Got updated today on how Carroll fared yesterday in the Wisconsin Dells College tournament.  The Pio's had a split squad and two teams compete.  One team went 1-2, the other 3-0.  I believe they play another of these college summer tournaments in August, and will try to drive over and catch a few games.  Not sure if any other CCIW teams do this.  I know there were some WIAC teams, some Midwest Conference teams, some NAIA team there.

Have only seen two recruits announced publicly for Carroll so far:

Lucas Parker, 6-4 Guerin Catholic Carmel, IN  (know nothing about him)
Dennis Estepp, 6-1 Grayslake Central Grayslake, IL (3rd Team IBCA 3A All-State)

As far as I know, everyone else from last year's team for Carroll will be back next year, except graduating players Ethan Balinao and Justin Gruber.

The Pios won 3 of their last 5 (lost in overtime to NCC at home and at Wheaton) CCIW games and were playing much better by the end of the season, hopefully the continuity helps them get off to a better start next year.

The only name I keep hearing for the Carroll job is Kyle Jones, Head Assistant Coach at UW-Osh Kosh.  Former 1,000 point scorer at Carroll.  Long time Assistant Coach at Carroll who left two seasons ago.  Luke Duckett, another former Carroll assistant is also at UW-Osh Kosh. 

No idea - being the first year I am deeply into the Carroll basketball scene - whether they want to hire anyone with a connection to the past or start brand new.  I heard in the gossip mill up here that 60+ applicants had already applied with a week before the job closed.  I would assume Taylor Jannsen, last years interim coach, would apply. 

I am as curious as anyone if there are any names floating out there. 

They won 3 of the last 4 CCIW games last season.  I think there is some talent where they should be way better.  Maybe not a North Park leap with a new coach -- but CCIW mid pack would be a nice improvement and goal.

Would think it would be a highly coveted D3 job.  Turnaround project in the best conference in the country would seem to me to be very attractive.  No where to go but up.  Certainly not the best facilities, but like I said won three out the last 4, most all the significant minutes return for next season. 

Can't wait to hear any legitimate names surface. 

Following up on GoPerry Wheaton/Carroll game report.

Carroll has been playing much better as of late, beating Elmhurst and Augustana in the two.  Better player movement and ball movement.

Carroll played Wheaton toe to toe tonight for 30+ minutes. Impossible for Carroll to overcome a 28-7 foul shots attempted difference and 21-9 overall foul count difference. I'm not one to complain about officials, but that was the difference in the game.

Kobe Simpson didn't play for Carroll.  Not sure why.  Cruikshank was nails down the stretch, Wheaton just put the ball in his hands and he always makes the right play.

Kylo Simpson, Josh Hudgens, Paradisio Dante and Aaron Wafford played well for Carroll, although Wafford started 4-4 in the first few minutes and struggled shooting the rest of the game which hurt and Carroll struggled to score the last 10 minutes.

Be nice to finish with a win vs. Millikin Saturday to win 3 of the last 4 going into the off season.

The only thing left for Carroll is, who is the new coach going to be? 

Another fairly noncompetitive loss last night, at Carthage who played without Bulatovic.

I asked this a few months ago, but I don't have my ear to the ground, and am not an insider.  If anyone has further thoughts, or has heard anything, would like to hear.

My only input is -- Carroll needs to look at North Park for an example of how this should work.  New coach with a play style and brand of basketball/philosophy that fits with the program, players, etc.  Sean Smith seems to fit North Park, and North Park fits him.  Taken a lot of the same players, sprinkled in a few new ones -- but most importantly brought a playing style/program culture that fits, and in my way of thinking fits as different in the CCIW which adds to making them hard to prepare for and play against.  All of that has added up to success, enthusiasm, buy in and a program that seems to have been immediately impacted and headed in the right direction, at least from an outsider's perspective looking in.

My hope is that Carroll, in a way what works for its program and players (which no doubt be totally different than North Park) can find the same formula in a new coach. 

That is assuming they look for a new coach, which I don't know if that is what Carroll plans to do.

