MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[79jaybird]

geez a loo   what a snoozer of a day between all this back and forth nonsense.

Looking at a constructive topic,  I think the Elmhurst Carthage matchup is going to be great.  Both teams need a victory and some help for their immediate goals.  Elmhurst ran away from Carthage up in WI a few weeks ago but I think Carthage will be a different team knowing their season's on the line.  While Steve is going to be one thing to watch and contain from an EC standpoint-  I think a greater concern for Carthage is to find a way to control Elmhurst's insid game which was unstoppable the first time they played them.

[Sakman 1111]

First game it appeared Carthage had a definite lack of intensity especially on defense.....there were a number of uncontested shots taken by Elmhurst. I assume Carthage will be ready to play this time. 79 Blue is right on when he says the Bluejays killed them up front. I assume the Bluejays will be ready to play being senior night and the importance of the game but you never know about the CCIW in bball.....reminds me of the WIAC in football. Should be an excellent game I hope with the Bluejays coming out on top.......

[Gregory Sager]

As dismal of a season as it's been for NPU, there's at least some individual milestones that two Vikings in particular can reach tomorrow night against Millikin. I've already mentioned that Nick Williams is 14 points shy of joining the Thousand Points Club while still a junior. But Roshawn Russell is close to a milestone as well, one that's all the more remarkable because he's only a freshman. He's in great position to break North Park's all-time season FT percentage record, which is currently the .875 mark set by Jack Ecker in 1994-95. Russell is currently sitting at .904 (103-114) for the year, and as long as he doesn't go 0-4 or worse from the line on Saturday he'll break the record. He's also currently leading the CCIW at a .902 clip (55-61) from the free throw line, and the only player who's in a position to catch him if he stumbles is Augie's Brett Wessels (41-46, .891). NPU hasn't had a player lead the league in one of the major statistical categories since Lamar Townsend won the FT percentage title in 2003-04.

[mr_b]

Free Speech...

Two employees of North Park, who were regular, valued contributors to the discussion on this board, challenged me for my solution.  Which I gave.

They chose not to respond.  Which is fine and certainly their perogative.

But what is most disturbing to me, is that from that time forward they have obviously been silenced.  By whom is obvious. 

I'm unaware of any edict to refrain from posting.

[robberki]

Free Speech

Which leads me to my topic of the day.

Several weeks ago I asked regular posters from North Park what their solutions would be for the uncompetitive athletic program of our school.

Two employees of North Park, who were regular, valued contributors to the discussion on this board, challenged me for my solution.  Which I gave.

They chose not to respond.  Which is fine and certainly their perogative.

But what is most disturbing to me, is that from that time forward they have obviously been silenced.  By whom is obvious.  I have often been told by friends that work at North Park that this board is regularly digested by members of the athletic staff.

My question to that athletic staff - is why have you silenced North Park staffers who were regular contributors to this discussion.  It's a free country, and they should be permitted to voice their opinions without fear of censure by you and the school administration.

I know that at least one of those staff members continues to read these pages (because I've seen his name at the top of the page), I do wish they would come back and share with us.  Your opinions and insights as both a close observer and a basketball alum are missed.

Dennis Prikkel

Dennis - Not sure if you're talking about me but no one has silenced me. I didn't answer your question for two reasons. First, I don't read the board everyday because since my "career" ended in 2001 there isn't anyone on here stroking my enormous ego. Second, I don't have an answer for your question. NPU men's basketball appeared headed in a clear upward direction under Paul until this season, a variety of factors have contributed to the bottom dropping out from underneath the team, any one of which was surmountable but not all at once which happened to hit in a perfect storm of crapulance.
As far as other sports go, I don't know. I just don't know...

[Titan Q]

A very heartfelt "thank you" from this IWU alum to seniors Andrew Gilmore, Jordan Morris, and Brett Chamernik.

Andrew Gilmore (Stillwater, MN) turned a lot of heads within the program as a freshman, IWU's Final Four season.  After Dauksas & Co. graduated, Andrew started as a sophomore, but out of position - at the point (with freshman Sean Dwyer injured, he was literally the only option to play at the 1).  He had a good season - 11.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.2 apg (.424 3-pt, .807 FT) - and on his way to becoming an All-CCIW 2-guard for the Titans.  Unfortunately, his knees did not allow that to happen.  He developed patellar tendonitis in both knees late his sophomore year, had surgery on both in February 2007, and has not been able to play basketball since.  Andrew has served as an assistant coach this season. 

Jordan Morris came to IWU after a great career at Pekin High School.  He is a tireless worker and someone who plays hard every minute he's on the floor.  IWU has gone with the Sean Johnson (soph), Jordan Zimmer (fresh) combo at the 2 this season, leaving Jordan as the odd man out for the most part.  Jordan has been a true team player through that process and has worked hard to develop his young teamates.

Brett Chamernik, a pre-med major at IWU from Benet Academy, had a solid junior year as a starter - 10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .588 FG.  Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from building on that this season.  Chamernik missed the entire practice season with a stress fracture in his foot and missed IWU's first few games.  Then, early in the CCIW season, he suffered a bad ankle sprain which he tried to play through for the good of the team.  He was not himself on the floor most of the conference season.  Brett is another hard worker - an undersized (6-5) CCIW center who has had to work hard every minute on the floor.

