MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[HopeConvert]

So when I write "briefs" compared to your "disortations" (sp)  it's a cafeine issue.  At least I have someone to blame it on 

Hey! You're a coffee achiever! You're writing quick posts! You're in the mix! You're getting things done!

I know Harris really was upset about his leaving and to suggest that he didn't give it a second thought to allowing him to rejoin the team is hinting at the character of Harris.  That is one aspect of Harris that you apparently don't understand or don't see.

Oh, brother ... 

"THere you go with all the negative waves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuStsFW4EmQ

"To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich, not some nut who takes on three Tigers."

I always knew that there was something I liked about you, Bully, and quoting one of the greatest movies ever filmed must be it.

Crap Game was the peak of Don Rickles acting career. 

"Try making a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"A deal deal. Maybe he's a Republican. You know, business is business."

I've always been a huge fan of that movie as well, not least because of its relentless anachronisms, as well as its bizarre plot.

[Titan Q]

Was the Wheaton team moniker the "Thunder" in the late 80's into the early 90's?   Or was this one of those Indian name change schools 

Wheaton was the "Crusaders" until 6-7 years ago.

We used to compete with them in college and I don't remember much except for the young lady I met from there who, well, struggled with the cloistered Wheaton campus and enjoyed some freedom at my place.  But I digress. 

That was very humanitarian of you.

[dansand]

Was the Wheaton team moniker the "Thunder" in the late 80's into the early 90's?   Or was this one of those Indian name change schools 

We used to compete with them in college and I don't remember much except for the young lady I met from there who, well, struggled with the cloistered Wheaton campus and enjoyed some freedom at my place.  But I digress. 

Wheaton announced the nickname change on September 29, 2000.

OK Q,

What's the over/under on T2K's karma after all the Wheaton folks see his post about defiling one of their young ladies?

[Titan Q]

Was the Wheaton team moniker the "Thunder" in the late 80's into the early 90's?   Or was this one of those Indian name change schools 

We used to compete with them in college and I don't remember much except for the young lady I met from there who, well, struggled with the cloistered Wheaton campus and enjoyed some freedom at my place.  But I digress. 

Wheaton announced the nickname change on September 29, 2000.

OK Q,

What's the over/under on T2K's karma after all the Wheaton folks see his post about defiling one of their young ladies?

-319 by 10:00pm CST

[dansand]

Was the Wheaton team moniker the "Thunder" in the late 80's into the early 90's?   Or was this one of those Indian name change schools 

We used to compete with them in college and I don't remember much except for the young lady I met from there who, well, struggled with the cloistered Wheaton campus and enjoyed some freedom at my place.  But I digress. 

Wheaton announced the nickname change on September 29, 2000.

OK Q,

What's the over/under on T2K's karma after all the Wheaton folks see his post about defiling one of their young ladies?

-319 by 10:00pm CST

I'll take the over...or, uh...is it the under?

[Titan Q]

Does the coaching staff have more years at Foster and Kedzie?

As a complete outsider, I've always felt like North Park has a good coach in Paul Brenegan.  Everytime I've seen the Vikings play under Brenegan (albeit just twice a year) they've looked "well-coached", despite being out-manned in some of those games.  And I've been impressed with his last 3 recruiting classes.

I don't think Brenegan and staff can be evaluated on 2008-09 - seems like a lot of "uncontrollable" stuff has happened.

Not trying to offend anyone here, but NPU aint exactly a primo D3 job.  North Park is at a tremendous disadvantage because of the facilities gap that exists with most CCIW schools and other small colleges they are competing with for student-athletes.  NPU has a good coach and, in my opinion, supporters really ought to just get 100% behind him, hope the talented young players get better, and ride it out.  Evaluate Brenegan next year, when he at least fields a healthy squad. 

[Gregory Sager]

Does the coaching staff have more years at Foster and Kedzie?

As a complete outsider, I've always felt like North Park has a good coach in Paul Brenegan.  Everytime I've seen the Vikings play under Brenegan (albeit just twice a year) they've looked "well-coached."  And I've been impressed with his last 3 recruiting classes.

I don't think Brenegan and staff can be evaluated on 2008-09 - seems like a lot of "uncontrollable" stuff has happened.

Not trying to offend anyone here, but NPU aint exactly a primo D3 job.  North Park is at a tremendous disadvantage because of the facilities gap that exists with most CCIW schools and other small colleges they are competing with for student-athletes.  NPU has a good coach and, in my opinion, supporters really ought to just get 100% behind him, hope the talented young players get better, and ride it out.  Evaluate Brenegan next year, when he at least fields a healthy squad. 

