MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

No, he wasn't standing in front of us at the free throw line but the cellophane over the basket didn't help matters.     Sheeze, we're a 70% free throw shooting team but last night we couldn't have thrown the ball in the basket if it were as big as the ocean.  Very disappointing and it kept us from making a better game of it.  Once they made their run in the first ten minutes of the second half the game was effectively decided.

For the most part I'd have to agree with 40's comments here (I haven't read his blog yet).  We shot well in the first half but went stone cold to start the second one.  As time went by and we kept missing we did force some shots that probably weren't the best selection.  Some shots were contested and some weren't.  We just couldn't hit them. 

Congrats to Point.  They played well and really seemed to rally around Tillema's injury.  Round one goes to them.  Perhaps we can return the favor next time.

Whoever the Point fan was that shouted something about a "passport" at KJ Evans may not have meant it that way but it sounded racist.  I know fans of every program can get carried away but that comment was in a league of its own.  They should be ashamed of themself.   

[frodotwo]

Point is a team that can hit their Free Throws, as well as their 3's. Whitewater....not so much (even though they're statistically a high scoring team).

Yesterday:

SP
FT .750 (15-20)
3's .500 (5-10)

WW
FT .421 (8-19)
3's .227 (5-22)

Shooting under .500 from the foul line is unacceptable at any level of play. Young was 1-7 at the line. Seriously?! 

I think a key to last night's win for Stevens Point was shooting well, as you mentioned, but it was also shot selection. Stevens Point took nearly 81% of their shots from inside the three point arc. That's their highest percentage of the year.

In one respect, I think that was a product of how Whitewater played them. Especially in the second half, WW came out and pressured. Point couldn't just sit on the perimeter and loft shots. But they really moved the ball around well too. And they didnt' just take the first shot that came around. They made Whitewater defend longer into the possession.

Now, there is another side of that coin... if you try to move the ball around too much and pass up good shots, there's more of a chance that you'll turn it over or get a worse shot. And that did happen last night a little bit, but more often than not, Point made the right decision at the right time.

That has a lot to do with the guy starting the offense. Austin Ryf played tremendously last night.

I agree totally with the Ryf comment. The difference in his game from last year is amazing. This year he is not hesitating to go into the lane and trust his shot or passing or dribbling back out if needed. Last year he would stop at the free throw line and back out, but he is penetrating and that causes double teams and switches that allows other players better looks as well.

Whitewater started out the game working inside to Knoble for easy baskets as Heuer could not move his feet as quickly. I thought Point was in for a long night if that kept up, but a defensive change ended most of those opportunities.  Both teams shot pretty well in the first half and the defensive pressure WW applied prevented Point from getting many inside looks at first. WW tried to muscle Point around and it succeeded in getting Tillema hurt. Not that it was their goal, but the refs allowed the game to progress like that to the detriment of our star player.  I'm not sure if it's his ankle or knee, because they did tape his knee at the start of the second half.

Point held their own on the boards in the first half and took better care of the ball, forcing 11 TO and having just 5 themselves. When WW applied full-court pressure in the second half, Point turned the ball over nine times in the last nine minutes. Point seemed in a "hurry up" mode during this time and rushed the offense too many times, not working the clock. Point won the rebound battle in the second half and were +9 for the game.

The team stepped up when others went out, as in the case of Ritchay, who garnered 2 quick fouls and went to the bench for the remainder of the first half with only one minute gone by. Ty went out with a half minute to go in the first half and did not return as well. Kudos to Hass who played with more determination and energy that I have seen in all his games at Point; and to Jordan Lutz who despite his penchant for turning the ball over, had a solid game with 11 pts and 4 reb in his first real extended action of the season (avg 8 min per game coming in). The play of their "super sophs" (Ryf/Ritchay/Richard/Lutz) will be key to the team when the WIAC season really begins next year, especially if Tillema is out any appreciable time.

I was impressed with WW's play overall, except for their FT shooting obviously. Bryson is a threat from anywhere on the floor and Knoble moves well inside. I didn't think the play of Harris can be considered lazy or selfish in any manner. He is a scary good shooter from beyond the arc and will get better as the season progresses. Young was able to penetrate and dish or go to the hoop way too easy at times, thank goodness for Point that he is shooting very poorly at the line or the game would have been much closer.

Great Point crowd last night as there were over 100 of us in the stands and it seemed more into the game than the majority of the 1400+ WW fans. Big student turnout for WW, but they were pretty quiet for much of the game. Overall a quality win over a quality opponent (on their floor). These wins over big time quality teams (Augie & WW) will help develop confidence and character in the team, with another big one looming next week against St. Thomas. Let's not forget Edgewood on Saturday though, while they are not the team they were last year, we don't want this one to be that classic "trap game".

