MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[chmarx]

Sorry to read that.

[John Gleich]

Sorry to read that.

I agree with that one.  Wow.






I came across something of note in the Point Journal today: This story (link) in the Stevens Point Journal is regarding a group from UWSP that is using a specialized branch of mathematics to complete the conference's schedule.  I actually had Dr. Felt for an operations research class when I was at UWSP where we discussed this exact topic and even brought it up on the WIAC board regarding scheduling earlier this year. It looks like it may be something that could be expanding and, not only does it come from a D3 school, it looks like much of the work they've done has been for D3, too, including the WIAC.

The particular parameters set up by the conference makes this optimization project a doable one in my estimation.  Now, there may need to be some manual tweaking for fairness... but even that could be modified, I should think, by ranking the different trips to different schools and setting up parameters where a school wouldn't make two long trips in a row, or something like that.

This branch of math is used, or instance, by trucking companies who have product to move from and to several locations and they optimize the routes so a driver wouldn't drive from Milwaukee to Superior to Appleton to Green Bay to Eau Claire.  This is an extreme example... but if you have 3 or 4 different warehouses that have to ship to 150 stores and have products needed and available in different locations, and the trips have different costs... you can see how these problems can get very complicated, very fast.

[titan2000]

I heard a rumour that Schultz resigned to take the job at his alma mater. 

[wizbegs1304]

Rumor has it that UWSP and Coach Semling is losing Scott Anderson to the Stevens Point high school coaching position.  I think that hurts especially since they're going to have a relatively young team next season.

And the rumor is now officially confirmed. This will hurt not only on the bench but in recruiting as well.

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20090624/SPJ02/906240678/1678/Pointers-assistant-Scott-Anderson-named-new-SPASH-boys-basketball-coach

Here's a link!

Who becomes the new top assistant?

[Just Bill]

Sorry to read that.

I agree with that one.  Wow.

I came across something of note in the Point Journal today: This story (link) in the Stevens Point Journal is regarding a group from UWSP that is using a specialized branch of mathematics to complete the conference's schedule.  I actually had Dr. Felt for an operations research class when I was at UWSP where we discussed this exact topic and even brought it up on the WIAC board regarding scheduling earlier this year. It looks like it may be something that could be expanding and, not only does it come from a D3 school, it looks like much of the work they've done has been for D3, too, including the WIAC.

The particular parameters set up by the conference makes this optimization project a doable one in my estimation.  Now, there may need to be some manual tweaking for fairness... but even that could be modified, I should think, by ranking the different trips to different schools and setting up parameters where a school wouldn't make two long trips in a row, or something like that.

This branch of math is used, or instance, by trucking companies who have product to move from and to several locations and they optimize the routes so a driver wouldn't drive from Milwaukee to Superior to Appleton to Green Bay to Eau Claire.  This is an extreme example... but if you have 3 or 4 different warehouses that have to ship to 150 stores and have products needed and available in different locations, and the trips have different costs... you can see how these problems can get very complicated, very fast.

Here is their website if anyone is curious: http://www.uwsp.edu/math/cas/Index.html

[chmarx]

That's pretty cool, PS.

[Greek Tragedy]

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

WIAC will impose league-wide cost-cutting plan
By Mark Stewart of the Journal Sentinel
Jun. 29, 2009 1:03 p.m. 


In response to budget cuts from the state and the tight economy, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will implement a handful league-wide cost-cutting measures that will save it approximately $250,000 each year in direct expenditures.

Here are some of the measures.

*Establish later starting times for contests in an effort to cut down on the number of overnight stays for visiting teams. This would eliminate the need for teams to arrive into towns the night before a game.

*Limit post-season tournament brackets in all team sports to a maximum of six.

*Limiting teams to no more than one trip outside an established regional perimeter during the regular season.

*Exploring the feasibility of adding a WIAC football team as a non-conference game beginning in 2011.

*Suspend the annual summer workshop as well as its football and basketball media days.

*Freeze officiating fees at 2008-09 levels.

[chmarx]

I'm not surprised.  This budget is big trouble for the UW System.  La Crosse will most likely cut baseball and men's soccer.

[badgerwarhawk]

Some of these road trips are going to be brutal.

[Just Bill]

I'm not surprised.  This budget is big trouble for the UW System.  La Crosse will most likely cut baseball and men's soccer.

I think you mean men's tennis. UWL doesn't have men's soccer anyway.

As I understand it, UWW and UWP may granted exceptions and be allowed to stay overnight for travel to Superior.  And vice-versa of course for Superior travelling to UWW and UWP.

[phoenix_rising]

It's just a matter of time before athletics starts setting up games in clusters: weekend tournament-style play at a location where several teams play out games. Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon. You can make up a quarter of a season's schedule in a weekend. Basketball, soccer, softball, baseball and track can create schedules for this. Track most easily, of course. For Superior, playing Platteville, LaCrosse, Whitewater and Oshkosh in a cluster would save bundles. Likewise, having to travel to Eau Claire or Menomonie or even River Falls to play some of those teams would save big money and time.

[Just Bill]

Softball attempted to do that with their "Cluster" Tournaments. The whole conference would travel to one site and play a pre-set schedule of games against the schools that had the longest travel distances with them.  The problem was that if you had bad weather for that Cluster weekend, a full third (or even half) of your conference schedule could be wiped out and there was likely no way to reschedule all those games.  I think that happened in each of the first two years they tried it, and then they abandoned the idea.

I agree that similar set-ups may be on their way back.

[Greek Tragedy]

As I understand it, UWW and UWP may granted exceptions and be allowed to stay overnight for travel to Superior.  And vice-versa of course for Superior travelling to UWW and UWP.

This is only partially true.  The distance TO Superior is actually longer than it is FROM Superior.  So, Superior will not be given that exemption.  I mean, if my relatives can claim it's further from Ohio to Wisconsin than it is from Wisconsin to Ohio, I don't see why Platteville and Whitewater can't have the same argument!  It's ironic because if you travel from Ohio to Wisconsin, you actually gain an hour, so it should seem shorter, but my relatives never wanted to come to Wisconsin because "it was too long"...but had no problem us coming there. 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

As I understand it, UWW and UWP may granted exceptions and be allowed to stay overnight for travel to Superior.  And vice-versa of course for Superior travelling to UWW and UWP.

This is only partially true.  The distance TO Superior is actually longer than it is FROM Superior.  So, Superior will not be given that exemption.  I mean, if my relatives can claim it's further from Ohio to Wisconsin than it is from Wisconsin to Ohio, I don't see why Platteville and Whitewater can't have the same argument!  It's ironic because if you travel from Ohio to Wisconsin, you actually gain an hour, so it should seem shorter, but my relatives never wanted to come to Wisconsin because "it was too long"...but had no problem us coming there. 

Well it is down hill coming from Superior to Platteville or Whitewater so I could see that. 

[chmarx]

I'm not surprised.  This budget is big trouble for the UW System.  La Crosse will most likely cut baseball and men's soccer.

I think you mean men's tennis. UWL doesn't have men's soccer anyway.

As I understand it, UWW and UWP may granted exceptions and be allowed to stay overnight for travel to Superior.  And vice-versa of course for Superior travelling to UWW and UWP.

Right.  My bad.  I remembered baseball; wasn't sure about the other sport.