MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[thundermike]

Thundermike,
                     How much did Andy step up his game against NCC? As I wrote Andy had problems with smaller build and shorter players, he was slower,agility wasn't there,and against more physical players he was average. I'm basing that off games in person and DVD's

This pointless debate has gone on far too long my friend. I'm obviously not going to change your opinion so it's not worth trying. I guess I'll just have to live with the fact that there's someone who cannot (or refuses to) see that Andy Wiele is a great player. I will again defer to the "name a team who wouldn't want him" line since you have still failed to do so.

[dansand]

Congratulations to all the Midwest All-Region selections from the CCIW:

Kent Raymond, 1st team, Player of the Year (shocking!)
Steve Djurickovic, 1st team
Brent Ruch, 1st team
Andy Wiele, 2nd team (uh-oh, here we go)
Chris Drennan, 3rd team
Tim McCrary, Rookie of the Year

[thundermike]

Congratulations to all the Midwest All-Region selections from the CCIW:

Kent Raymond, 1st team, Player of the Year (shocking!)
Steve Djurickovic, 1st team
Brent Ruch, 1st team
Andy Wiele, 2nd team (uh-oh, here we go)
Chris Drennan, 3rd team
Tim McCrary, Rookie of the Year

All are very deserving. Congratulations!
It's nice to see Tim McCrary get recognized for his great season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I was surprised (certainly not displeased, but surprised) that Steve D. beat out Sean Wallis for first team.  Anyone else?

[dansand]

I was surprised (certainly not displeased, but surprised) that Steve D. beat out Sean Wallis for first team.  Anyone else?

Someone might argue that it was Aaron Thompson that beat out Wallis.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I was surprised (certainly not displeased, but surprised) that Steve D. beat out Sean Wallis for first team.  Anyone else?

Someone might argue that it was Aaron Thompson that beat out Wallis.

You may be right - I hadn't noticed that d3hoops broke their usual policy of clearly distinguishing between guards and forwards, and having teams made up as 2-2-1.  I tend to think of Thompson as a 3, but they do list him as a G.

[Jim Matson]

What a great streak of basketball weekends at Wheaton!  I thoroughly enjoyed the CCIW Tourney and the first and second round of the NCAAs.  In the sectionals, the Puget Sound/St. Thomas game was interesting and a bit odd, while the Wheaton/Wash U. game was thrilling, yet frustrating.  On Saturday, watching Wash U. dismantle St. Thomas in the second half was enough for me to feel fairly confident that Friday night's second game might have been the national championship game.

Looking back, the game against Elmhurst was one of my favorite.  The Blue Jays brought a loud fan base and the game went down to the last two minutes - and featured two teams that knew each other well.  With all of the seniors in the Tourney - Augie, Elmhurst, North Central, and Wheaton - I feel like we are seeing a real strong generation of CCIW players moving on and leaving some great memories for alums and fans alike.

I wish Wash U. the best of luck in the Final 4 - especially as the representative from the bracket of death.  The Bears are a solid team with some real special players.  They'll do well - and they deserve to.

[titan2000]

I was surprised (certainly not displeased, but surprised) that Steve D. beat out Sean Wallis for first team.  Anyone else?

Thought Ryan Kroeger might get first team but Thompson is a beast.

[Pat Coleman]

You may be right - I hadn't noticed that d3hoops broke their usual policy of clearly distinguishing between guards and forwards, and having teams made up as 2-2-1.  I tend to think of Thompson as a 3, but they do list him as a G.

The voting for those three guards was so far and above the rest of the guard field that it seemed appropriate to use what little leeway I have in listing the teams to put all three on the first team.

[Mr. Ypsi]

You may be right - I hadn't noticed that d3hoops broke their usual policy of clearly distinguishing between guards and forwards, and having teams made up as 2-2-1.  I tend to think of Thompson as a 3, but they do list him as a G.

The voting for those three guards was so far and above the rest of the guard field that it seemed appropriate to use what little leeway I have in listing the teams to put all three on the first team.

Thanks, Pat, but that raises a new puzzle:

I'm absolutely stunned that Sean Wallis would be far and [below] anyone!

I don't view him as 'far below' even Kent Raymond, who (I imagine you've noticed! ) I'm touting for national POY.

[Above The Rim]

Congrats to all the CCIW players who made All-Region

*With regard to the Ruch vs Wiele controversy above, I think that over the course of their respective 4 year careers, you will find Brett Ruch somewhat slightly outplayed Andy Wiele. Wiele made tremendous strides in his junior and senior seasons, but was not as significant a contributor in his 1st 2 years as was Ruch. Overall then, Ruch's career rates the nod over Wiele's. I think the difference is most discernible on the defensive side of the ball where Ruch was more often a force, while I saw Wiele virtually disappear on a few occasions. Additionally, this seems validated by Ruch's election to the All-Region 1st team as opposed to Wiele's 2nd team selection.

* Unless its because the team members were picked by position, I have a hard time comprehending how Chris Drennan only makes 3rd team All-Region after being elected to the CCIW All-Conference 1st team while Andy Wiele makes 2nd team All-Region after only being 2nd team All-CCIW.

*The fact that Chandlor Collins' name is missing from the All-Region team reinforces that his selection to the 1st team All-CCIW squad was an aberration.   

[wheaton.thunder]

I concur, Kent Raymond for National POY. Can you tell us who the other candidates are?

[Scrub023]

The argument regarding Andy Wiele never was about who was better between him and Ruch. It was about whether or not Wiele was a great player, which is reinforced by his selection to the 2nd team all region team.

[wheaton.thunder]

Wheaton College men's basketball head coach Bill Harris announces his retirement

3/18/2009 2:35:49 PM

Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College head men's basketball coach Bill Harris has announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of the 2008-09 school year. Harris has served 18 seasons as the head coach at Wheaton, compiling a record of 320-148, with a 68.4% winning percentage and a 157-97 (61.8%) record in CCIW play. He is sixth all-time in conference history with 157 career league wins. During his 24-year career as a collegiate head Harris has compiled a record of 447-209 for a 68.1% career winning percentage. Harris guided Wheaton to 26-4 record this season and an 11-3 record in CCIW play. The Thunder won its ninth CCIW Championship in school history and its third conference crown under Harris. Wheaton also picked up its first-ever CCIW Tournament Championship this year.

Harris said of his decision, "The time is right to do this. As it says in Ecclesiastes, 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun". Harris added, "I have been blessed to be able work with so many wonderful people and so many outstanding Christian athletes."

In his time at Wheaton Harris has recorded more 20-win seasons than any coach in school history, with seven. His 320 wins at Wheaton is the second-highest total ever for a Wheaton men's basketball coach, behind only Lee Pfund's 361 career wins at the school. Under Harris' leadership Wheaton has appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament six times and the program has produced 10 All-American selections and has had a player recognized as the CCIW's "Fred Young Most Outstanding Player" six times under his guidance.

Wheaton Athletic Director Tony Ladd said of Harris, "Bill has served this institution and the department quite well during his tenure here. He has put the men's basketball program in a position where it has continually enjoyed consistent success, culminating in two consecutive NCAA Division III Sectional appearances. Bill is a phenomenal recruiter, who brought exceptional players to Wheaton and he has been able to mold those young men into formidable teams through the years." Ladd concluded, "Even more important that what he accomplished on the basketball court, Bill was able to mentor young men into disciples of Christ first."

[sac]

I have to say I didn't expect that.  Let me be the first to congratulate Bill on a fine career at Wheaton.  I've been lucky to have seen a number of his teams over the years.  Its always been a pleasure to watch his Wheaton teams compete.