I'm certainly not offended, Bob, because I think that you're essentially right. I would only change what you said to read, "NPU ain't exactly a primo CCIW job." North Park's resources are not bottom-of-the-scale when you look at D3 as a whole, but in terms of the league the Park lags behind in facilities. That's acutely apparent in men's basketball more than the other sports, because the crackerbox is so tiny and antiquated. A modern and spacious gym really does make a tremendous difference when it comes to recruiting, and it also conveys the impression to everyone who enters it that the school cares about fielding a winning basketball program.

This is a very hard league in which to improve a program, because it's so ultra-competitive. If you stand pat for just one year you start to slide, as IWU fans have learned after Scott Trost took his eye off the recruiting ball towards the end of his tenure. In spite of that, NPU has improved its record every year since Paul Brenegan's inaugural season. That streak is in jeopardy this year, but as Bob said Paul's been dealt a really bad hand this season in terms of his players not being able to stay healthy or eligible or economically able to remain in school full-time. Mark and Dennis aren't going to be convinced of Paul Brenegan's competence, though, so I'm just not even bothering to try anymore.

[Viking Blue]

Public service announcement for anyone who was at the Crackerbox for last night's CC-NP game:

It has become fairly common knowledge that I do the PA at North Park's games.

I was informed that there were a couple of royal screw-ups behind the mike last night, most glaringly when the announcer read North Park's starting line-up from LAST Saturday.

Let it be known (as I attempt to shield my reputation, for what it's worth), that wasn't me.  My time behind the mike has been cut in half by the powers that be (whoever those are).

[Viking Blue]

Greg....I'm sorry, but I'm not buying the facilities gap argument for North Park anymore.

First of all, as a 1999 graduate of North Park, I am well aware of what a facilities gap is.  in the 1998-99 campaign, an observer coming to Foster and Kedzie might witness a baseball player taking swings in a 30-foot cage on the Crackerbox stage in lighting better suited for a billiards hall, an indoor track team running "sprints" in a carpeted hallway while dodging students coming out of John Hjelm's Personal Fitness class, or a basketball player lifting weights on machines acquired from the Superior Spring company at Foster and Elston in a dungeon-like atmosphere.  As an athlete, I envied the facilities I only had the opportunity to see on road trips.

Remarkaby, someone finally decided that the joke was on North Park, and the facilities were improved vastly.  A high school player of mine was being recruited to play football and baseball last year at North Park, along with a couple of other CCIW schools.  You know what excited him the most about NP?  The FACILITIES.  Namely, the Holmgren Athletic Center, which while unique in its layout, is not paralleled by ANY school in the CCIW for preparation and practice purposes.

I have a hard time feeling "bad" for the basketball team that has always had the luxury of taking coach buses to away games and plays in front of the largest crowds of any team at North Park.  So long as the gym floor is clean (check), fairly new (check), and the lights work (check), how is having fancy seats going to make anyone want to go to North Park more.

Fact is, North Park recruits in the middle of a basketball hotbed....the city of Chicago!  Don't tell me that other CCIW schools wouldn't love to have such a gold mine of talent right at their fingertips.  Bring a kid from Roosevelt, or Foreman, or Amundsen, or even Lane Tech into North Park's gym, and you would think that kid is seeing the United Center for the first time.

[iwumichigander]

Last February I posted the following:

Agreed.  IWU is in year #1 of what is basically a complete rebuilding process.  (I don't really consider last year the first year of the process since Ron Rose was hired in May 2006 and had absolutely no chance to recruit anybody for his first season.) 

The Titans have a great freshman class, led by point-guard Travis Rosenkranz, shooting-guard Sean Johnson, and power forward Doug Sexauer.  Matt Schick has played well in his varsity minutes all season long, as has Duncan Lawson the last two games when thrown in there.  There are also several other freshmen who have a chance to be good, and Sean Dwyer is just a sophomore.

That said, they will miss Darius Gant very much next year -- he has been great in the league.  And when you look at who everyone returns in the CCIW, I don't see IWU's sophomore-dominated team as the favorite by any stretch in 2008-09.  As I have looked at this IWU rebuilding situation realistically, I have been thinking that 2009-10 is the year the Titans will really be a power again.  And hopefully thereafter, the Titans are back to where the program always was - a CCIW contender/Top 25 team every year via consistent recruiting of quality student-athletes.

