MBB: Midwest Conference

The Roop · July 15, 2008, 10:26:26 AM

Here's the thing. It took former A.D. Kim Chandler nearly 4 years to call me The Roop so instead of training a new one I'll just take the job myself. Watch for news on the 1st as I'll be in Beloit a few days for my high school class reunion festivities. It would be real convenient for me if Beloit College named me then. Preferably between finishing my round of golf and the start of the block party downtown at 5:30PM. The block party is open to the public so I wouldn't have to do one of those meet and greet handshake press conferences.

Greek Tragedy · July 16, 2008, 08:39:26 PM

Because I know people who know people...

GRINNELL 2008-2009 SCHEDULE

Fri, Nov 21 Baptist Bible (H)
Sat, Nov 22 Manhattan Christian (H)
Tues, Novr 25 Vennard (H)
Sat, Nov 29 @ MSOE
Fri Dec 5 @ Beloit
Sat Dec 6 @ Ripon
Wed Dec 10 KNOX (H)
Sat Dec 13 @ Waldorf
Sat Jan 3 WHEATON (H)
Mon Jan 5 @ Fontbonne
Sat Jan 10 @ Illinois College
Tue Jan 13 @ Lake Forest
Fri Jan 16 CARROLL (H)
Sat Jan 17 ST NORBERT (H)
Fri Jan 23 @ Lawrence
Sat Jan 24 @ Carroll
Tue Jan 27 MONMOUTH (H)
Sat Jan 31 LAKE FOREST (H)
Fri Feb 6 RIPON (H)
Sat Feb 7 BELOIT (H)
Wed Feb 11 @ Knox
Sat Feb 14 ILLINOIS COLLEGE (H)
Sat Feb 21 @ Monmouth

fightintitan2006 · July 16, 2008, 11:02:34 PM

Looks like Grinnell should be 7-1 at worst and possibly 8-0 heading into a home game against a likely top 10 Wheaton team. Could finally be that statement game so many system lovers/haters have been waiting for.

Greek Tragedy · July 17, 2008, 04:00:10 PM

Trips to MSOE and Ripon may be harder than your initial thought.

Gregory Sager · July 17, 2008, 07:24:47 PM

Quote from: Old School.... (Tom Doebler) on July 17, 2008, 04:00:10 PM
Trips to MSOE and Ripon may be harder than your initial thought.

I agree with Tom, especially where MSOE is concerned. Don't assume that the Raiders will be a W for Grinnell. The Pioneers will have to earn that one.

fightintitan2006 · July 17, 2008, 10:38:08 PM

I am aware of the challenges both teams present and was counting one or the other as Grinnell's loss in a 7-1 scenario, but am not expecting a loss in both.

larry_u · July 18, 2008, 09:22:18 AM

JoJo amongst a group of 7 named to the Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2008..
Congrats!

http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/public_affairs/media/sportsnews/0708/070908.html

System Error · July 18, 2008, 09:48:12 PM

Without the big fella this year, i agree that they should start of 7-1 or 8-0. Winning at Beloit and Ripon and then home at Knox are very important. They seem to have a near impossible middle of the schedule with games against Wheaton and Fontbonne who both made the tournament last year. Then they play @ IC and LF and follow that with games against CU twice, LU and STN.
That could be the potential downfall of the mighty system.

Greek Tragedy · July 19, 2008, 01:07:54 AM

Quote from: System Error on July 18, 2008, 09:48:12 PM
They seem to have a near impossible middle of the schedule with games against Wheaton and Fontbonne who both made the tournament last year. Then they play @ IC and LF and follow that with games against CU twice, LU and STN.
That could be the potential downfall of the mighty system.

I wouldn't get too excited about the part of your statement I bolded. Yes, they did make the tourney, but they are also from the very weak SLIAC. 21-7 is a very good record if you just look at the numbers, but the games they played and won out of conference aren't impressive at all. Moody Bible, Robert-Morris-Springfield, Caltech, Lincoln Christian twice. Not a "who's who" of tough nonconference games, let alone D3 opponents.

So, though the "made the NCAA tournament" statement looks impressive, that's like saying a (former) Lake Michigan Conference team made the tourney and they're on the schedule.

Another "trap" game is the game at Waldorf, along with the home game vs. Manhattan Christian. They did place 6th in the NCCAA National Tourney, for whatever that's worth.

Wydown Blvd. · July 19, 2008, 03:16:15 AM

+1 to Tom for pointing out the flaw in the "Fontbonne... tournament last year" section of that statement. Thank you bc I read that comment essentially comparing Wheaton and Fontbonne in distraught.

System Error · July 19, 2008, 02:55:15 PM

Wydown and Old School,
I appreciate your concern with my comment of both teams making the tournament. It was actually just and only that a statement. I look at each teams schedules in depth and I know that Fontbonne and Wheaton are hardly comparable. I was just making a comment that these teams both made the tournament and Grinnell did not. So it is better competition than their non-conference schedule early in the season.

P.S. It would be difficult to compare any team with Wheaton. After all they do have a first-team all american on their team in Kent Raymond.

Greek Tragedy · July 19, 2008, 04:11:39 PM

System,

Not trying to discredit your posts or anything like that. Sorry, I didn't mean to throw anyone under the bus.

But, as noted, your sentence, intentially or not, compares Wheaton with Fontbonne.

And of course, saying that both of those teams made the tourney and Grinnell did not, implies, in my opinion, that they are better than Grinnell. Of course, we'll agree that Wheaton is! lol.

I don't have the knowledge to say that Fontbonne is better competition than, say, Waldorf or Manhattan Christian because I don't know enough about them...though the latter did have some "credentials" that seemed good!

Anyway, more importantly, win or lose, those first three games, along with Waldorf don't even count since they aren't D3. Limited to 23 games a season is a disadvantage enough, but then throw in the fact that only 19 count towards the NCAA Tourney makes it even tougher.

System Error · July 20, 2008, 11:25:24 AM

Dont worry Old School, I didn't think that you were throwing me under the bus.

How do you think that Grinnell will fair against Wheaton? That is going to be a high scoring game for sure. Will Raymond put up 50 and 15? Will he guard Grotberg, Arseneault, Long?

Their first three games and Waldorf don't count? Don't count towards their record or don't count towards NCAA record?

Titan Q · July 20, 2008, 12:14:25 PM

Regarding Wheaton, note that the Thunder will probably be picked 3rd (likely) or 4th in the CCIW this year.

hopefan · July 20, 2008, 12:36:40 PM

Grinnell will not or should not be taking Fontbonne lightly.

Just a couple of points - Fontbonne played a terriffic game in the NCAA Tourney, taking Mary Hardin Baylor down to a last shot, and they have four of five starters returning. And Grinnell is coming to Fontbonne.

Grinnell's main advantage will be Fontbonne's lack of experience playing against the system.