MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

Car issues have kept me close to home thus far but $620 later I'm good to go now. Pick a Pointer game that doesn't conflict with a Beloit game and I will be there. Provided there are no over times I can even make a Pointer game mid week and still get to work on time.

I'll give you Rockford and 8 1/2. Loser buys the popcorn at St. Norbert on the 12th when Beloit comes calling. 4:00PM tip.

[Scots4]

Illinois College is definitly a team that could end up in the playoffs. They are under the radar and I think they like that. Johnson has been shooting the lights out and Womble has been providing an inside scoring threat as well. Throw in returning all conference player Mark Gillingham and you definitly have a very good scoring punch. They also got in a few transfers that have solidified the bench. They have good size in comparision to the rest of the league as well.

[LU_nut]

In my humble opinion, it is time for LU and Grinnell to start getting some votes and move into the top 25.   I recognize that preseason is really not important.   The year LU went to number one, they were not rated at the start of the season even though they had a great group back.  We all know the MWC is not a power conference, but it has shown over the past 5-6 years that the top 1-3 teams can play with anyone.  Carroll showed both the CCIW and the MIAC last year.  LU beat the top team from the  MIAC each of the previous two years.   I would not argue we have a top 10  type of team in our conference this year, but I do believe that LU and Grinnell are top 25.   LU has only one loss and that was at one of the top teams in the country.   They beat a good D2 team on the road.  Grinnell also only has one loss.  Both teams have virtually everyone back from last year.   I really think it is time for voters to give them both some love.

I am looking foward to the league this year.  Ripon's new point guard will create some upsets.  Illinois College and St. Norbs have been building towards this year for a couple of years.   There are going to be some good games.

Everyone on the board have a great new year.

Nut

Roop: I love you for your loyalty.......but maybe you need to think of a different team to adopt??   going to be a loooooonnnnnng year.  You deserve better.

[The Roop]

Nut,

Rankings don't mean much until the final poll when host sites are being awarded. So let the MWC fly under the radar all year for all I care. Past tournament performance means more than rankings do and the conference has done well in recent years.

Beloit. Well, they are much more shorthanded this year than I expected. However, once they realize that it's OK to win every now and then the better off they will be. As far as the future goes it has become a tough recruiting year as the applicant base for the incoming class of 2012 is highly qualified. Luckily "Recruit X" has been accepted (no surprise) and now it's a matter of the financial aid offer.

Simply put I'll always be a Beloit fan and you can't stop me.       
   

[Greek Tragedy]

Car issues have kept me close to home thus far but $620 later I'm good to go now. Pick a Pointer game that doesn't conflict with a Beloit game and I will be there. Provided there are no over times I can even make a Pointer game mid week and still get to work on time.

I'll give you Rockford and 8 1/2. Loser buys the popcorn at St. Norbert on the 12th when Beloit comes calling. 4:00PM tip.

12th won't work.  Platteville at Point. Sorry.

Feb. 2 Beloit at Ripon

Jan. 23 Eau Claire at Point

Feb. 6 Stout at Point

[The Roop]

Get me a ticket for the Eau Claire game so I can sit with you and Arboreal Wetland Primate and I will be there. Gotta keep it PC.......

[cubs]

Scott Gillespie went a little crazy last night. Not shabby for your seventh collegiate game. Only about 100 more career games to refine his game.

After Stevens Point played them, I said that I was pretty impressed with the guy.  A poster responded and said he could've easily gone D1, but stayed home to play for dad.  Ripon has lost a lot of close games, including the Point game.  They are only 2-5, but I think they will cause a lot of problems the rest of the MWC year.

Yeah, he got some looks from low-end D-I schools. He definitely could be a star at the D-II level, IMO. Glad he stuck around my area and decided to play for Bob. He's a fun one to watch.

Besides his dad, I think he chose Ripon, in part, because he can also play baseball at the school – something the D-I and D-II schools would not allow. He's a stud on the diamond as well.

I don't know if I would go as far as saying he is a stud on the baseball diamond....  He was a nice HS player, (on varstiy for four years) but nowhere near as good as he is a basketball player.  I'll be curious to see how much playing time he gets on the baseball diamond this season.  Ripon graduated both their SS and 2B, so he may have a chance to step in and play right away.

[augiefan]

Any final yet on the DIII game of the year between BC and Rockford tonight? It might be the Bucs last best chance to win another game this season.

[fightintitan2006]

Beloit won 74-70 according to the D3hoops scoreboard

[augiefan]

Go Bucs! The revival begins.

[The Roop]

Go Bucs! The revival begins.

Not to be confused the the poster GoBucs. LOL.

That's one of those games where you hoped that they would have won by more, but a 4 point margin is still only one win so I'll take it. They closed it out when the game was on the line so that's a major step. In the past it has not been unusual for them to lose games like that.

I'm not sure that comparing common opponents ever really means anything but it will be interesting to see how Rockford does in Ripon on Saturday. Ripon has seemed to turn things around and could easily be 5-3 right now. So I'm thinking the early season panic was unwarranted.

I'll worry about the Bucs next game in a week. For now I'm going ice fishing and hope it hits 40 degrees like they're talking about.

[gobucs]

Go Bucs! The revival begins.

Yes, I feel revived

[larry_u]

Just a reminder for those who have not made their picks yet, the MWC conference schedule begins again on Tuesday night, so you have until then to grt next week's games picked.

[Greek Tragedy]

For now I'm going ice fishing and hope it hits 40 degrees like they're talking about.

Won't you fall through? 

[augiefan]

Roop never fishs in water deeper than two feet and will be wearing his waders.