MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Brick]

No, I in no way shape or form think winning at ALL COSTS should include illegal means...What I was trying to say was that a team needs a coach that is not going to worry about what other people think, and will do everything to fire his/her team up, be that by yelling instructions to them while the other team is shooting free throws, getting in a players face, maybe even pounding a fist into their chest (come on guys (and girls) these are NCAA Collegiate athletes they have plenty of muscle in their chests to take a little blow from the coach), or getting the big T to show their team that they are behind them ... After seeing the major problems in the professional ranks, and in top tier DI programs I would never condone the use of illegal means to help ones team!

[sac]

So I'm watching the HS game on tv between Loyola and North Central and it occured to me I thought I read that a poster's kid played for Loyola Academy.

Am I off base here?

[Titan Q]

This is the first time I have seen the Jordans play.  Recently I was told by someone who knows college recruiting at all levels that, in reality, Jeff is no better than a 1st Team All-CCIW caliber player (as a junior or senior in college).  He felt that his Division I offers (Loyola, Illinois State, etc) were the result of his last name. 

Watching one half of a game on TV is certainly not enough to form a final opinion, but it sure looks to me like he is right.  As a high school senior, is Jeff Jordan better than Rick Harrigan or Keelan Amelianovich were as seniors?  I saw both, and it's not really even close.  Those two had to be accounted for everywhere they were on the floor -- they dominated games.  Jordan averages 12 ppg.

I go to a lot of Illinois State games here in town, so I see some great Missouri Valley teams, like Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, etc. -- I just do not see Jeff Jordan playing at that level.  I do not think he is as talented as Brandon Holtz - a sophomore at ISU from Bloomington H.S. - and Holtz only plays about 5 minutes per game.

Would Jordan be the M.O.P. in the CCIW as a senior?  I'm not sure.

All this said, those two are really first-class young men.  Imagine the pressure they've been under as basketball players ever since they were little kids.

[diehardfan]

So I'm watching the HS game on tv between Loyola and North Central and it occured to me I thought I read that a poster's kid played for Loyola Academy.

Am I off base here?

Tonight at 6:00pm (CST) on ESPN2, Loyola Academy (20-0) takes on North Central H.S. (10-3) of Indianapolis -- a nice little Chicago/Indy pre-Superbowl matchup now that I think about it.   Loyola, of course, features Michael Jordan's two sons...

I mention here because about 5 or 6 CCIW schools seem to be on Loyola's steady little point-guard D.J. Glavan.  A chance to scout a potential future CCIW player on national TV.

Lol Scott! The idea of Bob having a kid in HS is as funny as MJ reading Posting Up!

[BRLHSFAN]

Jaybird, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your comments on Elmhurst and especially that you always have something nice to say about Ruch.  Like I've said previously, he's a great kid and I love listening to the games and when I get to see them play after listening and can put more faces with the names heard over the internet it means more the next game I get to listen to. 

Can't wait till Saturday night at IWU and hopefully Brent will play like last year.  He just dominated against them last year as a freshman so I'm sure he'll have another great game as he's playing well this year.

You going to be at the game Saturday night jaybird?  We'll all be there in a huge group.  As far as I know I'll be sitting in the area of his parents like last year, but if something changes I'll let ya know. LOL

[Titan Q]

So I'm watching the HS game on tv between Loyola and North Central and it occured to me I thought I read that a poster's kid played for Loyola Academy.

Am I off base here?

I think you are referring to this post.....

Recruiting:  which Raridon was busy at last night.  Prospect High School was playing state-ranked Loyola Academy in the semifinals of the Wheeling Hardwood Classic  -  an excellent game by the way..........Loyola had to work as hard as they've worked all season for a 78-70 victory.....only going 7 deep.  Anyway, Raridon was talking to Loyola's senior point guard, D.J. Glavan, generously listed at 6' in the program, after the game.  He is a very impressive point guard who understands his role on a team that features Senior Jeff and Sophomore Marcus Jordan (yup, MJ's kids), Joe Suhey (yup again, Matt's kid who will be the fourth Suhey generation to play football at Penn State next season) and two 6'5" guys (Sr. Peter Sullivan and Jr. Rob Belcore) who could all play in the CCIW.  This is a solid, highly-ranked team. Glavan is a strong, fast, confident floor general who does a nice job of running the team, only taking/making shots that present themselves within the flow of the offense, rebounds well for a guard his size and gets the ball up the floor in a hurry.  He works hard on the defensive end of the floor as well.  He would be a nice pickup, and would seemingly fit nicely into Raridon's style of coaching. 

