Moline's Paul Bayer transfers

[WB6]

Some have called the Patriot League low-major, but since they started giving full rides 5 years ago, they are on the rise and 3 schools (Bucknell, Holy Cross and Lehigh) are solid mid-major. As the above article mentions, Bucknell made history by knocking off Kansas last year in the Tourney and playing Wisconsin close in the second round.

In the CollegeHoopsNet predictions, the 3 Patriot League schools end up favorably with some of our MVC Teams which is the strongest mid-major conference in the NCAA:

Bucknell #88
Holy Cross#115
Bradley #156
Lehigh #162
Indiana State #177
Evansville #204
Illinois State #212

If Lehigh can continue to recruit players of Bayer's caliber, the chances of seeing them in the NCAA is a definate possibility. Will a team like Lehigh make the Elite 8 or Final 4? Not likely, but a Sweet 16 is not out of the question in the future. I went to Lehigh's website and their schedule shows they play Villanova, Northwestern, Princeton and Washington as part of their non-conference schedule. Interesting to see also that their Head Coach is a former Aurora West product.

[user1]

WB6-you speak as tho you may know Paul Bayer, so if that's the case, I would like to send my biggest and best congrats and well wishes for an outstanding senior year, and college career and future. From everythinhg I have heard, Paul sounds like a fine kid who places academics first and gives 100%+ in every endeavor.
Here's hoping he's fully healed from his injuries and that we'll be hearing a lot about him. I regret we won't see much of him in the midwest.

[squirrel]

Some have called the Patriot League low-major, but since they started giving full rides 5 years ago, they are on the rise and 3 schools (Bucknell, Holy Cross and Lehigh) are solid mid-major. As the above article mentions, Bucknell made history by knocking off Kansas last year in the Tourney and playing Wisconsin close in the second round.

In the CollegeHoopsNet predictions, the 3 Patriot League schools end up favorably with some of our MVC Teams which is the strongest mid-major conference in the NCAA:

Bucknell #88
Holy Cross#115
Bradley #156
Lehigh #162
Indiana State #177
Evansville #204
Illinois State #212

If Lehigh can continue to recruit players of Bayer's caliber, the chances of seeing them in the NCAA is a definate possibility. Will a team like Lehigh make the Elite 8 or Final 4? Not likely, but a Sweet 16 is not out of the question in the future. I went to Lehigh's website and their schedule shows they play Villanova, Northwestern, Princeton and Washington as part of their non-conference schedule. Interesting to see also that their Head Coach is a former Aurora West product.

Holy Cross got snubbed from the Dance last year, as they won the regular season title by 3 games with 1 loss (including a sweep of tourney champ-turned Jayhawk slayer Bucknell). They then proceeded to embarass ND on its home floor in the NIT.

Lehigh was a close runner-up to the Crusaders during the 03-04 season, but disappointed during last season. While they may still struggle to compete with HC and Bucknell this season, look for these three programs to lead the Patriot league out of obscurity.

[BU fan]

I agree. With Bucknell's huge upset of Kansas, and Holy Cross's great year- being ranked by some top 25 polls for the first time in many years, and their performance in the NIT, the Patriot League gained new respect in the past year more than any conference.

[tornado]

Re: Moline's Paul Bayer commits to......Lehigh

Paul Bayer, the sharp-shooting guard from Moline high school has announced he will accept a scholarship to attend Lehigh University of the Patriot League.

Paul Bayer was a previous recruiting target of Bradley, and so far he hasn't had a chance to play at Lehigh.

Lehigh is the only team to have played THREE games this season, and they have lost all three. But Paul Bayer has not yet gotten into a game.
.

[BradleyBrave]

Re: Moline's Paul Bayer commits to......Lehigh

Paul Bayer, the sharp-shooting guard from Moline high school has announced he will accept a scholarship to attend Lehigh University of the Patriot League.

Paul Bayer was a previous recruiting target of Bradley, and so far he hasn't had a chance to play at Lehigh.

Lehigh is the only team to have played THREE games this season, and they have lost all three. But Paul Bayer has not yet gotten into a game.
.

He wasn't an MVC-caliber player IMO.

[it's boogie time]

Sounds like he will be redshirting.

edit - it looks like I was wrong.

[BU fan]

Paul Bayer, who Bradley was once interested in, has left Lehigh.
He is transferring to Olivet Nazarene in Kankakee.
Apparently, since he did noy play in any games for Lehigh, he will still have 4 years of eligibility starting next season.

http://www.ilprepbullseye.com/page38.html

[DannyCooksey]

ONU is a very good NAIA program. They have a well-funded athletic department and an awesome place to place. McHie Arena is a really nice place especially for that level.

If I'm not mistaken Ryan Paxson, John's son, is on the ONU squad.

Bayer should have a chance to make a good impact there.

[dogsrus]

Bayer kind of reminds me of Coon from E. Peoria.....sharphooter that some wondered if he was D1 material. Had a very good career at Eureka if I recall.

[Grassman]

Bayer kind of reminds me of Coon from E. Peoria.....sharphooter that some wondered if he was D1 material. Had a very good career at Eureka if I recall.

Dog, make that Illinois Wesleyan!

[OrangeandBlack74]

Bayer kind of reminds me of Coon from E. Peoria.....sharphooter that some wondered if he was D1 material. Had a very good career at Eureka if I recall.

I think Korey Coon played at Illinois Wesleyan, not Eureka.

[Da Coach]

ONU is a very good NAIA program. They have a well-funded athletic department and an awesome place to place. McHie Arena is a really nice place especially for that level.

If I'm not mistaken Ryan Paxson, John's son, is on the ONU squad.

Bayer should have a chance to make a good impact there.

Olivet has been a very successful NAIA program.
Here is their roster. Ryan Paxson is a freshman there. They also have several Peoria area kids on the roster. http://www.olivet.edu/athletics/roster.asp?t=2

The head coach is Ralph Hodge who is in his 28th year. His top assistant is Dan Voudrie, from Morton and a Bradley grad.

http://www.olivet.edu/athletics/Coach.asp?t=2&c=39

http://www.olivet.edu/athletics/coach.asp?t=2&c=1

[BradleyBrave]

Looks like my assessment of Bayer not being DI-caliber was spot-on. Nazarene is a perfect place for him. Pax's son is there, and they run a fantastic program. I look for Bayer to have a great career there.

[chitownBUB]

Ryan Paxson is a sophomore at Olivet and was a 2005 high school grad.
After playing a couple games last season on the Olivet JV squad, an injury forced Ryan to take a redshirt year.

http://www.olivet.edu/athletics/Player.asp?t=2&p=661

One of the varsity players at Olivet just left the squad, and some of the Peoria people will recall him.
It is Micah Lavender who led his Peoria Christian High School squad to a 4th place finish in the Class A IHSA Playoffs.
It is reported that Micah, who also played one season at ICC, will transfer to Illinois-Springfield, and still may have two years of eligibility.