MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

They're only planning to put the lower bowl on sale, and not the seats behind the baskets, so that would be about 5,000 -- but I wonder about what that looks like and sounds like in a building that is obviously larger than that anyway.

[AppletonRocks]

Everything is better in the Midwest !

[Greek Tragedy]

They're only planning to put the lower bowl on sale, and not the seats behind the baskets, so that would be about 5,000 -- but I wonder about what that looks like and sounds like in a building that is obviously larger than that anyway.

Many years ago when MLS was just beginning, I went to a Columbus Crew game at Ohio State's Horseshoe. They may have had 15,000 there, but the place seats 80k+. The Crew built the first soccer specific stadium and that same 15,000 has a great atmosphere in the 20,000 seater. They can canvas off all they want, but the atmosphere won't be there. I'm still excited having the Final Four closer to me, but I was hoping for a 5,000 seater. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The big question is whether the Indiana HS playoffs will be over by then - I could see a few Hoosier hoop-heads looking for more action in March and buying some tickets.

[swampgoon]

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2017/04/men-championships-leave-salem

I could easily do 5 1/2 hours to Fort Wayne, IN for the Final Four, even if Point wasn't in it. I just have to find a nearby indoor waterpark for the wife and kid to play in.

Obviously no offense to Salem, loved the experiences I had there, but this can be an easy 4-day weekend for the next four years. As a Midwesterner, I'm really excited about this.

You're all set.....

https://www.familydaysout.com/kids-things-to-do-usa/fort-wayne/in/waterparks

And they have groupons.

OK, there's one fan. Now only 12,999 to go.

There's Groupons, so I can probably get Swampgoon and his family to come. That makes 8.

Don't include me in your Fort Wayne lovefest ... If there isn't a Waffle House, I ain't going...

[tomt4525]

Logan Rezac from Andover (MN), has committed to play at UWRF.  Seems like a significant recruit as he was in the top 10 in the state in scoring.

[sac]

The big question is whether the Indiana HS playoffs will be over by then - I could see a few Hoosier hoop-heads looking for more action in March and buying some tickets.

IHSAA holds its Finals on a Saturday usually the weekend after D3's Final Four.   The prior weekend is what the IHSAA calls Semi-State, arguably a bigger weekend with locations for the 8 semi-final games played around Indiana in typically fixed locations.    By that point in the tournament "hoosier hysteria" has wound down a bit with 90% of the schools out of the tournament.  In either case the D3 Championship game will be played on a very big day for Indiana high school basketball, tough to grab attention.

Ft. Wayne is a decent basketball city but I don't get the impression its the hotbed of Indiana hoops like other areas of the state (but I'm an outsider).  On Indiana's list of largest high school gym's, none are near Ft. Wayne and most of the tournaments neutral site games bypass the city altogether.   But they've had 2 or 3 high schools recently make it to semi-state weekend the last 3 years including Homestead who won the 2015 4A title and Ft. Wayne Northside who lost this years Championship game.



I think if you see bigger crowds it will depend on how well the event is marketed to non-D3 people (there is no D3 school in Ft. Wayne).  Ft. Wayne is about 2 to 3 times larger than the Roanoke valley in population.  Plus, how much more of a crowd will you get from the Midwestern representatives just being so much closer (like a WIAC school now 8 hours closer).  With the likely decrease from the Eastern schools of course.

[Greek Tragedy]

I've actually never been impressed with the fan representation from Eastern schools at the Final Four. Maybe their schools or communties are smaller, maybe they are on spring break or maybe they just don't care. Point has been known to travel well, but when our crowd is comparable (or larger) to our opposition who can be 10+ hours closer, it makes me wonder what kind of crowds they get at home.

[badgerwarhawk]

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2017/04/men-championships-leave-salem

I could easily do 5 1/2 hours to Fort Wayne, IN for the Final Four, even if Point wasn't in it. I just have to find a nearby indoor waterpark for the wife and kid to play in.

Obviously no offense to Salem, loved the experiences I had there, but this can be an easy 4-day weekend for the next four years. As a Midwesterner, I'm really excited about this.

You're all set.....

https://www.familydaysout.com/kids-things-to-do-usa/fort-wayne/in/waterparks

And they have groupons.

OK, there's one fan. Now only 12,999 to go.

There's Groupons, so I can probably get Swampgoon and his family to come. That makes 8.

