MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Just to play devil's advocate, they failed in both their major conference tests so far: though both on the road at Point and Stout. Really a huge game with Platteville visiting Whitewater with the Warhawks two games back in the loss column to Platteville and Point. For some reason, I'm still not sold on the Pioneers. I fuly expect the Warhawks to win tonight, but a win or even a real close loss by the visitors will go a long way in my book. In fact , even as a Pointer fan (they host Oshkosh), I would rather travel the same distance and see the Whitewater/Platteville game...well, almost.

[02 Warhawk]

just my 2 cents worth ... Whitewater is an outstanding team ... yes, I know a blowout win over the Blugolds doesn't necessarily confirm that, but they are playing extremely solid BB right now. Young ...All-WIAC last year ... is much better this year. KJ is a beast ..and Hearn is a surprise. Look out the rest of the way if the 'Hawks can keep it up.

I think they are a very good team at best. This is Points' conference to lose this year.

[Greek Tragedy]

With a combined record of 17-3, it's hard to argue that Point, Whitewater, Platteville and La Crosse are the top four teams. Through 5 games though, there has only been TWO matchups involving the Top 4 against each other and Point has won both at home, over Whitewater and La Crosse. Stout did beat Whitewater and was within a basket of knocking off Point, but the Blue Devils haven't faired well otherwise, losing at River Falls and forgetting to show up against Platteville. Things will start getting interesting when the big boys start butting heads, starting tonight.

[John Gleich]

Just to play devil's advocate, they failed in both their major conference tests so far: though both on the road at Point and Stout. Really a huge game with Platteville visiting Whitewater with the Warhawks two games back in the loss column to Platteville and Point. For some reason, I'm still not sold on the Pioneers. I fuly expect the Warhawks to win tonight, but a win or even a real close loss by the visitors will go a long way in my book. In fact , even as a Pointer fan (they host Oshkosh), I would rather travel the same distance and see the Whitewater/Platteville game...well, almost.

Whitewater is just fun to watch. At least they were on Saturday. They're incredibly athletic (as usual) but they also have been getting after it on defense. This was, in my opinion, what took a very good Whitewater team in 2012 and got them the National Championship instead of just a deep run.

It's not like their season lacks quality wins... they gave St. Norbert their only blemish, in De Pere.

[badgerwarhawk]

We're fun to watch but if you look hard enough you'll find a few warts.  If Point doesn't win the league hands down I'll be pretty surprised.  Not that they won't have to play well but I think talent wise they're just  better than the rest of us.  They can be beaten but I think it's going to take a great effort and a night when they're just not playing up to their ability.  Those things happen, that's why we play the games. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Massey predictions

Whitewater 78 (90% chance of winning)
Platteville 65

Stevens Point 85 (100%)
Oshkosh 49

La Crosse 60 (58%)
Stout 57

Eau Claire 75 (77%)
Superior 68

[Greek Tragedy]

http://wiacsports.com/sports/2013/11/19/MBB_1119132243.aspx?path=mbball

Tyler Tillema is this week's POTY

[havej]

Regarding bgbacker's comment on Q Young's year over year improvement - where has he upgraded his game in your opinion?  His #s haven't jumped significantly (even with his 25 point outburst vs EC) and in watching him play just twice this year, teams are still going under on ball screens and defenses don't trap or blitz so as to get the ball out of his hands. 

Seems that Evans and Bryson have made significant jumps.

[Greek Tragedy]

Evans has impressed me while Bryson is still a little inconsistent. Maybe because of Evans' improvement, Young's numbers don't need to be where they were last year. I still think Whitewater is the team to challenge Point this year, like usual.

[tomt4525]

Whitewater picked up a couple commitments....6'3" wing guard Dakota Zinser of Green Bay New Lutheran and 6'8" post Evan Runkel of Eleva Strum.

I've seen Zinser play and he's solid.  He's athletic and can get hot from the outside, solid pickup for Pat Miller.  I haven't seen Runkel play but from reading about him he seems like a project.  You can't teach size though.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, La Crosse had their work cut out for them and they didn't get it done. Taking on a Stout team that was reeling from a heart-breaker against Point and then a butt-kicking in their own back yard from Platteville, La Crosse couldn't take advantage of a dog already down. Stout pulled out the victory with a late 3 to send La Crosse to 4-2 in the conference. Things don't get any easier for the Eagles as they head to Platteville this weekend. La Crosse then hosts Whitewater and Stevens Point. Ouch.

Stout, on the other hand, surprised most, with a "pick me up" win against one of the better teams in the WIAC after dropping a pair at home. Oman was the man again carrying the load. Whitehead returned from injury but at the same time Aaron Jenny was out. It's a good win before starting a road trip that sees them heading to Oshkosh, Ashford and Eau Claire. They then host River Falls. Comparing to Point, Platteville and La Crosse, the next few games should be a little easier on the stomach. Don't count them out just yet.

Given the chance to prove their 5-0 conference record wasn't a fluke, Platteville did nothing in Whitewater. Down 13 at the break after scoring just 18 points, Platteville was never in the game in the 2nd half. Platteville can redeem itself with some home cooking as their don't have to pack for the next 4 games. But, those games aren't easy as La Crosse, Stevens Point, Superior and Whitewater come knocking.

It looks like Whitewater is over their early 0-2 start that saw them lose at Point and Stout. They've destroyed everyone the last 5 games. The Warhawks finish off their 3-game homestand this weekend against Superior before hitting the road for 3, La Crosse, River Falls and Platteville.

