I would have to say that SP runs the best structured offense.  It seems to change a little bit every year depending on personal.  EC runs a good offense, but it seems like it more sets, which I think is hard to get into a flow on offense.  Running a half-court offense with sets mixed in off dead ball situations is ideal in my mind.  After all, many times last year EC had a very difficult time scoring, but that their youth most likely has more to do with that than anything.  

Last year Stout pretty much forced the ball into Hirssig (really tough post) and she scored it.  WW scored a lot with their senior guards.  Both these teams might have a tough time scoring with what they have coming back this year, but I don't know who they really have coming back.  

RF plays very good defense, as does EC, as they try to slow the game down more through a full court press this year.  They don't pressure the ball, but just try to keep it in front of the.  Stout and WW both tend to use a full court press to speed up the game and trap well. SP usually plays solid half-court defense and have had guards in the past who pressure the ball extremely well.  

That being said, with a league of very good coaches, I would want my daughter to play for Coach Egner at SP.  There is really no bad choice for the most part in this league, but I just like her style and passion.  She doesn't let freshmen or sophomores wilt on the bench till their junior or senior year and she wins in the post-season.  She is a proven winner and that team does a lot for the community.  

Hope this helps out a little bit.

Myranda Tyler- 6'1 and moves well, so any a team like SP will be able to use that big body when their posts get in foul trouble.  I didn't think Plendl would be a good player after seeing her once last year, but she really turned into something special.  Don't mean to compare the two, but you can't teach size.

Jenna Pitt-Made the game winning shot in the D3 State Finals two years ago and I heard that she was getting looks from a couple D2 schools.  She hurt her knee in October I believe, so she should be healthy or close to it by this October.  Shes a good guard. 

Alyssa Olp-This girl took her team to State.  Really tough guard that drives well.  I see her playing right away.  SP already has a pretty good PG, so Olp should be a solid back up.  On a team that is loaded with talent, how many 3s is she going to have make? 

Christie Struck- Really good player, but we'll see if she can make the team. 

Quote from: jam8788 on April 12, 2010, 04:47:45 PM
UWSP Recruiting Class
Myranda Tyler 6'1 Grafton - mostly just tall, will not be an impact player til jr year, if at all
Jenna Pitt 5'8 Amherst - haven't seen her
Christie Struck 5'6 Weyauwega-Fremont - she is a VERY good guard.  awesome playmaker.  too bad about those concussions, i wasn't aware of that.
Alyssa Olp 5'9 Brillion - good ball-handler, phenomonal passer, but has a horrible outside shot.  can't see her getting much playing time until she develops a shot. 

I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth, but it sounds like he is pretty interested in the job, but doesn't want to turn anyone off.  There wasn't a definite no in going to Platteville.  Makes a lot of sense. 

SP finishes the year ranked 8th in the nation.  Pretty good jump since the last poll!

I am pretty sure I said they were in a tie for third place.  Not sure why you are putting it in caps.  I would have put the three in caps, but it doesn't matter. 

And I don't know who would say there was a 3-way tie for fifth place.  I mean by that idea, no one won conference in 2008, there was a two-way tie for second.

I don't agree with LX being the best team coming into next year, I would rather go with SP.  But to think LX may be the favorite shouldn't be something to get upset about.  I remember in the fall when LX was picked something like 5th or 6th in the league and some people thought THAT was too high.  Well they finished in a tie for third, so first next year isn't a real stretch.  This is a new bunch of LX kids. 

That said, SP is the favorite coming into the year.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them garner 8 of the 9 votes in the SID poll this fall. 

Also, BW, how do you know Hendrickson was picked ahead of Flease in the conference player of the year voting?  Where can I see that voting?  I know they re-vote on the top 3 vote getters, but I didn't think those top 3 vote getters were ever made public?  I went on the conference website and didn't see anything that said who the top 3 were.  Obviously Hirrsig was one of them since they she won it, but no idea who the other two were. 

Call me crazy, but I would rather have Flease than Hendrickson.  Just comparing the stat lines from head to head this year. 

Dec 10, 76-71 WW Win
Hendrickson 21 pts, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 7 steals
Flease 12 pts, 0 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals

Jan 27, 68-51 SP Win
Flease 24 pts, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Hendrickson 7 pts, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

February 27, 68-64 SP Win
Flease 6 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Hendrickson 0 pts, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals

This is just for arguments sake, but I would say Flease outplayed Hendrickson in these match-ups.  Both are really good players who had really good seasons.

Also, when I say WW is going to be bad, I am saying they are going to be bad compared to their past years.  I am seeing an 8-8 season, not bad for other teams, but bad for a top three program in this league.  It might be easier to get good guards, but I think it is still a challenge to get a couple good ones in one recruiting class and make up for the production that Hendrickson, Sontag, Bundy and Moran had this past year. 

