MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[petemcb]

The Wash U coaching staff and most of the players attended the Elmhurst/Fontbone game last night (Wash U is literally across the street from Fontbonne).  I'd love to see that EC/Wash U game Saturday...it should be a good one.  Two very different teams - Elmhurst dominant down low with Brent Ruch and Wash U so good at the guard spots.

Bob, is it already scheduled that Elmhurst and Wash U will meet on Saturday or do they each have to win on Friday night?  While I've only seen Benedictine once this year, they looked stronger than past years.  Good enough guard play to have an advantage there over Elmhurst, and 2 or 3 big guys who aren't the equivalent of Ruch (as you've pointed out, who is?) but are big enough, physical enough, and skilled enough at both ends of the floor to make Ruch work harder than maybe he's had to work so far this year, offensively and defensively.  While Elmhurst should win, I'm not sure that it's one to take to the bank just yet.  I'm actually hoping to make it to that game as well as Saturday's.

[Gregory Sager]

The Wash U coaching staff and most of the players attended the Elmhurst/Fontbone game last night (Wash U is literally across the street from Fontbonne).  I'd love to see that EC/Wash U game Saturday...it should be a good one.  Two very different teams - Elmhurst dominant down low with Brent Ruch and Wash U so good at the guard spots.

Bob, is it already scheduled that Elmhurst and Wash U will meet on Saturday or do they each have to win on Friday night?

It's a traditional tournament format, so Elmhurst has to beat Benedictine and Wash U has to beat Eureka in order for the two Midwest Region powers to face off on Saturday afternoon.

While I've only seen Benedictine once this year, they looked stronger than past years.  Good enough guard play to have an advantage there over Elmhurst, and 2 or 3 big guys who aren't the equivalent of Ruch (as you've pointed out, who is?) but are big enough, physical enough, and skilled enough at both ends of the floor to make Ruch work harder than maybe he's had to work so far this year, offensively and defensively.  While Elmhurst should win, I'm not sure that it's one to take to the bank just yet.  I'm actually hoping to make it to that game as well as Saturday's.

I'm hoping to make it out to Elmhurst after the conclusion of Friday afternoon's women's games at NPU. I'd like to make it out to Faganel on Saturday, but since the NPU women's tourney runs through Saturday afternoon as well my scorekeeping duties will prevent me from seeing what will most likely be a great Bears @ Bluejays matchup.

[REDMENFAN]

Here's the article in the paper today about Carthage's victory.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/djurickovic_helps_red_men_rally_by_keene_state_4013652.html

[Gregory Sager]

Congratulations to Mark Scherer on his 200th win...he's really done a great job at Elmhurst.

Scherer is now 200-114 (.637) as Elmhurst's head coach. To give you an idea of just how much more successful he has been than every other coach EC has had throughout its rather undistinguished basketball history, keep in mind that the only other Bluejays mentor to record more than 78 wins is Walt Schousen (1955-56 thru 1970-71). Schousen, whose tenure included Elmhurst's seven-year exile from the CCIW during the 1960s, had a career record at Elmhurst of 138-209 (.398). Scherer is the only Elmhurst coach to lead a Bluejays team to a CCIW title, and he's also the only Elmhurst coach to post a winning career record in CCIW play.

[petemcb]

Congratulations to Mark Scherer on his 200th win...he's really done a great job at Elmhurst.

Scherer is now 200-114 (.637) as Elmhurst's head coach. To give you an idea of just how much more successful he has been than every other coach EC has had throughout its rather undistinguished basketball history, keep in mind that the only other Bluejays mentor to record more than 78 wins is Walt Schousen (1955-56 thru 1970-71). Schousen, whose tenure included Elmhurst's seven-year exile from the CCIW during the 1960s, had a career record at Elmhurst of 138-209 (.398). Scherer is the only Elmhurst coach to lead a Bluejays team to a CCIW title, and he's also the only Elmhurst coach to post a winning career record in CCIW play.

That's impressive for a program with no real history of success.  Congratulations to him.  He does a nice job on the sidelines during a game.  Many times, I've seen him sub a struggling freshman out, and then quietly teach him on the bench in a real controlled manner, and then put the kid back in a couple of minutes later.  He looks like a young player's coach.  That's why I'm surprised to see the turnover, particularly in the backcourt, the last 2 or 3 years.  Hopefully, the dust settles for him back there.

