MBB: Midwest Conference

[the game]

Maybe BC will turn it around next year but they wasted a great opportunity to win with talented players. ONLY one winning season in the 9 year Youngblood reign. Anyone who says BC didn't have the talent is on crack. Grant, Vogt, Entwistle, Flowers, Chapman, Shorter, Kelly,  Town, Fieck, Hendry and arguably the best player in the schools history - Hinz. That program has had sufficient talent to be contenders the past 7 years. There is one constant. COACHING. The Hinz era reads 33-59. 10-13, 4-19, 8-15, 11-12. DOUBLE DIGIT LOSSES EACH SEASON. Has anyone though about that. That's undeniably pathetic. As someone stated earlier, Hinz is and never has been a selfish player. He's not a team cancer guy, which happens sometimes on teams with dominant scorers. So how the heck can Hinz, Towns(a good player as well) and Skelton go 33-59. I don't have the numbers on me but BC has lost a ton of games the past five years by 5 points or less. Sure players have to make plays, but the coach has to put them in a position to succeed, and I'm not sure Youngblood has done that. As a BC alum, it disgraces me to no end to see the  Bucs lose, lose and lose.   
As for the Braier- Hinz debate. What does Braier do if he's with BC the past four years and Hinz is with LU. Hinz would win a couple conference titles and Braier struggles as badly as Hinz to get BC to tourney.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't have the numbers on me but BC has lost a ton of games the past five years by 5 points or less.

You don't have the numbers on you? Hey, they're right here on this website:

http://www.d3hoops.com/school_info.php?school=Beloit&team=m

I looked up Beloit's record in games decided by five points or less over the past four years. It only took me about three minutes to do it. The Bucs were 17-19 in those close games.

[titan2000]

Way to bitch slap him, Sager 

[systemfan86]

MWC Tournament preview posted on the LU website..here's the link.


http://www.lawrence.edu/athletics/mbasketball/previews0506/mwctournament.pdf

Wow, Grotberg doesn't start for Grinnell...?

When you're only in for 45 to 60 seconds, 'starting' for GC doesn't necessarily mean a lot. They've had 13 different players 'start' for them. I get the sense that Grotberg will be on the floor plenty.

I went back and looked at the box score from the CC-GC game and it would appear GC needs to do a better job getting turnovers (and not committing them) in order to beat Carroll. Should be a fun game.

[hjmphelp]

Yup, AM, you are right. That, and the guards need to remember to kick it out when the shot isn't there, and the shooters need to keep moving so those kickbacks actually produce! When this stuff gets fully learned/integrated, this team will be something sweet! They were a bit( ) flat on Saturday but I'm guessing that won't be the case on Friday night.

[d3bbfan]

I don't have the numbers on me but BC has lost a ton of games the past five years by 5 points or less. Sure players have to make plays, but the coach has to put them in a position to succeed, and I'm not sure Youngblood has done that.

Well I'd like to comment on a few of the close games I witnessed this season. Starting all the way back to a game with Carthage...OT loss. Bucs make a great come back to go up by 3 with 16 sec left, Carthage is forced to trap and foul, but SENIOR turns it over and they get a layup..coahing??? Then Carthage fouls and BC goes 1-2. Carthage ties...then BC tries to run a play but a SENIOR doesnt run it right...was put in a position to win by the coach but doesnt follow thru and then they lose in OT.

How about a close game with LU at home. BC up by 3 with under 2 min remaining and with the ball. 2 times in a row plays were called for SENIORS....boht times they turned it over. They were put in a postion to win by the coach but didnt execute in crunch time.

This last game vs CC. BC makes a really nice comeback in the 2nd half.....down by 3 with 11 sec left. A play was called for a SENIOR to tie....he comes clean on the play and another SENIOR makes a bad pass....again put in the postion to at least tie at the end of the game but instead doesnt even get a shot off......and BTW Towns was 0-6 from 3 in that game.

I opinion is that the players many times were put into postions to win but didnt execute at key moments. And for the most part this year any ways it was the SENIORS that failed....Maybe thats why they were 33-59 their career.

[d3bbfan]

Anyone who says BC didn't have the talent is on crack. Grant, Vogt, Entwistle, Flowers, Chapman, Shorter, Kelly,  Town, Fieck, Hendry and arguably the best player in the schools history - Hinz. That program has had sufficient talent to be contenders the past 7 years. There is one constant. COACHING.

Ive watched the Bucs for years.....a couple fo the players u mentioned above would have been bench role players at best on the past few LU teams. The bigeest difference BC has had over the last several years has been depth. I would argue that Vogt, Chapman, Shorter would have been subs on other teams and Kelly was just plain horrible. Towns had flashes of being very good but for what ever reason whether its been his health or stamina he just has not been a good performer down the strtches of any season hes had.

