MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

GT,

Haven't seen a schedule yet but word is the Pointers were set to join the D3 Hoops tourney in Vegas.  With that, the other non-conf games would be up in the air. 

IF the dogs can avoid injuries they should have a nice team next year.  Tillema will be the big add but then bringing back Forsyth, Lutz and Studer won't hurt.  Heuer will be better with a summer to work on things and get a little stronger.  Need some more big help, especially if Studer's back doesn't respond.  Don't know what recruiting might bring in but a couple of nice 6-5 or better would be great along with a quick point guard.  We'll see what happens.  I too am waiting for October (or maybe the pig roast) to see what we have.

I was kidding about the schedule.    Point has been known to be one of the last teams to release their schedule, sometimes in September!

Pat did tell me previously that Point would be in Vegas, so I just have to convince the wife to go visit her mom in nearby Utah and go to Vegas for a day or two where the Pointers "just happen" to be playing...    

[badgerwarhawk]

I think they have several bowling tournaments in Vegas too.  Maybe you'll get lucky and get to see the Pointers and a bowling tournament.  You never know.

[Greek Tragedy]

Only if I get to see you bowl in those tournaments!

[Pat Coleman]

I would say this, too, for WIAC fans -- we have four Wisconsin teams in Vegas this upcoming season, three from the WIAC. I am not privvy to which contracts have actually been signed but we have commitments from three WIAC teams and a MWC team to join us (and four Northwest Conference teams) at the D3hoops.com Classic.

[havej]

Pretty sure Platteville is going next year - a parent informed me at a January game

[John Gleich]

Piece from the SPJ about Florida Gulf Coast and Nick Bennett's time there (including his legacy there... which includes much of the current roster).

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20130325/SPJ02/303250421/College-basketball-Nick-Bennett-reflects-Florida-Gulf-Coast-s-ride-Sweet-16



Nick left for Texas Pan American to coach under Ryan Marks, one season before the coach he was under at FGCU, Dave Balza, got fired. Balza is now at Bethany Lutheran in Minnesota. Balza had been at FGCU for 10 years.

I still think it's sort of shady the way that FGCU treated Balza... as the piece notes here, they didn't give the program much of a budget to work with while they jumped from D-II (where they were very successful) to D-I. Nick was there during the years that they were ineligible for post-season competition... and the off-season before they were eligible, they booted Balza, increased the budget, and hired Enfield.

Enfield has done a good job... but it's with few, if any, of his own guys.

By the way, Texas Pan American's staff just got fired after bringing the program from academic probation to a team GPA of 3.0 and they were 16-16 this season. However, much like the FGCU situation a few years ago, UTPA is joining a new conference (the WAC) and an AD who was hired after the coach was cleaned house... and is going to increase the budget.

[Greek Tragedy]

I would say this, too, for WIAC fans -- we have four Wisconsin teams in Vegas this upcoming season, three from the WIAC. I am not privvy to which contracts have actually been signed but we have commitments from three WIAC teams and a MWC team to join us (and four Northwest Conference teams) at the D3hoops.com Classic.

Well, now you are just forcing my hand! LOL  .  Maybe we will visit my mother-in-law in Utah over Christmas after all.

[John Gleich]

For a little more context on my view of the UTPA situation...

This piece was written right as Marks was being hired:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/195919-is-ryan-marks-utpas-next-victim


And one right after he was fired:

http://m.themonitor.com/sports/article_813cc6c8-9052-11e2-a6f1-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm


Marks is a former D-III guy... he coached at Southern Vermont (took them to the NCAA tournament) before jumping to St. Edwards in TX (D-II), including taking them to the NCAA tournament 3 times, then UTPA.


I also found a pretty nice article about Coach Balza and how he basically put this team together.

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/fox-sports-networks/story/FGCU-architect-Balza-laid-base-for-succe?blockID=884237&feedID=3697

[Greek Tragedy]

Congrats to Chas Cross! 4th team D3hoops All American.

[tomt4525]

2 solid commitments for Stevens Point made public.  I think they needed some wing forwards with size above 6'4".  They got 2, 6'6" Brad Freeborn from River Falls High School and 6'5" Aaron Retzlaff from Randolph High School.  They are ranked 40 and 42 respectively in the wissports senior rankings.

I've seen both play a handful of times, should help in different ways.  Freeborn is a guy with a very good midrange game that will do the little things, seems like a guy who is always in the right spot.  He is very good on the defensive end, that's where I think he'll make an impact.

Retzlaff is an extremely strong guy down on the block.  He muscles through opponents for hoops in the paint, also a very good rebounder and leaper.  He needs to improve his shot to become more of a complete player but should also be very good on the defensive end due to his athleticism and strength.

Point doesn't need much in this recruiting class due to so many guys coming back from last year's team except to build depth for future years, but I think they could add a point guard to Retzlaff and Freeborn.  They still have Jackson and Ryf back but after next year Jackson is gone.  I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

[Titan Q]

Per Twitter, UW-Oshkosh has landed two Chicago area forwards...

* Jimmy Lundquist, 6-7 SF/PF (Schaumburg H.S.) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu5_sEmqWw

* Sean Dwyer, 6-6 G/F (Stagg H.S.) - http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1177549/#highlights/9375372

[bballBG]

I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

Ryf will be a junior next season.

[Greek Tragedy]

2 solid commitments for Stevens Point made public.  I think they needed some wing forwards with size above 6'4".  They got 2, 6'6" Brad Freeborn from River Falls High School and 6'5" Aaron Retzlaff from Randolph High School.  They are ranked 40 and 42 respectively in the wissports senior rankings.

I've seen both play a handful of times, should help in different ways.  Freeborn is a guy with a very good midrange game that will do the little things, seems like a guy who is always in the right spot.  He is very good on the defensive end, that's where I think he'll make an impact.

Retzlaff is an extremely strong guy down on the block.  He muscles through opponents for hoops in the paint, also a very good rebounder and leaper.  He needs to improve his shot to become more of a complete player but should also be very good on the defensive end due to his athleticism and strength.

Point doesn't need much in this recruiting class due to so many guys coming back from last year's team except to build depth for future years, but I think they could add a point guard to Retzlaff and Freeborn.  They still have Jackson and Ryf back but after next year Jackson is gone.  I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

Ryf will be a junior next season.

I think that's what he's saying.  Jackson will be gone after next year...so he will be a senior.  He doesn't say Ryf will be gone after next year.

[tomt4525]

I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

Ryf will be a junior next season.

I'm talking in 2 years with Ryf.  Jackson will be gone after next season, you need someone to take his place in 2 years.  I think it would be smart to bring in a point guard maybe a year earlier than you need him, so he gets a year in the system and acclimated to college before he steps into being a major contributor.

[frodotwo]

I think bringing in a point guard this year to get acclimated to the system would serve him well to backup Ryf during his senior season.

Ryf will be a junior next season.

I'm talking in 2 years with Ryf.  Jackson will be gone after next season, you need someone to take his place in 2 years.  I think it would be smart to bring in a point guard maybe a year earlier than you need him, so he gets a year in the system and acclimated to college before he steps into being a major contributor.

I think the point guard of the future may already be enrolled in school. Curtis Parker, announced as a recruit for the 2012-13 year is still enrolled as is Demetrious Jackson, DeVon's younger brother (who I think was an academic casualty), as well as a third recruit (name escapes me) who was also academic casualty.