MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[April]

I want to thank all of you for the excellent jobs you are doing in relating the games. 

I also want to say thanks to all the posters since Dennis started it. It's nice having AndOne in the rotation of posters as it adds an informed poster from another school that we haven't had a ton of great posters from. It's also nice to have quality Wheaton student posters. It really adds to the diversity of quality game reports available, which in turn makes the season so much easier to follow. I am having a hard time being so far for what will likely be Wheaton's best season in a looong time, and all of your reports make it a little easier.

Thank you sweat lady.
Actually, I've been around for about 2 1/2 years, but I never say anything inflammatory or controversial in any manner, nor do I have many strong opinions, so I'm easy to miss. Also, being the only real NCC basketball poster on here, its easily for the legions of fans of some of the other schools to dismiss my rantings and/or "overpower" me with rhetoric.   

I know you've been around for a while. But your posts contiunally less controversial and more cogent as time passes.

The current Top 25 poll is so silly. 

[thunderstruck88]

...BTW, anybody know if Andy Wiele's going to play Wednesday?

It's not likely. If things suddenly improve with his recovery, he might play. At the best he's a game-time decision.

[AndOne]

Regarding Raymond's discussions with officials, I'd have to say I agree 100% with Sager.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that there were several calls which went his way on Saturday night which clearly should have gone in the opposite direction.  However, I can't believe that anyone in the gym (with the exception of the player given the foul) was all that suprised when the calls came down.  Top players are, historically, given the benefit of the doubt from officials.  I've never agreed with it, in any sport, but it is what it is.

On the other hand, I did notice Raymond complaining quite a bit to officials, and once again agreeing with Greg, the question I think we have to ask is, "Why would he ever stop?"  Clearly, Raymond is a player who knows exactly how far he can push an official before it is time to back it down.  Remember....it's always much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

At least he does much of his own bitching. Even though he conveniently forgets to mention his leading forearm, Stevie D from Carthage is not slouch when it comes to complaining to officials about getting fouled. AND, he has his dad, who is even more vociferous, backing up up to constantly harass the refs into "phantom" foul calls on the defenders. But, as Greg and Viking Blue suggests--If it works, why change the act?   

[AndOne]

It was nice to see Roshawn Russell's confidence appear to return.  You could almost see it begin to slowly come back throughout the course of the game.  During the first half, there appeared to be several open looks that he let go by.  However, by the end of the game, he began attacking the basket again.  Hopefully, this will open up the outside shot for him down the road.

Sean McNamee has been a pleasant surprise.  In speaking to one of his former Lake Forest coaches, he's a very good kid who deserves a shot to compete, and he seems to be making the most of his chances.

All said, the future is brighter for North Park than maybe the results this year will ultimately indicate.

Viking--

In the NPU-NCC game, I felt Russell was initially confident and aggressive. Then suddenly, after a few missed shots, turnovers, etc., he seemed to lose confidence and become more tentative. Perhaps this is due to his freshman status, lack of experience, and the usual freshman need to "feel his way" in his first CCIW campaign? His potential is very high. I would recommend his going on a diet consisting of just a little more fat, and/or spending a little more time in the weight room. As a human matchstick, he is a very good candidate for the orthopedic ward following his treatment for multiple blunt force trauma and fractures.

I know Sean McNamee pretty well, and also think he is a great kid. His parents are top notch people too. Mrs. McNamee is a very cool lady, and his dad is a particularly
knowledgeable basketball fan and good guy.

[AndOne]

Last night was the first time I felt like Kent went a little overboard with the officials. Maybe it was the small gym, but I could hear him a lot more than usual. I was sitting opposite the Wheaton bench in the third row and at one point in the second half he shot a 3 right in front of me, followed by a loud "come on ref!" He probably got hit on the play, but I think it would have been better to let it go.  A lot of times he's probably justified in his complaints, but most officials don't react well to being chirped at. Part of the thing with Kent is that teams are naturally going to play physical D on him, so he gets beat up quite a bit during games--a lot of which is not called. For the most part he is good at just playing through it and the last couple of games he has lit it up in spite of being pushed around all 40 minutes.

If he's tired of "being pushed around all 40 minutes", I'm sure the rest of the conference would be happy to see him sit as many minutes as he needs to, to compose himself. 

It looks like the CCIW is even less physical than the ASC!

Ralph---

I think you could pick up a lot of action on that theory should you care to place a bet or two. Overall, the CCIW is a very physical place to play.

