MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[John Gleich]

   I don't understand my post... it's not what I meant...

Lawrence's standing in the polls doesn't mean anything for the QOWI.

OS said it right.  And if Lawrence tanks, yes, then the loss will become more negative for Oshkosh.  But Oshy's got more important things to worry about than how little Larry's doing... they're in the middle of a muddled up conference race!

[John Gleich]

I posted my take on the WIAC on the "Poster's Poll" thread.  Feel free to hop over there and take a look.

[titan2000]

PS:

Maybe Point will get a chance to 3-peat against Larry U if they can win the WIAC? Odds are decent they would run into each other in the tourney.Let's hope it happens. 

Of course, I really hope the Titans are the WIAC team in and that the LU/OshVegas rematch occurs.  Again I'll bet on the Titans but won't put much in the bet anymore, as I've learned my lesson. 

[ajwagner]

Well sweet sassy molassy ... looks like I finally get to see some ball tonight. I shall be blowing off the mFU-DePaul game and the Bucky-PSU snoozefest to take in the Pointers and Titans at the mighty mighty Kolf tonight. (And naturally, I will compile some sort of report in an effort to expense the entire excusrion)

OS, will you be in attendence?

[John Gleich]

T2k,

If Oshkosh is the WIAC rep (or one of the WIAC reps...?  That may be wishful thinking...), then an Oshkosh/Lawrence match-up would be a great one... It's a rivalry game anyway, and would be a match-up of two good teams.  For BOTH school's sake, I hope the game is played in the Fox Valley (and not, say, the Pacific Northwest...).  For as much as you hate Quandt, you have to admit that it was better to play close to home than 1000 miles away, and in a packed gym, rather than 250 fans.  That game two years ago was a great game... but few really had the opportunity to see it.  I mean, Lawrence fans missed out, even thought Point DID come away with the W, because LU played just about as well as they could have played and really DID give UWSP their best shot.  And, of course, Point fans missed out from seeing Point being Point and finding a way to win.

The LU/UWSP match-up is an intriguing one as well, too.  Either way, I think it's rather inevitable for the WIAC rep and the MWC rep to play before Salem, which is a shame... both would deserve a chance to play other competition and face in Salem, rather than before.  For as much as there has been a complaint about the inevitable Great Lakes match-ups pre-Salem, the midwest (small m... I'm talking CCIW, MWC, WIAC teams) conferences really deserve a chance to meet in Salem the same way that Williams and Amherst did two years ago.

I really wish I could make it to Oshkosh to see the game tonight... you'll have to get the Pointers a win without me!    

(As an aside... I hope Point has a good performance tonight... I see this game as being a catalyst came... either positively or negatively, because Point is a rather young team.  If UWSP can find a way to win a tough game on the road, then it propels them into first and puts the pressure on the rest of the league.  However, if they can't pull out the W, it has the potential to crack their spirit.  I hope I'm wrong in the second case, and if it doesn't happen, then it really is a testament to the leadership at UWSP, both from the coaching staff and from the upper-classmen, to keep the solid resolve and a clear focus.)

[titan2000]

I must say the revised Titan logo reminds me a little of Max Headroom or that Cartoon guy Johnny Bravo.

[titan2000]

It is hard to type on this wireless but the Titans are kicking some ass right now.  I see a whole bunch of rats running back in to Kolf from the ramps off aof High Street   

[Mr. Downtown]

Oshkosh  74
Stevens Point 62

Aw snap, Gibson is raw yo!

Ahem...I mean, Gibson dominated...big time. 21 points on 9/12 shooting, and go along with 6 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 4 rim rattlin' slam dunks.

Also add in Jahnke's 24 points and 6 assists. Whats more amazing, he had only 1 turnover.

Jim Capelle had 15 points and 8 reb.

So in all, Oshkosh's Big 3 combined for 60 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists and only 6 turnovers.

For Stevens Point, Krull is pretty darn good. Actually, as always Point has a very good shooting team. Here is the problem...size. It's pretty clear that some of the guys have to go to the weight room...but how about a twinkie, or two? Seriously, Bauer was no match on Gibson...and honestly in the game of basketball, fundamentals go so far. This team is NOT talented defensively, they are solid.

From the ONE game I have seen, it seems that Stevens Point really has to relay on a great shooting night in order to win. I will break that down later if thats true or not. But I remember last year's team able to shut down, or run teams to death.

Perhaps next time Stevens Point has a game like this, maybe Kaslow and Bennett should exchange the shirt and tie for a uniform. Then maybe they would have a shot tonight.

[fredfalcon]

Falcons 75-60 over Jackets behind Hoeg's 31 and 53% shooting for the team.

[John Gleich]

Here are two quotes I made on the Top 25 board and WIAC board, respectively, earlier this year (note the date).

Btw, Oshkosh loses to Lawrence 82-75 tonight.  There's plenty to talk about them, too, starting first with Yanke's performance... 5 points, none in the second half.  For Oshkosh to reach their potential, they need him to do much more than that to take the weight off of Capelle... which in turn will give Gibson more space inside.

