MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

Looks like lack of consistent perimeter shooting was UWW's undoing

Not quite, havej. You have it half right I think.

UWW was only 3 for 16 (a sickly 18.8%) from distance and 21 for 48 (43.8%) overall.
NCC also hit only 3 treys (of 12), but shot 53.2% overall (25 for 47).

If you ask, the NCC staff will tell you that UWW was the toughest defensive club they faced all season. They came in giving up an average of just 60 points a game, and played like it.
However, NCC came in giving up an average of only 58, and also played like it.
UWW gave up 4 points over their average, NCC, only 2.

Accordingly, it wasn't just lack of consistent perimeter shooting that was UWW's undoing. It was NCC"s tenacious overall defense that caused that lack of consistent perimeter shooting.

I sense if you asked UWW they would tell you that NCC likewise, was the toughest defensive club they faced this season.

Make no mistake, defense was the primary (with a huge assist to Brandon Williams) reason NCC won this game, and not many teams play defense better than the Cardinals.

Last night was my one and only UWW game this year (sorry for bringing bad luck)- so I don't have a season's worth of perspective. From what I saw last night - you are completely accurate AndOne. UWW had very few open, uncontested shots- NCC played excellent D and forced poor outside shooting. 
My feel of the game was UWW is more individually talented but NCC was the better team.  It seemed UWW needed to drive the lane more than they did, especially when NCC's #4 and #52 each had 4 fouls.
#34 for NCC is one cool cat.
I was impressed w both teams and UWW has to be excited about the returning talent.

[badgerwarhawk]

I know this is the men's board, but props to the Whitewater women making the Final Four, beating Simpson, who beat Point the previous round, and then topping Hope (due to geography, Whitewater hosted, but Hope should have)...now on to Holland to take on Amherst in the Final Four.  Good luck!

Shine Time is definitely a Point supporter.  However when there is some down time he hops on the Findlandia (or maybe it was Saint Scholastica, I forget) bandwagon.

[voice]

I left last night's UWW-NCC game at Benedictine knowing that a second round match-up between #3 vs #5 lived up to its hype.  The difference in the game came down to rebounding where NCC held a 33-21 advantage.  How many times did UWW play great defense for 30 to 32 seconds on the shot clock, force a missed shot only to see NCC get the rebound and score on a follow-up shot? Frustrating for the UWW fans. Even more for the Warhawk players and coaching staff.

NCC converted for 16 second chance points – just 2 for UWW.

It was a great game played in a great neutral site gymnasium!!!

[ShineTime]

I love pointer sports sometimes too much.  Believe me I enjoy when other Wiac teams succeed too and meant no disrespect towards whitewaters men's title last year.  I just expressed my opinion that I feel point would've won it all last year with Harris and Tillema.  Perhaps not easily didn't mean to get anyone bent out of shape.

[SP Pointer]

I have not posted all season but as a UWSP season ticket holder I would like to congratulate Point on a great season.  The team treated us to very good basketball again which is something that should never be taken for granted.  Congrat's to Whitewater on a fine season also.  It's tough coming back as defending national champs.

Hat's off to a very good Calvin team.  They are not only tall, but are very good in all aspects of the game.  Should be a close battle with St Thomas next Sat and one I'd love to see.

[RG23]

Well, now that all WIAC schools are eliminated, I guess it's time to start looking to next year.  Here are how I think the teams rank going into the offseason.

1. Stevens Point - Won the league, loses one player (Giordana), and returns a POY candidate in Tillema who hardly played any of the conference schedule 

2. Whitewater - Only loses honorable mention pick Luke Knoble and returns everyone else.  Also gets back Cody Odegaard, who missed most of the schedule with a broken hand

3. Platteville - Only loses Rob Stallion and returns the POY, Chas Cross

4. Superior - They lose Bauer, an honorable mention pick, which will probably hurt initially but they do return Peterson and the big man Byrne along with their point guard Brooks.  Austin Cahill showed some real ability at the end of last year, too

5. Stout - Return one of the leading scorers in the league in Alex Oman but the losses of Hortman and Olson will definitely hurt the Blue Devils.  Olson played the role of leader, distributor, and playmaker for 4 years so he will be difficult to replace

6. La Crosse - Lose two, first team picks in point guard Jeff Heiden and forward Lucas Morrissey.  Luke Tweed, an honorable mention pick, returns to lead the Eagles

7. River Falls - Lose first teamer Zach Peterson but Arik Smith returns and they will get Ollie White back as well.  This team scared some teams this year but also looked like they didn't belong on the floor some nights

8. Eau Claire - Lose Petersen, Kleist, and Craggs from a team that struggled last year.  They do return honorable mention pick Lewis Mau and Adam Hjelter will be eligible to play after transferring from Superior.

