MBB: Midwest Conference

[fightintitan2006]

I am embarrassed to say I always thought Braier was a guy who fell into the range of having good to very good skills for a D3 player, but what elevated his game to AA level was his tenacity, heart, technique, leadership and other intangibles.

I realize now just how special of a player he is, as does Lawrence. In recruiting ranking system terms, if Braier was a 5-star player, I still thought LU had enough 4-star and 3-star players mixed with experience to be significantly better than most teams in the league this year. 

If Tharp doesn't bolt after this year, and lets face it his stock has dropped since last season, with everyone but Osland coming back I think LU should be back with a vengeance next year.

[Speaking MWC]

Traveled to the GC-IC game today, and it being the first time for me at the Bruner Center I must say it is an amazing facility. There was not only the basketball game but an eight team track meet going on as well. It was a great facility (had to repeat that again).

I'll keep this short. From what I saw Grinnell came out a little flat but picked it up and battled back and forth with IC all half. Trek Langenhan came up big with 3 3's back to back to back in the 2nd half. Chamberlain played big as well in the second half, topping it all off with a monstrous slam (hanging on the rim, no technical was given). With about 2 and half minutes left the Pioneers went to a 2-3 zone, kind of conservative for Grinnell, rebounded and made free throws to end it. This year the "young lead" Pioneers step up big when it matters and have played well at the end of games. Congrats to GC. Always tough to get a win on the road in the MWC.

[Greek Tragedy]

Old School....Grotberg is the only player on Grinnell who takes enough shots (and can make enough) to single handedly beat you. Thats the only thing I meant by that.

Your point is noted, but I still don't think anyone game plans to stop Grotberg.  Of course, he shoots enough to beat you, but he can also shoot enough to beat his own team.  Nice line:  7-23, 4-13 from 3.  Sure he had 26, but that's an ugly 26 pts.  Little A goes for 28 on 11-16, 4-6 from 3.

Ya, we lose big at Carroll.

Hey i've been working on this for a bit, and I have a theory:

I don't think we're the same team without Braier.

Any thoughts?

If that wasn't the most obvious statement this season! lol. 

If Tharp doesn't bolt after this year, and lets face it his stock has dropped since last season, with everyone but Osland coming back I think LU should be back with a vengeance next year.

There isn't anyway he turns down IWU to stay with LU and then bolts in a year.  LU has a solid core back next year, even with Osland gone.  Dekker was not very good in his brief appearence.

The scoreboard has Lawrence over Carroll 72-45 - I take it that is backwards?

Yeah, they got spanked and I was there to enjoy it! lol. 

Carroll's PA announcer at their gym is awful. Someone needs to tell him to tone it down a bit. He's not the lead singer of White Snake.

Yeah, he's a little loud!    I don't think he needed the mic.

GC 116, IC 105

LF 65, KC 53

RC 81, BC 77 2 OT

CC 72, LU 45

[The Roop]

Although I didn't care for the end result, I think I will buy a DVD of that Beloit-Ripon game at the end of the year from MWCTV. I'm guessing they own the rights to it so asking the school for a freebie is out of the question these days. Because it's self-evident that everybody wants to be as much like The Roop as they can, I'm sure the rest of you will be buying DVDs of the game too. 

Several white knuckle moments on the way back today as the 400mph cross winds created windshield wiper issues all the way. Passenger side remained spotless so maybe I just need a right hand drive car. Better yet, a car with two steering wheels so I can switch off as the need arises. LOL.

I'm still not sure anybody wants to win the conference at this point, so it will likely come down to ease of schedule the rest of the way. Grinnell has a home weekend coming up so that helps them. Ripon has a road weekend but they're not exactly facing the teeth of the MWC either, plus it's a pretty easy trip from one venue to the next. Lawrence has proven they are indeed beatable this year. Carroll and St. Norbert have both proven they are spontaneously inconsistent this year.

I've not seen all of the top 5 this year and probably won't. What I have seen however tells me that at least two of them will drop anchor allowing at least one of the bottom 5 to sneak in. Who wins the regular season and hosts............... Not a clue. Ask me a week from now and I might have an idea.

[Dolph Stanley]

Since Roop left it up to me..........

I can certainly understand how a team gets a bench technical when, coming off a time out with 20 seconds left in the second OT down 3 with the ball and, having just been told by the refs that they were out of time outs, a time out gets called.

After all, how much can the six coaches on staff be asked to remember.  An honest mistake if ever there was one.

Horton is as good on the offensive end right now as any player in the MWC and can be the best player in the conference over the next two seasons

The kinder, gentler Dolph    

[Greek Tragedy]

"38 more days until Braier and LU are no more"

Ring a bell

He was special!

Wouldn't Lawrence actually start a new calender after he graduated and have it 254 (or whatever days it is) A.B. (After Braier)? 

[The Roop]

I do have a complaint about the Ripon crowd yesterday........................ Where was the "eye candy"?? Typically Ripon always represents themselves well on the road. Yet on Saturday, nothing. Not that I was going to get my freak on with mom sitting next to me, but I don't mind nice scenery at the games. Work on it Red Hawks.

[Greek Tragedy]

I do have a complaint about the Ripon crowd yesterday........................ Where was the "eye candy"?? Typically Ripon always represents themselves well on the road. Yet on Saturday, nothing. Not that I was going to get my freak on with mom sitting next to me, but I don't mind nice scenery at the games. Work on it Red Hawks.

lol.    I don't do karma points, but if I did....

[The Roop]

Sure Old School. You don't "do" karma but you don't complain about getting it either. 

[systemfan86]

Tough week coming up for CC. Three road games in 5 days. How they survive this week will go a long way towards deciding where the MWC tournament is going to be. The middle of the three (against GC) is probably the biggest game of the week. A last possession game won by CC back at the beginning of December.

Both Pioneer teams better not be looking to Saturday or they could easily get tripped up tomorrow. RC looks to be in the best position to come out of the week on top of the standings. One of the other two leading teams will obviously lose, and both have tough games beyond playing each other. If Ripon gets past Norbs at home, they should be in the lead at the end (of the week).

If GC could somehow survive the week unscathed, I like their chances (a lot).

How's that for a somewhat obvious analysis?   

[jeffdc]

Best of luck tomorrow for GC in their rematch with MC. Let the mice rule the box!

[Early]

Since Roop left it up to me..........

I can certainly understand how a team gets a bench technical when, coming off a time out with 20 seconds left in the second OT down 3 with the ball and, having just been told by the refs that they were out of time outs, a time out gets called.

After all, how much can the six coaches on staff be asked to remember.  An honest mistake if ever there was one.

Horton is as good on the offensive end right now as any player in the MWC and can be the best player in the conference over the next two seasons

The kinder, gentler Dolph    

Dolph,
Can you expand on this comment?  Are you talking about he Ripon-Beloit game?  I did not see or hear anything about the game.

[Scots4]

Monmouth vs. GC, LU, CC this week.....3 must win games against the cream of the league.

[systemfan86]

Monmouth vs. GC, LU, CC this week.....3 must win games against the cream of the league.

And I was think GC had/has a tall order to sweep this week...That's a killer schedule. At least they are all at home.

Good luck this weekend.

(Not tomorrow, but this weekend...definitely! Especially Saturday.) 

[scottie]

Yes, a figurative "Do or Die" stretch for the Scots.  A sweep would do wonders for their place in the standings, particularly if LF and SNC were each to stumble.  But as a wise man told me recently, "One game at a time," (grasshopper).