For instance--Do you think North Central of the CCIW beat McMurry just because they scored more baskets?

[Gregory Sager]

Regarding Raymond's discussions with officials, I'd have to say I agree 100% with Sager.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that there were several calls which went his way on Saturday night which clearly should have gone in the opposite direction.  However, I can't believe that anyone in the gym (with the exception of the player given the foul) was all that suprised when the calls came down.  Top players are, historically, given the benefit of the doubt from officials.  I've never agreed with it, in any sport, but it is what it is.

On the other hand, I did notice Raymond complaining quite a bit to officials, and once again agreeing with Greg, the question I think we have to ask is, "Why would he ever stop?"  Clearly, Raymond is a player who knows exactly how far he can push an official before it is time to back it down.  Remember....it's always much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

At least he does much of his own bitching. Even though he conveniently forgets to mention his leading forearm, Stevie D from Carthage is not slouch when it comes to complaining to officials about getting fouled. AND, he has his dad, who is even more vociferous, backing up up to constantly harass the refs into "phantom" foul calls on the defenders. But, as Greg and Viking Blue suggests--If it works, why change the act?

Bill Harris isn't exactly shy himself about sticking up for Raymond when he thinks that The Franchise ought to get a call. The reason why he wasn't mentioned earlier in this discussion is because Raymond himself is such a persistent and obvious complainer on the court, and that was the point that Mark Erickson originally raised.

Pretty much everyone who follows the league and has seen Carthage play over the past year and a half knows that Bosko works the refs like a K Street lobbyist when it comes to putting Steve D. on the FT line. But I think that it's unfair to bring his parental relationship with Steve into the matter. Bosko would be browbeating the stripes for forty minutes on behalf of his superstar even if said superstar's name was Steve Smith or Steve Jones instead of Steve Djurickovic. There are older CCIW refs who swear that Bosko is still trying to get them to send Mike Barach to the line again, 21 years after Barach graduated from North Park.

[usee]

There hasn't been an NCC update this year!  Does anyone know what has happened to AndOne?

You woke the sleeping giant.....

[AndOne]

On a slightly unrelated note, if you came a little bit late to the NPU/Wheaton game, you might of had the opportunity to see a car engulfed in flames across the street just behind the student parking lot.  Quite the sight.
Any NPU folks know the story behind that?

Probably a tailgate party that got out of hand.

....or one of those weekly Covenant Church bonfires.  Let's face it--North Park has done a great job hiding its reputation as a party school for over 100 years, but it appears as though word is finally starting to leak out.

Rage against the machine, and sin and corruption along the banks of the North Branch!      

[usee]

Regarding Raymond's discussions with officials, I'd have to say I agree 100% with Sager.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that there were several calls which went his way on Saturday night which clearly should have gone in the opposite direction.  However, I can't believe that anyone in the gym (with the exception of the player given the foul) was all that suprised when the calls came down.  Top players are, historically, given the benefit of the doubt from officials.  I've never agreed with it, in any sport, but it is what it is.

On the other hand, I did notice Raymond complaining quite a bit to officials, and once again agreeing with Greg, the question I think we have to ask is, "Why would he ever stop?"  Clearly, Raymond is a player who knows exactly how far he can push an official before it is time to back it down.  Remember....it's always much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

At least he does much of his own bitching. Even though he conveniently forgets to mention his leading forearm, Stevie D from Carthage is not slouch when it comes to complaining to officials about getting fouled. AND, he has his dad, who is even more vociferous, backing up up to constantly harass the refs into "phantom" foul calls on the defenders. But, as Greg and Viking Blue suggests--If it works, why change the act?

Bill Harris isn't exactly shy himself about sticking up for Raymond when he thinks that The Franchise ought to get a call. The reason why he wasn't mentioned earlier in this discussion is because Raymond himself is such a persistent and obvious complainer on the court, and that was the point that Mark Erickson originally raised.

It doesn't appear to me that Bill Harris is any different with the officials now than he has been for most of his career at Wheaton.

[Gregory Sager]

It doesn't appear to me that Bill Harris is any different with the officials now than he has been for most of his career at Wheaton.

I don't think that he is, either, at least in terms of volume or frequency of complaints. But it's more focused than usual on behalf of one particular player (Raymond), and when you think about it it's pretty easy to understand why. After all, Raymond is: a) the team's superstar; and b) the team's primary ballhandler and a player who specializes in driving to the basket. The same thing applies to Bosko's verbal exertions on behalf of Steve D., because Steve D. fits the same description above for Carthage that Raymond fits for Wheaton.

