MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[stargazejerry]

I've heard Kacala won't be coming back. In scrimmages Van Handel has been manhandling Patterson and Thorn and won't take a back seat to Studer. You have to remember he had a year of battling JB in practice-it would be a mistake to minimize him. Sem doesn't like putting a lot of burden on freshmen unless he has to-like last years 6-7-8 players. Like last year, one or two newbies that try out won't make it. Heuer is an outstanding addition. He'll help balance the transfers Whitewater brought in(e.g.Darnell Harris). He'll be close to home, too. Looks like  Whitewater and Point and then the rest this year.

[John Gleich]

I've heard Kacala won't be coming back. In scrimmages Van Handel has been manhandling Patterson and Thorn and won't take a back seat to Studer. You have to remember he had a year of battling JB in practice-it would be a mistake to minimize him. Sem doesn't like putting a lot of burden on freshmen unless he has to-like last years 6-7-8 players. Like last year, one or two newbies that try out won't make it. Heuer is an outstanding addition. He'll help balance the transfers Whitewater brought in(e.g.Darnell Harris). He'll be close to home, too. Looks like  Whitewater and Point and then the rest this year.

Welcome Jerry! Thanks for the input!

I know that Coach Sem really likes Nate's potential. As a big guy myself, I know that it can take a couple of years for somebody to 1) really grow into their body and 2) get the skills that you need, especially in the WIAC, to perform at a high level, especially against other big men.

It looks like Point is perhaps starting to have a problem that's not really a problem... too many big guys. If you saw what River Falls did to Point in a couple of those games last year (something like +20 on the boards in the second half of a game that Point led at halftime) then you know that other teams have some decent size.

Now, that being said, just having big guys doesn't cut it... but for those of us who watched the transformation of guys like Brezinski, Hoelzel, and Wotachek, I think these Pointer big guys are in good hands.

It appears, too, that the stigma of big guys going to Point may be lessening or gone. For a while there, it seemed like Point couldn't get a guy who would be willing to spend some time in the post!

Jerry, we haven't seen much of Nate yet, but tell him to keep working... eventually he'll get his chance! It may be this year, it may be next year, who knows? But his hard work will pay off!


I wouldn't write off River Falls just yet. I know that they haven't done a whole lot come March the last two years, but they've been 20-8 the last two years. Yes, they lose a lot from last year... but they've had something pretty good going on and I don't think the cupboard is bare.

A few interesting things from RF's schedule while we're (I'm?) talking about them...

On 1/3, RF plays at Point... which is a Thursday, and the game starts at 6:00 PM. That's kind of strange... especially because they host Whitewater on Saturday at home. Short rest!

RF also finishes the year at Whitewater. If the conference race is tight and comes down to the end like it has the past several years, this could be a big game!

...Interestingly, EC at Stout is also on 1/3 at 6:00 too. 

FWIW, Whitewater has the bye... and they play Edgewood... but they play 'em on 1/2

[tomt4525]

I've heard Kacala won't be coming back. In scrimmages Van Handel has been manhandling Patterson and Thorn and won't take a back seat to Studer. You have to remember he had a year of battling JB in practice-it would be a mistake to minimize him. Sem doesn't like putting a lot of burden on freshmen unless he has to-like last years 6-7-8 players. Like last year, one or two newbies that try out won't make it. Heuer is an outstanding addition. He'll help balance the transfers Whitewater brought in(e.g.Darnell Harris). He'll be close to home, too. Looks like  Whitewater and Point and then the rest this year.

That is awesome news about Van Handel.  Honestly, with how thin the frontcourt was for Point last year and him not getting any minutes, I didn't expect much.  Like PointSpecial alluded to, maybe it just is taking him a year to adjust to college basketball and it is clicking now.  I look forward to seeing him play again this year, Point needs another big along with Heuer.

[John Gleich]

Gosh...

We Point guys have had a lot to say/talk about over the past few days/weeks... what's the word in the rest of the conference?

Any updates on the Oshkosh/Superior jobs?

[badgerwarhawk]

The rest of us are simply giving up. 

[Just Bill]

The rest of us are simply giving up. 

I imagine being a non-Stevens Point fan on the men's basketball board feels a lot like being a non-Whitewater fan on the football board.

