HOW GOOD IS JUICE?

The Illini were much improved Saturday. However, I am surprised at how much credit is given to Juice Williams. He is a great future prospect and will be the Illini QB for the the next three years. However, even though I wish him well, I must say he is very poor this season. Look at the Big Ten stats–he is at or near the bottom in every stat. He is last with 42 % completion. He leads in being sacked. He does not rate high in any stat. Can’t we wait to brag about him until he does something with stats to back him up. Many fans are seeing the projected Juice and not the one playing now. With so little talent around him I hardly expect him to be at the top of the league. But he has half a season under his belt now. He should be cutting down the fumbling, missing receivers, and running the ball when a pass has been called.

MICHAEL MARKER PLAYING ARENA FOOTBALL

Michael Marker, a Monticello HS and Millikin graduate is currently playing arena football for the Green Bay Blizzard. Marker was on the Green Bay Packer practice squad two years ago and hopes to tryout at their summer camp after the current area season.
Below is the Bio from the Blizzard webpage.

While a rookie to Arena Football, Marker is very familiar with Green Bay. Marker was signed by the Green Bay Packers in 2005 and was allocated to the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. A larger target than most 2-way WR/DBs, Marker poses a difficult matchup for smaller DBs. He has deceptive speed, and his long stride and fluid motion give him the ability to get separation downfield.

SENIOR DISTANCE TRIO LEADS SAGES

Seniors Scott Phelps, Keith Butler, and Andrew Colbert have their eyes on a state track title in the 4x800 meter relay. Last year these three were on a team that finished third. Last fall the trio led the Sages cross country team to a fourth place finish in the state meet. Looks like another good track team for Coach Jeff Butler this spring.

WILL OKAW CONFERENCE ADD TWO TEAMS?

TUSCOLA AND UNITY SEEK OKAW ENTRY
Tuscola and Unity have partitioned the Okaw Valley Conference to be added to the present 10-teams. Currently Tuscola has been somewhat dominating in Little Okaw Valley sports and it seems best that the conference and the Warriors go their separate ways. Unity is no longer in a conference and has a hard time scheduling.
Both these schools were longtime members of the Okaw Valley Conference. Unity left for the East Central conference. A few years ago, the East Central disbanded and combined with the Sangamon, but left Unity and SJO out in the cold. SJO has found a conference, but Unity is operating as an independent.
It is a little hard to be sympathetic to the Rockets and the Warriors. The Okaw was a highly respected conference in Central Illinois and I could never really see a good reason for the teams to leave unless they were looking for easier competition.
Seven of the ten Okaw schools will need to vote yes to bring the schools back. It is hard for me to see why Shelbyville, Central A&M, Meridian and Sullivan would want to add a long trip to Tolono. Geography and enrollment gives Tuscola the best chance to gain acceptance.
However, adding Tuscola would make an odd number of conference teams and make scheduling difficult. I will be surprised it either team gains acceptance.

LITTLE HOPE FOR THE 2006 CUBS

WILL THE CUBS WIN? WILL PIGS FLY?
It is time for my annual Cub baseball prediction. My heart is not in it this year. However, here is what I really think.
(1) Pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood will get healthy and win 20 games each.
(2) First baseman Derrick Lee will be the league MVP.
(3) Rookies Ronny Cedeno and Matt Murton will both hit over .300.
(4) The Cubs will win their first pennant since 1945 and first world series since 1908.
(5) Pigs will learn to fly.
I may have stated the above in the wrong order. Actually, the first four predictions will not come true unless the fifth one does.
Spring training has been a disaster for the Cubs with both Wood and Prior injured. The players acquired in the off-season will make little difference for the team that finished 79-83 and 21 games out of first place last year. Oh yes, we still have “Dusty” Baker as manager. That alone will make winning difficult.
Since I am so pessimistic--should I become a Cardinal fan? If I ever become a Cardinal fan, you will see pigs flying over barnyard fences.
No matter what, I will always be a loyal Cub fan—it must be in my genes.

