MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

It appears former Wheaton head coach Bill Harris is not so retired...

http://indiabasketball.org/newsdetails.php?id=254

Many times I have come onto this site (and this board in particular) and seen links to things I couldn't have imagined.

This may have topped the list.


I had to read it two or three times to see if it wasn't, in fact, talking about the state to our East, not the most populous nation-state in the world!

Leaving home to coach basketball in Indiana would be the equivalent of bringing coal to Newcastle. And it'd be a completely unremarkable career move. Leaving home to coach basketball in India? That's another deal entirely.

You're right, PS. This is an unusual and fascinating story. Best of luck to Bill in his new endeavor. I have no doubt that he will have great success over there.

Thanks for the link, USee.

[Titan Q]

Here is how my Top 25 ballot looks at this point...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4097.5670


I have both IWU and Carthage in the top 6.

[hopefan]

TQ.. curious how you might feel about Wash U....... A solid 4-sum returns, even though none have been full time starters... each have had their shining moments in Big Time Games.....   I speak of Toth, Knepper, Richter, and Gay... plenty of inside work there, and Knepper is a good perimeter shooter, Richter goes to the hole as well as anyone....  Add to that what appears to be a solid frosh class that includes two or three people who could help immediately.  I've got great confidence in Coach Mark Edwards..... if he can find SOMEONE to play the point......

[Titan Q]

TQ.. curious how you might feel about Wash U....... A solid 4-sum returns, even though none have been full time starters... each have had their shining moments in Big Time Games.....   I speak of Toth, Knepper, Richter, and Gay... plenty of inside work there, and Knepper is a good perimeter shooter, Richter goes to the hole as well as anyone....  Add to that what appears to be a solid frosh class that includes two or three people who could help immediately.  I've got great confidence in Coach Mark Edwards..... if he can find SOMEONE to play the point......

I think Wash U probably has Top 25 personnel, but I will not put them in my preseason Top 25 ballot.  Just too much turnover (4 starters including 2 All-Americans) when there are so many other teams out there that return 3-4 starters from good teams.

Also remember with some of those returning players, the presence of Sean Wallis and Aaron Thompson helped them tremendously.  We'll need to see how the new Wash U nucleus does without the great group they lost.

And I do think they have plenty of good options at PG...all young and inexperienced, but some very talented options.

[Titan Q]

Very sad to pass along news that legendary broadcaster Art Kimball passed away yesterday.  I don't have any details yet, but I do know he had not been doing well lately.


Here is a nice video tribute WJBC put together a couple years ago, when Art became the first winner of the Illinois Broadcasters Association's "Broadcast Pioneer Award"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNVs2I_jJk


And an article from the Pantagraph at that time...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/high-school/article_076cf600-bd8f-5f17-8cab-0fa7f82c4a23.html

"The booming baritone voice is his calling card. Hear it, and you know Art Kimball is in the room, or in the ballpark, or in the city limits."


And a little vintage Art Kimball audio, from a 1979 Illinois State/Indiana State game (featuring Larry Bird)...

http://wjbc.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=83ZI6ih%2fC%2bQ%3d&tabid=8304


Art, a 1955 graduate of DePauw, loved Division III basketball.  After years as the voice of the U. of Illinois Illini, ISU Redbirds, and IHSA state tournament (among several other broadcast jobs), he ended his career as the Voice of the Titans...something he did for the love of the game.  I remember those last few seasons he worked and he just absolutely loved being around Scott Trost and the players.

I will never forget the 4 seasons I spent with Art, riding up and down I-55, and to places like Ashland, Virginia, Wooster, Ohio, and Hanover, Indiana.  He was a great man and will really be missed.

Please keep Art's wife Mary Lou and the rest of his family in your thoughts and prayers.

[Titan Q]

Found some audio of Art Kimball doing play-by-play of the final 3 minutes of an IWU/Carthage thriller on January 22, 2003...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/endcarthageiwu.mp3


Art's voice and style was just extremely unique.  He was a great broadcaster. 

[Titan Q]

Elmhurst roster posted...

http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

All 5 of the guys listed below are on the roster, plus a couple other freshmen.  I think there are also a few transfers, at least two of which seem to be immediate impact players...

* (G) Sean Fendley (Sr), 6-1 G (3rd Team all-CCIW at Carthage in 2008-09)

* (F/C) Steve Crane (Jr), 6-7/235 (scholarship player at D2 Lewis...did not play last year)

http://www.lewisflyers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/crane_steve00.html

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...

Elmhurst
* Sam Ficker (6-0 G, Jerseyville H.S.) - 17.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
* Andy LePard (6-7 C, Beecher H.S.) - ?  
* Raphael Oglesby (6-3 F, Prairie State JC) - 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg  
* Justin Phipps (6-5 C, Lyons Township H.S.) - 8.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg  
* Nick Sanford (6-5 F, Decatur St. Theresa H.S.) - 18.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg  

[Titan Q]

Here is the obituary for Art Kimball, with details of arrangements.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/obituaries/article_78561e64-d656-11df-8008-001cc4c002e0.html

[Gregory Sager]

* (G) Sean Fendley (Sr), 6-1 G (3rd Team all-CCIW at Carthage in 2008-09)

Interesting. Rumor had him going to Aurora to finish out his career, but I guess that the lure of playing at the higher level won out, even though Aurora's program is currently in a better situation than Elmhurst's.

