MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augie22]

By the way...any word on Nate Swatella's knee?

[knarocky22]

I'm with augie22 on this one.  Every year it seems once Augie gets on a roll, the Coach G. bashing begins.  None of you has any idea how much the players at Augie respect and love playing for him.  I've even talked to some people who only played a year or two under him before deciding to call it quits who said that the way he treats his players is amazing.  He'd do anything for his players.  Also, if North Park was in Augie's position, I guarantee none of you guys would be bashing your own coach.  If you guys want to keep bitching about him, that's fine.  You go ahead and keep bitching, and Coach G. will keep bringing CCIW titles to Augustana.

p.s.  augie22, I'm pretty sure d_p knows how to spell, he simply was trying to be funny (for his sake I hope this is the case).

[augiefan]

I think Coach G is a lot like Bob Knight, Pete Rose, A.J. Pryszinki (sp.), Dennis Rodman and other athletes and coaches with less than pleasant personalities. You hate them until they are coaching or playing for your team. Then to most folks they are A-OK, as long as they perform well for your team. I personally do not find Coach G's behaviour particularly appealing, but this year's "team" certainly speaks to his ability to coach basketball. He's a good one, and I think we'll try to hang on to him, warts and all.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Anyone who was at the Wheaton/Carthage game lastnight, how bad was the inadvertant elbow on Schlemm, also how much time was left in the first half. All the K-News said was he sat out the rest of the half but returned for the second half. Also, Raymond had an interesting quote I'm not really sure I understand, maybe someone can explain. He said in the paper that this was one of those game that was tough to have energy for.  I realize it may have been a little sloppy and not the most exciting game to a fain, but I would hope every player on each team was jacked up for this one seeing it could end up playing a huge part on whether or not each team makes the conference tourney.

I was at the Wheaton/Carthage game last night - Schlemm went down for a loose ball with two players from Wheaton and they rolled around twice.  It was a scrum.  Then he lay on the floor holding his face while the play went to the other end for 30 seconds, then the refs called time out.  I want to say there was about 7 or 8 minutes on the clock.

As for Raymond's comment - the gym was really, really empty.  Unlike th old people at IWU, the old people at Wheaton don't do much cheering, clapping or anything else - they sort of just sit their on their hands - sort of reminds me of most Covie church services I go to.

The pep band was okay - but it was nothing like the electric atmosphere of playing in front of a full-house like the one at North Central last Saturday night.  With a great pep band and lots of fans from both schools.  Carthage had maybe a dozen fans at the game.

I kept thinking to myself that perhaps the Wheaton students have 'abandoned ship' on their team - though I'm sure they'll have a great turnout on Saturday night - and it would be a real shame because Wheaton is well coached, their kids play hard and they never quit.

Isn't Wednesday also traditional 'church' night in Wheaton.  I remember for years that Wheaton would not play a home game on Wednesday nights because it conflicted with local church nights.  Perhaps that could explain the low turnout.

MW 70:3

As for the Giovannie thing - get a grip - like I said good coach - poor role model.

And yes I am envious about Augie's recent success in men's basketball, but they've earned it - good for them = still no reason for boorish behavior by their coach.  If the fans from RI can't accept and except that as a compliment - sorry guys - get a grip (and not just on a beer bottle).

[AndOne]

What on earth could the reasoning be for not makeing it an 8 team tournament and adding that extra game as exempt?

This seems like silly semantics to me.

I would agree that it is "silly semantics."  It just sounds like they want to say that every sport has the same 4-team conference tournament setup...I have no idea why really.

I will post the link to the archived interview with Chris as soon as it is up on WJBC2.com.

It's not "silly semantics", because it's going to cost everybody a regular-season game that they could certainly use either to fatten the regional record by taking on a NAthC, MWC, or SLIAC opponent or to toughen up the team by taking on a quality opponent in a setting that wouldn't necessarily have to hurt one's tournament chances. That's a very tangible difference, not a semantic one.

True, but every year it seems all 8 CCIW teams play at least one non-conference game that does neither of those things (at least going in, on paper).  Like from this year...

