MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Just Bill]

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/sports/college/2016/07/15/uwsp-basketball-coach-receives-reprimand/87017982/?hootPostID=2a67423d5adde5ad74f53d2941a83235

Semling gets letter of reprimand and team forfeits three practices to start the season. Still have to wait to see if the NCAA accepts the UWSP punishment as sufficient.

So, I guess the NCAA isn't done with the Pointers yet...

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/08/16/ncaa-visit-stevens-point-basketball-probe/88841464/?hootPostID=d7d4ed38b7be01b26e467cc1a4a6342f

From what I know, this is standard practice even if the NCAA is going to accept the self-imposed penalties.

No way. They don't fly investigators around the country if they plan on accepting the self-imposed penalties anyway. Certainly not for D-III schools. They only come if they think there's more that the school is leaving out. There are hundreds of violations and punishments filed every week. They can't possibly investigate all of them.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The NCAA almost always accepts school-imposed penalties, but reserves the right to continue investigating and impose more penalties which also almost always happens (even if they are just minor ones). If an NCAA investigation has been opened, the chances of them not showing up on campus seem pretty slim, especially if it revolves around practices out of season. I would actually be pretty surprised if the NCAA didn't show up at UWSP's campus just to do their due diligence. I suspect like in most cases, UWSP will have other penalties imposed on them including mandatory rules seminar attendance (outside of the once every four year norm) along with at least probation for the program if not the entire department. Those would most likely be the "minor" added penalties they are sure to add since most cases have those two penalties as part of a case. The question comes if the committee feels a stronger message needs to be delivered other than a few less practices and a reprimand. One could certainly argue there should be a larger penalty assessed for smudging the "gray area" a bit - which a number of schools certainly do and probably needs to stop. We shall see.

As for scheduling questions, Stevens Point will be playing at the Hoopsville Classic this year at Stevenson. Semling and I have been working on it for a number of years and I am happy we finally figured out the scheduling. UWSP will play Christopher Newport and Lynchburg, I believe (memory is fuzzy with a number of other things going on). Official release and information coming shortly.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

So after reading more about the case (I had gotten out of touch with the case due to other projects this summer) and talking to some who know how this all works... it appears the NCAA investigation coming on campus is not really a good thing. The NCAA has indicated they will fully investigate instead of taking the work of the school, conference, others as the guidance for the investigation. This really should not be taken lightly. The NCAA being on site indicates they feel they need to have a personal look at what is going on at the institution. It does not help that an article today (http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/sports/2016/08/17/uwsp-coach-aware-ncaa-concerns-2011/88876418/) clearly indicates concern about practices and coaches being on hand ahead of season was a topic of conversation in the department for quite some time. Furthermore, Bennett and staff were nailed on something like this meaning Semling was already part of something he should have known better of. None of that looks good and indicates the NCAA wants to take a major look at the department. Hopefully nothing major like post-season probation comes out of this, but clearly what the school has handed down in terms of punishment will not be the only punishment handed on in this case. We shall see what the NCAA finds in their investigation, but what I described earlier in terms of punishment should probably be expected at this point.

[AppletonRocks]

Any chance that the national title is stripped?  If not, why not? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

That would be pretty extreme... can you name an occasion a national title has been stripped from anyone in any division for anything? It has happened a few times in Division I (not counting football bowl championships since the NCAA doesn't hand out a trophy to that part of the football division), but not many other places. I cannot see the NCAA stripping UWSP of their national title over practices. Pretty extreme and I have seen far worse infractions than this. Heck, Baruch women basketball should have had vacated at least one season in the recent decision on them and it didn't happen - Baruch's case is worse than this one.

[AppletonRocks]

Agree Dave, that would be extreme, especially since the NCAA really only says they care about D3. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have thought about this case more and even checked with a number of people who are familiar with investigations or are at least aware of this investigation - the on campus investigation is being down played by some while others do not think it is a good sign. I am not sure where that puts things. Those who are not worried about the visit indicate it could just be that the optics of the program involved has the NCAA just wanting to do things on the up and up - nothing else. They don't think the investigation will reveal anything major. Those who see the visit as a bad sign say it could be a sign of the NCAA feeling there is a bigger problem than we realize.

