MBB: Midwest Conference

[gobucs]

Totally agree w/ you, a solid B minus would be a fair assumption.  The alumni game will be interesting

[Greek Tragedy]

Surprised to hear Kroeger was named 1st team preseason in Sporting News.

Interesting observation with Kroeger not getting a nod at all this preseason on this site.

You might have something there, about Kroeger getting totally ignored.

Last year, Kroeger made 1st team All-Region with Kent Raymond, Larry Welton, Troy Ruths and Brent Ruch.  Yet, Raymond (1st), Welton (2nd), Ruths (1st) and Ruch (4th) all made All-American for D3hoops.  The only one left off the five teams was Kroeger. 

You do have to realize, though, that D3hoops has positions...unlike other publications.  So, though Kroeger was one of the two best guards in the Midwest, he wasn't one of the best 10 guards in the nation.

[System Error]

I was also shocked to see Kroeger left off the All-American list. As I opened up the page, I was expecting to see possibly two players. I was thinking Kroeger on 2nd or 3rd team and possible Grotberg or Ladwig on the HM. Just based on pure scoring I thought d3hoops might include Grotberg, and Ladwig is just a hell of a player.

I am not too dissapointed with the last two not making HM, but Kroeger deserves some All-American recognition for the season he had last year.

[LU 05]

umm, being one of the two best guards in the midwest certainly makes you one of the ten best in the nation. 


I truly believe little slights like these are good for LU in the long run.  It is ggod to have a reality check from time to time about what the rest of the D3 world truly thinks of you.


2005-2006  Lawrence is unranked in the pre-season

[The Roop]

On that note, WIU is not going to surprise anyone.

Western Illinois would have a hard time making the D3 Tournament as a Pool B. Unless they could count this exhibition as in region and force a "play in" game with Cal-Tech  Yes scottie, lets hear it.

Carrier won a slam dunk contest at the Viterbo camp not long ago but I don't think he'll average 9 per game. 10 dunks, 15 3s = The Beloit System.

Now all we need is some Curtis Blow in Flood Arena.................

[Scots4]

WIU was well coached (Molinari). I like their system and everything, they just dont have any talent to run it. The teams Monmouth plays next (Minnesota State and Central Missouri State) would both beat WIU by 20+.

On another note, Robert Morris College (NAIA) beat Northwestern last night 69-62.

[Titan Q]

I do think Ryan Kroeger's offensive numbers from last season put him in a favorable position vs a few of the guards that made the team.  His shooting % numbers are about as good as it gets for a perimeter player.

Keep in mind that D3hoops.com does try to reward both point-guards and shooting-guards.  Even the best PG's in the country might not have gaudy offensive numbers...in other words, it is hard to compare Sean Wallis's stats to Ryan Kroeger's and make anything of it.   And then there are some players who are great because of what they do on the defensive end or because of intangibles, like leadership.

Also remember, this is just the preseason team - if Kroeger outplays these guys, I'm sure he'll make the one that counts (the final AA team).

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* 2007-08 stats (except Wallis - 2006-07 used)


Ryan Kroeger, Lawrence (Sr) - 17.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 131-237 FG (.553), 52-109 3-pt (.477), 123-145 FT (.848)


1st Team

Sean Wallis*, Wash U (Jr) - 13.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 7.3 apg, 122-278 FG (.439), 48-128 3-pt (.375), 113-131 FT (.863)
Kent Raymond, Wheaton (Sr) - 24.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 237-549 FG (.432), 75-217 3-pt (.346), 185-208 FT (.889)

2nd Team

Matt Goodwin, UW-Whitewater (Sr) - 17.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 164-332 FG (.494), 67-158 3-pt (.424), 86-122 FT (.705)
Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT (Sr) - 23.9 ppg, 5.8 apg, 4.0 rpg, 208-390 FG (.533), 59-142 3-pt (.415), 99-123 FT (.805)

3rd Team

Steve Djurickovic, Carthage (So) - 23.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 189-401 FG (.471), 16-65 3-pt (.246), 186-234 FT (.795)
Nate Stahl, Capital (Sr.) - 13.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 141-279 FG (.505), 17-57 3-pt (.298), 103-135 FT (.763)