Elmhurst vs IIT
Elmhurst vs Alma
Elmhurst vs Gwynedd-Mercy

Wheaton vs Northwestern (IA)
Wheaton vs Nazareth
Wheaton vs Rivier
Wheaton vs Baruch

Carthage vs Olivet
Carthage vs Marietta

North Park vs Judson

North Central vs East-West
North Central vs Harris-Stowe
North Central vs Gwyedd-Mercy

IWU vs Judson

Millikin vs IU-Northwest
Millikin vs West Coast Baptist



Everyone will just need to be a little more selective in scheduling non-conference individual games and tournaments...that's all.

Oops!

Q--------U forgot one team! How 'bout.............

Augie vs Beloit
Augie vs Clarke
Augie vs Rockford 

Additionally, some of the above games took place in tournaments. A team really can't do anything about that.

[AndOne]

Dennis,

Why do you feel the need to compare coach G to a Jacka**...I can think of pleanty of other people within the CCIW to start calling names, but then I like you would look like a little kid.  It has already been addressed this season that no one needs to say that teams or players are garbage, why is a coach any different?  Grow up, keep it clean, show some class, and discuss like an adult.

I think it was pretty well agreed to by about 98% of pollsters that earlier this season there WAS a game in which a (non CCIW) coach DID act EXACTLY like a j*****s in a blowout victory. I am glad to admit I was one of the 98%.

Alas, however, I've reformed, so lets just say so as not to possibly be confused with a jack**s, there are times when the coach needs to "channel his aggressive drives into more socially accepted patterns of behavior."         

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

there are times when the coach needs to "channel his aggressive drives into more socially accepted patterns of behavior." 

That's an uncharacteristically diplomatic way to put it.  Not to mention quite witty.

[Scream]

I'm with augie22 on this one.  Every year it seems once Augie gets on a roll, the Coach G. bashing begins.  None of you has any idea how much the players at Augie respect and love playing for him.  I've even talked to some people who only played a year or two under him before deciding to call it quits who said that the way he treats his players is amazing.  He'd do anything for his players.  Also, if North Park was in Augie's position, I guarantee none of you guys would be bashing your own coach.  If you guys want to keep bitching about him, that's fine.  You go ahead and keep bitching, and Coach G. will keep bringing CCIW titles to Augustana.

So are you saying that the only way your guys will play hard is if they have a coach like Coach G.? Is his over the top demeanor the only way that he can coach?  No one is debating that he gets results, but that doesn't excuse having no class.

Two pieces of evidence he has no class:
1. shouting during opponent's free throws.
2. no tie.

there are times when the coach needs to "channel his aggressive drives into more socially accepted patterns of behavior." 

Agreed.

[AndOne]

Thank you Hoops and Scream, but SOMEBODY evidently didn't like it. In the approx 20 minutes since I posted it, it has already cost me 1 Karma point---just another reason this Karma crap makes no sense--to me at least.

Perhaps an Augie fan who is upset over even the slightest "critizism" of Coach G ?

[armywife]

Dennis jumps on the trash Coach G bandwagon every year, you would think he'd be over it by now. Ignore him, I've learned to. He didn't get -42 karma points by being cheerful.  I don't think Coach G ever reads the board, so I'm sure he doesn't care. I've seen what goes on during free throws at college games, and having someone talking to their players during one seems on the mild side.

It's great to see Augie playing so well again this year, must be the coaching. I remember a story about the Augie team a couple of years back being in the middle of an intense season and their coach, who obviously treats them so very badly, saw they needed something different during practice, so he walked them over to the swimming pool and had them all jump in and play and goof around for the afternoon. Yep, those guys are so very abused.

[AndOne]

What on earth could the reasoning be for not makeing it an 8 team tournament and adding that extra game as exempt?

This seems like silly semantics to me.

I would agree that it is "silly semantics."  It just sounds like they want to say that every sport has the same 4-team conference tournament setup...I have no idea why really.

I will post the link to the archived interview with Chris as soon as it is up on WJBC2.com.

The reason why the league is doing this seems obvious to me: Equity. The men's
half of the league can't be allowed to get more than the women's half gets, and basketball can't be allowed to get more than soccer or baseball gets.
Therefore, if the men's basketball coaches want eight teams to vie for the CCIW automatic bid, the league is going to make them pay a penalty in order to allow it ... and the penalty is to extract a game from the schedule. It smacks to me of cutting off your nose to spite your face, but keep in mind all of the athletic department politics (times eight!) that're involved every time there's a CCIW rules change that affects season length and scheduling.