[stoutfan1]

My dis this time goes to Hortman of the devils. He just does not mesh with the team and it shows. This game he goes 3-12 in only 16 minutes of game play. It is the same kind of thing every game and at least Andrist recognizes it and tries to control his minutes. There is no doubt he is a talented athlete and could be a good basketball player, if he can get rid of his ego and play for the TEAM rather than himself.

I really have to agree with you on this one. He is one of those guys that just wants to get shots up. And sometimes he is capable. Problem is, is he isn't the focus of that offense, Ragland, Oman and Jenny all are. It could get them in trouble down the road if he decides he just wants to shoot five times in a row against a better team and put them in a hole. I've seen that happen early in the season at their thanksgiving tournament, although it didn't put them in a hole because of the competition. He is very Westbrook-like in that respect.

I agree with both of you but just for the record, Ohman and Jenny shot just as poorly last night.  Eddie is very aware of the quick trigger but also recognizes that, under control (minutes), this kid can help. Hortman, I think, is still trying to learn this "team concept" thing.  He has played "his game" all of his basketball life.   I've been more disappointed in our best player, Ohman, on the season.  He is truly a talent but seems to turn it off and on on a regular basis.  A kid that didn't even start all the time in high school, I just don't think he is aware of how good he really is.  When he plays with intensity, he is as good as anyone in the conference.

I understand that Oman and Jenny shot poor last night as well, but the idea is Jenny and Oman create and get shots within the offense and flow of the team and game. Hortman is a player that the rest of the team has to stand around and watch and really takes flow out of the game. As I mentioned before he is very talented, but he has to figure the team thing out fast or we are not gonna be as good as we could be.

[Greek Tragedy]

No patented Badgerwarhawk game review?   

[badgerwarhawk]

I didn't do one because several people had already commented on the game and 40 has his blog and tweeted during the game so I figured it was already pretty well covered and I've been busy at work this morning.

In a nutshell, your guys played well, my guys not so much so. 

I did do one on the women's game if you're interested in that. 

[Greek Tragedy]

I did do one on the women's game if you're interested in that.

Because they won? 

[voice]

Great crowd at Kachel Gym last night for the Point-Whitewater game.  Stevens Point fans are the most vocal of WIAC games. For the one knothead UWSP fan that yelled out an apparent racial remark you should be embarassed.

I debuted a weekly commentary on by Voices Eye On Basketball UWW basketball blog.

Click om the following link to read my Voice Box week 1 commentary...

http://voiceseyeonbasketball.blogspot.com/2012/12/voice-box-commentary-from-tom-voice.html

[Greek Tragedy]

Edgewood got spanked by Viterbo tonight, 75-39, in preparation of their upcoming trip to Quandt this weekend. Viterbo got by River Falls earlier this year by 7 or so.

[Just Bill]

Edgewood got spanked by Viterbo tonight, 75-39, in preparation of their upcoming trip to Quandt this weekend. Viterbo got by River Falls earlier this year by 7 or so.

And by tonight, GT meant Tuesday.

I'm pulling for Edgewood if for no other reason than to get the Belt^TM into the NathCon for at least a few days. I know it's probably not going to happen.

[Greek Tragedy]

Yeah, Tuesday, Thursday, whatever! LOL  Thanks.

I read that over on the NathCon board and it was one of the last posts.  I always forget that the NathCon board can go several days without any updates...I didn't look at the post date! Oops.   

[badgerwarhawk]

I did do one on the women's game if you're interested in that.

Because they won? 

Voice can cover the losses in his blog.

Seriously, I posted on the womens games because no one else had. 

[ExBBaller40]

My Recaps of Point/Edgewood and Platteville/Oshkosh (will be coming as soon as game is done) as well as games from the MWC and NathCon http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/weekend-analysis-3.html

[bgbacker]

UW-EC snapped its four-game skid Saturday with a 64-59 win over Ashford, a pretty good NAIA school (under former Blugold assistant Oliver Drake.) There will be no WIAC title for Matt Siverling in his first year at EC, but Jordan Peterson and Andy Kleist (playing center at 6'5") will battle you for 40 minutes. And "Sweet Lew" Mau will be a very good player in this league before too long.

[Pioneer_fan04]

Platteville won 86-48 tonight over Oshkosh, was unable to attend! The bad news for Platteville is frosh Corey Vaassen is out for som etime with a leg injury, the good news is Frosh G Darrin Haugh is back from a leg injury, this kid is flat out quick should be fun for the WIAC to watch him (hopefully) develop in to a very good PG. 

[Greek Tragedy]

What happened to Vaassen?

In other injury news, Dylan Wurtz didnt play again. Any news on the extent of his injury? Thats three conference games he has missed. For Oshkosh's sake, hope he returns in the new year.

How about Tyler Tillema? How long is he out? Ritchay stepped up big time as Point struggled with an inferior opponent in Edgewood last night. Ritchay dropped 27 on the Eagles. Hope tue Holiday break gets everyone time to heal.