MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[voxelmhurst]

The defection of Jack McDonald is a real blow to Augie's future. He was considered the prize recruit in this year's freshman class and was getting quite a bit of playing time for a freshman in the CCIW. Seems like he might be a bit of a prima donna or maybe GG yelled at him too harshly.

Many knowledgeable CCIW fans thought Augie came up with a top prize when Augie landed McDonald. Last year, he was the best HS PG that I saw play all season. With Jack Jelen, a good assist guy, but someone I've never seen either score much or play much defense, as his chief competition, I
personally thought he would take over the starting spot for Augie by about Christmas. However, rather than attaining this level of play, we all saw his PT falling off lately.

At any rate, I know Coach G loved the kid, worked hard to land him, was overjoyed when he did, and gave him plenty of opportunity in the early going this season. As augiefan said above, maybe he is a prima donna, or maybe GG yelled at him too much. McDonald was certainly entitled to quit anytime he wanted to. However, it has been reported in the media that he did so by means of an e-mail. While it seems many kids (showing my age here but I don't care) today have substituted learning how to converse verbally for learning how to do so by typing, the bottom line seems to be that, especially with all the work Coach G put in recruiting him, and the opportunity he afforded him, that if McDonald wanted to quit, he should have at least had the guts to go to the Coach, and do so in person. JMHO.

AO,
You'd be surprised at how many kids quit programs via text or email. By leaving the program now as opposed to the end of the year, he really does Augie a favor. It can speed up the development of another kid at same position and they can set their sites on another high level PG in this years HS class!

Yes, most likely I would indeed be surprised. 🤷🏼‍♂️
And, nobody ever said McDonald or any other player couldn't leave for any reason anytime they wanted to!
But, being an older fart, I just think the better way to do it would be to man up and go in and tell the guy who believed in you, and put in a lot of time and effort in recruiting you, face to face. That's all. 

The bar is incredibly low these days. I, for one, applaud this player for at least not ghosting Augie. (sarcasm font)

[lmitzel]

NPU @ Elmhurst is also going to be a 4 pm start.

Carthage @ Wheaton is the only 7 pm start.

Augustana @ Millikin has been moved to 4 pm Sunday.

And now Carthage-Wheaton has been postponed, makeup date/time TBD.

[cardinalpride]

The defection of Jack McDonald is a real blow to Augie's future. He was considered the prize recruit in this year's freshman class and was getting quite a bit of playing time for a freshman in the CCIW. Seems like he might be a bit of a prima donna or maybe GG yelled at him too harshly.

Many knowledgeable CCIW fans thought Augie came up with a top prize when Augie landed McDonald. Last year, he was the best HS PG that I saw play all season. With Jack Jelen, a good assist guy, but someone I've never seen either score much or play much defense, as his chief competition, I
personally thought he would take over the starting spot for Augie by about Christmas. However, rather than attaining this level of play, we all saw his PT falling off lately.

At any rate, I know Coach G loved the kid, worked hard to land him, was overjoyed when he did, and gave him plenty of opportunity in the early going this season. As augiefan said above, maybe he is a prima donna, or maybe GG yelled at him too much. McDonald was certainly entitled to quit anytime he wanted to. However, it has been reported in the media that he did so by means of an e-mail. While it seems many kids (showing my age here but I don't care) today have substituted learning how to converse verbally for learning how to do so by typing, the bottom line seems to be that, especially with all the work Coach G put in recruiting him, and the opportunity he afforded him, that if McDonald wanted to quit, he should have at least had the guts to go to the Coach, and do so in person. JMHO.

AO,
You'd be surprised at how many kids quit programs via text or email. By leaving the program now as opposed to the end of the year, he really does Augie a favor. It can speed up the development of another kid at same position and they can set their sites on another high level PG in this years HS class!

Yes, most likely I would indeed be surprised. 🤷🏼‍♂️
And, nobody ever said McDonald or any other player couldn't leave for any reason anytime they wanted to!
But, being an older fart, I just think the better way to do it would be to man up and go in and tell the guy who believed in you, and put in a lot of time and effort in recruiting you, face to face. That's all. 

The bar is incredibly low these days. I, for one, applaud this player for at least not ghosting Augie. (sarcasm font)

AndOne,
I agree with you. As a young man, the kid should have faced the coach Mano y Mano for the reasons you mentioned. IJS, the way the kid handled it happens more than we know. Most cases involve lessor talented kids and their decision may never reach this platform and certainly won't make the local paper.

[petemcb]

According to the Carthage website, tonight's game at Wheaton has been rescheduled to Monday.  Does anyone know if the NPU at Elmhurst is still at 4:00 today as originally scheduled?

[petemcb]

NPU @ Elmhurst is also going to be a 4 pm start.

Carthage @ Wheaton is the only 7 pm start.

Augustana @ Millikin has been moved to 4 pm Sunday.

A shot at a CCIW doubleheader with those two Saturday games not being that far from each other.  Life is good!

You obviously posted this before Mrs. McB told you she doesn't need the stress of worrying about your safety, and that if you aren't home by 7:00 Sat night, your next honey-do list would take a week to complete. 