Quote from: Just Bill on March 16, 2010, 10:44:47 AM
D3Hoops All-Central Region team:

http://www.d3hoops.com/all-region/10/centwom.htm

Player of the Year: Julia Hirssig, F, UW-Stout
Coach of the Year: Shirley Egner, UW-Stevens Point
Rookie of the Year: Becky Gifford, G, Aurora

First team

Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown
G Denise Heuser St. Norbert Sr. Pulaski, Wis.
G Kelsey Hendrickson UW-Whitewater Sr. Monroe, Wis.
F Julia Hirssig UW-Stout Sr. Rochester, Minn.
F Lyndsie Long Elmhurst Sr. Sugar Grove, Ill.
C Christina Solari Illinois Wesleyan Sr. Park Ridge, Ill.

Second team

Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown
G Marche Smith Concordia (Ill.) Jr. Oak Park, Ill.
G Zoe Unruh Washington U. Sr. San Francisco, Calif.
F Britta Petersen UW-Stevens Point Jr. Luck, Wis.
F KC Blahnik Lakeland Sr. Gladstone, Mich.
C Hannah Mesick UW-Eau Claire Jr. Chatfield, Minn.

Third team

Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown
G Hope Schulte Illinois Wesleyan Jr. Hillsboro, Ill.
G Andrea Flease UW-Stevens Point Jr. New London, Wis.
F Nicole Bundy UW-Whitewater Sr. Fredonia, Wis.
F Whitney Miller Wisconsin Lutheran Sr. Germantown, Wis.
C Elise Wildman Millikin Jr. Lovington, Ill.

Well, I think they could be around .500 in the league.  8-8 could very well happen.

WW is going to be bad.  They have ZERO in the back court!  I don't like Kumerow, Burg and Thompson's ability to bring up the ball and feed each other in the post.  They are going to get constantly pressed.  Only young good guard I saw on that team was 14.  That girl is going to be a good player. 

Hahahaha, great quote!

I can't see LC dropping 3 spots with no seniors on their roster this year.  Assuming they work hard this summer, they are going to contend with SP for the league title.  They were the hottest team coming into the league tournament until they ran into their worst match-up. 

I just see WW dropping because their top four guards are all going to be gone.  That is a lot of production missing. They are going to have solid posts in Kumarow and Burg, and Thompson if she comes back, but who's going to get them the ball.  We saw Stout struggle at times this year with great posts and questionable guard play, and lets be honest, those three combined are not as talented as Hirrsig.  I just see a down year for WW. 

Well now that the season is officially over the WIAC WBB teams, how do people think it is going to shake out next year? Here are my predictions. 

1. SP
2. LC
3. RF
4. EC
5. Stout
6.WW
7. Oshkosh
8. Superior
9. Platteville

I feel pretty good on my top three based on this years results, but after that it could really go anywhere.  EC, Stout, and WW should all be battling for 4-6 based on talent alone, but Oshkosh and maybe even an improved Superior could be in there.  I don't see much hope for Platteville.  This was their year to crack the conference tournament, and couldn't deliver. 

I just don't believe a team should host simply based on location, which I believe is the argument here.  Wash U draws fans, had a great season, and is deserving.  That said, I also would think George Fox and Hope also have valid arguments why they aren't hosting in the sectional round.  

I also believe it would have been hard to have two teams from the same conference host, even though I know that doesn't come into effect. 

Hold on, this award does not mean she is the best player in the nation.  This award looks at athletic accomplishments, grades, and community involvement.  That being said, I think this award is much sweeter than the national player of the year as this deals with character and shows what kind of person she is off the court.  The grades and community involvement will help her in the future much more than the athletic ability.  Much deserved award.  Congrats to her!

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on March 10, 2010, 06:43:02 PM

Quote from: Just Bill on March 10, 2010, 03:29:40 PM
Congrats to Julia Hirssig, the 2010 Jostens Trophy winner.

I'll second that!  We all knew she was the best player in the WIAC and it's neat to know that a national committee felt she was the best player in the nation.  What an incredible finish to great collegiate career. 

Before everyone gets upset at the committee for making a mistake, lets simply look at last year.  The four teams in the IWU sectional last year; IWU, Stevens Point, St. Bens, and Wash U.  Everyone but St. Bens were within driving distance of IWU.  Sounds good right?  Only problem was that ALL teams were within driving distance to SP.  The committee decided to let the rankings stand and reward IWU for a great season and let them host, even though it meant spending more money on flights. 

I have to believe even though it was admitted a mistake apparently, it isn't the great deal we are making of it.  Wash U was ranked higher in the final Central standings that Carthage, so why shouldn't they host? It is the same scenario as last year, making one more team fly than needed, so it shouldn't be a huge deal this year.