MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bulk19]

Long ways to go down the stretch here, but my two cents for tonight -

After watching the Pointers the last three seasons, and now being back in EC, this Blugold will not make the mistake again of sticking up for and touting one of UWSP's players, Brian Bauer, the week before he plays the 'Golds. Ha. Or maybe I pissed him off by saying he shoots too many threes and needs to board more? Oh well. Ha. Would be nice to see the Pointers get a chance to defend their back-to-back titles, though... Might have to run the table, though, and win the conference tournament to get a bid...

Who's going to win this thing? Five teams in the running for WIAC tournament home court advantage, with basically four games left for each team in the conference. Anything can happen. And the conference winner might not even win the conference tournament...

Would be interesting to see how Joe Werner would do on bigger stage, by having La Crosse make the D3 tournament... Big game for the Indians, oops, Eagles, in Point on Saturday... After a big win tonight, Coach Koelbl's got to be chomping on the bit to get back to his old stomping grounds for that one...

And Oshkosh goes to Stout to try to pull up even with the BlueDevils... Might have to take that one in, since the 'Golds have a non-conference game against the 4-13 Finlandia University Lions, who will be looking to avenge an earlier 98-70 loss to UWEC... Yawn....

[playdefense]

laxeagles1..............I gained a lot of respect for you tonight.  Your "gulp" comment about Coack K was understood and appreciated.  I was particularly hard on you for getting all over Coach K since his arrival at UW-L.  Not sure the Eagles will win the WIAC Conference title, but I wouldn't want to play them in the tourney. 

Makes you wonder what his alma mater, Viterbo, was thinking when they wouldn't hire him when he was at UWSP with Jack.  As long as Koelbl can get the players he needs, LaX will be a contender for a long time.

Enjoy the rest of the ride laxeagles1

[Greek Tragedy]

After watching the Pointers the last three seasons, and now being back in EC, this Blugold will not make the mistake again of sticking up for and touting one of UWSP's players, Brian Bauer, the week before he plays the 'Golds. Ha. Or maybe I pissed him off by saying he shoots too many threes and needs to board more? Oh well. Ha.

I honestly have NO IDEA what you are trying to say here.    Are you saying you ripped Bauer and he "responded" with 21 points or are you ripping him because he only got three rebounds?  I don't know!

Anyway, here is the Game Story and along with it is the boxscore.  My friend Swampgoon said the radio broadcast went out with like 2 seconds left and then finally came back with a final!

31-24 at the break and then 100 points scored in the 2nd half?  Nice defense!  Something that stood out was Krull's 7-13 from the FREE-throw line.  I remember he used to be good at the line! lol. 

Anyway, looking foward to the big battle at Quandt this weekend vs. La Crosse.

[laxeagles1]

laxeagles1..............I gained a lot of respect for you tonight.  Your "gulp" comment about Coack K was understood and appreciated.  I was particularly hard on you for getting all over Coach K since his arrival at UW-L.  Not sure the Eagles will win the WIAC Conference title, but I wouldn't want to play them in the tourney. 


Enjoy the rest of the ride laxeagles1

It will be fun to watch the rest of the way...............I make harsh criticisms but definitely will fess up when I am wrong(that's part of making strong statements that many don't agree on) and I was wrong............He is a much better coach than I saw the last two years.........YOu have players that look stronger, play tougher defense, understand their roles and work hard at defining them as perfectly as possible.........alot rides on the players but much credit has to be given to the staff


it sure will be fun to see how they finish the year......and I hope to make it out to a few more games

[John Gleich]

Laxeagles,

Nice to see you finally jumping on the Koelbl, er, La Crosse bandwagon!

Seriously though, all joking aside... big game on Saturday in Point.  This is basically a must-win for both teams...  Like I said in my post above, La Crosse really can't afford to falter if they want a shot at the conference title, and, in all honesty, if they want to host a game in the conference tourney, which is huge.  Point, on the other hand, is right there with Stout and Whitewater in the loss column, and while they've gotta play both teams still, it would be nice to not have an ABSOLUTE must-win situation (a game where they're already back a game and have to win or be playing for that #4 seed in the conference tourney). 

