MBB: Midwest Conference

[systemfan86]

Well, this morning it says the 13th. 

Tommorrow it may say the 14th.

[larry_u]

Still no poll up yet...

However, they do have something on the front page saying all the conference games this season will be free on MWC tv.  Thats awesome.  I didn;t want to pay to watch my Vikes from the Twin Cities, but for free, I'll definately check out a few games this year...

[PC]

Could be an interesting year in the Conference with all of the new and realatively new coaches... 

What is the impact of new faces on the sidelines?

Will the recruits of the second year coaches make a big impact in the league standings as freshmen?

Will DePagter be able to live up to expectations? (and should he get out after this year?)

What will be the evolution of the system this year?

Is Carroll the next dynasty?

Will St Norbert break out now that their coach has "his kids" and is not relying on the tallent brought in by the former coach?

Is their basketball life in Illinois outside of the CCIW?

Is Ripon ever going to make it back to the top of the class?

... so many questions, so little time...

[The Roop]

Roop--by "a need for more male athletes" is it your impression that Beloit intends to relax its admission standards when reviewing an application from a (borderline) male athlete that would not previously have been admitted?

Roop and anyone else---Does anyone believe this already happens at any other  conference schools and, if so, how widespread is it? Thanks.

Not at all. They could easily accomplish this without lowering any standards. Just give athletes the same fast response time as the Birkenstock crowd gets. The cut off point will vary year to year but a slow response has lost more athletes than a lack of qualified applicants has.

How the rest of the schools get around the MWC salary cap I don't know. But there's a good chance that they work with their athletic departments; not against it. 
 

[PC]

Roop --- work is that Grotberg still counts towards Iowa State's salary cap, so Grinnell gets some help there...

[The Roop]

Sorry PC but The Roops Mac says that's between ISU and the Big 12. It does not effect the MWC salary cap in any way. 

[larry_u]

Poll is finally out.

No big shockers..

LU is 1, Carroll 2, Grinnell 3, SNC 4, Ripon 5, Monmouth 6, Lake Forest 7, IC 8, Knox 9, and bottom feeding once again is the Roop Nation.

http://www.midwestconference.org/mbasketball/2008-09/MWC_MBB_PP_0809.pdf

[Old School.... (Tom Doebler)]

Poll is finally out.

So soon?

[Gregory Sager]

Is their basketball life in Illinois outside of the CCIW?

Two words, one ampersand: Chicago & Aurora.

[Dolph Stanley]

A question for the LU fans out there, are there any concerns about your coaches abilities as a recruiter?  It would appear that Lawrence has three Freshman on their roster along with three Sophmores.  While playing time might have been an issue with the strong Senior and Junior classes that they have, I would have thought that the success that LU has had over the past decade would have led to larget incoming classes.  Perhaps its a non issue but it does seem curious.   

[PC]

Poll is finally out.

So soon?

Give it a break.  It is a busy time of year in the MWC office...  especially when it is headed up by a Ripon grad...

[larry_u]

A question for the LU fans out there, are there any concerns about your coaches abilities as a recruiter?  It would appear that Lawrence has three Freshman on their roster along with three Sophmores.  While playing time might have been an issue with the strong Senior and Junior classes that they have, I would have thought that the success that LU has had over the past decade would have led to larget incoming classes.  Perhaps its a non issue but it does seem curious.   

I'll take quality over quantity anyday.  Nope no concerns what so ever.

[scottie]

Sorry PC but The Roops Mac says that's between ISU and the Big 12. It does not effect the MWC salary cap in any way. 

Sorry, but I couldn't help thinking about those commercials....  I'm a Mac, I'm a P.C.  (Is this you, PC?)  http://www.hillsdale.edu/athletics/mens_basketball/coaches.asp 

[The Roop]

Poll is finally out.

No big shockers..

LU is 1, Carroll 2, Grinnell 3, SNC 4, Ripon 5, Monmouth 6, Lake Forest 7, IC 8, Knox 9, and bottom feeding once again is the Roop Nation.

http://www.midwestconference.org/mbasketball/2008-09/MWC_MBB_PP_0809.pdf

Move SNC to #2 and the coaches poll would be correct. I guess they missed my memo. Where they put Beloit doesn't really matter. I have them at 6 but since it's a 4 team tournament #s 5-10 are in the same boat as far as that goes.

However, this could be the exact bulletin board material that Beloit needs to take a higher step but it will depend on their defensive effort. Last season they needed 3 freshmen to contribute. This season they will need 4 or 5 frosh (depending on Hortons availability) contributing to have success. So while they have more depth they are younger than they were last season.

A high school foul isn't always a foul in college and freshmen are a bit tentative on D for this reason. They have too many play makers and 3 point shooters to be a 10th place team. 

[Fort Knox]

Season Opens Tonight!!!!!

Couple of good early tests for Carroll and St. Norbert against WIAC schools. The new-look Foresters should also be tested at Benedictine. Monmouth continues its re-classification to Division II with a game at Minnesota State-Mankato.

As for the main event, I think the Prairie Fire have a good mixture of expereinced vets and talented freshman and expect them to leave Dubuque with a W.