BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

So did ShineTime pull a quick exit again? 

Wonder what name he will show up with next?  I went to quote one of his recent posts and voila....  It's gone!!!

[ShineTime]

I'm still around and watched Point slaughter Edgewood tonight.  I still can't believe that if Point goes 30-10 or 29-11 they won't make regionals.  I'm having a tough time figuring out how La Crosse isn't even getting a vote for top 25 they are tough as hell.

[ShineTime]

And how about giving me some credit on things I've been right about over the years for example:  Cody Koback, Whitewater basketball, and Michael Polcyn. 

[BigPoppa]

I'm still around and watched Point slaughter Edgewood tonight.  I still can't believe that if Point goes 30-10 or 29-11 they won't make regionals.  I'm having a tough time figuring out how La Crosse isn't even getting a vote for top 25 they are tough as hell.

Hey... I voted for LAX in the top 25:)

[OshDude]

I'm still around and watched Point slaughter Edgewood tonight.  I still can't believe that if Point goes 30-10 or 29-11 they won't make regionals.  I'm having a tough time figuring out how La Crosse isn't even getting a vote for top 25 they are tough as hell.

Hey... I voted for LAX in the top 25:)

So did someone else ...

[cubs]

And how about giving me some credit on things I've been right about over the years for example:  Cody Koback, Whitewater basketball, and Michael Polcyn.

Koback.... Check
Whitewater Basketball.... 1/2 Check (Didn't you say they were going to go undefeated in WIAC Play?)

Polcyn...  Not so much.  While I still think he would be starting at third for Point, he will not win the WIAC Position Player of the Year as a freshman like you predicted.

So was Frederick on bat boy duty today since according to you he lost his spot in the rotation?

[ShineTime]

I honestly thought they were trying to change up the rotation I wasn't trying to cut down Frederik.  Believe me he is one my favorite players on the team to watch being he's from New London which is next door to Manawa.  I would say he has made the greatest improvement of any Pointer since last year with the exception of Seidl.  Following Point for as long as I have now I can't recall a time really where Coach Bloom has not started his #1 in a WIAC DH where the guy had 3 full days of rest.  I just had figured if they were going to gamble and see how Wendorf was coming along they would've done it and maybe scratched JP or Brad instead of Max whose been their #1 guy all year long.  I'm definitely not bashing the decision I think you guys know by now if I was a scout I would be in love with Wendorf.  As far as Polcyn he's solid and would start for Point at 3B but Spetz has the potential to be a very good player so I don't know there would be much of a drop off.  I do have to wonder though if Polcyn wouldn't be doing better for Point seeing he would have so many great hitters around him.  He would probably be hitting 7th for Point.  I'm really hoping Point can finish 8-2 at the worst and either win the WIAC tourney or take 2nd.  I just cannot see how a 32-12 Point team wouldn't get a bid especially when they've been in the top 20 all season.  Can Lechnir please sit Westphal next Wednesday against Point?  That would all but guarantee a Pointer sweep which would be huge.

[cubs]

As far as Polcyn he's solid and would start for Point at 3B but Spetz has the potential to be a very good player so I don't know there would be much of a drop off.  I do have to wonder though if Polcyn wouldn't be doing better for Point seeing he would have so many great hitters around him.  He would probably be hitting 7th for Point.

Wouldn't Polcyn have the same "potential" as Spetz since they are both freshmen?  The only difference is is that Polcyn is producing as a freshman, while Spetz is struggling.  Polcyn is hiting over 125 points higher that Spetz and has 10 extra base hits compared to zero for Spetz.  That's a HUGE difference!!!  Factor in the defense, and Polcyn has just one more error than Spetz in 40+ more chances.

Your right though....  There wouldn't be "much of a drop off...."

[wiacguy]

The top 25 rankings are a joke... There is no way there is 25 better teams in the country than Lacrosse.  Too much credit is given for record, even if teams do not have quality wins.  For example St. Thomas is 12-0 in conference and ranked #3, but their conference is not nearly as tough as the WIAC, they would at least have a few losses in the WIAC

[BigPoppa]

The top 25 rankings are a joke... There is no way there is 25 better teams in the country than Lacrosse.  Too much credit is given for record, even if teams do not have quality wins.  For example St. Thomas is 12-0 in conference and ranked #3, but their conference is not nearly as tough as the WIAC, they would at least have a few losses in the WIAC

Possibly... but St. Thomas is 5-3 against the BIG FOUR in the WIAC. I agree that LAX is underrated, but that is no reason to discount what St. Thomas has done this point.

[MIACLUV]

Nobody will disagree that the Top 25 is an opinion, however you are right in the fact that the WIAC is a meat grinder with the four 9-inning game weekends. Without a doubt going through that schedule is far tougher than most any conference in the country. The benefit of being more ready for a regional far outweighs the complimentry benefit of being ranked. The regional rankings will reflect the true cream of the regions crop when all the numbers are taken into account. SOS is a big one and I have no doubt that LAX will be in the top 3 when the first ranking come out next week. Also think Point and Whitewater will be in there as well. The Midwest is down as compared to years past, and though it seems that there is not a real dominant WIAC team as in years past, they're schedules will keep them ranked accordingly in the poll that matters.
So you're also aware the Tommies have played an OK schedule outside of the MIAC as well:

2-0 vs St. Scholastica (pre-season top 25 -who swept LAX)
1-1 vs LAX
1-1 vs WW (Currently ranked #20)
2-0 vs Osh
1-1 vs UWSP (Currently ranked #16)
0-1 vs Ramapo (Currently RV, #18 at the time)
2-0 vs Conc Chi (Currently RV)

Are the Tommies a Top 5 team, probably not yet but well deserving of a top 10.

In contrast, #16 UWSP non-conference includes:
1-1 vs Tommies
1-1 vs St. Olaf (Last place in the MIAC)
2-0 vs Gustavus
1-1 vs St. Norberts
2-0 vs Edgewood
4/21 vs Ripon
So should LAX be ranked and UWSP not be?

[wiacguy]

I agree that St. Thomas is a very good team, very capable of winning the region because of their pitching, but I am just saying that the top 25 rankings are a bunch of crap.  There is no way St. Thomas would be 12-0 in the WIAC, and therefore they would not be ranked number 3 in the country.

My regional rankings : (I know only 6 make it but I am ranking 8 who I think have a chance of getting in)

1. St. Thomas
2. UWSP
3. Whitewater
4. Scholastica
5. Lacrosse
6. Concordia (ill.)
7. St. Johns
8. Aurora 

[BigPoppa]

I see the Midwest rankings this way:
1. UST
2. LAX
3. Whitewater (though 2 and 3 could flip after their series this weekend)
4. St. Scholastica
5. Stevens Point
6/7. Aurora/Concordia-Chicago
8. St. Johns

[MIACLUV]

I agree that St. Thomas is a very good team, very capable of winning the region because of their pitching, but I am just saying that the top 25 rankings are a bunch of crap.  There is no way St. Thomas would be 12-0 in the WIAC, and therefore they would not be ranked number 3 in the country.

That is essentially like trying to compare a 1 loss SEC team to an Undefeated PAC 10 team in D1 football, its a flawed grouping of opinion. And of course they wouldn't be 12-0 in the WIAC they are offensively an average hitting team, which could be there downfall at a regional.

[MIACLUV]

I'll take a crack at a ranking as well:

1. St. Thomas
2. LAX (as of this moment, this weekend will tell us a lot)
3. Whitewater
4. Aurora (could be dropping after the Rockford split)
5. Point
6. St. Scholastica
7. Conc. Chi (rough last week gets them jumped by CSS)
8) St. Johns