The only game I saw Ripon play was against a bad knox team.  Ripon played with hardly any intensity.  I think that was the most disappointing thing I took from their team.  Gillespie scored 27 second half points with foul trouble...he really competes.   I really can't believe Ripon was beating Point for most of the game.  Old School, did they play with some urgency? Fire?  I guess it's easy to get up for the best teams, but saw a shell of what the Ripon program used to be.  Although they are very young and can get better this year, the only player (obviously) that has competed with heart all year is Gillespie.  He is special no doubt about it.  Paul Wise needs to wake up and start playing the type of ball we know he can play.  He catches the ball and turns his back to the defender giving the defense no offensive threat.  Early - what happened to squaring your body and ripping through the defenders arms...slaps or not.  Basically I just want this team to play with a sense of passion and intensity...I could care less if they win or lose, but if they played hard it would make me happy...sorry...I needed to vent...wait do I sound like Dolph?

I really agree that playing together in the summer leagues really improves the teams chemistry.  It really does force players in leadership roles and gets first year players a chance to gel with their new teammates.

We used to play in a league in Chicago called the Broadway Armory Leauge.  GREAT league.  Guys from Wisoncon would drive all the way to Chicago to play for Ripon's team.  I believe Carthage, Augustana, North Park, Chicago played in that league, amoung other teams with D1 talent on them.  Very competitive....actually now that I think of it, Tony Romo came down and played with us one game with his best friend Nick Sekeres (who played for Ripon three years ago).  He was unreal.  He was better then most guys on the team.  I heard Caron Butler say on TNT that  he thought Romo could have gone pro in the NBA if he focused on that.  Michael Iriving says he kills every guy in pick up ball in Dallas.  I had heard Romo was a great HS player, but Romo in the leauge?  I don't know, but he was awesome.

AndOne

How do you know this info?  Is there a website to look at?

Grinnell for Edgewood seems like a bad deal for MWC

That would be a shame to loose them....


Maybe I'm the only one that has faith in Coach Vraney....Go BUCS!

Beloit made a GREAT decision in hiring Vraney.

That's the best news I've seen for Beloit in a long time.

I played for Coach Vraney and of course you're going to think I bias, but that guy worked his tail off for RC.  He has a pretty impressive list of basketball minds that he's learned from (Stan Van Gundy, Bennett, Ryan, Gillespie, Congar).  He's a great guy and has a great family.  He often scouted at night, worked all day and then would come to practice by 4.  He ALWAYS stayed after and worked with any player that wanted work.  He'll really help out Beloits post players.

He is an intense no nonsense guy.

And you wanna know why I know he'll succeed?  After work, practice, workouts after practice, you would always find him in the gym working out, shooting hoops.  He is exactly what Beloit needs.  He loves basketball.

Don't be mad Roop, but Beloit has officially become my second favorite D3 squad.

"Tharp is as good of a coach as Bennett"

I guess we will just take your word on this one.

One question on the love fest of Coach Tharp...who I agree is a "good" coach.

I'm not trying to be an unfair here, but what did Tharp ever accomplish outside the
Braier era?  Those were great runs that this conference hasn't seen in a long time, but a great three year run with one of the greatest players to ever play in this conference, doesn't put you in Bennett's class.  I played some during the Braier era and trust me, he was the reason LU had all that success.  He was amazing. 

LU had a talented team last year, but didn't make the playoffs!?!  It's just ironic that the first year after Braier graduates, LU doesn't even make the playoffs.

This will be interesting to see how the LU players react to Tharp leaving.

The rivalry just doesn't seem as good now...sad

OK I'm done...talk about something else

I'll make everyone happy

Good luck to Hope on Friday!

OK guys....

Let me explain my statement...

It's "unacceptable" to lose at home, but it doesn't mean you're a bad team.  Losing to a non conference opponent is never "acceptable," especially when your as good as Hope is.

GEEZ

Some of you guys are a bit jumpy!

I think the goal of every good team is to go undefeated at home. 

God Civic you are cool

Thanks Sac!

Seriously this guy is the "key Player" missing?

12 Tim Partridge...... 27-0   373 13.8  54-117  .462  32-72   .444   8-16   .500   18  53   71  2.6  44  1  17  25  12  13  148  5.5

Just trying to liven the board.  I'm not talking "smack," mearly stating facts.  Why are you guys getting so upset?

I have no problem getting bashed...I know where I am, but thanks for the karma!

First of all, if you want to disregard strength of schedule and opponents played...fine tell that to the NCAA committee who I guess just picks the teams with the best records (wait, actually the do...atleast at the D3 level )

All I'm pointing out is that Carroll has seen some of the best teams D3 has to offer and has beaten some of the best.

I would like all of Hope nation to explain to me who Hope played this year that was any good.  This is an honest question.  I mean did I read that right that Hope played Calvin 4 Times!!!!! If that's proof of a quality opponent, I agree, but FOUR TIMES!!!

Also, losing at home to anybody is never acceptable when your as good as 5th in the country.  I realize Wheaton is a good opponet, but they finished 3rd in a very good conference that got only one bid.  Also losing to the 5th place team in the CCIW (carthage).  Who was this key player you talk of?

Again, I'll be pulling for Carroll, but ultimately I don't care who wins this game.  I was just amazed to see the quality of opponent that Carroll has played against vs. the teams Hope played against.

Please put me in my place if I have over looked some of the "quality opponents" Hope has faced.

I'd love to see the "history" of MIAA vs. MWC.  Although I'm not too sure what that proves...history isn't on the court come game time. 

Please..."Enjoy Thursday" is that some kind of threat.  Of course I'm going to enjoy it!
Who was this Key player?

Wow, first of all, their NOT my team. 

Secondly, Great, take UR guy...you have no choice.

Thirdly, Stats can be deceiving...you wanna talk smack ok then:

Take a look at the Massey Ratings.  Hope had the 64th hardest schedule in the country.  Carroll currently has the 11th hardest schedule.  Pretty much everyone in the MWC had a harder schedule then Hope did (Expect Knox).  They played against better competition according to Massey. 

Carroll has played: Wisconsin, UW-SP, Carthage, UW-Whitewater, Augustana, St. Thomas, Grinnell(2), Ripon(3), Lawerence(2) Lake Forest(2)

I look at common apponent.  Carthage:

CC 75  Carthage 67   Three days later...Carthage 71  Hope 65

Hope lost to Wheaton, a team that Augustana beat twice...the same team Carroll just beat on their home floor.

So keep throwing great stats at me cause I'll show you some results.  Hope deserves to be the favorite, but that same attitude you just displayed is the same reason we remind you to not sell Carroll short.

Massey ratings have been posted.

One thing that surprised me was the strength of schedule associated with the MWC.  Carroll had the 11 hardest according to massey and Ripon had the 24 hardest followed by LU with 36 and LFC with 56.  I forgot what Grinnell's was.

But still interesting none the less.  It seems MWC or Carroll for that matter, have played a tough schedule to prepare them for this run