MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS picked up a second conference win beating Stout 91-76.  Derek Gray led the way with a stat line of 30 points, 8 rebounds and an assist.  Jack Brahm followed with 18 points.  Gage Malencek (16) and Breontae Hunt (10 points, 5 assists and 3 steals) also contributed double figure points.  The WARHAWKS who led start to finish built up a 16 point lead 49-33 at the half.  Stout rallied in the second half and had cut the deficit to 8 with seven minutes remaining.  But an inside jumper by Brahm pushed the lead back into double figures and it eventually grew to a high of 18 points 92-74 before the final tally.  Points off of turnovers were a significant factor.  The WARHAWKS had a season low 11 on which Stout scored 8 points.  Stout had 20 turnovers which the WARHAWKS turned into 23 points. 

After a couple of seasons watching us built leads only to lose them down the stretch in part because of our own mistakes it was encouraging to see the team reverse the trend.  I have no idea how good or bad Stout will be but regardless this was a step forward for us.  I really believe we would have found a way to lose that game in the previous two seasons.

Luke Geiger led Stout with 19 points.  I enjoyed watching him play.

[palum]

The early part of the WIAC schedule finds Platteville,  Oshkosh and Whitewater on top with 2-0 records.  One suprise is LaCrosse is at 0-2 although they lost to Platteville and Oshkosh but both those losses where at home and could be hard to make up later on when LaCrosse travels to Bo Ryan Court and to Oshkosh.  The conference will resume in early January and should another year of quality basketball.

[PauldingLightUP]

Stout defeats Lakeland tonight 97-57.

[PauldingLightUP]

Whitewater feels like a big sleeper to me. Handled Lake Forest 91-58 tonight. Their schedule doesn't feature a great win right, but they look really good. They might shock some around the league this year. I think they won't go 0-6 against Platteville, Oshkosh, and La Crosse. The reload feels real this year. Very interested in the Ripon game and Atlanta trip.

[Greek Tragedy]

Stout beats ARC preseason #1 Dubuque 89-80.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Whitewater feels like a big sleeper to me. Handled Lake Forest 91-58 tonight. Their schedule doesn't feature a great win right, but they look really good. They might shock some around the league this year. I think they won't go 0-6 against Platteville, Oshkosh, and La Crosse. The reload feels real this year. Very interested in the Ripon game and Atlanta trip.

Lake Forest isn't great, but they're not a pushover either.  This was an eye opening result to me, although it was Pat Miller's 400th win, so maybe there was some extra motivation going on.

[badgerwarhawk]

Suddenly the WARHAWKS are shooting threes much better.  After starting the season shooting less than 25% the team has gone 18-40 in the past two games.  Malencek was 6-6 last night finishing with a game high 21 points.  Jack Brahm added 17 points and Elijah Lambert added 11.  One player who also stood out was Carter Capstran who gave the team a real boost off the bench and finished with 14.

We're definitely better than the last two seasons.  How far that takes us remains to be seen.

Congrats to Coach Miller on #400. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For two programs this week, the number 25 is probably considered lucky. For many, it represents the bottom of a Top 25 ranking, but for those in the 25th slot ... it means they are ranked.

St. John Fisher hasn't been ranked since "Desperate Housewives," "Boston Legal," "The Shield," and "Fear Factor" where some of the most popular shows on television. The top movie was "Coach Carter." However, Coach Melissa Kuberka has gotten her Cardinals squad back into the rankings after a terrific start to the 2021-22 season. We talk to her about the team's success and how the rest of the season could shape up.

For DeSales, there were signs they were going to be good during the COVID season. Not all teams are able to duplicate that short-season success, but the Bulldogs are off to an undefeated start. Coach Scott Coval discusses just how good the team is and why we haven't seen the unit at it's very best. Plus, one can still break a backboard in today's game? DeSales found out it is possible.

Plus, Yeshiva is getting plenty of attention now that they have been ranked #1 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll the last few weeks. But do you really know the Macabees and their program? We talk to Gary Belsky who wrote an expose on the program for ESPN. It's a must read and a must listen to segment.

And UW-Eau Claire Athletics have big plans for future Blugolds and DIII championships. Introducing the $70 million Sonnetag Center. AD Dan Schumacher discusses the significant way UWEC could shift championships and even regional recruiting by 2024.

You can watch the show LIVE (or on demand) here: https://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2021-22/dec9

Guests List:
- #25 St. John Fisher women's coach Melissa Kuberka
- #25 DeSales men's coach Scott Coval
- ESPN Writer Gary Belsky
- UW-Eau Claire Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher

Hoopsville broadcasts from the NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville


 
   
We also have the podcast now on Tune-In and others coming. We will update them once we have better abilities to do so.

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[PauldingLightUP]

I had read the article and release, but hearing from Dan really underscores how huge the new facility will be for Eau Claire. Championships, NCAA, WIAC, and WIAA will be huge for the Chippewa Valley.

Seeing the good ol' Zorn go will be sad, but this sounds 100x better.

[PauldingLightUP]

Three big wins for the WIAC top three today. La Crosse over Trine. Platteville over Hope and Oshkosh over North Central. Impressive by all three.

[tomt4525]

I listened to the Pointer Hoops Radio Show this morning.

Notable things said on the show...

Zach Mootz will be back for a super senior year, Peter Timmermann will not.  He has a job lined up already back in Iowa.  Which means UWSP has 1 returning big for next year.  Semling mentioned how important this years recruiting class will be, restocking the post has to be high priority.

Semling also mentioned they are exploring adding to the roster for 2nd semester.  I have seen a couple D2 kids hit the transfer portal that I'm sure are options, hopefully something comes to fruition there.

While Semling was talking recruiting, he mentioned that he's trying to add Blake Ehrke to the coaching staff.  He wanted to get another person out on the recruiting trail talking up the Pointer program.

Last notable thing, for me anyways, was that Semling talked to Peter about finding his replacement for next season.  He mentioned a kid in the Fox Valley whose grandpa is a huge supporter of UWSP basketball and member of the backcourt club.  Semling mentioned this kid is special and everyone in the WIAC wants him.  I have a very good guess on who he is talking about, but can't be sure.  Either way, having a leg up on a top level recruit is definitely welcomed, especially when it's a position of need.

[tomt4525]

I just looked at the Pointer hoops roster...I have noticed that Mayson Hazaert and Joey Saunders are no longer listed.  UWSP is down to 13 players.  Hazaert had all the talent in the world but just couldn't stay healthy.

[PauldingLightUP]

Thanks for the report tomt. I was able to catch it live actually. Intriguing that Semling even mentioned a possible semester addition. And with the high school season a few weeks old recruiting battles are picking up.

[Greek Tragedy]

Good info, tomt. +1

[PauldingLightUP]

Another WIAC survival at the Alexander Gymnasium tonight. Lawrence was up 13 at halftime and looked good doing it. Then Eau Claire seemed to turn up the defense in the second half. Eau Claire got up late making good on some free throws, but missed one to leave them up 3. We found out Siverling is not one to foul or didn't have time to talk it over with players and LU hits the tying three with 1.5 to go. Blugolds win in Overtime 103-96. I think I've learned that Korn can coach.