MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

No conference games this weekend, which is weird. Why not have Wednesday the off day and be the middle of the conference season and start back up this weekend with round number 8?

Platteville 6-2, 16-3

After getting shocked at River Falls last weekend, the Pioneers bounced back and knocked off the visiting Titans in 2 OTs on Wednesday. Another big test awaits with the Eagles coming to town next week and La Crosse will have something to prove after own shock loss to the Warhawks on Wednesday, at home.

Oshkosh 6-2, 12-7

Oshkosh had their 5-game win streak snapped on the road and will look to bounce back next week by hosting Eau Claire.  The Titans blew them out at Zorn, but you can't look past them with trips to La Crosse and Stevens Point on the horizon.

La Crosse 5-3, 15-3

The Eagles will hope to take out their frustrations in a rare nonconference tilt, in the middle of the conference season, when Crown makes a visit. After this weekend's game, La Crosse has Platteville and Oshkosh coming up next week, two teams they've already lost to.

Stevens Point 5-3, 13-6

River Falls came in on the heels of their upset win over Platteville and nearly pulled out another win vs the Pointers. Stevens Point squeaked out the victory and has trips to Whitewater and Eau Claire next week. Whitewater just knocked off La Crosse on the road and Point has already lost to Eau Claire at home.

Eau Claire 4-4, 13-6

After their shock loss to Stout at home, the Blugolds returned the favor and blew out the Blue Devils on their home floor. Next up is a visit to Oshkosh and then a home game vs Point, hoping for the season sweep next weekend.

River Falls 3-5, 10-9

The Falcons nearly made it two big wins in a row, but will have to settle on rebounding next week against Stout and Whitewater, two teams they've already topped earlier in the season.

Whitewater 2-6, 7-12

A lost season had a bright spot with the Warhawks going into La Crosse and upsetting the Eagles. They could make it two in a row with a win over conference rivals Stevens Point this week. After that, they'll try to get revenge over River Falls next weekend.

Stout 1-7, 5-15

After beating Eau Claire at Zorn, the Blue Devils have lost six in a row with only one game being close. Stout will get some home cooking in this week with River Falls and Platteville visiting.

[Greek Tragedy]

The Central Region is a mess with the power conference teams beating each other up.

In no particular order?

Elmhurst 17-2 (CCIW), wins over SNC, Oshkosh, Augustana, Wheaton, IWU, Carthage. Losses to NCC and Augustana

Wash U 15-2 (UAA), wins over Eau Claire, Augustana and IWU. Loss to Platteville

NCC 15-4 (CCIW), wins over Elmhurst, Wheaton, IWU, Augustana. Losses to Oshkosh, Benedictine, IWU, Carthage

Platteville 16-3 (WIAC), wins over Wash U, LeTourneau, 2 wins over Oshkosh, La Crosse. Loss to Stevens Point

La Crosse 15-3 (WIAC), wins over Augustana, Stevens Point, Eau Claire. Losses to Oshkosh and Platteville

Benedictine 15-3 (NACC), wins over SNC, LeTourneau, NCC. Loss to WLC

St. Norbert College 15-3 (MWC), wins over Eau Claire, Oshkosh. Losses to Benedictine, Elmhurst

Oshkosh 12-7 (WIAC), wins over NCC, Augustana, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Stevens Point. Losses to Elmhurst, Carthage, SNC, Emory, Platteville twice

Augustana 13-6 (CCIW), wins over Stevens Point, Wheaton, Elmhurst, Carthage. Losses to Oshkosh, Wash U, IWU, La Crosse, Elmhurst and NCC.

