MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bulk19]

Moses pours in 30 for the third time this season and snags 9 boards as Point coasts to an 80-61 win.  

Point led by 12 at the half and EC could get no closer than 8 the rest of the way.  Point regained their shooting touch from the line (11/14) and only turned the ball over 6 times (2 in the second half).  Point won the rebounding battle 28-25 and had 13 offensive which led to a 17-8 second-chance-point edge.

This was Point's 20th straight victory over the Blugolds.

Jack Bennett was always a winner and coveted every win he ever got during his great tenure at Point.  But there was always something special about those EC wins for him.

Paging Sherm Carstensen, paging Sherm Carstensen!  

I'll nibble on the COY vote. As it stands now, I'd vote for Eddie Andrist... Probably wouldn't change it, either, unless something drastically happens to the logjam in the standings, and Stout misses the tournament.... The Blue Devils get to 10 wins in the conference, by beating Platteville and EC, all doubt is removed  - Coach Andrist then defiintely deserves it...

[phoenix_rising]

Recommendation only insofar as the team can't take another upheaval. At this point, the current juniors can only hope to pull it together for a good senior year. Bring in a new coach and all that may go down the toilet. The only thing that might be an argument to that is if the current coach is creating disruption now. If the team is losing cohesion, maybe he does have to go. I have a sense that the 'team' is the best part of what they have--a great bunch of guys who get along and play well together. How do you keep the good kids from going bad? Is divorce the answer or do mom and dad stay together for the kids' sake? If they stay together, can they learn to work together?

Dwight Hill is gone next year. Can Jake Smith and Marcus Helland provide the adult leadership the team needs? I think they can. Do they know what the team needs? I'll bet they do. Can they swing this? I hope so. I hope the atmosphere is such that the players feel comfortable talking and participating in building the team. Intervention. Now.

[stoutguy]

 PR.  I really think (from a pretty good source last night) that several of your players will be willing to go through that divorce thing rather than the "stay together for the kids". 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

OK. I'll take the bait.

Flora probably should get the coaching job--not because he deserves it, but because this group of players has already gone through too must distraction/disruption. Personally, I think his strategy is too much like Buchanan's, and that's the problem. Buchanan recruited an outstanding bunch of players and then stifled their growth. They should have done better their sophomore year; they should be outstanding this year. I don't think they have good direction; I think their instincts have been smothered; I think they are thrown into games without proper preparation for the team they are about to play; I think the bench is used too sparingly. I think the game-time coaching tactics are counter-productive. He's toned down some, but I watch him pacing with that glowering stare and wonder what the hell he's thinking. I don't see him analyzing what's going on, I see him looking at someone to yell at. What do I know; maybe he is analytical but hiding it really well.

"They are who we thought they were!"

PR.  I really think (from a pretty good source last night) that several of your players will be willing to go through that divorce thing rather than the "stay together for the kids". 

Last Summer I officiated at the Jimmy V Classic held in the Dells in the middle of July.  Last year, they added a "College" Men's Division.  Actually had the pleasure of officiating River Falls, Superior, Oshkosh, Whitewater, Beloit, and Silver Lake College.  Will say doing a Superior/Falls game, then doing a 13U Girls AAU game, was to say the least difficult to transition to.  But, this is about the time that Buchanan had announced he was leaving and talking with the players from Superior, they were unsure which way the administration was going to go.  They had no idea if Flora was going to be named interim, or if there was an entirely new guy and system coming in.  They did say that in preparation for this season, essentially the entire team had stayed in Superior for the summer working out together, playing ball, etc.  The guys definitely did what I think was right by staying together to accomplish something big, but it just hasn't flourished yet.

[stoutguy]

Another nice win for the Bluedevils tonight.  Stout shoots 60% in the second half to take down a very talented Superior team.  This Stout team is really fun to watch right now.  They are unselfish and 10 kids are getting quality minutes.  Hard to believe that this same team started the conference 0-4.  Eddie gets my vote for Coach of Year (Oh, that's right I don't have a vote.)

Okay, I get it.  No one has a comment about Eddie as COY.  Let's try this one:Superior interim will not get head coach position next year.  Anyone care to bite on that one?  Work with me here.  Thursday is my only non-busy day when I have time to post.

now you see why I  was forced to write a 3 volume set on the WIAC earlier this year!  comments seem to be down to me too!

I think you're spot on with Eddie for COY.  the only way he doesn't get it is if Stout misses the conf tournament... not sure how great of a possibility that is 'cause I can't  remember their remaining schedule.  I think he should get the nod over Miller because Stout was picked 9th.  As in last.  And they're sittibg in third right now by a game, set to host a conference tournament game!

They are the team that I want to see the least in the conference tournament.  They're not jusy the hottest team in the conference... they could be one of the hottest teams in the country.  

