MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Smitty Oom]

I wondered about Coach Slyder's intention of sitting Lake and Kirby for too much against Carroll.  I did not watch the IWU debacle, but have read the Coach used the same tactic.  I am opposed to open tryouts because upperclassmen Lake and Kirby deserve through their dedication and performance at least 30mpg.

I agree 100% with this take. The seniors should be able to finish their career with the minutes they deserve. They put 4 years of hard work into the team, with early morning lifts, conditioning, extra shots up, and then they get minutes siphoned away for a freshman who might not come back/quit/never blossom. Plus, no one likes losing, even if the season is going no where. I get that you want the freshman and sophomores to gain experience but I think there is a solid balance, where you can play your seniors (Lake and Kirby) 30 minutes and give young guys a chance to flash.

If the starters weren't playing becasuse it was a blow out with not a lot of time remaining thats a different thing. But both Mark and Greg made it sound more like tryouts then benched at the end of a blow out.

I've only played and never coached, so I may have a very biased view point.

[duckfan41]

I wondered about Coach Slyder's intention of sitting Lake and Kirby for too much against Carroll.  I did not watch the IWU debacle, but have read the Coach used the same tactic.  I am opposed to open tryouts because upperclassmen Lake and Kirby deserve through their dedication and performance at least 30mpg.

I agree 100% with this take. The seniors should be able to finish their career with the minutes they deserve. They put 4 years of hard work into the team, with early morning lifts, conditioning, extra shots up, and then they get minutes siphoned away for a freshman who might not come back/quit/never blossom. Plus, no one likes losing, even if the season is going no where. I get that you want the freshman and sophomores to gain experience but I think there is a solid balance, where you can play your seniors (Lake and Kirby) 30 minutes and give young guys a chance to flash.

I've only played and never coached, so I may have a very biased view point.

That bias you hold is legitimate though. Lake and Kirby have dedicated their college experiences to this game, and have excelled in their respective roles for NPU basketball. It would be one thing if they were both poor basketball players, but they are the best players on that team, and it's really not all that close. Lake is an absolute workhorse, and he has to be to overcome his height disadvantage against everyone he plays. Those two should get to play as much as they so desire after everything they've given to that program over four years.

I do understand getting the young-bucks experience, but to diminish the minutes of two players of their caliber just doesn't seem right to me. I played as well and harbor the same bias, but don't see a problem with it because if you're a senior leader, and the best player on your team, you should be on the floor. I was never the best player on my team, but you get what I mean.

[iwu70]

Wash U beat Emory on Sunday. 

'70

[lmitzel]

Carthage's Brad Kruse won CCIW Player of the Week honors after helping lead the Red Men to the win on Saturday over Augie.

[mwunder]

Congrats to Brad Kruse for being named CCIW player of the week for his efforts at Rock Island this weekend.

The Red Med start off the second half of the slate the same way they started off the first half with a huge, tremendous, road win.  Let's hope they don't peak here and keep the CCIW race interesting.

Hustle, free throw shooting, and second chance points (ie, rebounding and capitalizing on those chances) won this game.  If Carthage shoots their season average at the line, they lose this game.

Offense was struggle city in the middle of the first half, but they found a way to stay out front for most of the game.  They answered every run that Augie threw at them.  I'm hoping they can carry this momentum into Wednesday night's contest.

[AndOne]

I wondered about Coach Slyder's intention of sitting Lake and Kirby for too much against Carroll.  I did not watch the IWU debacle, but have read the Coach used the same tactic.  I am opposed to open tryouts because upperclassmen Lake and Kirby deserve through their dedication and performance at least 30mpg.

I agree 100% with this take. The seniors should be able to finish their career with the minutes they deserve. They put 4 years of hard work into the team, with early morning lifts, conditioning, extra shots up, and then they get minutes siphoned away for a freshman who might not come back/quit/never blossom. Plus, no one likes losing, even if the season is going no where. I get that you want the freshman and sophomores to gain experience but I think there is a solid balance, where you can play your seniors (Lake and Kirby) 30 minutes and give young guys a chance to flash.

I've only played and never coached, so I may have a very biased view point.

That bias you hold is legitimate though. Lake and Kirby have dedicated their college experiences to this game, and have excelled in their respective roles for NPU basketball. It would be one thing if they were both poor basketball players, but they are the best players on that team, and it's really not all that close. Lake is an absolute workhorse, and he has to be to overcome his height disadvantage against everyone he plays. Those two should get to play as much as they so desire after everything they've given to that program over four years.

I do understand getting the young-bucks experience, but to diminish the minutes of two players of their caliber just doesn't seem right to me. I played as well and harbor the same bias, but don't see a problem with it because if you're a senior leader, and the best player on your team, you should be on the floor. I was never the best player on my team, but you get what I mean.

