MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

GS: Welcome back.

[Gregory Sager]

The NPU coaches are not hesitant in saying that Durham should be in the mix for varsity playing time right away, and there's a chance that he could end up being the first four-year starter at the point for the Park since John Born back in the mid-'90s.

Greg,

Is he any relation to Keith Born the baseball player from that same era?

D'oh!

GS: Welcome back.

Thanks, Pat. My life's gotten massively busier over the past two months, so my long absences from Posting Up will be the norm rather than the exception for now. Last night was the first time in over a month that I've been on CCIW Chat, which explains why I wasn't here to break the news about several of NPU's new recruits.

[Titan Q]

A couple articles on today's IBCA games, including one featuring IWU recruits Travis Rosenkranz and Sean Johnson...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/06/23/sports/doc467c995bf0f96642966284.txt

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/06/23/sports/doc467c98a0cd9e3321658453.txt

[markerickson]

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say the NPU recruiting class is as good as the one headed by Maurice Vaughan? 

Couldn't resist, KD.

[Gregory Sager]

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say the NPU recruiting class is as good as the one headed by Maurice Vaughan? 

Couldn't resist, KD.

The class headed by Maurice Vaughn and Lamar Townsend ('05) didn't have much size. The only big man in it was Joel Youngberg, and at about 6'7, 190 he wasn't really much of a banger.

Vaughn could've been dominant in the CCIW if he'd been willing to submit to the authority of the coaches and work on his defense. Even as a freshman he proved himself capable of posting big numbers at the offensive end of the floor against CCIW opponents. Townsend turned out to be a pretty good CCIW player, but he never quite made the leap to become a star in this league. He was asked to carry some very bad basketball teams as an upperclassman. The overachieving Matt Lindahl hustled his way into a starter's role in his senior year, although he was never more than a stopgap. Ditto for Bjorn Berg, who took a year off as a sophomore and in '06 as a fifth-year senior essentially filled Lindahl's role from the year before. Byron Pullen became a useful bench player. Ricky Robertson never secured a permanent spot on varsity. Youngberg might've had a nice career at NPU as a basketball player if he hadn't decided to stick to golf; I think he would've started for a couple of seasons, although I'm not so sure he would've been All-CCIW caliber. Sam Harris and Ryan Voorhies would've become decent backup guards if they'd stayed on the team. Harris might even have cracked the starting lineup as an upperclassman, given North Park's ongoing carousel at the point guard position.

It was a good class before it imploded, with plenty of raw talent. But it didn't have the potential or depth of the class of '92, which produced a three-time All-CCIW player (Chris Stanley), a two-time All-CCIW player (Marc Horner), and three other players who started on varsity at one time or another in their careers, one of whom should've himself made the All-CCIW team as a senior (Jeff Pearson). Considering the immediate impact made by Nick Williams, Joe Capalbo, and Antonio Stevens last season, after only one year the class of '10 is already well on its way to surpassing the Vaughn/Townsend class in terms of production. And as for comparing that class of '05 to this season's incoming NPU freshman class ... well, we'll wait and see.

Speaking of golf and basketball players from the class of '05, here's a nice story that some of you linksmen might want to read:

http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=2077

[robberki]

are you sure ricky didn't come in the year before? He was a freshman my senior year in 2000-01. He also holds the distinction of being the biggest baby I've ever had the pleasure of playing with.

[Gotberg]

If I recall correctly, there was a 6'6'' forward/center from Homewood-Flossmor(I think) that was part of Vaughn's recruiting class.  He mostly played JV, but did get some varsity minutes.  I really thought he was going to become a solid CCIW player.

He didn't return for his sophomore year and maybe didn't finish out his freshman year.

[tjcummingsfan]

Are you talking about Larry Moore?  Not from Homewood-Flossmoor (the only H-F player I remember was Kurt ? and he was definitely not a forward/center at maybe 6'2), but otherwise fits the general description

[Titan Q]

Dan Ginavan, a classmate of mine at IWU, created a 6-minute tribute video entitled IWU Basketball: A Century of Tradition. It is made up of historical Titan basketball photographs and video footage, a lot of which Dan has captured himself over the years. It is set to that great Hoosiers music. 

The video includes one of my most memorable IWU game moments - Steve Czirjak's blocked shot and layup @ North Park in 1991-92 in a Titan comeback from way down.  I hadn't seen that since I saw it in person as a student broadcaster over 15 years ago.  Also video from the national championship and the game vs U. of Illinois in 2005-06.

Dan is currently the Video Production Project Manager at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  IWU fans will enjoy.

http://www.iwuhoops.com/century.mov

(open with QuickTime)

[Gregory Sager]

are you sure ricky didn't come in the year before? He was a freshman my senior year in 2000-01. He also holds the distinction of being the biggest baby I've ever had the pleasure of playing with.

If you played with him, Rob, then he was class of '04 rather than class of '05.

If I recall correctly, there was a 6'6'' forward/center from Homewood-Flossmor(I think) that was part of Vaughn's recruiting class.  He mostly played JV, but did get some varsity minutes.  I really thought he was going to become a solid CCIW player.

