MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fredfalcon]

Drake--I agree with most of what you said, but not the "defensive clinic" Point supposedly put on the last five  minutes of the first half. RF missed bunnies and longer good looks during that stretch, but not because of any smothering D. Granted, Point's D was good, but not better than the Falcons' D. RF  shot 27 % first half, Point 40%. RF shot 38 %  for the game, just as they did vs. Superior. Point shot 50 %, including 60% in the second half.

Thirty-eight per cent shooting does not win ball games.

To their credit, RF out-hustled Point early in the game; Point may have played their worst first half this season. Considering both halves, I was not overly impressed with Point. I do think they'll beat UST.

[Drake Palmer]

Drake--I agree with most of what you said, but not the "defensive clinic" Point supposedly put on the last five  minutes of the first half. RF missed bunnies and longer good looks during that stretch, but not because of any smothering D. Granted, Point's D was good, but not better than the Falcons' D. RF  shot 27 % first half, Point 40%. RF shot 38 %  for the game, just as they did vs. Superior. Point shot 50 %, including 60% in the second half.

Thirty-eight per cent shooting does not win ball games.

To their credit, RF out-hustled Point early in the game; Point may have played their worst first half this season. Considering both halves, I was not overly impressed with Point. I do think they'll beat UST.

Fred - were the Falcons getting decent looks in the first half? Yup, they were but Point must have been doing something right.  Look at the boxscore - 6:44 without scoring. River Falls was shooting themselves in the foot on a couple of occasions but I also believe Point had something to do with that. They were forcing the Falcons deep into the shot clock & when they were able to get off a shot; nearly every single shot was contested and challenged.  

Ok, so we'll probably agree to disagree over this "defensive clinic"  ,  but here's something else for you.  You've seen Augsburg & UST play.  Who do you think wins between them on Monday night?  IMO, UST just doesn't seem to be clicking right now & I wouldn't be at all surprised to see an Augsburg win Monday.  And a double digit loss by UST to Point is not out of the question

[John Gleich]

Thanks for the firsthand account.  I'm going to see them for the first time against Whitewater on Wednesday in Southern WI, which is always a tough game.

I didn't start listening to the game until about 5 minutes to go in the half, and at that point, they were down 3, 23-20.  Jordan Brezinski was in the game and apparently playing well... and I didn't hear Hurd's name or Krull's name.  They were both on the bench with 2 fouls.  Dan Tillema was also on the bench with 3, and Point had 9 turnovers.  That pretty much told the story to me... Point's success over the past decade has been by not beating themselves through taking great care of the ball (they've been one of the top 3 in the country the last 3 years or so, averaging no more than about 10 turnovers per game) and through playing great defense.  On top of that, playing great team basketball helps.  But I digress...

So, Point had 9 turnovers, and 2 or 3 starters were on the bench with foul trouble.  The Point radio guys said Wade Guerin was a beast inside... and he had 7 of RF's points at the half to lead them.  Point is going to have another struggle on Wednesday, as Dustin Mitchell from UWW is a load, though Stout appeared to hold him down decently well (he had 2 points and 1 board at halftime, ended with 8 points and 5 boards), but I think they need to do what Stout did... they kept him away from the basket and pressured the UWW guards, preventing them from making plays.

Anyway... I think Point might struggle with really good big guys (especially big ones, like Mitchell) because they're going to be giving up a few inches and some girth, and I haven't seen Guerin play other than during the OT period on RF's live video against Superior on Wednesday (the live video wasn't working today).  Point kept him to just 2 points in the second half, so they made some necessary adjustments.

Regarding Hoelzel...  I'm trying to remember the whole story, and I can't... I don't want to speak incorrectly, as I think he's a great player and person, so if this is wrong, I apologize beforehand.  I believe that two years ago, after the season, he decided that he wasn't going to come out last year... and as last year came around, he might have been considering a comeback, or maybe not, I heard different accounts.  He talked to Coach Semling after last season and worked on his game in the off season and came back a much more confident and flat out better player than last year.  He was athletic and showed flashes two years ago... but he's been flat out solid this year.  As I said, I haven't seen them, but from everything I've heard, he's brought a workmanlike attitude to his game and he's putting together an excellent season (he's one rebound short on the year from averaging a double double and he's had DD's the last four games).  He's a large reason why Point is outrebounding opponents by 10, which is an improvement from the Pointer teams of the past several years... by about 10 boards per game.