Rage against the machine, and sin and corruption along the banks of the North Branch!      

Part of North Park's mission is to serve the needs of the city in which it is located ... and "sin and corruption" are to Chicago what spicy food and floods are to New Orleans.

Still, if I see any NPU students starting automobile bonfires right about now, my first thought is that they're doing it for warmth rather than kicks.

[AndOne]

IWU just got dominated at the Shirk Center in the 2nd half.  The Titans go from contenders to pretenders in a hurry. Very disappointing.

I am not sure the word pretenders is accurate or fair, though I have been having this gnawing feeling like IWU (and really everyone in the CCIW) has been ranked higher than warrented by their roster and record. However, this is still a very good team that has put in a decent showing this season (even just being Wheaton's closest game this season by far is a big deal!), and they will only get better. I am sure IWU will be back to it's annoying place of perpetual excellence in coming seasons. In the meanwhile, as I have been following these statistical ratings: http://talismanred.com/ratings/hoops/divisioniii.shtml... IWU has been down at 40th or so the whole time they were ranked in the Top 25. Fortieth sound about right to me. While they're obviously over ranked, they're still a good squad and a serious threat as they become more experienced this season.

While surprised at IWU's early ratings, I do think Titans have the pieces to be a Top 25 team. I can't get too stressed over the loss to Wheaton; whoops, I should more correctly write the loss to Raymond.  IWU should not have lost on their own home court to NCC.  IWU is simply better than that.

Iwumich----

IWU was out coached, out played, and out hustled by a supposedly "inferior" team Saturday night. They have to do more than just walk out on the Shirk Center hardwood to win the game! No dispute here that IWU is a good team however, on that particular night, they weren't better than "that." They lost to a team that executed better and wanted it more. If they continue to allow themselves to be outplayed like that, it won't be the last home loss the Titans suffer this season.

[paularmerding]

I don't know how to paste all those tidy little excerpts into my reply, and you don't have an email address in your profile (April) so forgive me for using the forum for answering personal questions.  The last trip we were able to afford was to Sierra Leone in 2005.  I'm digging around my backyard looking for diamonds, gold, oil, or even scrap metal to help pay off the 4 college educations we are almost finished with, so there has not been much left for international travel.
DGP--next time you're in the Gorge, call.  I'm in the phone book.  We love houseguests.  That applies to anyone on this forum really. Just be warned that you won't want to leave, so we can only give you a week or so before my wife will kick you out. The fires are part of the ongoing adventure--almost every summer we have some kind of fire along one side of the Columbia or the other that burns a few acres and closes down the highways.  I'm surprised they let the train through when you were traveling. 10 days ago we had 30 inches of snow on the ground. By tomorrow afternoon I will have played 3 rounds of golf in 50 degree weather.  Mt Hood is only our view to the south, out of our back door.  To the north, out the front door we see an even higher snow-capped peak, Mt. Adams, on the Washington side.  I still can't believe I get to live here.
Mr. Berki, I work in The Dalles, Medical Director for almost all of the out-patient clinics in town, so if you're visiting and get sick, I'll come, hold your hand, and we can have healing conversations about D3 sports.

[paularmerding]

Dennis, as I re-read your post, that fire was probably at a lumber yard on the Washington side (Bingen, WA) that extends out on a large spit of land into the river.  The Columbia is over a mile wide at Hood River, and there really isn't a lumber yard or mill on the OR side.  The wind can really howl in the Gorge, wind-surfing and kite-boarding capital of the US, but I'm not aware of any fires that have been able to jump the river in this area.

[AndOne]

There hasn't been an NCC update this year!  Does anyone know what has happened to AndOne?

You woke the sleeping giant.....

And even though I've only been up for a little bit, I've already pissed someone off enough to ding me. Of course it would be to much to ask the unknown manly man to dispute what I wrote and show me where I was wrong.

[Gregory Sager]

There hasn't been an NCC update this year!  Does anyone know what has happened to AndOne?

You woke the sleeping giant.....

And even though I've only been up for a little bit, I've already pissed someone off enough to ding me. Of course it would be to much to ask the unknown manly man to dispute what I wrote and show me where I was wrong.

Are there any Naperville cops out there who have achieved the 200-post threshold?