[stargazejerry]

Superior is bringing back some nice talent though they have to resolve their coaching situation. Stout came into Quandt last year and out-muscled and beat Point-who lost Ty Tillema in that game. Eau Claire had a really nice comeback year, lost their coach but picked up a real good one.River Falls lost a lot to graduation with Ollie White coming back.Oshkosh is in limbo looking for a coach and a win. Platteville loses Stangel but is young. LaCrosse made it to the WIAC semi's and play the Warhawks tough before bowing.

[badgerwarhawk]

The rest of us are simply giving up. 

I imagine being a non-Stevens Point fan on the men's basketball board feels a lot like being a non-Whitewater fan on the football board.

I imagine it does.  Just to be clear.  I didn't mean to imply that all the Point talk bothers me in any way.  I meant my response as a joke more than anything else.  If I want  WARHAWK talk all I have to do is start a discussion and I sure several others would respond.  One thing that drives me nuts is when someone complains that the discussion is being monopolized by one group when they've done nothing to start a different discussion. 

Does anyone think that Point will compete for the conference championship next year  ... 

[stoutguy]

The rest of us are simply giving up. 

I imagine being a non-Stevens Point fan on the men's basketball board feels a lot like being a non-Whitewater fan on the football board.

I imagine it does.  Just to be clear.  I didn't mean to imply that all the Point talk bothers me in any way.  I meant my response as a joke more than anything else.  If I want  WARHAWK talk all I have to do is start a discussion and I sure several others would respond.  One thing that drives me nuts is when someone complains that the discussion is being monopolized by one group when they've done nothing to start a different discussion. 

Does anyone think that Point will compete for the conference championship next year  ... 

It's human nature, BW.  Teams that win have people who are excited to talk about those teams.  Some of us bottom feeders just have to get better and then maybe we will talk again.  Oh, by the way, I did throw in a "What about Gardow at Superior" and got nothing soooo, How bout those Pointers

[Just Bill]

According to Mark Miller here are UW-Superior's coaching finalists:

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/218340871865769984

Finalists at Superior ... Josh Drinkall (Gustavus Adolphus), Paul Eberhardt (Scottsdale C.C.), Jeff Nicholas (UMD) and Greg Polkowski (UW-Superior)

[badgerwarhawk]

Lance Randall isn't a finalist.      

[stoutguy]

According to Mark Miller here are UW-Superior's coaching finalists:

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/218340871865769984

Finalists at Superior ... Josh Drinkall (Gustavus Adolphus), Paul Eberhardt (Scottsdale C.C.), Jeff Nicholas (UMD) and Greg Polkowski (UW-Superior)

Sorry to hear that Gardow not a finalist.  However, Jeff Nicholas is a fine young man and would bring tremendous passion to the position.  He learned from the best as I coached many years against his dad, John, and Nic was always one of my favorites.

[Gregory Sager]

According to Mark Miller here are UW-Superior's coaching finalists:

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/218340871865769984

Finalists at Superior ... Josh Drinkall (Gustavus Adolphus), Paul Eberhardt (Scottsdale C.C.), Jeff Nicholas (UMD) and Greg Polkowski (UW-Superior)

Sorry to hear that Gardow not a finalist.  However, Jeff Nicholas is a fine young man and would bring tremendous passion to the position.  He learned from the best as I coached many years against his dad, John, and Nic was always one of my favorites.

It took me a minute to figure out that you guys were talking about the University of Minnesota-Duluth. As a faithful D3 guy, when I see "UMD" I automatically think of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Then I saw Stoutguy's reply, and my first thought -- "How the heck do two Wisconsin guys know anything about a coach from southeastern Massachusetts (and his dad!)?" -- was followed by a, "Duh, they're talking about the D2 school located on the far side of the Bong Bridge."

[thrunt01]

The rest of us are simply giving up. 

I imagine being a non-Stevens Point fan on the men's basketball board feels a lot like being a non-Whitewater fan on the football board.

Lord knows both are these are true but as mentioned by badger warhawk it takes two to tango so while I sometimes get worn down on both boards with the talk being dominated by the top programs in each sport but I totally get it and hey any talk about this conference is good talk in my opinion.

[Greek Tragedy]

Sager had a "duh" moment.  Mark that one on your calenders!