MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[hopefan]

IWU's students are moved in and the Fall semester is underway.

Some of the COVID-19 protocols I'm aware of:

* Each student had to produce a negative test result in order to move in.

* Each student on campus is now being tested.

* Every 2 weeks, 10% of the student body will be tested.

* IWU has 3 floors of the Marriott-Normal (about a mile from campus), and these rooms are being used as dorms.  They've tried to give as many students as possible single rooms and using a hotel has helped with that.


Quite an interesting school year underway.

Wonder what ISU is doing???

[WUPHF]

I wouldn't say that it "seems to nullify concerns." The holidays will be a whole 'nother thing, and who knows where the country will be vis-a-vis the coronavirus at that point?

So, let's agree as a community to operate as if every statement made on d3boards.com is subject to change due to Covid-19 related issues.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

Brady Rose signs to play pro ball in...Bulgaria.

[Titan Q]

Brady Rose signs to play pro ball in...Bulgaria.

Great opportunity for Brady.

https://beroebasket.com/2020/08/берое-си-осигури-услугите-на-американ/

https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Bulgaria/BC-Beroe-Stara-Zagora/5355

In his rookie pro season last year, he led the Dusseldorf Giants in scoring, and was 6th in the German Pro B league.

18.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, .561 FG, .430 3-point, .900 FT.

[WUPHF]

Stara Zagora is a gorgeous town and may be more fun than Dusseldorf.

[Titan Q]

SteveSchafer50 @schafer50
COMMITTED!!! Please welcome 6-7, 240lb Jr. Ragen Shein to the Augustana basketball family!! Ragen is a high character guy that brings a ton of toughness and physicality to our program!! #HardSmartTogether
---

* Ragen Shein,  6-7 F (Rocky Mountain College/Helena HS, MT)

Looks like his path since HS has been...

- 2016-17: Montana Tech - https://godiggers.com/news/2015/8/25/MBBALL_0825153608.aspx
- 2017-18: Chandler-Gilbert Community College - https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div2/players/reganshein5j9a
- 2018-19: Rocky Mountain College - https://gobattlinbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/ragen-shein/2445

In 2018-19 at Rocky Mountain College, Shein played in 21 games (started 2) and averaged 13 minutes, 4.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, shot .440 FG, was 0-8 from 3.

Video: https://twitter.com/schafer50/status/1296190306694705156?s=20


I believe he has only used 2 years of eligibility in those 3 stops, so will be a JR at Augie this season.

[gordonmann]

Please tell me that his name is pronounced "Ragin' Shine..."

[Gregory Sager]

Chandler-Gilbert is in the Phoenix suburbs, so I'm guessing that that's how Steve Schafer became familiar with him.

[augie77]

That, plus Rocky Mountain College is a conference opponent of Benedictine-Mesa, where Schafer previously coached.

[iwu70]

I've navigated my return from Hong Kong to IWU -- have quarantined 15 days, visited family in MSP and now returned to Bloomington/Normal. 

Yes, IWU and ISU are open and many students have returned to town, though many courses both places are online, at distance, with many faculty not wanting to meet classes or consult/meet in person with students this term.  The ZOOM mode is still a prevailing mode it would seem.  We were on Zoom, totally at distance mode at CUHK in Hong Kong since last November, and all through the Spring, 2020 semester.

So far, a rather worrisome spike of cases here in B/N, esp. amongst the 19-29 year old segment.  IWU has 69 cases and ISU has over 1,000, or about 5% of their total student body.  Not good.  The positivity rate in testing in the County continues to rise -- over the past two weeks -- basically the time the students have returned to campuses.  It is now 10.7% in the county at large and at ISU it is about 20%.  I just can't imagine that further restrictions and tighter protocols by the political and public health authorities are not coming to this area soon. 

Returning to the US or staying in HK with its draconian and repressive political situation . . . well, it was a bit of pick your poison.  When I left HK on July 22, Hong Kong, a city of 7.8 million, had about 1,000 total cases and less than 20 deaths from COVID -- during the entire pandemic.  They've had a "third wave" spike since I left, so things aren't looking as good as they did.  Then again, we had the new national security law and very repressive new political and freedom of expression and academic freedom restrictions.  The Hong Kong that I've known and loved, well, it's gone, dead.  "One Country, Two Systems" is no more -- and the HK government is a total puppet of the PRC and CCP regime.  Here in the US, there is basically no containment at all . . . and COVID is so widespread now as to almost make testing and contact tracing meaningless.  I fully expect over 300,000 deaths in the US by the end of the year. 

It's good to be back . . . but, . . . more grim and dark days are ahead . . . for the US and for Hong Kong.  Yes, as my brother, a doctor says, "people of our age and girth should not run into this virus."  I think he's telling me I'm old and fat.  But, he's right and I'm being very very careful, rarely to the IWU or ISU campus, taking all precautions to stay safe and well. 

Take care all.  Let's hope somehow we can still have a basketball season.  The way things are going here in B/N and at IWU and ISU, I think it is very unlikely.

Be well, all.

IWU'70

[Titan Q]

Tough break (literally) for the Titans last week as CCIW Freshman of the Year Luke Yoder broke both wrists in a freak pickup game accident.

The 6-0 PG should be back by 11/1.  With the season expected to start 1/1 it's likely Luke won't miss any games.

[Titan Q]

I'm hearing a 13-14 game season, with the expectation for 2-3 cancellations for COVID-19 positive tests (ala MLB cancellations this season).

I've heard if student-athletes play less than 13 games this year they can get another season of eligibility through redshirt for this season.

At this point I'm confident we will have some kind of season and a championship (tournament and Final Four).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I'm hearing a 13-14 game season, with the expectation for 2-3 cancellations for COVID-19 positive tests (ala MLB cancellations this season).

I've heard if student-athletes play less than 13 games this year they can get another season of eligibility through redshirt for this season.

At this point I'm confident we will have some kind of season and a championship (tournament and Final Four).

The DIII rule was passed several months ago that if teams didn't play 50% of their normal maximum allowed games, then everyone could get a blanket waiver for another year of eligibility. But that is based on the team - not individual players.

Also if the team plays 50% of their season (and there is an NCAA tournament), then they count for sponsorship and such of the sport. Usually that number is higher.

And I don't have confidence nor no confidence. I'm on the fence. I have been talking to enough people who indicate nervousness on whether a season will be able to be done. Two reasons: Covid concerns may not be solved by January and moving the season to make it happen is far from guarunteed.

[lmitzel]

Looks like this past February was the last time I uttered the words "Red Men ball" into a microphone. Carthage is retiring that, plus the "Lady Reds" nickname. Also Torchie, apparently.

[iwu70]

Imitzel, is there a new name proposed for the Carthage teams?   Probably not a very good brand to go the Washington route and call them "the team from Kenosha."   Likely some new mascot and name, right?  Vikings and Titans already taken . . .  Carthage Cobras, Cougars, or Cardinals?  Any ideas? (Cathage Boscos!  ). 

Need some creativity here.   

IWU'70