She's not home today and doesn't read this board so I'm good.  😊

[Gregory Sager]

Carthage @ Wheaton will happen on Monday at 5:30 pm.

NPU @ Elmhurst will happen at 4 pm today as scheduled.

[kiko]

The defection of Jack McDonald is a real blow to Augie's future. He was considered the prize recruit in this year's freshman class and was getting quite a bit of playing time for a freshman in the CCIW. Seems like he might be a bit of a prima donna or maybe GG yelled at him too harshly.

Many knowledgeable CCIW fans thought Augie came up with a top prize when Augie landed McDonald. Last year, he was the best HS PG that I saw play all season. With Jack Jelen, a good assist guy, but someone I've never seen either score much or play much defense, as his chief competition, I
personally thought he would take over the starting spot for Augie by about Christmas. However, rather than attaining this level of play, we all saw his PT falling off lately.

At any rate, I know Coach G loved the kid, worked hard to land him, was overjoyed when he did, and gave him plenty of opportunity in the early going this season. As augiefan said above, maybe he is a prima donna, or maybe GG yelled at him too much. McDonald was certainly entitled to quit anytime he wanted to. However, it has been reported in the media that he did so by means of an e-mail. While it seems many kids (showing my age here but I don't care) today have substituted learning how to converse verbally for learning how to do so by typing, the bottom line seems to be that, especially with all the work Coach G put in recruiting him, and the opportunity he afforded him, that if McDonald wanted to quit, he should have at least had the guts to go to the Coach, and do so in person. JMHO.

AO,
You'd be surprised at how many kids quit programs via text or email. By leaving the program now as opposed to the end of the year, he really does Augie a favor. It can speed up the development of another kid at same position and they can set their sites on another high level PG in this years HS class!

Yes, most likely I would indeed be surprised. 🤷🏼‍♂️
And, nobody ever said McDonald or any other player couldn't leave for any reason anytime they wanted to!
But, being an older fart, I just think the better way to do it would be to man up and go in and tell the guy who believed in you, and put in a lot of time and effort in recruiting you, face to face. That's all. 

The bar is incredibly low these days. I, for one, applaud this player for at least not ghosting Augie. (sarcasm font)

AndOne,
I agree with you. As a young man, the kid should have faced the coach Mano y Mano for the reasons you mentioned. IJS, the way the kid handled it happens more than we know. Most cases involve lessor talented kids and their decision may never reach this platform and certainly won't make the local paper.

I will add to this: every one of us can look back and find something that makes us say 'ooooh... yeah, I wish I had handled that differently'.

While this was maybe not the best way to handle his departure, it just means he made what appears to be a suboptimal choice on something that in the grand scheme of things doesn't really mean all that much.  It's easy to draw grand conclusions from this but that's really just a lot of noise from words.

[Gregory Sager]

We're getting equal-opportunity mispronunciations of players' names for both teams by Elmhurst's guest PBP man.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 63
Carroll 55

Cards survive an upset attempt by the Pios in the airplane hangar in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst 96
North Park 81

Toby Marek: 18 pts, 6:0 a:to
Karl Polk, Jr.: 16 pts, 10 rebs
Lawrence Pointer: 14 pts (4-6 trey)
Izaiah Sanders: 12 pts, 6:2 a:to
Matt Szuba: 7 rebs

Jake Rhode: 24 pts, 6:1 a:to
Derek Dotlich: 19 pts (5-9 trey)
Lavon Thomas: 18 pts, 10 rebs, 4 blks
Nick Perry: 12 pts, 5:1 a:to
Jay Militello: 10 pts, 11 rebs
Jonathan Zapinski: 3 blks
Dominic Genco: 3:1 a:to

The Vikings showed an impressive amount of hustle on the floor this afternoon at Faganel, and they made their fair share of runs to keep Elmhurst from burying them, but they simply don't have either the horses or the experience to be anything other than a modest annoyance to the Bluejays.

[lmitzel]

North Central 63
Carroll 55

Cards survive an upset attempt by the Pios in the airplane hangar in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

The Pios played pretty well tonight. They went 3-2 zone for part of the contest and I think that threw the Cardinals off. But to Greg's point about the score, NCC led by no more than I think 11 at any point, and Carroll managed to pull within one on a Kale Maupin three with two and a half minutes to go. Maupin had a reasonably good look at a go-ahead three the next time down, but missed, then the Cardinals went 2 Blaise Meredith free throws, missed Carroll layup, Mike Pollack dagger three, and Raridon added two free throws for the final margin with about 8 seconds left.

Carroll's four conference losses so far:

• By 2 at Augie in overtime
• By 1 at home against Elmhurst in double OT (the Dotlich heave at the buzzer)
• By 8 at home against Carthage (trailed by 2 with 2 minutes to go, missed layup to tie with about a minute to go, gave up two quick buckets in 15 seconds inside of a minute)
• Tonight

[AndOne]

North Central 63
Carroll 55

Cards survive an upset attempt by the Pios in the airplane hangar in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

In a game in which Carroll led for only 1:29 early, this game was closer than it should have been due to the fact that the Cardinals allowed Carroll back into the contest on three separate occasions in the second half. Carroll's third big push found them trailing only 56-55 after a Kyle Maupin (game high 21) three with 2:27 still remaining to be played. Maupin's trey would, however, prove to be the last points the Pioneers would tally in the game as the Cards clamped down on defense, turning the visitors away on their final four possessions of the contest. After 2 Blaise Meredith FTs upped the Cardinals lead to 58-55, Mike Pollack bombed in a long three from the left corner to put the game out of reach and seal the victory.

