MBB: Midwest Conference

[sncdangler]

Lawrence with an easy win last night by like 35 over St. Somebody at the Cruzin' Classic.    After they beat Whitewater they will be nationally ranked. 

Based on what I've seen out of both Lawrence and St. Norbert so far, it appears to me the Vikings are the favorite to win the MWC title, loss at Cornell notwithstanding. St. Norbert's defense has been rather porous to date and the Vikings are usually the best offensive team in the league amongst conventional systems.

[The Roop]

Lawrence with an easy win last night by like 35 over St. Somebody at the Cruzin' Classic.    After they beat Whitewater they will be nationally ranked. 

Not gonna hold my breath on them beating Whitewater. Sorry.

[Gregory Sager]

"North Park Vikings: Nat'l champs, 1978-79-80-85-87"

I can almost picture every day at the Sager manse beginning with Gregory rolling out of bed and pressing PLAY on the cassette player, and having Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" as a soundtrack as he makes his way over to the coffee pot.   

Well, not everybody can root for a school that has won five national championships over the past ten years the way that Monmouth has.

Oh, Gregory (aka "Marty McFly")....We like to proofread our work over here in the MWC board.  I'm sure you didn't mean to write "over the past ten years."

Oh, scottie (aka "An Alumnus Of A School That's Never Won Anything At All"), that's exactly what I meant to write. It's called "sarcasm". Check it out sometime.

[AppletonRocks]

Lawrence with an easy win last night by like 35 over St. Somebody at the Cruzin' Classic.    After they beat Whitewater they will be nationally ranked. 

Not gonna hold my breath on them beating Whitewater. Sorry.

After all, they are not Beloit. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Appleton Rocks,

I was being completely sarcastic, hence my smiley faces and such.

As Maverick said, it just gave me a little chuckle.

[The Roop]

Americas Team 75 Hill Correctional Center 69. In the opening minutes I thought the Bucs might put up Grinnell like-numbers but then got a little cute/sloppy (take your pick) and Knox stopped throwing up bricks. That allowed the visitors to hang around. Had them on the ropes twice yet never put them away. It's a needed conference win so I'll take it, never should have been as close as it was though.

[AndOne]

There is a lot of interaction outside the high school season, including in AAU. You may not agree with the person in question but if I am guessing who you speak of, he is a highly respected AAU coach as well as a good man who cares about his players first, whether school or summer teams.  Relationships are made and opinions are shared regarding fit, chemistry, etc.   Not a villain in any case.

Best wishes to SNC.

Careful Appleton. You're in danger of stepping into quicksand when you talk about interaction between many D3 coaches and AAU coaches as the two groups often mix as well as oil and water. There are primarily two reasons for the often adverse reaction. First, AAU coaches indeed often "care about their players first." Therein lies the problem in many cases. Generally, AAU coaches operate with blinders with regard to the skill level of their players. They often insist just about every one of their players has D1 level skills. Much of that has to do with the fact that often the number of kids they can graduate to D1 has a direct bearing on how  many parents are willing to sign up for a particular AAU program and pay said program the considerable fees that are often part of the AAU experience. After all, why pay an AAU team's fees/costs when the AAU coach is only going to turn out a D3 player and, accordingly, the parents are still going to have to pay for college as opposed to getting a partial or full ride with a full or partial D1 or D2 athletic scholarship. AAU coaches are definitely NOT going to kids and their parents and saying "sign up with my team and I promise I'll get you into a D3 school."
Secondly, D3 coaches want kids to come in with decent fundamental skills. They want kids to have at least some idea of how to make a good 2 handed chest or bounce pass, block out for rebounds, slide step for defense, dribble the basketball, and finish a layup. Having some concept of the proper mechanics for a successful jump shot, especially from mid-range, is also another highly desirable trait. However, AAU often overlook such fundamentals development because it isn't sexy. It takes time, and is boring. Thats why so of the current AAU culture involves playing as many games as possible. That often makes AAU game heavy and skill light. The emphasis is on ankle breaking crossover dribbling, NBA range 3 point bombs, and alley-oop dunks. The highly gifted athletic kid is gonna be able to do those things anyway, but for a large percentage of the kids who can't, time would be better spent working on fundamentals of the game. This would help scoring which has sunk to its lowest level since 1951-52. and would also eliminate much of the hand-checking, clutching, shoving, and general roughness that have becomes earmarks of high school and college games over the last several years, These actions were a large part of this season's NCAA directive to crackdown on such activities by more closely calling such infractions in an effort to "clean up" the game which has come to more closely resemble a football game over the recent years than a beautiful game of basketball which requires a more free-flowing freedom of movement.   

