MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Ok, it's happened.  I've become a closet North Park Viking fan.  Hope it doesn't jinx them.

Welcome aboard, bw ... but it's not really a bandwagon. It's more like The Little Engine That Could.

And while I'm on a rant against the CCIW office--Where is the sense in scheduling any of the conference basketball teams to have to play their final three games in a row on the road? With teams fighting for the conference championship or to make the conference tournament at the end of the season, why would you want to handicap any team in that manner? There is absolutely no reason why the schedule has to be set up like that. Again, it's just plain stupid. Next year I hope the guy who makes up the schedule takes his head out of you know where before he starts working on it. 

Next season's schedule has already been constructed, Mark. And, hoo boy, is it going to generate a lot of controversy. You can expect to see all nine CCIW squads play either two or three league games next December, specifically on Saturday the 3rd, Wednesday the 7th, and Saturday the 10th. That will come as quite a shock to those of you who've been expecting the CCIW to revert back to the old way of doing things when it was a nine-team league, in which each team played only one CCIW game in December. However, this new schedule has been designed for the purpose of apportioning home Saturday dates equally among all nine teams -- which means that extra Saturdays are needed, which means either two or three CCIW games apiece in early December.

Maybe it's because Carthage is the northern-most team geographically, but going back to the beginning of the Bosko era, I don't see three consecutive road games to end the season in the CCIW.  I haven't gone back and looked at the rest of the league, but it does seem to be a bit irregular.

Speaking of which, one nice feature of the new nine-team sked is that it won't require travel partners. For those of you who did not follow the CCIW back in its old nine-team format (1967-68 thru 1991-92), the two Wisconsin schools were travel partners and the two central Illinois schools were travel partners. Thus, when Carroll and Carthage traveled to Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin, and vice-versa, they'd play one opponent on Friday, stay overnight, and then play the other school on Saturday. That won't be the case this time around. I'm sure that, for travel purposes, the two Wisconsin schools will always play the two central Illinois schools on Saturdays (just as Carthage does right now with IWU and MU), but they'll hew to the same schedule as everybody else.

So Carthage should look at canning Bosko  because his team is struggling this year too right? 

Just this season???  20 seasons at a school is a long time...and a certain assistant is waiting in the wings.  Maybe the youngster can recruit a couple of big men to play for the Red Men.

Is it a done deal that Bob Bonn is going to hire Stevie D. when Bosko retires, though? Remember, he does not have head-coaching experience -- and (unless I'm forgetting somebody) it's been decades since any CCIW school has hired a head men's basketball coach who did not have prior head-coaching experience.

However, that doesn't mean that Steve can't do the job. I think he can. The acid test, though, is whether or not he can get Carthage out of its recruiting rut in his present role as Bosko's second chair ... and I'm not just talking about acquiring big men, either.

I didn't get a protractor out, but I'd say that is much closer to 55* than 45*.

Touché.

[badgerwarhawk]

[Gregory Sager]

Nice job, bw. It's even got the right colors.

[79jaybird]

Stevie D I could see being a lot like Stan Bowman with the Hawks.   May not have the experience,  but has one of the best mentors (dad) to lean on, ask questions, etc.   I could see Stevie D. being a positive for Carthage. 

[AndOne]

And while I'm on a rant against the CCIW office--Where is the sense in scheduling any of the conference basketball teams to have to play their final three games in a row on the road? With teams fighting for the conference championship or to make the conference tournament at the end of the season, why would you want to handicap any team in that manner? There is absolutely no reason why the schedule has to be set up like that. Again, it's just plain stupid. Next year I hope the guy who makes up the schedule takes his head out of you know where before he starts working on it. 

Next season's schedule has already been constructed, Mark. And, hoo boy, is it going to generate a lot of controversy. You can expect to see all nine CCIW squads play either two or three league games next December, specifically on Saturday the 3rd, Wednesday the 7th, and Saturday the 10th. That will come as quite a shock to those of you who've been expecting the CCIW to revert back to the old way of doing things when it was a nine-team league, in which each team played only one CCIW game in December. However, this new schedule has been designed for the purpose of apportioning home Saturday dates equally among all nine teams -- which means that extra Saturdays are needed, which means either two or three CCIW games apiece in early December.

All of us intimately familiar with the inner workings of the conference knew long ago that that there would be at least 2 conference games in December beginning next season. At NCC, we discussed the possibilities before formal practice even started back in October. Its not the December conference games I have a problem with. Its making a team play THREE away games in a row at any time during the season, but especially the last three conference games. Thats putting a team at a competitive disadvantage when the situation could easily be avoided. There is no excuse for such incompetency.

[AndOne]

And while I'm on a rant against the CCIW office--Where is the sense in scheduling any of the conference basketball teams to have to play their final three games in a row on the road? With teams fighting for the conference championship or to make the conference tournament at the end of the season, why would you want to handicap any team in that manner? There is absolutely no reason why the schedule has to be set up like that. Again, it's just plain stupid. Next year I hope the guy who makes up the schedule takes his head out of you know where before he starts working on it. 

Maybe it's because Carthage is the northern-most team geographically, but going back to the beginning of the Bosko era, I don't see three consecutive road games to end the season in the CCIW.  I haven't gone back and looked at the rest of the league, but it does seem to be a bit irregular.

Although I agree with AO's sentiment, this type of scheduling has happened in the past.  In the 2013-14 season, Augie finished with 4 of 5 games on the road to end the CCIW regular season.

