MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[frodotwo]

Taking nothing away from Augustana ... but this game sounded like it was well within our reach.  We seem to have trouble making any adjustments.  When we get exposed in a match up we don't seem to help or adjust the defense.  We also need to develop some kind of inside game to offset when we are off outside.  Our bigs need to play a more significant role - a dish n kick or pick n role would help.  We need to find more balance in scoring - two guys can't be expected to carry us.  When a player is off or losing confidence, why keep him on the floor?  I understand everyone has a tough game but you need to give your team the best chance to score.  Same is true for a player who is obviously trying to do too much on his own.  We can learn from this and will need to because it doesn't get any easier in the next seven days!

I watched the game online and I think it is as simple as saying Augustana was too big and too physical for the Pointers.  UWSP is a good team, but Augustana is better.  I'm not sure you need to over-analyze this one too much.

Exactly, although I would add that Augie is too deep for UWSP as well.

Quite a luxury be able to bring experienced 6'7" guys off the bench to rest your starters and not have much of a drop off.

[frodotwo]

I don't mean to dwell on the point, but the fact that we need to have a more balanced effort - more of an inside presence - is a condition from the beginning of the season.  That's an adjustment that needs to be made.  And yes, I did listen to Coach Sem after the game but if Hass is sick, you mean to tell me there are no other guards who came come in for a sick player?  I really thought his comment about not having "anyone else to bring in" was probably not the best choice of words.  Perhaps all will be better on Wednesday.  Go Point!

Semling is a good coach, but seems to be his own worst enemy at times in not getting players some experience to fill those  critical periods where someone needs a breather. Case in point would be Nick Kacala, who logged 40 minutes in the first 3 games of the year and since then, just ten minutes total in the last 5 games. You can't develop a player if he only sees the floor in the last 2 minutes of blow outs. The 3 tallest subs on the bench are averaging 55 seconds of floor time per game, not enough to develop cohesion and confidence in your game. All that's being developed is scout team players.

[Greek Tragedy]

There's a fine line between trying to put your best players on the floor to win games and trying to get your young players valuable experience.  Sometimes it's impossible to do both.

Point is 6-2 in a definite rebuilding year.  We lost a tough one at St. John's when we could've easily won it (from reports I've read).  Then, we lost another tough road game against the preseason #1 team in the nation and who, admittedly by some more informed posters than myself, have said Augustana is a bigger, deeper and more experienced team than Point.  Yes, we were leading that game.  But, sometimes you just have to admit that some teams are better than you.  I know for anyone associated with Point, that doesn't happen too often (or we don't like to admit it), but that's the reality.  This game could be one of those times. 

What do want?  Do you want Point to be 2-6 with the young players getting a lot of floor time, or do you want us to try to win every game with the best players?  Like I said, sometimes you can't have both.  I have all the trust in the world in Coach Semling. 

[frodotwo]

There's a fine line between trying to put your best players on the floor to win games and trying to get your young players valuable experience.  Sometimes it's impossible to do both.

Point is 6-2 in a definite rebuilding year.  We lost a tough one at St. John's when we could've easily won it (from reports I've read).  Then, we lost another tough road game against the preseason #1 team in the nation and who, admittedly by some more informed posters than myself, have said Augustana is a bigger, deeper and more experienced team than Point.  Yes, we were leading that game.  But, sometimes you just have to admit that some teams are better than you.  I know for anyone associated with Point, that doesn't happen too often (or we don't like to admit it), but that's the reality.  This game could be one of those times. 

What do want?  Do you want Point to be 2-6 with the young players getting a lot of floor time, or do you want us to try to win every game with the best players?  Like I said, sometimes you can't have both.  I have all the trust in the world in Coach Semling.

If you continue to play only 8 players per game you will be rebuilding every year.

[emerging1]

That is my concern too.  A consistently winning team is one that develops depth, not one that waits for it to appear.

[Drake Palmer]

Excuse me if this has been previously discussed, but I most frequently post next door on the MIAC board.

I'm following the fortunes of the WIAC, & UW-River Falls a bit closer than usual this year because of the transfer of a strong MIAC player - Chris Palmer to the Falcons (nice 20+ pt game in the 2OT win over Oshkosh yesterday), & another MN player, transfer Ethan Thomforde.

What's become of Thomforde?  I noticed he's no longer even listed on the Falcon roster. After a solid 2 year career at D2 Augustana, I fully expected Thomforde to take on a similar role at River Falls.

[Greek Tragedy]

It's early. 

Here are the minutes and number of players for the last 5 years.

2011:  10+ minutes (8 players), 15+ (6 players), 20+ (5 players), 25+ (5 players)

2010:  10 (10), 15 (8), 20 (6), 25 (3)

2009:  10 (8), 15 (7), 20 (6), 25 (4)

2008:  10 (9), 15 (7), 20 (5), 25 (4)

2007:  10 (10), 15 (8), 20 (4), 25 (2)

In 2009 we won the National Championship with similar numbers of players and minutes as this year.

The following year, last year, I think we did pretty well, winning both WIAC titles.  I'm obviously not saying we're going to win the National Championship this year, but the next year (after playing a short bench) we were pretty good too.

Give it some time.  I think we'll be fine this year.  We have a lot of new players and it's early. 

