MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

2015-2016 Carthage Basketball Preview

*Note-No new players mentioned in the preview that aren't already listed above.
Carthage lost their best player, Donte Logan, and their high scorer and their only real "big," Cameron Van Wyk.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/sports/2012/10/5/Mens%20Basketball_1005121703.aspx?path=mbball

[Gregory Sager]

Don't know if anyone else feels the same, but I'm kinda surprised that we haven't heard any more news on he recruiting front. Especially with regard to some possible NPU transfers, and any other additional bodies at all at Elmhurst. The NPU situation is surprising as, if I remember correctly, Mr. Sager previously seemed pretty sure that they would adding some transfers over the summer. While summer isn't over, its getting late.

Chillax, Mark. When -- not if, when -- there's something to report from NPU vis-a-vis additional recruits, I'll report it.

Another incoming NPU freshman has paid his deposit: Jelani Sankey, a 5'10 point guard from Kenwood.

A second incoming NPU freshman put in his deposit today, 6'0 shooting guard Patrick Meyer from Cary-Grove.

You see. I knew chillin' time was about over!
And suddenly, presto, 2 new recruits. 

Yep. You're on to them, Mark. The second that they came onto d3boards.com this morning and saw your complaint from last night about how none of the promised NPU transfers have materialized yet, those two wacky 18-year-old freshmen-to-be each ponied up the money and hotfooted it over to Old Main to put in their deposits.

[AndOne]

Don't know if anyone else feels the same, but I'm kinda surprised that we haven't heard any more news on he recruiting front. Especially with regard to some possible NPU transfers, and any other additional bodies at all at Elmhurst. The NPU situation is surprising as, if I remember correctly, Mr. Sager previously seemed pretty sure that they would adding some transfers over the summer. While summer isn't over, its getting late.

Chillax, Mark. When -- not if, when -- there's something to report from NPU vis-a-vis additional recruits, I'll report it.

Another incoming NPU freshman has paid his deposit: Jelani Sankey, a 5'10 point guard from Kenwood.

A second incoming NPU freshman put in his deposit today, 6'0 shooting guard Patrick Meyer from Cary-Grove.

You see. I knew chillin' time was about over!
And suddenly, presto, 2 new recruits. 

Yep. You're on to them, Mark. The second that they came onto d3boards.com this morning and saw your complaint from last night about how none of the promised NPU transfers have materialized yet, those two wacky 18-year-old freshmen-to-be each ponied up the money and hotfooted it over to Old Main to put in their deposits.

Word on the street is that they got advances on their allowances 

[markerickson]

Coach Slyder went small before Golden State.  Not sure why so many student athletes under 6' 2" committed to play ball at NPU when it is apparent to me that Cobbs, Lake, and Henry will start, and none are seniors.

Greg:  Did Slyder award a most improved player award at the end of the season?  I'm thinking Mr. Hutchinson was most deserved.  I am hoping Mr. McNamara will earn that distinction this year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU found a loophole in the NCAA eligibiity rules for NBA players.  Steph Curry, LeBron James, and six others I am not yet authorized to disclose, are expected in Bloomington this fall.  Ron Rose says they will be given a fair chance to try out for the team.

Funny. Reminds me of when I convinced at least one WIACer a few years ago that the conference had a new rule where assistant coaches could play if they had been out of the league for at least 5 years. Stevens Point, at the time, had some kind of combination of Brant Bailey, Dane Seckar-Anderson and Jason Kalsow as their assistants. Not a bad front line.

Thanks, Greek.  Good to see that someone is not intimidated by Gregory (No Fun Zone) Sager.

I am WAY outside the recruit zone, but that is the norm for the summer, so I thought I would give my 'wish list' recruit list!

[Gregory Sager]

Don't know if anyone else feels the same, but I'm kinda surprised that we haven't heard any more news on he recruiting front. Especially with regard to some possible NPU transfers, and any other additional bodies at all at Elmhurst. The NPU situation is surprising as, if I remember correctly, Mr. Sager previously seemed pretty sure that they would adding some transfers over the summer. While summer isn't over, its getting late.

Chillax, Mark. When -- not if, when -- there's something to report from NPU vis-a-vis additional recruits, I'll report it.

Another incoming NPU freshman has paid his deposit: Jelani Sankey, a 5'10 point guard from Kenwood.

A second incoming NPU freshman put in his deposit today, 6'0 shooting guard Patrick Meyer from Cary-Grove.

You see. I knew chillin' time was about over!
And suddenly, presto, 2 new recruits. 

Yep. You're on to them, Mark. The second that they came onto d3boards.com this morning and saw your complaint from last night about how none of the promised NPU transfers have materialized yet, those two wacky 18-year-old freshmen-to-be each ponied up the money and hotfooted it over to Old Main to put in their deposits.

Word on the street is that they got advances on their allowances 

A few hours in the front yard sitting behind a makeshift lemonade stand never hurt anybody.

Coach Slyder went small before Golden State.  Not sure why so many student athletes under 6' 2" committed to play ball at NPU when it is apparent to me that Cobbs, Lake, and Henry will start, and none are seniors.

