MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[wheels81]

Being Kent Raymond?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icysehz-OVc

[martin]

Back on February 29, there was a story in the Sun Times on Raymond.  The reporter quoted Raymond - so I assume he spoke to him.  The story is no longer on the Sun Times web site but I posted it back then.  In it, the reporter states -
Raymond, who sat out his sophomore season to reassess his personal and spiritual life, will graduate in May with a degree in Communication: Rhetoric and Culture. He'll forgo his final year of eligibility and pursue a job in financial services, which is why the tournament this weekend is so personally significant.

Unless someone knows that he has changed his mind, I assume that information is still correct.

The Sun Times focuses on Kent Raymond in its Friday small college column. He says he will not be back next year.

CCIW part of the story - hope reposting this much is OK.

Wheaton's Raymond has one thing in mind
SMALL COLLEGES | Awards are nice, but star guard seeks CCIW tourney title

February 29, 2008
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com
The awards were piled high this week on Wheaton guard Kent Raymond, who was ''humbled'' by them but probably needs one more big one -- a CCIW tournament title -- to keep his career going.

For the second consecutive year, Raymond was named College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin player of the year. He also was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America team and was named one of 10 male finalists for the prestigious Jostens Award, given to Division III basketball players who best exhibit basketball ability, academic prowess and community service.

''It's very humbling to receive those awards, in particular to be one of the 10 finalists for the Jostens Award,'' Raymond said. ''It was very unexpected. I'm honored by that.''

Raymond, who sat out his sophomore season to reassess his personal and spiritual life, will graduate in May with a degree in Communication: Rhetoric and Culture. He'll forgo his final year of eligibility and pursue a job in financial services, which is why the tournament this weekend is so personally significant.

Wheaton will be on the bubble, at best, for the Division III tournament if it doesn't win the four-team conference meet at Augustana, so Raymond knows he's facing the possibility of playing his last college game.

The third-seeded Thunder (19-6, 9-5) plays No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan (15-10, 9-5) at 6 tonight. No. 4 Elmhurst (18-7, 8-6) plays No. 1 Augustana (20-5, 11-3) at 8. The title game is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Wheaton has won five of its last six, including a 73-60 home triumph against Augustana on Feb. 13. The loss during that stretch was by two points at Illinois Wesleyan.

''We're feeling really confident, especially on the defensive end,'' Raymond said. ''We're playing well as a team on defense.''

Raymond has been a force on the offensive end, averaging 31 points in his last two games. He ranks 13th in Division III with 23 points per game and is shooting 88 percent from the free-throw line. He's 11th on Wheaton's all-time scoring list with 1,504 points in three seasons and owns a career scoring average of 20.3, the second-highest in school history.

''I have a very competitive nature,'' said Raymond, who is from New Palestine, Ind. ''When I'm on the court, people say I play hard no matter the situation.

''People close to me say I'm a passionate person about everything I do. When I give myself to an activity, I give it everything I have.''

• • Joining Raymond on the All-CCIW first team were Carthage guard Steve Djurickovic, Augustana guard Brett Wessels, Elmhurst center Brent Ruch and Illinois Wesleyan forward Darius Gant. The second team featured Elmhurst guard Ryan Burks, North Park forward Nick Williams (Niles North), Wheaton center Andy Wiele, Augustana center Dain Swetalla and North Central forward Chris Drennan. Augustana's Grey Giovanine was named coach of the year for the third consecutive season.

[April]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

[luvdahoops]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

Wouldn't he have to be enrolled full-time?  I think the part-time thing applies only if you're in your last semester and don't need the classes.  April, check your source again.

[und63]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

Just like Division I, one year of eligibility remaining and nowhere to go!
An ego trip for all, who really cares?

[petemcb]

Huh?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Before anyone gets too carried away, you might want to remember the date.

[April]

Before anyone gets too carried away, you might want to remember the date.

well at least I confused 4 people

[Mr. Ypsi]

Before anyone gets too carried away, you might want to remember the date.

well at least I confused 4 people

Yeah, sorry to mess with your favorite holiday!

I was afraid we might be headed for a rerun of the 2005 'discussion' when he dedided to sit out.

[petemcb]

Just like Division I, one year of eligibility remaining and nowhere to go!
An ego trip for all, who really cares?

For the record, this was the thing that made me go huh.  And I still don't get it.

[petemcb]

Kinda like I guess I still don't get the how-to-quote process without screwing it up......

[thundermike11]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

I heard from a more reliable source that he's still undecided

[April]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

I heard from a more reliable source that he's still undecided

Uh, did you read the whole thread before posting? Happy April Fool's Day? 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

I heard from a more reliable source that he's still undecided

Uh, did you read the whole thread before posting? Happy April Fool's Day? 

Or maybe he just got you?

[Gregory Sager]

I just heard from a reliable source that Kent Raymond is coming back for his last year of eligibility while taking classes part time in the Wheaton grad school. Wooooooo!!!

I heard from a more reliable source that he's still undecided

Uh, did you read the whole thread before posting? Happy April Fool's Day? 

Score one for April!

Methinks she's gunning for Poster of the Month.

Just like Division I, one year of eligibility remaining and nowhere to go!
An ego trip for all, who really cares?

For the record, this was the thing that made me go huh.  And I still don't get it.

Yeah, me too. We know that und63 wears a particularly opaque set of green-tinted lenses, but Illinois Wesleyan fans need to care about Raymond's possible return as much as do any of the other six CCIW schools that will have to contend with him for yet another season if he changes his mind and returns to Wheaton for 2008-09. Raymond's potential impact is much too big to be ignored or dismissed by opposing fans.

Kinda like I guess I still don't get the how-to-quote process without screwing it up......

Hmm, I don't see anything wrong with your post.