MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[P-Ville Hoops Man]

Titan, you are soooooo stupid.  A sorority party in Platteville?  Get real.  They aren't any girls in Platteville.    But seriously, I'm hoping Jahnke, Gibson, and a slew of other players get measles or forget a report cover on a feasibility study and get put on academic probation.  Maybe measles was too much.  I take that back....Mono from Platteville's non-existent sorority girls.

[Pioneerbacker]

With the WIAC Basketball Media Day next week, who thinks Stevens Point gets the nod at favorite.  I do.  Not sure everyone has been drinking the Oshkosh kool-aide. 

[Winneconne_Legend]

I sometimes wonder why WW is continually criticized for playing "me" instead of "we" basketball.  My wonderment sent my to season statistics over the past 5 years to check out assist totals.  In four of the five years, a WW player has been among the top-6 in season assist averages.  One of those years, Aubrey Lewis-Byers, one of the great WIAC players over the past decade, actually led his team in assists, along with leading his team in scoring.  

After broadcasting Warhawk basketball for 16 years (until 2 years ago), I sometimes wonder if all the comments about WW not playing "team basketball"  has racial overtones.  One of the most memorable occurred when a fan sitting right behind my broadcast location stood up and yelled "Hey c--n, go back to Milwaukee where you belong."   I could give you several other instances.  

Being the team that annually has the greatest number of minority athletes, I certainly wish those kinds of comments would stop.  These are just young men playing Division-three basketball - just like the young men from your school.

Pat Miller and his staff have done a wonderful job into making WW an annual contender for the WIAC title.  When they win the WIAC title this year, willl it be because they have quote, "great athletes," or will it be because they are one damn good basketball TEAM?

Voice- You are without a doubt one of the most respected and knowledgable posters in this room, however I take issue with two things you said, one basketball related, and one not.

Basketball-wise, an assist is not a measurement of how well a team plays together. There is no stat that measures teamwork. You have to watch a team play over a period of time to really understand teamwork and how good a team is. Defense, screening, ego-checking are all measures of teamwork, not assists.

Life-wise, I teak great personal offense to the call of racism in this room. There is no doubt that racism still exsists in this world, as sad as it may be. I am a teacher, and I teach a class about the social struggle faced by minority races as well as women. I have no doubts that you have seen some terrible things on the road with the Warhawks.

I understand race and I understand basketball. I don't attribute Whitewater's "teamwork" issues to race. I attribute them to a defensive breakdown just about everytime I see them play. Scooby Griffin was one of the better on the floor leaders that I have seen in the WIAC, unfortuately there were some other players on that squad who didn't seem to be on the same page.

I apologize if I ruffled some feathers here (no pun intended), but I couldn't let that stand unspoken on.

[voice]

Winneconne Legend,

Very well said.  I just get very frustrated when "fans" come to gymnasiums around this league and go to the bottom-most denominator in yelling insults to opposing players.  My previous comments were not meant to denigrate the vast majority of WIAC fans who are fantastic.  They were only made in response to what I have heard a number of times over the past few years.
What is most disturbing, a number of those comments come from students.

The overwhelming reason I brought the subject up is to hopefully get the "real fans" of the WIAC to help stop fellow fans from yelling out such insults. 

[P-Ville Hoops Man]

Pioneerbacker, while the Pointer dogs can't be totally disregarded on Media Day I'm sipping some Oshkosh kool-aid myself and regret that they'll probably get the nod...hoping against hope for Platteville though. 

[BDB]

Voice,

  In the world of youth hockey, the "real fans" you mention are called Culture Keepers. They are designated people to approach parents/fans that are getting out of control on the referees, the other team, the coaches and even their own kids.

It's effective sometimes, but not an easy task.

[Mr. Downtown]

I will be attending the Media Day conference on November 3rd, any one else??

About the voting...I'm sure the coaches themselves know what is brewing in the Fox Valley. I wouldn't be calling it Kool-aid to how some people have pointed out.


I really wonder why Whitewater fans are the only ones that notice just how good Oshkosh will be this year, preventing from serious injuries and such. Its weird, neither school likes each other, but we have the highest respect for either school. Hmm..that's curious.

Also, about Sean Krause, I broadcast two years of my now 6 while he was playing in Fort Atkinson. I know he can shoot and find ways to score. However I haven't really seen him do it since in Platteville. Perhaps this is the year he breaks out of his shell?? Nonetheless, this guy is a good basketball player.

Anyways, I guess I will see you guys in Mad-town for those who are going on November 3rd.

[uww4ever]

Voice:

I have been a Whitewater fan for 7 years now and have made a concious effort to make it to games and cheer on whoever was playing, white, black, red, Nick Smith, whoever is on the court.  I find it hard to believe that you can bring out race when another poster describes his favorite team as not playing team basketball.
I bring up the fact about team basketball merely from my experience as a student of Whitewater, going to games and watching us put up 90 points and letting up 80, and not winning more conference games with the talent we have.  In most losses that I have seen, we are consistently getting into more individualized style of play, whether it be taking ill-advised threes, turning the ball over regularily, etc.  I did not attend midnight madness, but this is the impression that was relayed to me from a student, and no names were named.
Dead issue-it is not a race thing with team basketball-it is the five guys on the court, whoever they are, who can make each other better.  Some players for UWW choose to do that, some don't.   

