MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[John Gleich]

Any thoughts on Superior's impending move to the UMAC? Curious if and how many games the Yellowjackets will keep with the likes of Eau Claire, River Falls and Stout. They are all around 2 1/2 hours away. They'll be 9 teams in the UMAC now (unless someone is leaving or someone else is joining), so they'll still have 16 conference games. Maybe they'll try to schedule all D3 games. They'll be in the West now so with the possibility of a better record in a weaker conference,  could we see Superior in the Regional Rankings in the future? Gulp!

There's a strong argument to keep as many WIAC teams as possible (that aren't named Platteville, Whitewater or Oshkosh). Look at Super's non-con schedule. They regularly played the UMAC. Now they're in the UMAC. Where are their non-conference games going to come from? There aren't a ton of schools in northwest/northern Wisconsin/Minnesota!

[Greek Tragedy]

I could be wrong, but I DON'T see Point traveling up to Canada to play the Yellowjackets. With so many other schools of similar or better quality a lot closer, it won't happen.

Superior usually plays St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown in the past. They usually play Duluth, Winona and there's always the IIAC schools they've played.

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[Pat Coleman]

I could be wrong, but I do see Point traveling up to Canada to play the Yellowjackets. With so many other schools of similar or better quality a lot closer, it won't happen.

Superior usually plays St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown in the past. They usually play Duluth, Winona and there's always the IIAC schools they've played.

I've seen two WIAC schedules so far -- Stout is playing Superior and Eau Claire is not.

[Greek Tragedy]

Hey Pat, who's all playing in the d3hoops classic?

[Pat Coleman]

Hey Pat, who's all playing in the d3hoops classic?

I'm waiting for the OK to release the pairings, but here are the teams in the D3hoops.com Classic for 2015:

Men: Calvin, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Pacific Lutheran, Ramapo, Skidmore, St. Vincent, UW-Stout, Whitworth

Women: Bethel, Carthage, DeSales, George Fox, La Verne, Millsaps, St. Vincent

[John Gleich]

I could be wrong, but I DON'T see Point traveling up to Canada to play the Yellowjackets. With so many other schools of similar or better quality a lot closer, it won't happen.

Superior usually plays St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown in the past. They usually play Duluth, Winona and there's always the IIAC schools they've played.

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I agree. Point is trying to do everything they can to have as high an SOS as possible and, at least at this point, Superior isn't going to help that.

On that line of thinking... There are two more non-con games to schedule. Sure would like to see a few more WIAC/CCIW games.

Interestingly, I wonder where those games are going to come from. There are 16 non con games for the current WIAC teams to schedule and even though the noon con record want nearly as stellar this year as the early aughts, I think that the WIAC still struggles to fill out the schedules.

Are any other close non con foes losing games so they'd be available for the WIAC to schedule?

[Gregory Sager]

I could be wrong, but I DON'T see Point traveling up to Canada to play the Yellowjackets. With so many other schools of similar or better quality a lot closer, it won't happen.

Superior usually plays St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown in the past. They usually play Duluth, Winona and there's always the IIAC schools they've played.

edit

I agree. Point is trying to do everything they can to have as high an SOS as possible and, at least at this point, Superior isn't going to help that.

On that line of thinking... There are two more non-con games to schedule. Sure would like to see a few more WIAC/CCIW games.

Interestingly, I wonder where those games are going to come from. There are 16 non con games for the current WIAC teams to schedule and even though the noon con record want nearly as stellar this year as the early aughts, I think that the WIAC still struggles to fill out the schedules.

Are any other close non con foes losing games so they'd be available for the WIAC to schedule?

Well, it's gonna be harder for the WIAC to find CCIW opponents for those extra non-con games, because, ironically, the CCIW is expanding while the WIAC is contracting. Starting in 2016-17, CCIW teams will be down to the nine non-con games per season familiar to WIAC fans.