Are you planning on coming to the game Saturday?  I'll be there... I was going to play in the Alumni game, but I had some foot surgery, and it simply hasn't healed yet... I'm hobbling around as it is, I wouldn't be too good trying to run up and down the court!

OS,

You make a good point about Krull's free-throw shooting... at one point around Christmas, I think he made something like 19 in a row.  He's a 79.9% ft shooter on the year, tonight's outcome is clearly not characteristic of him, or the team.  BTW, Point, at 80.3% came into last night's game leading the country, all divisions, in free throw shooting.  They were the only team above 80%... they dropped down to 79.9% as a team, but I think it's safe to say that's still on top in the country (the next highest D-3 team was, I think, 77%).

[Mr. Downtown]

What everyone was waiting for...

CONFERENCE SEEDINGS

1 Stout          9-3
8 Eau Claire   3-9

4 La Crosse   8-4
5 Oshkosh     8-4

3 Stevens Point   8-3
6 Platteville         4-7

2 Whitewater      8-3
7 River Falls         4-8

Thanks for the kind words about my broadcast guys, its cool when people listen in.

[stoutguy]

laxeagles1..............I gained a lot of respect for you tonight.  Your "gulp" comment about Coack K was understood and appreciated.  I was particularly hard on you for getting all over Coach K since his arrival at UW-L.  Not sure the Eagles will win the WIAC Conference title, but I wouldn't want to play them in the tourney. 


Enjoy the rest of the ride laxeagles1

It will be fun to watch the rest of the way...............I make harsh criticisms but definitely will fess up when I am wrong(that's part of making strong statements that many don't agree on) and I was wrong............He is a much better coach than I saw the last two years.........YOu have players that look stronger, play tougher defense, understand their roles and work hard at defining them as perfectly as possible.........alot rides on the players but much credit has to be given to the staff


it sure will be fun to see how they finish the year......and I hope to make it out to a few more games

I echo what Playdefense said about your comments.  It's okay to change your mind about things, but it takes a big person to "fess up" as you have done.  As a former coach myself, I have so much respect for these WIAC coaches that I get angry when they are blasted.  These guys are good and they deserve respect even when we "fans" don't always agree with things they do.  The rest of these conference games this year and the tournament are going to be a blast.

[stoutguy]

And while we are on the subject of coaches doing a great job, how about our guy.  I have always felt that Ed Andrist has not had as much respect in this league as he deserves, but this year his coaching has been special.  This team is better this year because they play with discipline, patience, and have learned to be in control when things are not going well.  Mickey Nonemacher out there in Kalispell, Montana, I wish you could see every one of these games right now.  You would be so proud of your sons.  Forget about the fact that they have become the dominant (two headed) post player in the league (21 pts, 21 rebounds again last night).  What is most impressive to me is how they have grown in the area of reacting to adversity.  They are a joy to watch and more importantly, a joy to be around.  What they (and Eddie) have done in two short years is amazing.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS[/color] never trailed in last night's game vs Platteville but could never seem to put them away either.  In the first half WHITEWATER[/color] built a nine point lead which Platteville cut to two before a late surge stretched the lead back to six at half, 30-24.  In the second half the WARHAWKS[/color] built leads of eleven and led by ten with about five minutes remaining.   But some turnovers and missed shots allowed Platteville to pull within a single point down the stretch.  Fortunately the WARHAWKS[/color] were deadly from the free throw line sinking 8-8 (two each by Toellner, Manchester, Perry and Mlachnik) in the final two minutes and defensively forced two critical Platteville turnovers in the final minute to win the game, 67-64.

Interestingly the two teams shot a combined 27-27 from the free throw line in the second half.  WHITEWATER[/color] missed it's first three free throws and then sank 19 of the next 20, including 14 straight in the second half.  Both teams finished 82% from the line and near 50% from the field so the shooting was pretty decent all night. 

Rob Perry had a huge game and led WHITEWATER[/color], with 17 points and 5 rebounds, as Platteville had major match up problems with him.   Melvin Williams tossed in 12 and Jeremy Manchester 10 to round out those in double figures.  Gio Riley was once again the theft master with 4 steals. 

