MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[voxelmhurst]

In the first few years of doing EC games, my co-host and myself prided ourselves on being well, goofballs.  I mean, we were college kids spending our own money, our own time and presenting a product as we felt.  As the years progressed, this goofball moniker disappeared and as a result the fun in calling the games went away (one of the many reasons, I'm no longer doing the games).  Let these kids call the games as they wish, the joy of college radio is doing things on your terms and more importantly not holding back in saying how you feel about opposing fans, refs, players and hell even coaches. 
If schools want a "more professional product" then feel free and offer scholarships, re-imbursement for traveling expenses, and training for these students.  I know at EC we received no help, and quite frankly, the school wouldn't have ever began broadcasting games if it weren't for a pair of goofball kids.  I can't speak for how the programs began at the other schools, but simply put, be thankful that the games are even on the air. 

On a seperate note, the EC broadcast sounds great, and unless I'm confused, they are definately not students.   

I was part of the WRSE broadcast team in 1990 - 1991.  I had no plans to make radio my career but had a lot of fun doing it.  Mixing that in with running track, academics, a girlfriend, and a fraternity was a challenge but very worth while.  The play-by-play guy made radio his career and made many stops throughout the U.S.  He had to give up sports broadcasting because of family reasons but was the voice of the Carolina Mudcats after being in the business 5 years.  I really think he was going to make it big.

Your post reminded me of some very fun times in my past and how much dedication it takes to put the games on the air.  Thanks for reminding me of that.

A big thank you to all involved at all CCIW schools who work to put the games on the air and on the web.

So how many Elmhurst posters here are also WRSE alum? 

[cardinalfanrochelle]

This post doesn't have anything with basketball, I wanted to ask all who post on this board to keep the students who were shot at NIU today in their prayers and also their families and students who were touched by what happened. My wife was the pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry at NIU over a year ago and she has been at the campus helping with students deal with what happened today, you think something like this will never happen in your neighborhood it only happens somewhere else, well somewhere else just moved in my neighborhood.  

[devildog29]

In the first few years of doing EC games, my co-host and myself prided ourselves on being well, goofballs.  I mean, we were college kids spending our own money, our own time and presenting a product as we felt.  As the years progressed, this goofball moniker disappeared and as a result the fun in calling the games went away (one of the many reasons, I'm no longer doing the games).  Let these kids call the games as they wish, the joy of college radio is doing things on your terms and more importantly not holding back in saying how you feel about opposing fans, refs, players and hell even coaches. 
If schools want a "more professional product" then feel free and offer scholarships, re-imbursement for traveling expenses, and training for these students.  I know at EC we received no help, and quite frankly, the school wouldn't have ever began broadcasting games if it weren't for a pair of goofball kids.  I can't speak for how the programs began at the other schools, but simply put, be thankful that the games are even on the air. 

I understand what you're saying, and to the degree that you were acting independently of Elmhurst and were without support I agree with you. However, when the student broadcast team is subsidized by the school and is acting in an official (i.e., supervised) capacity on the school radio station, then it's a different story. Then it becomes a matter of being seen as the school's ambassadors to the public, just like the athletes, because the airwaves are public. And that's where the goofball behavior becomes problematic.

Greg, yes, I saw the Rivier game.  Like I said, I wasn't generalizing based on one game, but that particular game reminded more of an NBA game than a DIII game - four guys stand around and one guy create one on one.  Certainly not the Wheaton team that I knew from the past.

[Titan Q]

I think it's overstating the matter to say that he has had only one "all-around solid recruit" since Antoine McDaniel. For one thing, Theo Powell followed after McDaniel. So did Kevin Menard and Trey Bowens. But the fact of the matter is that Bosko and his assistants have brought in lots of good ballplayers over the past few years. The problem is that most of them haven't stuck around. Derrick Clanton and Casanova Brown had phenomenal CCIW potential, yet neither one lasted past his freshman year. This year Logan Derrick seems to be following that trend; he's still on the roster, but he hasn't appeared in a game since mid-December. Is he still on the team? Is he still in school? Nobody's even mentioned his name on CCIW Chat over the past couple of months.

And then there's the top-drawer talent that actually contributed before leaving early. Mike Hart was on his way to becoming a CCIW superstar. Then he left Carthage; now he's finishing out his career at Northern Illinois. Kyle Jeffery was an established CCIW superstar. But he left, too, and now he's finishing his career at UW-Parkside.

Lastly, there's the it-might-have-beens. Trey Bowens has been a very good player in this league, but one wonders just how much better he would've been if academic troubles hadn't sidelined him at various points during his underclassman seasons. Same with Billy Shemerdiak. When you're relegated to street clothes because of grades and you can't even practice with the team, you're impairing your future development.

Bosko's had the players, aceon. He simply hasn't been able to keep them in a Carthage uniform. Perhaps part of what he meant by "We need to recruit better" was, "We need to bring in guys who won't fall by the wayside for whatever reason."

Part of recruiting at this level, however, is finding student-athletes who understand, and are willing to accept the challenges of, Division III.  When the same school continues to bring in players - either high school seniors or transfers - who end up having academic problems or transfering, one has to wonder if the coaching staff is really finding the right student-athletes.

[Gregory Sager]

That's exactly what I was getting at, Bob. Hence, what I told aceon is the implicit meaning behind the words, "We need to recruit better."

