I'll be sure to remember that when I'm walking by the trophy case.  Clarke did all they could.  And I wasn't the only person thinking we had a chance.  We were right there until the end.  Their large margin of victory towards the end of the season just showed just how much they have improved over the season.  For a team that wasn't even supposed to compare to the team we had last year, I think Clarke played one hell of a season.

Any All Conference picks out there?  Player of the Year??

A loss to Marion looks like it might be keeping us out of the tourny this year.

"actions speak louder than words"

Clarke defeated Aurora by 15 last night, 86-71...enough to get a bid?

sounds like lilphil's just a little bitter because clarke won the conference this year and aurora has absolutely no chance of making the tournament.

that is very true, i myself was wondering why AU wasn't getting a mention ....but like i stated before, we dont' have to worry about a clarke loss, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

but good research lilphil...i've wanted to say something...maybe the fact that Clarke won the NIIC conference already, maybe that is why they aren't getting any talk.

I think Jack's prediction number 1 is the most likely.  There is really no need to worry about a Clarke loss scenario, it's simply not going to happen.  Not at home.

From Jack Johnson in the bumbling B's postboard

here is one prediction

Pool B #1:  Lincoln
Pool B #2:  Fisk/Maryville winner if they meet (or the winner of the GSAC tourney)
Pool B #3:  Bethany (assuming they win their conference championship on saturday)
Pool B #4:  Clarke (with a win over Aurora in the NIIC championship saturday)

Major implications...Everyone is looking for a big game, and so I am.  I am a little worried about AU bringing it.  Last time we were ready for a hard fought, enjoyable game to watch.  The only thing enjoyable was watching the crusaders pound the livin **** out of aurora.  So to all of the fans, lets just hope they show up this time.

And for the elbows being "so called inadvertant".  Clarke is not dirty, we have pride and we fight.  Elbows can get thrown around while going for rebounds, that is just what happens.  When teams are agressive and going for the ball, just understand that is going to happen.

With a win against Aurora saturday night, Clarke College of Dubuque, IA will have just a better chance than half the teams on your list hoops fan.  With that win they will be the highest ranked Pool B team in the midwest, which gets them to the second stage of the selection.

yea lilphil, i saw the stats, but not the performance....elbow or not, welton still didn't need to be screaming at the officials using profanity, i mean, come on, there was little kids around.  He should have kept his cool.

I think welton should be on the lookout for one of those elbows.  With his disrespectful outburst, he deserved one more than anybody out there.  it is not our fault that one of your players was caught with an inadvertant elbow, that happens in basketball, which is what welton needs to understand.

just tell your boys to bring their stuff, 27 point blow outs aren't exactly fun to watch...make us earn it this time, we'd appreciate a good test of our ability

Is everyone counting Clarke out now?  Or do they still have a chance?  And has anyone looked at just how good Lincoln is???  What a team they have, and tell me the last time a guy has lead the nation in scoring and is 2nd in assists.  That is impressive!

if we play like we did last night, AU might get revenge.  I see welton had a killer game last night against Rockford, and I also noticed Rockford had AU down by 8 at half, and the they exploded for 57 pts i the 2nd.  Was anyone at that game?  Did AU just get on fire???

I hope Welton brings his game Saturday, as much as I am a fan of Clarke, i'm a fan of good basketball and good players.  Very very disappointed in Weltons performance against clarke here.  i was ready for a high flying, explosive all star and i saw 4 points and a hot headed technical. 

any insiders from AU know how the absense of coach lancaster is affecting the team?

and baseman, once again, just so you know, this is the last year for the NIIC..just to make sure you know that.  But LMC, look out for CURF, if they improve in the off season, they'll be a force.  and about the 20 point tourny thing(which the closer we get, the more i don't think we're even going to have to worry about tourny talk), one thing clarke has is a good PG and a good coach.  With those 2 combined, the pace of the game can be controlled and monitored.  Clarke, unless undermanned, simply can not be blown out.  It is just not possible, kind of like clarke losing at home.  Rockford should have beaten us last saturday, but Clarke's confidence and attitude at home is just too much to overcome.  They might not have the most talent, but their heads are on straight and they play disciplined and believe in the system.

Who cares, this is clarkes first championship, so be it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  let us rejoice, and rub it in!!!!   Great job clarke!!!!  It would be ironic to get snubbed, but it's not over yet, we still have a chance

CRUSADERS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!  shout out to CURF, they played a hell of a game...baseman, your team played a heck of a game...they will be good next year...I promise you that...well officiated game, it was good to see the refs call a good game and be supportive of the fans...the fans appreciated the refs, and apologize for getting in the way of the officials during the aurora game...they have called good games all year, and appreciate the fairness they provided...as far as i can see it, clarke won the championship, so take that aurora fans!!!!  you finally didn't win the championship for year, the last year...what a credit to clarkes team!!!!  bynum showed he can play with anybody tonight!!!!  what a leader on the floor, and the supporting cast did not disappoint...clarke did not play well tonight, and what a credit to the team to still pull out the victory!!!   Any officials on the rockford aurora game?

did you mean even if they lose they finish first?  and I agree, if Clarke loses either of the next 2 games we have no chance at all.  I really don't see how aurora has a chance at all, but if I can think clarke has a chance, anyone can think aurora has a chance. 

baseman, there is NO WAY you can say clarke would get beat by 20 + in the tourny.  3 teams have beaten clarke by more than 10 pt.s this year.  yes, these are excuses, i like to call them reasons for losing.  aurora(no starting 3 man), mt. mercy(no possible conf. MVP pg), robert morris(research this team, clarkes 28 point defeat was the closest anyone came to them in the holiday tourny, check out their starting lineup, including 2 d1 players last year, and a first team mcdonalds highschool all american)

keith45, you are right, clarke doesn't have 1 or 2 guys who can take over a game.  this year, they have 6!  I'm not being just a fan, they are an excellent team ball club.  They remind me of the 2001 Wisconsin badger squad that made it to the final 4.  bynum can take over a game if needed, that is without question.  what has happened over the course of this season is 5 key players have learned how to play and have surrounded bynum with shooting, passing, and rebounding.  This team moves the ball so well, and the open man hits the shot.  any one of the top 6 players on this team has the ability to score 20 + points every game, nothing makes me prouder of clarke when i look up at the score board to see 5 guys in double figures, cuz i think that is what d3 basketball is all about, teamwork.

i watched 80% of the clarke games last year, including a game against D2 Northwest Missouri State.  That game showed you can not just have 2 guys.  They shut the Byrd bro's down(somewhat) and Clarke got blown out.  Although we started the season slow(which i think is in large part to the offense being centered around the Byrd bro's last year), I am dead serious, Clarke has a better basketball team than it had last year, without a doubt.

i think all conf includes bynum and cirks from cc, harrison from bu, welton and magee from au, smith dunkel from rockford, richard and pfeefer from eureka, and lafayette bell from concordia

newcomer of the year, dunkel

POY bynum...although it probably would be bad to overlook welton's impressive performance this year...so welton might get co-POY