MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tomt4525]

I watched most of the Oshkosh game last night.  I was impressed with the guard play of the Titans but the post play left a lot to be desired.  Is Nick Olson not 100 percent or have others passed him??  He was solid last year and barely played in this game.

I was very impressed with freshman Ben Boots.  He's going to be a player.  This conference is going to have some ridiculous guard play moving forward when you include Bublitz at Point and Brown at Whitewater.

Street clothes, I assume injured.

They must have loosened the uniform restrictions at the NCAA level this year then as according to the box score Nick Olson played one minute at SNC... 

I saw him go into the game....he wasn't in street clothes for the first half at least.

[Greek Tragedy]

Midweek schedule: WIAC record 3-4.

Monday
Oshkosh 62 at St. Norbert  68

The Titans fail to hold onto a 32-30 halftime lead and fall in De Pere. Alex Olson leads the way with 17 points and 4 rebounds.

Game story and boxscore

Platteville 74 at Dubuque 75

The Pioneers' comeback bid fell short at the buzzer. Vaassen and Johnson each had 24, while Oestreich chipped in with 17.

Game story and boxscore

Lakeland 55 at La Crosse 63

La Crosse held home court and topped the Muskies behind Devin Yurk's 19 points.

Game story and boxscore

Tuesday
Bethel 62 at River Falls 55

The Falcons fell to 0-2 after losing their home opener. They obviously miss Grant Erickson as Christensen again led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Game story and boxscore


The WIAC nonconference record now stands at a paltry 4-7 with Point hoping to salvage the midweek games prior to the full weekend tilt.

Wednesday
St. Olaf at Stevens Point - Two ranked teams battle at Quandt with St. Olaf topping the Pointers last year. (Prediction: Point squeaks out a win)

[bulk19]

Greek Tragedy -
Here's a Scooby snack, a +K, for your continuous efforts here to keep us updated on WIAC hoops. Keep up the good work - the karma always seems to return to you and your Mini every so often in the form of TheBelt! 

[Greek Tragedy]

Greek Tragedy -
Here's a Scooby snack, a +K, for your continuous efforts here to keep us updated on WIAC hoops. Keep up the good work - the karma always seems to return to you and your Mini every so often in the form of TheBelt! 

Thanks Bulk, I do feel like I'm talking to myself sometimes.  With John feeling it's more important to spend time with school, work and the family (how dare he!) and frodo halfway out of Wisconsin, the regular posters are dwindling. I guess people grow up and move on... (I'm resisting). I'll continue to fight the good fight and carry the flag! Onward, ho!

[John Gleich]

Greek Tragedy -
Here's a Scooby snack, a +K, for your continuous efforts here to keep us updated on WIAC hoops. Keep up the good work - the karma always seems to return to you and your Mini every so often in the form of TheBelt! 

Thanks Bulk, I do feel like I'm talking to myself sometimes.  With John feeling it's more important to spend time with school, work and the family (how dare he!) and frodo halfway out of Wisconsin, the regular posters are dwindling. I guess people grow up and move on... (I'm resisting). I'll continue to fight the good fight and carry the flag! Onward, ho!

School's been done for 2.5 years... but I've added two more children and I'm coaching a middle school team... I still follow, but I don't have as much to say. It's hard when I only see 'em play in person once a year (or less...)!

I've actually seen Whitewater play more than Point the last few years because WW is several hours closer.

[AppletonRocks]

I watched most of the Oshkosh game last night.  I was impressed with the guard play of the Titans but the post play left a lot to be desired.  Is Nick Olson not 100 percent or have others passed him??  He was solid last year and barely played in this game.

I was very impressed with freshman Ben Boots.  He's going to be a player.  This conference is going to have some ridiculous guard play moving forward when you include Bublitz at Point and Brown at Whitewater.

Street clothes, I assume injured.

They must have loosened the uniform restrictions at the NCAA level this year then as according to the box score Nick Olson played one minute at SNC... 

I saw him go into the game....he wasn't in street clothes for the first half at least.

You are correct, that was alum and volunteer asst Hofensberger.  Sorry.   

[Greek Tragedy]

Point survives St. Olaf's rally 68-65

Freshman guard Ethan Bublitz leads Point with 20 points. McGann goes for 19 and 10 boards, while Pelkofer adds 17 points and dishes out 7 assists.