IWU will add some good recruits this year that will have an impact next year, but I don't see the Titans quite "back" until 2009-10.  If it happens sooner, that's great.

At the beginning of this season, I was hoping the Titans would turn the corner this year.  As the non-conference played out though, it was clear that this team is terribly inconsistent - like most young teams are. 

Add to that the 2009 CCIW race is loaded with senior-led teams.  The Titans just cannot seem to handle Kent Raymond and Wheaton, Chris Drennan/Matt Rogers and North Central, Brent Ruch/Ryan Burks and Elmhurst...Augie will be huge trouble as well.  IWU desperately needs an upperclass star to lead the way vs these teams (which Darius Gant turned out to be last year for them), but that player is just simply not on the roster.

I still think IWU can turn it around and complete for that #4 spot in the conference tournament, so I'll still enjoy following the Titans very much every Wednesday and Saturday.  Realistically though, now, this season seems to be about getting older and ready for next season.     

Coming into the season, I felt the Titans would need to get McCullough and Connolly into their mix sooner rather than later.  I felt stronger about it when Chamernik incurred the stress fracture injury.  I did feel IWU could compete for the #4 spot, work those guys in the second half and have a shot at winning the CCIW tournament.  I'm at the point where the time to do it - now.

[Viking Blue]

So...am I calling for Paul Brenegan's head?  Of course not.  I agree with Titan Q...Brenegan is an outstanding basketball mind, and North Park's teams always seem on the verge of reaching the first division in the CCIW.

Don't forget that I have had the opportunity to be around for the tenure of three North Park head coaches:  Keith Peterson (yikes!), Rees Johnson (enter your own comment here), and Paul.  If nothing else, there is a certain amount of professionalism and class on that bench (and I can only speak for the head coach here) that hasn't been around in a long time at Foster and Kedzie.

However, accountability is accountability, and at some point, things have to change.  My previous post indicates that North Park finally made the decision a while back to sink a great deal of money into its athletic facilities.

One only wonders how much shorter the leash is on its coaches now that the money has been laid down.

I would love to see Paul Brenegan have a long and successful career at North Park.  I would also love to see the Vikings actually make the CCIW tournament one time, and be able to write posts with the same amount of pride that the fans of Wheaton, Wesleyan, and Augie do EVERY year.  Just one year, that's all I ask for (man, I sound like a Cub fan for the first time in my life....)

Lay some of the blame where it deserves to be placed, too....on the players.  

And all of this is precisely why I would never coach at the collegiate level.  To put your job and paycheck into the hands of 18-22 year old kids who may or may not want to put in the level of work needed to succeed is....well....risky, to say the least!

[Hoosier Titan]

Coming into the season, I felt the Titans would need to get McCullough and Connolly into their mix sooner rather than later.  I felt stronger about it when Chamernik incurred the stress fracture injury.  I did feel IWU could compete for the #4 spot, work those guys in the second half and have a shot at winning the CCIW tournament.  I'm at the point where the time to do it - now.

I concur with this.  Connolly especially has developed faster than I expected.  He was unstoppable in the JV game and looked good when he came into the varsity game late. 

[Titan Q]

Coming into the season, I felt the Titans would need to get McCullough and Connolly into their mix sooner rather than later.  I felt stronger about it when Chamernik incurred the stress fracture injury.  I did feel IWU could compete for the #4 spot, work those guys in the second half and have a shot at winning the CCIW tournament.  I'm at the point where the time to do it - now.

Eric McCullough, IWU's 6-9 freshman from Normal U High, hasn't be fully healthy all year.  He has suffered from a nagging groin injury that kept him out of practice quite a bit in the early going.  I'm not sure what his status is, but I know he is nowhere near 100%.  Either way, based on the time he missed early, he's just not ready to get in there as far as I know.

Ryan Connolly, 6-9/290, is an interesting option moving forward.  I'd like to see him get a chance for 3-4 minutes at a time.  I believe it is fair to say Connolly is the biggest player in the CCIW.  While he is not "refined" as a collegiate player yet, he does have basketball skills and can do damage on both ends of the floor. 

Both big guys will help IWU in the future...in very different ways.  IWU is very fortunate to have them - it is just so hard to find size at this level.  I'm excited to watch McCullough and Connolly develop.

