MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Per UWSP recruiting - they have had some recruiting restrictions in place since some period after the investigation began. I can't remember all the specifics and I am not sure how long they were to last, but I believe official on-campus visits were eliminated and possibly some, if not all, recruiting trips might have been affected as well.

So yes, the investigation did affect things.

What's an "official" visit for D3?  Obviously for scholarship schools they pay for travel, food and lodging, but what can a D3 school do that makes a visit official compared to unofficial??

From memory, I believe the "official visit" restrictions were to last 4 years from when the punishment was handed down.  I don't remember anything about off campus recruiting also having restrictions.

I believe even d3 schools can help with food/travel (so long as its on par with what they'd do for any other student on a visit).  Often it's taking them to dinner or comping their cafeteria meal.  Sometimes housing is involved, if its overnight.  The big thing for d3 is that it's comparable to what any other prospective student gets on an "official" visit.  "Unofficial" is entirely paid for by the student/family.

[tomt4525]

Per UWSP recruiting - they have had some recruiting restrictions in place since some period after the investigation began. I can't remember all the specifics and I am not sure how long they were to last, but I believe official on-campus visits were eliminated and possibly some, if not all, recruiting trips might have been affected as well.

So yes, the investigation did affect things.

What's an "official" visit for D3?  Obviously for scholarship schools they pay for travel, food and lodging, but what can a D3 school do that makes a visit official compared to unofficial??

From memory, I believe the "official visit" restrictions were to last 4 years from when the punishment was handed down.  I don't remember anything about off campus recruiting also having restrictions.

I believe even d3 schools can help with food/travel (so long as its on par with what they'd do for any other student on a visit).  Often it's taking them to dinner or comping their cafeteria meal.  Sometimes housing is involved, if its overnight.  The big thing for d3 is that it's comparable to what any other prospective student gets on an "official" visit.  "Unofficial" is entirely paid for by the student/family.

Thanks for the response, that does make sense.

[Greek Tragedy]

We beat La Crosse (unlike last season)! Pointer schedule is up before theirs.

https://athletics.uwsp.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

I see we head out to Newport News, Va and participate in the CNU tournament. UT-Dallas is also involved, so I'm hoping we can work something out with CNU and not have to play the Comets since we'll see them over the holidays. I suppose if we both win (or both lose) we can avoid playing UT-Dallas at CNU's tournament.

[frodotwo]

We beat La Crosse (unlike last season)! Pointer schedule is up before theirs.

https://athletics.uwsp.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

I see we head out to Newport News, Va and participate in the CNU tournament. UT-Dallas is also involved, so I'm hoping we can work something out with CNU and not have to play the Comets since we'll see them over the holidays. I suppose if we both win (or both lose) we can avoid playing UT-Dallas at CNU's tournament.

No St. Thomas this year, might not want to overdo the competition for when the Tommies join the WIAC.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

We beat La Crosse (unlike last season)! Pointer schedule is up before theirs.

https://athletics.uwsp.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

I see we head out to Newport News, Va and participate in the CNU tournament. UT-Dallas is also involved, so I'm hoping we can work something out with CNU and not have to play the Comets since we'll see them over the holidays. I suppose if we both win (or both lose) we can avoid playing UT-Dallas at CNU's tournament.

That has nothing to do with it. This happened well before the UST/MIAC news. From what I was told, UST needed to look carefully at their out of conference schedule and see what their options were. It had nothing to do with UWSP, but it had to do with they only have five out of conference games and there were other commitments already made.

No St. Thomas this year, might not want to overdo the competition for when the Tommies join the WIAC.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm guessing frodo's comment was swimming in sarcasm. Anyway, carefully looking at their out of conference schedule because they only have 5 games isn't anything new. As much as I'm surprised they didn't schedule Point (or vice versa), it's a welcome change, IMO, that Point has booked a Texas two-step and also heading to Virginia to play CNU and Wilmington...though we just recently played CNU. It's nice to see new faces and that's no offense to the usual suspects that are annually on the schedule.

[tomt4525]

Former McDoenll Central standout Hayden Baughman (6-5) has transferred from Concordia-St. Paul to Eau Claire. Baughman averaged 7.3 ppg as a freshman at Concordia-St. Paul last season.

[tomt4525]

https://uwlathletics.com/news/2019/9/24/uw-la-crosse-announces-mens-basketball-schedule.aspx

La Crosse posts their schedule.

[Greek Tragedy]

Stout (6-19, 0-14)

https://athletics.uwstout.edu/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

Stout has, by far, the weakest non-conference schedule of any WIAC team this year. The 10 D3 opponents have an overall record of just 107-148, a winning percentage of only 42%, and that includes a possible matchup with 19-8 SNC in De Pere. Their highlight game is against 18-8 Bethany Lutheran, who finished 2nd in the UMAC. Stout has two exhibition games vs UWGB and Saginaw Valley and also a non-D3 game vs Cardinal Stritch. St. Olaf (13-13), Lakeland (12-13) and Dubuque (14-13) are all teams that will challenge Stout. Winnable games could come against Concordia Moorhead (7-18), Finlandia (0-21), Alma (5-22), Northland (9-16) and Edgewood (10-16). Stout has some creative scheduling as well. They open at home vs St. Olaf and then travel to Green Bay the next day for their exhibition with UWGB. They also travel to Alma and Saginaw Valley on back-to-back days and then head to DePere for the SNC tournament where they play Edgewood and then possibly SNC or Superior.

