MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Point has looked awesome down in Illinois against North Central thus far...down 26-18 at half...offensive onslaught

Thus far, this team has been extremely underwhelming on the offensive end.

I was being sarcastic.  This team does nothing well right now.  It's hard to watch them attempt to play offense.  It's something when you can get open looks and just not hit shots, this team doesn't even get open looks.

tom,

Is it at all possible that UWSP's lowly 27.6 shooting percentage was due, even slightly, to North Central either closing off the passing lanes, playing tight switching defense, or both? Or was the Pointers poor performance tonight merely due to their inability to shoot the ball very well?

NCC just might be pretty good. They are only 3-3, but lost to a good Chicago team (6-2), Aurora, who is favored to win the NACC and just suffered their first loss and a head scratcher at Alma by one, this after destroying Platteville, at Platteville, by 30.

Point is young. There's going to be growing pains, especially earlier in the season vs very good teams. There's ups (good, but not great, programs in St. Olaf and St. Norb's) and downs, losing to Hope (#5?), Augie (#1) and a good NCC team.

[AndOne]

NCC is a very similar team Greek. They start a returning senior and returning soph, along with a freshman, a soph transfer, and a junior transfer. They are still getting acquainted with each other.
They beat #7 Mt. Union in the first game of the year, lost to #17 Chicago, lost to NACC favorite Aurora, pounded Platteville, lost to a good Alma team by one, and beat #9 UWSP by 14.
Instead of wearing jerseys that say North Central, they could say Inconsistent College.

[frodotwo]

Point has looked awesome down in Illinois against North Central thus far...down 26-18 at half...offensive onslaught

Thus far, this team has been extremely underwhelming on the offensive end.

I was being sarcastic.  This team does nothing well right now.  It's hard to watch them attempt to play offense.  It's something when you can get open looks and just not hit shots, this team doesn't even get open looks.

tom,

Is it at all possible that UWSP's lowly 27.6 shooting percentage was due, even slightly, to North Central either closing off the passing lanes, playing tight switching defense, or both? Or was the Pointers poor performance tonight merely due to their inability to shoot the ball very well?

NCC just might be pretty good. They are only 3-3, but lost to a good Chicago team (6-2), Aurora, who is favored to win the NACC and just suffered their first loss and a head scratcher at Alma by one, this after destroying Platteville, at Platteville, by 30.

Point is young. There's going to be growing pains, especially earlier in the season vs very good teams. There's ups (good, but not great, programs in St. Olaf and St. Norb's) and downs, losing to Hope (#5?), Augie (#1) and a good NCC team.

Playing only 6 players last year resulted in a national title, but didn't prepare those players left in their transition from the bench to the floor. The biggest lack right now is on the defensive end and on the boards. Point has consistent breakdowns on the defensive end that are resulting in open looks and easy baskets. They are minus 40 rebounds in their last four games! They were outrebounded, but shot well against St Norbert (50%), but in their 3 losses they've shot only 36%. Point has turned into a jump shooting team and are not penetrating and dishing off for open looks. They have been unable to get their inside game working in their three losses because their outside shooting has been abysmal and teams are able to pack the lane to prevent penetration. I can't remember a Point team that has shot this poorly to start a season, nor one that rebounded as poorly or defended as poorly. The season is young so there is hope for improvement, but it has to start on the defensive end and the boards.

[tomt4525]

Point has looked awesome down in Illinois against North Central thus far...down 26-18 at half...offensive onslaught

Thus far, this team has been extremely underwhelming on the offensive end.

I was being sarcastic.  This team does nothing well right now.  It's hard to watch them attempt to play offense.  It's something when you can get open looks and just not hit shots, this team doesn't even get open looks.

tom,

Is it at all possible that UWSP's lowly 27.6 shooting percentage was due, even slightly, to North Central either closing off the passing lanes, playing tight switching defense, or both? Or was the Pointers poor performance tonight merely due to their inability to shoot the ball very well?

Yes, NCC's defensive effort definitely contributed to Point's terrible offensive outing.  I don't want to take anything away from NCC's performance.  They are better than their record indicates.  With that said, Point didn't help themselves at all.  Their offense was abysmal.  Their screening was terrible and their cuts on offense were lazy.  Since nobody was getting open with screens or cuts they were forced to take tough shots over and over.  Like Frodotwo said, this team needs to start hitting some shots to open up some driving lanes or this offensive output is going to start looking like the norm.  Their effort wasn't there last night, plain and simple.  Effort shouldn't ever be a problem. 

[Hoops_n_Golf]

I think I might have jinxed the Pointers... Didn't realize the amount of mojo my written typed words carry! However I stand by my earlier parity sentiment. What a debacle this conference is shaping up to be. Here are my long anticipated revised predictions for the conference...

_{As an aside, head over to the WIAC website and look at the standings. This has to be the first time in recent memory that I've seen Point this far down this far into the season!}

1. Whitewater: Their two losses are to two really good teams. Auggie of course but they were blown out. That blowout and the squeaker over Ripon have me thinking they could drop 3 WIAC games. But I think it might just be enough. Call them Inconsistent U right now.

2. Oshkosh: Losses to two good (albeit not great) teams in Norbs and Coe. Wins over - well nobody impressive right now. We'll know just how good they are when they go Adrian, Trine, Auggie, Carrol in a 4 game stretch.

2. Point: I know I have two teams at 2, leave me alone! They've got wins over good (albeit not great) teams in Norbs and St. Olaf. Like opponents should put them in front of Oshy, right? Well the fact they've been blown out by two very good teams in Auggie and North Central have me wondering how they'll beat the top WIAC teams.

