MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

That doesn't mean it couldn't be done with a regular-season game, however. It's actually a pretty good idea.

[True Basketball Fan]

A regular season game makes more sense, not as many logistical issues to deal with.  Besides, there will still be a need even as late as January and February, as we've seen the fallout is no where near it's end.  I wouldn't be surprised to see other teams across the country follow through with a plan like this.  It is definitely a great idea. 

[Ralph Turner]

My comment about sneaking the photos of the "scrimmage" was in reference to the NCAA prohibitions of publicizing the scrimmage.  

The McMurry/Hardin-Simmons Women's and Men's Basketball doubleheader in late January is a huge fundraiser for the local Lions Club.  
Here are pictures.  

http://www.d3hoops.com/gallery.php?gallery=36019

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I absolutely love this idea.  I think we should push for an extra Hope/Calvin game - played at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.  Last time they did that (in the late 90's) they had a sell-out of around 12,000 people.   Ought to be able to raise a nice bundle with a crowd that size.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q (and all), I confess I didn't know about the rule concerning scrimmages (though the NCAA has already announced they will be flexible on the 'extra benefits' rules for families of players affected by Katrina, so they might well waive the usual rules on scrimmages), but I'd have to agree with TBF that a regular season game might make more logistical sense.

FDF, great idea!  If that comes off, I'll be there!  (That, too, would probably require a waiver from the NCAA, but they do seem to be showing amazing flexibility when it comes to Katrina.)

[John Gleich]

How about when Illinois Wesleyan plays U of I in their exhibition?  I'm pretty sure that admission will be charged for THAT game... and that more people will show up to Assembly Hall than King Arena...

[True Basketball Fan]

I hope all this talk leads to action.  I would love to see it.


Back to basketball, what small school is going to upend a DI opponent this season, regardless if it's exhibition or regular season?  If anybody says IWU, then you need a brain transplant.

[augiefan]

Anybody else think that IWU may surprise an overconfident Illini team at the Assembly Hall. I bet there will be a large percentage of fans in green and white for that one. I think IWU is in the game until at least midway thru the second half.

[Mr. Ypsi]

PS, that might be a thought (I've emailed U of I to suggest it), but what I'd love to see is ALL schools tack on a 'charity surcharge' for games against their arch-rivals with at least the surcharge (and for any schools that can afford it, ALL of the proceeds) going to the Red Cross or similar organizations) in (ideally) football as well as basketball.  If this really caught on, sports fans could be contributing hundreds of millions of dollars!

By focusing on arch-rivals, how many fans are going to balk at attending, especially with the emphasis on hurricane relief?!

If schools are concerned about giving up the revenue of what is presumably their biggest game, I like FDF's suggestion of an EXTRA game between arch-rivals at as big a facility as could be filled.  As an extra game, this would require NCAA approval, but for hurricane relief they seem prone to OK waivers.

(If only the UM-ND fb game was not already scheduled and tickets purchased.  The UM swim team collected over $40,000 in voluntary contibutions last Saturday at the game against Northern Illinois - a game against ND, at say $100 a ticket, would sell out to the tune of $11 million!)

(Joe, I agree with you about the NCAA and enforcing rules, but I give them credit [something I don't often do!] for their willingness to bend the rules [e.g., 'extra benefits' rules for players whose families were victims of Katrina] under these extraordinary circumstances.  To go back to my all-time example, why couldn't they have shown such common sense when they suspended Steve Alford for posing for a sorority's CHARITY calendar?!)

[Mr. Ypsi]

augiefan,

While I think the Titans have essentially 0% chance of winning, I agree with you that it might be closer for longer than most expect. 

[emeritusprof]

A society cannot function without rules.  However, some NCAA commandments go too far in the direction of punishing athletes, rather than protecting them.

When my daughter was a gymnast at Iowa State University, I took a neighbor kid with me for a weekend at Ames.  He was a star two-sport athlete at Kenosha Bradford, but my driving him to ISU prevented him from being a candidate for athletic scholarship--all because I happened to be the parent of an ISU athlete.  No matter that the young man in question was a family friend and accompanied us on vacations, etc.  Besides, how in hell was I to know that such a trip would constitute an NCAA violation?

Some rules I'd like to see enforced are those dealing with basketball fundamentals.  When will someone call traveling for the standard palming every guard exhibits on dribble?

Or, we could talk of Karl Rove and federal felony violations...

[True Basketball Fan]

Sorry to hear about that unfortunate situation, that is very irritating indeed.

They have tried to emphasize it every year to officials, and it actually is called every once in a while, which is better than never (like it used to be).  However, I agree they could call more.  It's just a matter of getting these old officials to look for it more often, they have habits of not paying that much attention to "palming".  I know they are trying though.

[augiedad]

A Wheaton administrator told me yesterday that Kent Raymond has chosen not to play basketball this season for religious regions.  I guess he told coach Harris, "God does not want me to play basketball this year."

I already had Wheaton finishing behind IWU, Augie, Elmhurst, NCC, and Carthage.  Without Raymond Wheaton may be a 7th place team in 2006.

Can anyone confirm the Raymond situation?

[True Basketball Fan]

I heard that "rumor" a few days back.  But I guess it may not be a rumor after all.  I'm sure we'll all find out for sure in due time.

He's a future All-American in my opinion.  Wheaton with what they lost last year is nothing without Raymond, which I'm not sure what they were going to be anyway.

[Titan Q]

The Hanover/IWU rivalry has become one a good one.  Hanover has won 3 of the 4 meetings the last two seasons, but it is 1 to 1 in the tournament.  IWU knocked the Panthers out on their homecourt in 2004, and of course the Panthers returned the favor last year in Bloomington (both in Round 2).

Hanover travels to the Shirk Center on Tuesday Dec. 20.