Quote from: GusD on July 14, 2026, 01:25:51 AM

Quote from: petemcb on July 13, 2026, 09:17:52 AMHas anyone heard anything about whether recently-returned-to-the-fold Asst. Coach TJ Cobb might be given an "Interim" Head Coach title or has North Park announced any kind of an open job search?

The NPU site states A national search for new leadership will begin promptly.
But besides the problem actually finding a new head coach there naturally exists the possibility some returning players might choose to leave. Also, some committed recruits who were only very recently recruited by the now departed head coach and as yet have no association with the school might reconsider their commitment(s). As such, a school will often elevate an assistant to interim head coach for the upcoming season in order to preserve continuity for the current roster. If NPU elects to go this route it seems TJ would certainly be the guy.

In most of these situations, I would think that might be a likely option.....but until just a few weeks ago, TJ Cobb wasn't even on the NPU staff. He's certainly familiar with NPU basketball historically, but only joined their coaching staff in the last few weeks, meaning he likely was not involved in any of the recruiting for this incoming Freshman class so he doesn't provide any continuity/familiarity - although a recruit could learn a lot from someone with the work ethic and never-say-die attitude that TJ has demonstrated over the years!

Has anyone heard anything about whether recently-returned-to-the-fold Asst. Coach TJ Cobb might be given an "Interim" Head Coach title or has North Park announced any kind of an open job search?

Quote from: GusD on May 20, 2026, 11:41:33 PMRob Sansone, a 6'1 SG from Montini, who averaged 19 PPG and had initially committed to Carthage, has now withdrawn that commitment and will instead attend Loras.

What?! No big announcement of magnanimous thanks to coaches, parents, and the rest of the world prior to deciding to reopen his recruitment?! How refreshing. 😊

Quote from: GusD on April 24, 2026, 12:59:05 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2026, 11:27:35 PMBradley Stratton, 6'2", out of St. Laurence with a prep year at Don Bosco Prep, has committed to North Park.

And, possibly reported previously, so has 6'5 PF Mustaf Rexhepi out of Niles North.

That is a nice addition for the Park and one who might have flown under the radar a bit. He is strong, has a relentless motor, hits the glass hard, defends, runs the floor, passes well, and can score. And guys out of Niles North, coached by Reid Olson's dad, Glenn, learn how to play hard and selflessly. Congrats to Ed McGhee and staff.

Just to add to the Wheaton comments, Mike Schauer played Freshmen and Sophomores for 126 of the 200 player minutes available in the game. And Reid Olson is legit. I've watched him off and on through high school and he is a tireless player, has ice in his veins, a laser focus on the basket, and has scored a ton of points without being selfish. Not that Mike Schauer needs my support or confirmation, but the comparisons he draws are realistic.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on September 13, 2025, 01:48:15 PMI did a little research yesterday which shows CUW is in a strong position going forward.

From 2023 to 2024 they reported an increase in undergraduate enrollment from 1700 to 2400.  They had a budget surplus last year and the deficits in prior years haven't been huge.

They're also the flagship campus for the Concordia System, controlled by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (Moorhead isn't part of it, but most of the others you've heard of are).  It's not unlike a state system, where the campuses are independent, but there's an overarching organizational structure that they're all a part of, as well.

In the last seven years they've closed three campuses and Concordia Texas is currently suing to separate from the system.  The Ann Arbor campus (which is technically a satellite of CUW) keeps getting smaller and likely will go away at some point.

If the LCMS is like any other US denomination, it's likely hemorrhaging money and members - consolidating higher ed in one much larger, more stable campus is a good way to move forward in that situation.  A bigger, more robust CUW fits pretty well in the CCIW and I think there's a lot of mutual benefit there.

I'm making a ton of assumptions in this analysis (I don't actually know what the Concordia system is doing), but I don't think they are far-fetched assumptions.

An enrollment jump from 1700 to 2400 in one year is almost unheard of, I would think. Is there any chance that is a different form of reporting? For instance, did CUW maybe roll the Ann Arbor enrollment figures into one overall total and report it as CUW? Or maybe CUW started up a mushrooming online degree completion program? I'm not doubting their numbers as much as trying to account for them.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 15, 2025, 06:23:05 PM

Quote from: markerickson on August 15, 2025, 04:43:32 PMNorth Park announced its transfer class on X. Former Carthage big man Julian Campbell; Jerome Smith (LA Tech); Jalen Houston (IU NW); Tyvin Garrison (Lincoln U); Lazario Cornish (Spoon River CC); Rasmus Westerlund (Calumet CC); Katrell Weekley (Roosevelt U); Raz Orbach (College of Canyons); Joe Kone (John Melvin U); and Matt Neal (Kennedy King CC).  Five are listed between 6'5" and 6'8".  Is Mr. Campbell really 6'8"?