[Greek Tragedy]

La Crosse (17-10, 10-4)

https://uwlathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

In terms of opponents' winning percentage, the Eagles have the 2nd hardest NC schedule in the WIAC. However, there really isn't anyone that I'd be excited to see. Augustana (26-4) is the toughest game on the schedule, but Marian (7-18), Blackburn (13-13), as part of the Loras invite, and possibly their trek out West to take on Willamette (9-16) and George Fox (13-12) should be wins. Teams that should give La Crosse a good fight are Bethel (19-8), Concordia (WI) (18-8) as part of the Loras tournament, Augsburg (19-9) and Wartburg (17-9). Crown (17-10) and Ripon (15-10) round out the schedule, along with an exhibition at Wisconsin to kick off the season.

[Greek Tragedy]

Platteville (18-11, 8-6)

https://letsgopioneers.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

Platteville has the 2nd easiest schedule of the WIAC teams (winning% of 53.4%), but that will happen when one of your 9 D3 opponents is Finlandia (0-21). Non-D3 teams include Viterbo (12-17) and Cardinal Stritch (16-13), their records not included. The Pioneers do have Wash U (17-8) on their schedule and they could be really good this year. Platteville also travels to the South for a challenging pair of games vs LeTourneau (17-9) and Mary Hardin Baylor (21-6). They play a pair of MIAA teams as well in Hope (15-11) and Olivet (13-14). Concordia (IL) (6-19) and Illinois Tech (16-12) are the Pioneers' NACC opponents. Bethel (19-8) should pose a nice challenge to round out the schedule.

[Greek Tragedy]

Eau Claire (14-12, 7-7)

https://www.blugolds.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

The Blugolds' schedule isn't real exciting (53.4% winning%), but they do offer two good trips. One trip is to St. Louis to participate in the Wash U tournament. They'll take on Whitworth (21-6) and possibly the hosts, Wash U (17-8), but more likely Coe (14-12). The other highlight is a trip out West to take on Pacific Lutheran (8-16) and Puget Sound (12-14), both winnable games. Other matchups include St. Scholastica (16-11), Aurora (17-12), Superior (6-19), Lawrence (11-14) and St. Olaf (13-13). Wartburg (17-9) and SNC (19-8) could pose the toughest games on the remaining schedule.

[Greek Tragedy]

River Falls (11-14, 4-10)

https://uwrfsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

The Falcons have the 3rd toughest schedule at 59.4% winning percentage for opponents. It's helped by a potential 2nd night matchup against Wheaton (23-9) at their tournament, though Wheaton will be way down. Otherwise, they'll get Principia (6-19) after playing Franklin (12-15) the first night. The highlight of the schedule is a battle against Nebraska Wesleyan (27-2). A fun trip to Vegas for the D3hoops tournament has the Falcons taking on NJCU (20-8) and Muskingum (8-18). Other roadblocks include Northwestern (22-7) and Augsburg (19-9). St. Scholastica (16-11), Superior (6-19) and Hamline (11-14) also offer challenges. Viterbo (12-17) is the line non-D3 team.

[Greek Tragedy]

Oshkosh (29-3, 13-1)

https://uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

The National Champs have a solid schedule (56.1%) that kicks off against the top two CCIW teams, Augustana (26-4) and NCC (23-6). The run through the CCIW continues with games against Carthage (8-17) and Elmhurst (12-14). The tough schedule ends with a trip to Atlanta to take on UAA power Emory (20-6) and LaGrange (17-9). In between, Edgewood (10-16) and Lawrence (11-14) await. A trip to Michigan to face MIAA foes Alma (5-22) and Calvin (14-23) is also included. In between the Michigan and Georgia trips is the Titans annual battle with SNC (19-8).

[Greek Tragedy]

Whitewater (17-9, 6-8)

https://uwwsports.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

I'll have to hand it to Whitewater this year. They actually put together a pretty nice NC schedule (58.3% opponents winning percentage). They open at NACC regular season champ MSOE. I like how some teams are partnering up with other schools to schedule games. Whitewater and Platteville team up to swap Washington U (17-8) and Viterbo and Whitewater and Oshkosh do likewise with Calvin (14-13) and Alma (5-22). Whitewater has three "must-see" games with the aforementioned Washington U game, along with Augustana (26-4) and a trip to Florida to battle Amherst (25-5), in addition to Hamline (11-14). The Warhawks also play a trio of MWC opponents in Ripon (15-10), Monmouth (13-13) and Beloit (8-17).