Quote from: cubs on May 18, 2026, 11:40:48 AM

Quote from: mwunder on May 18, 2026, 10:54:42 AM

Quote from: cubs on May 17, 2026, 05:49:15 PMhttps://youtu.be/pR_lq-8R9iM?si=jRfooDn7UEohflJL

Bit of controversy in Whitewater today during the Regional Championship game...

Too much stick'um on the bat or what was he arguing about? 

Sticky substance was found on the barrel of the bat apparently in 9th inning of tie game?  Batter was declared out, but allowed to remain in game.  Coach was ejected after using some magic words while he voiced his displeasure in the ruling.

I can't find anything in the rules regarding an ejection.  Looks to me like the umps got it correct.

Quote from: cubs on May 17, 2026, 05:49:15 PMhttps://youtu.be/pR_lq-8R9iM?si=jRfooDn7UEohflJL

Bit of controversy in Whitewater today during the Regional Championship game...

Too much stick'um on the bat or what was he arguing about? 

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on April 17, 2026, 12:52:29 PMTomt4525 reposted

https://x.com/i/status/2045099315635364245


Riley Brooks to Charleston Southern

Here's the write-up from the Charleston Southern press release:
"RILEY BROOKS | 6'5" | Ripon, WI | Carthage

A ready-made bucket getter. If Charleston Southern needed an immediate perimeter scoring punch, Riley Brooks may be the answer.

The 6-foot-5 wing arrives from Carthage College after establishing himself as one of Division III's most consistent offensive threats, and the production speaks loudly. Brooks earned back-to-back All-CCIW First Team honors while averaging 17.5 points this past season, pouring in 456 total points while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three, and an elite 85.7 percent from the foul line. He reached double figures in 20 of 26 games and eclipsed the 20-point mark 11 times, including a 31-point eruption.

Last year succeeded a sophomore campaign in 2024-25 where he posted 15.8 points per game and knocked down 62 threes. Even before his Carthage breakout, Brooks showed promise at Northern Michigan, where he shot nearly 39 percent from deep as a freshman while helping capture a GLIAC championship.

The coaching staff's comparison to former Buccaneer standout Jesse Hafemeister says plenty. "He can score from anywhere," they noted, and Brooks' career trajectory supports that statement. He's a polished perimeter weapon who has steadily sharpened his efficiency while handling major offensive volume.

A four-time all-conference and three-time all-state performer at Ripon High School, Brooks was already a decorated scorer before college, averaging 25.8 points per game as a junior and earning a Top-300 national ranking from PrepHoops.

For Charleston Southern, he projects as one of the safest bets in the class to contribute immediately. Wings with his size, shot-making confidence, and collegiate scoring résumé rarely need much adjustment time."

I hope he plays well at the next level, but I have my doubts.  I hope he proves me wrong.

I know Cleveland is an immense talent, but if Grinnell gets past JCU on the other side of the bracket, I think you could make a case that he would slow IWU down against the system.

Pros: Talent, Glass cleaning, Inside game
Cons: Not going to be in game shape, not fully healed.

Just a thought.

Thoughts on tonight?  Elmhurst and Carthage are pretty evenly matched if you look at the stats and this season's matchups.

Both average 77.6 PPG
Carthage gives up fewer PPG by 5.
Season series split, both teams won at home.  Carthage won by 15 in Kenosha.  Elmhurst won by 12 three weeks later.  Since that game in late January, Elmhurst is 7-2.  Carthage is 7-1.

Both shoot it at roughly 45.5%.  Carthage holds opponents to 40% while Elmhurst gives up 45%.

Elmhurst led the league in 3 pt accuracy, while Carthage was the best in the league at defending the 3.

Elmhurst shoots better from the line (and this might be the difference).

Carthage has the edge on the boards.  Both teams turn it over as often as they cause turnovers.

My three big questions for Carthage.
1--Which Ryan Johnson shows up tonight?  This is not a knock. I'll take Double/Double machine RJ, but would much prefer, the RJ that showed up the last time they played at the Shirk.
2--Bench play. In the loss at Faganel Hall, the bench contributed 2 pts and 3 boards in 45 minutes. That can't happen again.
3--Free Throws.  Carthage is shooting .714 this season, while they shot .774 a year ago with mostly the same team.  They need to take free points when they are given the opportunity.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2026, 04:45:09 PM

Quote from: mwunder on February 25, 2026, 12:56:02 PMI, for one, have been super pleased with the CCIW network this season.  Aside from the blue tint of the Millikin half court camera, everything else has been remarkably well done.  There are so many more opportunities for students who want to go into video production or broadcasting now than back in the early 90's when I was a student.

Agree on all counts ... including the blue-tinted Millikin halfcourt camera. I feel like I need to take a Dramamine tablet every time that I watch a game from the Griz nowadays.

How soon until the CCIW goes to a pay model like the WIAC?

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2026, 04:45:09 PMTurns out that they weren't NPU students at all. They were just hanging out in the section inhabited by the Vikings football players. The AD and a couple of other members of the athletics department staff cleared them out and got everybody away from the Wheaton players very quickly.

Thanks for clearing that up and I'm glad it turned out to be someone other than the student body.  Fixed my post above!

