BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Baseball Geek]

Given LaCrosse just graduated arguably the best senior class in their program's history and considering what we return I don't think the flip flop is that unexpected.  Of course this is just preseason speculation and personally I don't put a lot of stock in it.  I'd rather be ranked ahead of them in May. But it does make for interesting discussion.

I agree with you completely. Frankly, I was surprised at the other rankings given the seniors who graduated from La Crosse and how many returners the Warhawks have. And you're right...the only ranking that matters is after Appleton.

[Jim Dixon]

And the Perfect Game preseason rankings have published. Interesting flip-flop on Whitewater and La Crosse.

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=13502

I think this might be the best preseason ranking.  Of course it mirrors my ballot in the preseason Top 25.

The difference in perspective for the two WIAC teams is noteworthy, but in general PG and D3B/NCWBA disagree on more teams (position, or even inclusion) than I would have expected.

In the more established polls, voters give too much weight to the past performance. 

[BigPoppa]

From past observations, the D3baseball.com poll is generally closer to reality of what will likely happen. Voters are generally much more plugged in than the national guys.

Still, I like Whitewater over LaCrosse.

[ShineTime]

I think Oshkosh surprises and takes the wiac this year.

[badgerwarhawk]

Thank you for not suggesting that WHITEWATER would go undefeated and win the national championship.  At least I don't have to read the nonsense that's gone on since in two forums.

breathing sigh of relief

[BigPoppa]

I think Oshkosh surprises and takes the wiac this year.

Explain. WW is loaded, LAX is very good and UWSP is still better than Oshkosh. Mix in the distractions(Lechnir issues and lawsuits) surrounding the Titans program and I don't see it happening. 

[cubs]

I think Oshkosh surprises and takes the wiac this year.

I think you're nuts....  The Manawa Spurs have as good a chance of winning the BABA this year as UWO does of winning the WIAC.

UWO returns just two guys that had more than a handful of starts last year in Treml (3.72 ERA in 58 IP) and Sustacheck (5.17 ERA in 47 IP) and that just isn't going to cut it in the WIAC....  You aren't going to be successful consistently in the four game weekend series that the WIAC uses without some experienced arms.  UWO had six guys throw 20+ innings last season, and three of them were seniors.  Unless you can march out a trio like La Crosse did last season with Boushley/Kenkel/Lavery each weekend, you better have some quality pitching depth and I just don't see that at UWO.  (Notice I didn't even mention what the other teams in the WIAC ARE returning....)

[Baseball Geek]

(Notice I didn't even mention what the other teams in the WIAC ARE returning....)

I think this raises a good discussion point ... the rankings often just grab the names from the previous years' stats for top 1-2 pitchers and position players, without having the in-depth knowledge of who is really returning what talent. Folks on this board do have that knowledge, as well as understanding the intangibles and which players are under the radar.

I'd be interested to hear from the people here who have some of that insight.

[ShineTime]

The manawa spurs no longer have a team so are you giving Oshkosh a zero percent chance?  I dont trust uwsp at all this year based on what I've heard last Friday I was actually given a serious prediction of last place in wiac.

[BigPoppa]

  I dont trust uwsp at all this year based on what I've heard last Friday I was actually given a serious prediction of last place in wiac.

I am not even a WIAC regular and, even so, that might be the dumbest thing I have ever heard on these boards (and I hear a lot of dumb stuff as a high school teacher).

[cubs]

The manawa spurs no longer have a team so are you giving Oshkosh a zero percent chance?  I dont trust uwsp at all this year based on what I've heard last Friday I was actually given a serious prediction of last place in wiac.

Unless the trifecta of Washburn/Gasper/Mlodik or Glysch/Grater/Taschner are back in uniform for UWO, I would be shocked to see UWO competing for the WIAC crown.....  If they do, I'm not sure who that says more about, UWO or the rest of the WIAC.

[ShineTime]

I can't see uwsp finishing last either just know the person is very knowledgeable and that's what he predicted.  I honestly don't see any way they finish top 3 however.

[TitanDoubles]

I can't see uwsp finishing last either just know the person is very knowledgeable and that's what he predicted.  I honestly don't see any way they finish top 3 however.

How can't you see them in the top three? I'd say it's pretty much a given that UWW is better but it's also a given that they'll finish ahead of Stout and UWP. That means they really only have to finish ahead of UWO or UWL (both of whom aren't locks to be dominant teams this year). I could make the case that UWSP, UWO and UWL could shuffle around from 2-4 in any order.

[ShineTime]

Based on what they return which is essentially Erickson and their lack of recruiting or getting junior college transfers.  They were very mediocre last year and now lose doornik also and he was supposed to be one of the few bright spots returning.

[cubs]

Based on what they return which is essentially Erickson and their lack of recruiting or getting junior college transfers.  They were very mediocre last year and now lose doornik also and he was supposed to be one of the few bright spots returning.

I can think of years past where a guy who hit .281 and struck out in over a quarter of his at-bats the previous season might not even start the following year for Stevens Point, much less be a "returning bright spot."