MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I've known for a while that Jonathan was likely to end up at Wheaton, but I wasn't going to post it without any official confirmation. I met him just briefly in his time at Augie. He seems like a nice young man. I hope he does well at Wheaton (except for two, or maybe three games a year).

Does anyone remember the last (or any) intra-conference basketball transfer in the CCIW? Keith Bishop, a record-setting QB went from IWU to Wheaton in  the early '80's, but I can't recall one in basketball.

where's Sager when u need 'em

Grant Grastorf transferred from North Central after starting his freshman year and was a three year starter for North Park at forward (two NCAA championships in three appearances), 1979,80 & 81.

Terry Egan transferred from North Central after starting at guard for three years (sat out a year) and was starting at North Park until he got injured mid-way through the Vikings last national championship season in 1987.

[dansand]

Thanks Dennis,

I didn't realize (or had forgotten) that Grastorf had transferred from North Central. I don't really recall Egan, but that was during the Jim Leix years at Augie when my interest had waned a bit.

[Mugsy]

I've known for a while that Jonathan was likely to end up at Wheaton, but I wasn't going to post it without any official confirmation. I met him just briefly in his time at Augie. He seems like a nice young man. I hope he does well at Wheaton (except for two, or maybe three games a year).

Does anyone remember the last (or any) intra-conference basketball transfer in the CCIW? Keith Bishop, a record-setting QB went from IWU to Wheaton in  the early '80's, but I can't recall one in basketball.

Another football transfer, but 2 or 3 time 1st Team All-CCIW OL Jim Johanik went to IWU his freshman year, then transfered to Wheaton for his remaining eligibility.  He was even a team captain his senior year - 1993.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Ive heard the following story many times from North Park old-timers:

there was one year in the fifties that four out of five, or five out five Augustana starters were all graduates of North Park Junior College.  Does that count?

North Park started playing four-year college opponents in the 1958-59 season.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

trivia note of the week

North Park once had a perfect undefeated record in CCI football.  The very first game they played in the league was a win over Lake Forest - in the fall of 1962.

There is no truth to the ugly rumor that that is Lake Forest dropped out of the league at the end of that school year.

In the last 48 seasons they won, what, 50 more games?

[Gregory Sager]

I've known for a while that Jonathan was likely to end up at Wheaton, but I wasn't going to post it without any official confirmation. I met him just briefly in his time at Augie. He seems like a nice young man. I hope he does well at Wheaton (except for two, or maybe three games a year).

Does anyone remember the last (or any) intra-conference basketball transfer in the CCIW? Keith Bishop, a record-setting QB went from IWU to Wheaton in  the early '80's, but I can't recall one in basketball.

where's Sager when u need 'em

Grant Grastorf transferred from North Central after starting his freshman year and was a three year starter for North Park at forward (two NCAA championships in three appearances), 1979,80 & 81.

Terry Egan transferred from North Central after starting at guard for three years (sat out a year) and was starting at North Park until he got injured mid-way through the Vikings last national championship season in 1987.

Incorrect. Egan transferred to North Park from North Central for the 1984-85 championship season, not the 1986-87 championship season. He broke his leg in the road game at Wheaton in January '85, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Johnny Kuehn. That changed North Park from a conventional team with Egan at small forward to a three-guard lineup and further reduced NPC's already limited depth, but the Vikings obviously didn't miss a beat.

North Park did run through a whole series of starting small forwards in the 1986-87 championship season as well, but Egan was long gone by then. Paul Heesch, the previous season's starting small forward, came into the preseason looking to secure his incumbency, but soon quit the team because he was out of shape. The previous season's starting power forward, Ron Stagger, was moved to small forward at the start of the season to replace Heesch, but he quickly left the team after getting into a dispute with head coach Bosko Djurickovic. He was replaced by transfer Tyrone Thigpen, but he left the team seven or eight games into December after a run-in with Bosko. Wade Seifer then took over as the starting SF, but he was inadvertently low-bridged while going up for a rebound at Purdue-Calumet. He landed on his head, suffering a severe concussion that landed him in the hospital for a week and ended his career. Henrik Gaddefors then inherited the spot as the fifth player to start at the 3 in 1986-87 -- and he would finish out the year as the starter and a key role player as the Vikings went on to win the national championship.

The last two intra-league basketball transfers that I can remember are Egan and his contemporary Mike Ernst, who was buried on the North Park junior varsity in the mid-'80s until he transferred to Elmhurst and became a starter on a nondescript Bluejays team that featured Mark McCormack, Troy Nelson, and Scott Wright.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

i seem to remember a Randy Ernst from Carthage to North Park

and a Tim Windt from North Park to Elmhurst.

[Titan Q]

North Central is getting Brad Hallstein, a 6-8 F from Normal West H.S..  Hallstein averaged 16.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg and made 67 3-pointers as a senior.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/article_598c41e2-57e0-11df-bfc1-001cc4c002e0.html

[RFMichigan]

I've known for a while that Jonathan was likely to end up at Wheaton, but I wasn't going to post it without any official confirmation. I met him just briefly in his time at Augie. He seems like a nice young man. I hope he does well at Wheaton (except for two, or maybe three games a year).