Mark, don't be so sure that all three of those guys will be in the starting lineup this year. Sure, they'll all be in the rotation and each will play an important role, but they won't all necessarily be starters.

As for the plethora of NPU recruits under 6'2, while we all joke about various CCIW teams "hoarding guards" and such, the reality is that this is what life in D3 is like. The ongoing expansion of the scholarship ranks means that there isn't an abundance of high-skill guys over 6'4 available in the numbers that there were in the past, and a lot of times the 6'4 guy you get now isn't anywhere near the player that the 6'2 guy you have is. And so you play the 6'2 guy and sit the 6'4 guy.

I've followed college basketball for a very, very long time now -- longer than I care to admit  -- and the older I get, the less obsessed I am with height. That's not to say that I 'm opposed to NPU getting a couple of really good 6'6 or 6'7 players, or that height (and wingspan) aren't important. But they're not as important as the casual fan thinks that they are, especially at this level. Just look at the heights of the starting lineups of the last couple of D3 national champions, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Greg:  Did Slyder award a most improved player award at the end of the season?  I'm thinking Mr. Hutchinson was most deserved.  I am hoping Mr. McNamara will earn that distinction this year.

North Park doesn't have an MIP award for men's basketball. The only award that the NPU head coach gives out each year is the Reed Larson Award, an honor which is more along the lines of effort, dedication, and team leadership rather than improved performance in games. Trent Kucera, who won the Reed Larson Award in 2013-14, was the repeat winner this past year, and deservedly so.

I agree with you that, if North Park did have an MIP award, Hutch would've been the primary candidate to win it for 2014-15 ... although you could've made a really good case for T.J. Cobbs, too.

Thanks, Greek.  Good to see that someone is not intimidated by Gregory (No Fun Zone) Sager.

You mean Gregory (No Stale, Tired Jokes Zone) Sager. 

[Gregory Sager]

North Park
* John Lorenz, 6-2 G (Elk Grove HS/Harper CC 2012-13) NEW

It turns out that Lorenz has changed his mind again and is transferring to Calumet St. Joe to play ball for the Crimson Wave. I'll be curious to see if he gets a lot of playing time for CCSJ, because I didn't foresee him getting much, if any at all, for the Park.

[AndOne]

North Park
* John Lorenz, 6-2 G (Elk Grove HS/Harper CC 2012-13) NEW

It turns out that Lorenz has changed his mind again and is transferring to Calumet St. Joe to play ball for the Crimson Wave. I'll be curious to see if he gets a lot of playing time for CCSJ, because I didn't foresee him getting much, if any at all, for the Park.

Perhaps he got wind of the Sager prognostication, and headed south? 
At any rate, with a wave of the magic wand, we bid him adieu.

[kiko]

IWU found a loophole in the NCAA eligibiity rules for NBA players.  Steph Curry, LeBron James, and six others I am not yet authorized to disclose, are expected in Bloomington this fall.  Ron Rose says they will be given a fair chance to try out for the team.

Funny. Reminds me of when I convinced at least one WIACer a few years ago that the conference had a new rule where assistant coaches could play if they had been out of the league for at least 5 years. Stevens Point, at the time, had some kind of combination of Brant Bailey, Dane Seckar-Anderson and Jason Kalsow as their assistants. Not a bad front line.

Thanks, Greek.  Good to see that someone is not intimidated by Gregory (No Fun Zone) Sager.

I am WAY outside the recruit zone, but that is the norm for the summer, so I thought I would give my 'wish list' recruit list!

Bringing in a couple of guys who have either exhausted their eligibility or otherwise made themselves ineligible to play by turning pro?  I can get behind that Titan strategy!

I've followed college basketball for a very, very long time now -- longer than I care to admit  -- and the older I get, the less obsessed I am with height. That's not to say that I 'm opposed to NPU getting a couple of really good 6'6 or 6'7 players, or that height (and wingspan) aren't important. But they're not as important as the casual fan thinks that they are, especially at this level. Just look at the heights of the starting lineups of the last couple of D3 national champions, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Honestly, if you want to take this issue off the table, just say your 6'2" guy is 6'4" and call it a day...

[Gregory Sager]

But what if the 6'2 guy that you want to pass off as 6'4 is really only 6'0?

[kiko]

But what if the 6'2 guy that you want to pass off as 6'4 is really only 6'0?

Then say it again, except this time with more conviction...

[Mr. Ypsi]

But what if the 6'2 guy that you want to pass off as 6'4 is really only 6'0?

Then say it again, except this time with more conviction...

Aah, the 'Earl Boykins' ploy!  He entered EMU as a 5'8" freshman, was a 5'7" sophomore, and was finally a 5'5" player the rest of career (including 14 years in the NBA) - colleagues told me he was more likely 5'3" (he majored in my department, but was never in one of my classes).  As the coach explained, 'Ya think I'm gonna risk my career before he showed HOW good he was by admitting I recruited a midget! '

[Greek Tragedy]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GREGORY SAGER!!!!!!

[Gregory Sager]

Ouch! That big red type hurt my eyes. But ... thanks, Tom!

[badgerwarhawk]

Sorry I missed it Greg.  I hope you had a great day.