MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

Ah yes, the good ole days. Beloit and Ripon would fight it out for the north division title while Monmouth always had a bye in the south division to make it to the MWC Championship game.

Then came the conference tournament era...................... Silly at it's inception as the 3 dominant teams were always going to be there; plus an also ran.

I honestly think the MWC is the best it has ever been right now. We're no longer the generic Pool A that gets sent to the host as an anticipated bye.

[The Roop]

Sorry scottie we posted at the same time and mine started a new page. Of the 3 you mentioned I would say that Ripon has the best chance of returning first. (Although your previous post is currently being reviewed)

[augiefan]

There is no doubt that the MWC is better than ever before. It is improving each year. Big wins by Carroll and St. Norbert's prove that this season. A big contributor to the recent inmprovement was Beloit grad John Tharp's program at LU. Too bad Beloit did not hire JT, when Coach K. retired.

[Gregory Sager]

Scottie's question of the day?

Who will make it back to the MWC playoffs first?  Beloit, Ripon, or the Good Guys?

Which one of those three interrogative sentences was actually Scottie's question of the day?

I vote for the first one: "Scottie's question of the day?" It was very existential.

[scottie]

GS: You got me.... 

[titan2000]

After reading all that prognostication, there is one axiom I'd like to remind you of:

BETTER DEAD THAN RED

[fightintitan2006]

It seems to me that one of the biggest signs of improvement in the MWC is the lack of recent freshman contributors, which speaks to improved team depth. In years prior, it always seemed that many MWC teams (or at least their message board fans) were always expecting or relying on a freshman or two to come and be big contributors from day one.

The only real freshmen difference makers over the past few years have been Grinnell's three amigos, Kroeger and Gillespie, all of whom could play for any program in the country.

I was going to pose a question similar to Scotties to the Ripon posters (if any of them are still out there). I don't share Roop's optimism and was wondering if Ripon will even make an MWC tourney with will likely go down as the best overall player in school history on the roster? 

[titan2000]

I don't think Gillespie is even close to the best player in Ripon in the last 5 years.   I think Tommy Becker and Schmitting were bigger difference makers for Ripon than Scott will be.

Scott doesn't shoot for a high %, shoots too much, is an irritant to fans on the road, and sulks too much when called for fouls.  Yes he is talented; but unless he cleans up his act he will be one of the more hated players in Ripon history, unless the RedAnts don't win enough for folks to care.

Sorry to be so blunt.

[scottie]

I was going to pose a question similar to Scotties to the Ripon posters (if any of them are still out there).

Paging Steve Kohl.....Paging Steve Kohl.   

[No One In Particular]

The only real freshmen difference makers over the past few years have been Grinnell's three amigos, Kroeger and Gillespie, all of whom could play for any program in the country.

Bobby Long - assuming that's the third amigo - wasn't much of a factor as a freshman. Don't have the stats but he wasn't nearly as much of a difference maker as the other two. Drury and Ladwig could play for anyone in the country if Kroeger and Gillespie could.

I don't think Gillespie is even close to the best player in Ripon in the last 5 years.   I think Tommy Becker and Schmitting were bigger difference makers for Ripon than Scott will be.

Scott Landisch...best player in recent Ripon history.

[No One In Particular]

or out of the country...

http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=GER&Team=1645

[dansand]

The only real freshmen difference makers over the past few years have been Grinnell's three amigos, Kroeger and Gillespie, all of whom could play for any program in the country.

Bobby Long - assuming that's the third amigo - wasn't much of a factor as a freshman. Don't have the stats but he wasn't nearly as much of a difference maker as the other two. Drury and Ladwig could play for anyone in the country if Kroeger and Gillespie could.

Player     GP-GS  Min--Avg  FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg  PF FO   A  TO Blk Stl  Pts  Avg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grotberg.. 23-8   451 19.6 238-604  .394 120-355  .338 127-157  .809   42  27   69  3.0  49  2  70  95   4  48  723 31.4
Arseneault 23-14  456 19.8 103-226  .456  13-31   .419  84-120  .700   43  42   85  3.7  48  1 198  78   0  32  303 13.2
Long...... 23-12  402 17.5  75-174  .431  47-123  .382  26-36   .722   32  20   52  2.3  46  1  29  35   0  34  223  9.7

[fightintitan2006]

Thanks for pointing that out gang, I was thinking Long had averaged around 15 a game as a freshman and was clearly wrong about him being an impact player.

Drury and Ladwig could play for anyone in the country if Kroeger and Gillespie could.

My point exactly...I think the Carroll duo may be the two best players in the conference, but neither had an impact as a freshman.

[No One In Particular]

Thanks for pointing that out gang, I was thinking Long had averaged around 15 a game as a freshman and was clearly wrong about him being an impact player.

Drury and Ladwig could play for anyone in the country if Kroeger and Gillespie could.

My point exactly...I think the Carroll duo may be the two best players in the conference, but neither had an impact as a freshman.

## Player              GP-GS  Min--Avg  FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg  PF FO   
04 Nathan Drury....25-2   496 19.8  77-148  .520  35-77   .455  29-35   .829   17  50   67  2.7  44  1 

A  TO Blk Stl  Pts      Avg
57  48   3  24  218  8.7

Arguably WAY better stats than Long on an outstanding team that took Lawrence to the end. No impact as far as I can see.

## Player              GP-GS  Min--Avg  FG-FGA   Pct 3FG-FGA   Pct  FT-FTA   Pct  Off Def  Tot  Avg  PF FO   
21 Wes Ladwig......... 23-0   227  9.9  18-39   .462   6-14   .429  10-14   .714    3  16   19  0.8  20  0 

A  TO Blk Stl  Pts      Avg
22  13   3   8   52  2.3

Solid freshman-year impact playing behind Trevor Stratton, A. Ligocki and B. Colomy on a loaded perimeter on an NCAA tourney qualifying team. Who was Long playing behind?

[No One In Particular]

my point exactly