Watched the stream of Carroll vs. Elmhurst game last night.  I don't know where everyone sits down on the Elmhurst stream and announcer presentation/quality, but I find both to be very enjoyable and well done.  The Elmhurst announcer was a good balance of home team enthusiasm and game description, and actually did a good job on the opposing team in terms of stats and relevant information.  So well done.

Carroll at least played hard, and the game was very competitive through the first half and the beginning of the second half.  Honestly, I think Elmhurst came out super flat probably thinking this game was one they wouldn't have much trouble with.  Impressed with the Elmhurst athleticism and balance.  Johnson and Hooker are obviously very good players, but Ittounas, Zapinski, Pearson, Honrbuckle and Dalipi all played well.  Most of all impressed with John Baines.  Super-calm and stayed patient when Carroll got out to a big lead early, and most importantly made very visible adjustments coming out of halftime to get easy shots and find/exploit matchups that Elmhurst wanted to attack.  So well done to Elmhurst and Coach Baines.

For Carroll -- they competed right from the tip which was good to see coming off the Augustana game which was the opposite.  Stieneke was great all night, had 16 in the first half and his motor on the floor is top end of the CCIW.  Surprised he probably played less than 10 minutes in the second half which was a bit of a head scratcher, not sure what was happening there.

Again, this is my first year of really watching the Pio's.  When they come to play, generally I think they can play close with most teams, when they don't, they have no chance.  They have talent that "flashes" up and down the line-up -- but no consistency in play, not much consistency in minutes/line-ups/rotations and they have significant gaps in games when they can't find enough offense.

But better last night for 25 minutes.  Not much hope for the North Park game Saturday -- who it seems in terms of athleticism up and down the line up and play style is similar to Elmhurst.   

Embarrassing loss for Carroll today. Same group that looked better wire to wire against Carthage and played Millikin to the last possession in Decatur was not prepared to play today at all. No offensive flow at all. No defensive game plan or adjustment to Knuth who basically took nine uncontested three's.  Augustana shot lights out but that's no excuse. This game and the North Central game, unacceptable compete level for a CCIW team. I was hoping for a turn around based on that Carthage game which wasn't a fluke. I was wrong.

Embarrassing. Non competitive.  I'm hesitant to post when I get excited after a win like Carthage. Crashing back to earth today.

Have two questions for the Board after the Carroll/Carthage game Wednesday night:

1.  I don't understand the Massey Ratings - I would have thought Carroll would have gone up more than 2 spots beating a Top 30 Massey team? I am sure I just don't know the ins and outs but that seems odd, especially since Carthage fell 19 slots after the loss.

2.  Why doesn't Julien Campbell play more for Carthage?  He had 16 points in 15 minutes. I realize he is a big guy, and it may be conditioning related, or defense related. But he was scoring at will and I don't think played a second down the stretch. Just curious. He seems to have a pretty unique skill set.

Carroll 72
Carthage 66

The first time in a month something to get excited about. I haven't seen Carthage this year. Honestly I am very surprised they have the record they do. Maybe I caught them on an off night or they were down a player - that I don't know. Carroll was just better wire to wire. Maybe putting some things together. I hope so.

Kylo Simpson and Josh Hudgens guarded Bulatovic all night, and he was no factor offensively. Those guys were the players of the game I thought for Carroll.  It wasn't an off night for Bulatovic, they hounded him on that end of the floor and took him out of the game.  Aaron Wafford, Kobe Simpson, Paradisio Dante and Justin Steinke were all good offensively for Carroll, and for the first time all year Carroll played solid down the stretch of a game.

Nice win for the Pios. I'm surprised they played so well, hope this is the start of turning things around.

