MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 01:30:12 PM

@OceanJohnson4I'm excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Elmhurst College! #bluejays #committed

https://duhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/ocean-johnson/8334

3.4 ppg last year at Loras as a freshman.

Gregory Sager · May 06, 2020, 01:35:08 PM

Ocean Johnson is, aside from being blessed with a cool name that sounds like it belongs to a private eye in an early '70s blaxploitation film (played by Jim Brown or Billy Dee Williams, no doubt), extraordinarily athletic. But it really hasn't translated into anything productive yet.

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 01:43:16 PM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2020, 01:35:08 PM
extraordinarily athletic

https://twitter.com/OceanJohnson4/status/1166570865825394691?s=20

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 01:55:00 PM

AndOne · May 06, 2020, 03:33:46 PM

I was wondering if we might see any Head Coach departures during this off season. And, I'll admit that while I initially thought there might be some, I didn't figure Coach Giovanine would be one of them. As we all know, he always had great coaching ability and results, and the "fire"/passion for coaching seemed to still be burning as fiercely as ever as of the end of the season. However, while the Coach looked great, and appeared strong after his surgery and subsequent rehab, I sense the appearance of the Covid-19 virus undoubtedly played a role in his ultimate decision given the fact that cancer patients are part of the highest risk group. Yes, he was a year + survivor, but a five year window is required before one can be considered to be cancer free, during which time the system is still in a compromised state, and more highly susceptible to the effects of a virus we still know relatively little about. So, I sense this ultimately played a strong role in a most different decision for one of the best we've ever seen. Good luck to Coach Giovanine. Most of all, continued good health.

And, returning to my original thought—-Does anyone sense we'll see any additional coaching departures?

Lastly, might Matt Nadelhoffer be a candidate for the Augie top spot?

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 04:08:19 PM

Elmhurst...

* Nic Sura, 6-4 SF (Grand Ledge HS, MI) 16 ppg
https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-basketball-recruiting/michigan/grand-ledge/grand-ledge-high-school/nic-sura

Also, sources close to the Bluejays are reporting "Some kid from TX" is not in this recruiting class.

Gregory Sager · May 06, 2020, 04:49:49 PM

Quote from: AndOne on May 06, 2020, 03:33:46 PMLastly, might Matt Nadelhoffer be a candidate for the Augie top spot?

When I last spoke with Matt three months ago he was very gung-ho about the progress he and his wife are making with their insurance agency in Warrenville. Although the phrase "never say never" comes to mind, at least for now I don't think that he's interested in full-time coaching again.

augiefan · May 06, 2020, 05:21:41 PM

Augie fans knew something was up when it became clear Augie was not getting any recruits. Coach G is a big loss, but probably a well timed decision given Augie's returning talent is pretty unimpressive. Hopefully Augie BB will not go the way of a Augie FB after Coach Reade retired. Hopefully a quality replacement will be found, who can endure a few lean years till better players can be recruited.

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 05:34:32 PM

Quote from: augiefan on May 06, 2020, 05:21:41 PM
Augie fans knew something was up when it became clear Augie was not getting any recruits. Coach G is a big loss, but probably a well timed decision given Augie's returning talent is pretty unimpressive. Hopefully Augie BB will not go the way of a Augie FB after Coach Reade retired. Hopefully a quality replacement will be found, who can endure a few lean years till better players can be recruited.

I first heard the rumor that Coach G was going to retire in mid-January. I didn't believe it at the time, but obviously here we are.

I do not think he recruited like usual this season. I think his staff did their usual great job - that crew always gets after it. But I don't think Coach G was out there doing his usual recruiting thing. Seems like the staff can open the door on the biggies, but you need the head coach to play a huge role in closing those.

The good news is that with everything going on, I think there are still guys out there to get. I'm betting Augie's staff keeps grinding and finds more guys.