Carroll is an "unusual" team in that while having a 9-6 record overall, including being only 2-4 in the CCIW and sitting in 7th place, they seem to play some of their best basketball against their strongest opponents. As lmitzel indicated above, they lost by only 2 in OT at Augie, by just 1 in Double OT to Elmhurst, by 8 vs. Carthage, and again now again by 8 at NCC.
The reason is that the Pioneers are a very disciplined team. They stick with their game plan, and stay with/in their offensive patterns and defensive schemes. They also don't appear to throw the ball away much. However, for whatever reasons, they have problems finishing. Nevertheless, I don't much relish facing this disciplined and competitive team in the Quonset Hut in Waukesha.

[voxelmhurst]

Elmhurst 96
North Park 81

Toby Marek: 18 pts, 6:0 a:to
Karl Polk, Jr.: 16 pts, 10 rebs
Lawrence Pointer: 14 pts (4-6 trey)
Izaiah Sanders: 12 pts, 6:2 a:to
Matt Szuba: 7 rebs

Jake Rhode: 24 pts, 6:1 a:to
Derek Dotlich: 19 pts (5-9 trey)
Lavon Thomas: 18 pts, 10 rebs, 4 blks
Nick Perry: 12 pts, 5:1 a:to
Jay Militello: 10 pts, 11 rebs
Jonathan Zapinski: 3 blks
Dominic Genco: 3:1 a:to

The Vikings showed an impressive amount of hustle on the floor this afternoon at Faganel, and they made their fair share of runs to keep Elmhurst from burying them, but they simply don't have either the horses or the experience to be anything other than a modest annoyance to the Bluejays.

Great game for scoring and for stat heads. Can't remember the last time Elmhurst had 7 blocks in a game. This one was just an 8 point game at halftime and I think Baines might have let EC hear it just a little bit in the locker room as North Park went on an 8-0 run in the half's final 90 seconds.

I'm not sure why, but this was the second game in a row that Ebrahim Jobe didn't dress. Jobe had a good start to the season but hasn't played since his 6 minutes @ Carroll on 1/4.

Elmhurst now enter their toughest stretch of the season with 6 of their next 9 on the road, and with home games against teams in-line for CCIW tournament spots.

[AndOne]

What is Bosko going to do with Baltimore?

Tomorrow's game with Wheaton might provide an answer to this interesting question.

* Against Olivet on 12/31, Kienan Baltimore played a total of 8 minutes. He went to the bench from where he jawed at the officials and was warned that if he uttered another disparaging remark, he would be ejected. Bosko evidently heard this exchange and subsequently, apparently for disciplinary reasons, withheld Baltimore from any further participation in the game.

* In the next game vs. Augie on 1/4, he played 9 minutes and was then ejected for, allegedly purposely, stepping on Augie's Jack Jelen.

* Then, against Carroll on 1/8, Baltimore did not play.

Was his non participation in the Carroll game a DNPCD by Bosko, again for disciplinary reasons?
He is still on the Carthage roster. However, that might not mean anything because last year Carthage kept Brad Perry on the roster even though he was out all year with an injury, and they also did not remove Preston Laketa from the roster after he encountered difficulties which prevented his participation during the second semester.

Baltimore's non appearance in the Carroll game was not due to any CCIW rule. I thought perhaps there was an obscure conference rule that mandated if a player is ejected from a game, he has to sit out either the first half or the entire next game. Accordingly, I contacted the Conference office, but learned the CCIW does not have such a rule. Therefore, if he is indeed still on the Carthage team, his non participation in the Redmen's last game does appear as a likely disciplinary action by Bosko.

We'll see what transpires tomorrow afternoon.

[AndOne]

I'm really looking forward to this one  -- IWU @NCC. 

Yoder has played very well the last 3-4 games, and in conference play to date.

IWU'70

'70 is correct in that IWU freshman Luke Yoder has performed well so far in his initial CCIW campaign.
However, it appears that a vulnerability may have been exposed in the last game vs. North Central.
In that game, the Cardinals put Blaise Meredith on Yoder who, when the Green Team took the floor, looked almost tiny compared to most of the other players on the court. Yoder is listed as 6'0" and 170.
While, in truth, that might be exaggerating things, lets assume it is correct. Meredith is 6'4" with great quickness and leaping ability. With at least a 4 inch height advantage and superior athleticism, he was able to blanket Mr. Yoder with almost constant pressure, and render him almost totally ineffective. Yoder went 0 for 9 in the game, including 0 for 6 on three pointers, two of which failed to even reach the basket.
While not all teams have a player with Meredith's physical attributes, it appears those that do might be able to to limit Yoder's present day effectiveness.