MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bgbacker]

phoenix rising ... Jake Smith plugged all the holes last night! He is tough to stop. A healthy Helland is a nice addition. Blugolds did shut down Culy, but it wasn't enough. Sup is an impressive collection of individual talent. When they put it together, they're hard to beat. The 50-50 2nd half was entertaining, but frustrating for EC. They still lack what it takes to get over the top on the road. Maybe they'll find it soon!

[cubs]

I'm REALLY curious to see what UWO does over it next pair of games, as they host Stout and La Crosse.   As it stands now, they are still in contention for the #6 spot in the WIAC Tournament, and a pair of wins would go a long way.  They have arguably played the #1 and #2 teams in the WIAC (and probably the Nation when the next poll comes out) tougher than anyone else to date, losing to both of them on their home courts by six and four points respectively, with one of them being in OT.  If they could carry over their play from those games to the other WIAC opponents, one would think they could put a little bit of a streak together.  It would have been interesting to see what could have happened last night if they would have shot a little better in the first half, as they struggled to put the ball in the hoop connecting on just 8 of 29 shots (28%.)

[badgerwarhawk]

WHITEWATER...62
Oshkosh...58        OT

The WARHAWKS scored first and after a pair of ties took the lead for good in the first half building it to a high of seven points three times before Oshkosh closed the gap and the half ended with the WARHAWKS on top 23-19 in a low scoring affair.  A strong presence on the offensive boards (9  offensive rebounds) and solid ball control (3 turnovers) gave the Titans a shot advantage 29-21 and kept them close despite shooting 28% to WHITEWATER'S 48%.  The WARHAWKS continued to hold the lead, building it to as many as 11 points in the first seven minutes of the second half.  Oshkosh made a 17-5 run over the next six minutes and closed the gap to a single point 45-44.  The WARHAWKS built the lead back to five points with two and half minutes to go however the Titans rallied and a jumper by DJ Marsh with thirty seconds on the clock gave them their first lead of the game 52-51.  After Dustin Mitchell was fouled with 10 seconds remaining the WARHAWKS had two chances to win in regulation.  Mitchell hit the first free throw to tie the game but missed the second.  Mike Bendall pulled down the rebound and called time out but when play resumed Fletcher DuPree's off balance runner missed the mark and the game went into overtime.   It took two minutes before Oshkosh scored first and went back on top with a pair of free throws from Cory Wittwer.  Those points were answered by a three point play by DuPree to give the WARHAWKS a lead and after that the WARHAWKS went 7-12 from the free throw line to preserve the win.

Mitchell went 11-13 from the floor and 3-5 from the line to lead the WARHAWKS with 25 points.  He also pulled down 12 rebounds.  Led by Phil Negri's 9 the WARHAWKS had 17 assists on 23 made shots.

Marsh went 12-24 from the floor and 2-3 from the line to lead the Titans with 26 points and he also had 12 rebounds.

[phoenix_rising]

It was an interesting game of ebbs and flows. Last year, the Supes would have folded on the first or second ebb. They've showed more stamina. Probably helps that they have Helland's size, skill and enthusiasm out there to boost them. I do really think it's a nice team; I think it has more depth than gets displayed in most games.

As for Culy, I often think he's not playing as well as he could, but I wonder if he plays well offensively or defensively. Last night he played a decent defensive game. If he could be Dwight Hill next year, I would be happy. I really like Dustin Ritchie; he hustles.

There's still a great deal to iron out, but I'm hoping each game sees some significant improvement. I'm a little concerned about the Hitler-like coaching approach I see during the game; hope that gets ironed out, too. From what I can see, the players have a bond, and maybe coaching has something to do with it. It's hard to get used to after Buchanan's polished style.

I suspect on the home court, the Blugolds will be more assertive. By the way, I'm a

[phoenix_rising]

Ended the last post a bit abruptly.

...By the way I'm a UWEC gradugate; a UWP graduate; a UWSP attendee; a UWS(uperior) employee; parent of a UWS(tout) attendee/athlete; parent of a UWGB graduate. I spread my bias around.

[badgerwarhawk]

'Hitler-like"   

[phoenix_rising]

Too strong?

I really thought a gasket was going to blow last night. Mesmerizing; like watching a train wreck and not being able to turn away.

[phoenix_rising]

Gradugate=the latest scandal on university campii

[John Gleich]

Gradugate=the latest scandal on university campii

That's an Eau Claire education (or is that edugation) talking there... Should have spent more time at Point!      

[phoenix_rising]

Did I mention I was an English major? Did I have to?

[badgerwarhawk]

Attending last night's WARHAWK/Oshkosh game was ex-Pointer recruit Brian Gregory and his father.  I've heard that he plans on attending Oshkosh. 