4th Team

Mike Moore, Capital (Sr) - 17.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6.5 apg, 150-321 FG (.467), 66-163 3-pt (.405), 83-107 FT (.776)
Brett Wessels, Augustana (Sr.) - 14.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 120-325 FG (.369), 54-156 3-pt (.346), 119-140 FT (.850)

HM

Dan Capkin, Gettysburg (Sr.) - 19.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 195-396 FG (.492), 75-187 FG (.401), 104-130 FT (.800)
Caleb Veldhouse, Calvin (Sr.) - 17.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 163-375 FG (.435), 58-136 FG (.426), 81-107 FT (.757)

[Greek Tragedy]

umm, being one of the two best guards in the midwest certainly makes you one of the ten best in the nation. 

I wouldn't say that can be entirely true.  Take the NFL and NBA for example.  Many times they say that a number of teams in the AFC would beat the best from the NFC, as would many of the Western Conference teams could easily handle the Eastern Conference teams.

So, maybe the voters think the Midwest Region guards aren't as good as some other other guards in the nation.  But, I would've thought Kroeger would've been at least HM.  I think Grotberg would be a stretch because he just has the offensive scoring numbers.  No offense, you know I like those Grinnell players.

[The Roop]

It happens every year and I still don't understand why people get upset with who's not in the pre-season selections. It's far easier to fly under the radar than to have high expectations piled on you before you even take the court. You end up having to top last years numbers or you've had a bad year.

I'm pretty sure that the players in question would rather have a conference championship and long run in the tournament than a pre-season award.

[John Gleich]

It happens every year and I still don't understand why people get upset with who's not in the pre-season selections. It's far easier to fly under the radar than to have high expectations piled on you before you even take the court. You end up having to top last years numbers or you've had a bad year.

I'm pretty sure that the players in question would rather have a conference championship and long run in the tournament than a pre-season award.

I'm not sure how much pressure a preseason nod for an individual really adds...  Whether a guy is a preseason All-American or not, if he's on the team you're preparing for and he averages 15 a game, you're going to prepare for him the same way.

And honestly, I don't think that any laurels, preseason or otherwise, are really seen as having a ton of weight placed on them except that they're an honor to receive (individual honors, that is).  I think the mark of a truly great player is one who really DOES put the team first and any individual honors are done in that team concept.  I think of Jason Kalsow from UWSP back when we won our two championships.  He was the POY his senior year, and it was a nice honor for him, but if he HADN'T won it, he wouldn't have thought that he was deserved something he didn't get. 

That being said, I think that TEAM preseason rankings can put added pressures on a squad.  But I do agree with the statement that players would rather have team success than individual awards (whether preseason or otherwise). 

[The Roop]

Pre-season acknowledgments hamstring every player that gets one. Because I said so          LOL.

[John Gleich]

Pre-season acknowledgments hamstring every player that gets one. Because I said so          LOL.

Thus sayeth The Roop.

[The Roop]

Division I is not the be-all, end-all

Here's a nice story link from the CCIW board. It's a must read for all perspective student athletes and parents.

Be prepared to scroll up when it opens as it took me to the posted replies at first.

[beyondthearc]

What a great story.  I think that article captures what it means to be a D3 player in any sport.  I think the athletes get too wraped up with what is on tv, which is always Duke v. UNC.  If the atmoshpere is what players are looking for, there are still teams even locally that give a fun, exciting place to play. The CCIW games for sure, but also the sometimes overlooked games in the MWC.  While the Augie-BC game may or may not go down to the wire, I still think it will be exciting.  Where else can you see the Grinnell fun-and-gun besides in nowhereville, Iowa?   

Good article that promoting what we love to go see.

[The Roop]

Another plus is that you will likely have the chance to compete for playing time right away and graduate in 4 years instead of 5. While you can't get an athletic scholarship in D3, those smaller schools can and do put together some terrific financial aid packages to take away the "sticker shock" of attending.