Stevens Point 13-6 (WIAC), wins over Christopher Newport, ETBU, Platteville. Losses to Augustana, Texas-Dallas, La Crosse, Oshkosh

IWU 13-6 (CCIW), wins Augustana, NCC, Carthage. Losses to Wheaton, Wash U, NCC and Elmhurst

Eau Claire 13-6 (WIAC), win over Whitworth, Stevens Point. Losses to Wash U, SNC, Platteville, Oshkosh and La Crosse

Wheaton 13-6 (CCIW), wins over IWU, Carthage twice. Losses to NCC, Augustana, Elmhurst

Carthage 12-7 (CCIW), wins over Oshkosh and NCC. Losses to IWU, Augustana, Elmhurst, Wheaton twice

Wisconsin Lutheran 14-4 (NACC), win over Benedictine

Monmouth 13-5 (MWC), loss to SNC

[palum]

With less than a month to go before the conference tournament unless Platteville completely falls apart they should be in good shape regardless of what happens in the conference tournament. If Oshkosh and Platteville remain tied for first but neither wins the conference tournament will the WIAC get three teams in or will Oskosh's overall record come back to haunt them?

[Greek Tragedy]

River Falls 3-5 at Stout 1-7

Eau Claire 4-4 at Oshkosh 6-2

Stevens Point 5-3 at Whitewater 2-6

La Crosse 5-3 at Platteville 6-2

['95 Blugold]

Good game in Oshkosh right now with Oshkosh up 45-44 at the half. Favert leading the way with 16 for Oshkosh  that includes 4-4 from long range. Rabedeaux pacing the Blugolds as usual with 16. Titans killing the Blugolds on the boards, particularly on the offensive end.

['95 Blugold]

Blugolds hold on barely in the second half to win at Oshkosh. Blugolds had a 15 point lead at about the 13 minute mark, but Oshkosh got back into it and quite frankly had opportunities to win. Could not handle Jack Flynn in the post, got into foul trouble and turned the ball over on offense. Eau Claire did not score from the field over the last 7:06. Only 3 FTs was all they could put in, but it was enough.

[Greek Tragedy]

Point comes back and then holds off Whitewater 74-72.  Down 13 with 5 minutes to go in the 1st half, the visitors cut it to 5 at the break. Point comes out and takes control of the 2nd half, builds a 12-point lead and has a 10-point lead with 4 minutes to go. Whitewater cuts it to one with 12 seconds to go. Point misses one of two FTs with 9 seconds to go and a last second shot doesn't fall for Whitewater.

Platteville comes from 7 down at halftime to beat La Crosse 83-75.

[Greek Tragedy]

Platteville with the only home win. Point tops Whitewater on the road while Eau Claire surprises Oshkosh at Kolf. River Falls easily handles Stout in Menomonie.

UW-Platteville: 7-2, 17-3
UW-Stevens Point: 6-3, 14-6
UW-Oshkosh:  6-3, 12-8
UW-La Crosse: 5-4, 16-4
UW-Eau Claire: 5-4, 14-6
UW-River Falls: 4-5, 11-9
UW-Whitewater: 2-7, 7-13
UW-Stout: 1-8, 5-16

Saturday
Whitewater at River Falls
Platteville at Stout
Oshkosh at La Crosse
Stevens Point at Eau Claire

[tomt4525]

I'm sure people are going to crucify me for bringing this up, but I think it needs to be brought up anyways.

Equan Ards is definitely a D1 athlete, you can see that with the numerous posters he keeps making night in and night out.  With that said, I can't stand his body language and intermittent bouts of lack of hustle.  I see this as the reason he's at Whitewater and not at a scholarship school.

A play that really sticks out in my head from last night was when WW had the ball in SP's zone.  They were passing it around.  There must have been an errant pass that made it's way past the midline.  It was a backcourt violation if WW got to the ball first.  Ards was easily closest to it and just needed to jog to corral the ball to stop the play.  Instead, he doesn't move and has a dumbfounded look on his face like how could a teammate make that bad of a pass.  Bublitz beats him to the ball before it makes its way out of bounds and ends up making a pretty acrobatic layup.

The quite obvious humongous momentum shifter last night also involved Ards.  He picks up his 4th foul with about 13 minutes remaining in the 2nd half.  A game that WW was winning and definitely looked like the better team while Ards was on the floor.  Instead of keeping his cool, he pouts at the officials and gets T'ed up.  Game over for Mr. Ards.  If he keeps his cool there is no doubt in my mind that WW would have prevailed last night.  He didn't and after Ards dismissal, Point goes on a big run and I believe gets a 12 point lead before WW starts widdling it down.