This Pointer team has a lot of guys who weren't huge contributors last year.  They had Moses (who went down with a bad ankle on Wednesday) and Hurd, and Jenkins was in a supporting roll, as was Krull, but this is the first major action for alot of these guys.  Harris was a huge pick up and he's going to do nothing but get better.  Dan Tillema joined the team after transferring from UM Duluth and he's been a great spark off the bench.

Point's led the conference in allowing the fewest ppg and are allowing the lowest shooting percentage too.  I think this stems from the added speed on the team.  Of course, speed alone won't do much other than make you look silly quicker and more frequently if you're bad... but it sounds like it's helping Point get to shooters and not allowing easy looks.

RF is an interesting team.  This is basically the same team that played for them last year.  They play like a veteran team and they've only got 3 seniors.  They actually don't start a senior, though their first two off the bench are seniors.  RF is going to get better and they'll be a force.

I only wonder about their depth.  After the starters and two of the seniors, only two other guys average more than 8 minutes.  Only 8 guys have played in every game.  Contrast that with 11 guys averaging more than 8 minutes and 10 who have played in all of their games* (*Jenkins was on the gridiron for the first two Pointer games).

I'm looking forward to seeing 'em in action on Wednesday!


I watched the second half of WW/Stout on their online live video.  I was impressed with Stout.  They were equal to UWW in terms of shooting in the first half... 'cept WW hit more threes and had 1 more FT.  Mitchell only had 2 points and 1 reb and Stout's pressure really hurt WW.  If Stout hadn't turned the ball over in some key points, then I think they very well might have had a chance.  Mitchell came up huge in the end, he got an offensive rebound and putback that gave WW the lead or extended it.  But WW certainly looked vulnerable tonight.

[kestrel]

A wait-till-next-year note for UWRF fans:  In the preseason, Shane Manor (Superior transfer) was clearly the best player on the floor in Karges until he had to sit in order to abide by conference rules.

[fredfalcon]

Drake--I thought Augsburg looked better against RF than did UST, but we were home vs. UST with a fairly rowdy crowd helping us. If the game's at UST, I favor the Tommies and vice versa.

[fredfalcon]

PS--Point had 17 t.o.'s last night, not 9 as you posted. That's the primary reason I was not as impressed with them as I usually am. The RF press made them cough it up at least twice, and on one occasion, one of your players threw an unforced cross court pass out of bounds. Of course, the duo of Koonkaew and Reese are as good a pair of pocket pickers as exist in the conference.

[John Gleich]

PS--Point had 17 t.o.'s last night, not 9 as you posted. That's the primary reason I was not as impressed with them as I usually am. The RF press made them cough it up at least twice, and on one occasion, one of your players threw an unforced cross court pass out of bounds. Of course, the duo of Koonkaew and Reese are as good a pair of pocket pickers as exist in the conference.

I wasn't that clear... I meant 9 at halftime.  And I think Enerson-Matthews just may have the top spot in terms of being a pick pocket...  But maybe I haven't seen RF's guys at work.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWK/Stout game was a close one through out.  WHITEWATER had one double digit lead, 25-15, about half way through the first half.   Stout whittled it down to 4 points once and the half ended with the WARHAWKS on top by five 39-25.  In the second half Stout tied the game four times before taking their first lead 57-56 with two minutes remaining.  The lead was short lived however. DJ Dantzler drained a free throw to tie the game and then put the WARHAWKS back on top, 59-57, by making a pair of free throws.  Stout missed a three-point attempt and fouled Dantzler.  He responded by making another pair of free throws and after Stout missed a shot Nolan Free made one of a pair to create the final score of 62-57.

Four WARHAWKS scored in double figures.  Free and Dantzler each had 13 points while Mike Bendall had 12 points and Dustin Mitchell scored 10.  Free, Bendall and Phil Negri led WARHAWK rebounders with 6 apiece and Negri had 8 assists and 3 steals.

