MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

diehardfan · January 16, 2006, 04:51:22 PM

Lol Lanny... it was very nice of you to arrange that.... it's things like that which have always made you one of my favorites... I'm sure Pat Coleman appreciates it a lot. Now uhm, could you please move it over to beautiful, sunny Southern California where I live?

8)

Larry and augiedad: yes, yes he does... (grins at Greg) :p

Re Baines: I'm pretty sure coaches usually put extra effort into beating their alma mater, if anything... maybe it's sorta to prove how well they turned out, or something.

Dennis, personally I just miss the Wheaton announcer that always said "This is the bonus" in dramatic fashion after a made shot on the 1 and 1.

And Bryan Holmgren.

While I agree that Andy will be a awesome player in this league, I'm not quite sure he's at super stud level yet. I think he's still learning a lot about what to takes to be a post player against a team that actually has tall people. But as he is really our only really big guy this year, he is sure getting a crash course in it! And to his credit, he seems to be picking things up relatively fast. Not everyone can be Joel Kolmodin as a freshman, but I definitely see some significant talent there, which has been very needed for a while for us in that position for a while!

I am sure going to be interested how our young frosh plays against the excellent and dramatically more seasoned players in out league like Nick Michael, and Zach Freeman as the season goes on.

Greg: It's certainly understandable that Michael Fiddler and John Mohan and Andy Wiele haven't impressed you to date. However I do think that they are genuinely getting better, not just that NP made them look good on Saturday. Not that this will particularly make you feel any better about the loss. $:-\$

I suppose it could have been worse, they could have scheduled Wheaton @ NP durring the holiday... as a Wheatie I always have had this profound sense of awe at the NP gym, and have greatly enjoyed their antics at the game. When the crazies do it at Wheaton, on the other hand, it usually mekes me a little annoyed.

Johnnieeeee! Get better soon!!!

Gooo Wheaton!

Gregory Sager · January 16, 2006, 04:57:48 PM

IWM, I knew that I was going to come across as a scold. Sorry about that, but it was difficult to say what I had to say without sounding that way. And nobody's questioning anybody's loyalty, Scotsfan. I was simply making a point about the principle of the matter. It's all about a coach's integrity, and even if we all think that everyone else understands where the coach's loyalties lie, it never hurts to restate it out loud.

As for Augiedad, TJCF's response speaks for me.

I'm curious about one thing, though: Why didn't Q get taken to task by anyone when he wrote virtually the same post as mine several years ago after a Wesleyan fan had made a similar "he's one of ours" remark about then-Cardinals assistant Dave Kunka?

Quote from: Hiker Jim on January 16, 2006, 12:06:46 PM
I haven't heard that phrase about corn and Manito in...gee, how long since that line got thrown on this board, Greg?

Probably at least three years or so. I was responding to Rodney, so I was feeling nostalgic.

April, I didn't include John Mohan in that "I wasn't previously impressed" statement I made about Fiddler and Wiele. I have been impressed by Mohan in the two earlier Wheaton games I saw this season. Also, keep in mind that Wiele was matched up against an "excellent and dramatically more seasoned player" for part of Saturday's game, NPU's Brett Mathisen. Mathisen's poor game is also a testament to how well Wiele and Fiddler played.

Titan Q · January 16, 2006, 05:26:58 PM

"Why didn't Q get taken to task by anyone when he wrote virtually the same post as mine several years ago after a Wesleyan fan had made a similar "he's one of ours" remark about then-Cardinals assistant Dave Kunka?"

Greg, I think that Kunka conversation had to do with someone actually suggesting that David's IWU background would somehow affect his ability to coach vs his alma mater (when he was the assistant at NCC). As you admitted in your post, iwumichigander's comment was really very harmless...he just called John Baines "a Titan." There was no suggestion that John's loyalty lies anywhere but Elmhurst College now. I think you got "taken to task" because your post was altogether unnecessary. That is my take at least.

John's national championship ring says "Illinois Wesleyan" on it. There are pictures in the Shirk Center trophy case of John, Bryan Crabtree, Matt Hoder, Korey Coon, Andy Boyden, etc, etc all in IWU uniforms in Salem, Virginia. He bleeds Elmhurst baby blue now, but there is certainly a part of John Baines that is always going to be "a Titan." I'm quite certain he'd tell us that too.

Titan Q · January 16, 2006, 05:35:22 PM

Today is the one-year anniversary of my right achilles tendon rupture, an injury that made about 6 months of 2005 not very fun for yours truly. I was planning to sit on the couch all evening here on Jan. 16 with as little movement as possible, but stat's recent post re: my midsection has me out the door now to run my daily 4 miles. If I tear a tendon, I'm filing a lawsuit vs the entire Wiertel family.

Gregory Sager · January 16, 2006, 05:42:08 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on January 16, 2006, 05:26:58 PMGreg, I think that Kunka conversation had to do with someone actually suggesting that David's IWU background would somehow affect his ability to coach vs his alma mater (when he was the assistant at NCC). As you admitted in your post, iwumichigander's comment was really very harmless...he just called John Baines "a Titan." There was no suggestion that John's loyalty lies anywhere but Elmhurst College now. I think you got "taken to task" because your post was altogether unnecessary. That is my take at least.

I don't remember the Kunka conversation taking that angle, but I wouldn't swear to that in court. In fact, I remember it going in the opposite direction -- that Kunka's familiarity with what Dennis Bridges was doing would be to North Central's advantage. Regardless, it may just be one step in somebody's mind from the harmless statement to the more pointed one. All I was trying to do was head it off. I certainly wasn't trying to pick a fight with IWM, who is a poster that I greatly respect. If stating principles gets interpreted by even 95% of the readership as "altogether unnecessary", then I'll cheerfully live with that and keep on stating them.