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 05:39:20 PM

I watched the video of the press conference. It's pretty clear Coach G plans to coach again -- as an assistant coach.

I won't be surprised if he lands as an assistant coach in the next year or two.

AndOne · May 06, 2020, 05:54:24 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on May 06, 2020, 05:34:32 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 06, 2020, 05:21:41 PM
Augie fans knew something was up when it became clear Augie was not getting any recruits. Coach G is a big loss, but probably a well timed decision given Augie's returning talent is pretty unimpressive. Hopefully Augie BB will not go the way of a Augie FB after Coach Reade retired. Hopefully a quality replacement will be found, who can endure a few lean years till better players can be recruited.
I first heard the rumor that Coach G was going to retire in mid-January. I didn't believe it at the time, but obviously here we are.

I do not think he recruited like usual this season. I think his staff did their usual great job - that crew always gets after it. But I don't think Coach G was out there doing his usual recruiting thing. Seems like the staff can open the door on the biggies, but you need the head coach to play a huge role in closing those.

The good news is that with everything going on, I think there are still guys out there to get. I'm betting Augie's staff keeps grinding and finds more guys.

More guys? Yes, very likely so. However, many potential recruits may be reluctant to commit without first knowing who they are going to be playing for.

Titan Q · May 06, 2020, 06:00:10 PM

This whole thing seemed strange at the time...

https://qctimes.com/pandemic-alters-recruiting-for-augie-basketball-programs/article_897d0399-5991-5a2d-8171-9fef05ac463f.html

For Augie to have one commit on April 13 - a kid from Sweden they had never seen - seemed extremely strange. Especially since other CCIW programs were putting nice classes together.

Things make more sense now.

Gregory Sager · May 06, 2020, 06:21:57 PM

Quote from: AndOne on May 06, 2020, 05:54:24 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 06, 2020, 05:34:32 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 06, 2020, 05:21:41 PM
Augie fans knew something was up when it became clear Augie was not getting any recruits. Coach G is a big loss, but probably a well timed decision given Augie's returning talent is pretty unimpressive. Hopefully Augie BB will not go the way of a Augie FB after Coach Reade retired. Hopefully a quality replacement will be found, who can endure a few lean years till better players can be recruited.
I first heard the rumor that Coach G was going to retire in mid-January. I didn't believe it at the time, but obviously here we are.

I do not think he recruited like usual this season. I think his staff did their usual great job - that crew always gets after it. But I don't think Coach G was out there doing his usual recruiting thing. Seems like the staff can open the door on the biggies, but you need the head coach to play a huge role in closing those.

The good news is that with everything going on, I think there are still guys out there to get. I'm betting Augie's staff keeps grinding and finds more guys.

More guys? Yes, very likely so. However, many potential recruits may be reluctant to commit without first knowing who they are going to be playing for.

Yep. Been there, done that, in terms of seeing a placeholder assistant coach try to persuade prospects to commit without knowing whom they'll be playing for.

Titan Q · May 07, 2020, 08:04:32 AM

Wheaton...

https://twitter.com/nsock22/status/1258184409854795776?s=20

* Nate Sock, 6-4 SG (Valor Christian HS, CO)
https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-basketball-recruiting/colorado/highlands-ranch/valor-christian-high-school/nate-sock

matblake · May 08, 2020, 11:16:04 AM

Wheaton is running a live stream series titled Wheaton Classics where they re-watch classic Wheaton games and have input from coaches, participants, etc. On Thursday it was Wheaton v Augie in the Sweet 16 at Augie with Mike Schauer, Jay Spencer, Luke Anthony, and of course Aston Francis. After the stream was shut down due to technical problems, they posted the entire live stream on YouTube. Memorable game for Wheaton fans and cool to see it from a deeper perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Lrq5dOZNg

Tonight is the Elite Eight Game v Marietta. Additional sports and games to be added later. I believe the format will be the same, a live stream that will be posted to YouTube after the fact.