Game story and boxscore

[Hoops_n_Golf]

Point survives St. Olaf's rally 68-65

Freshman guard Ethan Bublitz leads Point with 20 points. McGann goes for 19 and 10 boards, while Pelkofer adds 17 points and dishes out 7 assists.

Game story and boxscore

THIS is why Semling is one of the best... They seem to win (or at the very least, be very competitive) in these early non-conference games that are testers, and that gives them momentum going into the conference season.

Olaf is a very, very solid team (see 2014-2015). With Hope, Augustana, St. Norbert and North Central on the immediate schedule they are preparing well for the rigor of the WIAC. While we wring our hands at the idea that they might be slipping a bit, they wind up winning these games. Freeborn, Bublitz and Retzlaff get some experience and confidence against a good team. But they don't drop this one & they aren't blown out. Rather they wind up beating this team and likely gain some momentum headed forward.

Finally - Semling recruits and develops guys that shoot. Holy Jezebel can they shoot. They opened a 41-28 lead in the first half on 64% from the field and almost 50% beyond the arc. It is almost impossible to lose a game you start like that.

So look for an ammended WIAC prediction from me. Or don't. I'll still post it.

[Hoops_n_Golf]

As promised... Here are my revised picks. And I reserve the right to ammend them yet again.

OLD             --->  NEW
1) WW                  1) SP - Much better than I anticipated
2) SP                    2) WW - Lots of talent (again!)
3) Osh                  3) Osh - Still like 'em
4) River                4) P-Ville - lost a tough one to Dubuque
5) P-Ville               5) River - Struggle without Erickson, depth?
6) EC                    6) LaX - Just a shot in the dark here
7) LaX                   7) Eau Claire - See #6 (Look out Coach - AD wants wins!)
8) Stouuuuut         8) Stout - They will win a game or two - still cellar dwellars

[tomt4525]

Big win for the Pointers last night, should help as far as the postseason rankings go, especially if Olaf makes some noise during their regular season.

To me, it was a tale of two halves.  The first half Point was extremely impressive on offense.  They were moving and cutting and always getting good looks at the hoop.  That translated to shooting a very high percentage and a big lead at the half.  It was completely the opposite in the 2nd half.  They were stagnant on offense and mostly trying to play 1 on 1.  That won't work often against a team much larger than you are.  They weren't working to get open in the 2nd half and that showed as they took contested shots almost every possession.  I will give them credit though, even in the 2nd half, when they needed to hit a shot...they did.

I expected the Point bigs to struggle some against a huge Olaf team.  I was correct in that regard.  I thought Freeborn did a great job defensively when he was in the game but got into foul trouble.  Gjertson and Geodeke were a different story to me.  They were not smart at all defensively.  Geodeke took some really dumb fouls.  Gjertson had trouble staying in front of quicker bigs and I expect that to be a problem all season.  He isn't bringing much to the table for this Pointer team in my eyes.  Geodeke has some potential with his athleticism and quickness, but he needs to develop a higher basketball I.Q to be a regular contributor for this team.

Guard play for the most part was fantastic and what you come to expect from Point teams.  McGann took his team on his back in the first half and just kept hitting shots.  That charge he was called for right before halftime was awful by the way.  Guy still back tracking and not stationary and gets the call...please...The Olaf defense really keyed on him in the second half.  Pelkofer hit some huge shots to keep a lead.  Bublitz is awfully good and glad he has 4 years left.  He hit some huge shots himself.  If this team can get some offensive contributions from other players, they will be scary good.  It's already scary that they played a terrible half of basketball and still beat a top 15 team.  Very tough stretch coming up, I'm glad Point challenges themselves early and gets them ready for the conference season and beyond.  Shows their weaknesses early and gives them an opportunity to correct them.

[Greek Tragedy]

4 things to watch for as the early season progresses.

Someone besides McGann and Pelkofer has to score. In the 1st two games, Bublitz has shown he can score, tallying 10 and 20 points.

I'm guessing we're still a jump-shooting team. Against Superior, we were 8/13 from the line. Superior was 13/20. Against St. Olaf,  we were just 7/10 while St. Olaf was 20/28. That's significant. If our shots don't fall and we aren't getting to the line, we won't score.