[AndOne]

The Wash U coaching staff and most of the players attended the Elmhurst/Fontbone game last night (Wash U is literally across the street from Fontbonne).  I'd love to see that EC/Wash U game Saturday...it should be a good one.  Two very different teams - Elmhurst dominant down low with Brent Ruch and Wash U so good at the guard spots.

Bob, is it already scheduled that Elmhurst and Wash U will meet on Saturday or do they each have to win on Friday night?  While I've only seen Benedictine once this year, they looked stronger than past years.  Good enough guard play to have an advantage there over Elmhurst, and 2 or 3 big guys who aren't the equivalent of Ruch (as you've pointed out, who is?) but are big enough, physical enough, and skilled enough at both ends of the floor to make Ruch work harder than maybe he's had to work so far this year, offensively and defensively.  While Elmhurst should win, I'm not sure that it's one to take to the bank just yet.  I'm actually hoping to make it to that game as well as Saturday's.

Pete & others

Attended the Benedictine game on Mon night. They are definitely improved over past years. HOWEVER, their best player, guard Jared Bailey missed his second consecutive game Mon night due to a concussion. He was averaging 16.5 ppg and about 4 apg. The word is that the concussion is non-basketball related--I don't know what the cause was, but Benedictine is sorely hurt by his absence. After sustaining a concussion, medical authorities typically withhold an athlete from competition for at least one, up to two weeks to allow any brain swelling to subside and to monitor for the possibility of a slowly developing subdural hematoma.

The Eagles have a post player in A.J. Brown who can compare with Ruch physically, but not as far as actual basketball skills. Cameron Snelling and Dan Klecan are BU players that would present a matchup problem for the Bluejay guards. They also have a couple of other quick guards/wings who shoot the ball fairly well. The have a very "chippy" player in guard Michael Fahey. Most of the Eagle offense comes from the outside so a key for Elmhurst will be perimeter defense.

[Titan Q]

CCIW OVERALL:    51-11 (.823)

CCIW team heavy favorite
1 Millikin @ Knox, 12/18
2 Augustana @ Beloit, 12/19
3 Illinois Wesleyan vs Chicago, 12/19
4 Elmhurst vs Benedictine, 12/19
5 Wheaton vs Mount St. Joseph, 12/29 (neutral)
6 Wheaton vs Wittenberg or Taylor, 12/30 (@ Witt)
7 Augustana vs Coe, 12/30
8 Wheaton @ Grinnell, 1/3
9 Illinois Wesleyan vs Illinois College, 1/3
10 Carthage vs Trinity International, 1/5

CCIW team favorite
1 Illinois Wesleyan @ Hanover, 12/17
2 Carthage vs Loras, 12/17 (neutral)
3 North Park vs Concordia (WI), 12/18
4 North Central vs McMurry, 12/18 (neutral)
5 North Central vs Mary Washington, 12/20 (neutral)
6 North Central @ Otterbein, 12/27
7 North Central vs Baldwin-Wallace or Thomas More, 12/28 (neutral)
8 Illinois Wesleyan vs St. Xavier, 12/29 (neutral)
9 Carthage vs St. Norbert or St. Scholastica, 12/30 (neutral)
10 Elmhurst @ Anderson, 1/3
11 Millikin vs York (NY), 1/3 (neutral)

CCIW team underdog
1 Elmhurst vs Wash U, 12/20
2 Carthage vs UW-Platteville, 12/29 (neutral)
3 IWU @ Northwood U., 12/30 (if IWU beats SXU)
4 North Park @ Valparaiso, 12/30
5 Millikin @ Christopher Newport, 1/4


10-0 in the first group, 0-5 in the last, and 7-4 in the middle would be 68-20 (.773).

[petemcb]

The Wash U coaching staff and most of the players attended the Elmhurst/Fontbone game last night (Wash U is literally across the street from Fontbonne).  I'd love to see that EC/Wash U game Saturday...it should be a good one.  Two very different teams - Elmhurst dominant down low with Brent Ruch and Wash U so good at the guard spots.

