MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[frankiet]

Shane Manor will not practice with the team this season and will essentially "grey-shirt" and will have two years of eligibility starting next basketball season.

[Titan Q]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

[wcbsas]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

[UWBadgers]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

Sounds like a broken record

[John Gleich]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

I disagree a bit... I think that UWP has the "favorite" spot pretty much nailed down.  They have SEVEN seniors this year from a team that made it to the NCAA tournament and 55% of the scoring back.  They did lose a lot... Skemp will be missed in so many facets of their game... but their outside attack really took leaps last year and though they will be more guard oriented this year, I think they're going to be the team to beat.

Point lost 4 seniors and 3 starters... but they've got a solid core returning and some kids who could contribute right away.  I never pick against Point and I feel they honestly can (and likely should) win every game they play...  It's partially because I have purple colored glasses on but partially because I know the system they run inside and out and I know that when they run it right, they are very, very hard to beat.  Point has finished in the top 2 in the league 9 of the last 10 years, and the year they didn't finish 1 or 2, they were third. 

Oshkosh has Marsh back... but he accounts for exactly half of the scoring and rebounding returning and 41% of the assists... Oshkosh will struggle this year unless more scorers turn up and if they don't turn many of their games into defensive struggles, their lack of depth will hurt them yet again this year.  Marsh will win POY.

Whitewater lost a ton... but they always have the best athletes in the league and have finished in the top 2 in the conference 7 of the last 9 years.  Coach Miller knows how to get the most out of his players.

It's really hard to get a guage, though... after Platteville's 7 seniors, Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stout all have 5 seniors.  This league is typically won by senior-laden teams, so that may factor in.  Stout has a long way to go from 9th, though...   Eau Claire may be looking to build on their 8-8 season from last year, but they lost some big pieces from last year's team.  La Crosse seems to have many of their contributors back, so I might slot them a little higher in this group, plus four seniors.  Superior is a head-scratcher... I and others thought they would do better last year and this year they've got a new coach.  All in all, I think this group is up in the air.

In terms of the top players back...

There are three returning first team all-WIAC players... Marsh (returning co-POY), Moses from Point, and Hanson from UWP.

Honorable Mention returners include:
Shea (EC) - Junior
Smith (Sup) - Junior
Hill (Sup) - Senior
Stratton (LX) - Senior
Mitchell (WW) - Senior
Voeltz (RF) - Junior
Koonkaew (RF) - Junior
Anderson (RF) - Sophomore


This doesn't tell the whole story... but if we take just the two all-conference teams...

Point lost 3/4 AC players
Platteville lost 2/3 AC players
Whitewater lost 3/4 AC players
Oshkosh lost 2/3 AC players
Eau Claire lost 1/2 AC players
River Falls lost 0/3 AC players
Superior lost 0/2 AC players
La Crosse lost 0/1 AC players
Stout lost 0/0 AC players

Now, this doesn't account for roll players... but these numbers show the major contributors from last year's team that are now gone.  The top 4 seem to have lost alot... but it doesn't say anything to the guys that contributed but didn't get those honors.  Pair this with my previous post (in terms of percentages of points/rebs/assists that return) and it provides a bit better picture.  And with the senior-count, it may point to the level of leadership.

Previous post re: what's returning and seniors

I'm not going to go so far as to pick an order yet... I have to digest some of this first... but it at least shows where some of these teams are.

[Gregory Sager]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

Is "UWS" UW-Stout or UW-Superior?

[badgerwarhawk]

I think he means UW-Superior.  Stout is generally referred to as ST and Stevens Point SP.  Though sometimes you see Superior referred to as SUP. 

Mitchell took a big step last year and I think he's poised for a very good senior season. 

[wcbsas]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

Is "UWS" UW-Stout or UW-Superior?

Superior ... I think Buchanon did a great job of recruiting and the addition of UM-Duluth transferee Marcus Helland is a big get for them.  The big question is will the coahcing change impact this year's performance.

[wcbsas]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

I disagree a bit... I think that UWP has the "favorite" spot pretty much nailed down.  They have SEVEN seniors this year from a team that made it to the NCAA tournament and 55% of the scoring back.  They did lose a lot... Skemp will be missed in so many facets of their game... but their outside attack really took leaps last year and though they will be more guard oriented this year, I think they're going to be the team to beat.