These actions from Ards have been par for the course this season from what I have seen from WW and I think have a huge effect on the team chemistry and morale.  For this reason, I think Coach Miller needs to do a better job while recruiting of getting players that fit into the team chemistry he's trying to foster.

[badgerwarhawk]

No doubt that there were numerous momentum swings last night. There were 11 ties/lead changes and both teams fought back from double digit deficits at some point.  Perhaps one of the biggest swings was at the free throw line.  Despite dominating in the paint the WARHAWKS go to the line just nine times.  Point had thirty-one.  This isn't a comment on the officiating.  It was a veteran crew.  All of whom I think are good officials.  I'm just saying that's where the game was decided. 

I'm not going to get into Ards.  His behavior is what it is and I've little doubt being addressed by the staff.  I'm not going to say his dismissal didn't hurt the team.  Having Hunt off the floor (cramps) at the same time didn't help much either.   But I disagree with your assessment of its impact on team chemistry and morale.  This team is together and supporting one another.  Nobody is pointing fingers and their morale is actually pretty good for as disappointing season as it's been.   I really think you're mistaken in that regard.

[fredfalcon]

No doubt that Ards is a good player. He got 29 Points and 19 rebounds against RF when we played in Whitewater. But I do not think he is a division 1 basketball player. I think I saw a few games back that he did not even start in one of the recent Whitewater games. So it looked to me like he might be having some problems with the coaching staff but that's just a guess. I hope he hangs on at Whitewater and graduates from college.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

No doubt that Ards is a good player. He got 29 Points and 19 rebounds against RF when we played in Whitewater. But I do not think he is a division 1 basketball player. I think I saw a few games back that he did not even start in one of the recent Whitewater games. So it looked to me like he might be having some problems with the coaching staff but that's just a guess. I hope he hangs on at Whitewater and graduates from college.

He's a very athletic dude, for sure, but he went from a junior college to Whitewater.  If, indeed, he were actually a D1 player, he probably would've ended up at a D1 school.  Maybe he turned down an offer to go to Whitewater, but that's not usually how it works out of JUCO.

(And I do believe the original claim was that he had D1 athleticism - and that's hard to argue with.)

[tomt4525]

6'8" Edgerton F, Nicholas Spang, has committed to play basketball at UW-Oshkosh.

[PauldingLightUP]

Big game upcoming on Saturday in the conference race, Oshkosh is at La Crosse.

Both the Eagles and Titans have already been swept by Platteville. Both have already beaten Stevens Point at home. An Oshkosh win, puts them up 2 games on La Crosse and virtually 3 with 2-0 H2H record. A La Crosse win and they are virtually tied (tiebreakers too messy right now and still too early). Both recently took stinging two-point home losses. Oshkosh to Eau Claire and La Crosse to Whitewater.

Stevens Point at Eau Claire is another key game. A Stevens Point win, puts them right in the mix with the Oshkosh-La Crosse winner. If the Pointers win out, they will win the conference and be the tournament top seed, something the Oshkosh-La Crosee winner can not say. If Eau Claire wins, they sweep the Pointers and tie them and have visions on catching the Oshkosh-La Crosse winner.

A virtual must win for Whitewater at River Falls if want to continue their streak of never missing a conference tournament. A loss and they are 3 back of River Falls.

Funny things happen at the Johnson Fieldhouse sometimes, but I'm fairly certain Platteville can pick up the road win to keep their conference lead.

[palum]

Platteville takes care of business at Stout 84-72. Stout made a game of it until about 7 minutes left when Platteville hit some 3's and Stout got into foul trouble. Platteville was able score alot inside with Stovall leading the way with 22 followed by Tuma with 18. 3 of Platteville's final 4 games are on the road starting with WW this Wednesday.