Bob, is it already scheduled that Elmhurst and Wash U will meet on Saturday or do they each have to win on Friday night?  While I've only seen Benedictine once this year, they looked stronger than past years.  Good enough guard play to have an advantage there over Elmhurst, and 2 or 3 big guys who aren't the equivalent of Ruch (as you've pointed out, who is?) but are big enough, physical enough, and skilled enough at both ends of the floor to make Ruch work harder than maybe he's had to work so far this year, offensively and defensively.  While Elmhurst should win, I'm not sure that it's one to take to the bank just yet.  I'm actually hoping to make it to that game as well as Saturday's.

Pete & others

Attended the Benedictine game on Mon night. They are definitely improved over past years. HOWEVER, their best player, guard Jared Bailey missed his second consecutive game Mon night due to a concussion. He was averaging 16.5 ppg and about 4 apg. The word is that the concussion is non-basketball related--I don't know what the cause was, but Benedictine is sorely hurt by his absence. After sustaining a concussion, medical authorities typically withhold an athlete from competition for at least one, up to two weeks to allow any brain swelling to subside and to monitor for the possibility of a slowly developing subdural hematoma.

The Eagles have a post player in A.J. Brown who can compare with Ruch physically, but not as far as actual basketball skills. Cameron Snelling and Dan Klecan are BU players that would present a matchup problem for the Bluejay guards. They also have a couple of other quick guards/wings who shoot the ball fairly well. The have a very "chippy" player in guard Michael Fahey. Most of the Eagle offense comes from the outside so a key for Elmhurst will be perimeter defense.

AndOne, that's good info.  Bailey was the primary player I was thinking of when I figured the Benedictine/Elmhurst outcome would not be a given.  I still think Ruch might have to work harder in this game than most of his games this season so far, but Bailey's absence makes the possibility of an upset much less likely. 

[AndOne]

Thought that might be a useful morsel of information!   

[augiefan]

I see Jordan Delp was inactive again last night due to his sprained ankle. I assume he will not be play in Friday's game at Beloit, but is there any guesstimate as to when he will be ready to play again. IMO Augie has to have him playing at full strength in the conference season to compete for the title and a tourney bid.

[y_jack_lok]

The Wash U coaching staff and most of the players attended the Elmhurst/Fontbone game last night (Wash U is literally across the street from Fontbonne). 

I was disappointed to note that after the game last night most, perhaps all, of the Wash U players exited the gym, turned left, went to the parking lot, and got in their cars to drive back to their campus instead of turning right and walking the five or so minutes it might take to cross Wydown Blvd and get to their dorms. In fairness, however, there was slush on the ground from over a day of freezing rain and light snow. But the temperature wasn't too bad (mid 20s), no wind, and the footing wasn't treacherous. Seems to me they could easily have walked to and from the game. I just hope there aren't any environmental studies majors in the group.

[Titan Q]

IWU has lost 6-7 post reserve Duncan Lawson for a while to a severe sprained ankle.  Duncan has been playing 15 minutes per game, averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.

[dansand]

I see Jordan Delp was inactive again last night due to his sprained ankle. I assume he will not be play in Friday's game at Beloit, but is there any guesstimate as to when he will be ready to play again. IMO Augie has to have him playing at full strength in the conference season to compete for the title and a tourney bid.

I think his ankle is doing much better. He missed the MacMurray trip because he was sick. He may have picked up the bug that Brian DeSimone had last week.

[AndOne]

I see Jordan Delp was inactive again last night due to his sprained ankle. I assume he will not be play in Friday's game at Beloit, but is there any guesstimate as to when he will be ready to play again. IMO Augie has to have him playing at full strength in the conference season to compete for the title and a tourney bid.

Augiefan---

They certainly won't need Delp to beat Beloit.
However, I think you're right on concerning the portion of your post that I underlined. We are talking about an all conference caliber player.

[AndOne]

IWU has lost 6-7 post reserve Duncan Lawson for a while to a severe sprained ankle.  Duncan has been playing 15 minutes per game, averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.

I thought Lawson was 6'8" when he entered Wesleyan. It must be that darn dorm food! Do they still have 8 names for hamburger?   

Seriously, it there is an accident waiting to happen I think it might find Duncan. Last year I heard he had a "misadventure" either with a hot plate or matches, and almost burned down his dorm.