It didn't take Joel Box long to realize he wasn't in Pepsi Arena any more.

"The fans over there are crazy," Box said of the 5,000 faithful fans who came out to watch him and his Duzce Genclik teammates play in the Turkish Professional League's second division.

They chanted mostly, Box said, but they also let the referees know when they didn't agree with the calls.

"They threw plastic bottles at the refs when they made a bad call," said Box, a former Quincy University and John Wood Community College star. "One game, they threw batteries at the refs.

"It's a lot different. They're chanting the entire time from when they get to the gym until they leave."

After leading the Hawks to an NCAA Tournament berth during the 2006-07 season in his only year at QU, Box landed in Turkey for his first year of professional basketball this past winter. By all accounts, his trip abroad was a success. Box was second on his team with 16 points per game. He was second in the TPL's second division with 11 rebounds per game and third in the league in blocks with two per game.

Box, a 6-foot-9 power forward, helped Duzce Genclik make the playoffs this season. His team was bounced in the first round of the playoffs, which allowed him to come back home early. A week ago Friday he landed back in his home base of Rockford, wishing he was still in Turkey.

He learned enough of the language to communicate with his teammates -- he was the only American on his team -- and took a liking to the Turkish cuisine. Box even brought some receipes back with him to serve his family.

The basketball wasn't bad either.

"It was definitely better than what I expected," Box said. "It was really competitive."

His play opened eyes, which means he should have other chances to play overseas again next season. Box said teams in Sweden, Holland and Germany have asked his agent about him. Box plans to play in a summer league in St. Louis to keep in shape. He's also making plans to come back to Quincy to participate in the annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament. He'll team with former Hawk Andre Muse, former JWCC player Vivian Benjamin and his brother, Jeremiah, in the top men's division.

Joel Box hopes to know his next hoops home soon.

"I should know something by this summer for sure," he said.

More exposure for Weibring

For those who get the "Golf Plus" edition of Sports Illustrated, they were treated to a three-page spread this week on what Quincyan D.A. Weibring and his Golf Resources Inc. group has done to make over the TPC Four Seasons course, home of this weekend's Byron Nelson Classic.

Weibring, who was also profiled by the national magazine earlier this decade for his work on the TPC Deere Run, received prominent mention in the article and was pictured as part of the spread.

Those who were in the field this week have loved what Weibring has done with the place, which was panned by many pros before the makeover.

"(Weibring) has created a Tour-quality course to challenge the best players in the world," 2005 Byron Nelson champion Ted Purdy told the Dallas Morning News earlier this week. "He did a fabulous job."

One down, one to go

Culver-Stockton College filled one of its two coaching vacancies last week with the hiring of Tim Southers, formerly of Midway (Ky,) College, to take over the women's basketball program. His hiring came 50 days after former C-SC women's coach Dan Chapla and C-SC men's coach Brad Hoyt resigned on March 6.

The school has two more candidates coming in this week for the men's opening, including Truman State assistant coach Tim Deidrick, who will be on campus Tuesday.

Both Southers and whoever is named to take over the men's program will be behind in recruiting with each having taken over so late in the recruiting season.

-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3365