MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

That double overtime loss to the Falcons has to hurt as well, though the Titans probably didn't blow a 19-point lead.

Maybe its the law of averages that has a lot of you thinking they will win a game this conference season.  With the schedule remaining, its going to be pretty hard.  I'm sure you are looking at the season finale vs 1-win Stout as the opportunity.  Looking back, the Blue Devils had a 14-point halftime lead and won by that margin.  In that game, Ragland, Olson and Ciolkosz were all MIA.  They are all back now, so I don't think they will make it any easier on Oshkosh, despite the return leg at Kolf.

With that being said, I'm still worried about Point's trip there next week.

[SilversSports]

Nice work, SilversSports!  Don't remember you posting in the past.  Hope you become a regular!

I think Whitewater has the toughest road and then River Falls with a rematch with Superior, a tricky away game in La Crosse and a season finale vs Whitewater. 

Point's trips to Oshkosh and Eau Claire could also be traps.

In response to Frodo, I think opponents with height have been a problem with Point since the back-to-back championships!

I think Brezinski is making a run for 1st team. All conference with all those double-doubles he's piling up. 

I think Dan Tillema reads our posts: He hasn't had much foul trouble since I posted his game by game fouls and minutes played, obviously one effecting the other.

At this time, I have a good feeling the WIAC can get three teams in the NCAAs, with Point in trouble the most with 4 in-region losses.  They would have at least five entering NCAA play.  They would be a near shoe-in with 5, but when you get to 6 or 7 in-region losses, things get dicey in the Pool C world of at-large bids.

I have posted occasionally, but only when I have some relevant basketball info as most of my work prior to this year has dealt more with the hockey conference.   And whatever you do don't ask me for the women's breakdown (I already tried doing it this morning) because it would be a nightmare at this point as there is a possibility for multiple combinations of teams to finish tied at this point from 2-way ties to even a 5-way tie.

That said, I think UWO can beat Stout as I've seen the Bluedevils a couple of times this season with all their players healthy and they haven't been able to do a whole lot.  From what I've seen, if you control the inside and force their shooters out they can't hit consistently enough to hang with a team that can get to the rim.  If I had to guess UWO probably let the Devils get inside the last time they played. 

[thrunt01]

Including WW's roadie to LC, they have a tough road to the WIAC championship.  No pun intended.  Ending the season with 4 of 5 away from home, they continue their journey to Platteville, Canada (Superior), a home a game against Oshkosh and then a trip to River Falls.  Wow!

Tough loss for the Titans as they blow a 12-pt halftime lead and lose to Eau Claire, missing out on their first win of the conference season.

Point and Superior also win.

UWO led by 19 in the first half, and UWEC hadn't won in Oshkosh since 1995. UWO had one field goal in the last 10:25. Of all the losses, this one stings the most.

It might have stung but I mean I saw it coming a mile away. At some point things just begin to snowball, players get inside their own heads and lose confidence and lose games, that is what is happening at UWO.  The titans aren't horribly unskilled players they just lack the mental toughness it takes to get over the losses they've had. I have zero confidence in UWO winning a game the rest of the way. Despite current records last night's game was their best chance to win, Stout owned them in their first meeting. All UWO has going for them in that game is the law of averages, home court and senior day and really all of that will probably amount to a hill of beans. UWO is so bad in every other area of basketball that if they don't shoot absolutely lights out they will lose, they have proven that time and time again this season.

[stoutfan1]

UWO has very little chance of winning a conference game this year looking at their remaining schedule. They play the top 4 teams in the conference and, of course everyone knows, the finale against Stout. As mentioned by Greek Stout controlled the game at Johnson Fieldhouse without 3 of their starters in play. Although Oshkosh is a different place to play and not easy, both teams will be playing their last game of the season so the thought of "no tomorrow" will be on both sides as well. Ill agree Stout isnt the most consistant outside shooting team this year, but they do have players that can streak a few together. I dont know what to expect from UWO as Ive only seen them the once this year and it looked like Flanigan does his thing while Nickle and Schrimpf attempt to hit perimeter shots, which they really havent been doing that well, especially Schrimpf (not helpful for the fantasy numbers  ). We will see what happens when there is another battle of the bottom of the conference....... again (Stout vs. Eau Claire last year).

[frodotwo]

Nice work, SilversSports!  Don't remember you posting in the past.  Hope you become a regular!

I think Whitewater has the toughest road and then River Falls with a rematch with Superior, a tricky away game in La Crosse and a season finale vs Whitewater. 

Point's trips to Oshkosh and Eau Claire could also be traps.

In response to Frodo, I think opponents with height have been a problem with Point since the back-to-back championships!

I think Brezinski is making a run for 1st team. All conference with all those double-doubles he's piling up. 

I think Dan Tillema reads our posts: He hasn't had much foul trouble since I posted his game by game fouls and minutes played, obviously one effecting the other.

At this time, I have a good feeling the WIAC can get three teams in the NCAAs, with Point in trouble the most with 4 in-region losses.  They would have at least five entering NCAA play.  They would be a near shoe-in with 5, but when you get to 6 or 7 in-region losses, things get dicey in the Pool C world of at-large bids.

