All-American post Zach Freeman. On the D3Hoops.com 2007-08 preseason All-American team, Wash U senior low-post player Troy Ruths ('06-07: 19.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) was named to the 1st Team and junior point-guard Sean Wallis ('06-07: 13.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 7.3 apg) to the 3rd. 6-7 junior wing Tyler Nading, coming off a big sophomore year (15.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg), was probably one of the near misses.

After a tough loss at NCAA Division III power Calvin on opening weekend, the Bears suffered a big blow the next time out. On November 20 against Maryville (Mo.), point-guard Sean Wallis suffered a fracture in his leg and a tear in the meniscus, sidlining him for the remainder of the season. While Wallis was not the most talented Wash U player (that's probably Nading), he's the one who made them tick. He was exactly what Adam Dauksas was for Illinois Wesleyan for so many years. It is a huge loss.

The first game after the injury to Wallis, the Bears lost to CCIW favorite Augustana, 66-60 on a neutral court (Webster U.). Augie led by 17 at the half and by 15 with 10:00 left before the Bears made a late push, cutting it to 2 with :40 to play. The next day, the Bears defeated UW-Platteville (picked 3rd in the powerhouse WIAC) 87-76, in a game they led the entire way.

Last weekend in the 24th Annual Lopata Classic at Wash U, the Bears defeated Earlham 94-64, before struggling with Babson (2-5), winning by just 2 points. Babson's starters were 5-11, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-4. On paper, it's a game Wash U should have won easily.

So...

The Bears are still a very good team, probably very deserving of their current #12 ranking. But they're not the national championship favorite they were just a few weeks ago. Since the injury to Wallis, head coach Mark Edwards has inserted senior shooting guard Danny O'Boyle into the starting lineup to replace him. O'Boyle is fantastic shooter who is coming off a season-ending injury last year (ruptured achilles), but he is a 2-guard...not a point. The Bears are basically playing with two 2's (Aaron Thompson the other), and Titans fans know how difficult that can be, right? (See 2006-07)

In the four games without Wallis, the Bears have 67 assists and 66 turnovers. With Wallis running the point last year, they had 541 assists to 399 turnovers. It's clear they're not able to handle and distribute the basketball as effectively.

Tyler Nading has really emerged as an All-American candidate though. The 6-7 junior wing is averaging 21.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg. 6-6 senior center Troy Ruths is off to a bit of a slow start (13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)...Ruths is probably the most impacted by Wallis's absence.

The matchups are going to be tough for the Titans. IWU's freshmen guards will be on bigger, stronger, older players. 6-3 Jordan Morris will have to guard 6-7 Nading -- that is an extremely tough assingment for Jordan. 6-4 Darius Gant vs 6-5 Cameron Smith should favor the Titans - IWU needs a big game out of Darius. And 6-5/230 Brett Chamernik will have to hold his own vs 6-6/210 1st Team All-American Troy Ruths.

Again, this is going to be a great test. Wash U is probably better than Albion and somewhere close to Olivet Nazarene - two teams that blew the Titans out. It will be a chance to see how much progress the Titans are making.

The JV's play at 12:30pm.