If any CCIW fans get the chance, you should check out Loyola at some point this season.  They have at least seven players who would be right at home playing in the CCIW.  They will be in the tournament championship at Wheeling HS tonight, playing Stevenson at 8:45, with the 3rd place Prospect-Stevenson battle at 7:15.  Due to strong local support and the opportunity for an MJ sighting (he comes to every game), you'd be advised to show up for the 7:15 game.  It was a packed house last night and will be again tonight.

[tjcummingsfan]

I stand by what I said.  Typical tough guy response, "men don't need role models."  Poor.

[AndOne]

ATTENTION:

It seems like we've lost Augie2000 and gained a Brick in his place!   

Brick---Did the name change necessitate a trip to the County Courthouse or do you
have connections?   

[Brick]

Nope...I just have some connections   ... all joking aside I have been trying to change the name to Brick for awhile, and I could never get the system to accept the name...

I'm not trying to have "tough guy" responses, this is just the way that I was raised...my father coached both basketball and football, I've watched coaches yell, scream, and even physically touch their players.  I've played football for coaches like Coach G...I once had a coach kick me from behind because I was walking back to the line.  Did I view this person as a role model?  No, but I did realize that he was a good coach, and he was right I shouldn't have been walking back to the line...

Everyone is too quick to jump all over a coach or player for their on court personalities, when they have never talked with or seen that coach/player outside of the gym....

[markerickson]

Yes, Coach GG wins.  I didn't question his coaching ability, but in the 20+ years attending CCIW games, I had not seen something similar to what I witnessed last night.  I am mildly surprised by the number of posts pertaining to the punch, but I wonder what goes on during practice.

If Augie and Elmhurst make the tourney, neither will win a game.

Regarding the Jordans, sophomore Marcus, the younger, is taller than his brother.  At this point I do not believe Marcus has DI ability.  The older might make a D3 squad.  I read that Matt Suhey's kid is going to Penn State.  Wow.  That completely surprises me.  My cousin's son was a teammate and I do not see the younger Suhey as a legit DI prospect.

The younger Suhey and younger Jordan would do well at NP.

[Mr. Ypsi]

If Augie and Elmhurst make the tourney, neither will win a game.

Are you talking CCIW tourney, or national?  CCIW, perhaps.  National, remember the CCIW teams usually get a cupcake before the real tourney begins.

Regarding the Jordans, sophomore Marcus, the younger, is taller than his brother.  At this point I do not believe Marcus has DI ability.  The older might make a D3 squad.  I read that Matt Suhey's kid is going to Penn State.  Wow.  That completely surprises me.  My cousin's son was a teammate and I do not see the younger Suhey as a legit DI prospect.

The younger Suhey and younger Jordan would do well at NP.

Yeah, but can their dad's afford d3 tuition?

[wheels81]

Lovie and Tony in the superbowl
no cussing/no shouting/ just a lot of smiling
I think the only reason Grey was under control at Wheaton game was he was winning most of game and it took almost 10 minutes before his coat came off.