[In regards to Oshkosh's chances going up against then 10-1 Wartburg out in Vegas]

I think they key, as usual, will be Janke.  He's had some great games lately, and they've done well. [Note: He shot 5-12, 2-7 from 3, for 12 points and Oshkosh lost 65-57]

I think this is the key to Oshkosh's success (and thus, perhaps, the way to beat them?  I wish I had posted this BEFORE the game tonight!).  As Andy Janke goes, so go the UWO Titans.

Now, bear with me... I'm formulating this theory as we speak... but, so summarize, when A.J. makes at least three 3 pointers, UWO is 13-0.  When he makes two or one (he has yet to go 0-fer for a game this season) they are 2-3.  Note, I did not see the game tonight, so all I can do is speculate and provide some interesting statistical analysis I have made.  For instance, I don't know the effect that Kerry Gibson has had on Janke's shooting performances (i.e. games he has been an animal and forced teams to sag have been ones in which Janke has been more open and thus gotten better shots).

What I think I CAN gather is that Capelle seems to be the constant.  He seems fairly comfortable in the roll he has played, at about 13 points per game... and he's usually good for that amount.  Gibby has had huge games (27 vs. Lawrence, 21 points tonight, 23 vs. Carroll) and games where he's been non-existant (2-4, 5 points vs. Finlandia, 2-6, 7 points vs. Edgewood, 0-4, zero points vs. Robert Morris Springfield, 2-4, 5 points vs. Platteville, 0-2, 4 pts vs. Superior).  Strangely, in the games noted that Gibby scored 7 or less, Oshy is 5-0.  In the games he's scored more than 20, they're 2-1.  In tonight's win, Janke was huge, and Oshkosh won with a rather comfortable margin of victory.  In the close Carroll win and the OT loss to Lawrence, Janke had two of his less memorable performances, making just one 3 pointer.

What does this all mean?  I'm not 100% sure, and I don't know if there's a clear-cut answer.  But it appears, at least to me, that Oahkosh goes as Janke goes, like I said before.  There have been just two games that Oshkosh has managed to pull out the victory when Janke has been cooler from the outside, Carroll and River Falls.  I guess we'll have to see how the rest of the season turns out.

One final note:  In Oshkosh's last 9 games (and consequently their 9 game win-streak)  Janke and Gibson have scored, respectively 22/7, 15/5, 19/10, 11/0, 15/12, 5/15, 19/14, 18/4, and 24/21 for averages during the span of 16.44 (one above his season average)/9.78 (two below his season average).  I don't know if this proves anything or gives any hit to anything positive from an offensive standpoint... I'm actually wondering about Oshkosh's DEFENSE now, more than anything else... but I don't have the time to check that (feel free, anyone, if you'd like to take a look... I thought I had something with Janke's offense, and it IS possible, but...).

On a slightly different note... Oshkosh had 19 assists on 26 baskets tonight.  That's pretty efficient and unselfish.

[John Gleich]

Scores from tonight:
Oshy 74 Point 62
WW 83 LaX 70
Stout 59 EC 47
RF 75 Sup 60

Standings:
1. Oshy 8-2
2. WW 7-2
3. Point 7-3
3. Stout 7-3
5. LaX 6-4
6. Platte 4-5
7. RF 3-7
8. EC 2-9
9. Sup 0-10

I'm not sure of the seedings... I think Mr. Downtown figured those out, but Point won the H2H with Stout, so I think that gives them the edge.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, well, well.  I think Oshkosh might be close to where they wanted to be at the beginning of the season.  A lot of posters (not necessarily in the WIAC board) were already writing their condolences to Oshkosh for the year.  I always felt it was just a matter of time before they turned it around and going 12-1 in their last 13 might be it.

[John Gleich]

I think Oshkosh might be close to where they wanted to be at the beginning of the season.

This very well may be true... only they really know that.  I think they are much closer NOW to where they were projected at the beginning of the year.

I still do stand by my statements that they *were* over-rated at the beginning of the year, but they have made the necessary improvements and changes to become the conference front-runner and in my mind, favorite for the conference title, based on the remaining schedule.

[Mr. Ypsi]

OS,

I, for one, never lost faith in Oshkosh (though I was dubious about their #2 pre-season ranking).  I placed them highest of the UW teams in the latest PP.

I think what is jarring to people is that no WIAC team is asserting itself on the national stage - to not have the leader of the WIAC in the top 5 just seems weird!  I placed UWO at #20 (which MAY be a stretch) and LAX #24, WW #25 - no one is stepping up and saying "I'm a POWER".  Now that the non-conference season is over, it may be too late for anyone to rise above #10 even if they run the table.

[Mr. Downtown]

CONFERENCE SEEDINGS

1 Oshkosh   8-2
8 Eau Claire 2-8

4 Stout        7-3
5 La Crosse 6-4

3 Stevens Point  7-3
6 Platteville         4-5

2 Whitewater      7-2
7 River Falls         3-7

Right now it just seems inevitable that La Crosse and Stout are going to hook up in the conference tourney first round...