Quote from: augiefan on March 01, 2011, 11:11:53 PM
It could be because the admission requirements at Northwestern (WI) pale by comparison to those at Grinnell, a school that is among the finest academic small colleges in the country.

Pure speculation.  Rumor has it Wade Chitwood has both a 36 ACT AND a 1600 SAT.

Yes, Mark, I plan to attend the game in Bloomington. 

I have been fortunate enough to attend North Central's last four games in person and would like to share some observations.  First, it is a real joy to watch a team mature before my eyes.  I made a post back at the start of this season, after watching an absolute horrendous loss to Illinois Benedictine,  saying North Central would be fighting Elmhurst and North Park for the bottom tier of the CCIW.  Well, so much my ability to predict outcomes accurately!  North Central has been "coached-up" to be the CCIW's surprise team.  But even more importantly, the growth of several freshmen and the glue of senior leadership, namely Brian Evans, have made this team successful.

Landon Gamble is a unique individual.  In watching the CCIW for many years, I have never seen a freshman play with such poise and maturity.  His mental focus and composure is as strong as that of any senior I have observed.  In the first half against Augustana, he was undercut so badly that he landed hard on his back.  I saw a spark of anger in Gamble that normally would result in immediate retaliation toward the offender.  Instead, he harnessed his emotion and energy to what is important ... winning the game.  I will let Landon's statistics speak to how important he has been to the Cardinal's success this year.

Aaron Tiknis and Jack Burchett are two more players that have benefited from the rigors of a CCIW league post-play education.  When I first saw Burchett, in the first game of the season, I thought here's another 6'6" kid who wants to step back and shoot from downtown and not mix it up inside.  Well, wrong again.  Burchett plays with a commitment and intensity that is nice to see.  Jack moderately sprained his knee against IWU and really gutted out the second half after being taped up.  His rebounding efforts have really helped in this second-half of the season Cardinal run.  Aaron Tiknis will be a key to the Cardinal's post-season success.  He is a player who was hurt early in the year and has now found his stride on the court.  Against both Augustana and Elmhurst at crunch-time Aaron made key blocks and a steal to contribute to the victories.  More importantly, Tiknis has the shooting ability to contribute more offensively if given the green light to shoot when open.  His 3-pointer was an absolute dagger in Augustana's hopes to get back in the game on Saturday evening.

Saturday's victory over Augustana was a real team effort.  But, in my opinion, one player really came of age.  Kevin Gillespie made a giant step forward in being the key offensive contributor the Cardinal's are so desperate in need of.  Right now Landon Gamble and Derek Raridon are the one-two punch of the Cardinals.  If Gillespie consistently plays like he did in the second-half against Augustana he could be really be a difference maker.  Kevin's defense, IMHO, made the critical difference in the IWU victory by shutting down Sean Johnson.  Against Augustana, Gillespie's second-half two 3-pointers and 3 of 4 free throws at crunch time helped seal the win.  Definitely a nice second-half performance, but here's the key point.  Kevin, had the confidence to knock down these shots after going 1 for 14 from the field in the previous two games!  Let's hope he proved to himself that when he is open he should shoot the rock which will open the middle for Gamble and Raridon.

It has been an interesting CCIW season, maybe more surprises that usual but still the kind of D3 basketball I really enjoy.  I, too, say Go Titans on Tuesday!  Naperville is a nice town for a conference basketball tournament!  And I would like to see the four best teams in the league compete for a chance in the Big Dance.

Damn, Greg, you have a way with words.  I am glad you're a NPU fan and I appreciate your posts.

First of all, I would like to thank all of you who responded to my post about this year's coaching performance in the CCIW.  While it struck some as too personal, I ask what is this board for other than to exchange thoughts and observations about our favorite D3 basketball conference?  Using the term "passion" may not have conveyed what I wanted to, and for that I am sorry, but substituting "results" or "performance" would not have been as accurate as to what I have observed.  My daughter played varsity volleyball and graduated from Carthage in 2007.  I have followed the men's basketball program for ten years and I have watched the men's team play in person at least six games a year over that time.  After going 24 and 4 (conference games only) in 2001-03,  Coach D has a record of 57 and 51 including last year's championship.  I think all followers of Carthage basketball had greater expectations for this year's team.  Being 5 and 5 is a disappointment considering the Red Men lost so few players to graduation.

FWIW, I am happy that Carthage made the CCIW race just a little more interesting yesterday.  Congrats to Coach D.    