I beg to differ there!  The 2009-2010 front line of Louis Hurd, Scott Hoelzel, Nick Krull and Ross Foreman had no difficulties, nor did the 2010-2011 bunch with Hurd, Hoelzel, Krull and Brezinski. These were all genuine forwards with bodies to match up with opponents bigs. This year they have only Brezinski and six guards.

[emerging1]

Agreed.  We are very guard-oriented this year.  But I like next year (assuming all the freshmen return) because we have a lot of bigs on the bench.  I believe our team will be more balance next year.  A 7 man rotation may hurt us if we go deep into the playoffs.

[Greek Tragedy]

I beg to differ there!  The 2009-2010 front line of Louis Hurd, Scott Hoelzel, Nick Krull and Ross Foreman had no difficulties, nor did the 2010-2011 bunch with Hurd, Hoelzel, Krull and Brezinski. These were all genuine forwards with bodies to match up with opponents bigs. This year they have only Brezinski and six guards.

Looking at last year, they were the best defensive rebounding team in the conference, but were 2nd worst on the offensive boards.  They were all forwards, but I don't think you could consider any of them to be post players.  I really don't remember a time when Hoelzel or Krull was in the box with his back to the basket and either of them said, "Hey, throw me the ball, I'm going to take this guy one on one." Hurd spent half his time on the perimeter and was 2nd on the team in 3-pt attempts. 

And to say that we had "no difficulties" is a bit of a stretch.  Despite our size, we still had difficulties, at times, defending the post and any "big man" from the opposing team.  Our National Championship year, Troy Whittington was unstoppable in the championship game. 

Granted, those teams were a lot bigger and arguably better defensively, but even then, there was debate about having any kind of post threat.   

[John Gleich]

I beg to differ there!  The 2009-2010 front line of Louis Hurd, Scott Hoelzel, Nick Krull and Ross Foreman had no difficulties, nor did the 2010-2011 bunch with Hurd, Hoelzel, Krull and Brezinski. These were all genuine forwards with bodies to match up with opponents bigs. This year they have only Brezinski and six guards.

Looking at last year, they were the best defensive rebounding team in the conference, but were 2nd worst on the offensive boards.  They were all forwards, but I don't think you could consider any of them to be post players.  I really don't remember a time when Hoelzel or Krull was in the box with his back to the basket and either of them said, "Hey, throw me the ball, I'm going to take this guy one on one." Hurd spent half his time on the perimeter and was 2nd on the team in 3-pt attempts. 

And to say that we had "no difficulties" is a bit of a stretch.  Despite our size, we still had difficulties, at times, defending the post and any "big man" from the opposing team.  Our National Championship year, Troy Whittington was unstoppable in the championship game. 

Granted, those teams were a lot bigger and arguably better defensively, but even then, there was debate about having any kind of post threat.   

Point hasn't been a good offensive rebounding team in recent memory... they've gotten some timely O boards, but they, in general, haven't tacked up big numbers.

That's in large part due to the focus on defense... if you're concerned with getting your defense back and set, then you can't really send 4 or 5 guys to the offensive board.

[John Gleich]

Always great to hear Pat Miller on Hoopsville... he was on this past Thursday:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20180735#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2011-12/feb02&medium=20180735

from about the 1:45 to 2:00

[frodotwo]

I beg to differ there!  The 2009-2010 front line of Louis Hurd, Scott Hoelzel, Nick Krull and Ross Foreman had no difficulties, nor did the 2010-2011 bunch with Hurd, Hoelzel, Krull and Brezinski. These were all genuine forwards with bodies to match up with opponents bigs. This year they have only Brezinski and six guards.

Looking at last year, they were the best defensive rebounding team in the conference, but were 2nd worst on the offensive boards.  They were all forwards, but I don't think you could consider any of them to be post players.  I really don't remember a time when Hoelzel or Krull was in the box with his back to the basket and either of them said, "Hey, throw me the ball, I'm going to take this guy one on one." Hurd spent half his time on the perimeter and was 2nd on the team in 3-pt attempts. 

And to say that we had "no difficulties" is a bit of a stretch.  Despite our size, we still had difficulties, at times, defending the post and any "big man" from the opposing team.  Our National Championship year, Troy Whittington was unstoppable in the championship game. 

Granted, those teams were a lot bigger and arguably better defensively, but even then, there was debate about having any kind of post threat.   

You're right about no real post player since the back-to-back champs, but I'm pretty sure we were not alone in having trouble defending Whittington that year or the next. We didn't have troubles with EVERY big man just the top big men (as most teams do). And while Lou did hoist the second most treys on the team last year, over 70% of his shots were inside the arc.