Circle February 9, 2011 on your calendars, folks. That's the day that the Bluejays will be visiting Carthage, as Fendley returns to the gym where he spent three seasons as a Red Man. Given the fact that it's highly unusual for a CCIW basketball player to play for two different schools in this league in his career, plus the rather unpleasant circumstances which led to Fendley's departure from Carthage College a year ago, one would have to think that emotions will be running high in Tarble Arena that night.

[AndOne]

Elmhurst roster posted...

http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

All 5 of the guys listed below are on the roster, plus a couple other freshmen.  I think there are also a few transfers, at least two of which seem to be immediate impact players...

* (G) Sean Fendley (Sr), 6-1 G (3rd Team all-CCIW at Carthage in 2008-09)

* (F/C) Steve Crane (Jr), 6-7/235 (scholarship player at D2 Lewis...did not play last year)

http://www.lewisflyers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/crane_steve00.html

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...

Elmhurst
* Sam Ficker (6-0 G, Jerseyville H.S.) - 17.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
* Andy LePard (6-7 C, Beecher H.S.) - ?  
* Raphael Oglesby (6-3 F, Prairie State JC) - 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg  
* Justin Phipps (6-5 C, Lyons Township H.S.) - 8.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg  
* Nick Sanford (6-5 F, Decatur St. Theresa H.S.) - 18.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg  

Very interesting.

Fendley, as TQ points out and many of us will remember, was an all conference performer in 08-09. Shortly after school began last fall he was involved in an altercation at an off campus party in which I understand he severely injured the other party involved. As a result, he was dismissed not only from the Carthage basketball team, but from school. There was a rumor Fendley would be facing a civil suit in addition to the criminal charges filed by the police. Not sure if this happened. A couple of different well placed sources told me that it was surprising that his temper did not result in such an incident earlier in his career.
There was some question regarding the possibility of his playing for Aurora this season as Aurora Coach Lancaster was known to covet his services, and he was seen at at least one game at Aurora last season.
He has been a high percentage long range shooter who is particularly effective from the deep corners, especially from the left side, both during his high school days and his career at Carthage. While at York HS, he teamed with now fellow EC guard Joe Acosta to form a very potent duo. 

Steve Crane, formerly of D2 Lewis and, like Fendley, a product of York HS, began to emerge as a HS junior and followed that up with a solid senior season following which he received his scholarship from Lewis. However, after his arrival at Lewis U, he seemed to hit the wall so to speak in that his development became rather stagnant. In summer league action in Des Plaines before his freshman season, and I believe also prior to his soph season, he was frequently outplayed by shorter, lighter D3 players. He also developed a fondness for playing (ineffectively) away from the basket rather than underneath where he had proficiently displayed his talents at York. He quickly fell out of favor with Coach Trost at Lewis, and never saw much playing time. I believe, if pressed, Coach Trost would agree that Crane's ability to play at the D2 level was a reach at best, and D3 was where he should have been all along. Given the general lack of contribution from any bigs for EC last year, I'm sure Mr. Crane will be given a substantial opportunity by Coach Scherer this season.   

[Titan Q]

Another article on Art Kimball, this by Randy Kindred...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/columnists/kindred/article_a4886a4a-d67a-11df-ad25-001cc4c002e0.html

[Titan Q]

Carthage roster...

http://athletics.carthage.edu/roster.aspx?path=mbball

All 5 guys below are on the roster, plus 8 other freshmen (13 total freshmen)...and looks like a transfer sophomore and junior.

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...



Carthage
* Nick Bauch (6-7 F/C, Rockford Boylan H.S.) - 11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg
* Nick Kladis (6-0 SG, Hinsdale Central H.S.) - 18.7 ppg  
* Marlon Senior (6-4 SF, Niles North H.S.) - 14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg   
* Scott Suchy (6-1 G, Genoa-Kingston H.S.) - 21.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg
* Kevin Sykes (6-2 G, Lincoln-Way North H.S.) - 8.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg  

[Titan Q]

Augustana roster...

http://www.augustana.edu/x20344.xml

The 7 guys listed below make up the freshman class.

Unofficial list of CCIW recruits (6/24/10)...


Augustana
* Curtis Allbaugh (6-0 G, North Crawford H.S., Ferryville, WI) - 22.2 ppg  
* Sam Calcagno (5-10 PG, Mayo H.S., Rochester, MN) - 11.2 ppg, 2.4 apg
* Sean Finn (6-2 PG, Assumption H.S., Davenport, IA) - 10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.0 apg
* P.J. Killean (6-3 G, Maine South H.S.) - 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.1 apg
* Austin Lusson (6-1 G, Lyons Township) - 8.2 ppg, 2.4 apg
* Sam Savaglio (6-1 G, Tremper H.S., Kenosha, WI) - 12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg
* Kevin Schlitter (6-8 C, Maine South H.S.) - 13.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg (JR season)

[Gregory Sager]

I've heard the same thing about Crane. "Immediate impact player" might be a stretch to describe him; it depends upon how you define "impact player," I suppose. Not everybody who gets a D2 scholarship really deserves one, in the sense of that particular player being too good for D3. As Mark says, Crane's got a great chance to step in and start right away at size-starved Elmhurst. I don't think that Mark Scherer really wants to relive last season's ordeal of starting a 6'3, 190 center, and unless one of the three bigs who played JV last year (Erik Dornfeld, Doug Small, and Rich Thomas) has dramatically improved or the other big who transferred in (6'7 sophomore Jahbril Scott, who was on the roster for NAIA-2 Berea College last year) is better and is also a center-only player, it looks as though it's Crane's job to lose.

[Titan Q]

Art Kimball broadcasts the 1985 Monon Bell game...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU2zRD4YGGQ&feature=player_embedded#