MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AppletonRocks]

Really looking forward to the developments in OshVegas.  A very young team but the energy should be high.  Pat Juckem begins to coach his own plus a few good returning vets, the Titans will play hard and won't be an easy out. 

[tomt4525]

Really looking forward to the developments in OshVegas.  A very young team but the energy should be high.  Pat Juckem begins to coach his own plus a few good returning vets, the Titans will play hard and won't be an easy out.

Juckem definitely has Oshkosh going in the right direction.  If I were an Oshkosh fan I would be extremely excited with what Juckem was able to do on the recruiting trail.  With that said, the WIAC is normally not a very forgiving league to young teams.  Oshkosh will be extremely young and I would expect a few growing pains this season because of it.  With Juckem running the program, they should be back in the thick of things soon though.

[RedHotFalcon]

I like your enthusiasm, but I'm trying to figure out what he has done? Or what he has done that the other coaches haven't done or are doing? He has recruited some kids to play basketball, he was out there all summer recruiting kids to play basketball. A lot of the teams are going to play hard.  Again, I like your enthusiasm, but...

[tomt4525]

http://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2013/10/15/MBB_1015130809.aspx

Stevens Point announces their recruiting class, all players have been mentioned on this website already but you can read a little bit about their backgrounds. 

[tomt4525]

Any rumors swirling around the WIAC with practice starting up??

[AppletonRocks]

I like your enthusiasm, but I'm trying to figure out what he has done? Or what he has done that the other coaches haven't done or are doing? He has recruited some kids to play basketball, he was out there all summer recruiting kids to play basketball. A lot of the teams are going to play hard.  Again, I like your enthusiasm, but...

After what we just endured for the past years with almost no recruiting by the head coach, it is something to be excited about.  Reminds me of an old Steve Forbert verse: you cannot win if you do not play.

[AppletonRocks]

http://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2013/10/15/MBB_1015130809.aspx

Stevens Point announces their recruiting class, all players have been mentioned on this website already but you can read a little bit about their backgrounds.

So is a D-2 transfer eligible immediately?

[thrunt01]

http://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2013/10/15/MBB_1015130809.aspx

Stevens Point announces their recruiting class, all players have been mentioned on this website already but you can read a little bit about their backgrounds.

So is a D-2 transfer eligible immediately?

yup

[John Gleich]

http://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2013/10/15/MBB_1015130809.aspx

Stevens Point announces their recruiting class, all players have been mentioned on this website already but you can read a little bit about their backgrounds.

So is a D-2 transfer eligible immediately?

yup

You can always transfer "down" unless the league you're transferring into has certain rules.

I can't remember which league it is... maybe the MWC...(?) that requires (or required at one point) all transfers to sit out a year.

That's just anecdotal, though, in part because I don't feel like looking for proof to back it up.


And yes, at this point, I'm ok with that 

[frodotwo]

Attended the Backcourt Club Appreciation day yesterday and took in some practice drills and a short scrimmage drill by Point players. The good news is that all of them were healthy!! 15 on the roster this year, down from 22 last year at this time. Not much height beyond Heuer and 6'7" frosh Gjertson though. Not too much you can tell from a 45 minute practice, but very impressed with Pelkofer, who reminds me of a young Matt Moses.

Two scrimmages set, Friday at Duluth this week and Michigan Tech here next week Friday (2PM starts).

Was perusing the schedule to see what away games I can make trips to and see a tough ending to the year in store for the players. 12/28 vs Whitworth (26-4 #11 D3 Hoops last yr), then 12/29 vs Whitman (19-8 last year) at 6PM (8PM CST). A flight home & then turn around and get on the bus for a 4PM date on 12/31 vs North Central (28-4 #3 D3 Hoops last year).   Not sure if any teams have a tougher year end (doubtful), but we'll certainly know what type of team we have after these trips.

From 11/23/13 to 1/25/14 Point plays eight teams in Massey's current top 25 - #2 Whitewater - #3 St Thomas - #4 North Central - #13 Whitworth - #16 La Crosse - #17 Stout - #20 Platteville - #22 Hope.

[tomt4525]

Attended the Backcourt Club Appreciation day yesterday and took in some practice drills and a short scrimmage drill by Point players. The good news is that all of them were healthy!! 15 on the roster this year, down from 22 last year at this time. Not much height beyond Heuer and 6'7" frosh Gjertson though. Not too much you can tell from a 45 minute practice, but very impressed with Pelkofer, who reminds me of a young Matt Moses.

Two scrimmages set, Friday at Duluth this week and Michigan Tech here next week Friday (2PM starts).

Was perusing the schedule to see what away games I can make trips to and see a tough ending to the year in store for the players. 12/28 vs Whitworth (26-4 #11 D3 Hoops last yr), then 12/29 vs Whitman (19-8 last year) at 6PM (8PM CST). A flight home & then turn around and get on the bus for a 4PM date on 12/31 vs North Central (28-4 #3 D3 Hoops last year).   Not sure if any teams have a tougher year end (doubtful), but we'll certainly know what type of team we have after these trips.

From 11/23/13 to 1/25/14 Point plays eight teams in Massey's current top 25 - #2 Whitewater - #3 St Thomas - #4 North Central - #13 Whitworth - #16 La Crosse - #17 Stout - #20 Platteville - #22 Hope.

So, 6'8" VanHandel isn't back on the team this season??  He was showing improvement last season.

[havej]

Regarding current Massey top 25, even though it's preseason, hard to believe Platteville is rated behind LAX and Stout.  Pioneers return 4 starters while the other two squads each graduated 2 first team all conference players.  Have to believe Platteville will be #3 in the preseason WIAC poll behind Point and Whitewater.

[tomt4525]

Regarding current Massey top 25, even though it's preseason, hard to believe Platteville is rated behind LAX and Stout.  Pioneers return 4 starters while the other two squads each graduated 2 first team all conference players.  Have to believe Platteville will be #3 in the preseason WIAC poll behind Point and Whitewater.

I completely agree with that assessment, I'll even go a step further in saying Platteville could very well finish number 2 in conference this year.  Cross is a really tough matchup due to his ability to shoot the 3 and get buckets by posting up.  I don't think WW has a guy that has the size to matchup with Cross who will also chase him around the 3 point line.

With that said, I should also know to never bet against the Warhawks.  Miller will get his guys ready for any challenge.

[tomt4525]

And speaking of WW....

Eric Bossi ‏@ebosshoops 27m
Per a source, Middle Tennessee State has gotten a commitment from Northwest Florida State forward Darnell Harris

Really surprising to me that Harris has already committed.  I would have thought he would have waited for the season and see what type of offers he received.

[havej]

Tomt - regarding your assessment of Cross and Platteville, I'll be most interested to see how WIAC coaches defend Cross this year.  Based on what is surrounding him on the perimeter, I'm not letting him beat me.  Stocki, Gerber, etc.  will have to make shots consistently in order for me not to double down or dig in the post.  I saw Platteville play about 6 times last year, and rarely saw him doubled in the post or forced to his right off perimeter catches.  And when he did catch on the block, he was almost always right shoulder.  That was hard for me to believe as their perimeter shooting was a tad suspect.  During WIAC play (and that's all that really matters) the 3 point FG% of Gerber (30%), Stocki (34%), and Stallion (16%) was such that I'm fine losing to Pville if those three guys beat me.  I'll play those odds anytime. 

Bottom line, Cross' support will have to be really good for them to finish #2.