If you look back at stats for the past dozen years we have only had one year that we grabbed more offensive rebounds than our opponent, and that was the 09-10 team. We've been spoiled by our teams that consistently out-shoot and out-rebound opponents year in and year out and this team continues that trend. What they don't do is distribute the ball inside as well as past teams, nor defend the inside as well due to their lack of inside bodies. Their assist-to-turnover ratio is the worst it's been since before 2000-01 and their opponents have their best in that same time frame. (1.05 vs 0.94  -  the next worse year was '06 with 1.37 vs 0.93) We have trouble getting shots inside and defending against them.

Plain and simple we have only one guy with the size to play inside. I heard the radio comments by the coach after the Platteville game and he said he wished he had given JB more playing time in prior years because he could have been a special player this year given the way he is playing of late. It's unfortunate that we did have great forward play the past few years because we've been unable to develop replacements. Isn't that terrible, whining about being so good

[fredfalcon]

RF had less trouble w/EC than I thot they would have:  63-41. Four in double figures:  Manor, Anderson, Guerin, White w/ 12,12, 10, 10. Guerin had double/double w/ 10 rbds. Kimble also had 10 rbds (guard, 6/1"), 5 pts. Anderson 4/6 on threes. RF led by 7 at half, and at one point held EC to 2 buckets in 13 minutes in second half. But that's what usually happens when seniors play against underclassmen.

[fredfalcon]

One of the most competitive, toughest athletes ever to don the Falcon uniform in any sport is Tiffany Gregorich, senior, Altoona. An all conference player last year, she broke her nose in the Stout game, did not play in the next game vs Platteville, and returned to practice only a day before the EC game, according to the EC announcers. She had 19 points toward the end of the EC game when she collided with an EC player, head to head, the way it sounded. She left the game w/ what sounded like a concussion (altho I doubt that because she could not have played again) with less than 2 minutes left, the Falcons down by one. It sounded like she would not return. But she came back, scored the winning bucket with about 10 seconds left, enabling RF to edge EC 60-59. She finished w/21 pts., 4 steals, 4 assists. She's a 5'5" ball of competitive fire, an amazing player.

In addition to her recent injury, she has played all season with stress fractures in her left foot. She wears a boot when she's not practicing or in a game.

[fredfalcon]

Correction:  Manor had 14, Guerin and Anderson 12. Yeah, I should look first, write later.

[bulk19]

Yep, Gregorich had a great game against the lady Blugolds...
And the men thumped the Blugolds, too..

Your Falcons did their best to spoil Ken Anderson's day, as UWEC officially unveiled the newly-named court in Zorn Arena in his honor today...

Anderson, at the helm for 27 years in EC, led his teams to 14 conference titles, 15 tournament appearances and 21 20+win seasons.... His 80.6 winning percentage (631 wins) is second all-time among all NCAA men's coaches with at least 500 wins, behind only Kentucky's Adolph Rupp. The #3 man on the list? UCLA's John Wooden...

So, it was a long-time coming, a well-earned recognition for the three-time NAIA Coach of the Year. Congratulations to Coach, and to his former teammates, who made the Ws all possible, and spearheaded the efforts to have this take place...

And recognition also goes to those who Anderson also cited in interviews this week - the fans, coaches, cheerleaders, poms, band, and workers, et al, who helped pack Zorn Arena and were the 6th man during his years in EC...

[frodotwo]

Point takes down La Crosse 76-60 in a game that was close in the first half. LX was able to penetrate to the basket seemingly at will in the first half, and if they had made more of those short shots, would have had a big lead at the half. Point led 30-29, but played unevenly. Shots were not falling plus early foul trouble for Ty plagued the team, while LX benefited from timely offensive rebounds and that interior penetration.

The second half was a different story as Point came out of the break on fire, outscoring LX 10-1 to lead 40-30. After a volley of threes by the teams, Point broke it open from a 44-36 lead with 14 straight points, highlighted by a D Tillema steal and two handed slam to lead 58-36. After a LX free throw Point scored the next ten points to put the game away, leading 68-37. After a driving lay in by T Tillema, Point led 70-39, having outscored LX 40-10 in that 15 minute span. The far end of the bench then took  the floor for Point and proceeded to turn the ball over nine times in the last 4:21, allowing LX to make the final score a little more respectable.

Dan Tillema scored 17 second half points to finish with 24 and added a career high 14 rebounds, while JB reached a double double with 14 pts and 10 rebs, the sixth straight game in double figure rebounds for him. Tyler T added 12 points, 8 in the second half.

Point hit 60% of their FG in the second half, heating up considerably from less than 38% (including 0-7 on treys) in the first half. A steady string of LX fouls sent point to the line 22 times in the second half, hitting 18, and finishing the game 26-32 for 81%.  Included in that line was a Technical foul against Coach Koelbl who argued a botched call by the refs too vociferously. Gio proceeded to miss both tosses, but did rally to score his 7 game points after that.

LX was led by Braucht with 11 and Collom 10 points. The Eagles shot 42% in the first half, but cooled off to 32% (3-18 in the first 15 minutes) in the second, and were out-rebounded 41-26 for the game.

Point now leads the WIAC at 11-2 with WW and RF a half-game back at 10-2. Point travels to Oshkosh on Wednesday to take on the Titans while RF hosts Superior and WW is at Platteville.