MBB: Midwest Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Woods -2

You mean "Wood" right?

[M.Flowers]

....maybe he should of sat you or Grant down and demand the amount of effort needed to win night in and night out.  I'm not saying you didn't give effort Marcus, you were one of the better players I played against in the MWC.  But as a whole, the talent was there especially when you add a guy like Entwistle as well.

easy jeffp

See that's the problem guys like Henry, Entwistle, J.Hinz, and myself are going to put in extra work, and really strive to be the best we could, Coach never would've had to do that, we all gave it 110 everyday now as for the whole team that is another story...we all lead in different ways

Hen' was more of lead by example type of guy, so was Entwistle, Hinz was just a frosh, when I was a senior, so I've never had the op' to see him in a leadership role...We also had other leaders like Vogt, and Jason Hanson...

I was more of a vocal guy, that is just me, but I also let guys know that it wasn't personal and to really be worried if I stopped pushing them...as long I was on them that meant that they were needed and important to the teams success...

And our teammates responded differently to our different styles of leadership...that was the toughest part, and that is where the frustration starts...you are only one guy and you can't play for everyone, being as competitive of a person as I am it killed to see guys who just did not want to give all they had...

We had talent but I often think because we were often so top heavy with our talent, that the supporting cast would often wait on Henry, or Matt or myself to make a play and maybe the same has happened with this years team, I'm not their everyday so I can't speak to that...

But I can attest to the fact that it is tough and there isn't much you can do but bring it everyday and hope that it becomes contagious.

[systemfan86]

It's like the school is afraid they'll lose their academic mystique if an athletic team or two does well for any length of time.

Wow. Deja vu. Sounds like GC when I was there. I remember some members of the campus engaging in serious discussion of whether the school's academic standards had been lowered when the football team won their third game of the season.

To be fair, these individuals appeared to have a special problem with football. Success in individual sports like swimming didn't seem to be a problem.

[M.Flowers]

My all-MWC team of guys I played with/faced...
1st Team
Hoffman - was a monster, he was a throwback big man...
Briaer - It's hard to pick someone over a teammate but even as a frosh CB was tough as nails
LaVoy - I remember watching him on film as frosh and thinking "aw he doesn't look that tough" probably one of the toughest match-ups I faced in the league
Wood - The toughest guy to guard, because of the system, and the plethora of head fakes he had in his repertoire
Kohl - I go Kohl over Becker, I played and guarded both and trust Kohl was much tougher than Becker, Kohl could SCORE and he also made the other guys better...

2nd Team
Jurecko - Wow, freshman year dude sucker punched me in the stomach, I never liked him since, I got him back later in the game, it's all good I respect his game, dude was tough on the black...
Grant - *Biased recognized* I saw this guy day in, and day out great talent, that could've been even more dominant, listed at 6'5" was really about 6'2" seriously and I'm eye level with him and I'm only 6'3" but he played like he was 6'5", hops were out of this world...
Hannula - Kari could flat out score from anywhere, the guy I respected the most for everything he went through...
Landisch - Another guy who's game I really respected, had a serious first step and really worked hard around the rim.
Jon Allen - *ducks inquisitive glares* Seriously if you look at J.Al's frosh, and soph. year numbers he would've been on this list easily maybe first team, losing that year to academics really hurt.  He eventually came back, but was not nearly the same player I used to room with in Porter Hall.  This was the only player in the conference I felt that if I wasn't on my toes he could eat me alive...and I don't lack in confidence, nor do I scare easy and there was no one who I felt I couldn't guard, he was the one guy that made me worry...It really is a shame that he couldn't put it together after the year off...I think if he had have stayed eligible Hinz would be breaking his scoring record...again I recognize my bias, but look at his production those first two years...his 1st year 13.9 ppg .452 3FG% 2nd year 11.0 ppg as a soph. losing him that year really crippled our team with him were 7-2 and we had beaten the No. 1 ranked Univ. of Chicago...after losing J.Al' we were not the same team...

I know you can say "if" or "if" but I really believe he was one of the better players to come through the league...so that's my two cents...

HM
Hinz, BC
Becker, Ripon
Ingraham, IC
Nenahlo, LU
Leverence, LU

[Mission Man]

As far as Knox fans being at the game tonight goes, you can bet your sweet bippy I'd be there, if I didn't have to cover a high school regional final tonight, get tomorrow morning's paper done, and then leave for Champaign for the Illinois-Iowa game.

All said, I'm hoping the Prairie Fire plays its best game of the season and that LU only brings their "C" game .... and it wouldn't hurt if Braier contracted some sort of mysterious disease that would incapacitate him for one night.......

And if GC could also get by Carroll, then my evening would be made!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

All said, I'm hoping the Prairie Fire plays its best game of the season and that LU only brings their "C" game .... and it wouldn't hurt if Braier contracted some sort of mysterious disease that would incapacitate him for one night.

I was going to make a comment about how maybe D game was necessary, but with Braier down on account of Bird Flu, I think the Fire can pull it off.

[hjmphelp]

Apparently few of you run your own businesses or you wouldn't even have to guess why I ain't gonna be in attendance tonight or tomorrow. There is nowhere else I'd rather be, but my staff, they do not comfort me. One of the weekend regulars is at a conference in Texas and one (a probable Watson Fellow) is making a presentation in Georgia. None of my other employees can work this weekend. Seems they didn't come to Grinnell just to work at Saints Rest. When GC blows through Carroll and Larry into the regionals I will be present! Also should be present when Grinnell hosts the tourney next year although it is easier to predict that they will host than to predict that I will have a full complement of employees on hand that weekend.

On the plus side, I'm sure Grinnell can do the number without me. I'm also sure they know I will be listening in REAL TIME to KGRN for tonight's game.

