MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CCIW >]

Very interesting discussion on recruiting over the last week and wanted to add an interesting observation I made. 

Correct me if I am wrong, but NCC had a recruiting class in 2010 that featured Vince Kmiec, Charles Rosenberg, Jack Burchett, Aaron Tiknis, Landon Gamble, Pat Rourke, CJ Goldthree (I hope you all can remember the high energy 2 guard who left after his sophomore year) and Brandon Williams (didn't arrive until the following year after attending a JUCO)... Sometimes you can pin point what it takes to recruit someone, and other times it is just luck that guys show up and develop ahead of the curve.. 

Can anyone think of one recruiting class that tops what NCC pulled in all at once in 2010? 

[Gregory Sager]

I can think of several:

* North Park's Class of '80 included Michael Harper, Modzel Greer, and Keith French (who joined the class after beginning his career at a juco). They won three national championships; Harper was a multi-year All-American, NABC National Player of the Year, and a three-time CCIW MOP, while Greer was a four-time All-CCIW player (three times first team) and French was the 1980 D3 tourney MVP; all three were drafted by the NBA; and Harper played for the Portland Trailblazers for two years.

* North Park's Class of '85 included Justyne Monegain (2,000-point scorer, All-American, and CCIW MOP), Ernie Hubbard (1985 D3 tourney MVP; he, too transferred in), Lars Anderson (1985 All-CCIW first-teamer), and fellow starters Johnny Kuehn and Adam Lazich. These five players were the heart of the team that won the 1984-85 national title.

* North Park's Class of '88 included Michael Starks (All-American and 1986-87 CCIW MOP), Mike Barach (All-American and 1987-88 CCIW MOP), both of whom arrived in 1985-86 as sophomore transfers, and Dan Mulkerin (multi-year All-CCIW player, including first-teamer in 1986-87). This trio made up the dominant portion of the 1986-87 national championship team.

And that's just off of the top of my head. If you want me to branch out to other CCIW schools, I could go on all day (Elmhurst's Class of '01, Carthage's Class of '02, Wesleyan's Class of '06, etc.).

[Naperick]

I can think of several:

* North Park's Class of '80 included Michael Harper, Modzel Greer, and Keith French (who joined the class after beginning his career at a juco). They won three national championships; Harper was a multi-year All-American, NABC National Player of the Year, and a three-time CCIW MOP, while Greer was a four-time All-CCIW player (three times first team) and French was the 1980 D3 tourney MVP; all three were drafted by the NBA; and Harper played for the Portland Trailblazers for two years.

* North Park's Class of '85 included Justyne Monegain (2,000-point scorer, All-American, and CCIW MOP), Ernie Hubbard (1985 D3 tourney MVP; he, too transferred in), Lars Anderson (1985 All-CCIW first-teamer), and fellow starters Johnny Kuehn and Adam Lazich. These five players were the heart of the team that won the 1984-85 national title.

* North Park's Class of '88 included Michael Starks (All-American and 1986-87 CCIW MOP), Mike Barach (All-American and 1987-88 CCIW MOP), both of whom arrived in 1985-86 as sophomore transfers, and Dan Mulkerin (multi-year All-CCIW player, including first-teamer in 1986-87). This trio made up the dominant portion of the 1986-87 national championship team.

And that's just off of the top of my head. If you want me to branch out to other CCIW schools, I could go on all day (Elmhurst's Class of '01, Carthage's Class of '02, Wesleyan's Class of '06, etc.).

Wow!  Some good stuff, there.

Is that even possible today in D3 basketball?  I think around 350 schools play D1 basketball now compared to 275 when the 'Flyin' Illini made the Final 4 in 1989.  That is around 900 more D1 scholarships.  Those great North Park recruiting classes from the 1980's seem nearly impossible to beat these days.  It's a different era.

Maybe I'm missing something?

[CCIW >]

The class of '80 seems like a coaches dream!!

Clearly a class like that is unheard of in today's world.. Would be interested to hear about some other recruiting classes within a similar era to 2015.  I'm sure the IWU faithful can expand on the class of '06 you mentioned...

Thanks for the info, Greg.

[markerickson]

Tuned in just prior to halftime and see a nearly empty Elmhurst gym.  Is that typical?  One can hear the sneakers above the crowd.

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst 89
North Park 49

Vikes crash to earth in a big way. Glad I didn't get to see this disaster.

[Viking Blue]

I was excited to head over to the North Park game at Elmhurst and see the Vikings play for the first time this year, as well as meet up with a former baseball colleague who is now on EC's staff.

Yikes.

At least it was a short drive.

[Titan Q]

Final:

Augustana 82
IWU 56

* Ben Ryan: 12 pts, 7 reb
* Jawan Straughter: 11 pts, 6 reb
* Hunter Hill: 11 pts, 3 assists
* Brandon Motzel: 11 pts, 5 reb
* Nic Hoepfner: 10 pts, 5 reb

* Alec Bausch: 10 pts, 7 reb
* Dylan Overstreet: 8 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists

FG: Augie 54%, IWU 34%
Reb: Augie 44, IWU 30

The Vikings were just simply outstanding on both ends of the floor...and IWU was not.  For 40 minutes, Augie was the aggressor and the Titans just simply on their heels.

Augie did the following things really well tonight:
* Put a lot of pressure on Dylan Overstreet bringing the ball up the floor.
* Made it very hard for IWU to enter the ball to the low post.
* Stayed in attack mode offensively the entire game.
* Took the fight to the Titans.

Augie looked awesome tonight, wow.

[iwu70]

Augie outplays IWU in almost every aspect tonight, playing tough D esp. on the perimeter, shooting a very high percentage and out rebounding the TITANS.  This one was over early and the TITANS could never get back into the game.  Titans shoot it very poorly tonight, but lots due to AC defense.   A big disappointment to lose so badly at home in such an important game.

Congrats to Augie on an outstanding game and game plan.

All tied up in the CCIW race at 9-3, with two games to go. 

Yes, NPU crashes back to earth.  Pretty clear now the CCIW tourney will be IWU, AC, EC and NCC.

Still more basketball to be played.

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Pretty clear now the CCIW tourney will be IWU, AC, EC and NCC.

Wrong, Mark. Nothing is settled yet. NPU can still get into the tourney if it wins its final two games (vs. IWU and @ NCC) and North Central loses its final two (@ EC and vs. NPU), since NPU would own the h2h tiebreaker over the Cards.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 65
Carthage 61

Dang. A Red Men upset would've been sweet from my royal-blue-and-gold point of view.

[Titan Q]

The Titans need to forget this ugly mess and find a way to win the final two (@ NPU, vs Elmhurst) - a CCIW title for this IWU team would be huge.

Big game Saturday in Chicago.

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton 70
Millikin 67

WC avenges the earlier 40-point loss at the Griz.

[iwumichigander]

Augie deserved the win and won every statistical category except FT% including best trick horse shot (s) of the night!
Titans dug a hole early on, kept digging it deeper, got  within 3 and then it all fell apart.  You take the game film for this game and throw it away.

[Titan Q]

In the event of an 11-3 tie, Augustana wins the tie-breaker over IWU.  Augie looks very good right now to host the CCIW tournament.