MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wcbsas]

UWS gets a much-needed boost with a win over UM, Duluth. They were up by as much as 23, and by 21 with fewer than five minutes left. At that point, they simply started eating the clock. Dwight Hill goes down with some kind of ankle/knee/leg thing at one point but returns to the game. Jake Smith was the all-around star of the game; Greg Roeder played another good game. Greg has been less than spectacular the past two years, hampered by injuries, just seemed kind of weak. He's looking bigger and better this year, although he has occasional lapses of attention. I think the best part of the game was that the team seemed more cohesive, and they worked the whole game. UMD was pretty lackluster and I couldn't tell if it was because they are lackluster or because they didn't expect a game. They should have; I think UWS took them to overtime last year.

In fairness to UM-Duluth ... the head coach and two senior starters were withheld because of flu like symptoms.  The coach (Holoquist) has H1N1 ... not so sure about the two players.

Still they should have beaten UWS.

[wcbsas]

Interesting article in the SP Journal about Coach Semling and Coach Egner's recruiting styles.  LINK

According to the story, Egner gets the best players available and modifies what they're doing to match the players and Coach Semling only recruits players that would fit well in the previously defined system.

What do you guys think of that?  It seems to me like you'd want to get the absolute best players possible and mold the program around them... If there's an outstanding player, then it seems like a no-brainer to try to get him and utilize him in the best way possible.

Then again, if you look at the Point system, it relies on lots of parts, not just on one guy.  That's how they've been successful... if you shut down option A, B, and C, options D and E kill you.  That's what Oshkosh will run into this year... when Marsh is hampered, they're going to lose.

Because of fan support along with SP's history and legacy they are in the cat-bird seat for the most part in Wisconsin D3 recruiting.

They arguably get the best athletes who do not take a scholarship elsewhere.  Typically that means you are going to win your fair share of battles for the Matt Moses and Jerrell Harris's.  But UWSP as gotten away (IMO) with not having to have a dominate big guy.  Their last truly good post player was Kaslow ... and guess what they won a national championship with him.

Semling does not seem to have a history of recruiting and developing post players and IMO that has cost them national championships.  You can get through the WIAC and win conference championships playing the Hurd's and Hoezel's of the world but once you get into playoffs the game slows down, a dominate 6'8" to 6'10" player is the difference between a conference championship and a national championship. 

I these are all valid points.  What's interesting is that Kalsow, while he was able to play in the post, was much, much more versatile to the point that it was not out of the ordinary for him to bring the ball up the floor.  And I think the unsung hero was Maus.  He wasn't flashy and didn't produce the numbers Kalsow did, but he was as good a post defender as you'll find and he was a great suppliment to Kalsow.  And, of course, having both those guys on the floor meant you had 6'9" and 6'7" on the floor... Add Bennett (6'5") and maybe Grusczynski (6'7") and there was definitely some considerable height on the floor. (note: Jon Krull was 6'4" and started... but this lineup would definitely be out there together and was on the floor as part of the "Pterydactyl Zone" that decimated Rochester in the second national championship game).  The odd man out (or would that be short man out?) Relerford (listed at 5'8", though that was a stretch) didn't need height guarding the point guard.  Contrast that now with Moses (6'2"),  Krull (6'7"), Hoelzl (6'6"), and Hurd (6'5") with a 5th starter that's been different in the first 3 games, and they're giving up a good two inches across the board. 

But even at 6'6" and 6'7", Krull and Hoelzl aren't your typical big guys.  Neither are back-to-the-basket type guys and would rather drive than post up.  What's interesting to me is that Point has already outrebounded all three opponents thus far this year.  It helps that they've shot over 50% in each game, but they've cleaned up the boards on the other end.  They're averaging almost 10 reb per game more than their opponents, which is better than the ratio in the past (hovering between .5 and 1.5 more per game).  If they can keep this up, it will add another dynamic to this team that hasn't been there in recent memory. 

But none of the teams they played have a significant post presence.

Thats the thing about D3 ... those 6'8" and 6'9" type guys a few and far between.  The St. Thomas's of the world have them.  A DSA at Oshkosh or Skemp at UWP are often rare BUT I do believe there is a direct correlation between National Championships and post presence size on the roster.

[phoenix_rising]

In fairness to UM-Duluth ... the head coach and two senior starters were withheld because of flu like symptoms.  The coach (Holoquist) has H1N1 ... not so sure about the two players.

And UWS' Marcus Helland and Taylor Skoglund sat out the game due to health and injury; 'our' coach is in southern Wisconsin coaching a different team, so our interim coach did the job.