Go Freakin' Grinnell!!!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well said, Jeff, well said.

[systemfan86]

I'm going to be Jeckyl and Hyde here...  

I'm really hoping GC can pull off the win tonight to show who the real Pioneers are. I'm pulling for Grotberg to knock down his first two shots to give him the confidence to drop 45-50 on Carrol tonight. I'm hoping Chamberlain brings his Windex to clean the boards. I'm pulling for some sloppy ball handling by Carroll to give GC a 10-15 turnover advantage.

Mostly, however, I hoping for a great experience for a young team. I hate to lose Big Paul and the rest of the seniors, but this HAS to be a great experience for a team that regularly plays 8 freshmen/sophomores. Win or lose - OK win - they need to walk away from the next two days with the desire to return next year and play even better. I want them to enjoy the experience but not be satisfied. I'm going wait to say "Wait 'til next year", but damn, they have a chance to be a great team and this weekend can be an important step in getting there.

GO GC!!!    

[mwc4life]

All said, I'm hoping the Prairie Fire plays its best game of the season and that LU only brings their "C" game .... and it wouldn't hurt if Braier contracted some sort of mysterious disease that would incapacitate him for one night.......  "

The funny thing about this statement is that Andy Kieck (Ripon) caught a strange illness at Knox and was out for nearly a month or so.  I believe it was diagnosed as the "prarie dog" disease...no joke.

M.Flowers~

I played with steve for two years and remain close with him and played with Becker for 3.  Kohl is my boy, but Becker is/was by far the better athelete who IS unguardable one on one.  He's almost unguardable against two guys (ask LU fans who never give Ripon credit and actually thought Becker was that good).  I know you witnessed Kohl's 39 he dropped at Beloit (best individual performance I've seen: shot 13-15 FG and almost scored 40!)...against you and your boys....don't worry I remember you had a sick game too, but Becker would play the ENTIRE game against Grinnell and not get tired....and, at six feet barely, he dunked the ball at the 39th minute against grinnell.  Not to mention Becker would guard the best player on the other team...probably could get his own shot, and a good shot at that, any time he wanted.  And while I realize you can't really argue with Kohl's success and championships, Becker only played 3 years and should have been eligible for another....basically winning POY as a junior.  LU fans will tell you there was no one else they saw that was that hard to guard.  Steve was an amazing player though.

[titan2000]

All said, I'm hoping the Prairie Fire plays its best game of the season and that LU only brings their "C" game .... and it wouldn't hurt if Braier contracted some sort of mysterious disease that would incapacitate him for one night.......  "

The funny thing about this statement is that Andy Kieck (Ripon) caught a strange illness at Knox and was out for nearly a month or so.  I believe it was diagnosed as the "prarie dog" disease...no joke.

M.Flowers~

I played with steve for two years and remain close with him and played with Becker for 3.  Kohl is my boy, but Becker is/was by far the better athelete who IS unguardable one on one.  He's almost unguardable against two guys (ask LU fans who never give Ripon credit and actually thought Becker was that good).  I know you witnessed Kohl's 39 he dropped at Beloit (best individual performance I've seen: shot 13-15 FG and almost scored 40!)...against you and your boys....don't worry I remember you had a sick game too, but Becker would play the ENTIRE game against Grinnell and not get tired....and, at six feet barely, he dunked the ball at the 39th minute against grinnell.  Not to mention Becker would guard the best player on the other team...probably could get his own shot, and a good shot at that, any time he wanted.  And while I realize you can't really argue with Kohl's success and championships, Becker only played 3 years and should have been eligible for another....basically winning POY as a junior.  LU fans will tell you there was no one else they saw that was that hard to guard.

Becker.  Who is Becker ?  Doesn't Ted Danson play him on TV ?  I think he and his wife are next step to communists 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I played with steve for two years and remain close with him and played with Becker for 3.  Kohl is my boy, but Becker is/was by far the better athelete who IS unguardable one on one.  He's almost unguardable against two guys (ask LU fans who never give Ripon credit and actually thought Becker was that good).  I know you witnessed Kohl's 39 he dropped at Beloit (best individual performance I've seen: shot 13-15 FG and almost scored 40!)...against you and your boys....don't worry I remember you had a sick game too, but Becker would play the ENTIRE game against Grinnell and not get tired....and, at six feet barely, he dunked the ball at the 39th minute against grinnell.  Not to mention Becker would guard the best player on the other team...probably could get his own shot, and a good shot at that, any time he wanted.  And while I realize you can't really argue with Kohl's success and championships, Becker only played 3 years and should have been eligible for another....basically winning POY as a junior.  LU fans will tell you there was no one else they saw that was that hard to guard.  Steve was an amazing player though.

Are you debating a guy's opinion?  All he said was he played against these guys and picked the toughest.  I mean there is no possible way for you to debate that.  You can have your own opinion, but wow.  The MWC has reached a new level of competition.

[schwanman]

M. Flowers ... hey, I'm a former resident of Porter myself (fourth floor for two years).

I'm not saying I don't like your list, but I notice that there are no Monmouth players on it. That could be deservedly so, but if you had to put a Fighting Scot in there somewhere, who would it be?

I'm pretty sure who I'd pick from that era (as a clue to MC posters, he dunked about 30 seconds into this year's Alumni Game), but I'll wait for your response.

BTW, does anyone else think it's funny that at the top of this page, it says "Find Grants for College?" Suppose that's a link where our MWC coaches can go to find those 6'2 kids who play like they're 6'5?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

BTW, does anyone else think it's funny that at the top of this page, it says "Find Grants for College?"

My page doesn't say that; what am I missing out on?

[schwanman]

Sometimes mine does and sometimes it doesn't. For example, now it says "Jobs for College Athletes."