9. Oshkosh - A two win team this year that would have gone winless if not for RF


I see next year being a two horse race with Point and Whitewater.  Those two will probably be among the country's elite, and legitimate National Championship contenders with what they have coming back.  Platteville seems to clearly be the third best team on paper right now with Superior in fourth.  Places 5-8 I think are tough to project as all of those teams will experience some heavy turnover as far a as key personnel.  Oshkosh, I think, still has a long road to go. 

Like I said, I see this as the way teams rank heading into the offseason.  Obviously, especially in the WIAC, a lot can change from now until the start of next season.  Be interesting to see how it all unfolds. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Welcome SP Pointer and RG23.

You guys should post more!

[RG23]

Welcome SP Pointer and RG23.

You guys should post more!

Thank you, GT.  I plan on it. After finishing my career in 2007 I spent some time coaching at the high school and college level in both Illinois and Wisconsin.  This past year I moved back to a WIAC school town and was able to catch all of their home games so I saw every team live at least once.  I also saw a lot of current (and probably future) WIAC players on the AAU circuit while recruiting so I look forward to sharing thoughts and perspectives with you guys.     

[havej]

Nice summary RG23 - I think you're dead-on with your take on the 5 through 8 spots.  Seems to me Stout and LAX, which were strong teams this year, would need to adjust to new point guards.  Do those schools have players that appear to be ready to takeover the position?

[RG23]

Seems to me Stout and LAX, which were strong teams this year, would need to adjust to new point guards.  Do those schools have players that appear to be ready to takeover the position?

I don't think so.  Olson had been the guy at that spot for 4 years at Stout and, taking into account his injury year, Heiden had been the guy at La Crosse for the last 2 or 3 years.  Didn't leave much opportunity for guys to come in behind them and gather some experience.  Also, Olson and Heiden were both among the league leaders in minutes (about 33 min/game for each) so if there is a guy on the roster to replace either of those two we certainly didn't see much of him this year.

[stoutfan1]

Seems to me Stout and LAX, which were strong teams this year, would need to adjust to new point guards.  Do those schools have players that appear to be ready to takeover the position?

I don't think so.  Olson had been the guy at that spot for 4 years at Stout and, taking into account his injury year, Heiden had been the guy at La Crosse for the last 2 or 3 years.  Didn't leave much opportunity for guys to come in behind them and gather some experience.  Also, Olson and Heiden were both among the league leaders in minutes (about 33 min/game for each) so if there is a guy on the roster to replace either of those two we certainly didn't see much of him this year.

I'm not going to say Stout has anyone to necesarily replace everything that Olson did, but they do have possibilities in a couple players coming "back" next season. Keith Rash had some play time mid-season and had to sit out again due to a foot injury and the other in Kujak possibly returning for another season as well. Both bring different abilities to the table, but are at least capable of getting the ball up the floor under pressure and doing a little distribution (both are also a little better scoring options than Olson was).

None of this is for sure, but is a possibility.

[havej]

Does anyone know who selects the All Region teams?

[Just Bill]

A selected group of SIDs, media and coaches from each region.

[badgerwarhawk]

All West Region team includes Chas Cross (1st team), Erik Olson (3rd team) and Quardell Young (3rd team).
Congrats to all.

[stoutguy]

Seems to me Stout and LAX, which were strong teams this year, would need to adjust to new point guards.  Do those schools have players that appear to be ready to takeover the position?

I don't think so.  Olson had been the guy at that spot for 4 years at Stout and, taking into account his injury year, Heiden had been the guy at La Crosse for the last 2 or 3 years.  Didn't leave much opportunity for guys to come in behind them and gather some experience.  Also, Olson and Heiden were both among the league leaders in minutes (about 33 min/game for each) so if there is a guy on the roster to replace either of those two we certainly didn't see much of him this year.

I'm not going to say Stout has anyone to necesarily replace everything that Olson did, but they do have possibilities in a couple players coming "back" next season. Keith Rash had some play time mid-season and had to sit out again due to a foot injury and the other in Kujak possibly returning for another season as well. Both bring different abilities to the table, but are at least capable of getting the ball up the floor under pressure and doing a little distribution (both are also a little better scoring options than Olson was).

None of this is for sure, but is a possibility.

Just to add another opinion.  I also do not see anyone stepping in on the present roster to fill Olson's shoes.  Just had a conversation with Eddie last week regarding Rash, the point guard who shared time with Olson earlier this year and was a very good athlete.  He will not be back.  I don't have a ton of faith in Kujak based on what I watched this year.