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS defeated Eau Claire 68-59.  Eau Claire led for much of the first half.  Their largest lead was eleven points with about nine minutes remaining.  Trailing 22-11 the WARHAWKS went on a 14-3 run fueled by nine points from Chris Davis and tied the game 25-25.  Eau Claire regained the lead at that point but a pair of layups from Luke Knoble tied it again at 31-31,  Each team scored another basket in the remaining time and the game was tied 33-33 at the half.  Eau Claire scored the first points of the second half but Knoble made another pair of layups to give the WARHAWKS a lead they would not surrender.  The lead grew to ten points before Eau Claire would whittle it down to a single point 56-55 with slightly less than five minutes remaining.  Once again Knoble would respond with a key basket and Davis followed with a three-pointer as the WARHAWKS gradually pushed the lead back to ten points and coasted down the stretch for the victory.

Davis led all scorers.  His stat line read 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals.  Noble finished with a double-double 18 points, 10 rebounds.  Young finished with 12 points and 5 steals. 

Jordan Peterson finished with 20 points and Nick Bartlett 12 to pace the BluGolds. 

[Falcons04]

Drake -

I follow UWRF and am puzzled by the same question.  Thomforde played significant minutes in their first few games but seemed to lose minutes as the season progressed.  When the Falcons went out west, he played 5 minutes per game and has not played in the first two conference games.  Since they've only had one home game, I haven't been able to see if he's around the bench.  Should know more after they play at home on Wednesday.

[frodotwo]

It's early. 

Here are the minutes and number of players for the last 5 years.

2011:  10+ minutes (8 players), 15+ (6 players), 20+ (5 players), 25+ (5 players)

2010:  10 (10), 15 (8), 20 (6), 25 (3)

2009:  10 (8), 15 (7), 20 (6), 25 (4)

2008:  10 (9), 15 (7), 20 (5), 25 (4)

2007:  10 (10), 15 (8), 20 (4), 25 (2)

In 2009 we won the National Championship with similar numbers of players and minutes as this year.

The following year, last year, I think we did pretty well, winning both WIAC titles.  I'm obviously not saying we're going to win the National Championship this year, but the next year (after playing a short bench) we were pretty good too.

Give it some time.  I think we'll be fine this year.  We have a lot of new players and it's early.

It certainly helps when you return FOUR  full-time starters versus this years' two part time starters. In most of those years you note, there were also several players that averaged over 5 minutes per game in many games:

07-08 (30 gms)   two players in 20 & 24 games (Jenkins & Sweeney)
08-09 (29 gms)   two players in 15 & 16 games (Brezinski & Ritchay)
09-10 (33 gms)   five players in 19, 23, 24, 25 & 27 games (T. Tillema-Ritchay-Brezinski-Giordana-Sweeney)
10-11 (30 gms)   two players in 20 & 22 games (Mauch & Abbeglen)
11-12 (8 gms)     three players in 2, 2 & 6

I think we recognize a few of those names as being contributors in one way or another. If you don't develop players early in the season, odds are you won't later. I'm guessing that the 3 freshmen sub will be better as the season goes along, but we won't be much deeper than the eight that are playing right now.

[stoutfan1]

Stout loses another one while putting up only 53 points. Shooting 19-50 (38 percent) is not going to win you many ball games. Olson and Jenny both struggled going 1 of 8 and 2 of 9 while the team shoots 3 of 14 from deep. They continue having issues finding ways to score and knocking down shots. Hopefully the return of Pax and Oman (after Xmas break) will provide some of that perimeter consistancy for the Blue Devils. Stout is averaging just over 51 points per game in conference play through the first 3 games. Hopefully Eddie can figure out how to use the talent he has this year cause it isn't the same as the last few years. Ill remain optomistic and hope for the best, but I am prepared for the worst.

Looking at other games around the WIAC Point loses a tough one against Augustana and it sounds like Point is having issues with depth. RF pulled out a tight one in 2OT against Osh, Superior got edged out by LAX, and Whitewater beat out EC by 9 (not by as much as I thought). 

[Greek Tragedy]

So this year, Coach Semling has even a harder job.  Not only does have just two part-time starters working has his leaders (instead of 2 to 4 full-time starters), he has a whole new group of young players to get into the mix. 

You said most of those years there were players averaging 5 minutes a game that helped?

Right now, though garbage time, there are 2 other players averaging 5 minutes a game and 2 more averaging 4 minutes a game, while Kacala is averaging 8 minutes a game.  We're 8 games into the season and just 2 into the conference schedule.  We'll look at those numbers at the halfway point. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Why is Oshkosh playing Platteville on Saturday instead of Wednesday like everyone else?  Do they think they're special?  I'm pretty sure they did that last year and maybe the year before.  What's going on over there, cubs?

[Greek Tragedy]

There is still time to sign up for the WIAC Fantasy League.  Deadline is Wednesday's games!

[John Gleich]

Why is Oshkosh playing Platteville on Saturday instead of Wednesday like everyone else?  Do they think they're special?  I'm pretty sure they did that last year and maybe the year before.  What's going on over there, cubs?

I think it has to do with their finals schedule... I think they have finals this week and can't or won't play a game during the week.

Or something like that.