Our bigs have to help. Against Superior, Gjertson played 16 minutes and had 5 fouls. Freeborn played 15 and had 3 fouls. Against St. Olaf, Freeborn had 4 fouls in 14 minutes and Goedeke fouled out in 11 minutes. None really produced in the boxscore. I understand you can still be effective and make a difference without showing up in the boxscore, but committing that many fouls in so few minutes at least shows me they aren't playing stellar defense.

Lastly, probably the least of my concerns now, is rebounding. We've never been a great rebounding team and we've only been outrebounded by 2 and 3 in the 1st two games. But something to keep an eye on.

[badgerwarhawk]

I'm guessing we're still a jump-shooting team. Against Superior, we were 8/13 from the line. Superior was 13/20. Against St. Olaf,  we were just 7/10 while St. Olaf was 20/28. That's significant.If our shots don't fall and we aren't getting to the line, we won't score.

You're pretty sure about this are you? 

[tomt4525]

4 things to watch for as the early season progresses.

Someone besides McGann and Pelkofer has to score. In the 1st two games, Bublitz has shown he can score, tallying 10 and 20 points.

I'm guessing we're still a jump-shooting team. Against Superior, we were 8/13 from the line. Superior was 13/20. Against St. Olaf,  we were just 7/10 while St. Olaf was 20/28. That's significant. If our shots don't fall and we aren't getting to the line, we won't score.

Our bigs have to help. Against Superior, Gjertson played 16 minutes and had 5 fouls. Freeborn played 15 and had 3 fouls. Against St. Olaf, Freeborn had 4 fouls in 14 minutes and Goedeke fouled out in 11 minutes. None really produced in the boxscore. I understand you can still be effective and make a difference without showing up in the boxscore, but committing that many fouls in so few minutes at least shows me they aren't playing stellar defense.

Lastly, probably the least of my concerns now, is rebounding. We've never been a great rebounding team and we've only been outrebounded by 2 and 3 in the 1st two games. But something to keep an eye on.

Those are some good point GT.  Thoughts that have also gone through my head.  After watching the first 2 games free throw shooting is something that could hurt them down the road.  I would have to agree that Point should be designated a jump shooting team but I like their ability to slash to the hoop quite a bit.  McGann, Pelkofer and Bublitz have shown a consistent ability to get to the rack.  If that continues, hopefully that translates to more trips to the free throw line.

The foul situation has been something to keep an eye on after two games as well.  It almost came back to bite them against St Olaf since most of their size was in foul trouble and St Olaf is a big team.  I've said in my previous post that Geodeke took some dumb fouls.  He fouled Figini on a shot as he was closing out and he also shoved Figini on another occasion going after a loose ball.  He has to play smarter.  He atleast seemed to be in good position defensively.  Gjertson on the other hand, was a step too slow to be on the court.  On two occasions that I can remember he failed to stay in front of his man and somebody had to bail him out by fouling his guy at the rim so it wasn't an easy basket.  If he doesn't improve his quickness I'd rather see Geodeke and Freeborn in the starting lineup with Tauber getting spot minutes.  I liked what I saw out of Tauber defensively in the scrimmage I saw and the Purple/Gold game.

[Greek Tragedy]

Big weekend with every team playing twice except Stevens Point.

Going into the weekend, the WIAC is 5-7.

Eau Claire 0-1
vs Luther
vs Rockford/Cornell

Stout 0-1
vs Monmouth
vs Wartburg /Emmanuel Bible

Oshkosh 0-1
vs Coe
vs WLC

Platteville 1-1
vs Finlandia
vs Davenport (MI)

Whitewater 1-0
Davenport  (MI)
vs Finlandia

River Falls 0-2
@ Superior
vs Minnesota - Crookston/Valley City St. (@Superior)

La Crosse 1-1
vs Hope
@ Bethel

Stevens Point  2-0
vs Hope

[Greek Tragedy]

La Crosse and Point will have their hands full this weekend vs Hope. They bring in a pretty big team.

6'8" Brock Benson - 12.9 pts/6.9 reb
6'6" Harrison  Blockledge - 12.7/5.3
6'7" Cody Stuive -
6'6" Kieth Brushwyler -

Both guards are seniors and averaged double digit points last year as well.