Been a while -- some catch up in the Carroll world:

1.  I am new to this -- the Massey rating stuff in super interesting.  Didn't work out last weekend.  UW-River Falls is #124 in the Massey and Carroll is #187.  Maybe just an outlier as Carroll won 61-46 on a neutral court in a game that wasn't really close.  The eye test from the stream of the game told me UW River Falls was not a good team at all.  Maybe the CCIW depth at the bottom of the league better than the WIAC?  Not sure since I haven't seen a whole lot of either in my time following Carroll - I was surprised in hearing how good the WIAC is at the result of the game though.  But Carroll still can't score (especially can't score enough to win in the CCIW).  Lucky that UW-River Falls only got to 46 themselves.

2.  Anyone have next Carroll coach thoughts?  Probably too early -- and who knows maybe they improve (Coach Taylor Jannsen is 3-5 so far in his interim status) enough where Jannsen is inserted full time at the end of the year.  I don't know the school requirements; I would think they would have to open it up no matter what.  Anyway, the only name I have heard at all up here is Kyle Jones, former Carroll player and long-time Carroll assistant, and currently the top assistant to Matt Lewis at UW Osh-Kosh.  Seems like that would be a good, logical fit.  Any other candidates come to mind?  Seems like there are quite a few good long time CCIW assistants ready for a next step?  Any sense if a guy like Andy Etheridge from IWU would be interested?  Anyone else that should be on a list?

3.  Millikin this weekend.  Hope Massey is right in the respect the game might be close.  They (Millikin) seem like they should be better than their record.  We will see.

Anyway, I don't post much but really enjoy reading everyone's takes on things.  Keeps my Carroll "boostering" interesting!

Kiko is being very charitable to Carroll in his post.

Tonight was completely non competitive. North Central could have named the score. I have tried to stay positive as a new fan and new poster to this board, but tonight was so disappointing.

Carroll won't win a CCIW game playing like that. They can't score. I continue to be perplexed on the lineup shuffling and offensive gameplan. Both things totally changed from the first time I saw them in the Whitewater scrimmage.

Watched the stream of the Carroll game vs Colorado College from Colorado Springs. The Pios lead all the way and won 85-77.  Played better tonight to move to 2-4. Play the winner of Whitworth (WA) and Carleton (MN) tomorrow in the tournament championship.  Pretty balanced minutes and scoring. Pointing in the right direction I think.

Some things to like in Waukesha tonight.

Carroll bounced out to a10-0 lead against IIT, lead at the half 32-30.

Rarely have seen a game where one team dominates the rebounding so completely and loses. Carroll out rebounded IIT 53-33 and it wasn't one of those times where it didn't feel like it.

Carroll shot 4-13 from the foul line and turned it over 19 times.

Also Carroll had an excellent defensive game plan. Just could not shoot, or make free throws in the second half.

Progress as this thing gets put back together it looks like to me.  The Pios play 3-0 Concordia of Chicago Tuesday at Van Male.

Quite a week here in Waukesha. Monday Paul Combs resigned and Taylor Jannsen was named interim coach. Lots of speculation around both - anyway the word around here is if Jannsen does well he has a chance to stay past this year and become the permanent coach. But no guarantees.

The Pios were absolutely horrible in the first two games of the year, losing to a very beatable Whitman team and a good Dubuque team last weekend - and were never in either game from the beginning.  I'm a new fan/booster and I was taken aback at how poorly they played.

Tonight, Carroll beat a bad Northland team and could have named the score for Jannsen's first career win. The score and opponent didn't really matter much, as it looked like at least for the moment the program had a little life to it tonight. Gruber, Dante, Kobe Simpson, Hudgens and Stieneke all in double figures for Carroll.

I continue to think they have some talent and I saw them play Whitewater even in a scrimmage which wasn't a fluke. Not saying they will magically turn it around, but they shouldn't be a doormat this year either — but time will tell on that.  At least hoping for competitive.

We will see.  But tonight was the first positive around here in a while.

Busy schedule, back to it Sunday at 4pm against IIT of Chicago, the Tuesday vs Concordia of Chicago.

I wish I knew. Very new to the program and unfortunately little to no insight. I watched them in a Whitewater scrimmage a few weeks ago and they were very competitive against a good team.

Not the case this past weekend. And I know they struggled last year.

I'll try to get a better understanding in the next few days and update if I do.