MBB: Midwest Conference

[schwanman]

In regard to the last statement about minutes played, "Not so fast, my friend."

The first team I checked about the accuracy of the statement was Monmouth. They have 10 guys with double-digit minutes, four that average 5.5 to 9.9 minutes and a total of 19 who have played.

So there is a team out there that can make that kind of claim.

On another subject, when I first heard about the 34 assists, I thought it was kind of cool. It seems that two things happened out of the normal. The first is that he played 38 minutes. Even though that's not how Grinnell normally uses it players, I'm fine with that in an undecided game. He's a starter, so more power to him.

Had the game been closer, I'd have been happy to see him still in the lineup for the last 10 minutes. But to keep adding assists in a 39-point win when you've already played way more than usual, that doesn't seem right. It looks to me that he had broken the record during a little flurry around the nine-minute mark. Good for him ... now get him the heck out of the game before he gets hurt. One of these days, that's going to happen to some team ... a greedy coach loses a key player to injury who should have long since been out of the game.

All that being said, Grinnell is very impressive. I've seen them play this year, and I'm constantly amazed at how well their offense works, not just in terms of getting good looks at threes, but also in getting wide-open two-footers in the lane.

I also have a question. If Arseneault, Grotberg, Long and Chamberlain and one other player were the starting five (at 30+ minutes per game) and played non-system basketball, how would they do? I'm thinking they'd still be pretty successful. 

[systemfan86]

In regard to the last statement about minutes played, "Not so fast, my friend."

The first team I checked about the accuracy of the statement was Monmouth. They have 10 guys with double-digit minutes, four that average 5.5 to 9.9 minutes and a total of 19 who have played.

So there is a team out there that can make that kind of claim.

Color me surprised. Thanks for checking that. 

Now that I think about it,  the minutes might not be that unusual. I looked at BC and CC and they had more players than I expect in double digit minutes.

Grinnell's advantage might be better stated in the number of games that players appear in. Grinnell has played 7 games and 18 players have appeared in 6 or 7. BC has nine players like that and CC has nine as well.

The point being that expanded participation has been seen as one of the benefits of running the system.   

[The Roop]

jeffp...regarding what the Rooper said, if what I have written in the past has caused you to quit posting, just let me know and I will not post again until the day after your death, and that will only be to share a fond memory.

You're not the only reason for his absence but I'm not getting long winded on that because it's Jeffs business. Specifically you have tormented the man for over a year now by not revealing your identity. Hacking into the Grinnell computer system to make it look like your messages were coming from there didn't go over very well either.

Had you dropped a couple hints then told him who you are after a couple weeks and I think we all get a laugh out of it. At this point it has gone well beyond the bounds of good taste and has become a very serious concern. What you're doing is not funny and hasn't been for a while. You obviously know him but he has no idea who you are so it's a very uncomfortable situation.

I personally don't think you are a threat to him but based on some of your antics I would not want to try proving that in a court of law.

[Gray Fox]

Lawrence fans can plan ahead for a nice trip to Southern California next year. 8)

2008-09 Classic in Southern California.

Cal Lu/Caltech Classic.  On the weekend of Dec 20th-22nd, 2008.   One day of competition at Caltech, one day at Cal Lutheran.

Needed: one D3 team needed to join Lawrence in playing both California Lutheran Univ. and Cal. Tech in a "Classic" format.

Please contact Rich Rider (Head Coach, CLU) at 805-493-3404 or email him at rider@clunet.edu

[fightintitan2006]

How does everyone think Arseneault's record will effect global warming?

[The Roop]

You probably need to ask Al Gore about that one FT06 but I'm sure it does somehow.

My biggest beef with the whole thing is where does it stop ?? At some point the NCAA may just say OK, assists are no longer an official stat so nobody has the record.

[wc2viking]

Wow, pretty revealing stuff in the Daily Dose comment section.  You know, I could almost see "game-planning" for records if your school was a struggling institution looking to get some free nationwide press.  But we're talking about Grinnell here.  The school has plenty of resources to attract student-athletes to its program. 