SAGES SHOW PROMISE FOR NEXT YEAR

NEXT YEAR LOOKS GOOD FOR THE SAGES
While I am pessimistic about the 2006-2007 Illini, I feel the Monticello Sages basketball team will be improved over their 14-14 record this year. Matt Finet is the only graduating senior that was a starter. Maroa-Forsyth, Warrensburg-Latham, and Meridian were very good this year and the young Sages played close games with all of them.
Nathan Swarts, 6-5 sophomore, played very well in a starting roll during the latter part of the season. Sophomore Trever Drake led the team in scoring. Corbin Sebens, a starter, gives the class a three-point shooter. Sophomore Curtis Lieischner started a couple of games before injuries and illness ended his season early. There are a couple of other sophomores still in the running for lots of playing time. The current sophomore class ranks with the best basketball classes ever at Monticello High School.
Junior Ryan Koncel had his second outstanding year as a starter. Jonathan Dighton and Luke Marry are current juniors that started several games this year. Add to this a couple of other juniors that saw some playing time and you have a very deep group of talented players coming back for next year. Coach Randy Moss will be dealing with lots of depth next season.
Are you ready for a 20 plus wins for the Sages and a long run in the IHSA playoffs next year?

WILL ILLINI SLIP NEXT YEAR?

WHAT ABOUT ILLINI BASKETBALL FUTURE?
The Illini defeated Michigan State on the road last Saturday and some fans are dreaming of another NCAA title run. Until Saturday, most of these same fans had many doubts.
In early January, the Illini basketball team had a 15-0 record and was ranked sixth in the nation. This came the year after Illini finished 37-2 and reached the finals of the NCAA tournament. The Illini had won more basketball games in this century than anyone except Duke. Coach Bruce Weber’s recruiting had just gotten a commitment from Eric Gordon of Indianapolis. Gordon is the nation’s top ranked shooting guard from the class of 2007. Things were looking good and Coach Weber looked like a genius.
Since then the Illini have a 10-5 record and have dropped to 10th in the polls. I am not disappointed or surprised at the current record. Actually, the Illini are better than expected. The bad news is that the well may be running dry. Next year does not look like another fun season.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a meeting where the main speakers were local radio and sports writers. They answered questions from the audience. I did not learn much new about next year’s team but I had some of my worst fears substantiated.
The underclassmen have many weaknesses. The 37-2 team had three guards, (Dee Brown, Luther Head, and Deron Williams) that are far superior to what we can expect again. The future players do not have that kind of talent.
Expect to see Jamar Smith, Rich McBride, and Chester Frazier at guards next year.
Smith can shoot but has problems getting open and creating shots. McBride is a veteran, but still doesn’t move well without the ball and can’t take the ball to the basket. Frazier handles the ball but does not score. The other guard prospect, Calvin Brock, would be wise to transfer.
Brian Randle has great athletic ability. However, his strong defense is sporadic, he can’t shoot from outside, and is very poor from the free throw line. Shawn Pruitt, Marcus Arnold, and Warren Carter can be good players but appear to lack the talent for greatness. Yes, Dee and Augie will be missed. Are you ready for a 17-15 season with no trip to the NCAA tournament next year?

ILLINI FREE THROWING AWFUL

HOW BAD IS ILLINI FREE THROWING?
Much has been written recently concerning the miserable free throw shooting by the current Illini basketball team. It is bad. The team is shooting 62 percent and two of the starters, Brian Randle at 53 percent and Shaun Pruitt 44, have extremely poor performaces.
College and professional basketball players can run, jump, play defense, and generally do everything much better than high school kids do. However, they are not a whole lot better at the free throw line. Nearly one-third of all NCAA Div I teams are making less than two of three attempts.
Monticello high school, with several sophomores playing, is currently shooting a very good 68 percent.
I checked the records, and in the past 25 seasons, the Illini have had four teams shoot free throws over 73 percent for the season. The Sages have had three teams above that mark during the same time span.
Individually, Brian Cook, has the Illini one year free throw percentage record at 87.3 percent. Craig Myers set the Sages record at 88.7 percent.
What does all this mean? If the Illini start using more 3-guard offensive sets, Pruitt will be on the bench. Randle, who is a talented athlete, will surely do better. It seems logical that improved free throw shooting is on the way. Being poor at the line does not necessarily spell defeat. The Illini are 21-3 after Saturday’s upset loss to Penn State.

HEHN SETS THREE-POINT RECORD

Monticello's Courtney Hehn holds all the Sages girls basketball records for three-point shooting. She recently set a school record making 10 three-point shots for Olivet Nazarene in a game with Illinois Tech.
Hehn has missed seven games this year with an injury. Olivet's run-and-gun offense requires lots of substitution. Courtney made her 10 shots in 15 attempts while playing only 17 minutes. She was two away from tying the all-time NAIA single game record. Hehn is a freshman at Olivet.