Quote from: Titan Q on January 16, 2006, 05:26:58 PMHe bleeds Elmhurst baby blue now, but there is certainly a part of John Baines that is always going to be "a Titan." I'm quite certain he'd tell us that too.

No argument with that, just as there is certainly a part of Bosko Djurickovic that is always going to be a Viking -- and I'm not just talking about his ring collection. And his Vikingness has surely been more sorely tried than Baines' Titanness.

Stat · January 16, 2006, 06:35:40 PM

Q, I got a feeling I will be paying for that full nelson.
And to think it was all KMs' idea!

John Gleich · January 16, 2006, 07:35:37 PM

There's a similar situation at UW La Crosse. LaX's head coach Kenny Koelbl (and former UWSP head assistant) played (and played well, he's the all-time leading assists leader and second in points, I believe) at Viterbo, a Franciscan school on the other side of town. The two squads play every year.

As it happens, Viterbo's head coach, Wayne Wagner, is a former UWSP Grad assistant, while Koelbl was there.

It's really kind of absurd to think that these guys would spread their allegiance anywhere other than where they coach. Sure, they spent time at the other schools, (heck, even went there for school), but they're getting paid to be devoted completely to their squads, and I can say, first hand, that these guys have done just that.

Gregory Sager · January 16, 2006, 09:53:22 PM

Congrats to Nick Michael of Elmhurst on being named the CCIW Player of the Week. Elmhurst becomes the first CCIW school to have two different players named to the award this season. If he continues to play the way that he did against Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan last week, the 'jays will be tough to beat.

There are currently four players who are averaging over 20 ppg in CCIW play thus far: Kyle Jeffery of Carthage (26.3), Anthony Simmons of North Central (25.3), Rick Harrigan of Augie (23.5), and Drew Gensler of Millikin (20.5). It's still too early to know whether or not they'll be able to keep up this pace, but I can't remember the last time the CCIW had four guys averaging twenty or better. The scary thing is that Harrigan is the only senior of the four.

holmes · January 16, 2006, 10:36:48 PM

Sager's quote:

If stating principles gets interpreted by even 95% of the readership as "altogether unnecessary", then I'll cheerfully live with that and keep on stating them.

Sager, I think you are underestimating your impact. What happens at 96%?

augiefan · January 16, 2006, 10:41:24 PM

Interesting to hear comments about Coach Trost's blue language. Perhaps the change results from the losses and close calls, as IWU is a program that is not accustomed to losing. Nevertheless, I still predict they win the conference, as they have the deepest team.

Posts about poor sideline demeanor and foul language have generally been reserved for Coach G. of Augie, frequently by IWU posters. This year Coach G. hasn't been trashed too much, perhaps that will come if he has a meltdown when Augie inevitably loses a few.

I would concur with the poster that commented on Coach Harris been the class act in the conference, when it comes to coaches. A consummate gentleman and an outstanding coach. He certainly is the kind of coach I would want my son to play for.

augiefan · January 16, 2006, 10:43:43 PM

For the record NCC beat Robt. Morris 85-71 this evening.

rpknupp · January 16, 2006, 10:56:15 PM

Q: Stop by the Shirk this week and see some good Class A Basketball!

b_holmgren · January 16, 2006, 11:13:07 PM

Diehard (April) - February 22 against Carthage. I'm tentatively scheduled to come out retirement to call the game on WETN. That gives me a good month to come up with odd-ball stats (like free throw ptc in odd numbered minutes).

I had orginally seen it as a throw-away, end of the season game, but could Wheaton possibly be battling for a top 4 finish when we get to the wire?

Q - Once again good to see you last week. I see a chain reaction forming, since your earlier post just inspired me to go run four miles.

Interesting story for everyone else. I was in Wheaton this week, and on my way home I was able to stop in Normal for a Sunday afternoon tilt. In one of the more ironic twists you'll ever see, my press row seat for the Wichita State at Illinois State game put me right next to Art Kimball. We managed to put our Wheaton/IWU, WSU/ISU biases aside and had an enjoyable time (maybe more so for me since the Shockers won). Bob was also in the house, though he evidently doesn't have quite as much pull when it comes to seats

I will make it a point to listen to Wheaton at IWU this week... have to see if the Thunder can extend on its Shirk winning streak.

Gregory Sager · January 17, 2006, 12:49:23 AM

Quote from: holmes on January 16, 2006, 10:36:48 PMSager, I think you are underestimating your impact. What happens at 96%?

Sell.

Quote from: augiefan on January 16, 2006, 10:43:43 PM
For the record NCC beat Robt. Morris 85-71 this evening.

The Springfield version of Robert Morris, that is, not the Chicago one.

Jim Matson · January 17, 2006, 12:53:59 AM

Dennis, I'm glad you enjoyed your time at King Arena. It is a great place to see a college game, but you are correct when you talk about the PA system - very hard to hear anything very clearly.

I was expecting a better showing by Elmhurst in the Top 25. I also thought the Wheaton women should be moving up - they're on a long winning streak but have stalled at #8.

The Titan men should be back to their winning ways on Tuesday. Wheaton is playing tough but will experience some strong competition at the Shirk. It wil be a good experience for them, but I see Wesleyan taking this one by 25 or so - home game, frustrated play as of late, and a young Wheaton without a good match-up for KA.