MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augie22]

Advoice
Im not understanding how you are coming to this conclusion of Augie losing at home to NC.  First off...the gaurd play by Drew Wessels is alone is like a one man press.  After that you have great athletes down low you will be able to keep Simmons in somewhat of a check.  With this said i don't think any gaurd on the floor will be able to stop Rick Harrigan (nobody really has yet).  And for that matter i think that Augie is a better defensive team then NC.  I also think you are underestimating the size and athletic ability of Daine Swetela.  ( the kid is a speciment).  On top of all this it is so tough to win on the road in the CCIW, but as we all no anything can happen in this league on any given night...

Ot' Coatle moight skeet

[Redmen40]

Normally I remain silent throughout the daily CCIW banter, but on this occasion I must make an exception. As a former Bosko player and current Bosko friend and supporter I must say that the majority of the comments made against Bosko are inappropriate and unjust. With exception to a few, the people who speak against him have no connection to the program nor do they know Bosko on a personal level. However, I do. I will make this as simple and clear as possible. Bosko is a great coach. His in game strategies, control over officials (with exception to last weeks Elmhurst game), and overall demeanor during pressure situations places him at another level in terms of coaches at the division 3 level. Bottom line here- Bosko will remain the head coach at Carthage for as long as he would like. He will continue to recruit high level athletes and rake in mid major transfers. He will build the Carthage program back to a national contender and in a few short years I will be reading posts about Bosko's opportunities at the DI level.

One last thing- When Carthage was making their runs at National Titles in 2001 and 2002 Bosko used to tell us all the time that he was trying to out recruit myself, Garnes, McDaniel, Powell, and whoever else was playing big minutes at the time. That's what great coaches do! So, when I hear that Bosko told his team that he needed better players.... I laugh and nod my head. To be honest the players on that team should be doing the same thing.

Now... could we please get back to the CCIW action at hand and stop blasting one of the greatest coaches in CCIW history.

[Elmhurst_Mom]

i was so ticked before i went to be last night that i failed to give credit to the other "untalented" players on our team---the likes of b.lee who is doing an great job this season, gershenzon who'd be kicking some butt and taking names if it weren't for his back (he's out for the next 3 with a brace on and is hoping to be back after that...great kid!)...patchett, bacon...and watch out for up and coming burks...

i'm looking forward to saturday against wheaton...that will be tough but always exciting playing them....last year we lost at their place but what a game that was...if i remember right we were down more than 10, closed the gap to within a couple in the last seconds and i think michael had a career high that night with 28!  

i went to bed in such an agitated state last night...my husband said if i can't separate he won't let me play here anymore!    

....i'm better now.

[Johnny Augie]

Call me crazy but I think the reason Simmons didn't get the start v.s. Carthage is because he showed up late to shoot around.  It's a good job by Coach Raridon by showing his kids to be disciplined.

I've always been a big fan of any coach who will sit a player after something like that.  If this was the case, nice work by Raridon.

[augie22]

I also agree...its shows that your able to reward the players that do it right all the time, and penalize the players who think they are bigger then the program (I don't know why he was late and im not speculating Simmons thinks that he is better then the NC program)

[Johnny Augie]

Advoice, I'm going to have to agree with Augie22.  It is very tough to get a road win in the CCIW.

The great thing about basketball is that we'll get to find out on Saturday which is the better team.  I think it's Augie, you think it's NC.  One of us gets to be right.

I never get to be right at home, so I hope I get to be right this time!!!  

[advoice]

Augie 22,

I apologize if you do not agree with my take on the two teams after seeing both play. Have you seen NC play. If you have not, I would contest that it would be difficult to compare.

I never said Augie is not a good team. I agree with many of your points about thier personnel, but if you want to see a specimen, check out Simmons from NC. I am not sure many CCIW teams, including Augie have a person that can match up with him.

Augie has a very good chance to win this game at home but it will take more of a balanced offensive effort than they have recieved so far and a well-executed defensive game plan to slow the cardinals down.

Please remember, I am not a NC fan or an Augie fan. Just debating how I feel.

[augie22]

Advoice,

I hear what you are saying about seeing both play and all that.  No i haven't seen NC play this year.  However i have seen all the NC players play in the past and i think Simmons is a beast but will be contained because Augie is traditionally a physical defensive team.

On the other hand i am mostly basing my decision of Augie winning because of their Senior leaders in Harrigan and McAdams-Thorton, and the ability to protect home court as Augie has done in recent years.  I will be able to make it down to the game though so i hope its a nail-biter with Augie pulling it out down the stretch.

[advoice]

Not sure I would use the Senior Leadership argument if I were you. Augie has two that are playing well, NC starting lineup is two seniors and three juniors. Much more experienced than Augie.

I will give you the point on homecourt edge. If this game was at NC, there would be no doubt as to the favorite.

For the CCIW's race, I hope Augie wins. If NC makes it through the first half with wins at IWU and Augie, it might be tough to catch them. Somebody is going to have to beat them at home. NC has 7 of last 9 CCIW games at home!

Harrigan will need 25 plus and three others over 10 for Augie to win.

[augie22]

Drew Wessel is also a senior you have been battling since day one against the gaurds from NC.  In that i don't know who is better but i would be willing to bet that Wessel's is one of the toughest on ball defenders around.  Also take Nate Swetela who has played in DII for his first two years of his collegiate career.  I like our leadership as a first put it...
Time will tell!

[augiefan]

The big factor in Saturday's game in Rock Island is that for Augie it's a must win game. If NCC loses, they will still be a heavy favorite in the return match in Naperville, a venue that has not been that friendly to Augie in recent years against much less talented NCC teams.

I have seen NCC play this year, and the team's improvement based on better coaching is very noticeable. Augie needs to play their best game of the year to win on Saturday. It would be nice if more than 300 Augie fans showed up to support the Vikings. A good supportive home crowd might be the difference.

[martin]

In the Around the Nation column by Mark Simon, there is an interview (in the sidebar to his column) with Chris Jeffries who played for Washington University from 2000-03.  He was All-American his last two years.  His insights about playing overseas are interesting.  One quote IWU fans may appreciate:

"In Uruguay, for our games we packed the gym and then some, and for the road games we brought our own section. It reminded me of some of my games against Illinois Wesleyan."

[79jaybird]

Redmen40  I agree totally with your assessment of Bosko.  When the tide turns the wrong way people start pointing fingers.  TEAM  T together E everyone A accomplishes M more.  That includes the coaches and anybody else in the cohesive bond of the team.  Anybody can be a fair weather fan.  Bosko is a great Coach and a great person if you ever get a chance to sit down and talk with the guy.  He's a common man just like you and me.

[augie22]

amazing to see on this site:

all the carthage moaners coming out of the woodwork

all the augustana backers basking in the glow of first place.

this old, and mega-chinned, fart is amused.

MW

btw - i root for north park and any team playing augustana.

Dennis,
you forgot to add in  your list that:

this site has dwindled in IWU faithful

[Hoosier Titan]

augie22,
I doubt that the number of IWU faithful reading the site has dwindled, and the number of IWU fans certainly hasn't.  I think we just haven't had a big stake in the Bosko debate.  Personally, I think he's got enough of a track record that he doesn't deserve to be trashed for one bad game.  His teams have always played IWU tough as long as I've been here, and they have done well for all the personnel changes this year.