Greg------This is NOT directed at you. Your explanation is correct. But, it does bring up 2 questions---1 of which, or maybe both of which will prob rile a few feathers:

1) "The reason why the league is doing this seems obvious to me: Equity. The men's half of the league can't be allowed to get more than the women's half gets, and basketball can't be allowed to get more than soccer or baseball gets."

"Equity" is a very politically correct word. In most cases its likely the right way to go. In theory, equity is a sound mode of operation, However, on the practical side it sometimes makes no sense at all. I have a lot of trouble believing the sum total of the attendance at ALL the women's sports combined at the vast majority of DIII schools comes anywhere near the attendance for just men's football & basketball. Shouldn't the sports that bring in the most revenue and/or interest the most fans 
interest be entitled some extra percentage of the revenue?

2) "Therefore, if the men's basketball coaches want eight teams to vie for the CCIW automatic bid, the league is going to make them pay a penalty in order to allow it ... and the penalty is to extract a game from the schedule."

The (CCIW) "league." Not hard to believe at all. This is the same league that hires the officials whose work knowledgeable posters here from every or close to every league school have been correctly critical of. It makes perfect sense to me that same league would do another thing thats so foolish. Isn't the purpose of a league office to help the schools rather than hinder them?

[tjcummingsfan]

Dennis jumps on the trash Coach G bandwagon every year, you would think he'd be over it by now. Ignore him, I've learned to. He didn't get -42 karma points by being cheerful.  I don't think Coach G ever reads the board, so I'm sure he doesn't care. I've seen what goes on during free throws at college games, and having someone talking to their players during one seems on the mild side.

It's great to see Augie playing so well again this year, must be the coaching. I remember a story about the Augie team a couple of years back being in the middle of an intense season and their coach, who obviously treats them so very badly, saw they needed something different during practice, so he walked them over to the swimming pool and had them all jump in and play and goof around for the afternoon. Yep, those guys are so very abused.

Talking to players is one thing, yelling "rebound" is another, and is classless.

Also, if North Park was in Augie's position, I guarantee none of you guys would be bashing your own coach. 

there's no way to know that one way or another, the fact is he, often is classless.

I think Coach G is a lot like Bob Knight, Pete Rose, A.J. Pryszinki (sp.), Dennis Rodman and other athletes and coaches with less than pleasant personalities. You hate them until they are coaching or playing for your team. Then to most folks they are A-OK, as long as they perform well for your team. I personally do not find Coach G's behaviour particularly appealing, but this year's "team" certainly speaks to his ability to coach basketball. He's a good one, and I think we'll try to hang on to him, warts and all.

Nobody is questioning his coaching ability, I think that's been well established.  I'd love it if North Park had the record Augie did (and maybe they should).  And please don't compare Coach G to those guys, that's just rediculous.  There's a difference between playing hard, and playing without class.  And Coach G crosses that line more often than I think anyone (obviously not from Augie) appreciates.

[David Collinge]

"Equity" is a very politically correct word. In most cases its likely the right way to go. In theory, equity is a sound mode of operation, However, on the practical side it sometimes makes no sense at all. I have a lot of trouble believing the sum total of the attendance at ALL the women's sports combined at the vast majority of DIII schools comes anywhere near the attendance for just men's football & basketball. Shouldn't the sports that bring in the most revenue and/or interest the most fans 
interest be entitled some extra percentage of the revenue?

Equity isn't about revenue or fan support, it's about opportunity.  I can see that the conference would have an interest in ensuring equal opportunities for all athletes, regardless of gender or sport, irrespective of revenue generation or attendance figures, whether or not I agree with a policy that springs from that interest.

[knarocky22]

I'm not disagreeing with the fact that Coach G. gets a little too "heated" on the sidelines at times.  I just don't think it gives anyone the right to say he's not a good role model, especially when they don't know him personally.

Also, this discussion goes on every single year.  Coach G. is what he is.  You would think after years of this, people would simply learn to deal with it and not bring it up everrrrrryy singgggggllleeee yearrrrrrrrrrr.  He's not going to change because some CCIW fans say he's a jackass in a chatroom.  So, please, let's do everyone on this board a favor and just drop the subject.

[Brick]

It makes me very happy to see so many Augie posters stick up for coach G. When I came to bat for him last year this was not the case...