Stout outshot the WARHAWKS 42% to 37% but the WARHAWKS made 6 three-pointers to 3 for Stout and outscored the Blue Devils 14-6 from the free throw line. Hostetter and Enerson-Matthews led Stout with 18 and 13 points respectively. 

[fredfalcon]

PS--you're right:  Enerson-Matthews had 13 steals going into yesterday's games, as did Marsh.  Koonkaew had 9.

Add five more for K. vs. Point and he's at 14. I did not look up E-N's stats after the WW game.

[badgerwarhawk]

Enerson-Matthews had 2 steals, Fred.  Marsh's stats are unavailable on both the Findlandia and Oshkosh websites at this time. 

[John Gleich]

Enerson-Matthews had 2 steals, Fred.  Marsh's stats are unavailable on both the Findlandia and Oshkosh websites at this time. 

The records got lost in the snow...  They got 8.5 inches on Friday.


I haven't ever seen Koonkaew play, so I can't really speak for him.  I have seen Enerson-Matthews and to me, he's a crafty defender and an off-the-dribble guy.  It turns out he's much more than this... he's made over 50 3's two years and made over 30 in the injury shortened junior year.  He's just a complete player and if he had more weapons around him, his numbers would likely have been even better.

Koonkaew is just a junior this year and was out with much of the year last year with an injury.  He's having a really good year this year so far and with Manor next year he should have even more opportunities.  I am worried that there may not be enough balls to go around when Manor is playing for RF...  He's either going to have to come off the bench or a current starter will have to move to that roll...

Here's a scary thought, though... What if Roberson was still at RF?  They could have been absolutely stacked.

[John Gleich]

Here are the updated non-conference results through 12/5:

WIAC (34-13)
...vs D-III (28-9)

         West Region  (17-6)

    ...vs UMAC (4-1)     (4 games remain)
         ...vs St. Scholastica (2-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Superior and 1 vs. River Falls)
         ...vs Northland (1-0)      (1 remain, 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 (4-4)     (2 games remain)
         ...vs St. John's (1-2)      
         ...vs St Thomas (0-1)      (1 remains, vs Point)
         ...vs Macalaster (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. River Falls)
         ...vs Gustavus Adolphus (1-0)    
         ...vs Mt St Marys (1-0)
         ...vs Bethel (1-0)
         ...vs Augsburg (0-1)

    ...vs NWC (4-1)     (5 games remain)
         ...vs Puget Sound (2-1)    
         ...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 (1-0)    
         ...vs Lewis and Clark (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville)

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

    ...vs Independent (2-0)     (3 games remain)
         ...vs Finlandia (2-0)      (3 remain, 2 vs. Eau Claire, 1 vs. Superior)

         Midwest Region (11-3) (regional games under administrative regions)

    ...vs MWC (4-1)     (1 games remain)
         ...vs St. Norbert (0-1)
         ...vs Lawrence (2-0)    
         ...vs Grinnell (1-0)    
         ...vs Carroll (1-0)     (1 remains, vs. Whitewater)

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

    ...vs NathCon (6-0)     (4 games remain)
         ...vs Aurora (2-0)
         ...vs Concordia (WI) (1-0)
         ...vs Wisconsin Lutheran (2-0)      (1 remains, vs. Point)
         ...vs Edgewood (1-0)    
         ...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 (5-3)     (4 games remain)

    ...vs Viterbo (3-0)      (3 remain, 1 vs. Point, 1 vs. Stout)
    ...vs Clarke (IA) (1-0)
    ...vs Waldorf (1-0)
    ...vs Sioux Falls University (0-1)  
    ...vs Silver Lake (0-0)     (2 remain, vs. Oshkosh)
    ...vs Dakota Wesleyan (0-1)    
    ...vs Mount Mercy (0-1)

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

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

There is 1 TBD's.  
-Eau Claire will play either Buena Vista from the IIAC or Heidelberg from the OAC.  BV is regional, Heidelberg is not.


32 33 games to go.

[chmarx]

Brian Carroll and I went up to Eau Claire to see the UWL/UWEC game.

It was a close, hard-fought game all the way.  La Crosse was perfect from the line, which probably won the game.  The EC coach also complimented Andy Merklein on shutting down their big man.

