MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Given that in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee a win against a .500 CCIW team at home is exactly equal to a win against a .500 MWC opponent at home in the QQQQQQQwhatever a CCIW/WIAC tournament might make sense to those who favor competition but it makes little sense to those who are fighting to get their teams tournament eligible (like coaches).

Actually it would make more sense to leave your schedule a game or two short as, to the best of my knowledge, there is no penalty for not playing as many games as you are allowed.

Until the system finds a way to account for the vast disparencies between the level of competition in the various conferences it makes little sense to stack your schedule with top flight teams when you've got to navigate the WIAC regular season and tournament.  It is the equivalent of biting off your nose to spite your face. 

PS. I like competition as much as the next guy but with the system set up the way it is it you have to establish priorities.  Unfortunately most coaches are evaluated by their wins and losses, tournament appearances etc. rather than the strength of the their schedule.

I guess I am just a proponent of: to be the best, you must play and beat the best.  What good does it do to make the tournament and then get ousted in the first round because you have not really been tested by great competition? I think one might take their lumps initially, but eventually it pays off. For example UWW football home and away games versus Mount Union finally got them to a point where they could legimately challenge for that top spot in DIII football.  It was going outside of that comfort zone that improved them...it gave them something to shoot for.  

When I first read about the WIAC/CCIW challenge I envisioned a preseason type tourney, but however it was meant, I think it is a good idea and shouldnt be avoided because of cannibalism or fear of a poor record.

[Just Bill]

I think one might take their lumps initially, but eventually it pays off.

Unfortunately, under our current system, take too many lumps and you don't get the opportunity for it to pay off at all.  *Sigh*

[badgerwarhawk]

WIAC teams are plenty "tested" by their conference schedule.   We're already playing 16 games in one of the two best leagues in the nation.    Again, that means nothing to the selection committee.

WW hasn't played Mt Union in the regular season for at least six years.   Considering the time lapse and that our roster was entirely different then I don't see how it did anything to prepare them for the Stagg Bowl runs of 2005 and 2006.     

[buf]

I would like to see how UWSP compares to St. Thomas.

In my opinion, this would be a very tough matchup for Point.  I do not think that Point has anyone who can guard Rosefelt.  Point has had some problems with opponents big men, due to the fact that they are a very small team.  They do have good help defense.  However, the problem with St. Thomas is they have a really good shooter in Schnettler.  If Point helps out a lot on Rosefelt, that would leave players like Schnettler and Keating open.  In all, I think it would be a high scoring game in which both teams hit a good percentage of their shots.  It might come down to rebounds, turnovers and FTs.  However, a lot of play is yet to happen before these two would meet.

[BDshotblocker]

The games are already being played:

Whitewater vs. Ill Weseylan
Oshkosh vs Elmhurst
Whitewater vs. Elmhurst
Stevens Point vs. Augustana(both won there conference touney's)

These are some examples from the past season but it took over a month to play them.  Condense it down to a weekend, put Lax against Elmhurst instead of WW and you have the beginnings of a WIAC/CCIW challange!!!!!!

If P'Ville or Stout would pick up one more game it would make it even more competitive.

The teams that travel  can schedule games against some "cupcakes" along the way.

[BDshotblocker]

I would like to see how UWSP compares to St. Thomas.

When Stout played St. Thomas (05-06) Rosefelt was not a very physical player by WIAC standerds, he does a good job of finding a defenses weakness and taking advantage.  Finding Stevens Point's weakness is not easy. 

This is strickly a one game analysis.

[Pat Coleman]

WW hasn't played Mt Union in the regular season for at least six years.   Considering the time lapse and that our roster was entirely different then I don't see how it did anything to prepare them for the Stagg Bowl runs of 2005 and 2006.     

That's interesting, because coach Bob Berezowitz cited those games, which were played in 2002 and 2003, as a major factor in the program believing it could compete at that level.

[ItIsWhatItIs]

WW hasn't played Mt Union in the regular season for at least six years.   Considering the time lapse and that our roster was entirely different then I don't see how it did anything to prepare them for the Stagg Bowl runs of 2005 and 2006.     

You forget about the coaches.  That matters, honing the ability to prepare for that type of competitiveness and the other intangibles.  Trust me, it prepared them!

[diehardfan]

So I have an even more brilliant idea. Why don't the WIAC and the CCIW do their challenge each year in SoCal over winter break. Yeah, you guys wish you thought of it first. 8)

At a neutral site, the games we'd play against eachother anyway are all treated like they're away games on the QOWI (and I assume the same is true of the system that replaces it). Better than a home loss or win, and without the hostile environment usually associated with an away game. Everyone wins. Hmmmm.....

[Just Bill]

So I have an even more brilliant idea. Why don't the WIAC and the CCIW do their challenge each year in SoCal over winter break. Yeah, you guys wish you thought of it first. 8)

At a neutral site, the games we'd play against eachother anyway are all treated like they're away games on the QOWI (and I assume the same is true of the system that replaces it). Better than a home loss or win, and without the hostile environment usually associated with an away game. Everyone wins. Hmmmm.....

Everyone wins?  You mean everyone named April wins.  The rest of us will be back here freezing and shouting at the Live Scoring screen.

[Greek Tragedy]

"Wheaton travels well"? Since when, Chuck?

Wheaton never travels well.

What do you mean, Greg?  They travel all over the place.  I mean, look where diehardfan has been...and look where she's living now!  As far as I'm concerned, April is the only Wheaton fan and SHE travels VERY WELL! lol 

[sumander]

I would like to see how UWSP compares to St. Thomas.

When Stout played St. Thomas (05-06) Rosefelt was not a very physical player by WIAC standerds, he does a good job of finding a defenses weakness and taking advantage.  Finding Stevens Point's weakness is not easy. 

This is strickly a one game analysis.

Rosefelt's is a lot stronger than a year ago. Although, Craig Schafer 6'7" 230 of the Johnnies has had two decent games against him. I have not seen any 1st tier WIAC Teams play so I don't know how physical that league gets. I do know the MIAC appeared to be more physical this year than last.

Hopefully, I will get a chance to see UWSP on Saturday.

[badgerwarhawk]

WW hasn't played Mt Union in the regular season for at least six years.   Considering the time lapse and that our roster was entirely different then I don't see how it did anything to prepare them for the Stagg Bowl runs of 2005 and 2006.     

That's interesting, because coach Bob Berezowitz cited those games, which were played in 2002 and 2003, as a major factor in the program believing it could compete at that level.

Sloppy research, I stand corrected, time flies.  I really didn't realize it had been that recent and Bob Brezeowitz certainly knows.   Thank you for the correction and memory jog.  

[ustbumkneez]

I have not seen any 1st tier WIAC Teams play so I don't know how physical that league gets. I do know the MIAC appeared to be more physical this year than last.

Sum, as someone who has seen a lot of ball from the two leagues, i can say that the WIAC is exponentially more physical. the MIAC is more finesse, and certainly more perimeter oriented than the WIAC, in general. that said, i am very excited about the possibility of a UST-UWSP matchup. I think it would be a phenomenal game, should both teams advance that far.

[Just Bill]

Ironically, Point is the least typical WIAC team we've seen in awhile.  They don't have much of post presence and they certainly are a more a perimeter-oriented finesse team than either the 2003 or 2004 champs.