These three guys were put in a very tough position at IWU.  Gilmore should not have ever had to play the 1 out of desperation.  Chamernik should never have been relied on to be a starting CCIW center - he would have been an ideal 6th man, playing behind good JR/SR post players.  And Morris should not have been relied on as a primary scoring option last year as a junior - he should have been able to slide in a role player slot, playing alongside All-CCIW caliber upperclassmen.  They have been put in positions that, quite frankly, no IWU group of seniors has been in my 20 years around the program.  They were let down when IWU decided recruiting was not a priority for 2 full seasons - there should be All-CCIW players both in their class and the class behind them.  The way that played out is unfortunate - it is the first time I have seen IWU players put in positions to fail, rather than perfect positions to to succeed.

Andrew, Jordan, and Brett are three solid young men who will make IWU proud.

[titan2000]

[at least I have the balls to voice and support my opinion despite the criticism I'll likely receive.

Seems like you can't handle the criticism once it comes...maybe you should take a break. 

Criticism is one thing 74, but whats going on isn't criticism and its frankly ridiculous.

An Error Has Occurred!
Sorry, you can't repeat a karma action without waiting 24 hours. 

[usee]

For those of you rooting remotely tonight, remember that if Wheaton hosts, they have live video feeds up and running for the conference tournament!!

Go Thunder!!??!!

[voxelmhurst]

Senior Night in Elmhurst tonight for Brent Ruch, Ryan Burks, and Robert Stzremp.

I had the pleasure of being the play-by-play man for the freshman and sophomore seasons of these men's careers and without a doubt - I've watched more Elmhurst games with these men in uniform than I have in any other period.

My first memory of these three is of Rob Stzremp.  In the 2005/06 season, Elmhurst had a home against then 8th ranked Hanover.  It looked like it wasn't to be Elmhurst's night until Stzremp started hitting shot after shot in the second half, and Elmhurst pulled out the victory.

I remember first seeing Burks in a JV game his freshman season down at Millikin.  My broadcast partner and I had to take a break from setting up the equipment to watch him finish that one, and knew right then he would develop into the player he is today.

I will never forget the performance Ruch put in his freshman season at Wesleyan.  Elmhurst lost that one - in one of the most heartbreaking ways I can remember them ever losing a game - but Ruch had a breakout performance that night and it's no surprise to me he has ended up the player that he has.

Obviously, there are more memories but I just wanted to share one each from one of my seasons as a broadcaster.  It is going to be very hard not seeing them on the court next season but let's hope we have plenty of games left this season to watch them play.

And really - congrats to all CCIW seniors.

[shepherd]

[at least I have the balls to voice and support my opinion despite the criticism I'll likely receive.

Seems like you can't handle the criticism once it comes...maybe you should take a break. 

Criticism is one thing 74, but whats going on isn't criticism and its frankly ridiculous.

Perhaps This will help!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5513mXmQbw4&feature=related

[shepherd]

North Central in the locker room before last week's big game with Elmhurst.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsjnR-sOoY8

North Centrals new trainer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFSOnumgZA&feature=related

Its go time!!!

[Gregory Sager]

I try to put in a good word for each NPU senior before the final game of the season every year, and I have no trouble finding good words for this year's lone Vikings senior, Mike Ventura. Mike started at center in the very first game of his freshman season. It was a 68-46 loss at Benedictine, and although he managed to record nine points and seven rebounds it was clear that he was in over his head at that point; but I was struck by the fact that he never showed any frustration or appeared to be down on himself, and he was playing even harder in the last few minutes of a long-since-decided game than he was at the beginning.

He was not to be long for the starting lineup that season, though, as Brett Mathisen moved over from the 4 to become the latest in a long line of undersized NPU centers and Mike went to the bench, with football player Mike Haehn taking over most of the big-man bench minutes. That set what proved to be a pattern for Ventura. Throughout his career, Mike's playing time has yo-yo'ed according to the fortunes of the team; when there were at least two other effective big men on the roster or the team was enjoying a modicum of success, he was banished to the far end of the bench and often didn't even get garbage time. Such was the case his sophomore season, when the Vikings had Anthony Lenoir and Stephano Jones, or last season, when NPU was competitive in spite of the fact that the Vikings were using a four-guard lineup. But when the front line was thin and the team was struggling, Mike would get the call and #30 would reappear in the rotation.

Throughout it all, he continued to work hard and he persevered, even as all of his classmates such as Glenn Woodside, Jeremiah Sargent, Eric Samuelson, Devin Burnett, Keith Willert, etc., either set basketball aside or left school entirely. He's never amounted to much at the offensive end of the floor, but by his senior year Mike had become a pretty effective defender in the low post. I doubt that there are a lot of players who can claim to have blocked one of Brent Ruch's layups this season! Above all, Mike's commitment to the program and his relentless effort on the floor have set a great example for his younger teammates. Like Ed Whitaker last year, he has proven that sticking it out even when relegated to the bottom of the depth chart will pay off with a chance to contribute somewhere down the line.

[Viking Mike]

GO AUGUSTANA!

GET THE WIN HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO!!!

[thunderstruck88]

GO AUGUSTANA!

GET THE WIN HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO!!!

Perhaps a banana peel and Dough Sexauer's porch would do the trick

jk 

[augiefan]

Congratulations to all of the CCIW seniors playing their last regular season game tonight. You all have given us a lot of basketball excitement in the past 4 years and deserve a lot of credit for sticking with your respective programs for your entire college career. With no athletic scholarships, challenging academics and the missed campus social life, staying the course is quite an accomplishment .