[titansrus]

It seems that the rest of the nation must be drinking the "Oshkosh kool-aid" since the Titans are ranked #2 in preseason behind Illinios-Wesleyan. Whitewater and Platteville are 13 and 20, while Point is 26th. The sleeper in Stout is receiving 3 votes. I for one am gonna be drinking the kool-aid all the way to the big dance (hopefully).

[Greek Tragedy]

Not to drag on this "race" thing, but I'm very surprised and a bit disappointed that Voice pulled out the race card.  Obviously racism exists in all aspects of life, including sports as well.  As a minority, I, for one, know all about it and experience it basically on a daily basis.  It's ironic that I read Voice's post this morning, turned on the Radio to listen to the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio, and low and behold, guess what he's talking about;  racism.  Apparently Frank Robinson(?) noticed that the Houston Astros don't have any African Americans on their team.  I apologize if Robinson isn't the person that said it.  I think it was him.  On top of that, some college coach commented, after a loss, that the opposing team had a lot of African Americans on their team and they tend to run really fast. 

Anyway, enough with that.  I see that the D3 voters have Whitewater 13th, even after admitting they didn't get any information from them!  A WIAC team that finished 8-8 in the conference and loses their best player (IMO), Scoobie Griffin.  Ummm....

I'm surprised Point got so many votes.  I don't see Point cracking the top four in the WIACs preseason poll either. 

Without thinking about it:

Oshkosh
Stout
Platteville
Whitewater
La Crosse
Point
Eau Claire
Superior
River Falls

[Greek Tragedy]

With the WIAC Basketball Media Day next week, who thinks Stevens Point gets the nod at favorite.  I do.  Not sure everyone has been drinking the Oshkosh kool-aide. 

Pioneerbacker,

You gotta be kidding me.    I love my dawgs, but even I'm realistic. 

[Pioneerbacker]

Yeah, I guess that was an over-statement about UWSP and Oshkosh.  I was just using the theory that they are #1 until someone beats them.  Kind of like with football this year when LaCrosse was picked the favorite (because they are always the favorite until someone beats them).  I'm surprised Oshkosh got the votes for the national poll (not that they don't deserve it).  I guess we're (WIAC fans) in-agreement (rather reluctantly  ) about Oshy, but just a little surprised they got the nod nationally.  Regardless, let's all hope we get two teams in the tourney.  Should be a fun season!     

[Just Bill]

Apparently Frank Robinson(?) noticed that the Houston Astros don't have any African Americans on their team.  I apologize if Robinson isn't the person that said it.  I think it was him. 

Actually OS, that was Hank Aaron who made those comments.

[laxeagles1]

Not to drag on this "race" thing, but I'm very surprised and a bit disappointed that Voice pulled out the race card.  Obviously racism exists in all aspects of life, including sports as well.  As a minority, I, for one, know all about it and experience it basically on a daily basis.  It's ironic that I read Voice's post this morning, turned on the Radio to listen to the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio, and low and behold, guess what he's talking about;  racism.  Apparently Frank Robinson(?) noticed that the Houston Astros don't have any African Americans on their team.  I apologize if Robinson isn't the person that said it.  I think it was him.  On top of that, some college coach commented, after a loss, that the opposing team had a lot of African Americans on their team and they tend to run really fast. 

Until both sides of the race card quit bringing up race at all times whenever something 'doesn't go there way' and trust me it works for the whites just as much as blacks, it will be an issue.  In the case of Hank Aaron race wasn't an issue till he brought it up.  Last time I checked Ezuqiel Astacio, Willly Taveras, etc. were minorities.  I guess to play it the other way, as a white male I am appaled at the lack of whites in the NBA.  I deem it racism..... Basically what I am trying to say is that these issues don't need to be brought up ALL THE TIME, it's like the boy that cried wolf, it's getting to the point where no one will listen on race. 

It's, unfortunately, getting that way with minorities, and before you know it the ones that truely needs help will not be able to recieve it because of jokes like Hank Aaron's claim, Stephen Jackson's claim, etc.

[P-Ville Hoops Man]

Finally got the national poll out ehh?  Reactions: Illinois Wesleyan, you can't complain.  They return everyone from a very good team last year.  I'll even let Oshy slip in there at a slightly over-inflated spot if you ask me for a team who finished 3rd in conference last year.  While it was good to see three WIAC teams in there I think the other two should be juxtaposed, Platteville @ 13 and Whitewater @ 20.  It's really hard to justify Dub-Dub that high considering what others have already mentioned (8-8 in conference and losing their best post(all-around) player in Scoobie).  I validate Platteville though in returning 3 starters:  All-Conference forward Mark Gossens (9.7 ppg) guard Sean Krause (7.8 ppg) and center Jeff Skemp (5.8 ppg).  Don't forget forward LeVon Crawford (9.7 ppg) as well.  Jumps out of the gym.  Then factor in being stacked at guard, COY Paul Combs who won a conference title in only his SECOND year @ Platteville, and a strong recruiting class (I guarantee these guys will contribute immediately) and I see no reason for Platt to be dogged by d3hoops.com in the preseason poll.  But beyond that, I'm looking for Stevens Point to fall off the radar for a few years now, they'll be resurgent, just not this year.  And Stout should move up, hang around in the 20's I suspect on and off.
ADD: Looking at this list, does anyone get the impression that any WIAC school could be ranked if it played in say, Rochester's conference.  Consider Rochester played in the national title game (lost BAD too) but earlier in the season played Superior in Rochester and lost, 72-67.  One of the worst teams in the conference beats the national runners-up?  God did we need this expanded tourney.