MBB: Midwest Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but ESPN did televise a Grinnell game at Darby vs. Beloit, right? The circus was out of town as that game was played in the 60s or so.

[sac]

Beloit won 86-85, it was Grinnell's lowest scoring game of that season

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1983698

[AppletonRocks]

By the way, Rick Reilly and crew from ESPN were at Darby gym tonight. They may not have gotten what they came for, but in my opinion they got something better.

Good to see. They came for 'The Circus', and saw an actual basketball game.  Something tells me it will never air on ESPN!

Maybe Rick Reilly and Dave A can discuss thier second careers as caddies.

[jeffdc]

OMG Grinnell has a Marxist that can put up 3s. Can the socialist revolution be far behind??? 

[WUPHF]

OMG Grinnell has a Marxist that can put up 3s. Can the socialist revolution be far behind?

There was a Grinnell poster up in arms over the "elite posters..."

[RogK]

An example of "the System" getting scoring from many (8 NC women in double figures) :
http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/custompages/WBK/WBK1314/wbk03.htm

[jeffp]

http://www.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10009589/

[Gregory Sager]

at the risk of extending this conversation - I wonder what the reaction would be if GC had done the same thing, but with Knox (a perennial bottom dweller in MWC) as the opponent? Would everyone still be as upset?

As you took the risk, I'll take the bait. This happened several years ago when Grinnell doubled up a conference opponent 152-76. I didn't mean to start a 3 day debate on the subject but I did. Short version is you can do that in your own Holiday Tournament but not to a fellow member of the conference. Not sure I remember the other team in question but I'll bet scottie does

The point here, however, is that the 152-76 win very likely was a TEAM victory by GC and the ultimate version of the system - NOT an individual showcase - with many double digit scores, equal distribution of playing time combined with a gazillion turnovers and terrible shooting by the Good Guys, etc.  It was record-like by fluke, not by intention. 

Scottie nailed it. Here's the box from that 152-76 game back in February of 2004. Twenty Grinnell players saw the floor that night, with ten of them playing double-digit minutes. Nobody played more than 17 minutes; while one of the three players who reached that 17-minute mark of playing time, Steve Wood, did score 43, you can't really call that atypical for a System team's designated shooter. Four other Pioneers besides Wood scored in double figures. Scottie also accurately described how poorly his boys played; the Scots turned the ball over 36 times and shot 44% from the field (which doesn't sound terrible until you consider how many of those misses were most likely blown layups).

The problem would solve itself if potential opponents refused to play Grinnell.  The basketball program is forced to pay schools to sign a contract.  I think Crossroads did itself no favors by accepting the moolah and then getting thoroughly embarrassed.

That's not fair, 'rouser. Did you read Doyel's article? Crossroads is a school of 100 students that can't even afford a washing machine for its locker room. Walk a mile in their shoes before you call them out like that.

[AppletonRocks]

http://www.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10009589/

I believe the term that the St. Norbert's fan used in DePere last night was "douchebaggery". 

[The Roop]

When the 3-0 Buccaneers face Grinnell to go 4-0, Nov. 30th, perhaps this System nonsense will stop. Not sure how many Swedish players are on the team but it could challenge the 3-peat North Park run in the 80s.

[WUPHF]

http://www.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10009589/

"Sometimes we sit around with the college record book, put our hands over our eyes and just point," Arseneault says. "What record should we go after today?"

It is true that Grinnell appears many times in the record book; both as the record holder and as the victim.

Apparently, the finger never lands on Field Goal Percentage, Rebounds, Blocked Shots, and Steals. Let me know when Coach Arseneault turns to page 3.

[Gregory Sager]

When the 3-0 Buccaneers face Grinnell to go 4-0, Nov. 30th, perhaps this System nonsense will stop. Not sure how many Swedish players are on the team but it could challenge the 3-peat North Park run in the 80s.

You're showing your age, Roop. You got the decade wrong. The threepeat was '78, '79, and '80. No Swedes on any of those teams, either, although the '87 North Park national title team had one (Henrik "Swedish Air Force" Gaddefors).

[jeffp]

At the risk of getting hammered for expressing an opinion  , We should know a BUNCH more about the Grinnell team in 8 days. In 2 days GC  plays at IC - a team I think may well be a high seed MWC tourney team - followed by a game in 8 days at Beloit, a team that Mr The Roop assures me will be a contender. I don't doubt him one bit, they're due.

[The Roop]

Harps claimed to be Swedish after he was in the NBA.

[The Roop]

Mr The Roop assures me will be a contender. I don't doubt him one bit, they're due.

With 10 freshman, get used to Flood Arena as being the Salem of the MWC Tournament for a while.