And even though I can't be accused of being an Augie fan, that was just plain wrong.

[AppletonRocks]

I'm pretty sure the IWU faithful and the powers-that-be at IWU will stick with Coach Rose, through thick and thin.  Yes, a tough year, hit by injuries, and the team not really coming together as we all wished, hoped, but don't see any evidence that the program is in disarray.  Lots of talent there, lots of guys waiting for their chance to make a mark for the program, for IWU.  In fact, I think in the next few years, things will be just fine. 

IWU'70

I hope Coach Rose knows I am praying for him.

[GoPerry]

Like most players, especially those at the D3 level, Jagger has his deficiencies. However, there is possibly one player in the conference, and I doubt many within the Division, who can drive through most of the opposition and finish as spectacularly as Mr. Anderson.

The one CCIW player who can "possibly" do that has a nice picture from last night that's attached to the NPU @ WC gamer on the NPU men's basketball page. It shows him splitting three Wheaton defenders and releasing a shot while flying through the air at a 45-degree angle. Yeah, I'd say that he can "possibly" drive through most of the opposition and finish as spectacularly as Mr. Anderson.

That wasn't even his best one which was near the end of the game where he drove the lane and flipped the ball practically over his head for a lay-in . . .

[toooldtohoop]

Like most players, especially those at the D3 level, Jagger has his deficiencies. However, there is possibly one player in the conference, and I doubt many within the Division, who can drive through most of the opposition and finish as spectacularly as Mr. Anderson.

The one CCIW player who can "possibly" do that has a nice picture from last night that's attached to the NPU @ WC gamer on the NPU men's basketball page. It shows him splitting three Wheaton defenders and releasing a shot while flying through the air at a 45-degree angle. Yeah, I'd say that he can "possibly" drive through most of the opposition and finish as spectacularly as Mr. Anderson.

That wasn't even his best one which was near the end of the game where he drove the lane and flipped the ball practically over his head for a lay-in . . .

He certainly had his "touch" going last night.  And to our friend izzy's points....all is not well on a number of fronts in SADville.  But the good news is that at least we are not saddled with Ron Rose as our coach! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, I apologize for my intemperate personal attack on iiwwuu - I was over the line to attack a person I do not know (nor want to know).  I just reread all 8 of his posts.  Every single one is an attack on Ron Rose (Coach Rose is a big boy; I'll give him a partial pass on this, however misguided).  However, 6 of his 8 were also personal attacks on Brady Rose (probably would have been 7, but Brady was out for the season before iiwwuu's latest appearance) - that is NOT acceptable.

I will accept that he is not a 'troll' in the Appleton Rocks sense, but he rather obviously has an ax to grind.  He is well beyond what I would call a 'dissenter'.  I am proud to call myself a dissenter in many areas.  But dissent which is not tethered to reality is delusion, not dissent.  iiwwuu is much closer to a 'conspiracy theorist' (Ron Rose is destroying the team by favoritism to his son) than a 'dissenter'. 

[WUPHF]

Not a dissenter, but an internet troll in every sense of the phrase.

In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into ...

[iwu70]

Gotta agree with Ypsi on this one.  Thanks WUH.  I'm all for free speech, even when highly objectionable, intemperate, unorthodox  and all that. I have very thick skin.  But, clearly a troll. 

I'm sure the IWU program will be just fine and the Titans will bounce back into the top ranks of the CCIW in time.  You can't have a grand and glorious year every single year.  Coach Rose and the Titans have had a pretty good run -- as documented and posted by several earlier.  This current team suffered a couple of key injuries with Rose and Marietti, Coyle was out for time etc.  Plus, this group never really found its identity and consistency.  They have been pretty poor on defense most of the year, down in those stats quite a bit.  So, sadly, we're likely to see 7-7 or so, and perhaps even 12-13 overall.  Could happen.  I'm sure Coach Rose and the returning players will commit to turning things around in the coming 2-3 seasons.

IWU70

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Old nine game schedule

Began December 1967, ended when Carroll left the league

Carthage and Carroll made southern trips, but rarely together

IWU, Millikin and Augie made northern trips, rarely together

In January and February there were usually league games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Wheaton played it's mid week home games on Tuesday nights so as not to interfere with mid week Wednesday night services that were popular at local churches at that time.

DGP CCIW PD 1978-1995

[voxelmhurst]

Speaking of coaches,  I know Grey will most likely get the COY award if Augie finishes in first (which most likely will happen now that NC couldn't help us out     ),  but I would give John Baines some consideration for COY too.  He has put Elmhurst back on the map. 

Elmhurst looked "ok" last night, though IMO seemed to play down to the level of Carthage.  This effort IMO, won't get in done  vs. NPU or NC coming up.

10 seniors who can all play will do that to a program too.

Elmhurst has 9 seniors, not 10. 

I think Baines has done as good of a job as anyone could have asked so far. The team has a shot at going to the national tournament two years in a row for the first time in school history. I'd be equally impressed if he can guide Elmhurst to a CCIW tournament in 2017 or 2018 given how many seniors he's losing after this season.

[havej]

For what it's worth DP nailed the old scheduling format

Back in the 70s we played at Carthage on a Friday then went to Carroll on Saturday.  From what I can remember, Carroll did not play the night before, so no travel partner.

We always hosted Carroll on Saturday and never played the night before. 

Even had a few Thursday league games - but I remember those being in December.