Friend told me on FB last night that the MWC will go to a full 18-game conference round robin next year. Anyone else heard that???

I know you have all been anxiously awaiting my thoughts on this year's Knox team, so here they are. Unfortunately the team was dealt a death blow just before Christmas when it lost its most important (and probably best player) for the year with a broken foot in Matt Goedeke.

I saw the Prairie Fire in person vs. Lawrence and Augie and was excited about their chances to move up to the middle of the pack in the MWC this season.  This is still a really young team that's most pressing need is learning how to win and finish games. For example...
November 30-trailed Augie by 14 at half, cut lead to 6 with 11 minutes left, lose by 17
December 4-led LU by 7 at half, trailed by 6 with 5 minutes left, lose by 16
December 5-led BC by 21 early in second half, trailed by 1 with 4 minutes left, won by 8

Realistically, while learning to win is a part of equation, clearly they don't have the depth to finish some of those games YET, but coach Purlee has improved the talent level and those guys are learning the college game on the fly.

Based on how the league was playing out, I truly think Knox could have gotten as many as five to eight conference wins and then made the big jump into contending for a league tourney spot in 2010-11. Based on the results without Goedeke, another win this season may not happen, although conference play is historically tighter and they should continue to improve and learn to play without him, so a few more W's may be in the cards.

I still anticipate this team being solid next year, but it remains to be seen how the time playing without Goedeke will affect the cohesion and gel. On the positive, it will give some young guys chances to play and secure their roles for next season, like 6-5 frosh Lucas Shaw who has averaged double digits scoring over the last three games. The biggest concern is the development of Ben Wetherbee, as I alluded to in the first paragraph, Wetherbee may have a chance to be Knox's best player, but he is at his best when Goedeke is on the floor and commanding a defense's attention as a #1 scorer. Hopefully, he extra attnetion will help develop Ben's game going to the hoop and as a passer, not to mention that eventually he will get help as the other freshman and sophomores get more experience and raise their level of play.

The remainder of 2010 will be tough, but brighter days are ahead for the Siwash

Knox has announced its recruiting class for next year....the teams top players a year ago were mostly freshmen and sophomores, so they didnt need a lot of bodies. I would have liked to seen big body in the 6'7 or 6'8 range, but it look likes coach purlee is building some depth that should create some good competition for the minutes of the departing seniors. The team struggled to shoot last year, so hopefully Horvath or Akkawi will help with that.

Ian Horvath, 6-3, G, 17 ppg, Addison Trail HS
Yazin Akkawi, 6-1, G, 15 ppg, Morgan Park, Chicago
Ryan Mahoney, 6-2, G, HS teams top defender as junior and senior, Oviedo, FL
Lukas Shaw, 6-5 (245) F/C, won state title and finished third in HS, Portland, OR

Knox 77, Roops 60

An IC win would complete a South sweep

I know that remedial reading is encouraged, but not required to get into Monmouth, but even with that fact in mind I can't figure out where the MC announcers are getting some of these pronunciations

Goedeke (Go-DECK-E) is being called Get-Ge

Kirven is being called Carving

QuoteKnox has no height to speak and will have match up problems all year.

Can't argue with the Roop there. Knox is 0-10, but I remain overwhelmingly optimistic for some reason

The Prairie Fire nearly knocked off Lake Forest Saturday (54-51) with their top two scorers sitting out with injuries (freshman Wetherbee & sophomore Goedeke). Another freshman Kozak stepped up and scored 18. As long as neither of them are out for a long time, Knox will get a few MWC wins this season. They have been in a lot of two-point games with three of four minutes left, only to lose by double-digits.

They need to learn to win and hopefully can start with a lesson against the lowly Scots tonight 

BTW, does anyone know why the Massey Ratings are updated this year? I would guess Knox has one of the nation's tougher schedules.

No hiding that it has been a tough go for my Prairie Fire this season, but it isn't from a lack of playing anyone. Counting tomorrow's opponent (Millikin), the eight teams that have beat Knox this year are a combined 51-21, a winning percentage over .700

I will be in attendance Thursday on my way home for the holidays and will report back on what hopefully will be the first win of the season. Maybe a bit optimistic considering it is 8-0 vs. 0-8 

The youngsters are still learning how to win 

Knox misses two free throws with the game tied and 24 seconds left, North Park bleeds the clock and banks in a bad three-point shot as time expires to win.

Anyone know if I can get radio of the Augie-Knox game tommorrow on the internet?

Anyone else trying and failing to get the webcast of the Knox-Grinnell game?

Lawrence beats Knox 81-70...first time seeing LU, but they seem like a Jekyll and Hyde outfit looking at the loss to Marian and thrashing of Stevens Point, but enough about LU, here is the scouting report on my Prairie Fire.

They played well for 32 minutes against the MWC's best team and showed that they will be in a lot of games this year, but still may not necessarily win a whole lot. Last year's eight-win total with a two-game + or - is probably a very reasonable expectation. Some good individual gears, but not able to fit together and be a machine for a whole game. They will improve steadily throughout the year as they play better defense than past Knox teams and will continue to gel in the offense while the young guys get more experience.  Freshman guard Ben Wetherbee is a player, first-team caliber all-MWC in his final two seasons IMO. He torched LU for a while shooting, but he is small and not strong enough yet and a little streaky. He will have 1-10 nights where he is a non-factor and others where he keeps Knox in games single-handily. When he gets older and stronger and understands the college game better, he has the skills to still get his points when his shot isn't falling. The biggest problem for Knox is the lack of legit second scorer on the outside...Estergard has disappeared after a great season last year and another talented freshman Joe Kozak (a SF-PF tweener) is probably best as the third scoring option on a team. Don't know his numbers yet, but sophomore forward Matt Goedeke had a great night. Those of us who saw him play in high school expected him to be somewhere around a solid 12 and 7 (if not a double-double) guy and hopefully tonight is a sign of things to come.

The future looks bright and this team may surprise some down the stretch. 

Hate to say it guys, but the LU announcers have been very good tonight...not sure if its the same group or not...maybe they took your advice.

Knox was leading most of second half...LU on run, up 6 with 7 to play

Season Opens Tonight!!!!!

Couple of good early tests for Carroll and St. Norbert against WIAC schools. The new-look Foresters should also be tested at Benedictine. Monmouth continues its re-classification to Division II with a game at Minnesota State-Mankato.

As for the main event, I think the Prairie Fire have a good mixture of expereinced vets and talented freshman and expect them to leave Dubuque with a W.

Bad info Scottie...but typical of a Monmouth grad

I talked to some Monmouth folks last week...they are all set with temporary fencing if they get the bid to host. The NCAA OKed it.

Coach Purlee has completed his coaching staff...


http://www.galesburg.com/sports/college/x833716673/Knoxs-Purlee-gets-an-assistant

http://www.galesburg.com/sports/college/x1713649202/Former-GHS-coach-Swanson-joins-Purlees-staff

http://www.galesburg.com/sports/x1713652289/GHS-great-Dickerson-hired-by-Knox