Brian and I agreed that it was a satisfying victory over a tough opponent.

[John Gleich]

Just a repost, with the schedule on the bottom.

Here are the updated non-conference results through 12/5:

WIAC (34-13)
...vs D-III (28-9)

          West Region  (17-6)

     ...vs UMAC (4-1)     (4 games remain)
          ...vs St. Scholastica (2-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Superior 12/16 and 1 vs. River Falls 12/20)
          ...vs Northland (1-0)      (1 remain, 1 vs. Superior 12/14)
          ...vs Northwestern (0-0)     (1 remain, 1 vs River Falls 12/15, 1 vs. Superior 12/9)
          ...vs Crown (1-0)
          ...vs Martin Luther (0-1)

     ...vs MIAC (4-4)     (2 games remain)
          ...vs St. John's (1-2)     
          ...vs St Thomas (0-1)      (1 remains, vs Point 12/29)
          ...vs Macalaster (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. River Falls 12/30)
          ...vs Gustavus Adolphus (1-0)   
          ...vs Mt St Marys (1-0)
          ...vs Bethel (1-0)
          ...vs Augsburg (0-1)

     ...vs NWC (4-1)     (5 games remain)
          ...vs Puget Sound (2-1)     
          ...vs Whitworth (1-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Stout 12/27, 1 vs. Whitewater 12/29)
          ...vs Whitman (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Whitewater 12/28)
          ...vs George Fox (0-0)     (1 remains, vs River Falls 12/29)
          ...vs Pacific Lutheran (1-0)     
          ...vs Lewis and Clark (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville 12/29)

     ...vs IIAC (3-0)     (1 games remain)
          ...vs Wartburg (1-0)
          ...vs Loras (1-0)     
          ...vs Simpson (1-0)   
          ...vs Coe (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Eau Claire 12/29)

     ...vs Independent (2-0)     (3 games remain)
          ...vs Finlandia (2-0)      (3 remain, 2 vs. Eau Claire 1/9, 1/30, 1 vs. Superior 2/2)

          Midwest Region (11-3) (regional games under administrative regions)

     ...vs MWC (4-1)     (1 games remain)
          ...vs St. Norbert (0-1)
          ...vs Lawrence (2-0)   
          ...vs Grinnell (1-0)   
          ...vs Carroll (1-0)     (1 remains, vs. Whitewater 12/16)

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

     ...vs NathCon (6-0)     (4 games remain)
          ...vs Aurora (2-0)
          ...vs Concordia (WI) (1-0)
          ...vs Wisconsin Lutheran (2-0)      (1 remains, vs. Point 12/19)
          ...vs Edgewood (1-0)     
          ...vs Marian (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Oshkosh 12/30)
          ...vs MSOE (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Superior 12/29)

     ...vs CCIW (1-1)     (4 games remain)
          ...vs Carthage (1-1)
          ...vs Elmhurst (0-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Point 12/12, 1 vs. La Crosse 12/23)
          ...vs Augustana (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Whitewater 12/22)
          ...vs North Park (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Superior 12/30)

          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 12/30)
          ...vs Hardin-Simmons (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. La Crosse 12/29)

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

     ...vs Lewis-Clark St. (0-0)      (1 remains, vs. Stout 12/28)
     ...vs Westminster (Ut) (0-0)     (1 remains, vs. Platteville 12/30)

...vs NAIA-II (5-3)     (4 games remain)

     ...vs Viterbo (3-0)      (2 remain, 1 vs. Point, 1 vs. Stout)
     ...vs Clarke (IA) (1-0)
     ...vs Waldorf (1-0)
     ...vs Sioux Falls University (0-1)   
     ...vs Silver Lake (0-0)     (2 remain, vs. Oshkosh 12/21, 2/20)
     ...vs Dakota Wesleyan (0-1)   
     ...vs Mount Mercy (0-1)

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

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

There is 1 TBD's. 
-Eau Claire will play either Buena Vista from the IIAC or Heidelberg from the OAC.  BV is regional, Heidelberg is not.