Mr Sager...great job on the broadcast last night.  I watched the first half of the other quaterfinal game and switched over to your game at the half.  Super atmosphere in the gym that came across on video.  Classy move on your part to mention the Wheaton seniors after their final game.  A great D3 contest.

I, for one, have been super pleased with the CCIW network this season.  Aside from the blue tint of the Millikin half court camera, everything else has been remarkably well done.  There are so many more opportunities for students who want to go into video production or broadcasting now than back in the early 90's when I was a student.

I am curious as to what consequences two outside agitators will face after they acted like fools after the game and proceeded to whip the floor with their belts near the Wheaton bench during the handshake line.  I believe Coach Schauer was the first to confront these students and was visibly upset for a few minutes afterwards...following them out of the camera shot from the one baseline camera. It's too bad that incident put a small blemish on this instant classic of a game.

Great work Greg and team at NPU on the broadcast.

Quote from: iwu70 on February 11, 2026, 10:17:13 PMIn an ugly scrappy game at the Griz, IWU over MU 53-52.  No one really playing well.

For IWU:
Funk 10 and 7
Colak 9
C. Williams 9
Cleveland 7 and 8

IWU at 36%/33% from three/ only 55% from the FT line

For MU:
Straughter 13
Thomann 12

MU at 40/27/ and 50

A road win is a road win.  Barely. 

IWU moves to 19-4, keeps pace with Carthage for the league lead.  Sometimes better to be lucky than good. 

'70

IWU survived this one after taking the lead 53-50 on a second or third look on an open 3 by Williams.  Straughter had two looks at a game winner but missed the first short, followed his shot and back rimmed the second at the buzzer.  Very surprised that Thomann didn't get the ball in his hands at the end of the game.

Cleveland took a nasty fall after a dunk that stopped play for a few minutes. He just held on to the rim too long and came down on his left side / arm / wrist area.  He returned to make an impact defensively but was clearly bothered on his left side.

Quote from: iwu70 on February 02, 2026, 09:54:55 PMNew Poll:   U of Chicago and Nick Roper at #1.

IWU at #16, with ORV Carthage.  (IWU beat Chicago and Nick Roper earlier at Shirk). 

Five games to go.

'70

That didn't age well.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 05, 2026, 12:41:58 PMMoral of the story: Experience matters. The Firebirds have it, and they demonstrated it last night.

Other morals of the story.

Win games you're 'supposed to win'. (Experience helps)
Protect the home court.
Crash the Boards.
Take better shots or go to the rim. (1-13 from 3 in 2nd half, ouch)
Free throws are free points. 64% for the game.

AJ Johnson was $$$ last season from the FT line (90%), this season, he's at 72%.  Not sure how a shooter as good as he is, drops almost 20% over the course of a year.

Fun game to watch. NCC battled to stay in it throughout the contest.  Bullock played a heck of a game for the Cardinals.

I disagree this week because his team went 1-1 instead of 2-0 and another player in the league had very similar stats and beat him head to head.

Congrats to Noah Cleveland for another Student Athlete of the Week award.  I believe this is his 4th on the season and will probably lock up the player of the year award.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 01, 2026, 10:52:13 AMFormer North Central head coach Benjy Taylor has learned that life in his current coaching situation can be even tougher than in the CCIW:

Seriously, this Morehouse rent-a-cop needs to go, tout suite.

Made ESPN's top headline today as well.  Open and shut case here.

As mentioned above, CC over IWU by 15.

Some quick thoughts:
--Ryan Johnson played his best overall game of the year and was the best player on the floor for this game.
--AJ starting to find his range and isn't afraid to shoot the 15' instead of the 3 ball.
--Daun was the x-factor in this game, providing a third scoring option
--IWU gets after it on defense, seemingly getting a hand on the basketball on every possession
--Refs let them play in this game.  Lot's of banging inside.
--Carthage won the rebound battle by 16.

Carthage continued it's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde season with an up and down week.

They dropped their Wednesday road contest at Elmhurst 72-60.  The Firebirds went cold for long stretches in this game where they didn't score for 2, 2, and 2.5 minutes in the first half.  They opened the second half by scoring 5 points in the first 5 minutes of the half.  Elmhurst won that important 8 minute phase of the game. Elmhurst's perimeter D was great as well, holding Carthage to 36%.

Brooks 27
R Johnson 11 and 15
AJ Johnson 11

Trelenberg 24 (7-11 FG, 5-6 3Pt)
Blachut 15
Boone 11
Cherry 10.


Saturday at home was a totally different story for the Firebirds with a 75-61 win over Augustana.  Carthage ran it's offense efficiently and consistently made the correct pass for an open look leading to 22 assists and shooting 50% on the night.  AJ Johnson hitting 6-10 3's opened up the inside game for quite a few easy buckets.  Carthage led by as much as 20 in the half even after a 4 minute scoring drought from 14:16 to 10:14.  The second half was back and forth with Carthage stretching it's lead to 23 at one point.  Oddity for the game...Carthage shot 3 free throws the entire contest.

AJ Johnson 22 6-10 3Pt and 7 boards.
Brooks 19
R Johnson 17 7 and 8 assists

Klaver 11
Parcel 11
Maurchie 8 and 10


Big matchup on Wednesday at the Shirk