Again, "better" doesn't merely (or even necessarily) mean more talented student-athletes. It also means student-athletes who are an improved fit for your program and your school.

[79jaybird]

I think tomorrow's Elmhurst/North Park game is a real "caution" for Elmhurst.  North Park is going to be thinking pay back after EC embarrased the Vikings on their home court. That and EC has not played very well at home.  Every game from here on out is crucial for EC as they have been slowly skidding out of the radar.
I look for a much different Vikings team on RAF floor, than what we saw at NPU.  On that note, the best team effort I have seen EC play all year, came against NPU.

For the record,  I am a 2002 EC grad and have been on WRSE broadcasting since 2001.
2008 (will be) 8 years doing EC football
second year doing EC basketball

IMO,  you broadcast NCAA Division III sports because you A) love your school, B) love the players, and C) most of all love doing what you do.   
You shouldn't "want or need" to get paid for doing the games.  Would it be nice to get a little "boost" for doing the games?  Sure  of  course, however money is not/should not be the reason why you are broadcasting a game.

[SKOT]

On the train this morning, I noticed someone reading an article on Illinois Wesleyan forward Darius Gant in the Chicago Sun Times.  Its never bad to get a little publicity in a big city newspaper!

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/795437,CST-SPT-small15.article

[Titan Q]

A nice article on Darius Gant from today's Pantagraph...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/15/usports/doc47b53249619c8365773553.txt

[augiefan]

I believe Keaton Frye is still not totally recovered from an injury but has been playing JV ball. Perhaps Dansand can give us the facts should he still be stopping by on our board.

I would also say that IWU has a pretty good go to guy in Darius Gant. Maybe not at the Raymond level but a pretty terrific DIII talent.

[Titan Q]

Through Wednesday, 2/13...

Home win = 0 points
Home loss = -1
Road win = +1
Road loss = 0


Augustana (8-3): +2 (road wins at IWU, EC)
Illinois Wesleyan (8-3): +2 (road wins at MU, NPU, NCC...home loss to AC)
Wheaton (7-4): +2 (road wins at EC, CC, NPU...home loss to NCC)
Elmhurst (6-5): +1 (home losses to CC, WC, AC...road wins at NPU, NCC, MU, CC)
Carthage (5-6): -1 (road wins at EC and MU, home losses to NPU, WC, EC)
North Central (4-7): -1 (home losses to EC, IWU, NPU...road wins at WC, MU)
North Park (4-7): -2 (home losses to EC, IWU, MU, WC...road wins at CC, NCC)
Millikin (2-9): -3 (home losses to IWU, CC, EC, NCC...road win at NPU)



Location of remaining games (home/road):

Augustana (8-3): 1 home/2 road
Illinois Wesleyan (8-3): 1 home/2 road
Wheaton (7-4): 2 home/1 road
Elmhurst (6-5): 2 home/1 road
Carthage (5-6): 1 home/2 road
North Central (4-7): 2 home/1 road
North Park (4-7): 1 home/2 road
Millikin (2-9): 2 home/1 road

Tonight:

Augustana (8-3) @ Millikin (2-9)
North Park (4-7) @ Elmhurst (6-5)
Illinois Wesleyan (8-3) @ Wheaton (7-4)
Carthage (5-6) @ North Central (4-7)

[mactitan]

I am loving the broadcast on WETN.  It has been a good game so far (for a Titan fan), but the broadcast is outstanding.  The Livestats are fun too, but being able to watch the Titans on my chair in my living room is pretty awesome.  If the conference tournament can't be at IWU, it would be great if it was at Wheaton - just for these broadcasts.

[mactitan]

Hard fought win for the Titans.  I am really impressed with the way this team has come together.  They are playing well at the end of the year.  Sean Johnson hit a HUGE three pointer.  Gant missed four free throws down the stretch that could have helped my blood pressure.  He reminds me a lot of Brent Niebrugge.  He is not quite as good of a scorer, but he is a similar hard-nosed, undersized player that just gets the job done.  Wheaton's pressure gave IWU some fits in the second half, but IWU was able to hold on.  The freshmen are so impressive. I've only seen  Rosenkranz twice, but he sure does some special things with the ball, but sometimes it looks like he's used to scoring at will and getting calls.  A little bit of physical development and experience, and he is going to be very good.

[sac]

Augustana 9-3
Illinois Weleyan 9-3
Wheaton 7-5
Elmhurst 6-6
Carthage 6-6
North Central 5-7
North Park 4-8
Millikin 2-10

....is that correct.

[augiefan]

Brett Wessels with 23 and Jeff Becker with 12 (most in the second half) salvaged this one for Augie. Dain Swetalla had another awful game (zero points/0-7 from the field) and Chandlor Collins fouled out with Millikin still ahead.

[Mr. Ypsi]

With about 13 to go and the Titans up 12, Wiele had a MONSTER 2-hand dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy and sparked a 6-0 run.  Things then went back and forth for about five minutes (Titans never more than 8 up or less than 4), then Wheaton slowly drew ever closer, getting it down to 1 w/ about 3 to play.

Then Sean Johnson hit the dagger - an NBA 3 with a hand in his face - all net!  While it was certainly never comfortable for a Titan fan, the Thunder never again got closer than 2.