MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[dansand]

Augie considers eastern Iowa part of its recruiting base

...On that topic, Augie gets a commitment from George Dexter (6-6, 200), another Bettendorf (IA) High School product. Bettendorf has an outstanding program coached by former Viking Kevin Skillett, who was first team All-CCIW as a freshman before finishing his playing career at the U. of Iowa. Dexter's the sixth BHS player and the eighth from the city of Bettendorf that Augie's gotten in the last six years. Having seen him play several times, he's a kid that's willing to mix it up inside and also has the ability to face up. He got off to a bit of a slow start this year, but really played well the second half of the season. A real nice addition to this year's recruiting class.

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=434190

[usee]

USee--I was mainly considering the Wheaton teams of fairly recent vintage. I think now that Harris had them on the right track, the winning record is fairly likely to continue. The only thing that could derail the train would be a horrendous choice for head coach, and that probably won't happen.

Again, I think that this assumption is naive and completely unfounded. I have to again stress that the CCIW is a highly competitive men's basketball league in which no quarter is asked and no quarter given, every year, both on the court itself and in terms of recruiting. Just ask North Park, whose five-time-national-championship program fell apart when Bosko Djurickovic left (and has yet to recover), or Augustana, whose national-power program went south in a big way when legendary coach Jim Borcherding was replaced by a coach (Jim Leix) who couldn't cut the mustard on the CCIW level. In fact, you don't need to look any further than Illinois Wesleyan and the last few seasons; IWU's uncharacteristic struggles in the second division in recent seasons are in large part due to its previous coaching staff easing up on the throttle in terms of recruiting, but that recruiting downturn would not have been relevant if the league wasn't so darned competitive that no program can afford to rest upon its laurels for even one recruiting cycle. Plus, the influence of Bill Harris upon the Wheaton program will begin to decline the moment it becomes somebody else's baby, and it will continue to decline from there, so the idea that his level of achievement will be passed on to his successor by osmosis is not warranted.

You're dreaming if you think that Wheaton can just hire any old coach and still keep winning. It just doesn't work that way in the CCIW. There are eight sharks in this tank, and any one of the eight that releases blood into the water will be devoured.

Spot on Greg. North Park is a great example of the penthouse to outhouse analogy but perhaps even more appropos is Wheaton themselves. They had an elite program in the 1950's under Lee Pfund and then went through a rough period in the 1970's and 80's including a stretch of 17 season's with only 3 winning records in conference play. Bill Harris put Wheaton basketball back on the map and to think it will continue without significant effort and talent is indeed naive.

[Gregory Sager]

Augie considers eastern Iowa part of its recruiting base

...On that topic, Augie gets a commitment from George Dexter (6-6, 200), another Bettendorf (IA) High School product.

Boy, Dan, did I set that one up for you on a tee, or what?

Also, a word on the whole evangelical school/Wheaton recruiting topic. It seems to me that most of the other evangelical schools are NAIA institutions. Is that a safe assumption? If so, that puts Wheaton in an even tougher spot because those schools can offer athletic scholarships.

When I was replying to Above The Rim yesterday, I did a quick mental run-through of evangelical schools, and I came to that conclusion about NAIA membership as well. While there are a few evangelical schools in the D3 ranks -- NPU, Wheaton, Messiah, Bethel MN, Eastern, Gordon, Greenville, Eastern Nazarene, among others -- and a few in D2 (Palm Beach Atlantic, Abilene Christian, etc.), it seems that the preponderance of them are NAIA members: Taylor, Houghton, Mid-America Nazarene, Judson, Trinity International, Grace, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Roberts Wesleyan, Westmont, Biola, Azusa Pacific, Malone, Cornerstone, Bethel IN, Olivet Nazarene, etc. Most NCCAA Division 1 members that have dual affiliations have that second affiliation with the NAIA.

However, this does not mean that Wheaton or any other D3 evangelical school is necessarily at a disadvantage when it comes to recruiting against those NAIA schools. NAIA programs have limits placed upon them in terms of how many full scholies they can offer, and as a result most of them split their full rides into partials. Lots of them finance a number of basketball scholarships well below that permitted limit, and many of them don't offer scholies at all. In short, NAIA schools aren't necessarily superior to their D3 counterparts in basketball. The best evidence of this is in the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA room under the Multi-Regional Topics header. Every season Rhodes Scholar compiles results in that room for every game that D3 teams play against non-D3 competition. He's done it for six or seven years now, and in every season but one D3 has won the season series against NAIA Division II (the division which includes most of NAIA's evangelical schools).

