MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

GrinnellFan68,

No need to apoligize to me, I've got thicker skin than that. Not sure what JeffP will think about your comments concerning a menu item of his, but my guess is he'll understand.

As a few "regulars" on here can attest, I was not at all thrilled when I got my surprise 18 months ago. I had no idea if I could even survive financially on my own. After a few paydays went by however, it dawned on me that I had more money than when she was here.  

Things have a way of working themselves out.

P.S. If he was 49 and white would you feel any better ??

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If anyone can predict a surprise POY candidate, I'd be surprised.

I would also be suprised, seeing that predicting a suprise POY condidate would counter the given definition of the word 'suprise' which in turn might alter the state of the universe.  Although, seeing how d3hoops posting goes hand-in-hand with failed marraiges... maybe that's not such a bad thing.

[The Roop]

That one guy, from that Illinois school. That's my surprise POY surprise candidate pick.

[diehardfan]

Wear birkenstocks and tie dye shirts. The seduction attempts should stop immediately.

Eek! No! This way I'm just annoyed, the other way I'd have to live with my self looking lame! 

If you did that, you might have been accepted at GC!

Lol... I didn't apply to Grinnell! Current national ranking of best liberal arts college diehardfan got into... #6. Current ranking of Grinnell? #15.  Maybe I just thought Lawrence was cool?   Or is Grinnell one of those schools that accepts people who didn't apply to them too, AM and Jeff? Goooooooo Wheaton! 

Incidentally, the deer comment was HILARIOUS! 

Oh yeah, and I am drinking starbucks coffee (not to make you mad or anything Jeff)

Wow, I am such a little trash talker today! Slaps hand and goes back to work! 

[The Roop]

I offered a solution, I did not guarantee it would be satisfactory.

[hjmphelp]

So, lemme see. DHF chooses #55 over Bowdoin and Pomona because of...Baskeball?

Hmmm. Well, shouldn't be much of a challenge figgering this one out. After all DHF also admittedly chooses Starbucks too!

You are what you er, drink DHF!

[hjmphelp]

Hang in there, GF68. GBall will help sooth yer soul, win or lose, I promise!

[lu_nut]

Jeff P and others...thanks for the responses...trying to get the discussion going.

I actually do think Holinbeck was a great player and will be very tough to replace.  However, the heart and soul of the team has been Braier since the first game of his freshman year.  He was POY in 2004, runnerup in 2005 and will likely be POY in 2006.   The record setting team at LU in 03-04 did it with Holinbeck injured much of the year.  Braier is the constant.  The other guy who will step up(in my opinion) is McGillis.  Always plays great defense and finished the year strong on offense last year.

McMullen at Ripon does have the potential to be very special.  I was disappointed this past year that he did not do more.  I think with Becker gone, he will step up to being an elite player in the conference.

Points about Grinnell are valid.  There problem last year was that they were running a three point offense with a very limited number of good three point shooters.  If they can plug in some new players, they could recover quickly.  Schedule was a mess last year as well, but not the only problem.  They were painful to watch during the mid-part of the year when they were starting to play home games.  (LU game, TV game against Beloit).  I think Nordlund is great.  I think he would me dominant as a "3" player in a normal offense.  He plays tall, handles the ball well, shoots well, etc.

[hjmphelp]

lu_nut
You may have me on the Braier point. We didn't see LU at GC in '03-'04 so I didn't realize JH was injured all year. No questioning Braiers ability, but JH-the times I have seen him-just had that undefinable character that I would try to describe as heart. Maybe it just showed against GC??

Once GC made some very important adjustments last year the shooters came forward. One big adjustment involved Nordlund. Just one change made a huge difference on offense, and it was a DEFENSIVE move! It was a very difficult season to watch in many ways, yes. If you will remember many GC fans talked about waiting for the team to gel. That involved many factors including the role of the leaders on that team. This year the leadership is apparently already there-no development needed. That is what gives me so much hope this early in the season. That, and the addition of several more great shooters, that is! ;-)

[d3bbfan]

"Just to clear something up regarding Beloit, while the players being refered to as JuCo transfers did indeed attend JuCo's last year, they did not play basketball "


I have to correct you Dolph. The Juco transfer thats is getting season ending surgery did play basketbal last year and played very very well. He would have been a huge help this year.

