SURVEILLANCE

SURVEILLANCE

In Des Plaines:  Bryson Butler fresh off of Player of the Week honors in his JUCO region and other national spread, recorded 16 points leading Kishwaukee to a 68-58 road win over Oakton College Saturday afternoon.  Butler, a Lincoln Park Alum has added an improved perimeter shooting to his already stellar floor game.  He is now drawing interest from the likes of Valpo, U Portland, St. Mary’s, Santa Clara and Eastern Washington.  Michigan City native Malcolm Reed tallied 13 points while Peoria Central grad Deshaun Jackson added 11 points & 9 rebounds.  Tafari Beckford was the high-man for Oakton with 14 points.  Kish is now 9-2.

In Evanston:  On the North-end corridors of a once happening Roger’s Park Neighborhood, a mile or so away looms Welsh-Ryan Arena, now home to the newly inspired Northwestern Hoop Fanatic’s.  The Cat’s no longer push-overs under the spirited watch of Head Coach Chris Collins entering his fourth season, has the enthusiastic fan base gloating with a long over-due twinkle in their eyes, knowing this could be a special season, while anticipating the NCAA selection committee could be ringing.  DePaul this night found out how for real the Cat’s are in their quest for a potential NCAA tournament bid.  Scottie Lindsey scored 16 of his game high 19 in the opening half, as the Cat’s ambushed the visitors with a 54-18 shellacking by intermission.  This was billed as a Big10 VS Big East Rumble, as well as bragging rights on the North Side for maybe social primacy.  DePaul was clearly over matched much of the ball game, even though they competed admirably in the final half out-scoring the Cat’s by twenty 46-26 making the final out-come respectable.  It’s a knee-jerking experience, “witnessing guys who you consider friends and you know they work hard at their craft, getting beat handily”. Blue Demon’s Coach Dave Leitao in his second tour of duty with the program, he is one of the classiest gentlemen in the business and majority of the population around these parts want to see him fare well.  Let’s face it, the Blue Demons need more artillery.  It’s all about the Northwestern Cat’s this season, we couldn’t be more exuberant for Chris Collins and his program.

In Chicago at the Pavilion:  The Flames and Eastern Illinois hooked-up in a Sunday afternoon matinee.  The Panther’s don’t venture in the Chicago Area too often, but on this afternoon the Panther’s left Chicago area observer’s and their local Alumni with a formidable impression, routing the Flames 90-76.  Junior playmaker Cornell Johnson let the assault with 21 points while dishing out nine assists, the lil St. Louis native was terrific, slicing and dicing his way through defenders.  The kid is worth the price of admission.  Eastern was too tough in the interior with its collection of shot-blockers, led by six foot nine Sophomore Aboubacar Diallo who registered 14 rebounds and 3 blocks.  Junior left hander Montell Goodwin was stellar on the perimeter, draining four three pointers en route to 19 points.  If the Panther’s perform in the OVC like they did Sunday, we may have witnessed another NCAA bound Illinois program.  Jay Spoonhour and his staff have things looking upward in Charleston, Illinois.