I doubt that Wheaton has to recruit much against Judson or Trinity International or Taylor or most other NAIA-2 schools. They're just not on the same level as the CCIW in most sports. NAIA evangelical schools that have high-powered, Wheaton-level basketball programs such as Cornerstone, Bethel IN, and Olivet Nazarene are the exception rather than the rule.

[augiefan]

Keep the good news coming Dansand. Another guy with a little size is a good get for Augie.

Speaking of Kevin Skillet, there are lot of what ifs to be considered had he stayed at Augie rather than getting garbage time at Iowa. Kevin would most likely have been on a DIII national championhad he stayed at Augie,, as he would have been a star on the Kirk Anderson lead Augie team that lost by 3 points in the champioship game Buffalo. NY in 1993. I think they lost to Ohio Northern.

Kevin also made headlines as a student at Augie, when he helped save some folks from a burning building near the Augie campus. At least I think that was the situation. Dansand might recall the specifics, but I know he was involved in an act of heroism during his one year at Augie.

[dansand]

Augie considers eastern Iowa part of its recruiting base

...On that topic, Augie gets a commitment from George Dexter (6-6, 200), another Bettendorf (IA) High School product.

Boy, Dan, did I set that one up for you on a tee, or what?

Thanks Greg.

Keep the good news coming Dansand. Another guy with a little size is a good get for Augie.

Speaking of Kevin Skillet, there are lot of what ifs to be considered had he stayed at Augie rather than getting garbage time at Iowa. Kevin would most likely have been on a DIII national championhad he stayed at Augie,, as he would have been a star on the Kirk Anderson lead Augie team that lost by 3 points in the champioship game Buffalo. NY in 1993. I think they lost to Ohio Northern.

Kevin also made headlines as a student at Augie, when he helped save some folks from a burning building near the Augie campus. At least I think that was the situation. Dansand might recall the specifics, but I know he was involved in an act of heroism during his one year at Augie.

We've speculated before on what might have been had Skillett stayed at Augie:

It's interesting to speculate on what the '92-93 team would have looked like had Skillett stayed. Since he started as a freshman, he almost certainly would have still been starting as a junior, meaning either defensive stopper Tom Wise or, amazingly, Kirk Anderson, would have been coming off the bench (which Anderson did as a sophomore, playing behind the freshman Skillett). Wise was a tremendous defender, always assigned to the opponents' best offensive player, and a solid threat from behind the arc as well (.424). It's all meaningless speculation, but it's fun to wonder.

I've always basically taken it as a given that if Augie had retained Skillett's services they'd have a national championship banner hanging in Carver. Skillett was that good. I still give him the ever-so-slight nod over Kent Raymond in the dominant-freshman-CCIW-guard sweepstakes.

But, then again, you never know. Chemistry is a weird thing. It's possible that the other Doggies never would've developed their games to the extent that they did if Skillett had stuck around as the main attraction.

I agree Greg.

I think Skillett was the first freshman to earn first team All-CCIW since Jesse Price for Millikin in the mid-sixties (And the conference saw an awful lot of GREAT players during those 25-or-so years). He was a terrific player (and a great kid). But that '92-93 team had excellent chemistry and bunch of guys that fit perfectly into their roles. Who knows how the dynamics would have been changed.

While I would have loved for him to stay, in fairness, he got more than garbage time at Iowa. He was in their regular rotation for two years and was even an occasional starter.

Your recollection of the fire incident is about the same as mine. Unfortunately, I don't recall any more of the specifics.

[dansand]

Speaking of Kevin Skillet, there are lot of what ifs to be considered had he stayed at Augie rather than getting garbage time at Iowa. Kevin would most likely have been on a DIII national championhad he stayed at Augie,, as he would have been a star on the Kirk Anderson lead Augie team that lost by 3 points in the champioship game Buffalo. NY in 1993. I think they lost to Ohio Northern.

Kevin also made headlines as a student at Augie, when he helped save some folks from a burning building near the Augie campus. At least I think that was the situation. Dansand might recall the specifics, but I know he was involved in an act of heroism during his one year at Augie.

OK, since Augiefan asked (and the board is really slow), here's a little follow-up on the Kevin Skillett fire rescue story. This is straight from the best source I know of, Dave Wrath, who also offered up his take on what if Kevin had stayed at Augie.