[AppletonRocks]

There is a lot of interaction outside the high school season, including in AAU. You may not agree with the person in question but if I am guessing who you speak of, he is a highly respected AAU coach as well as a good man who cares about his players first, whether school or summer teams.  Relationships are made and opinions are shared regarding fit, chemistry, etc.   Not a villain in any case.

Best wishes to SNC.

Careful Appleton. You're in danger of stepping into quicksand when you talk about interaction between many D3 coaches and AAU coaches as the two groups often mix as well as oil and water. There are primarily two reasons for the often adverse reaction. First, AAU coaches indeed often "care about their players first." Therein lies the problem in many cases. Generally, AAU coaches operate with blinders with regard to the skill level of their players. They often insist just about every one of their players has D1 level skills. Much of that has to do with the fact that often the number of kids they can graduate to D1 has a direct bearing on how  many parents are willing to sign up for a particular AAU program and pay said program the considerable fees that are often part of the AAU experience. After all, why pay an AAU team's fees/costs when the AAU coach is only going to turn out a D3 player and, accordingly, the parents are still going to have to pay for college as opposed to getting a partial or full ride with a full or partial D1 or D2 athletic scholarship. AAU coaches are definitely NOT going to kids and their parents and saying "sign up with my team and I promise I'll get you into a D3 school."
Secondly, D3 coaches want kids to come in with decent fundamental skills. They want kids to have at least some idea of how to make a good 2 handed chest or bounce pass, block out for rebounds, slide step for defense, dribble the basketball, and finish a layup. Having some concept of the proper mechanics for a successful jump shot, especially from mid-range, is also another highly desirable trait. However, AAU often overlook such fundamentals development because it isn't sexy. It takes time, and is boring. Thats why so of the current AAU culture involves playing as many games as possible. That often makes AAU game heavy and skill light. The emphasis is on ankle breaking crossover dribbling, NBA range 3 point bombs, and alley-oop dunks. The highly gifted athletic kid is gonna be able to do those things anyway, but for a large percentage of the kids who can't, time would be better spent working on fundamentals of the game. This would help scoring which has sunk to its lowest level since 1951-52. and would also eliminate much of the hand-checking, clutching, shoving, and general roughness that have becomes earmarks of high school and college games over the last several years, These actions were a large part of this season's NCAA directive to crackdown on such activities by more closely calling such infractions in an effort to "clean up" the game which has come to more closely resemble a football game over the recent years than a beautiful game of basketball which requires a more free-flowing freedom of movement.

I agree there is some negatives to AAU--but I am not sure your rant has much to do with the case in point.  Oskey decided to stay close to home, and I think it was suggested that the influencer in question felt he had better options than what he chose.  Sounds like he wasn't dissing D3 at all.   I also think Oskey will stand out from the 14 freshman that SNC typically recruits each year.   

[scottie]

"North Park Vikings: Nat'l champs, 1978-79-80-85-87"

I can almost picture every day at the Sager manse beginning with Gregory rolling out of bed and pressing PLAY on the cassette player, and having Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" as a soundtrack as he makes his way over to the coffee pot.   

Well, not everybody can root for a school that has won five national championships over the past ten years the way that Monmouth has.

Oh, Gregory (aka "Marty McFly")....We like to proofread our work over here in the MWC board.  I'm sure you didn't mean to write "over the past ten years."

Oh, scottie (aka "An Alumnus Of A School That's Never Won Anything At All"), that's exactly what I meant to write. It's called "sarcasm". Check it out sometime.

Gregory, Gregory, Gregory....How do you define "Anything"?  Monmouth has won NCAA championships, MWC championships, and MWC All-Sports trophies for both men and women.  And this is all within the last five years or so.  I'm surprised you wouldn't have done at least a little research before posting such an absolute.  But, whatever....It's the holidays so I'll let it slide.   

