Quote from: cubs on March 30, 2012, 11:27:57 PM
How about former Titan and reigning Wisconsin HS Coach of the Year Kelly McNiff?

Wasn't Schumacher a former Titan and reigning State Champion?

I was only able to go to two games all season and they were both early in the season. Just a question for those of you who are veterans to the league ... how do you think the teams/talent this year stacked up to the past few seasons or your recent memory?

The last few years I've felt like the league has evened out a bit but the best weren't maybe as good as the best from the past decade (Stout's Duoss teams, the Oshkosh five, the UWSP Nechuta/Schultz squads). That said I felt like the second tier of teams closed the gap and made things more intriguing.

It's weird to see the traditional powers of Stout and Oshkosh (who's going on a long slump now) struggling.

Great to see four teams make it. It doesn't matter how the league compares to past years; it's obvious they've not lost anything (and arguably gained) on the rest of the country. I believe there are six Wisconsin teams overall with Carthage and Wisconsin Lutheran ... awesome!

Quote from: Just Bill on February 24, 2012, 04:14:40 PM

Quote from: bulk19 on February 24, 2012, 03:52:24 PM
That being said, it's difficult to beat a team three times in a season, and the Pointers did blow the Warhawks out twice this year, but I will pick the Pointers on Saturday...

Channeling my inner Greg Sager here...

This is one of the biggest falsehoods in sports. In actuality, the team that wins the first two games wins the third game far more often than not. Something in the neighborhood of 70%. The reason: the team that won the first two games, won the first two games because they are likely the better team. If they weren't they probably wouldn't have won both of the first two games.

Is it really that high? I'd like to see those numbers; would be interesting.

I mostly agree with you but from a coaching standpoint it is not easy to beat that team again (if the talent is close which I believe this matchup is). If you've won two you've seemingly figured out how best to beat that team ... but the other team will be likely making significant adjustments; often things you haven't seen from them previously. If you've lost twice you've likely got to try to do something different. At that point it can become a back-and-forth of adjustments.

There's also the mental aspect. Does the 0-2 team believe they can win? Are they even more fired up? Does the 2-0 team get overconfident?

I think it's an interesting premise regardless. We'll see how it plays out!

Agreed; great match-up and they probably would not have played each other being on separate sides of the state.

I shouldn't have worded it was such. It's just kind of funny two teams from the same state travel across the country and end up playing each other. Although I think UWSP and Concordia (or someone like that) faced off in Florida a year or two again. When I saw the match-up I was just surprised to see it was in Vegas. No disrespect intended

RF falls from the ranks of the unbeaten with an overtime loss to a good Carthage team in Vegas. I'm sure they were thrilled to travel to Nevada to play each other.

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on December 04, 2011, 12:09:32 PM
You could literally see people age from the start to finish.

Quote from: quail1231 on December 06, 2011, 08:33:31 AM
Sorry for trying to start a discussion.  Didn't realize this board was so sensitive.

HAHA ... Trying to start a discussion

Quote from: hoop_junkie on November 17, 2011, 02:24:33 PM

Also, how can anyone defend the UWL program? They're indeed the most underachieving team in the WIAC every year. Yes, we all know they made the tournament last year, but given their resources, size, location and quality of school they should be competing for national titles every year, not battling it out for 4th place in the WIAC. People can make all the excuses they want, but that's the truth. There are a lot of places out there in d3 doing way more with less, than Lax is.

Seems inappropriate for someone who coaches D3 in the region to be taking shots at a program on a message board.

WW turning them over tonight! 19 TO's for the Badgers in the first 24+ minutes.

Obviously it was WW's turn in the rotation for the WIAC. Considering the team they have this year, the Badgers might have gotten two of the non-D1 teams in the state they wouldn't want in the exhibition schedule.

Without a horse in the race I will say coming on the board and saying, "I'm sorry your team lost because I wanted my team to end your season" is neither funny or very respectful. If I were a Point fan I wouldn't take that well either.

Considering they had a tremendous season ended and the wounds are fresh I'm not sure even good humor is appropriate from a school still alive.

Great season Pointers! Impressive run through the league again. As someone mentioned, their margins got bigger it seems the more they saw teams. Normally it gets tougher for the better team as people get extra looks at you and the target gets bigger. That's a testament to the staff and those kids.

Here's to a great off-season for the WIAC on the recruiting trail, in the weight room, and in the classroom.

Another fan year to be a fan of this league.

Quote from: Out_Of_My_Kitchen on March 08, 2011, 11:24:14 AM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 08, 2011, 12:58:22 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 08, 2011, 12:15:18 AM
The committee finally gave us its final rankings today. Would have been helpful a week ago.

