MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Sakman 1111]

79 Jaybird....I agree the lack of a solid point guard has been a huge issue....but the first Carthage game Elmhurst was simply a matter of being outcoached in my opinion. The Bluejays cannot match up in a man to man defense again against C. or they will spread the floor and blow by our defenders again....Also I believe the Bluejays need to shorten their bench and lose the 10/11 man rotation and extend minutes to the best players....hopefully we play the 7 or 8 who should be playing.....Just my opinions.....Elmhurst is a much better team than they have played this year and there is more wrong than the lack of Brian Lee being in the game....If it isn't working change it up....play zone, move Burks to 2 man,stop playing 6 guards a game......I don't know if these are solutions but the Bluejays are too good a team to continue to play the way it is going.....

[AndOne]

Since congrats typically only goes out when someone who wears  Green and White wins the honor... 

Congrats to Andy Wiele from Wheaton on being named the CCIW player of the Week.  So far he is having an outstanding season and is probably the key reason Wheaton is still in contention.  Yes I know Raymond is the star, but everybody knows about him.  Andy has by-in-large been the answer to the huge question regarding Wheaton's inside presence.  Without him Wheaton would become a one-dimensional attack, which is what some other teams are struggling with right now (aka Elmhurst...).

Averaged 19 point and 11.5 rebounds this past week.  Can he maintain that level of play for the remainder of the season?

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/mbball/2008/2/11/MBB-POW3.asp?path=mbball

Wiele has taken some big steps since last season and has certainly improved. I would submit, however, that said improvement has primarily been offensive in nature. Often times he plays soft on the defensive end allowing opponents to go around and underneath, if not over, him. Against North Central this season, he seemed powerless, at 6'8", to stop inside penetration by players standing 6'4" and 6'5". Additionally, his name is not to be found among the top 16 shot blockers in the conference. Next season, I bet we see an increased commitment to defensive improvement.

[tjcummingsfan]

"was anything said on the air about the "aggressive" arm movements towards some NP fans that some Wheaton fans showed? "


I was at the game and I have no idea what you're talking about

It wasn't anything more than arms flung to the sides in a "step up" fashion, obviously playful, not unlike what the NP students got in trouble for at Wheaton however...

[knarocky22]

New poll is out on d3hoops.com.  After winning two games this week, Augie actually moves down a spot to 8.  Elmhurst and Wheaton receive votes.  Does anyone know for sure when the first regional rankings come out?

[sac]

New poll is out on d3hoops.com.  After winning two games this week, Augie actually moves down a spot to 8.  Elmhurst and Wheaton receive votes.  Does anyone know for sure when the first regional rankings come out?

First Regional rankings come out tommorrow, probably mid to late afternoon.

[Mugsy]

Since congrats typically only goes out when someone who wears  Green and White wins the honor... 

Congrats to Andy Wiele from Wheaton on being named the CCIW player of the Week.  So far he is having an outstanding season and is probably the key reason Wheaton is still in contention.  Yes I know Raymond is the star, but everybody knows about him.  Andy has by-in-large been the answer to the huge question regarding Wheaton's inside presence.  Without him Wheaton would become a one-dimensional attack, which is what some other teams are struggling with right now (aka Elmhurst...).

Averaged 19 point and 11.5 rebounds this past week.  Can he maintain that level of play for the remainder of the season?

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/mbball/2008/2/11/MBB-POW3.asp?path=mbball

Wiele has taken some big steps since last season and has certainly improved. I would submit, however, that said improvement has primarily been offensive in nature. Often times he plays soft on the defensive end allowing opponents to go around and underneath, if not over, him. Against North Central this season, he seemed powerless, at 6'8", to stop inside penetration by players standing 6'4" and 6'5". Additionally, his name is not to be found among the top 16 shot blockers in the conference. Next season, I bet we see an increased commitment to defensive improvement.

Very valid point regarding his defense.  I was primarily focusing on his impact from an offensive standpoint.

[iwumichigander]

Q - What teams still have an opportunity to make the CCIW tournament?

A - The answer is - all of them - based upon the 1-4 finishes the past 10 seasons (98-07). 

Worst 4th place finish: 6-8 W/L - In 2002, three teams tied for 4th.

Best 4th place finish: 9-5 W/L (01, 03, 05, 06) - and, in 2006, another three-way tie.

