MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[joehakes]

Since I have been called out on this, why would anyone want to leave Gordon for Illinois Wesleyan?   

I can comment on a lot of things, but I would never comment seriously on a personnel situation at another school.  I will say that I am not at all surprised that IWU would get a ton of quality applicants.  The program and the institution would be extremely attractive for a lot of folks.

And that's it from me on the subject.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I was just teasing you there Joe.  All the same, I'm guessing you weren't the first one to bring up a vacancy at IWU to your coach in conversation though.

Happy Patriots Day and enjoy the race.  I wish I still lived somewhere that showed it on tv.

[joehakes]

I have had the Marathon on in my office.  Two Kenyans won again, and they are back to the hotels while most of the field is about halfway done.

Ernst Van Dyk won his sixth straight men's wheelchair Boston Marathon.  He covered the 26+ miles in 1 hour 20 minutes and 50 seconds.  Amazing.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

As much as I appreciate Van Dyk and what he accomplishes, I found out this year that he is the only wheelchair racer with a full-time sponsorship.  That means he gets to live and train in Boston, on the course year-round without worrying about expenses.  I think that's a significant leg-up on the other competitiors.


The Kenyans did win again, but you forgot to mention that the US put five runners in the top 10.  It was quite a good year for the Americans on Heartbreak Hill.

[joehakes]

A wheelchair racer getting a leg up on his competitors?   That might be the worst pun I have ever heard.  What school did you go to anyway?

[augiedad]

Sounds like Todd Raridon (North Central) and Mike McGrath (Chicago) have officially jumped into the IWU sweepstakes.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A wheelchair racer getting a leg up on his competitors?   That might be the worst pun I have ever heard.  What school did you go to anyway?

Now, Joe, many wheelchair racers still have legs, even if they don't work so good, and they are up, as opposed to on the ground running, and ... oh, never mind, you're right!

[Jim Matson]

McGrath?  That might be interesting.  But why would Raridon be so quick to bag North Central - unless the Cards were just a way for him to get out of Nebraska.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't know if Mike McGrath has inquired about the Illinois Wesleyan job or not, but if he has you can file it in the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" category. Wesleyan's been beating McGrath like a red-headed stepchild both on the court and in the recruiting wars since he took Pat Cunningham's place on the Midway, and I know that he's sick and tired of it. Who could blame him?

Jim, Todd Raridon's interest in the Illinois Wesleyan job really isn't much of a surprise to a lot of people. I've heard a lot of people speculate over the past two years that Dennis Bridges helped Raridon land the North Central job with the idea in mind that Raridon might someday make a great coach for the Titans. That's strictly speculation and needs to be taken with a serious grain of salt, of course, but I've heard it from several people and it does match the time frame. My suspicion is that Bridges has known for quite some time that Scott Trost was not going to put in a long tenure at Illinois Wesleyan.

[Gregory Sager]

Zach Kelly, the 6'7" prospect out of Glenbrook North that Illinois Wesleyan was pursuing, has chosen to attend Washington (MO). He'll reunite with former Glenbrook North teammate Sean Wallis, who saw a lot of playing time for the Bears last season as a freshman.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/kellycommits.html

[Greek Tragedy]

So, I really don't know what kind of coach IWU is actually looking for, so I'm going to refrain from my tongue-in-cheek observation that "that Jack Bennett guy" isn't coaching anywhere and I hear he has a decent resume.  But, I digress.   

That leads me back to my question.  What kind of coach, if any "certain kind" is IWU looking for.  Tharpe was mentioned, but he's in the "Bennett (pick whatever one you want)" kind of mold where it's more methodical, motion offense, tough man-to-man defense etc...IWU, from what I understand, is more of an up tempo run and gun type team.  If a Tharpe or Bennett came in, wouldn't IWU be basically starting from scratch with a whole new system and then a whole new look at what kind of recruits the new coach would be looking for.  Would current players want to play in a offense of that type?  Thoughts from those closer or more familiar with the program?

[playballalldatime]

Zach Kelly, the 6'7" prospect out of Glenbrook North that Illinois Wesleyan was pursuing, has chosen to attend Washington (MO). He'll reunite with former Glenbrook North teammate Sean Wallis, who saw a lot of playing time for the Bears last season as a freshman.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/kellycommits.html

- from when I saw Kelly play, he is too slow and would be a better fit for that school than the CCIW which is fast pace and tough. he is also pretty soft when it comes to rebounding. likes to sit outside the arch and there are enough kids to do that

[ecdubb420]

So if your Coach Baines what makes you more excited?  Hearing that Coach Scherer might leave to go to Lewis, then you will undoubtedly be handed the job (in the opinion of this EC fan), or hearing that Coach Scherer turned down the job, but IWU coach Scott Trost took the position meaning the top post at IWU has just opened up? 
Although I think Scherer is a fantastic coach and would hate to lose him, I have said for a long time (since I met Baines while he coached the tennis squad at EC back in 2000) that losing Baines may actually be a larger hit to the EC team. 
Upon hearing that Trost left, my heart skipped a beat as I turned to my fellow EC diehards and said, we may have seen the last of Coach Baines at EC.
Though the Baines name is not that glamorous (because of his lack of Head Coaching experience), IWU would be making a huge mistake by not hiring him.  Just hearing the other names mentioned, it leads me to believe that those men are looking for "the next step up."  What then do they do when a DII head job pops up, or a DI assistant job comes their way?  In my opinion, unless you're "going back home" you will always be looking for that next big opening. 
A more pressing question is what do these rumors do to the recruiting at EC?  With the top two coaches looking at other positions, a prospective student athlete may become very weary about the future at that school with a Head Coach and Ass't interviewing elsewhere.

In other thoughts, though Nick Michael is a great player, Brent Ruch will be a more dominant performer for EC next year.  In my opinion he was the best post player in the CCIW during the last month and a half of the season.  Once he realized he could play 25+ minutes he was a force on the inside.  Watch out for a solid run at 2nd team CCIW (perhaps 1st) next seaon.  Gensler got the hype, but to me Ruch was more the Newcomer of the year last year.
Once this coaching mess is taken care of, lets hope Scherer and Co. find a swingman or else we'll have to count on inconsistent Rob Strzemp and 3-pt specialist Ryan Burks to take over the 3 next year.

[bluejay5]

I agree with the last poster, Coach Baines at Elmhurst would be a great addition to the IWU family, having played for Coach Baines at Elmhurst I can personally attest there is not a better assistant coach in the CCIW who deserves a head coaching job and although this is quite possibly the best Head coaching job in D3, he is ready for his shot and this would be his home team and he would never leave.  Coach Baines is a hard worker with a lot of knowledge on the CCIW and the players in this area, It would be horrible if Elmhurst lost Coach Baines but it would also be horrible if he goes another year as an assistant Coach. Anyone who has played under him will tell you in a second he deserves and needs to be a head Coach somewhere. I know this will be a national search for a coach at IWU, but they need look no further that to one of there own. Coach Baines has already been part of a National Champion at IWU and he is the man to lead them back.

[diehardfan]

Aww, that's about as sweet as it can get. Fans and former players who love their assistant coach so much they want the best for them, at the same time as desperately wanting him to stay. 

I would definitely feel the same way about Ferguson leaving, but I hope I am never put in that situation! 

As a general concept, I think the idea of someone like Baines would be a great choice, lack of head coaching experience and all. It falls right into the thinking I have had about the whole Trost leaving situation, and the long term coaches discussion (which I will probably post on eventually whever I get the time)...