MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Just Bill]

I hope UW-L wins a national title so I can hear more complaints from laxeagles1:

"Did you see the way Koelbl cut down that net?  C'mon, at least bring a sharp scissors!"

"Jeez, Koelbl could barely hoist that trophy over his head.  Doesn't he work out?"

[laxeagles1]

Hey I will gladly complain about the way the nets are cut down if UW-L gets that far!

[Greek Tragedy]

Point/Carroll Game

A little late, but my computer use is a little limited.


Point surprised me a lot on Saturday.  I didn't think they'd tank, but a huge blowout win at Carroll to start things off...and anyone that was there knows it was an 18-point game, not a close game and then the margin was bigger because Point made their free throws.

As said, Point came out gunning and hit a couple of 3's to start things off, up 14-4 early.  Krull was a stud like usual and Pete Rortvedt hit from the outside early.  He had a little cold spell, but nothing to worry about since Point was dominant throughout.  We have plenty of shooters and when I heard that Beamish was starting, I was scratching my head.  I thought he might be better off the bench.  Needless to say, he was awesome.

Size is still kind of an issue.  Carroll's #52 gave us some problems inside.  I haven't looked at the boxscore yet, so at least it seemed like he did!  Matt Moses was the most impressive "newbie" for Point.

On to Lawrence and then home to Ripon this weekend! 

Sorry about being right about IWU beating UWW on Saturday.  It sounds like WW looked pretty good, in the first half, anyway.

[ScheckDiesel]

I was at the IWU vs. UWW game... and let me tell you it was pretty sickening to watch the last 5 minutes plus OT..
After IWU beat UWW to kick them out of the tourney last year it felt pretty good being up by 18 at the half...
Whitewater needs to start making free throws if they want to do anything this year...

[John Gleich]

HERE is Point's weekly preview before the big match-up against Larry U.

One thought... I wonder if Point's previous game will be to their advantage (and LU's disadvantage) after Point is able, possibly, to work out some kinks.  ... But it didn't seem, at least initially, that there WERE many kinks in Point's first game, trouncing Carroll.

Should be a good game, I'm making the LOOOONG trek over to the closest school to Point.

[chmarx]

Good luck on the epic trek, PS!

[ItIsWhatItIs]

I agree, the second half of the IWU/UWW game was sickening to watch.  That had to be one of the worst coaching jobs I have seen in a while.  With so much talent, Whitewater coaches must realize who can do what and when.  No way Gio Riley should have been in the game to take any of those free throws...not when you have Jason Price, R Dixon, even Duane Vance.  With the last shot in regulation, they didnt even have Perry or Anderson in the game.  Riley should have made a couple of those free throws, but he should not been in there to do so.

[uww4ever]

Just looking at the box score, 1 of 7 Gio was FROM THE STRIPE, why the heck would he even touch the ball at all in a close game situation?  Even an intramural coach would have his best free-throw shooters in, or inbound the ball to Toellner for gosh sakes!

Brez should retire to coach b-ball.  J/K, I'm a Pat Miller fan.  Hopefully Gio will stop shaving his head w/ a mohawk, stop singing rap in the weight room and work on his shooting.

GO WARHAWKS.

[ItIsWhatItIs]

I am a little more skeptical about Pat, he subs way to much and at inopportune times...and when he should sub, he doesn't.  Because of his subbing pattern, he causes disruption in his own team's momentum.  He has had a history of this too.  I would think with as many assitant coaches he has, someone could help him in this realm

[WLCALUM83]

Half-time score:  UW-Oshkosh 38, Edgewood 21.

[I Can Sell It]

Point outlasts LU 70-67.

Great defense by Point, made LU earn most shots.

I expect Point will be a force in WIAC.

Krull had 27, great offensive show but not a clean player, lots of flops and a little whiney. I'd nip that if I was Semling.

Point will be Top 10 next poll, maybe Top 5.

I predict Point crushes Oshkosh.

[Just Bill]

I don't think beating #17 and #13 in the first week of the season moves you into the top 5.  Although it is an impressive start for the Pointers.

[Mr. Downtown]

I predict Point crushes Oshkosh.

Not on 3/15 shooting on 3's.

All I gotta say is, take a look at the last two years when Point travelled to Oshkosh.

[Just Bill]

Just 5 turnovers for the Pointers.  That's impressive.

[John Gleich]

I agree JB... but there was a very untimely TO in the last 3 minutes, when Point really needed a score.

Point did what they needed to do to grind out the win, but LU really buckled down the defense in the second half.

... or, at least it seemed like they did.  I missed the entire first half because I got off of work late and then got stuck following a detour to avoid Appleton's Christmas parade... 

When I got there, Point was definately in control, and they started off the second half well, moving the ball, hitting cutters and getting easy baskets.  They also were playing pretty good defense, forcing tough shots and getting a few TO's.  Something happened in the second half, though.  Point went away from what had gotten them where they were.  It seemed that Point began settling for outside shots instead of grinding out the shotclock and making LU defend for the full 35.  When Point wasn't able to hit from the outside, it allowed Lawrence to really sag into the lane and cut down the driving and cutting lanes, as well as decreasing Krull's effectiveness inside.

Point really fell apart when he was taken out with his third foul.  Point went without a field goal for quite a while, and didn't score again until Krull was back in the game and hit two freebies.  They did just enough to create a miss on that last possession (the refs, at that point, were just letting them play... there had been some questionable calls on both ends earlier in the game... the last play could have been called both a foul and a travel and decided the game differently, or even in favor of the Titans.

A few stats that are very indicative of the game:

Point
First Half field goals: 20/35  57.1%
Second Half field goals: 10/27  37.0%
% for the game: 30/62  48.4%
3's:  3/15 20%

Point won the game by shooting 16 more shots that Lawrence.  LU shot 9 more and made 6 more FT's and hit 3 more threes, but Point made six more baskets and were able to hold off the Vikings.  As stated before, Point had just 5 TO's, but I found myself wondering how they were going to be able to defend teams like Oshkosh, Stout, Whitewater, Platteville, and La Crosse with true big men who have skills.  Is Krull going to be able to maneuver inside with 7 footers eating up space?

Point definately needs to convert a better precentage of their 3's, but they've also got to finish their makeable shots.  Now, granted, these weren't gimmes, but Point missed, that I can remember, 5 layups in the second half, especially during the second half drought where Point missed 5 straight shots, including 2 lay-ups.  The Point players were beating their men to the basket but they just weren't converting the bucket.  During this stretch, LU hit 3/4 shots and sank 3 FT's to bring the lead from 16 down to 4 before Krulls aforementioned FT's.

LU seemed to be leaning very heavily on Andy Hurley, who had a pretty good second half.  He ended up with 5 TO's, so his first half must not have been great, but LU kept forcing it inside, drawing fouls or converting in the post.  Hurley ended up with 15 pts, and LU made it to the charity stripe 17 times to just 8 for Point.

Overall, it was a pretty good game, but I wasn't sure that Point was going to pull it out... LU had the momentum and it seemed as the game went on that the Point players were getting tired down the stretch.

But, alas, Point prevailed and defeated their second straight ranked team and carry the streak against MWC teams to 22 before the home opener on Friday to complete the MWC sweep against Ripon!!