Average 4th place finish: 8-6 W/L

[petemcb]

79 Jaybird....I agree the lack of a solid point guard has been a huge issue....but the first Carthage game Elmhurst was simply a matter of being outcoached in my opinion. The Bluejays cannot match up in a man to man defense again against C. or they will spread the floor and blow by our defenders again....Also I believe the Bluejays need to shorten their bench and lose the 10/11 man rotation and extend minutes to the best players....hopefully we play the 7 or 8 who should be playing.....Just my opinions.....Elmhurst is a much better team than they have played this year and there is more wrong than the lack of Brian Lee being in the game....If it isn't working change it up....play zone, move Burks to 2 man,stop playing 6 guards a game......I don't know if these are solutions but the Bluejays are too good a team to continue to play the way it is going.....

Sakman, you and 79bluejay are saying something I've been wondering for a little while now.  Given that no one has really stepped up at the point guard position for Elmhurst to this point, do you Elmhurst fans (and anyone else familiar with the program) feel that it might be time just to commit to one starter and one guy off the bench?  If none of them have really separated themselves from the rest of the 5 or 6 options that have been tried to this point, then any one or two of them is as good (or bad) as the rest.

It seems to me that Burks, Ruch, Hinzstche, et al would be better served by mediocre consistency at that position more than by a musical chairs-type point guard du jour.  I don't think anyone, even acknowledging the preseason uncertainty of that position for the jays, would have guessed that Elmhurst would be on the bubble in terms of qualifying for the CCIW tournament at the end of this month.

My vote (FWIW):  pick two and stick with them for the next four games and see if you can develop some consistency/chemistry in time for (hopefully) the conference tournament. 

waddayall think?

[79jaybird]

sakman and Pete,

I have been trying to figure out this team and diagnose what the problems are.  This team has the weapons to beat some of the best in Division III, unfortunately we have only seen this team a couple of times. (Hope, UW-Whitewater, NPU, @ Augie etc.).
Looking at some of the Bluejays defeats:
Often I think it is a lack of hustle and lack of that "desire" to go and win the close game.  A good example of this is the Wheaton game.
Sometimes, though IMO not the main problem, our gameplan is not fit for the opposition (Carthage).  Bosko had a great strategy and a solid gameplan to workwith, which allowed the Redmen to embarrass EC on it's home floor.

I am not a fan (in any sport) of having the musical chairs at a key position.  I would rather see 1 player get the nod and let him learn and gel with the team.   Currently, I would say let Saris play and let him learn the ropes.  Yes, he will make freshman mistakes, but at least he will continue to improve.

Somebody mentioned defense and let's face it, this year's Jays are not as tidy on defense as they were last year.  Part of this is due to missing Michael and his 6"10" frame inside.

It is indeed hard to figure out why the Jays have struggled in the CCIW.

[Sakman 1111]

Concerning Elmhurst all I know is that in the last 4 games if they continue with the same routine at best 2-2 and that's not good enough. Identify who your best players are and play them......I don't believe Saris is the point guard this year......Play your 5 best players at one time and screw the positions....Ruchs, Burks,Hin___,Strzemp,Rider.....I don't know but something needs to be shaken up....Just my opinion.....

[Pat Coleman]

AndOne's account of Saturday's broadcast seems to indicate differently, Pat.

Based on one comment as opposed to the body of work that I've listened to? I'm surprised you'd take that as indicative of the whole.

[Naperick]

In my opinion, whichever team stops the bleeding Wednesday will be fourth team in, although I would agree that Elmhurst needs it more. 
[/quote]

I agree.  Elmhurst could be swept by Wheaton and Carthage this year and have already been swept by Augie.  Elmhurst is in serious trouble and has little leverage when it comes to tiebreakers.

[Naperick]

Elmhurst is a much better team than they have played this year and there is more wrong than the lack of Brian Lee being in the game....If it isn't working change it up....play zone, move Burks to 2 man,stop playing 6 guards a game......I don't know if these are solutions but the Bluejays are too good a team to continue to play the way it is going.....

Based on how the season has gone so far, they could finish 7-7.  Since they lost at home to Carthage and Wheaton, I think it's safe to say they could lose to those teams on the road.  They beat N. Central and N. Park on the road so they could beat them at home.  It's time to make some changes.  Try something new.

[Titan Q]

Why is Mark Scherer not starting Brent Ruch lately?  He has one of the premier big men in Division III, yet at Millikin and IWU he started the games without him.  Seems like one of those situations where a coach is thinking way to much, or trying to get too tricky.

[Titan Q]

In Phoenix on a business trip.  76 and sunny.  Wish we could move the CCIW out here.

Ron Rose Show at 6:05pm...

http://www.wjbc.com/