[Greek Tragedy]

RECENT RESULTS

Wed 1/6/10
UW-La Crosse 61, UW-Superior 57     
UW-Platteville 74, UW-Eau Claire 67   
UW-Stevens Point 73, UW-Oshkosh 67
UW-Stout 78, UW-River Falls 53   

Sat 1/9/10
UW-Eau Claire 97, Finlandia (MI) 80   
UW-Stevens Point 73, UW-La Crosse 57   
UW-Stout 87, UW-Platteville 81   
UW-Superior 71, UW-Oshkosh 59 
UW-Whitewater 70, UW-River Falls 57   

Wed 1/13/10
UW-River Falls 83, UW-La Crosse 75   
UW-Stevens Point 74, UW-Platteville 53 
UW-Superior 85, UW-Eau Claire 80   
UW-Whitewater 62, UW-Oshkosh 58 (Overtime) 

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

1. Whitewater
2. Stevens Point
3. La Crosse
4. Platteville
5. Eau Claire
6. River Falls
7. Superior
8. Oshkosh
9. Stout

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE-Complete

Eau Claire 2-0 (8-3, 2-2)
12/29 DEF. Coe (IA) 78-62
12/30 DEF. Buena Vista (IA) 68-66

La Crosse 3-0 (11-2, 3-1)
12/23 DEF. Elmhurst (IL) 76-66
12/29 DEF. Hardin-Simmons (TX) at Mary Hardin-Baylor 75-56
12/30 DEF. Mary-Hardin Baylor (TX) 86-78

Oshkosh 2-0 (6-5, 1-2)
12/21 DEF Silver Lake 85-55
12/30 WON at Marian 69-63

Platteville 1-1 (8-4, 2-1)
12/29 DEF. Lewis and Clark (Ore) in Phoenix (AZ) 84-76 OT
12/30 LOST to Westminster (UT) 71-68

River Falls 4-0 (7-6, 1-3)
12/15 DEF. Northwestern (MN) 71-52
12/20 WON at St. Scholastica (MN) 85-61
12/29 DEF. George Fox 94-59
12/30 WON at Macalester 74-40

Stevens Point 3-0 (11-1, 2-1)
12/19 DEF. Wisconsin Lutheran 105-43
12/29 DEF. St. Thomas 78-56
12/30 WON at Viterbo 75-57

Stout 2-1, (5-7, 0-4)
12/19 WINS at Viterbo 72-61
12/27 LOSES at Whitworth 108-84
12/28 WINS at Lewis Clark State College 82-80

Superior 3-1 (7-4, 1-2)
12/14 DEF. Northland 95-45
12/16 WINS at St. Scholastica 82-62
12/29 LOSES at MSOE 77-72
12/30 WON at North Park 80-76 OT

Whitewater 3-1 (12-1, 4-0)
12/16 WON at Carroll U. 88-62
12/22 DEF. Augustana 77-66
12/28 DEF. Whitman College at Whitworth 89-87
12/29 LOSES at Whitworth 94-84

[Greek Tragedy]

Old School's Sporadic Unofficial In-Season Conference Power Rankings

1. Stevens Point (14-1, 5-1):  Home cooking tastes good with wins over rival Oshkosh and potential threats La Crosse and Platteville.  Undefeated holiday schedule highlighted by wins over previous #2 St. Thomas and CCIW foe Elmhurst

2. Whitewater (14-1, 6-0):  Two home conference wins keeps Whitewater in the lead.  Holiday travels didn't go as planned with a 2-pt. win over Whitman and an upset loss to Whitworth.

3. La Crosse (12-4, 4-3):  Holiday hangover puts the Eagles at 1-2 in conference after the New Year after going 3-0 over the break.  

4. Platteville (9-6, 3-3):  Two game slide in conference knocks Platteville down to .500.  A 1-1 holiday record includes a tough loss to Westminster (UT)

5. Superior (9-5, 3-3):  Winners of two-in-a-row puts Superior in contention for a top four spot.  Superior was 3-1 over the holidays.

6. Stout (7-7, 2-4):  Surprise wins over River Falls on the road and Platteville at home vaults the Blue Devils up the rankings.  Will the bye week hurt the momentum?  They had an unimpressive 2-1 record over the holidays.

7. River Falls (8-8, 2-5):  Big win over La Crosse on the road helps ease the sting of bad losses to Stout and Whitewater.  The Falcons were 4-0 over the break.

8. Oshkosh (6-8, 1-5):  They are winless since the break, but they've had some good efforts against Stevens Point (6-pt. loss) and an overtime loss to Whitewater, both on the road.  

9. Eau Claire (9-5, 2-4):  Like Oshkosh, two road losses, but to Platteville and Superior.  They went 2-0 in Iowa over the break and beat Finlandia as well.

[wcbsas]

Old School's Sporadic Unofficial In-Season Conference Power Rankings

1. Stevens Point (14-1, 5-1):  Home cooking tastes good with wins over rival Oshkosh and potential threats La Crosse and Platteville.  Undefeated holiday schedule highlighted by wins over previous #2 St. Thomas and CCIW foe Elmhurst

2. Whitewater (14-1, 6-0):  Two home conference wins keeps Whitewater in the lead.  Holiday travels didn't go as planned with a 2-pt. win over Whitman and an upset loss to Whitworth.

I know it a matter of opinion but not sure how you can put UWSP over UWW given the head-to-head.  I understand the argument that UWSP has played and perservered over a slightly tougher non-con schedule but the head to head still holds water with me.

[Greek Tragedy]

It holds water to me too, but that was at the beginning of December at home in overtime.  They held the top stop since then.  Over the holidays, Point didn't lose, Whitewater did.  On top of that, they had a slim win while Point beat the then #2 team.  That's why SP is a slightly ahead of WW at this time.