4. River: They also beat St. Olaf, but lost to a very good Bethel team and a surprising Carleton team that knocked off St. Thomas 4 days later. They haven't really beaten any good teams yet so they remain to be seen.

5. Platteville: The loss to Dubuque is puzzling because their other two losses are against very good competition. Their wins are against teams combined to go 12-23. We'll see how they handle Hope this weekend.

6. Eau Claire: A nice win over Concordia, and losses to St. Thomas and Carrol balance each other out. They've beaten the teams they should and lost to the ones they shouldn't. That's a mark of a 6th place team to me. Only two more tune-ups before the Pointers.

6. Tie LaCrosse: I know, I did it again! The thing about LaCrosse is how tough they've scheduled the non-con. Their losses come to teams combined 26-4. They weren't complete blowouts either. There was a complete blowout in there, too! They should be able to sneak up on teams and get a few wins.

7. Stout: I was pleased to see they beat Dubuque which was a big win for them. Dubuque already beat Platteville which makes me think this bunch could win 2 maybe 3 WIAC games. They lossed to an ok Monmouth team and a Superior team that played Point and River close.


So, as I was typing this, I realized how crazy this season could be. So here was another exercise I did. I decided to give each team a range of where I think they could finish. It was interesting to say the least.

WW - 1st-3rd
SP   - 1st-3rd
Osh - 1st-4th
RF   - 1st-5th
PL   - 2nd-6th
EC   - 4th-7th
LC   - 4th-8th
ST   - 6th-8th

I know I didn't exactly go out on a limb. Deal with it!

[AndOne]

UWSP & WIAC fans:

Wondering about something that you guys would know about. Interested in your opinions.
After watching UWSP last night, I have the impression that it is a team that could hold a 10-15 point lead, but not one that is going to have much success coming back from that much of a deficit.
What do those of you that follow the team and conference think?

[frodotwo]

UWSP & WIAC fans:

Wondering about something that you guys would know about. Interested in your opinions.
After watching UWSP last night, I have the impression that it is a team that could hold a 10-15 point lead, but not one that is going to have much success coming back from that much of a deficit.
What do those of you that follow the team and conference think?

They trailed by 10 against St Norbert just before the half and by 9 at the intermission. They shot 61% in the second half while limiting the Green Knights to 37%. Hope was up 10 in the first half, and Point whittled it down to 4 just before intermission before a long 3 right before the buzzer took away their momentum.

They haven't shown yet that they have anyone who can penetrate the lane and either score or dish for a better shot. That's something they could do almost at will last year. If they can't open up the lane by hitting outside shots, those shots better fall or trouble ensues. Their two best outside shooters (Pelkofer/Bublitz) started the season shooting 50% (55% on 3's), in the last four games they are at 33% and only 17% (5-29) beyond the arc.  They've had trouble getting the ball in a good position to their bigs due to good defensive efforts by the opposition in their losses. That will continue until they start to hit shots. Defensive lapses and poor rebounding aren't helping.  They need to play better defense in order to get their offense going, it's been a staple at Point for over 30 years. They will have problems in the WIAC with teams that can defend the lane unless their outside shot falls. IMO they are not a top 25 team at this point in the season.

[Gregory Sager]

6. Tie LaCrosse: I know, I did it again! The thing about LaCrosse is how tough they've scheduled the non-con. Their losses come to teams combined 26-4. They weren't complete blowouts either.

UWL's 88-60 loss to Augustana definitely fell into the category of "complete blowout". I watched it, and I can state for a fact that Augie could've won that game by whatever final margin it wished.

[Hoops_n_Golf]

6. Tie LaCrosse: I know, I did it again! The thing about LaCrosse is how tough they've scheduled the non-con. Their losses come to teams combined 26-4. They weren't complete blowouts either.

UWL's 88-60 loss to Augustana definitely fell into the category of "complete blowout". I watched it, and I can state for a fact that Augie could've won that game by whatever final margin it wished.

Yeah my bad. I actually read it as 80-68. (-1) for me.

[The Dino Man]

10 point loss for the Pioneers at Hope. Kid named Woodrow had 21 points off the bench, freshman from Indiana playing in his first game of the season. Cool rematch of the 1998 (or 1999) National Championship Game. Different outcome...different world.

[gbpuckfan]

UWEC doesn't have much for SNC today. Fell behind by 41 before closing it a bit in garbage time. SNC wins 89-60.

And for a team that's the "Blugolds" there is no gold in the away jersey. It's blue and white. Seemed odd to me

[sac]

10 point loss for the Pioneers at Hope. Kid named Woodrow had 21 points off the bench, freshman from Indiana playing in his first game of the season. Cool rematch of the 1998 (or 1999) National Championship Game. Different outcome...different world.

Ethan Woodrow is a stud.  6-6, 235 lbs and I think that's light and he showed he can shoot mid-range and long range in the game today.  Had a couple D2 offers with interest from some pretty good small college programs.  http://www.prephoopsindiana.com/prospects-2015-ethan-woodrow


Platteville will get better and they're already pretty good I think, their youth will catch them a few times like it did a little today.  They do make youthful mistakes, but they certainly look to have a promising future.


PS it was the 1998 championship game. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Friendly reminder...Platteville just got beat by 30 at home to North Central.

[sac]

Friendly reminder...Platteville just got beat by 30 at home to North Central.

Not with Woodrow

[AppletonRocks]

10 point loss for the Pioneers at Hope. Kid named Woodrow had 21 points off the bench, freshman from Indiana playing in his first game of the season. Cool rematch of the 1998 (or 1999) National Championship Game. Different outcome...different world.

Bill Clinton was in the White House....whodathunk we would have yearned for those days again.