Yes, he is. I'd be surprised if you haven't seen him already, since you're a fixture at North Park Gym for men's games and Campbell played twice against NPU for Carthage, in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He led the Firebirds in scoring in the January 11, 2023 game with 23 points on 10-15 FG shooting, and he scored 8 points in the January 3, 2024 game.

He was hard to miss, because he was certainly a big fella. I think that Carthage had him listed at 6'8", 270, but, honestly, he looked much closer to three bills during his Firebirds playing days than he did to 270. I'm curious as to what he looks like now, a year and a half after he suited up for his last Carthage game.

Greg, are those regularly-scheduled scrimmages or just random gatherings? I'm ready for a fix.

Sounds like someone needs a Snickers.

Quote from: ChickenHoops on April 19, 2025, 03:21:18 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 11, 2025, 12:06:54 PMNot every WIAC school has reciprocity with Minnesota -- just the ones closer to the border.

Not true. It's a UW System/MN thing.  Lady Dawgs of UWSP are recruiting in MN with earnest.

Earnest? Is that one of their Assistant Coaches? 😉

This would be a reeeally nice addition for the Thunder if Facebook is to be believed. Reid Olson, from Niles North High School, is a major outside threat from as far out as 30 ft, has a high motor, and is not afraid of crunch time and pressure. He was 3rd team IBCA All-State. He might be the Thunder's best Chicagoland recruit since Tim McCrary. He had a lot of interest at a few levels, including a scholarship offer from D2 Purdue-Northwest. I know they had a coaching change after their season ended and suspect that might have played a role in this change of plans.

I'm thinking back to one of Coach Mike Schauer's post-game interviews which are always interesting for one reason or another, and after one towards the end of this past season he mentioned that if a few things fell into place he would be very excited about the combination of this year's Freshman class and this upcoming season's incoming Freshmen. Between the two brothers from Arizona already mentioned, and now this apparent addition, we might be starting to see what he was referring to.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16984456/Reid-Olson

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on March 26, 2025, 02:13:18 PMWheaton schedule is posted.

Non cons at Concordia Chicago, vs Lake Forest, at Hope, vs Benedictine, vs Pfund Classic x2 TBA, at Manchester, at Wisconsin Lutheran, at Chicago.

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2025-26

Actually their first game looks to be a little more of a road trip up to the Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan at Concordia, WI.

Quote from: markerickson on February 25, 2025, 10:55:27 AMIs the RESPECT Award comparable to tykes' 'everybody gets a trophy" award? /s  For example, what did DJ Wallace do to earn his award?

If you would spend five minutes with DJ, you wouldn't need to ask this question.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 04, 2025, 07:35:50 PMNorth Park 69
Carthage 68

John Gaines: 11 pts, 7 rebs
DJ Wallace, 10 pts, 3 stls
Tristan Arneaud: 4:1 a:to
Davante Robinson: 4 stls
Rico Powell: 3 stls

Riley Brooks: 19 pts
AJ Johnson: 18 pts (10-11 FT)
Ryan Johnson: 10 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks

Taijon Barry made the first of two FTs to break a tie with one second left, and Rico Powell grabbed the offensive rebound after Barry missed the second. Kudos to Carthage for forcing the game to go down to the wire by closing late, as NPU led for the vast majority of the game but could never put away the Firebirds; the Vikings never led by more than 10.

North Park moves to 9-4, 4-0, and is the last undefeated team left in CCIW play. Carthage drops to 8-4, 2-1.

Big, big road win for the Park.

As exciting as Wallace's 10 pts are, his 5 rebounds are just as exciting, if not moreso!

Well, with tonight's Wheaton win over Concordia-WI, the CCIW moves to 17-7, for a winning percentage of almost 71%. I wonder what's improved over last year: our teams or our scheduling?

Because I'm not sure how well the evening will go for the CCIW, this might be a good time to point out that, at 14-5, the CCIW's non-con winning percentage is a fairly robust .700.  Let's enjoy that while we can.