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/03/01/ncaas-final-regional-ranking/

Their final flip-flop on IWU/ UWSP explains why UWSP is hosting the sectional.  As I expressed 3 weeks ago, I was kinda surprised that IWU was still ahead of UWSP.  But I call foul on switching them NOW.  Between the times the last published rankings were considered and these FINALLY published standings come out, UWSP went 2-0, IWU went 3-0.

The only thing that changed was who IWU was playing.  The beat three teams who weren't ranked in the regional rankings while SP beat WW, who was ranked 3rd.  I think it is clear that this win bumped them ahead of IWU giving them more regional ranked wins. 

Not to mention their last regular season win was against UWL, another ranked team ... so they could have seriously closed the gap after that week, then passed them the week after by beating WW.

For a full body of work I think it makes sense how they could pass them.

Actually my line of thinking is just have more possessions, therefore more of everything statistically. Odds of TO's with a typically team at normal pace are maybe a every 6-7 possession? I think it's hard to have that many extra possessions, let's say 25 more than teams at normal pace, that's likely 3-4 extra turnovers at a regular rate. Mount Union is 10th nationally. If you play high possession games I just think it's very impressive.

I agree with everything else you say. I just know the faster pace teams I'm familiar with at this level; Whitewater, Stout, and Illinois Wesleyan seem to be up around 17-20 TO's per game when it's all said and done. If Mount Union gets up and down like these teams 14 is a great number.

Olivet Nazarene takes as many quick shots as anyone with their "system" style and still averages around 24 TO's. I just think law of averages says more possessions=more turnovers (and points, and shots, and rebounds, etc.). That is really the only reason.

Quote from: seventiesraider on March 01, 2011, 07:49:16 PM

Quote from: billys on March 01, 2011, 10:12:09 AM
Mount Union appears to be a deliberate bunch, I would imagine WW's pressure and attacking will bother them. They only average 14 TO's which is tough to do unless you play a slower tempo. Obviously just going off of stats though ... has anyone seen them? They also don't have a ton of size (5-10 for their bigs that most contribute). Guard dominated scoring-wise. Looking forward to that one.

Mount Union is anything but deliberate, more like Run, Gun and have some fun. You really need to check game to game for who is dominant. If you look back five games, it was bigger girl dominant, Amanda Rose (F) and Lauren Forquer (C) but other games will be lottsa guard action like the John Carroll game. There will be three guards on the floor most of the time. They substitute freely; 3,4,5 everytime the clock stops. I would expect 14-15 ladies to see action. Rosa LaMattina and Cory Wiedt are the floor generals and they feed who ever is hot. They are very much designed to be like the 1998 final four team which featured Suzy Venet, who is now coach.

They may come out slow as they have a habit of feeling out the opposing defense. They can be down 10 or 12 and have the floor presence to just keep playing. They are very young, but they are very disciplined and play hard no matter what combination of players is on the floor.

I've missed very few games and I can say with some prejudice, they are tough and fun to watch. I'd predict that they play a close game, but pull away in the last 6-8 minutes. From what I've read about this year's UWW, they have nothing in common with the teams that Mount has had problems with.

I'll be watch on my computer screen from Daytona Bike Week. Good luck Warhawks and fans

BTW: I recognize and totally respect the fact that UWW played one of if not the hardest schedule in the country

That's shocking to me ...  that they can play fast and only turn it over 14 times a game. Very impressive. As far as dominant goes I was just looking at their three leading scorers being guards.

They get off nearly the same amount of shots per game but WW turns it over over 19 times per. WW gets to the line about 3 times more per game.

Have I mentioned how impressed I am about the lack of TO's? 

WW forces 23 and MU only gives it up 14+ ... should be interesting. I'll still take the Warhawks! When in doubt I'll revert to what the computers tell me 

Good luck to all three WIAC teams. Can't wait to follow

Sorry, I don't mean my predictions to demean any of the other teams. I just know if I'm filling out a bracket pool I'm pushing Point through to the Sweet 16 without a lot of hesitation.

They're at home, they're playing well, they're battle tested ... I just don't see them losing at home. I haven't seen Concordia so I'm basing it only off what I know of Point.

Anyway ... let's talk hoops.

Predictions:
Point no trouble in rolling to the Round of 16
Whitewater wins their first game and then has a battle ... still think they can win.
La Crosse does the same and unfortunately gets bounced in round 2.

Mount Union appears to be a deliberate bunch, I would imagine WW's pressure and attacking will bother them. They only average 14 TO's which is tough to do unless you play a slower tempo. Obviously just going off of stats though ... has anyone seen them? They also don't have a ton of size (5-10 for their bigs that most contribute). Guard dominated scoring-wise. Looking forward to that one.