MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

By the way Dennis, congratulations on your meteoric rise from the depths of Karma Sheol.  There's a lot of love around here somewhere.

Thanks for your help, Pete, but your note sounded the alarm in the "Bat Cave" and one of the HoFs dinged me again.   

I almost made it 24 hours out of the hole.   

Next we have to work on "Our House". 

DGP

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I'm not going to kick anyone when they are down.

I too heard from my sources at North Park that Williams was expected back by the Augie game as well.

North Park begins its next semester next Monday.  Let's hope he's up and running and shooting by then.

DGP

[Viking Blue]

I'm not going to kick anyone when they are down.

I too heard from my sources at North Park that Williams was expected back by the Augie game as well.

North Park begins its next semester next Monday.  Let's hope he's up and running and shooting by then.

DGP

I agree....let's hope.

[markerickson]

The latest entry on Williams' Facebook page indicated that he has rededicated himself by changing his attitude.  He did not articulate whether the new attitude refers to hoops, teammates, coaches, etc.

Assuming he dresses, I'd like to see penetration by the PG in a motion offense with a center's back to the hoop instead of four guys hanging around the trey line. 

[cardinalpride]

By the way, Congrats to the Wheaton Thunder on being the only undefeated team in the non conference and receiving the number one ranking.  Wheaton is the first CCIW team to be ranked #1 since IWU in 05-06!

[79jaybird]

Yes, congrats to Wheaton who are playing very well right now, however lately who's ever been in the #1 seat has been vulnerable to the upset(s).

Can somebody enlighten me on this one.  I am not surprised Elmhurst dropped a few slots as I thought they would losing to Anderson.  (And for the record, I thought/knew Anderson was going to be a tough foe based on their previous close matchups against highly ranked teams)
I don't understand how Augie jumps up past Elmhurst?  Elmhurst has 2 losses and both are to teams that are now in the top 25 and belong there.  I know Augie is 10-2 but has lost to teams that Elmhurst has won against. 

Now as the CCIW really commences,  I think every night is going to be exciting and nobody can be taken lightly.  Wish I could be in Rock Island tomorrow night.

[Sakman 1111]

I guess tomorrow night it will be decided who is ranked higher.....Elmhurst or the Augies. For the Bluejays I believe it's up to their big 3....Ruchs, Burks,and Strzemp. If their big 3 have a good night then the Bluejays should be moving ahead in the rankings......

[Mugsy]

Yes, congrats to Wheaton who are playing very well right now, however lately who's ever been in the #1 seat has been vulnerable to the upset(s).

Isn't anytime a #1 ranked team loses technically consider an upset?     

I know what you were implying... the #1 ranked teams have been getting knocked off a bit lately.

[AndOne]

Yes, congrats to Wheaton who are playing very well right now, however lately who's ever been in the #1 seat has been vulnerable to the upset(s).

Can somebody enlighten me on this one.  I am not surprised Elmhurst dropped a few slots as I thought they would losing to Anderson.  (And for the record, I thought/knew Anderson was going to be a tough foe based on their previous close matchups against highly ranked teams)
I don't understand how Augie jumps up past Elmhurst?  Elmhurst has 2 losses and both are to teams that are now in the top 25 and belong there.  I know Augie is 10-2 but has lost to teams that Elmhurst has won against. 

Now as the CCIW really commences,  I think every night is going to be exciting and nobody can be taken lightly.  Wish I could be in Rock Island tomorrow night.

Good question Jay----

I believe the answer has to do with the past. Augie gains votes based on their reputation more so than does Elmhurst. Lets not forget that Augie has won the conference championship the last 3 yrs. People remember that and vote accordingly.
Also Giovanine yells louder than Scherer. Besides, all Elmhurst did was beat the #1 team in the country, and play teams that have a much better combined record than do Augie's opponents to date. Did I say it right? Lets hear from the Augie supporters. Maybe I missed something.

[AndOne]

I guess tomorrow night it will be decided who is ranked higher.....Elmhurst or the Augies. For the Bluejays I believe it's up to their big 3....Ruchs, Burks,and Strzemp. If their big 3 have a good night then the Bluejays should be moving ahead in the rankings......

Sak---

JMHO. but I think the Jays will triumph if their guards come through. If the Augie guards outplay them, I believe Augie will win. Augie should also get a bit of a boost from the home crowd.

[dansand]

Yes, congrats to Wheaton who are playing very well right now, however lately who's ever been in the #1 seat has been vulnerable to the upset(s).

Can somebody enlighten me on this one.  I am not surprised Elmhurst dropped a few slots as I thought they would losing to Anderson.  (And for the record, I thought/knew Anderson was going to be a tough foe based on their previous close matchups against highly ranked teams)
I don't understand how Augie jumps up past Elmhurst?  Elmhurst has 2 losses and both are to teams that are now in the top 25 and belong there.  I know Augie is 10-2 but has lost to teams that Elmhurst has won against. 

Now as the CCIW really commences,  I think every night is going to be exciting and nobody can be taken lightly.  Wish I could be in Rock Island tomorrow night.

Jaybird,

Sorry to hear that we won't be seeing you tomorrow. Maybe we'll catch you when we come up to Elmhurst.

You probably have a legitimate beef. Right or wrong, I think it's often a case of when you lose as much as who beats you. Also, I think AndOne, who seems quite obsessed with these early-season polls, is right about Augie's recent success playing a part. I'm not sure the voters really care about whose coach "yells louder', though  . Thankfully, unlike Division I football, the teams get to play and actually settle it on the field/court.

[AndOne]

Dan--

I don't think I'm "obsessed." I just have a hard time understanding how some of these teams can be so highly ranked when they haven't really played anyone. When you play teams that have combined records of 42-64 or 47-69, you should have a pretty darn good record.

My comment about the coach who "yells loudest" was a gentle dig to the coach many of us, myself included, regard as an outstanding coach, but whose personality and demeanor make him the one the vast majority of CCIW fans view in perhaps the least favorable light despite his on the court success.     

[79jaybird]

I didn't know Norm was coaching basketball this year! 

Yes, Dan I was hoping to make it a weekend as my Cousin Michael is a Freshman at Augustana and wanted to be out there for a 2-3 night stay, however they scheduled it on a Wed. 

All I am going to say about it is that it seemed Augie was placed higher based on anything other than common opponents.  Oh well, as somebody mentioned earlier, we will get our first head-to-head battle tomorrow.

[Titan Q]

Here is a piece from a Peoria TV station on the Titans as they head into CCIW play...

http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=40091

[Titan Q]

An article on the IWU/Wheaton game that addresses the Andy Wiele and Sean Johnson situations...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/01/07/usports/doc49642d281faec438486792.txt