C'mon. Don't blame the loss on the players that sat on the bench; blame it on the ones who were on the court and didn't play.

[stcroix]

In fairness to UM-Duluth ... the head coach and two senior starters were withheld because of flu like symptoms.  The coach (Holoquist) has H1N1 ... not so sure about the two players.

And UWS' Marcus Helland and Taylor Skoglund sat out the game due to health and injury; 'our' coach is in southern Wisconsin coaching a different team, so our interim coach did the job.

C'mon. Don't blame the loss on the players that sat on the bench; blame it on the ones who were on the court and didn't play.

+2 for you!

[UWBadgers]

Would anyone be willing to track the WIAC's record in non-conference games? Against top 25 teams, vs other conferences, etc? It could be very interesting to see come March.

[John Gleich]

I can try to do that if I have a chance to.  It won't be until next week though, for me to get the current stats 'cause I'm going out of town right after work today for the whole weekend. 
Never mind!

WIAC (21-7)
...vs D-III (16-6)
          West Region  (8-3)
     ...vs UMAC (2-1)
     ...vs MIAC (3-2)
     ...vs NWC (2-0)
     ...vs IIAC (1-0)
          Midwest Region (8-3) (regional games under administrative regions)
     ...vs MWC (2-1)
     ...vs HCAC (0-1)
     ...vs NathCon (5-0)
     ...vs CCIW (1-1)
...vs NAIA-II (4-0)
     ...vs Viterbo (2-0)
     ...vs Clarke (IA) (1-0)
     ...vs Waldorf (1-0)
...vs NCAA-II (1-1)
     ...vs Minnesota Duluth (1-0)
     ...vs Winona St (0-1)
         

[UWBadgers]

Perfect, thanks Point. I think this could be a great resource come post season play.

[wcbsas]

In fairness to UM-Duluth ... the head coach and two senior starters were withheld because of flu like symptoms.  The coach (Holoquist) has H1N1 ... not so sure about the two players.

And UWS' Marcus Helland and Taylor Skoglund sat out the game due to health and injury; 'our' coach is in southern Wisconsin coaching a different team, so our interim coach did the job.

C'mon. Don't blame the loss on the players that sat on the bench; blame it on the ones who were on the court and didn't play.

Not blaming it on anyone ... just stating some facts.

In fact I think Holoquist (UMD's coach) being out is a positive.

I still said at the bottom of my thread that UMD should beaten UWS.  I suspect Helland was disappointed not being able to play in this game!

[phoenix_rising]

Just trading woulda shoulda couldas.

In fact, an already-inactive Helland looked like he wanted to cry during warm-ups for the Martin Luther game; he was too far away to see facial expressions at UMD. He seemed to play with a great deal of enthusiasm in Madison, so I'm guessing this bench-warming situation is not satisfying from his point of view. Another thing about him: he's new to the team, but I think he either reflects the cohesiveness we have seen and hope to see throughout the season OR he's a big part of it. I like him, and I've only truly seen him play in one game. Definitely a hustle-type player--or was. I guess it's difficult to show hustle with your butt glued to the pine.

[John Gleich]

Here's a breakdown of the current results and the remaining games for the non-conference schedule:

WIAC (21-7)
...vs D-III (16-6)

         West Region  (8-3)

    ...vs UMAC (2-1)     (6 games remain)
         ...vs St. Scholastica (1-0)      (3 remain, 2 vs. Superior and 1 vs. River Falls)
         ...vs Northland (0-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Stout, 1 vs. Superior)
         ...vs Northwestern (0-0)     (1 remain, 1 vs River Falls, 1 vs. Superior)
         ...vs Crown (1-0)
         ...vs Martin Luther (0-1)

    ...vs MIAC (3-2)     (5 games remain)
         ...vs St. John's (1-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Eau Claire and 1 vs. Oshkosh)
         ...vs St Thomas (0-1)      (1 remains, vs Point)
         ...vs Macalaster (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. River Falls)
         ...vs Gustavus Adolphus (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. La Crosse)
         ...vs Mt St Marys (1-0)
         ...vs Bethel (1-0)
         ...vs Augsburg (0-1)

    ...vs NWC (2-0)     (8 games remain)
         ...vs Puget Sound (1-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. UW EC, 1 vs. Oshkosh)
         ...vs Whitworth (1-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Stout, 1 vs. Whitewater)
         ...vs Whitman (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)
         ...vs George Fox (0-0)     (1 remains, vs River Falls)
         ...vs Pacific Lutheran (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville)
         ...vs Lewis and Clark (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville)

