MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

As for the north, I would put Carroll and St. Norbert far ahead of Beloit.  Not sure about Lawrence or Ripon...I've only seen the gyms.  Beloit doesn't even have an outdoor track! 

Actually they do but it's only 4 lanes so they never host any meets. 6 lanes is the minumum for NCAA and MWC events as I understand it. It can be used for practice however. Beloits "new" outdoor track is on the to do list. I believe that's coming from the same donation that created a full time football assistant position. I've eyeballed things at Strong Stadum and I think the light poles will all need to be moved to accomodate the track expansion. That or just take them down.

On the no news is good news front.................. I've thrown together a quick line up for the basketball team based on who they might get next year. If it happens they will out score "The System" playing conventional basketball. Horton, Wimmer, Dowden, Recruit X2 and Recruit X3. Not sure why Recruit X2 is still available but I'm not complaining and it sounds like Beloit does have a chance at him. Perhaps he's waiting on a scholarship offer. Well........... he's good but I don't think he's D1 scholarship good. X3 may have flown in under the radar as he never got the opportunity to start until this year. He certainly put on a show in Madison for 2 games. 

I can neither confirm nor deny any NRO involvement in the lack of Knox posters. Although I will admit that I never knew what a Siwash was. An Illinois Bigfoot perhaps ?? In any event, Prairie Fire is a lamer knickname so they may wish to change back, that way I'll only be confused.

[fightintitan2006]

Speaking of facilities, what is the best place to see a game in the MWC...taking into account atmosphere, aesthetics, support, etc.

I havent been to St. Nobert in years and have never been to Knox, but both looked really dark on MWCTV this year. I hate dark gyms.

[The Roop]

As much as I love the character of Alexander Gymnasivm, I would have to give my vote to New Darby at Grinnell.

[gobucs]

I know for sure that all of the southern teams in the conference have far better facilities then Beloit.  IC, Grinnell, and Monmouth have fairly new gyms (or additions), which are amazing by the way.  As for the north, I would put Carroll and St. Norbert far ahead of Beloit.  Not sure about Lawrence or Ripon...I've only seen the gyms.  Beloit doesn't even have an outdoor track!  If I was a recruit (and the best ones would put athletics ahead of academics) and I was torn between Beloit and some of the other MWC schools, I would definitely be turned off just by the facilities alone (old or too far away).

We toured LU's facilities......their weight room is a dungeon......and Alexander is quite far away from campus also....Goes to prove, you don't need "great" facilities to win....just the "mindset".....
Carrolls gym is nice, but you have to like "da Bears" alot, cuz they have the same "C" and colors....would get old to me after awhile....LOL  
Personally, I think Norberts gym is way too dark....with everything dark green around the court...I didn't like it that much.  Really nice campus tho.....
Lake Forest's gym is ancient, but kept up nicely.....pretty campus also
MC's facilities are gorgeous (and new)......
Darby is really nice too....
I think the Flood has character and is kept up nice....the football/baseball fields are nice...but yes, you have to "hop on a bike" to get there.  The campus has alot of distinction and is set up nicely....If a basketball player wants to see the court as a freshman, I would think that would be inspiration enough to go there?  Just my opinion.....LOL

[The Roop]

Recruit X2 will be playing in this game. He's on the North D1 roster.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/sports/index.php?ntid=129469

[LU_nut]

FightinTitan:

I am partial to the environment at Alex when they pack em in.  It is old enough that has unique character.  It is also loud when it is full, which it has been often the last couple of years.  I will readily admit that it is a very dated facility......concession stand is a folding table in the corner, bathrooms are too small, weight room is insufficient, etc.

The nicest facilities in my opinion are the new Darby and the one at Illinois College.  Roop, have you been to the IC facility???  The whole thing is terrific given the size school.  I understand that it cost well over $20M.  Gym is great and the rest of the facility is awesome.  In my opinion, better even then what has been built to date at Grinnell.  Monmouth, with the redo, is also nice.  All three of these facilities have great lighting.

My least favorite gyms are the gyms that seem to be high school gyms....not just the size, but the design.   Knox is at the front of that list with Lake Forest very similar.  I am also not a fan of the gyms that sit in field houses with tracks often between the seats and the floor.  Makes for a tough shooting background also.  Carroll is like that as is St. Norbs.  At least at St. Norbs, the seats are close.

The success at LU and the lack of success at IC does indicate that facilities are not at the top of the list in determining success for programs. 

Nut

[The Roop]

Sorry Nut, I've never been to IC. Based on the website pics and the game I watched on MWCTV from there it does seem very nice. I'll put it on my to do list.

[Scots4]

Yeah I love the facilities at IC but they never have much of a student crowd. I love a hostile crowd while I am playing and IC just doesnt bring it. My favorite "atmospheres" (other than Knox) are definitly LU and GC.

[diehardfan]

I've only visited two MWC gyms: Lake Forest's and Lawrence's.... I like both a whole lot and they are both among my favorite gyms that I've been in. And considering how many gyms I've been in....

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Who is this April Lee and why does she think we know so much about her?

[diehardfan]

Well that joke was inevitable... 

Since I haven't had a stalker for almost a year now, I'm hoping this change will lead to me not being introduced by my postername/persona thing at games, and that I'll get to be called my actual name at DIII events. I find the idea that people think and refer to me as "diehardfan" super weird... especially since I picked the posting name on a whim as a young naive college student who had no idea that she'd be posting 5 years later on the same board under the same name. It's especially weird when people I interact with regularly like Tom aka Old School or Dave McHugh (Hoopsville host) think of me as my posting name first.  

Hopefully most of the guys on the site are grown up enough that my credibility is not completely eliminated by the mere fact that my name is obviously female, especially since all of my posts are stamped with my HOFer title. Hopefully it's just all of my actual stupid posts that make people think I am stupid.

But since I am me, I reserve the right to decide that this was a stupid decision and change it back at any time.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hopefully it's just all of my actual stupid posts that make people think I am stupid.

Which you now have the power to totally eliminate, even if one of us happens to quote one of them in a post.

[hopefan]

dhf, maybe you should invert your name to confuse the newbies   -  become Lee April !!!!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

dhf, maybe you should invert your name to confuse the newbies   -  become Lee April !!!!

Or just tell them that April is a guy's name in Korean.  A lot of posters are from the Midwest and would totally buy that.

[Greek Tragedy]

Since I haven't had a stalker for almost a year now, I'm hoping this change will lead to me not being introduced by my postername/persona thing at games, and that I'll get to be called my actual name at DIII events. I find the idea that people think and refer to me as "diehardfan" super weird... especially since I picked the posting name on a whim as a young naive college student who had no idea that she'd be posting 5 years later on the same board under the same name. It's especially weird when people I interact with regularly like Tom aka Old School or Dave McHugh (Hoopsville host) think of me as my posting name first.  

I think some people don't like to be known by their actual name!  Disregard the email I sent you asking why you switched your name.  I guess it is kind of weird, so maybe you're on to something and you'll start a trend!

Sometimes when I post something, I'm not sure if I should say diehardfan or April...in fact, I remember some of my posts that refer to you by both names!