12/09/09 Northwestern (MN)  @ UW-Superior
12/12/09 Elmhurst (IL)  @ UW-Stevens Point 
12/14/09 Northland @ UW-Superior
12/15/09 Northwestern (MN) @ UW-River Falls 
12/16/09 UW-Superior @ St. Scholastica (MN)
             UW-Whitewater @ Carroll (WI) 
             UW-Stout @ Viterbo
12/19/09 Wisconsin Lutherarn @ UW-Stevens Point
12/20/09 UW-River Falls  @ St. Scholastica (MN)
12/21/09 UW-Oshkosh @ Silver Lake 
12/22/09 Augustana (IL)  @ UW-Whitewater
12/23/09 Elmhurst (IL)  @ UW-La Crosse 
12/27/09 UW-Stout @ Whitworth (WA) 
12/28/09 UW-Stout @ Lewis Clark State (ID)
             UW-Whitewater vs Whitman (WA) 
12/29/09 Coe (IA) @ UW-Eau Claire
             UW-La Crosse vs. Hardin-Simmons (TX)
             UW-Platteville vs. Lewis and Clark (OR)
             George Fox (OR)  @ UW-River Falls 
             St. Thomas (MN)  @ UW-Stevens Point 
             UW-Superior @ Milw. School of Eng.
             UW-Whitewater @ Whitworth (WA) 
12/30/09 Heidelberg (OH) or Buena Vista (IA)  @ UW-Eau Claire
             UW-La Crosse @ Mary-Hardin Baylor (TX)
             UW-Oshkosh @ Marian (WI) 
             UW-Platteville vs Westminster (UT)
             UW-River Falls  @ Macalester (MN) 
             UW-Stevens Point  @ Viterbo
             UW-Superior @ North Park (IL)
01/09/10 Finlandia (MI)  @ UW-Eau Claire 
01/30/10 UW-Eau Claire  @ Finlandia (MI)
02/02/10 Finlandia (MI)  @ UW-Superior
02/20/10 Silver Lake  @ UW-Oshkosh

[John Gleich]

Remaining non-con schedules:

Superior

12/09/09 Northwestern (MN)  @ UW-Superior
12/14/09 Northland @ UW-Superior
12/16/09 UW-Superior @ St. Scholastica (MN)
12/29/09 UW-Superior @ Milw. School of Eng.
12/30/09 UW-Superior @ North Park (IL)
02/02/10 Finlandia (MI)  @ UW-Superior

Point

12/12/09 Elmhurst (IL)  @ UW-Stevens Point
12/19/09 Wisconsin Lutherarn @ UW-Stevens Point
12/29/09 St. Thomas (MN)  @ UW-Stevens Point
12/30/09 UW-Stevens Point  @ Viterbo

River Falls

12/15/09 Northwestern (MN) @ UW-River Falls
12/20/09 UW-River Falls  @ St. Scholastica (MN)
12/29/09 George Fox (OR)  @ UW-River Falls
12/30/09 UW-River Falls  @ Macalester (MN)

Whitewater

12/16/09 UW-Whitewater @ Carroll (WI)
12/22/09 Augustana (IL)  @ UW-Whitewater
12/28/09 UW-Whitewater vs Whitman (WA)
12/29/09 UW-Whitewater @ Whitworth (WA)

Stout

12/16/09 UW-Stout @ Viterbo
12/27/09 UW-Stout @ Whitworth (WA) 
12/28/09 UW-Stout @ Lewis Clark State (ID)

Oshkosh

12/21/09 UW-Oshkosh @ Silver Lake
12/30/09 UW-Oshkosh @ Marian (WI)
02/20/10 Silver Lake  @ UW-Oshkosh

La Crosse

12/23/09 Elmhurst (IL)  @ UW-La Crosse
12/29/09 UW-La Crosse vs. Hardin-Simmons (TX)
12/30/09 UW-La Crosse @ Mary-Hardin Baylor (TX)

Eau Claire

12/29/09 Coe (IA) @ UW-Eau Claire
12/30/09 Heidelberg (OH) or Buena Vista (IA)  @ UW-Eau Claire
01/09/10 Finlandia (MI)  @ UW-Eau Claire 
01/30/10 UW-Eau Claire  @ Finlandia (MI)

Platteville

12/29/09 UW-Platteville vs. Lewis and Clark (OR)
12/30/09 UW-Platteville vs Westminster (UT)