Regarding Hinz I was told that he'll be totally ready for the 1st game and he'll be in shape. Towns will have a big senior year and Fiek is one of the toughest guys in the league. Hendy who is stronger and quicker than last year. He should be a monster on the boards.

The 2 1st year post players (Horton and Tubbs) will contribute right away. Both are very good and will be all league players before theyre college career's are done.

And they  they have a legit point in Dowden. Not that Towns hasnt been good at the point, he will just plain goo off at the off grd. Ive seen Dowden a few times and this kid is as good a pure point as Ive seen in the league.

I know the coaches cant wait for Skelton to get done with football either. He is so athletic.

Bysted can flat out shoot the ball and is very fast. He will help alot.

I know im biased but I really think the Bucs will be so much improved and has a chance of making the top 4 this year.

[systemfan86]

Given that Becker was also the POY in soccer last year, perhaps we should be scanning the football and cross country teams for possible candidates.

If anyone can predict a surprise POY candidate, I'd be surprised.

I would also be suprised, seeing that predicting a suprise POY condidate would counter the given definition of the word 'suprise' which in turn might alter the state of the universe. Although, seeing how d3hoops posting goes hand-in-hand with failed marraiges... maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Hoops fan, "predicted... surprise POY" is not necessarily the oxymoron you think. The MWC is full of such contradictions. Consider the following: Grinnell Republicans, D3 basketball on ESPN, defense by "the System", etc..

All these do exist despite the apparent lack of logical explanation! 

[Dolph Stanley]

Below is Beloit's roster (as listed on their web site)

2005-06 Beloit College Men's Basketball Roster
No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School
1 Matt Fieck Jr. G/F 6-3 Appleton, WI/West
2 Cody Bysted So. G 6-2 Janesville, WI/Parker
10 Alex Gordon Jr. G 5-7 Portland, OR/Lincoln
11 Mike Dowden Fr. G 6-0 Walworth, WI/Big Foot
12 Sal Crivello Fr. G 6-0 Clinton, WI/Clinton
14 Nate Skelton Sr. G 6-3 Cambridge, IL/Cambridge
20 Adam Puls Fr. G 6-0 Orfordville, WI/Parkview
21 Nick Hendry Jr. F 6-5 Essex Junction, VT/Essex
22 Danny Towns Sr. G 6-3 Edgerton, WI/Edgerton
24 Ben Chrischilles Fr. G 6-2 Iowa City, IA/West
25 James Weber Fr. F 6-4 Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie
32 Kyle Madsen Fr. G/F 6-3 Twin Lakes, WI/Wilmot Union
33 Andy Horton Fr. F/C 6-7 Orfordville, WI/Orfordville
34 Josh Hinz Sr. F/C 6-6 Fort Atkinson, WI/Fort Atkinson
41 C.J. Tubbs Fr. F/C 6-6 Beloit, WI/Memorial

Since you cannot have played basketball at the JC level last year and not used up one year of eligibility, if the kid did play then the SID missed it which led to my mistake. 

Where did he play?

[hjmphelp]

Not so fast, AM! Remember the holes in front of my store that Jeffdc was talking about the other day? We filled 'em in with all the GC republicans. After we got those two buried...;-)

[Dolph Stanley]

"I know im biased but I really think the Bucs will be so much improved and has a chance of making the top 4 this year."

The leading scorer in the history of the school back for his senior year, a second 4 years starter who will have a "big year" a great athlete coming back after football, a monster on the boards, one of the toughest guys in the MWC, two new big guys who will both be all conference by the time they are done. a great pures shooter, a true point guard to run the show.

I know I am a bit biased but if they don't make the top four with this talent who gets the blame this year?

[gobucs]

Concerning Beloit, In my eyes, the only way is up.  They lacked depth last season, and ran out of gas.  Hopefully, the bench is as improved as everyone is saying.  I saw Dowden play in high school, and the kid did nothing but impress me.  He is fast, smart and a great shooter.  He will mesh nicely with Towns, whom should be at the shooting guard position anyway.  Dowden can pop the 3 with the best of them.  Hopefully Skelton can stay healthy, as thats been a problem in the past.  Tubbs and Horton should help immensley under the boards, and relieve Hinz.  Hinz will be back in 2-3 weeks, he broke the bone that leads to his pinky finger.  Should give the other 2 big guys some quality practice time together.  I'm more optimistic about the bucs this year, just because they have some quality bench.  Should be a great opportunity for a freshman to  come in and play right away and prove something.