OK, my fellow board members, here goes a post made with major trepidation.  I believe it is time for a discussion as to what this year's CCIW results reflect on the quality of the coaching in our favorite basketball conference.  Having absolutely been pummeled when I raised this subject several years ago by several of you whom I truly respect for your D3 knowledge and passion for various teams, I want to open a thread on what I think is a great year to really judge the level of coaching talent in the conference.  My observation is Augustana's Grey Giovanine is hands down the best of class.  Tonight he is probably going to win his 300th victory and his team has an excellent chance to be #1 in the country on Monday.  Todd Raridon is really on the verge of proving his ability if he can coach the North Central Cardinals into a conference tourney position with 5 freshmen players making significant contributions.  After watching Elmhurst almost upset Illinois Wesleyan I have to say Mark Scherer is a competent leader who has taken his eye off the never-ending task of recruiting.  He totally out-coached Ron Rose in the final ten minutes to give his team a chance to upset a team that should have won by fifteeen.  Ron Rose, well in my opinion, he's the major disappointment this year.  A coach with such talent, a team that made it to the Elite Eight last year, is scrambling to make the conference tourney looks lost out there.  Believe me, I want to like the man, but his player rotation decisions, IMHO, are so detrimental to long term success he loses much respect among his players.  Next is Bosko Djurickovic, an absolute hero for many of you D3 afficianados.  My take is he is someone who has lost the necessary passion  to be successful.  Yes, he might have three NCAA rings but in the twelve years I have followed Carthage basketball he's had two good years.  Now I know I have left out three coaches but, IMHO, all three are too early in their CCIW career to make a judgement.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts.                       

Bummer, my BV Beavers are done for the year.  Wartburg was the better team today.  For whatever reason, the Beavers are going to get a summer to reflect on what might have been.  It's discouraging when a team fails to achieve it's potential for any reason.  Hopefully, some floor leadership will emerge and the commitment to personal improvement will return.  BV's winning tradition is too strong not to endure a second year of under-achievement by all involved.

I think the Beavers "needed" the victory more than anything else.  It was Brian VanHaaften's 300 victory, an impressive total in so little time.  Coach VH is a class act, he earns and deserves his success out there on the cold shore of Storm Lake! The race is getting tighter.

Titan Q .... well at least the color guy didn't say "Crotchnitzky was itching for the ball", hopefully! 

This post is aimed directly at AndOne.  Mark, I am sorry but you really crossed a line with me.  Posting Taylor Baxter's ACT score is not only wrong, it is truly a breech of privacy and something you should be ashamed of doing.  Obviously, you are privy to much information about North Central applicants but breeching such confidences is below the professionalism standards I know you hold yourself or others accountable.  I am surprised at your decision to share such information.  Besides, Carthage and Millikin wouldn't like it either.

I must admit I am absolutely "stunned" by the Carthage win over Illinois Wesleyan.  It is obvious that there is trouble in the Titan world right now.  My hunch is it's team harmony and confidence in coaching decisions.  Let's look at the box score.  Two key Carthage starters, Cary and Thompson, combined for 6 points!  Raul Guzman, a third starter for Carthage did not play!  And the Kenosha bunch still ran the Titans off the court by over 20 points!
So what happened?  First off, the Titans must not have been mentally prepared.  Is that a team responsibility or a coaching error?  I say both.  Second, when you look at the Titan's box score you find a rotation, or maybe a lack thereof, of several key players with much experience not playing as much as earlier in the season.  Specifically, Schouten, Rudnicki, Shick and Lawson combined play 16 minutes.  Are there some frustrations beginning to surface or is it just a "poor shooting" day on the road?  I would be interested in other Titan followers' comments.
But Titan fans don't despair.  Millikin and Elmhurst are up next.  There is time to steady the ship and the conference season is still young.  It is also time for some Senior leadership and coaching reflection.

Luther 70, Buena Vista 45.  Disappointed in the Beaver's mental preparation.  Norse never trailed.  Oh well, it's one loss .... but it's a hard one.  Must get ready for Dubuque or the conference race becomes a non-issue.  If it isn't already.

The only thing I have in common with AndOne is good looks!

Rules are made to be broken, or is that records?  My normal rule is to talk about teams because basketball is a team game.  Leave critical comments about individuals aside because I've been there, done that and everybody has a bad game at some point.  But here comes a post that I have been meaning to make for at least two years.  Brian Evans, most of you don't even recognize the name.  But Brian Evans is why I watch D3 basketball.  His performance in an overtime loss to Illinois Wesleyan must have been a thing of beauty. 10 rebounds, 8 points and 4 assists in 42 minutes.  His rebounding performance doubled every Titan player except for one who had 6 boards.  I have watched the North Central senior play since his travel basketball days in 7th grade.  In my experience playing and watching the game, only about 50 years, I have never seen a player make so much out of so little talent.  Like the crack comment goes, Brian is small and he's slow, too.  But does he play with brains, character and guts.  If you could clone Brian Evan's 'heart for the game' and distribute it, the game of basketball would be better off.

840 miles, that's what the distance is, just a little too far for a Saturday round-trip drive.  Buena Vista vs Luther at Storm Lake.  Thank the Lord, not Al Gore, for the Internet.  I'll trust the college communications geeks are on their game.  Streaming, it's what D3 basketball junkies call their "fix."  Hit me Beavers, it's the first of several 'must have' conference games this year.  Since I know so much, I picked the Norse for 7th on November 23rd.  Now, with my apologies and new found respect, the Decorah bunch are in first place!  A surprise to say the least.  My prediction, the game is a toss-up.  No guts, no glory.  I'll just say if the Beavers respect ball possession and play defense like they did at Loras, Buena Vista will win.  Here's another off-the-top (not much there most of the time) thought.  Which ever team wins this game will win the conference tourney in March.