[John Gleich]

I'm not sure what to be more amazed by...

http://www.monmouthcollege.edu/information/newsEvents/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fCampus+Wide&WorkflowItemID=d30f1cef-9ffe-4f07-ace4-eddb8b0c5954

That this team calls themselves the Crab People...? (instead of the less gender-neutral Crab men?)

That Monmouth won a national title...?

The tartan-print Speedo's of the players...? (may need to view the High Resolution for full effect) (I totally get that they're the Fighting Scots... but a) who knew those existed and b) why on earth don't OTHER sports teams incorporate the tartan into their uniforms?)


Or the overflow, standing-room-only crowd you can see in the background of the picture?

[scottie]

Wasn't even thinking about water polo, John, but thanks for the extra support.  To answer your questions:

A. Crab People was the moniker for the team while they were a "club" sport.  Now a varsity team, they're Fighting Scots like the rest.
B. Damn right, albeit a club title. 
C. You have no eye for fashion! 
D. Sorry more fans couldn't make it to Middlebury, VT. 

[John Gleich]

Wasn't even thinking about water polo, John, but thanks for the extra support.  To answer your questions:

A. Crab People was the moniker for the team while they were a "club" sport.  Now a varsity team, they're Fighting Scots like the rest.

I thought as much...

B. Damn right, albeit a club title. 

Apparently I didn't read that too well... it does clearly say it was a club title. Still, hardware is hardware.  The only other things I could find were individual... Track & Field (Monmouth has had not one but TWO high jump national champions? I guess White Men Can Jump...)

C. You have no eye for fashion! 

I do have an eye for fashion... I said I was amazed by them, not that I disliked them. I think that you (and Wooster, and whoever else is a Scot or a Highlander) should incorporate them into the warm-ups, if not the uniform itself.  How great would that be... tear-off kilts?!

EDIT: Let me clarify... I mean incorporate the tartans into the uni's, not incorporate the Speedo's.... For all I know, they may all have matching tartan jock straps... but that's a mystery best left unsolved.

D. Sorry more fans couldn't make it to Middlebury, VT.

To be honest, that's the beauty of small college athletics... those players were playing for the love of the game, not for the glory of the adoring fans or for shoe (Speedo?) contracts, etc.

[scottie]

Mr. Gleich:  You are a scholar and a gentleman, and have clearly done your research.  YOU are welcome on this board anytime. 

[sncdangler]

There is a lot of interaction outside the high school season, including in AAU. You may not agree with the person in question but if I am guessing who you speak of, he is a highly respected AAU coach as well as a good man who cares about his players first, whether school or summer teams.  Relationships are made and opinions are shared regarding fit, chemistry, etc.   Not a villain in any case.

Best wishes to SNC.

Careful Appleton. You're in danger of stepping into quicksand when you talk about interaction between many D3 coaches and AAU coaches as the two groups often mix as well as oil and water. There are primarily two reasons for the often adverse reaction. First, AAU coaches indeed often "care about their players first." Therein lies the problem in many cases. Generally, AAU coaches operate with blinders with regard to the skill level of their players. They often insist just about every one of their players has D1 level skills. Much of that has to do with the fact that often the number of kids they can graduate to D1 has a direct bearing on how  many parents are willing to sign up for a particular AAU program and pay said program the considerable fees that are often part of the AAU experience. After all, why pay an AAU team's fees/costs when the AAU coach is only going to turn out a D3 player and, accordingly, the parents are still going to have to pay for college as opposed to getting a partial or full ride with a full or partial D1 or D2 athletic scholarship. AAU coaches are definitely NOT going to kids and their parents and saying "sign up with my team and I promise I'll get you into a D3 school."
Secondly, D3 coaches want kids to come in with decent fundamental skills. They want kids to have at least some idea of how to make a good 2 handed chest or bounce pass, block out for rebounds, slide step for defense, dribble the basketball, and finish a layup. Having some concept of the proper mechanics for a successful jump shot, especially from mid-range, is also another highly desirable trait. However, AAU often overlook such fundamentals development because it isn't sexy. It takes time, and is boring. Thats why so of the current AAU culture involves playing as many games as possible. That often makes AAU game heavy and skill light. The emphasis is on ankle breaking crossover dribbling, NBA range 3 point bombs, and alley-oop dunks. The highly gifted athletic kid is gonna be able to do those things anyway, but for a large percentage of the kids who can't, time would be better spent working on fundamentals of the game. This would help scoring which has sunk to its lowest level since 1951-52. and would also eliminate much of the hand-checking, clutching, shoving, and general roughness that have becomes earmarks of high school and college games over the last several years, These actions were a large part of this season's NCAA directive to crackdown on such activities by more closely calling such infractions in an effort to "clean up" the game which has come to more closely resemble a football game over the recent years than a beautiful game of basketball which requires a more free-flowing freedom of movement.

