MBB: Midwest Conference

[titan2000]

Ever since I became an MWC fan, I've been told that Gillespie was this brilliant coach who could win with just about any group of players.  Now it seems there may be a chink in the armor.  Am I reading that right, Go Bucs?

[gobucs]

There may be a chink in the armor.  Gillespie has had alot of talent in years past, but his teams seem to struggle with mediocre opponents.  Maranatha-a very bad team- gave them a run for their money.  Its early in the season, but losing to Marion was a huge upset, maybe Gillespie didn't have his troops ready to go?  All the talk about Ripon, I guess I was looking to see a team that was more polished and primed.  That's why I was not impressed by the redhawks.

[Dolph Stanley]

Having watched Ripon and Beloit play common opponents on consecutive nights it will now be very interesting  to watch the paths of these two teams during the remainder of the season. 

I have never bought in to the "Gillespie is a genius who can win with anybody" school of thought but if he gets this team to the final four in the MWC I will be very impressed.

Beloit features two seniors who have started for four years, two Juniors who started last year and a freshman PG in their starting line-up.  They looked like a team that had played together with their key pieces in place much more than Ripon did for these two nights.

Based on what I saw for two nights, Beloit should finish ahead of Ripon in the MWC.  However, it is a very long season and the margin is narrow enough that I believe coaching will play a major part in who finishes ahead.  A good test for both coaches.

[titan2000]

Ripon sucking doesn't bode well for the UW-Green Bay Phoenix, who just got by the Rednecks a week or so ago.   It appears that both UW-GB and Marquette both are in for long years, as Winthrop beat MU last night.

[The Roop]

The next game for both teams will tell a great deal. 11/22 Augustana @Beloit (I can't be there unfortunately) and 11/25 UW-Stevens Point @ Ripon. I'll take Beloit -7 and UW-Stevens Point -13.

12/2 Beloit @Grinnell I'm setting the over/under at 315.

[Early]

Fellas,
Yes apparently Ripon didn't look very good this weekend.  A loss to Marian, and a win over Maranatha, who no one thinks is any good.  But remember one thing.....it's EARLY!!! 

go bucs I think made the most intelligent statement.....Ripon was full of themselves, and they pro'ly over looked Marian.  But give coach G a week to prepare for someone, and bring in a team that the hawks think they have something to prove like Point and LaCrose, and we WILL see what they are made of then.  But don't judge thinking every team doesn't have a bad night and can't recover.

[M.Flowers]

Congrats to the Bucs for picking up two wins, I think this is the year they put it together looks like they have a strong mix of young talent and veteran leadership.  They will have a big test with Augie coming into the Flood, can someone give me some info on how the young guys looked I have not seen any of them play it looks as though Horton had a pretty nice weekend.

[Old Fighting Scot]

scottie,

did you hear any details about the CMSU game?  i am trying to figure out why price only played 14 mins....

[scottie]

OFS - I saw the box score and was wondering about Price, myself.  No clue.  He only had 3 fouls.  Toothache??   

According to the game summary from the award winning MC SID department, the Mules (yes that's their nickname, women are the Jennies) are ranked #11 in DII right now.  Someday, TG will get that game off of the schedule.  ha ha.

[diehardfan]

April gives scottie karma, and then regrets it, cause he called me "that other girl" 
Juuuust kidding dear!

Gotta love that non MWC posters know to write poetry when they step into the room.... quality stuff Hoops Fan!

i live in cali now and i am anxious, as i will be able to get my first look at Redlands and compare them to the system!

Hey! A midwest basketball fan exiled out to So Cal just like me? Woo! Where do you live? I live in Riverside County, but toward the south, and out in the wine country, so Redlands is the closest school to me... we should meet up at a game some time and discus how much better midwest basketball is!

[The Roop]

M.Flowers,

All the freshmen looked good and Horton and Dowden really stood out. Tubbs will reach that level when he gets more minutes and catches up to the speed of the college game. In limited action Crivello proved he could shoot and Weber is still nursing an injury (as I understand it) and did not play.

This years team goes about 9 deep before they lose anything and is definitely geared for playing games in the 80+ point range. On the down side they may have trouble against physical teams that like to pound it in the middle. They have height but not a lot of size. Speed is their stongest point.

April,

Riverside County is bigger than most states so you'll have to be more specific. I do know where Redlands is though. I don't care how dry the heat is out there, it's still too friggin hot for me. Stock up on sunscreen for the summer.

[systemfan86]

The boxscore from Friday's game was finally posted:

http://www.grinnell.edu/athletics/mbasketball/includes/ccgc1118.htm

They only achieved 1 of the 5 goals, but they were reasonably close on the others. Some interesting numbers pop up:

1) Cornell tried to play their players an even amount of time; 13 players had between 13 and 16 minutes. That seems unusual. (GC only had 12 players in that range).

2) 57% shooting for Cornell seems very low. I hope that can be attributed to good defense.

3) 8 blocks for Nordlund?! That's huge.

4) Grinnell was 33 of 45 from inside 3pt range. Wow. That's outrageous.

5) 60% free throw shooting likely needs to be better. Maybe if they took a few steps back from the line. 

All in all a good win. Grotberg and little a's numbers look very good. Combined, they were 20-40, 52 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists. Not bad for a couple of newbies in their first game. 

[mwc4life]

With the way Ripon played last weekend, they deserve everything that is coming their way on this board.  There shouldn't have been any doubt in either game as to who the better team was, but as we all know, that's why you play the games.  I want to make a couple points though.  Ripon doesn't start one senior on their team and only their back-up center (deveres) plays significant minutes....so obviously they are young.  Bo Johnson went "0-fer" in the Marian game which probably won't happen again.  Needless to say of those excuses, none of them should have mattered.  I can only hope those guys learn from "over-looking" an opponent.  But like Early said, it's waaaaay too early and a team like Ripon with all Juniors and Soph's starting, it may take a preseason game or two to get them going in the right direction.  Congrats to Beliot on playing well.  They sound like they will be very competitive this year in the MWC.  I'm willing to take any bets right now that Ripon will finish better than Beliot in the MWC.  And as far as Gillespie goes, guys, he's a pretty darn good coach.  Please just look up his resume before you compare one game in 05-06' to his whole career.  Ripon will be ready by march.

[scottie]

Thanks, DHF.  Actually, you are THE girl.  Thanks for the karma!  I'm sending one your way as well.   

I think "That other girl" is posting up in between call backs and costume changes.  Right JeffP?

[hjmphelp]

AM-Unusual for any team but Cornell since they are coached by a former Grinnell assistant coach. I guess Jordan's computer crashed in the second half, so the stats don't show the improvement in 3 pt % in the second half or the fact that all of Nordys blocks were in the second. This was a great first step.

Scottie- You got it!

I don't think I'm gonna put too much creedence in Rippy's weekend performance. They will be up and functioning by january, I'd bet.