[OurHouse]

I have seen the Jordans play - Marcus is better than Jeff - Jeff is playing D1, AA because of his dad. He is no better than the best of the DIII talent and not even close. In fact, he would be better at DIII but not good enough for the CCIW. Maybe a softer conference and yes, he is a NON-IMPACT garbage player   

Marcus is more intense and plays like he wants to play - he is probably a better D1 candidate and not a garbage player     

[veterancciwfan]

Augie 22 (a/k/a "Brick") in describing Giovanines' "success" during his 7+ years as Augie's coach:  "dominating coach"  "done wonders for Augie"

Everything is relative. From a factual analysis, your favorite CCIW coach has taken his school to ONE NCAA tournament. There are a few CCIW coaches and ex-coaches whose accomplishment on this measure of "success" is a lot better than Giovanine's during the same 7-year time span. I recall an ex-CCIW coach who spent 5 years in the league during the last 7 full years who took his team to the D3 tourney 4 out of 5 years. And I think the present coach at Carthage also has a better record in this area than Giovanine does. 

Knarocky 22 quote: "The way he treats his players is amazing."

I assume you are not including the ones he promised as high school seniors that they would start (although NCCA rules prohibit 10 players on the floor at once), didn't, and left Augustana.

[Sideliner]

Regarding the IWU/NCC game at Shirk: It is mindboggling to me how a team that was so good last year and had so many talented juniors returning could go downhill to the extent NCC obviously has this year. NCC looked listless. IWU played an excellent first half and a poor second half and still won by 14. NCC played poorly both halves, scoring only 23 in the 1st half and 28 in the second. Can any NCC fan explain what the reason is for NCC's collapse this year? In my opinion, they are the biggest disappointment in the league, even more so than IWU.

NCC's collapse; hmmm, a weighty subject indeed.  This is my opinon...........

Last year's edition of the Cardinals featured the five starters and Chris Drennan.  They got the lion's share of the playing minutes, especially once CCIW play began.  The five starters had played together for three years, the last two of them together as a starting unit.  By the end of the last season, those six players had melded together into a nice basketball team, peaking exactly at the right time.    That team defeated both Elmhurst and Auggie at the end of the season and then bested Elmhurst and Wesleyan in the conference tournament.  Both starting guards have since graduated.

North Central entered this season with two senior guards that saw limited playing time last year, two freshman guard candidates, and the seasoned front line (other players continue and more freshman have joined the program, however this first group has become the mainstay of this year's North Central varsity team).  I believe that a part of the difficulty with this year's edition of the NCC Cardinal team is getting enough time playing to meld into a cohesive unit like last year's team was able to do (that was a two to three year program).  

Talented and capable they are as a team.  Auggie came to Naperville and the Cardinals went toe to toe with them for forty minutes.  The game was decided on an Adam Krumtinger shot at the buzzer that missed. (my heart wants me to whine about the "no call", but my brain is in charge and it knows better – if  you don't want the game to be decided by a call (or a no call in this case) don't allow yourself to be in that position).  But as a basketball fan, I'd pay to see that game again.     A second example is the NCC at Elmhurst game last week.  For three quarters of the game, it was akin to the Auggie game.  A toe to toe, head to head, hard fought contest.   With about seven minutes to go in the game, the officiating crew started to affect the outcome.   If you take away the three technical fouls (six points, not gimme's by any means, the Elmhurst players had to make the shots) it puts the ballgame at about 8 points.  Also, three out of the four NCC big guys had fouled out in that same period of time (hmmmm); even if you don't whine about the officiating, one can make an argument that if all four of the NCC big men were allowed to finish the game, that game would have been a mighty fine contest to watch, win or loose.    Ok, that's two games.

Anybody who only saw Wednesday's game in Bloomington would call me nuts for my previous paragraph. The Cardinals turned the ball over 15 times in the first half alone; with less than four minutes to go in the first half, NCC only had 13 points on the scoreboard.  The second half was not quite as bad for the Cardinals, but what a contrast to the Auggie or Elmhurst performances.    The rest of the season has been somewhere in between those extremes; up and down performances in games and from game to game.  

The NCC coaching staff must be scratching their heads, looking for an answer.  

Clearly, the Cardinals are capable of making another run in the CCIW conference tournament.  It will be an uphill battle for them at this point, but it will all come down to their collective performances in the second half of the CCIW season.  They need to prove that they can compete together for forty minutes in each remaining game.  If they can't prove that, they will be watching other teams play in the CCIW post season tournament.