I agree there is some negatives to AAU--but I am not sure your rant has much to do with the case in point.  Oskey decided to stay close to home, and I think it was suggested that the influencer in question felt he had better options than what he chose.  Sounds like he wasn't dissing D3 at all.   I also think Oskey will stand out from the 14 freshman that SNC typically recruits each year.
[/quote

It sure looks like SNC brought in a HUGE recruiting class this year, with a grand total of five: http://www.snc.edu/athletics/basketballm/roster.html

Sounds like sour grapes to me, which is the American way now. Instead of just admitting the other guy might just work harder, it's easier to bash them.

[AppletonRocks]

There is a lot of interaction outside the high school season, including in AAU. You may not agree with the person in question but if I am guessing who you speak of, he is a highly respected AAU coach as well as a good man who cares about his players first, whether school or summer teams.  Relationships are made and opinions are shared regarding fit, chemistry, etc.   Not a villain in any case.

Best wishes to SNC.

Careful Appleton. You're in danger of stepping into quicksand when you talk about interaction between many D3 coaches and AAU coaches as the two groups often mix as well as oil and water. There are primarily two reasons for the often adverse reaction. First, AAU coaches indeed often "care about their players first." Therein lies the problem in many cases. Generally, AAU coaches operate with blinders with regard to the skill level of their players. They often insist just about every one of their players has D1 level skills. Much of that has to do with the fact that often the number of kids they can graduate to D1 has a direct bearing on how  many parents are willing to sign up for a particular AAU program and pay said program the considerable fees that are often part of the AAU experience. After all, why pay an AAU team's fees/costs when the AAU coach is only going to turn out a D3 player and, accordingly, the parents are still going to have to pay for college as opposed to getting a partial or full ride with a full or partial D1 or D2 athletic scholarship. AAU coaches are definitely NOT going to kids and their parents and saying "sign up with my team and I promise I'll get you into a D3 school."
Secondly, D3 coaches want kids to come in with decent fundamental skills. They want kids to have at least some idea of how to make a good 2 handed chest or bounce pass, block out for rebounds, slide step for defense, dribble the basketball, and finish a layup. Having some concept of the proper mechanics for a successful jump shot, especially from mid-range, is also another highly desirable trait. However, AAU often overlook such fundamentals development because it isn't sexy. It takes time, and is boring. Thats why so of the current AAU culture involves playing as many games as possible. That often makes AAU game heavy and skill light. The emphasis is on ankle breaking crossover dribbling, NBA range 3 point bombs, and alley-oop dunks. The highly gifted athletic kid is gonna be able to do those things anyway, but for a large percentage of the kids who can't, time would be better spent working on fundamentals of the game. This would help scoring which has sunk to its lowest level since 1951-52. and would also eliminate much of the hand-checking, clutching, shoving, and general roughness that have becomes earmarks of high school and college games over the last several years, These actions were a large part of this season's NCAA directive to crackdown on such activities by more closely calling such infractions in an effort to "clean up" the game which has come to more closely resemble a football game over the recent years than a beautiful game of basketball which requires a more free-flowing freedom of movement.

I agree there is some negatives to AAU--but I am not sure your rant has much to do with the case in point.  Oskey decided to stay close to home, and I think it was suggested that the influencer in question felt he had better options than what he chose.  Sounds like he wasn't dissing D3 at all.   I also think Oskey will stand out from the 14 freshman that SNC typically recruits each year.
[/quote

It sure looks like SNC brought in a HUGE recruiting class this year, with a grand total of five: http://www.snc.edu/athletics/basketballm/roster.html

Sounds like sour grapes to me, which is the American way now. Instead of just admitting the other guy might just work harder, it's easier to bash them.

Huh?  End of dialogue.