Does anyone remember the last (or any) intra-conference basketball transfer in the CCIW? Keith Bishop, a record-setting QB went from IWU to Wheaton in  the early '80's, but I can't recall one in basketball.

where's Sager when u need 'em

Grant Grastorf transferred from North Central after starting his freshman year and was a three year starter for North Park at forward (two NCAA championships in three appearances), 1979,80 & 81.

Terry Egan transferred from North Central after starting at guard for three years (sat out a year) and was starting at North Park until he got injured mid-way through the Vikings last national championship season in 1987.

Incorrect. Egan transferred to North Park from North Central for the 1984-85 championship season, not the 1986-87 championship season. He broke his leg in the road game at Wheaton in January '85, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Johnny Kuehn. That changed North Park from a conventional team with Egan at small forward to a three-guard lineup and further reduced NPC's already limited depth, but the Vikings obviously didn't miss a beat.

North Park did run through a whole series of starting small forwards in the 1986-87 championship season as well, but Egan was long gone by then. Paul Heesch, the previous season's starting small forward, came into the preseason looking to secure his incumbency, but soon quit the team because he was out of shape. The previous season's starting power forward, Ron Stagger, was moved to small forward at the start of the season to replace Heesch, but he quickly left the team after getting into a dispute with head coach Bosko Djurickovic. He was replaced by transfer Tyrone Thigpen, but he left the team seven or eight games into December after a run-in with Bosko. Wade Seifer then took over as the starting SF, but he was inadvertently low-bridged while going up for a rebound at Purdue-Calumet. He landed on his head, suffering a severe concussion that landed him in the hospital for a week and ended his career. Henrik Gaddefors then inherited the spot as the fifth player to start at the 3 in 1986-87 -- and he would finish out the year as the starter and a key role player as the Vikings went on to win the national championship.

The last two intra-league basketball transfers that I can remember are Egan and his contemporary Mike Ernst, who was buried on the North Park junior varsity in the mid-'80s until he transferred to Elmhurst and became a starter on a nondescript Bluejays team that featured Mark McCormack, Troy Nelson, and Scott Wright.

Pretty amazing that NP could go through that many player defections/injuries and still have the talent to win a national championship.
I do remember locking horns with Grasdorf a few times. He was a "solid" player.

[AndOne]

North Central is getting Brad Hallstein, a 6-8 F from Normal West H.S..  Hallstein averaged 16.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg and made 67 3-pointers as a senior.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/article_598c41e2-57e0-11df-bfc1-001cc4c002e0.html

A great pickup for North Central. About the tallest recruit brought in under the current coaching administration. A 6'8" kid who pulled down 7 boards a game, and that can step out and consistently bury the 3 pointer.

Brad rec'd interest from D1s  Elon and UNC-Greensboro, and was offered by D1 Wagner.
He also considered IL Wesleyan, before choosing North Central

Some other articles on Hallstein:

http://midstatehoops.com/v5/?p=5104

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/article_ac8821b6-fb21-11de-97fa-001cc4c03286.html

[Gregory Sager]

Pretty amazing that NP could go through that many player defections/injuries and still have the talent to win a national championship.

What makes it even more remarkable is that it wasn't a particularly deep team, even when the season began. After losing the four forwards to injuries and defections, the rotation was reduced to eight players, with two extra shooting guards beyond that eight who were used very sparingly.

North Park's ability to rise above all the chaos going on at the small forward spot was a testament to just how good All-Americans Michael Starks and Mike Barach and first-team All-CCIW center Dan Mulkerin really were, as well as to the leadership of senior PG Mike Parker.

I do remember locking horns with Grasdorf a few times. He was a "solid" player.

I remember Grant Grastorf from my college days as a phenomenal shooter who never got to shoot much, seeing as how he had three All-American teammates in Michael Harper, Modzel Greer, and Michael Thomas. I wonder what sort of a career Grastorf would've had if he had stayed at North Central (which was then a doormat) and been "the man," or how he would've fared a few years later when the three-point line went into effect.

i seem to remember a Randy Ernst from Carthage to North Park

and a Tim Windt from North Park to Elmhurst.

You're right. I was juxtaposing names. It was Tim Windt who couldn't rise above the North Park JV and transferred to Elmhurst to play alongside McCormack, Nelson, and Wright.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

There was a night when Dennie Bridges tried to stop the NPC three-some of Harper, Greer and Thomas with a triangle and 2 defense.  The gimmick kept the three All-American from dominating the game - but Grastorf had 26 points.

[Mr. Ypsi]

There was a night when Dennie Bridges tried to stop the NPC three-some of Harper, Greer and Thomas with a triangle and 2 defense.  The gimmick kept the three All-American from dominating the game - but Grastorf had 26 points.

That sounds eerily like IWU's 1970 NAIA tourney game against soon-to-be national champion Kentucky State (though I don't recall the defensive scheme).  We held AA Travis "Machine Gun" Grant to the lowest point total of his four years, our 6'6" center, Fred Evans, outrebounded their 7'1" AA Elmore Smith, and some guy we fans had never even heard of, Bill Graham, went for the highest points of his career.

[74impala]

Wheaton has updated its website to show its recruits.  We got some good looking kids!

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.aspx?tab=basketball&path=mbball

[wheels81]

Looks like a good group.   "Stole" one from Augie too.  You say McCrary, I say McCreary?