Now, after I say that, they'll lose 3 straight and miss the tournament altogether...

In terms of the Flora question, I've actually got another one... has a WIAC coach ever been fired due to his team not living up to expectations?  the only coach I can think of that didn't at least appear to leae of his own volition was Kaminsky, but that had more to do with breaking immigration laws than his coaching I think...

I don't know of any interim coaches in the WIAC who haven't been retained... but that's because the only coaching change I've followed was UWSP, and we all know how Sem has done.

D-III schools don't have pressure from boosters in the same way that D-I schools do... but the standard is still pretty high.

any thoughts?

Regarding Flora, I don't think it would even be a conversation if he had been given the job last year.  But it is interim, Superior was able to just pay his dinky little assistant salary this year, and now with all those great kids coming back they can go after someone else if they choose to.  If you are serious about making your program better, you jump at that chance.  If they do a search and realize Flora is the guy, then hire him. (But if they do, he really needs to lose that suit he was wearing last night.)

[phoenix_rising]

Re: the suit.

Did it not look like he slept in it? Maybe he was out recruiting and got back just in time for the game. If so, kudos to him.

I don't know, I just want this team to live up to its potential. There are some benchers I abolutely love to watch--not sitting but playing.

Are we even conducting a search? Is any recruiting going on? Sounds like a tired re-run of events of five years ago.

[fredfalcon]

If COY means ROY (recruiter of the year), which it should mean, then Miller gets the nod. If doing well with what you've got, though not the best talent, then Andrist gets the nod. (I'm limiting my comments to these two coaches only because of BW and SG's posts). Let's face it: nobody wins consistently without having better players than are on the other teams. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken sx>*t. At least, not very often.

If you disagree, just check out the consistency of all conference teams as the personnel relate to their teams' finishing spots in the league.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'll have to admit, chat is way down this year as opposed to other years.  Maybe it's because PS had twins and I got married, not sure, but there hasn't been much talk here and it's disappointing.  I'm glad to see a bunch of posts in the last day regarding COTY, even though Stoutguy had to beg for a response!

I'll try to poke my head in tomorrow night with some brief comments, but like I said before, I married someone who isn't thrilled about basketball (or at least the traveling part of it) and is even less thrilled that I spend so much time on the computer (playing around on D3hoops, among other things).  But, I can't complain, she's my wife and I love her!

With that said, I'll probably be MIA this weekend, so fantasy and pick em leagues won't be updated until at least Monday.  Something about Valentine's Day weekend...I don't know, apparently being married for a year and a half is still considerd "newlyweds" and we have to "celebrate" "holidays" (and I use this term VERY loosely) like this! 

Note to WIAC schedulers:  Schedule the Pointers on the road, like Superior or River Falls, on Valentine's Day weekend so I don't have the urge to head to Point (and sleep on the sofa for a week).

[uww4ever]

GO WARHAWKS!

Haven't posted in awhile.  Haven't been keeping up like I used to.  Must be the turning 30 this year but I do catch a few radio broadcasts once in a blue moon. 

I would have to say that Mitchell has been quite a surprise from his freshman year to senior year.  He has definitlely put in the work and hopefully that's a trend for Miller to continue progress of all players.  He certainly can keep the talent pool up and unfortunately I'm not around campus that much anymore to see the recruits being brought through the gym.  And I can't comment based on box scores, but if WW is fortunate enough to host a pod, I should be able to make it out there.

For me, Mithcell POY and Stout guy for COY.  What was there projection-8th or 9th place in preseason?

Too bad EC vs WW falls on the V-day.  Ugh, women.

GO HAWKS!

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

I'll have to admit, chat is way down this year as opposed to other years.  Maybe it's because PS had twins and I got married, not sure, but there hasn't been much talk here and it's disappointing.  I'm glad to see a bunch of posts in the last day regarding COTY, even though Stoutguy had to beg for a response!

I'll try to poke my head in tomorrow night with some brief comments, but like I said before, I married someone who isn't thrilled about basketball (or at least the traveling part of it) and is even less thrilled that I spend so much time on the computer (playing around on D3hoops, among other things).  But, I can't complain, she's my wife and I love her!

With that said, I'll probably be MIA this weekend, so fantasy and pick em leagues won't be updated until at least Monday.  Something about Valentine's Day weekend...I don't know, apparently being married for a year and a half is still considerd "newlyweds" and we have to "celebrate" "holidays" (and I use this term VERY loosely) like this! 

Note to WIAC schedulers:  Schedule the Pointers on the road, like Superior or River Falls, on Valentine's Day weekend so I don't have the urge to head to Point (and sleep on the sofa for a week).

