MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Last weekend, out at a Wheaton soccer game, I was told that the kid who left was the kid with the D1 possibilities coming out of high school.  He spent a few days on campus and decided he wanted a bigger school with bigger basketball possibilities.  I was not told where he was looking.  Unfortunate that he didn't stick around long enough to play a season with Raymond.  I thought everybody loved Raymond........

Heh! Good one, Pete ... but 'fess up. You've been holding onto that one for awhile and waiting for just the right opportunity to use it, haven't you? 

If the kid that left is the one I think it is -- the kid from Orlando, FL (I think his name's John Pietkiewicz) whom April mentioned had been tabbed as a potential D1 prospect on several websites when she did her Wheaton recruit breakdown last month -- then it's a huge loss for Wheaton. From what I hear, Bill Harris thought Pietkiewicz may have been the best recruit he'd ever landed at Wheaton. I don't know how an incoming freshman can get any higher praise than that.

I'm not entirely shocked that Mike Thomas is leaving Augie, based upon what I've been told about him and what I know of Giovanine. I'm a little more surprised that Kolze's leaving -- not because he's a legacy, but because he got a chance to contribute right away for Augie last year as a freshman and would've probably been a key cog this year. With Kolze gone from Augie and Brett Mathisen graduated from NPU, looks like the only CCIW basketball player carrying the torch for the Lake Zurich HS Bears is the star of North Park's women's team, Laura Mount.

[Gregory Sager]

This is a big weekend for North Park athletics. NPU will dedicate the new Helwig Recreation Center Friday at 2 pm, with a special dedication ceremony for Helwig's two basketball courts, the Dan McCarrell Court and the Bosko Djurickovic Court, to follow on Saturday at 2:30 pm prior to a 3-on-3 tournament that'll inaugurate the two new courts.

For a school that has lagged far behind the rest of the league with regard to facilities, this will be the realization of a lot of hopes and dreams, and the culmination of a lot of effort, hard work, and sacrifice. Even though it won't be a performance facility for NPU varsity athletics, as a training and practice facility its value will be considerable -- and as a general-student recreational facility it'll provide much-needed relief to the constantly-overbooked crackerbox.

I trust that a lot of old Vikings will be back for this occasion, particularly since the Chief and Bosko will be on hand to receive these naming honors that they so richly deserve. Should be a great weekend at the Park.

[joehakes]

Greg,

Bosko and the Chief are certainly deserving of whatever accolades North Park can give them.  I think as time moves on from their era at Foster and Kedzie, you just have to be in awe of the success that they were able to have there.

I am glad that the college is recognizing those achievements, and I add my congratulations to my two former colleagues and my long-time friends.  I was glad to be in on pare of that era.

[armywife]

I am sad that Thomas and Kolze are leaving Augie. Since I'm a Lake Zurich grad, It was great to see Kolze on the roster and I thought he'd being playing a lot of minutes this year.  I'm not sure what happened with Mike Thomas, but I will echo others in wishing them a great future.

I'm anxious to see who is going to step us in scoring and leadership this year.

[True Basketball Fan]

Couple of pretty big losses for Augie.......Kolze and Thomas.  Both had a chance to be very solid players in the CCIW.  Does anybody know where they landed, assuming they are still playing?

Even with those losses, Augie is still going to be solid as usual.  However, defending their CCIW regular season title has become even tougher.

I wish them luck whatever they choose to do.

[augie22]

Thomas and Kolze are at home enrolled in Juco's.  I beleive neither one will be playing anywhere this year.  Then there is no telling what they will do after that.

[petemcb]

Last weekend, out at a Wheaton soccer game, I was told that the kid who left was the kid with the D1 possibilities coming out of high school.  He spent a few days on campus and decided he wanted a bigger school with bigger basketball possibilities.  I was not told where he was looking.  Unfortunate that he didn't stick around long enough to play a season with Raymond.  I thought everybody loved Raymond........

Heh! Good one, Pete ... but 'fess up. You've been holding onto that one for awhile and waiting for just the right opportunity to use it, haven't you? 

If the kid that left is the one I think it is -- the kid from Orlando, FL (I think his name's John Pietkiewicz) whom April mentioned had been tabbed as a potential D1 prospect on several websites when she did her Wheaton recruit breakdown last month -- then it's a huge loss for Wheaton. From what I hear, Bill Harris thought Pietkiewicz may have been the best recruit he'd ever landed at Wheaton. I don't know how an incoming freshman can get any higher praise than that.