Depth is the key to any good team and BC just has not had it for years. I think as good as Braier is its the over all depth of LU that makes them great.

How can a team get great in practice when they have to constantly use a 5' nothing with limited skills. How does a Towns get better going up against a Gordon in practice.

One more opinion.....Beloit did exceed preseason expectations....picked 8th in coaches poll and finished 5th....some said they'd get only 3-5 wins in conf and got 7. some said they'd only get 6-8 wins overall and got 11. And they were much more compedative this year than last. Played CC tough in both games. Played LU touhg at home....Beat a Tourny team, Knox, twice and split with Grinell. Maybe I'm a half glass full guy...and yes I would have loved for them have done better....but it was a better season than MOST predicted.

I'm an optimist and I think Youngblood is a good coach and I have high hopes for next season.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I love all the talk guys, especially the oversensitive guy offended that we're debating Hinz's and Braier's ability to throw frisbees for accuracy and distance.  This is definately the most entertaining board around right now.  I've been waiting for a particular reference to pop up in the BRaier-Hinz debate, but it hasn't appeared, so I'm going to do the honors.

Hinz will be at Lawrence for the tournament as a special invitee for the halftime HORSE match with Braier to determine the player of the year award winner.  "Off the Empire State Building, over Niagra Falls, through the window...nothing but net."

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

By the way, Hoops would have Braier do his kitchen.

[scottie]

When a winner is finally declared in the Heinz/Breyer debate, please let me know....

Sam J - Nice to see you picking up the post count recently.  So, am I linking onto the blogspot incorrectly or something?  Everytime I check it, my screen still says Feb. 6.  Just checking...

As for "The Roop's" regular conversations with himself, I propose the following two rules:  1.) Never talk about the NRO.  2.) Never talk about the NRO.

On Andy Katz' "Insider Plus - Platinum" website, his top three NBA guard prospects for this year's draft:  1. JJ Redick - Duke; 2. John Grotberg - Grinnell; 3. Randy Foye - Villanova.

[Dolph Stanley]

I'm an optimist and I think Youngblood is a good coach and I have high hopes for next season.

I envy your optimism D3

You think Youngblood is a good coach and I disagree.  In my opinion coaching involves all aspects of the program including recruiting (making sure a team has a talented and deep roster) game preperation and game coaching. 

Rather than carry on the debate about Youngblood's coaching ability I will let his nine year record speak for itself. 

As for next year, I again see a team with a losing record on the outside looking in at the playoffs.  An occasional surprising fifth place finish (how far has a program fallen when some will claim a moral victory when fifth place and a losing record is viewed as an achievmenet) and one playoff appearance in nine years just doesn't give me reason for optimism.

I want to be proven wrong.  I would like nothing better to have you and the other optimists calling me out next year when the Bucs are hosting the MWC playoffs (plenty of tickets available for those frustrated with this weekend).  However, nothing I have seen over the past nine seasons indicates that I will be.

[JUSTINTYEM]

READ THIS STORY    http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060223/APC0201/602230722/1892

[Maverick]

Quote from JUSTINTYEM's link: "We had everybody over at the house for the Super Bowl," said Tharp of an episode when Braier was a sophomore. "And they're playing downstairs in my basement, dodgeball. Within a 10-minute span, all three of my kids come up crying. They're stuttering because they're crying so hard. 'B-B-B-Braier threw the ball at me too hard.' He's that competitive."

That is awesome!   Pretty good read there JUSTIN.  Aside from the funny part of the story, it really shows what kind of effort it takes to get the job done at a high level as well as being one hell of a leader for his team.  Maybe players from other programs will take note...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

READ THIS STORY    http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060223/APC0201/602230722/1892

See this is exactly why Hinz lets him win at Frisbee Golf.

[systemfan86]

Quote from JUSTINTYEM's link: "We had everybody over at the house for the Super Bowl," said Tharp of an episode when Braier was a sophomore. "And they're playing downstairs in my basement, dodgeball. Within a 10-minute span, all three of my kids come up crying. They're stuttering because they're crying so hard. 'B-B-B-Braier threw the ball at me too hard.' He's that competitive."

That is awesome!   Pretty good read there JUSTIN.  Aside from the funny part of the story, it really shows what kind of effort it takes to get the job done at a high level as well as being one hell of a leader for his team.  Maybe players from other programs will take note...

Hmmmm, what's the statute of limitations on child abuse charges? Maybe a quick call to the Wisconsin Department of Children's Welfare is in order. If they act quickly enough, maybe the other MWC teams won't have to deal with the Bopper.

Then again, he might be like Alex Karras's character in Blazing Saddles..."Don't shoot Mongo [Bopper]. It only makes him mad."

Still, don't most sociopaths start with animals and small children? Hoops, he might be good for the kitchen, but don't let him do the kid's rooms.