[AndOne]

I don't think that comment's fair. While you can't really argue with "God told me to quit", losing Kent was really hard on team dynamics. Wheaton definitely spent some time recovering from it in may facets, and I think there were some legitimate tensions there. As one who had to watch Wheaton get brutalized by Wittier and Redlands, I saw how floundering they looked early on in that season first hand.

There were very real questions when he came back that needed to be asked, and Kent was told he could only come back if he committed to finish his career and not quit again. He said "allowed" because it felt like they "allowed" him to come back because that actually is how it was. Just because someone is a star player, doesn't mean they have the ability or right to hurt the team as a whole. This is especially true in DIII where corporations don't have control and big names don't make programs more money. Good coaches are able to make hard decisions like this all the time.

Come on, April. "Hard decision"? Really? Restoring the best basketball player that Wheaton has had in half a century -- perhaps ever -- to the roster was a "hard decision"? Sorry, no sale.

I don't doubt for a moment that it was difficult for the Wheaton players and coaching staff to accept Raymond's decision to forego basketball his sophomore year. And it's only human nature to resent a decision like that which thwarts collective aspirations and team unity, and to question his motives and dedication when he announced that he wanted to return, even though the rest of the team was 100% in tune with his value system. And asking Raymond for a guarantee that he wouldn't leave the team again was perfectly reasonable, since any coach worth his salt wants to know whom he can count upon and whom he can't when he plans for the future. But I don't buy for a minute the idea that putting Raymond back on the roster was some sort of an agonizing process for Bill Harris or anyone else associated with Wheaton basketball.

I may be missing something here, but from the "Christian perspective," if God told Raymond to quit, wouldn't it have been God who allowed him to return to the team, and coach Harris who affirmed God's decision by granting Raymond's request?

[AndOne]

Last February I posted the following:

Agreed.  IWU is in year #1 of what is basically a complete rebuilding process.  (I don't really consider last year the first year of the process since Ron Rose was hired in May 2006 and had absolutely no chance to recruit anybody for his first season.) 

The Titans have a great freshman class, led by point-guard Travis Rosenkranz, shooting-guard Sean Johnson, and power forward Doug Sexauer.  Matt Schick has played well in his varsity minutes all season long, as has Duncan Lawson the last two games when thrown in there.  There are also several other freshmen who have a chance to be good, and Sean Dwyer is just a sophomore.

That said, they will miss Darius Gant very much next year -- he has been great in the league.  And when you look at who everyone returns in the CCIW, I don't see IWU's sophomore-dominated team as the favorite by any stretch in 2008-09.  As I have looked at this IWU rebuilding situation realistically, I have been thinking that 2009-10 is the year the Titans will really be a power again.  And hopefully thereafter, the Titans are back to where the program always was - a CCIW contender/Top 25 team every year via consistent recruiting of quality student-athletes.

IWU will add some good recruits this year that will have an impact next year, but I don't see the Titans quite "back" until 2009-10.  If it happens sooner, that's great.

At the beginning of this season, I was hoping the Titans would turn the corner this year.  As the non-conference played out though, it was clear that this team is terribly inconsistent - like most young teams are. 

Add to that the 2009 CCIW race is loaded with senior-led teams.  The Titans just cannot seem to handle Kent Raymond and Wheaton, Chris Drennan/Matt Rogers and North Central, Brent Ruch/Ryan Burks and Elmhurst...Augie will be huge trouble as well.  IWU desperately needs an upperclass star to lead the way vs these teams (which Darius Gant turned out to be last year for them), but that player is just simply not on the roster.

I still think IWU can turn it around and complete for that #4 spot in the conference tournament, so I'll still enjoy following the Titans very much every Wednesday and Saturday.  Realistically though, now, this season seems to be about getting older and ready for next season.     

Coming into the season, I felt the Titans would need to get McCullough and Connolly into their mix sooner rather than later.  I felt stronger about it when Chamernik incurred the stress fracture injury.  I did feel IWU could compete for the #4 spot, work those guys in the second half and have a shot at winning the CCIW tournament.  I'm at the point where the time to do it - now.

When North Central played at Wesleyan recently, we arrived at halftime of the JV game against the IWU alums. While watching the 2nd had with a couple of Titan (adult) fans, both opined that McCullough would not be in a Titan basketball uniform for all 4 years of school. When I asked why they felt this way, they indicated they believed he would eventually give up basketball in favor of baseball because 1) its hard to play 2 sports and keep up with your schoolwork, and 2) he is a better baseball player (pitcher i think) than a basketball player.

Titan fans---Any thoughts?