MBB: Midwest Conference

[John Gleich]

Just because the Sporting News ranks them No. 5 doesn't mean anyone takes the ranking seriously.

Darn, the man himself beat somebody quoting him by 23 seconds!  He's good!

[Pat Coleman]

Just good timing.

[gizmo]

You all bring up very good points about preseason rankings and the possibility of Norb's being over ranked. Personally I am looking forward to Norb's showing you all that they are better than what you give them. I remember during the NCAAs last year when you said they wouldnt win a game and they did. Granted they weren't used to the physical play and played terrible vs. Point but they were still only down 7 with 4:26 left. They had a chnace to close the gap but did not have experience to do so. Now obviously they do. I know you are not "hating" on their skill but they are better I think than what you give them.

[The Roop]

The MWC Tournament is likely to be the St. Norbert Invitational this season. I wasn't surprised to see them win a 1st round game in the NCAAs but the half court game mentality isn't going to get them very far. Shoot a friggin 3 for crying out loud.

[gizmo]

Actually Mr. Roop, among other MWC teams they shot the 3 ball just as often. They play to their strengths like any good team does, and they are a good half court team.

[The Roop]

I was referring to the Point game and time remaining. Simply weren't enough possessions left to take quick 2s in trade for free throws on the other end.

[The Roop]

From the CCIW board

DIII News has IWU ranked #2 in the preseason and Carthage #4...

http://fwix.com/dallas/share/f94e320ba7/ut_dallas_mens_basketball_ranked_no_17_in_diii_news_preseason_top_25

http://www.cciw.org/news/2010/10/5/MBB_1005100032.aspx


1. Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Eastern Mennonite
4. Carthage
5. Williams
6. Randolph-Macon
7. Franklin & Marshall
8. Wooster
9. St. Thomas
10. Washington (Mo.)
11. Rhode Island College
12. St. Mary's (Md.)
13. Guilford
14. Hope
15. Whitworth
16. St. Norbert
17. Texas-Dallas
18. MIT
19. SUNYIT
20. John Carroll
21. Plattsburgh State
22. Anderson
23. SUNY Purchase
24. Middlebury
25. Merchant Marine

Others to watch: Wis. Whitewater, Rch. Stockton, Brandeis, Albertus Magnus, St. John Fisher, Cabrini, Maryville, Birmingham Southern, Albright, Occidental, DePauw, Claremont, DeSales, Chapman, Medaille.





Steve Djurickovic is their preseason Player of the Year...

http://www.cciw.org/news/2010/10/5/MBB_1005104630.aspx

Guess I was wrong when I said St. Norbert was a Top 15. Then again who you gonna believe. Me or the DIII News ??

[gizmo]

Funny how they have Hope ahead of Norb's...

[krytonite]

Hope loses a starting captain and its head coach, after all losing to St. Norbert's, and comes out ahead?  Very mysterious.  Tradition, name, what is it?

[John Gleich]

[W]hat is it?

DIII News.

Don't sell the farm on these rankings.  Don't sell the farm on the D3hoops.com ranking either... It is by far the best and most informed (and thus the most accurate) but it's a preseason poll.  The games still have to be played.

The best thing that Norbs (or anyone else) can do is just win their ball games.

Rankings are just a number in front of the name.  Those don't matter.  What matters is the number AFTER the name (the record).

[The Roop]

2 shockers................. 1. Beloit has posted their roster before the season started and 2. They have 11 freshmen. I haven't seen a roster this big (20) since the Knapton years. Senior Day will take a week four years from now me thinks.

[John Gleich]

2 shockers................. 1. Beloit has posted their roster before the season started and 2. They have 11 freshmen. I haven't seen a roster this big (20) since the Knapton years. Senior Day will take a week four years from now me thinks.

Attrition will show that there aren't 11... even next year.

Basketball is a curious sport in that there are only 5 positions on the floor and no different offensive and defensive teams.  Deep teams may play 10 regularly.  That's half the team that doesn't play regularly.  Very few of the "hangers on" will hang on.

And you've gotta think that these 11 will be pretty low on the depth chart.  1 or 2 may be "in the mix" but most will not.

[The Roop]

Yes but if you only have 10 on the roster to begin with and have an injury or two, it makes it hard to have a practice. Shouldn't be a problem this year; even with some likely attrition.

[John Gleich]

Yes but if you only have 10 on the roster to begin with and have an injury or two, it makes it hard to have a practice. Shouldn't be a problem this year; even with some likely attrition.

Well, right.  But it won't take a week on Senior night because, invariably, all of these guys won't make it through until the end.

That's partially why D-III teams seemingly over-recruit... it isn't clear who will pan out and who will just decide that there are other things they'd rather do.

[augiefan]

Who knows what the talent level is in the Beloit frosh class, but it is great to see a decent turn out for this program after so many down years. Those of us who remember the "good old days" at Beloit are just hoping this means that start of a return to excellence in the Beloit MBB program. It's been painful to follow the program since the last few year of the Knapton era. I think the Bucs may make it to the middle of the MWC standings this year with an outside shot at 4th place and a spot in the MWC tourney.