I'm not so sure about UWP

1) Jeff Skemp leaves ... everything started inside-out with this team.  His mere presence opened everything for everyone.  This year they lack an inside presence and the outside perimeter shooters simply will have a harder time getting good shots.

2) Lohoff leaves ... This is a kid who averaged only 9.0 ppg but lead the team in minutes per game.  He is their MVP even with All-World Skemp on the team.  He leaves a huge hole at PG.

3) New coach ... too many questions and concerns.

[John Gleich]

So I need to turn in a D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot Monday.  Is there any type of consensus regarding the 2010 WIAC favorite?  Would love to hear your thoughts on who you think 3 top contenders are.

Thank you!

Top two have to be (IMO) - UWW and UWSP (not necessarily in that order)

Contenders for the 3rd position - UWP and UWO

Darkhorses - UWEC and UWS

I disagree a bit... I think that UWP has the "favorite" spot pretty much nailed down.  They have SEVEN seniors this year from a team that made it to the NCAA tournament and 55% of the scoring back.  They did lose a lot... Skemp will be missed in so many facets of their game... but their outside attack really took leaps last year and though they will be more guard oriented this year, I think they're going to be the team to beat.

I'm not so sure about UWP

1) Jeff Skemp leaves ... everything started inside-out with this team.  His mere presence opened everything for everyone.  This year they lack an inside presence and the outside perimeter shooters simply will have a harder time getting good shots.

2) Lohoff leaves ... This is a kid who averaged only 9.0 ppg but lead the team in minutes per game.  He is their MVP even with All-World Skemp on the team.  He leaves a huge hole at PG.

3) New coach ... too many questions and concerns.

... but SEVEN seniors.  That's a ton of inside leadership. 

And don't get me wrong... for not being a Platteville fan, I was a huge Lohoff fan.  The kid just left it on the floor and was fun to watch.  But he really raised his game from his Junior to Senior year.  I think the possibility is there for any number of Pios to do the same this year.

Trust me... I'm rooting against Platteville as hard as anybody not wearing Purple and Gold...  but I think they'll have success.  They have a lot coming back from a team that's had success the last few seasons.

As I was digging around UWP's site, I noticed that they've got a story up about their gym renovations.  Read about that HERE.  This is a decrease in capacity... same thing that happened with the other gyms that "upgraded" from the old (smaller) wooden bleachers to the plastic.  They're more comfortable and have more leg room and aisles... but you just don't get the "packin' 'em in" feel as much because, frankly, people aren't packed in as tight anymore!

[Gregory Sager]

They're more comfortable and have more leg room and aisles... but you just don't get the "packin' 'em in" feel as much because, frankly, people aren't packed in as tight anymore!

... unless you take the national obesity epidemic into consideration.

[badgerwarhawk]

As I was digging around UWP's site, I noticed that they've got a story up about their gym renovations.  Read about that HERE.  This is a decrease in capacity... same thing that happened with the other gyms that "upgraded" from the old (smaller) wooden bleachers to the plastic.  They're more comfortable and have more leg room and aisles... but you just don't get the "packin' 'em in" feel as much because, frankly, people aren't packed in as tight anymore!

Another factor involved in an upgrade is additional seating areas for students/fans with disabilities.  Typically the older bleachers didn't have much space set aside for fans in wheelchairs and when they upgrade they have to bring the seating into compliance with the disabilities act.  I forget the formula but there has to be one disabled space for every so many (?) regular spaces.  That contributes to a lower seating capacity.

[John Gleich]

That's so true. 

I've gotta admit, whenever we played at Whitewater, I always loved to see the disabled students that would come out and support the Warhawks.  Somebody I grew up with who had cerebral palsy that I was a "student helper" for in grade school ended up going to UWW because of the CSD (Center for Students with Disabilities).  And the Wheelchair basketball team has had even more success than the Mens basketball team!

[chmarx]

I've heard a lot about the WW wheelchair hoops team.

[badgerwarhawk]

They are incredible.  I forget how many national championships they've won but it's multiple.  What's really neat is that there are no divisions in the sport so we complete against schools like the U of Illinois and other D1 level institutions.  Plus we're starting a women's wheelchair program as well.