I'm not entirely shocked that Mike Thomas is leaving Augie, based upon what I've been told about him and what I know of Giovanine. I'm a little more surprised that Kolze's leaving -- not because he's a legacy, but because he got a chance to contribute right away for Augie last year as a freshman and would've probably been a key cog this year. With Kolze gone from Augie and Brett Mathisen graduated from NPU, looks like the only CCIW basketball player carrying the torch for the Lake Zurich HS Bears is the star of North Park's women's team, Laura Mount.

Greg, they say timing is everything.  You are correct.  I've been laying in the weeds waiting for that one.

You are also correct about the ID of the player who left Wheaton.  That is the name I heard bandied about out there, but could not remember it.

Will you or any of the NPU faithful be at tonight's soccer part of the big North Park athletic weekend?

[mr_b]

This is a big weekend for North Park athletics. NPU will dedicate the new Helwig Recreation Center Friday at 2 pm.

I just got back from the dedication of the Helwig.  A phrase that was repeated by several speakers was "the wow factor,"  and this is certain to be the impression of many first-time visitors.  As Greg mentioned, the Helwig is a dream come true for North Park students, faculty, staff, and alumni.  Given the geographic constraints of a small university in an urban setting, land is at a premium; the Helwig makes the most of the land on which it sits, a truly flexible facility with three floors of fitness equipment of all kinds (the weight room is particularly impressive), basketball/volleyball courts, an area covered by artificial turf for use by the football, baseball, softball, and soccer teams, a batting cage, a two-lane track, climbing wall, pleasant offices for the coaching staff, an excellent athletic training area, and so on.  It is very exciting to see the latest state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Kedzie and Carmen (a block south of Foster).  Many, many thanks to the over 2,800 donors (led by the Helwig family and their long connection to the school) who helped make this dream become a reality.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just finally got around to reading the front page article on the expansion of in-region games by 'overlaying' the NCAA administrative boundaries on top of current conferences, regions, and the 200-mile rule (I somehow overlooked the Blog first time around).  It's a definite improvement, and I hope will lead to more CCIW vs. WIAC and MWC games.

But I find it ironic (and a bit out of whack with d3 philosophy) that while a CCIW team could now travel to California (or even Hawaii or Alaska) for an in-region game, Wheaton-Calvin is STILL not in-region!

2 questions:

Does this change take effect THIS season?

The article was only on the bball board - does the change also apply to other sports (e.g., is Whittier @ Carthage an in-region game)?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yes and Yes.

[Jim Matson]

Helwig will also help a bit with the recruiting.

[diehardfan]

In the how-is-Jordan-Kemper-doing-in-his-crossover-from-Wheaton-basketball-to-Wheaton-football-player-watch, here's a quote from Brett's game story today.

The Wheaton lead increased to 28-0 with 6:03 left in the first quarter when Chupp hit tight end Jordan Kemper for a three-yard touchdown pass

Yay Jordan!

Helwig will also help a bit with the recruiting.

I can't even imagine that it wouldn't!

Incidentally, are there any long term plans to renovate the basketball gym? With the new football field and new athletics student center, it seems like the general trend is to upgrade the athletics facilities...

Is anyone else besides me going to be sad to see the crackerbox go when it does?

[True Basketball Fan]

Speaking of Wheaton......gotta look at their non-conference schedule.

The Lee Pfund Classic field is very good this year.  Wheaton actually has the worst record of all the teams.  It will be tough for them to reach the finals let alone win the first game.  I'm assuming Whitworth and Franklin are on the other side, as both won 20 games last season.

Benedictine and Chicago could pose problems, but both are winnable games, even on the road.

Then we have the CCIW/MIAA challenge.  I love this event (I wish the CCIW would do it with the WIAC.......like Augie & Elmhurst from the CCIW, Whitewater & Platteville from the WIAC).  Anyway, Hope & Calvin will be extremely powerful as usual, even with some key losses due to graduation, they reload very well.  The good thing is that it's on the right side of the lake (geographically, the left side), and the CCIW teams should get more favorable calls.
Looking back at Wheaton's first 6 games, that stretch might be as tough as anybody's in the league.  We will certainly find out how good Wheaton is very early in the season.

The next 4 games pose little threat......a needed break, definitely.

Finishing off the non-conference schedule, Baruch, winner of 23 games last season, is "non counting", but will be a great game to get the focus back as North Central and Augie are up first in the always grueling CCIW schedule.

[Pat Coleman]

We ran the story in football, I believe, a few weeks before the season started.

[mr_b]

Helwig will also help a bit with the recruiting.

The Helwig Rec Center will be a marvelous recruiting tool, for student-athletes obviously and for non-athletes as well.  North Park has a very active intramurals schedule, and the addition of four basketball courts will by a huge plus... no more midnight IM basketball games.

I wonder, however, if badminton will catch on!