A coach can't demand that his players like him, but he can demand that they show him respect.
Likewise though, while a player can't demand any certain amount of PT, he should be able to count on being respected by his coach.
If you're an upperclassman AND the best, or in the case of Lake & Kirby, the two best players on your team, you have earned, through both your dedication (all the hours you put in) and your level of skill (your efforts have done the most to put your team in a position to win), the utmost degree of respect from your coach.
In the specific case of Lake & Kirby, you have 2 guys who have put in countless hours working to get both their school and their coach the most wins possible. From a basketball standpoint, they are the individuals most responsible for promoting and advancing the brand and name recognition and the reputation of both the school and the coach.
When Coach Slyder sits them in the name of "open tryouts" for next season, he disrespects the dedication and efforts they have put forth on behalf of the school whose name they have proudly worn on their chests while battling to win for their team and school.
There will be plenty of time for "open tryouts" for next season during both the spring and fall open gym periods—the time after this season ends until the end of this school year, and the time between when school starts again in the fall and when formal practice starts on Oct 15th—and also during next fall's actual formal practice.
Coach Slyder has the right to run his team as he sees fit. However, it seems that in instances such as this when a coach disrespects the players he demands respect him, the legitimate question of who would want to play for a guy who treats his most dedicated and best players like that, certainly seems valid.
In the case of a senior, when the buzzer sounds at the end of the season's last game, his competitive basketball life is effectively over. All things end in time, but until then, if a player has earned it, he should be able to fully enjoy the fruits of his labors.

[tjcummingsfan]

Re: Lake and Kirby.

I have zero insider knowledge, so this is pure speculation from someone who has both played and coached team sports.  What if this is something Colin and Billy are intentionally doing for the team moving forward?  What if, these two guys are so bought in to a team they have poured countless hours in to, that they are willing to sit for huge chunks of games, so that the program improves for next year?  Maybe this was an honest and open conversation Coach Slyder had with both young men.  I may be completely wrong, but I think there are multiple ways to look at this.   

[kiko]

New poll has Augie at #9 with 368 points and Illinois Wesleyan at #14 with 279.  That's a 197 point swing, so... yay, progress?

Stevens Point and Platteville both ascend from ORV onto the main stage, so there are now -- count 'em -- five WIAC schools in the top 25.

[lmitzel]

New poll has Augie at #9 with 368 points and Illinois Wesleyan at #14 with 279.  That's a 197 point swing, so... yay, progress?

Obviously I'm not a fan of either program, but I'd assume an average gap of about 3-4 places difference is at least somewhat palatable for our green-clad friends. I'm still really curious for next Wednesday to see how the regional rankings shake out, especially with how the WIAC looks.

[AndOne]

Re: Lake and Kirby.

I have zero insider knowledge, so this is pure speculation from someone who has both played and coached team sports.  What if this is something Colin and Billy are intentionally doing for the team moving forward?  What if, these two guys are so bought in to a team they have poured countless hours in to, that they are willing to sit for huge chunks of games, so that the program improves for next year?  Maybe this was an honest and open conversation Coach Slyder had with both young men.  I may be completely wrong, but I think there are multiple ways to look at this.   

If Lake & Kirby requested or agreed to being sat down in favor of "open tryouts" for next years squad, then there is no argument, and its a moot point.
However, to request being benched for someone who may not even return next season seems like a fairly remote possibility. Additionally, keep in mind that although Lake, in particular, was a very good player last season, he took a back seat to Henry, and to Robinson. This is his time to shine and be recognized. He is going to voluntarily request that time be curtailed?

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll has Augie at #9 with 368 points and Illinois Wesleyan at #14 with 279.  That's a 197 point swing, so... yay, progress?

Obviously I'm not a fan of either program, but I'd assume an average gap of about 3-4 places difference is at least somewhat palatable for our green-clad friends. I'm still really curious for next Wednesday to see how the regional rankings shake out, especially with how the WIAC looks.

IF IWU wins in Rock Island (yeah, the gym is actually in Moline!) on Wednesday, and Augie is STILL ranked higher next week, some voters need to be fired!

BTW, lmitzel, a 3-4 place average gap in FAVOR of IWU would be palatable - the gap the other way is still reflecting last year and pre-season expectations at the expense of THIS season's reality.

[iwu70]

Sorry, but don't really get the voters in the D3 poll this week.  Augie, after what has gone down recently, loss to Carthage on their home floor, is not a top 10 team, this year.  IWU should be above them given the clear outcome of game #1 in conference play.  Big game this week, for sure.  I hope the Titans really put it to them on their home floor and settle this error once and for all.

Yes, nice to see the TITANS up to #14. 

'70

[Yogao]

IF IWU wins in Rock Island (yeah, the gym is actually in Moline!) on Wednesday, and Augie is STILL ranked higher next week, some voters need to be fired!

Where in Moline is the game being played on Wednesday, or is this some long time running joke newbies wouldn't recognize?

[WUPHF]

I was going to ask the same thing because Carver is definitely not in Moline.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IF IWU wins in Rock Island (yeah, the gym is actually in Moline!) on Wednesday, and Augie is STILL ranked higher next week, some voters need to be fired!

Where in Moline is the game being played on Wednesday, or is this some long time running joke newbies wouldn't recognize?

I was going to ask the same thing because Carver is definitely not in Moline.

My apologies if I was (am) misinformed.  While Augie is definitely in Rock Island, my understanding was that Carver was just across the city line in Moline.

Perhaps I'm mixing things up and the football stadium is in Moline?