All in all, I think it has been kind of a ho-hum year.  Personally I don't think there are any standout teams, or players for that matter that really get the engines going.  Maybe we're all working a lot harder with the economy.  I think the balance in the middle of the league is interesting for sure, but when a team can play so well one night and so horribly then next, and do that consistently its really tough to make the same comments every week.  

I guess the most exciting part of this, is going to be the next week to see where Stout through Platteville end up in the 3-6 spots.  4 spots, 5 teams with 3 games left to play.  2 if you're Stout and LaCrosse.  This is good stuff for sure, and its going to be totally unpredictable, which for me is awesome and scary all rolled into one.  UWP made the NCAA tourney last year.  Has key components back, but not having 6'10" 260 roaming in the middle, has been different.  

But with that said, these guys need to find a way with 3 home games to finish the season (including 2 teams in front of them in standings, which is big at tie breaker time) and in those 3 games make the identity of their team their own.  For 22 games people here have talked about last year....f*** last year.  It is only good to look in the program and see NCAA appearance.  That is not going to win games for you this year.  I wish the people in Platteville would realize that too.  This team is not last years team.  It should've been known from the first scrimmage, but these guys put in the same effort and work just as hard as that team.  So my hope for the Pioneers is that they, over the last 3 games and going in to the conference tourney, make this season their own.  Find a new identity and swagger for themselves, and stand up to anyone who feels differently or thinks otherwise.

COY comments.  If it ended right now, and I'd even say if Stout loses both remaining games.  Fast Eddie is the COY.  Why do you ask?  Because last year they finished last.  This year where were they picked to finish?  Last.  Where are they now?  Third with an 8-6 record.  They've beat Miller this year already.  Actually beat his arse, in his own home.  I think I heard that they actually gave Miller a wedgie and a noogie, but that is only a rumor at this point...but was told there was nothing Miller could do about it.  Oh, they beat Point too.  IMO, COY is a no brainer.  

OS:  I'm lucky because my wife loves basketball, as she is coach on the Varsity level, but for a romantic Valentines weekend, I'm taking her to a basketball tourney all weekend and staying with friends of ours on Saturday night.  We've been married a little over 3 1/2 years.  I guess I'm one of the lucky ones though!  

[badgerwarhawk]

GO WARHAWKS!

Too bad EC vs WW falls on the V-day.  Ugh, women.

GO HAWKS!

Not that it matters but EC vs WW isn't on Valentines Day.

OS, there's a name for guys like you.  I can't type it here but the initials are PW. 

I don't suppose it matters that we've beaten Eddie on his home court and Point twice.  

[Greek Tragedy]

Ouch!  P*whipped is a little harsh, especially coming from a historically challenged guy like you!  

I'm definitely not that.  You'll even have to admit, when you got married, you sacraficed a little.  Yeah, I'm not running around the state going to 40 games like I did before I got married, but I still make a few and she doesn't ban me from anything.  

Oh yeah, Carrie is the one who doesn't want to be "the wife from hell who doesn't let me do what I want and doesn't want me to hang out with my friends".  She just doesn't want me to do those things ALL THE TIME! 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

GO WARHAWKS!

Too bad EC vs WW falls on the V-day.  Ugh, women.

GO HAWKS!

Not that it matters but EC vs WW isn't on Valentines Day.

OS, there's a name for guys like you.  I can't type it here but the initials are PW. 

I don't suppose it matters that we've beaten Eddie on his home court and Point twice.  

It does...but only to where you get a bye in the conference tourney.  IMO anyway.  Whitewater is right where they are "supposed" to be according to SID's.  Stout is way out of place.

[Just Bill]

P*whipped is a harsh term coming from a guy who would have to miss the second coming of Jesus Christ if it happened to occur on Couples' Bowling Night.   

[Greek Tragedy]

At this point, I may give it to Eddie because his team is in 3rd place as we speak.  But, even with only two games to go (for them), it's too early because they could lose both, end up 8-8 and wind up 7th in the league.  At that point, I wouldn't give it to him.  Platteville and Eau Claire will be tough. 

I'm also a little hesitant because he did start off 0-4 in conference, and while 7-2 in his last 9 is awesome, with wins at Whitewater and over Point, I can't forget about that poor start.  What if he had started out 4-0 and then gone 3-6 in the last 9, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation.

Yes, Stout was picked to finish 9th, but they did return four starters.  Then you look at Whitewater and they lost McKay, Goodwin, Vernon and Kolinski, while only returning Negri.  Though not a starter last year, they also lost Vines for basically the whole year.  Yet, the coaches still picked Whitewater to finish 2nd.  I think that's pretty impressive. 

If Whitewater somehow doesn't win the regular season AND Stout finishes 10-6, good for 3rd place, I'll give it to Eddie.