    ...vs IIAC (1-0)     (3 games remain)
         ...vs Wartburg (1-0)
         ...vs Loras (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)
         ...vs Simpson (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville)
         ...vs Coe (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Eau Claire)

    ...vs Independent (0-0)     (5 games remain)
         ...vs Finlandia (0-0)      (5 remain, 2 vs. Oshkosh, 2 vs. Eau Claire, 1 vs. Superior)

         Midwest Region (8-3) (regional games under administrative regions)

    ...vs MWC (2-1)     (3 games remain)
         ...vs St. Norbert (0-1)
         ...vs Lawrence (1-0)      (1 remains, vs. Point)
         ...vs Grinnell (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)
         ...vs Carroll (1-0)     (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)

    ...vs HCAC (0-1)
         ...vs Anderson (0-1)

    ...vs NathCon (5-0)     (4 games remain)
         ...vs Aurora (2-0)
         ...vs Concordia (WI) (1-0)
         ...vs Wisconsin Lutheran (2-0)      (1 remains, vs. Point)
         ...vs Edgewood (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Point)
         ...vs Marian (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Oshkosh)
         ...vs MSOE (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Superior)

    ...vs CCIW (1-1)     (4 games remain)
         ...vs Carthage (1-1)
         ...vs Elmhurst (0-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Point, 1 vs. La Crosse)
         ...vs Augustana (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)
         ...vs North Park (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Superior)

         South Region (0-0) (regional games under administrative regions)

    ...vs ASC (0-0)     (2 games remain)
         ...vs Mary Hardin-Baylor (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. La Crosse)
         ...vs Hardin-Simmons (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. La Crosse)

...vs NAIA-I (0-0)     (2 games remain)

    ...vs Lewis-Clark St. (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Stout)
    ...vs Westminster (Ut) (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville)

...vs NAIA-II (4-0)     (7 games remain)

    ...vs Viterbo (2-0)      (3 remain, 1 vs. Point, 1 vs. Stout, 1 vs. Platteville)
    ...vs Clarke (IA) (1-0)
    ...vs Waldorf (1-0)
    ...vs Sioux Falls University (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. River Falls)
    ...vs Silver Lake (0-0)     (2 remain, vs. Oshkosh)
    ...vs Dakota Wesleyan (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. La Crosse)

...vs NCAA-II (1-1)

    ...vs Minnesota Duluth (1-0)
    ...vs Winona St (0-1)

There are also 2 TBD's.  
-Eau Claire will play either Buena Vista from the IIAC or Heidelberg from the OAC.  BV is regional, Heidelberg is not.
-Stout will play either Marian from the NathCon or Mount Mercy (NAIA-II).  Marian would be regional, Mount Mercy is non-D-III (and thus, non-regional)

And can somebody check the NAIA schools?  I tried to either go by memory or their websites... but they weren't all 100% clear!

(edited to make it easier to read)

[John Gleich]

I'm not quite sure how to do "record vs. top 25."  Is it the current top 25?  Would it be against the top 25 teams at the time they played? (ex, Point beat Whitworth and Puget Sound.  They might end up dropping out of the rankings... so is that a win against a ranked team or not?)

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Nice work Point Special.... +1 for ya!

[BDB]

Definitely a hustle-type player--or was. I guess it's difficult to show hustle with your butt glued to the pine.

I vote for WIACMBB  quote of the week to go to p_rising.  

[stcroix]

Just trading woulda shoulda couldas.

In fact, an already-inactive Helland looked like he wanted to cry during warm-ups for the Martin Luther game; he was too far away to see facial expressions at UMD. He seemed to play with a great deal of enthusiasm in Madison, so I'm guessing this bench-warming situation is not satisfying from his point of view. Another thing about him: he's new to the team, but I think he either reflects the cohesiveness we have seen and hope to see throughout the season OR he's a big part of it. I like him, and I've only truly seen him play in one game. Definitely a hustle-type player--or was. I guess it's difficult to show hustle with your butt glued to the pine.

Trust me, I know the kid, not playing is killing him!  He is a true team player and will support his teammates til the end.  Once he gets back, you'll get to see what a gamer he is...he is a very positive addition to this team and provides a solid inside/outside option for the Yellowjackets.

[buf]

Point wins 72-53 over Lawrence.  Pretty close game throughout, until the end.

UWO by 10 over Finlandia.