Don't include me in your Fort Wayne lovefest ... If there isn't a Waffle House, I ain't going...

A quick check indicated the nearest Waffle House is roughly 70 miles away.  Looks like the Greek and family will be traveling alone.

[iwumichigander]

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2017/04/men-championships-leave-salem

I could easily do 5 1/2 hours to Fort Wayne, IN for the Final Four, even if Point wasn't in it. I just have to find a nearby indoor waterpark for the wife and kid to play in.

Obviously no offense to Salem, loved the experiences I had there, but this can be an easy 4-day weekend for the next four years. As a Midwesterner, I'm really excited about this.

You're all set.....

https://www.familydaysout.com/kids-things-to-do-usa/fort-wayne/in/waterparks

And they have groupons.

OK, there's one fan. Now only 12,999 to go.

There's Groupons, so I can probably get Swampgoon and his family to come. That makes 8.

Don't include me in your Fort Wayne lovefest ... If there isn't a Waffle House, I ain't going...

A quick check indicated the nearest Waffle House is roughly 70 miles away.  Looks like the Greek and family will be traveling alone.

But don't hey do takeout or delivery?

[tomt4525]

Antigo PG, Matt Arndt, will play basketball for the La Crosse Eagles.

[tomt4525]

I'll start posting the departing/returning and incoming recruits list for each team.  Disclaimer, I'm only including players who averaged 10 minutes per game for the returners section.  I think that's a good barometer for how important they are for their team.

[tomt4525]

La Crosse

Departing
Clint Rihn 6'0" G 17.6 min
Kenny Finco 6'1" G  23.4 min
Ryan Kruser 6'1" G  24.3 min
Zach Schradle 6'5" F  32.0 min--First Team AC
Austin Fritz 6'7" F  26.0 min

Returning
Ben Meinholz 6'4" G  31.3 min--All Conference Honorable Mention
Sam Skoyen  11.7 min
Tanner Bruchs  11.3 min

Incoming Recruits
Matt Arndt  6'1" G  Antigo
Matt Caropreso 6'6" Madison Memorial
Wyatt Cook 6'5" F Pewaukee
Charlie Schabo 5'11" PG Hortonville
Jalen Zubich 5'10" PG Onalaska
Will Jelacic 6'8" F  Dominican
Peyton Rohling 6'0"  Wisconsin Dells
Justin Ruhberg 6'0"  St Charles (MN)

Also curious about a few of last years' recruits who weren't on their roster this season.  Colton Homan, Mason DeNoyer and Simon Lensmire...my guess is they will be on the roster this season.

[tomt4525]

Oshkosh

Departing
Taylor Jansen G  23.3 min--All Defensive Team
Sean Dwyer F  8.9 min
Tyrone Moore G  3.0 min
AJ Mueller F  8.7 min
Max Schebel F  22.8 min

Returning
Charlie Noone G  31.0 min--1st Team All Conference
Kyle Beyak G  11.0 min
Ben Boots G  31.3 min--1st Team All Conference
Brett Wittchow G  26.8 min
Kyle Bolger G  18.1 min
Adam Fravert F  10.5 min
Jack Flynn F  14.0 min

Incoming Recruits
Sam Fredrickson 6'7" F Fond Du Lac--Ranked 38th in the Wissports Top Senior Player Rankings
Tommy Borta 6'7" F Wausau West
Jacob DeStarkey 6'5" F  Pulaski
Sam Ebersold 6'0" PG  Downers Grove South (IL)

[tomt4525]

Platteville

Departing
Cory Vaassen F 28.2 min

Returning
Jake Showalter G/F  23.9 min
Trey Sigel G  25.1 min
Matt Ostreich G  28.1 min
Robert Duax G  30.5 min--1st Team All Conference
Carter Voelker G  12.8 min
Harold Fay G  10.0 min
Colin Connelly G  12.3 min
Colin Kramper G  13.0 min
Dan Lowe F  13.9 min
Clay Gerds F  15.4 min

Incoming Recruits
Drew Gunnink 6'2" G Laconia--Ranked 50th in the Wissports Top Senior Player Rankings
Alex Ranney 6'0" PG  Lake Mills
Zach Zavada 6'5" F  Pius XI Catholic
Quinton Shields G Brooks (IL)
Jake Schutter PG Providence Catholic (IL)
Brandon Trimble 6'2" SG  St Joseph's Ogden (IL)