MBB: Midwest Conference

[fightintitan2006]

One other thing to Mr. Sager...I didnt mind you borrowing my joke a few pages back, but isnt that at least worth a karma point?

[The Roop]

I have heard the Dowden transfer talk. However, the last thing I heard on that subject was that his girlfriend had decided to go to Beloit and that stopped the rumors. If there's a new version of the story it hasn't gotten to me yet.

What this years recruiting class will be like I have no idea. Beloit is generally slow to announce their incomings so I hope that's the case once again instead of not having anybody to announce. The 08-09 incoming class should be very good and may include an All-World type of player that isn't as out of the mix as I previously thought.

Unfortunately this year they will only go as far as their starting 5 can take them.

[LU_nut]

Fightintitan2006

I think you pretty much nailed it all.  I gave some thoughts about a page back on next year that pretty much mirror(shorter form) your thoughts.

I think LU has plenty of talent for next year even without much of a freshman class.  The rotation might be a bit shortened which I agree, might be a good thing.  Like you, I kept wishing this year that they would put Kroeger, Kadison, and Rosenblatt on the court at the same time.   LU out-rebounded their opponents pretty significantly this past year and I think could have afforded this line-up.  Their real weakness was quickness around the perimeter and I think that line-up would have helped.  I do think Kroeger and Hurley will be first teamers this year.  Page and Kadison will have a breakout years as Juniors  as well.  I do think the coaching change is an unknown.

I think Grinnell stays right at the top.  You make an excellent point that if they got someone like Chamberlin to be on the floor when he is not, they would be that much better.  His defense made a big difference this year for them.   Their two victories over LU were terribly deflating....especially the first when LU had a 3 point lead with less than 3 seconds to go.  (maybe a foul vs letting the number one 3 shooter in the nation shoot?).  They will be good, but still have reservations about that system at tourney time.

I think Lake Forest has turned the corner.  They play hard and smart and seem to get the most out of their talent.

St. Norbs had nice freshman guards who should continue to get better.

It appears I was a bigger fan of Maclin than you.  I think he has been one of the top 2/3 players in the league since he joined.  I cannot imagine how bad Knox will be without him.  I made a comment that they should consider a high school schedule next year that apparently got me some negative Karma.

I think Monomouth underachieved.  They had talent in guys like Rogers.  I wonder if the old Coach there has seen better days.

Your comment on Wise at Ripon is dead on.  He has a ton of athletic talent.  They will not miss Bo in my view as he peaked about 3 years ago.  They will miss Schmitting significantly.

Carroll loses a ton with Drury and Colomy.  I do like Ladwig and think he will be their key cog.  Mueller appears to be a bit fo a head case and will not carry them anywhere.  Their coaching has proven to be very solid so I think they will avoid a huge tumble.

I agree on Gillingham....very nice player.   Just not much else there that I have seen at IC. 

I agree also on Horton.  Not sure why he did not see the ball more last year at times.  LU held him to around 11 pts. and 6 rebounds, but I could not tell if it was LU holding him down or Beloit.  He would go numerous possessions without touching the ball.  It made no sense to me.


Hence:  not allowing for recruiting classes, I see Grinnell, Lake Forest, LU, and St. Norbs making the conference tourney.   I think Grinnell and LU have the best chance of breaking into nationally recognized teams.  I would like to see Grinnell beat someone with a reputation outside of the MWC.......I might be wrong, but it seems they usually get spanked pretty good by the WIAC and CCIW.

Nut

[WLCALUM83]

Latest news, a Kettle Moraine (WI) prep player's heading Lake Forest's direction:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=612918.

(Note:  scroll down a ways, it shows up near the bottom).

[fightintitan2006]

Roop - I heard the Dowden thing months ago, you are probably right about it


LU Nut

Thanks for the feedback...I feel slightly credible now 

and more importantly I have someone else who will go down with the ship if the picks all crash and burn.

I think Ripon sneaks into the tourney next year, but I have hard time picking which of your four doesn't make it in their place.

I saw Maclin once as a soph and once as junior and he wasn't the player he was then in his senior year in my eyes. I don't know if playing on a team that didn't have a good chance to win took the wind out of his sails, but he wasn't an every possession play like he had been in he past in my opinion....but a great talent no doubt

[titan2000]

The NRO is pleased to announce the inauguration of two new chapter presidents. West of Omro Chapter President RiponRed34. East of Omro Chapter President Titan2K.

A silent vote was recently held at the Greater Auroraville Metropolitan Indian Nation Grounds (G.A.M.I.N.G.) to elect these new officials.

Roop:

I accept the assignment and respect the awesome responsibility it entails.  Management meetings could get a little testy unless we have an early edict from the top though that it's better dead than red.

T2K

[The Roop]

Since attendance is never required or expected (ala Hoopsfan) I see no reason for any edicts to avoid potential conflicts. I usually announce meetigs at the last minute when I know nobody can make it for this very reason. However........... The Roop will be out of the country the week of Thanksgiving so Chapter Presidents may hold as many meetings as they like and debate any issue.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Since attendance is never required or expected (ala Hoopsfan).

Hey, I got his position with my independent indignance to meetings and order.  I would like to make sure all the meetings are on my calendar, though, so I know when I'm ignoring them.

We've got a chapter president who won't even admit she is one; I'm not sure we're the sort of organization that takes kindly to "edicts."

[The Roop]

The chapter president in question did gladly acknowledge her status at one time, but it was on the CCIW board. So most on the MWC board would not know that.

As for my travels in November............................. The Roop shall be reuniting with a long time friend from the Corps and current "NRO Information Minister" (___ __________ Jr.) And there is a possibility that a "special" recruit may attend as well. For obvious reasons this needs to be held "off shore".

[The Roop]

I remember it happening so that's all the proof you need. I'm not going back through a years worth of posts to actually document anything 

[AndOne]

Lake Forest looks like they have the chance to be near the top again next year...they have some good inside players and Walker will be a player of the year candidate if they finish in the top 3...their opponents know they will grind out the shot clock every possession and look to get a basket down low. Rees is athletic and emotional and looks to have the skills to be better than walker down the road...Hanley is the opposite of Rees, but is effective on both ends and handled himself like a senior as a sophomore last year, a real floor general type. The biggest need would be a guard who can hit the three on the kickout with such good inside players, it seems like their returning guards are more of role players. 

One player that may help the situation described above is LF incoming recruit Sean McNamee of Rochelle, IL. He is more of a point guard, but erupted for some big scoring nights, largely thru being able to drain a good percentage of his 3 shots.

[The Roop]

NRO declassified information:

Operation "Be Hospitable" is underway.

[The Roop]

As I was....................

Dowden IS leaving Beloit. It should be made official in a few days.

Sources are classified but highly credible.

[Buc Fan]

Does anyone know if the schedules for the MWC are out yet? 

[d3bbfan]

The Roop,

I had heard the same thing earlier this week (re: Dowden leaving). As far as I know there is only 1 new recruit that has said he is coming to BC. Now that Dowden is gone I wonder how many of the other current players are going to decide not to come back. I'm also wondering if addmissions is going to dramatically extend excepting students into the summer. This is going to be an extremely tough year for BC.