MBB: Midwest Conference

[lu_nut]

Here is the good news on Ripon/LU....they will begin to settle it on January 7th. 

I think they have had 3 OT games the past two years.  I expect the games this year to be close as well.  I think LU will match up well with Ripon in the front court this year.  Braier will match up with Johnson, McGillis with Wise and Osland/Hurley with Schmitting.(Olson has been mentioned, but he was not the starter last year).  It has not been mentioned, but McGillis might be the best defender in the conference, far far better defender than Falls(not due to effort, just natural ability, as Falls always put out a strong effort).

Anyway you look at it, Ripon's performance at UWGB was impressive.  Players in this conference do make big strides between their soph and jr. years as mentioned.  LUs bigs will be better as well.  I think Hollinbeck's graduation is the biggest variable as it is not clear who will replace his D and his 3 pt. shooting.   LU has candidates, but big shoes to fill.

Should be 2 or 3 great games this year....better drag in the extra bleachers to ALEX.

[cubs]

As far as Schmitting goes, Steve Kohl will back me up cause he saw him play against a D1 6'9 center and abuse him. 

I am assuming you are talking about UWGB Freshman Center Mike Schachtner.  Remember he is a freshman, and this was his FIRST collegeiate contest.  A big step up from the HS kids he was able to handle using his height alone.  He only weighs 215, and on a 6'9" frame you aren't looking at a whole lot of muscle.  In my opinion, Braier plays a more physical game at 6'4" than Schachtner at 6'7".

[mwc4life]

I'm sorry, he abused all the Bigs on UW-GB...9/12 from the field 21 and 8

[cubs]

I'm sorry, he abused all the Bigs on UW-GB...9/12 from the field 21 and 8

Look at the sizes of UWGB's "bigs," and I use that term loosely.....

Randy Berry 6'9"-215 (Freshman)
Ryan Tillema 6'8"-205 (Freshman)
Mike Schachtner 6'9"-215 (Freshman)

There isn't a guy there that is more "physical" than Braier.  I am not trying to take anything away from Schmitting, but to make a believer out of me, and MAYBE some others, he is going to have to do it against some "tougher" players. 

I look at all of these guys as "athletes," and not your typical post players.  There has to be a reason that UWGB does not list any players on their roster as "Centers" for a reason.  That is telling me they don't legitimately have a true "Center." 

[Greek Tragedy]

Any word on when the MWC SIDs have their preseason poll?  The WIAC had theirs today and just wondered if the MWC votes are out.  Thanks. 

[Early]

Cubs,
yes all those GB players were freshmen, but they were D1 freshmen.  Granted Braier is a physical beast on the court.....but I imagine D1 frosh are more physical than a D2 or 3 frosh.  I see your point as that they are not very thick only 205 or 215, but they have proved themselves to get to the D1 level.

[cubs]

Cubs,
yes all those GB players were freshmen, but they were D1 freshmen.  Granted Braier is a physical beast on the court.....but I imagine D1 frosh are more physical than a D2 or 3 frosh.  I see your point as that they are not very thick only 205 or 215, but they have proved themselves to get to the D1 level.

Early-
I agree with you to a point.  The only thing I was trying to say was that the UWGB "Bigs" are more of the athletic type of posts, whereas the inside players in the MWC are more of the "banging" type.

[Hawk Sighting]

Genltmen,
    I dont know about you but I am excited to see LU and Ripon play this year, the 2 top teams in the conference, these will be the games that decided #1 and #2 in the conference.  Coach G and Coach Tharp are great coaches, so no matter who they have for athletes that year, they are able to work with what they have, so even with the losses that both teams have had, I dont see it changing much, these two teams battle against each other to the last second every year, thats just how Ripon/Lawrence games are.  
  Early, we have to set up a couple games to meet up at Sotrzer to watch our boys kick some a$$!!  Good Luck HAWKS!!!!!  

[LU 05]

lu nut,
           I couldn't disagree with you more with your matchups.  MacGillis will gaurd Johnson.  Having Bopper chasing Johnson around staggered screens on the perimeter is partly why LU got into trouble the first game at Ripon last year.  Bo Johnson is more of a wing and he needs to be gaurded by one.

[hjmphelp]

Have you guys figgered out you who is gonna guard who when you play Grinnell?

[mwc4life]

who will guard McMullen, Wise, Murphy, and Schmitting?

Jeffp,

I'm not sure the coaches know...soooo difficult to set up the press break, get back on defense and find your new man every out of bounds

[hjmphelp]

mwc4life- Here's who:
Schmidt, Nordland, Langenhan, Martinez, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Pfalzer, Groteberg, Guzman, Roewe, Long, Arseneault, Carlson, Idrissa, Ticus, ad nauseum.

The names will change every 45 seconds.

[Early]

I see what you mean cubs.  But don't worry Schmitting can bang.  He could bang his freshman year, when I coached him to greatness, and he was about 20-30 lbs. lighter.

RC @ Lawry.....Saturday January 7th.  Thinking about that one for sure.

I think against Grinnell RC will put McMullen on Max Brauer, then Bobby Long, then Ahmed Idrissa, then Max Brauer again, then Bobby again, then back to Max, then John Grotberg, back to Ahmed, Max, Bobby, then Trek Langenhan, back to Max, Bobby, Max, Trek and then Max.  We'll work out the second half of the game later.

[hjmphelp]

Early - don't you mean you will work out the second 5 MINUTES later?

[mwc4life]

I was wondering how LU would match up with Ripon because just thinking of the Grinnell matchups make jack a dul boy.