A much needed win against a rival but we've got to get stronger on the boards. 

[laxeagles1]

Laxeagles,

Nice to see you finally jumping on the Koelbl, er, La Crosse bandwagon!

Seriously though, all joking aside... big game on Saturday in Point.  This is basically a must-win for both teams...  Like I said in my post above, La Crosse really can't afford to falter if they want a shot at the conference title, and, in all honesty, if they want to host a game in the conference tourney, which is huge.  Point, on the other hand, is right there with Stout and Whitewater in the loss column, and while they've gotta play both teams still, it would be nice to not have an ABSOLUTE must-win situation (a game where they're already back a game and have to win or be playing for that #4 seed in the conference tourney). 

Are you planning on coming to the game Saturday?  I'll be there... I was going to play in the Alumni game, but I had some foot surgery, and it simply hasn't healed yet... I'm hobbling around as it is, I wouldn't be too good trying to run up and down the court!

actually i have to work otherwise i would love to.  It is always nice to see people from my neck of the woods as well as catch up with an old teacher i see there every game to support his family............i will miss that for sure

you know if shawn lee is still playing? or just not in the rotation?  Hopefully he is healthy next year because he is one of the most talented basketball players in the wiac.  His skills, when healthy and playing his game(not the bennett game of two years ago) are unmatched

[Rico 21]

BDB -

I knew it!  They aren't all pink!!

[Champ99]

I have always felt that Ed Andrist has not had as much respect in this league as he deserves, but this year his coaching has been special.  This team is better this year because they play with discipline, patience, and have learned to be in control when things are not going well.

Open to discussion, but I (and many of us) have always considered the WIAC to be a league based on the principles mentioned in your second sentence.  Probably the reason for the reduced respect because of Stout's tendency to shake those principles up the last few years prior.  What can us WIAC'ers say... we are stubborn and don't like change .  I for one also think Eddie has done a nice job.

[Just Bill]

I have always maintained that Andrist's Stout men's teams (as well as Thomas's Stout women's teams) would both be more successful if they would just learn to dial back the speed and pressure at certain times.  In the past, it seemed that they were so committed to their running, pressure games that they often run and press themselves right out of 10-point leads or turn a winable game into a big loss.

It appears that Andrist has started to use that pressure and speed more in spurts rather than a constant feature.  I think he has discovered that his guys can play sound, intelligent basketball when not forced to play at panic-button speed the whole game.  I have a lot of respect for Eddie for adjusting his favorite style to fit the team he has.  I think he's done a great job this year.

[John Gleich]

This may just be personal opinion, but it seems to me that Stout's personel may have forced them to play the up-tempo style... they tended to have smaller, quicker guards instead of some of the taller, bigger (and ultimately probably stronger) guards of the traditionally tough teams.  Now, perhaps this type of player was recruited so they could play this style... I can't really say.  But while this year's team tends to have the same size players, they do seem to be a bit more disciplined and better from a fundamentals point of view.  The can turn it up, but this team seems to be able to hunker down and grind out the possessions and come up with conventional defensive stops. 

(Note:  I've only seen Stout in one game this year, the double OT game at Point... it's likely that this isn't a good barometer on the entire season, but that's why I use vague, non-descript words like "seem" and "perhaps" instead of saying "This is how it is!")

Any other insights?

[stoutguy]

Pat Coleman told me he'd like to see me post our line-up for "Western Wisconsin Sports Saturday" which is streamed on the internet each Sat. morning from 8-10 on WMEQ.com and clicking on "listen live".  He's the boss here so here goes:
Ed Andrist-Stout MBB
Tom Feidler-EC North Principal and WIAC official
Mark Thomas-Stout WBB
Mike Couch-WIS HOOPS staff writer
Jack Bennett-WIAC consultant (some of you guys have heard of him)
Wade Moseman-DOC's Sports Journal
Luke Madsen-Chi Hi Boy's basketball
Eric Page-Sports editor-EC Leader/Telegram