Another point raised to me is how we haven't heard anything from the NCAA nor the school. This is rather true. The information is coming from a newspaper who is looking at public records and trying to read the tea leaves essentially. I am not sure how to truly judge the case when the school and the NCAA isn't going to reveal anything until the end.

I think this does maybe spark a few conversations, most importantly if the Division needs to better emphasize what jobs coaches can or cannot have. It is tough in Division III when to have a coach be fulltime, they need to teach or be a supervisor as well. There are only so many jobs they can do in some ways. However, maybe schools like UWSP have to do a better job of defining the job descriptions of their coaches while at the same time adopting a policy where a basketball coach can be the supervisor of outdoor facilities, but not indoor facilities. I think those scenarios open up misunderstood situations that get misconstrued as well.

By the way, I have been told this investigation could be wrapped up with an NCAA decision announced by the end of September.

[AppletonRocks]

If Semling needs to supplement his coaching salary, I think he could be great behind the bar at the Hilltop Inn.  Heck, the employee food discount is pretty good, probably could feed and water the team at a great price and get reimbursed by the university---or would that be a violation too?   

Maybe he could get some divinity classes and do some funerals and weddings. 

Just trying to help the cause. 

[AndOne]

Anyone know who SP's non-conference opponents will be this year? 

I'm assuming it will basically be the same as last year...with a different road trip during Christmas Break.

Superior should be visiting Stevens Point...along with North Central, Edgewood and Augustana.
Away games I assume include St Olaf, St Norbert, St Thomas, Hope and Lawrence.

They have been playing against North Central, Edgewood, St Olaf, St Thomas, Hope and Lawrence longer than just a home and home series...so seems these teams will be on the schedule unless something freaky happens. 

Augustana already has their schedule up and it includes a trip to UWSP.  So, this will be the 3rd year in a row they have played and look to continue that series longer than a home and home.  This should be the 2nd year of a home and home with St Norbert and Superior.

I haven't heard where the Christmas trip will be yet.

North Central will be visiting Stevens Point on Thurs., 12/29. Tip-off time is scheduled for 7:00.
This will be the fourth consecutive year the teams have met. Point posted a narrow 2 point victory in 2013-14, and NCC won by 7 the next year, and by 14 last season.

[AppletonRocks]

My son is thinking about attending UW-Stevens Point and I am sure he will want to see the Quandt Fieldhouse if we visit this weekend.  Will the NCAA investigators have the police tape down by now or will we have to look at pictures on the Internet? 

Does anyone know if they have indoor tennis courts in there?  I played once at SentryWorld  facility in a tourney vs. UWSP but that was some years ago.   

[tomt4525]

My son is thinking about attending UW-Stevens Point and I am sure he will want to see the Quandt Fieldhouse if we visit this weekend.  Will the NCAA investigators have the police tape down by now or will we have to look at pictures on the Internet? 

Does anyone know if they have indoor tennis courts in there?  I played once at SentryWorld  facility in a tourney vs. UWSP but that was some years ago.

Back when I went to UWSP (2004-2007), I played some intramural tennis....they set up courts indoors in the MAC, which is right next to the indoor swimming pool and Quandt.  Not sure if that's what they still do.

[John Gleich]

Does anyone know if they have indoor tennis courts in there?  I played once at SentryWorld  facility in a tourney vs. UWSP but that was some years ago.

Sentry World has improved the restaurant section adjacent to the tennis courts and career a barrier where one want previously. I think that this definitely is better for those going to the restaurant... But I would think it's better for the tennis players as well.

As Tom said, no dedicated indoor courts. They did have handball courts a decade ago... Not sure if those still exist or not (I would assume yes).

[Just Bill]

The MAC (Indoor track) has lines and the ability to put up nets for tennis. Sometimes the UWSP tennis team will play matches or have practice in there if the weather is bad.

[UWSAlum]

UW-Eau Claire posted their schedule today

http://blugolds.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/schedule

[UWSAlum]

UW-La Crosse posted their schedule today

http://www.uwlathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball