MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

Take Illinois College +8.5 in Fridays game. Beloit -7 on Saturday. Over/under on Hortons fouls is 3.5 for each game. Technicals will pay 5-1.

[hjmphelp]

Mac-
Sorry to hear it was the older folks. If you are talking solely about riding oafs though, I will have to admit to being amongst 'em. This is partly due to most Grinnell fan's perception of lack of respect from many officials. As a long time fan I can tell you that I have seen some pretty bizzare "methods" for some crews in calling Grinnell games. Note I say 'perception' because I am sure that many MWC fans from elsewhere will say Grinnell gets all the breaks. That is the nature of the beast I guess.

As a fan of System ball I am sorry to see that, with the loss of your former coach, MacMurray no longer plays system style ball. I hope things go well for you this season and in the future. I appreciate your kind words about my favorite team as well. They really are a class act lead by a class coach IMHO.

[gobucs]

To tell you the truth, the rude comments that I heard were coming from middle-age and older folks, and primarily women.  Barking at a referee for two hours isn't my idea of how to support your team at a college basketball game, but everyone's different

Being a basketball fan/parent for a number of years, I've witnessed the above.  Its like a Jekyl/Hyde type of personality after the tipoff.  If your team is winning, all's good, but it's easy to blame the oafs when things go wrong.......LOL   System ball can enhance that reaction so it's best to go eat the non-real brats at the food stand......LOL

[beyondthearc]

  And yes the refs were horrible. Wouldnt have made a difference int he outcome but they were still bad.

Well conference starts next weekend......we'll see what happens there.

I agree the refs were bad and called a couple of cheapies on Horton.  It seemed to me that Beloit couldn't really keep up with Whitewater of defense and couldn't break down the defense.  When they did, they just flat out missed everything.  Conference does start next weekend, and I think they should have two pretty good chances to redeem themselves playing Illinois college and Lake Forest. 

[Dolph Stanley]

Can anyone supply a "scouting report" on Illinois College?

I know they were picked last in the pre-season poll but their first two games (a five point road loss to Illinois Wesleyan and a home win over North Park) make me wonder if they might not be a sleeper.  Add in the fact that they have almost everybody back and accroding to their roster have added 13 freshman and it will be interesting to watch them on  Friday.

[systemfan86]

Just when I thought it was safe to go back to the movies..................... I saw the commercial twice today and still don't believe it. Each time I was expecting a Vonage box to hit Stallone in the head for making another Rocky movie. Yet no Vonage box ever appeared. So it seems "Rocky Balboa" will hit the big screen this Christmas. And yes he's making a comeback in the ring.

I wish it would have been a direct to video release, like SlapShot 2, so I could disguise myself while buying it and deny ever seeing it.

OMG! ROFLMAO!

Brilliant.  Absolutely brilliant, The Roop. 

[Titan Q]

Can anyone supply a "scouting report" on Illinois College?

I know they were picked last in the pre-season poll but their first two games (a five point road loss to Illinois Wesleyan and a home win over North Park) make me wonder if they might not be a sleeper.  Add in the fact that they have almost everybody back and accroding to their roster have added 13 freshman and it will be interesting to watch them on  Friday.

Illinois College starts:

G Mark Gillingham (6-0/180 So.)
G Brad Johnson (6-2/175, So.)
F Joe Womble (6-4/215, Jr.)
F Mitchell Neally (6-5/210, So.)
C Pete Jennings (6-6/210, Sr.)


Against Illinois Wesleyan, the Blueboys were out-sized as the Titans have 6-6 Andrew Freeman at the 3 and 6-7 Zach Freeman at the 5.  IC hung in there via a) a few different stretches where they strung together some 3's, and b) IWU shooting a miserable 5-24 from beyond the arc in the game.

I saw Illinois College play last year in a game IWU's Final Four squad was up 30 in the first half and 40 early in the second.  The IC team I saw last week looked a lot better to me -- first of all, they're healthy, and second, they're a year older.  They'll be out-matched by big teams like Lawrence, but I'll bet they surprise a few teams along the way.  IC plays hard, shares the ball well, and has good inside/outside balance.

Sophomore Mark Gillingham was a really good Class A (small schools) player in Illinois.  He averaged 26.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg as a senior at Carrollton H.S..  I think he will develop into a 17-18 ppg scorer in the MWC in time.

http://www.illinoisprephoops.com/2005/AllState2005.htm

[Dolph Stanley]

Thanks Titan Q, great update.

I'll let my winnings ride on IC getting 8.5 on the road (Roop Vegas line) based on what you have told me and having seen the Bucs play this year a couple of times.  As always seems to be the case, hope I'm wrong.

[larry_u]

Reminder...

Pickem is up on the MWC Pickem page.  Only 5 days until the conference season tips off, and only a few people in so far.  get your picks in by tip-off Friday night!

[The Roop]

Dolph,

As with most Sports Books "Roop Vegas" also threw in a gimme in order to get you to take the "sucker" bet. So bet wisely.

[GrinnellFan68]

My brother lost his arm because of an unpaid gambling debt. You guys with your pick 'em stuff are playing with fire. Godspeed.

[The Roop]

I doubt Larry is going to track anybody down for a contest that amounts to bragging rights only.

[Greek Tragedy]

i'm still wondering who won the pick em from two years ago when Sam Johnson went MIA on us! lol   

[LU_nut]

titan Q

I was impressed by gillingham last year.  IC is clearly improved.  I think jennings being back combined with the freshman being older has put them in a position to at least be middle of the pack.

[Scots4]

When I saw that IC was picked last in the conference I laughed. I believe they will finish in the middle of the pack ahead of Knox, Beloit, St. Norbert, and Lake Forest.

Monmouth over William Penn 86-73. Raun Singleton 15-15 FT's, 36 pts. Terwelp with 23 and Rogers with 15.

Hannibal Lagrange over Knox by 17. Looking at the box score it looks as if Maclin went MIA and supports the theory that they will go as he does.