"Here is the Kevin Skillett rescue story. It was a Saturday in February and we were playing at home that night. I think it was either North Central or Millikin but I can't recall for sure. He had gone back to East Moline or Silvis to get his hair cut. He was driving back to Carver for the pre-game shoot-around when he passed a house/apartment building on Route 92 in East Moline. There was smoke coming out of the top floor and Kevin stopped his car and basically ran into the building and pulled three little kids, still in their pajamas, out of the building. Mom and dad were nowhere around and, while it is conjecture, Kevin probably saved those kids' lives. Kevin played poorly that night and it was not until after the game that his dad told me what had happened.

Kevin was (and still is) a very nice young man. Lots of speculation down through the years about what might have been if he had stayed. I really don't know because I really don't think that Kirk (Anderson) and Kevin would have been a great combination because they were basically the same type of player. During that year (1990-91) Kirk did not start much while I think Kevin started every game. Steve (Yount) did not use them at the same time very often."

[augiefan]

A more dramatic rescue than I had recalled. I agree that Kirk might never have come into his own with Kevin at Augie, but I guess we'll never know. Kevin was probably an all around better player than Kirk, but Anderson coul;d shoot the lights out. Between the 2 of them they probably could have put 4 more points on the board for Augie in that championship game.

[AO]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

[petemcb]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

I've met very smart students before, but never a very smart campus.  I'm sitting here just trying to imagine how your karma ever got into a nether-region that I have never seen.  Dennis, your work is cut out for you.  Have at it.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

I've met very smart students before, but never a very smart campus.  I'm sitting here just trying to imagine how your karma ever got into a nether-region that I have never seen.  Dennis, your work is cut out for you.  Have at it.

I have him a +1, but really Pete, this guy's karma requires devine intervention - perhaps if we got Billy Graham to issue an altar call to d3 board members everywhere....

[CCIWchamps]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

I've met very smart students before, but never a very smart campus.  I'm sitting here just trying to imagine how your karma ever got into a nether-region that I have never seen.  Dennis, your work is cut out for you.  Have at it.

I have him a +1, but really Pete, this guy's karma requires devine intervention - perhaps if we got Billy Graham to issue an altar call to d3 board members everywhere....

Or apparently just contacted the student body of Northwestern...

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

I've met very smart students before, but never a very smart campus.  I'm sitting here just trying to imagine how your karma ever got into a nether-region that I have never seen.  Dennis, your work is cut out for you.  Have at it.

I have him a +1, but really Pete, this guy's karma requires devine intervention - perhaps if we got Billy Graham to issue an altar call to d3 board members everywhere....

Or apparently just contacted the student body of Northwestern...

+K for you, too - but what are you going to do if (when) Wheaton doesn't win the league title next year - you'll have to switch school allegiance - or switch your name.

dgp

[AO]

trust me, I've earned every bit of negative karma. now that we've got that out of the way, how about responding to the content of my post?

[CCIWchamps]

I've known more than a couple athletes who were considering Northwestern, bethel, and wheaton as their top 3.  and while wheaton may have been billy graham's alma mater, he was a former president at Northwestern and he will soon have the new student center named after him.  furthermore, if you have noticed wheaton praying at center court after their games, where do you think they got that from?  wheaton might as well be a satellite campus for northwestern--albeit a very smart satellite campus.  wheaton schmeaton.   

I've met very smart students before, but never a very smart campus.  I'm sitting here just trying to imagine how your karma ever got into a nether-region that I have never seen.  Dennis, your work is cut out for you.  Have at it.

I have him a +1, but really Pete, this guy's karma requires devine intervention - perhaps if we got Billy Graham to issue an altar call to d3 board members everywhere....

Or apparently just contacted the student body of Northwestern...

+K for you, too - but what are you going to do if (when) Wheaton doesn't win the league title next year - you'll have to switch school allegiance - or switch your name.

dgp

Ha.   I'm stuck with Wheaton and that's fine by me.  I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen with the new coach and the new recruits.  It's the start of another chapter and I'm hoping it does well to carry on the recent basketball tradition of Coach Harris.  My name will be a constant reminder of the glory that was 2008-2009 until the time they win it again.  Can you switch names?  Maybe CCIW3rdPlace?

[sac]

Someone help my peabrain, which Northwestern are we talking about?