I was really surprised that the coach suggested that going for these records provided motivation to his players.  Um, isn't the idea to be the best team possible?  Couldn't players be motivated to make the national tourney and actually win a few games there?

But hey, what do I know? I bet the kids at Carroll felt pretty good about their season last year, but maybe the Grinnell players had already accomplished their goals by setting some scoring record.

[The Roop]

Clarke has the bracket up for their tournament. PDF only for now as the tournament website isn't running yet but it looks like Beloit can come away with a couple of wins there. Not sure what to think of their first round game against Simpson as I can't get a read on them. They've struggled against good teams then up and beat Grinnell, only to turn around and get handled by Wartburg who is hovering in the average category thus far.

[bucs r bust]

Did anyone else notice the rather strange layout for the Clarke Holiday Tournament bracket???  The astericks at the bottom says that the bottom team for each matchup will be the home team.  So why would Clarke not put themselves in one of the bottom brackets so they would be the home team each game (assuming they advance)?  I know on some weekends when teams play on back to back nights that the road team will wear home jerseys the second night but does the whole home/away jersey thing matter in tournaments?  It just seems a bit strange to me that they are hosting a tournament and could potentially be the visitor in their own gym/tournament.

[The Roop]

Considering the number of teams involved for both the mens and womens tournaments I'm sure the hosts have low priority to the laundry facilities. One of the many logistical inconveniences to hosting a tournament.

[LU 05]

question:  With all the hoopla surrounded by Grinnell every year, has the "system" ever produced a single NCAA tournament win?


much ado about nothing

[Gregory Sager]

question:  With all the hoopla surrounded by Grinnell every year, has the "system" ever produced a single NCAA tournament win?

I realize that this question was almost certainly rhetorical. But, just for the record, here is Grinnell's tournament legacy:

1996: Wheaton 131, Grinnell 117
2001: Illinois Wesleyan 132, Grinnell 91

Lest anyone use this as an excuse to bash Grinnell, however, here are the overall tournament records of all of the MWC programs:

school	apps	1st app	last app	W-L (pct)
Knox	1	1975	1975	0-2 (.000)
*Cornell	1	1976	1976	0-2 (.000)
Beloit	8	1977	1995	3-12 (.200)
Ripon	12	1978	2002	5-14 (.263)
St. Norbert	2	1984	2002	1-2 (.333)
Monmouth	4	1985	1990	3-5 (.375)
Grinnell	2	1996	2001	0-2 (.000)
Lawrence	4	1997	2006	5-4 (.555)
Illinois C.	1	2003	2003	0-1 (.000)
Carroll	2	2006	2007	2-2 (.500)
TOTALS	37	---	---	19-46 (.292)

* now in IIAC

Lake Forest has never been to the big dance.

After 33 years of participating in the D3 tournament, this league has a cumulative .292 winning percentage, one Elite Eight appearance, and no Final Four appearances to show for it. The Pioneers may not have distinguished themselves in March, but they are most certainly not alone.

[The Roop]

Nice work Mr. Sager but you're forgetting *Coe which went 1-1 in 1976. Defeating Simpson then losing to Augustana in the second round. They were #1 ranked and undefeated until that point if memory serves correctly. That boosts the winning percentage to a whopping .298. Although the "real" percentage is probably a little lower. Many of the games in your stats are meaningless regional consolation games.

[The Roop]

Holiday break is almost as bad as the off season I think. Therefore "The Roop" has devised a plan for the Citizens of the NRO to stay occupied at this time of year. Since most of you are college grads I think an essay contest would be in order. The theme is as follows:

Illustrate and define the similarities and differences between "Grand Poobah" the rapper/hiphop artist and "Grand Poobah" of the Water Buffalo Lodge on the Flintstones.

This was reviewed by NRO Multicultural Staff Members and found to be unoffensive. The winner will receive the same thing the winner in the Pickem contest gets.

[Greek Tragedy]

question:  With all the hoopla surrounded by Grinnell every year,...

Try like, a year.  Honestly.  Coming from a Lawrence poster, it had to be rhetorical.