[badgerwarhawk]

I'm not sure if our schedule is finalized but I doubt it will include Superior.  One opponent I am sure of is CCIW Augustana who are coming to our place. 

I've also heard that the conference schedule isn't going to start until after the semester break. 

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not sure if our schedule is finalized but I doubt it will include Superior.  One opponent I am sure of is CCIW Augustana who are coming to our place. 

I've also heard that the conference schedule isn't going to start until after the semester break.

Yep, that's the nice luxury that we CCIW types have enjoyed ever since Carroll left the league in '92, a nice luxury that we will lose once Carroll rejoins the league in 2016-17 and forces each current CCIW program to play two more conference games -- including, I'm almost certain, one in December. That's the way it was back in the old nine-team days, and it's the way that it's been for the WIAC throughout the nine-team era. It's just hard to figure out how to create a schedule for nine teams that doesn't necessitate at least one December game for everybody, unless you follow the MIAC model of a Monday/Wednesday/Friday playing schedule for a couple of weeks in January and/or February.

[chmarx]

Any thoughts on Superior's impending move to the UMAC? Curious if and how many games the Yellowjackets will keep with the likes of Eau Claire, River Falls and Stout. They are all around 2 1/2 hours away. They'll be 9 teams in the UMAC now (unless someone is leaving or someone else is joining), so they'll still have 16 conference games. Maybe they'll try to schedule all D3 games. They'll be in the West now so with the possibility of a better record in a weaker conference,  could we see Superior in the Regional Rankings in the future? Gulp!

This is a little off topic, but I caught the last few events at the conference track championship meet here in La Crosse.  At the end of the meet, the announcer noted that Superior was leaving the WIAC, saluted them on over a century of conference membership, and wished them well in their new conference.

[Greek Tragedy]

WIAC teams play up to three December conference games before the holiday break kicks in. It will be interesting how the WIAC teams find two more games, especially with the CCIW losing two non conference games in '16-'17. For Point,  I wonder if St. Norbert will finally come into play. Maybe head back to Sheboygan to play Lakeland or Fond du Lac to take on Marian. Of course,  those teams have to be willing to play us too.

[tomt4525]

Chaz Mootz, 6'2" G from Merrill, is heading to UWSP.  I don't know much about him.  He was a unanimous selection to the All Conference First Team that also included Division 1 prospects Trev Anderson and Sam Hauser of Stevens Point.  He averaged about 15 points a game and close to 8 rebounds.  With those rebounding numbers, he must play bigger than he is.  Will be playing on the Division 2 North Team in the WBCA Classic as well. 

[Greek Tragedy]

I was going to say that we need more forwards, but we did fine with a 6'4" center last year!   

[tomt4525]

I was going to say that we need more forwards, but we did fine with a 6'4" center last year!   

I was kind of thinking the same thing.  I was hoping we could finish the recruiting class off with a wing with size, unless there is a transfer coming, doesn't look like it will happen.  I do like the 2 bigs we are bringing in though, and O'Heron could be a stretch 4 or 5 with his shooting ability.  I'm hoping that Freeborn can be that wing with size this coming season, he needs to take some big steps.  Should be an interesting season seeing which of these freshman will log minutes right away.

[Gregory Sager]

Any thoughts on Superior's impending move to the UMAC? Curious if and how many games the Yellowjackets will keep with the likes of Eau Claire, River Falls and Stout. They are all around 2 1/2 hours away. They'll be 9 teams in the UMAC now (unless someone is leaving or someone else is joining), so they'll still have 16 conference games. Maybe they'll try to schedule all D3 games. They'll be in the West now so with the possibility of a better record in a weaker conference,  could we see Superior in the Regional Rankings in the future? Gulp!

This is a little off topic, but I caught the last few events at the conference track championship meet here in La Crosse.  At the end of the meet, the announcer noted that Superior was leaving the WIAC, saluted them on over a century of conference membership, and wished them well in their new conference.

That was a very nice gesture.