Eau Claire had a chance to forget about their whooping from Whitewater as they welcomed Superior to Zorn. The visitors weren't very nice as they left with the win. Big hitters Mau and Hjelter combined for 8 for 28 as the Blugolds shot 43% in the home loss. Eau Claire has the most normal schedule as they flip flop home and away games for the next four games. They start by heading to Oshkosh and then Stout, Point and La Crosse before a rematch with Superior.

After 3 straight conference losses, with two at home, Superior got the road win in Eau Claire. Byrne and Corry each recorded 10 rebounds apiece while 5 players scored in double figures. A balanced attack will be needed as they continue their 5-game road trip to Whitewater, River Falls, Platteville and Stevens Point.

After a moral-boosting 65-63 win at River Falls, Oshkosh scored less than half that in Point (58-30). Oshkosh does get some home cooking now with four of their next five conference games in the friendly confines. They also have a date with Maranatha Baptist squeezed in there for good measure.

Stevens Point continues to roll, breaking the best start to a season in it's 116 year history. Amazingly, Tillema was the only one in double digits with 20, but Ritchay added 9 points and 8 rebounds. Point gets a bye this weekend...I mean, River Falls comes into town, before the Pointers head out on a tricky two-game trip to Platteville and La Crosse.

[AppletonRocks]

Oshkosh does play defense.   

[badgerwarhawk]

Platteville: 58
WARHAWKS: 77

The Pioneers led twice and the two teams were tied five times in the first eight minutes of play.  With the Pioneers up 10-8 a layup from Reggie Hearn tied the game and Quardell Young's jumper gave the WARHAWKS a lead that they would hold for the remainder of the evening.  The WARHAWKS lead remained in single digits until, with a minute and half remaining, Steve Egan's layup pushed it into double digits, 28-18, and the half ended with the WARHAWKS on top by thirteen 31-18.  Hearn led all scorers with 8 points while Young added 7 with a pair of assists and a steal.  Egan had 5 points and 3 rebounds in 9 minutes.  Eric Gerber's 6 points led the Pioneers.  Thirteen points is as close as the Pioneers would get in the second half as the WARHAWKS lead reached a high of 24 points on five different occassions. 

After shooting 52% from the floor in the first half the WARHAWKS shot 71% in the second stanza and finished at 61% for the game.  Bench points were significant as the WARHAWKS bench outscored Platteville's 29-6.  Hearn's 16 points led the WARHAWKS while Young added 14, KJ Evans 11 and Egan 10.  Evans 6 rebounds were a team high and Young's 5 assists a game high.

Chas Cross led all scorers with 19 points though many of them came well after the game was decided.

The win was the WARHAWKS 7th straight.   

[badgerwarhawk]

Regarding bgbacker's comment on Q Young's year over year improvement - where has he upgraded his game in your opinion?  His #s haven't jumped significantly (even with his 25 point outburst vs EC) and in watching him play just twice this year, teams are still going under on ball screens and defenses don't trap or blitz so as to get the ball out of his hands. 

Seems that Evans and Bryson have made significant jumps.

This year Young is shooting at a 57% clip, last year he shot 53% and as a freshman he shot 51%.  Though this is bouyed by his ability to get to the rim from beyond the arc he's gone from 25% as a freshman to 32% as a sophomore and this year he's shooting 43%.  Though they are about the same as last year (3.7) his average assists have increased from his freshman year low of 2.3 and his turnovers have remained steady since last year (1.44 to 1.47) though improved from the 2.3 average he had as a freshman.  Watching him as much as I have over the past three years I can see definite improvement despite his scoring average remaining essentially the same.

The most amazing thing to me is how high he can leap for his size.  Though I don't know the numbers his vertical is incredible and he hangs in the air like smog over Los Angeles.  We're very fortunate to have him. 

[stoutfan1]

Stout wins an exciting one at home against a tough Lacrosse team. Unfortunately I was unable to attend to watch, but heard the shot was pretty cool. It was a much needed win to get back on track to hopefully get a home game in the playoffs. I am not worried about this Stout team to get into the playoffs, but more hoping they get a home crowd in the first round.

Although injuries have dismantled this team since their X-mas vacation, their offensive output really worries. Defensively they are very strong and I'm not worried about when they play 6 of the teams in the Conference. Stout is averaging 62 ppg in conference play (6th only ahead of OSH, EC, and RF). This is even after scoring 79, 74, and 64 in their first 3 conference contests. Their last 4 games have been a miserable 56, 60, 42, and 59 (all below their current average). Even when/if healthy I am worried come playoff time (and remaining conference games) that Stout will not be able to contend consistently. the 4 teams at the top of the conference all average more points per game and give up less points than Stout (Plat, LAX, Point, and WW).

This Stout team reminds me of a poor mans Wisconsin team from years past. Great defensively and only scores about 55-60 points per game. But as history shows, a team like that has the ability to win any 1 game against any opponent, but when you start to play multiple games with very good offensive and athletic players it takes a toll and eventually you cant hold a team under 60 points to get the win. When a team breaks out for 70 or 75 points, Stout is going to have to "get lucky" to have a chance to win that game. I don't see it come playoff time when they will have to play 3 straight teams that are scoring 70+ ppg.

I consider myself pretty realistic but always hope for the best. There is a lot of season left and at this point I want Stout to get healthy and then I will worry myself about playoff play. Just don't need a slip up at Oshkosh on Saturday