He didn't return for his sophomore year and maybe didn't finish out his freshman year.

That doesn't ring a bell. Are you perhaps thinking of Billy Lebeter? Billy played his high school ball at T.F. South, and I don't think he came in as a freshman in '01-'02. He played for two seasons at North Park, although he was injured most of his second year.

Are you talking about Larry Moore?  Not from Homewood-Flossmoor (the only H-F player I remember was Kurt ? and he was definitely not a forward/center at maybe 6'2), but otherwise fits the general description

Larry Moore was from Hales Franciscan, and he came to NPU as a juco transfer recruit rather than a freshman. The Kurt you're thinking of was Kurt Jackson.

[Gregory Sager]

Checked out some more summer league ball at the Broadway Armory tonight. NPU only had five players turn out: Jay Alexander, Antonio Stevens, Nick Williams, junior transfer John Chimino, and incoming freshman guard Ali Tai from Niles West. They faced Team Szatko, which definitely had some legit players: Austin Brown (DePauw's leading scorer last year), Tremel Gilot (former Crane star who averaged 11 ppg for NAIA-2 national runnerup Mayville State last season), and 6'8 Tim Szatko (Holy Cross '03), the former Patriot League Player of the Year and D1 honorable mention All-American who's made the rounds of the European pro leagues the past few years and also happens to be Naperville Central's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

In spite of only having five guys present, the Vikings ran away with it and won by twenty or so. The three returning Vikings each looked impressive, especially Williams. Nick knocked down just about every shot he took from downtown, threw down several impressive dunks, and did not embarrass himself defensively against the much bigger Szatko. As far as I know, the Vikings still haven't lost a summer league game yet; they beat Illinois Wesleyan by seven up in Deerfield last Thursday, so from what I understand they're unbeaten in both leagues. Again, it's summer league and it doesn't mean a thing. But it's nice to see Stevens, Williams, and Alexander coming along, and Chimino also looks like he might be able to help out the cause for the Park this coming season. And, of course, even in the midst of baseball season it's always good to catch some hoops and stoke the fever for next winter.

After the game, Jay Alexander stuck around and played as a fill-in on the team that includes Adam Dauksas, Keelan Amelianovich, and Jim Oboikowich. I had to leave, because I couldn't figure out if I should be rooting for them or not.

Anyone else checked out some summer league ball lately? Pete? AndOne?

[AndOne]

A nice 95-85 win for North Central Tuesday evening in the Des Plaines (Prairie Lakes) summer league. They defeated a previously undefeated team of D2 players. I believe 4 of the men who played for the other team play for Lewis U, which is coached by former head IWU head man Scott Trost. Concensus was that the Lewis U players in the game were incoming frosh Steve Crane, out of Elmhurst York, Jason Genova, Stephan Bolt, and perhaps, Matt Marino. The NC players said the Lewis guys mentioned the other 3-4 players on their team also play at the D2 level.  NCC is now 5-1 in Des Plaines 

The Cards take on Elmhurst Thurs nite in the Deerfield league. They're 2-0 so far in Deerfield. The Deerfield nightcaps pit a collective team against North Park, and Wesleyan vs Wash U.

(modified to correct some terrible spelling---its late)

[hopefan]

Copied from Mac Attack's post in the SLIAC room - of interest to CCIW fans

Todd Creal, who has been an assistant at Millikin University the past three years, will be the new men's basketball coach at MacMurray College. Creal was also an assistant at Augustana College, and is a graduate of Illinois College where he played for the Blue Boys. Welcome aboard, Coach Creal, and best of luck to you and the Highlanders.

[hoops2007]

Congratulations Todd!! This should be a great move for you!! Now, just talk to your players at Millikin and get them all to transfer with you!! Best of luck.

[Gotberg]

are you sure ricky didn't come in the year before? He was a freshman my senior year in 2000-01. He also holds the distinction of being the biggest baby I've ever had the pleasure of playing with.

If you played with him, Rob, then he was class of '04 rather than class of '05.

If I recall correctly, there was a 6'6'' forward/center from Homewood-Flossmor(I think) that was part of Vaughn's recruiting class.  He mostly played JV, but did get some varsity minutes.  I really thought he was going to become a solid CCIW player.

He didn't return for his sophomore year and maybe didn't finish out his freshman year.

That doesn't ring a bell. Are you perhaps thinking of Billy Lebeter? Billy played his high school ball at T.F. South, and I don't think he came in as a freshman in '01-'02. He played for two seasons at North Park, although he was injured most of his second year.

Are you talking about Larry Moore?  Not from Homewood-Flossmoor (the only H-F player I remember was Kurt ? and he was definitely not a forward/center at maybe 6'2), but otherwise fits the general description

Larry Moore was from Hales Franciscan, and he came to NPU as a juco transfer recruit rather than a freshman. The Kurt you're thinking of was Kurt Jackson.

I'll have to think about this for a bit - but not sure I'll ever come up with the name.  I can confirm that I'm not thinking of those mentioned above.  He was pretty thin, and very athletic around the rim.