MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

Does anyone really care what Terry Gibbons has to say?  I mean really care?  I don't have a clue what his problem is but Siverling isn't the one who cost him his job.  It wasn't like Gibbons was another Bo Ryan, Ken Anderson or even Augie Vandermuelen . 

[Hoops_n_Golf]

Does anyone really care what Terry Gibbons has to say?  I mean really care?  I don't have a clue what his problem is but Siverling isn't the one who cost him his job.  It wasn't like Gibbons was another Bo Ryan, Ken Anderson or even Augie Vandermuelen .

GREAT POINT. I pledge to move on.

[Greek Tragedy]

Who would have thought Point winning at River Falls and Whitewater winning at Oshkosh was be considered upsets.

I love my Pointers, but I'm glad there's some mystery so far this year. Can Oshkosh and River Falls, and even La Crosse, sustain their early WIAC season success?

[John Gleich]

Reposting from the WIAC pick-em board (where the discussion got very deep... not that common over there!)

I can't remember ever being this clueless about the league programs.  It suggests that this is the year of parity in the WIAC.  Right now I'm thinking that there are at least four teams (RF, WW, SP and Osh) all of whom have a legitimate shot at the conference crown.  But I don't see any of us making much of a run in the post season.

But, then again, I just said how clueless I am.

The WIAC seems to be a 6'6" and under league these days....  The guys that are bigger and already "polished" (not projects) are going the D1/D2 route.  I would be willing to bet if guys like Melzer, Dworak, and  Brant Bailey (just to name a few) were in high school today, they would end up playing at the scholarship level with as many showcase events/AAU teams that are now around.

And yet, WIAC teams have won for of the last six national titles.

Maybe it's just a drought. Maybe it is parity. Goodness knows it's been a purple party for quite some time, which doesn't bother my a bit. But perhaps a dose of parity like we saw in 2000 was just what the league needed. We lost our Super friends to the North. And Wisconsin talent has been snagged by scholarship programs more and more.

But the WIAC has been the beneficiaries of some prodigal sons who have come home. And teams that have kept senior classes together have been able to do some amazing things.

Maybe we just need to wait to see what happens this year... And see what the future brings!

For as exciting as the 00-01 season was (from what I've been told), there is a major difference.

http://wiacsports.com/custompages/mbasket/Results/200001MenBasketballStandingResult.htm

The WIAC went 62-10 in the non-conference (86% - taking away EC's 1-1 tournament record). This year, the WIAC won 59.8% of their non-conference games.

Parity there may be, indeed, but this is because Point and Whitewater have fallen back to the pack, not because the league has risen the level of play up to SP/WW's level from recent years.


Thoughts?

[Hoops Junkie]

couple of things..

I hate that teams try and charge for the online broadcast just dont like it. 

I listened to some of the Point and River Falls game and it sounded as if Point had several chances and just couldnt convert and everytime RF needed something to happen one of their veteran guys made it happen.  Bublitz got hurt late hope his is okay.

The thing that jumped out at me in the Oshkosh whitewater game was ben boots throwing up a donut.  That hurts in a big game

Platteville controlled the game for basically the whole thing

LaCrosse was very lucky to escape Stout with a win.  Stege witha few huge plays late

[AppletonRocks]

Agree on the Boots comment. Titans needed to convert just 1 or 2 times around 5:00 and this is in the barn. Did not do it.

Wow, Pat Miller's court side  behavior is abhorent.  Looks like a jack***.  Wins don't justify that. 

[fredfalcon]

RF 56-48 over SP. Point led once by two in second half, but RF maintained a lead otherwise, played hard and well defensively. I think the biggest lead was 9 points. Point was the weakest offensively I've seen them in years. They played hard and controlled the ball well (5 t.o.'s) but had no outstanding player offensively. Witt, off the bench, had 14 to lead scoring for RF. Nobody else in double figures for the Falcons.

Bublitz had 10 for Point.

Refereeing was outstanding, with the WIAC's best official, Pat Bauschelt, plus George Drouches and Steve Schneider. No complaints from either bench. I wanted to buy them a beer, but they did not show up. It's a good thing, because I'd still be at the bar, BUYING AS USUAL.

The WW box showed WW making more free throws than Oshkosh shot, by far. That's a stat that wins a high percentage of the time, something like 87%, according to Rick Bowen's new book out on basketball analytics.

[fredfalcon]

Boots is a freshman--probably the best in the league. It looks like he had his worst game of the year. He was outstanding against RF.

[fredfalcon]

Forgot to mention Pearson's 13, and 42-28 rebounding advantage for RF.

[chmarx]

Wow, Pat Miller's court side  behavior is abhorent.  Looks like a jack***.  Wins don't justify that. 

I noticed that during their game in La Crosse too.

[Hoops_n_Golf]

I hate that teams try and charge for the online broadcast just dont like it. 

My two cents: it is going to hurt attendance in the long run. Why? People aren't substituting the stream for going to the game. They're substituting the stream for American Idol. The less they watch the less people care. The less they care - the less likely they'll come the next time.

Busch league.

[tomt4525]

RF 56-48 over SP. Point led once by two in second half, but RF maintained a lead otherwise, played hard and well defensively. I think the biggest lead was 9 points. Point was the weakest offensively I've seen them in years. They played hard and controlled the ball well (5 t.o.'s) but had no outstanding player offensively. Witt, off the bench, had 14 to lead scoring for RF. Nobody else in double figures for the Falcons.

Bublitz had 10 for Point.

Refereeing was outstanding, with the WIAC's best official, Pat Bauschelt, plus George Drouches and Steve Schneider. No complaints from either bench. I wanted to buy them a beer, but they did not show up. It's a good thing, because I'd still be at the bar, BUYING AS USUAL.

The WW box showed WW making more free throws than Oshkosh shot, by far. That's a stat that wins a high percentage of the time, something like 87%, according to Rick Bowen's new book out on basketball analytics.

Couldn't agree more, in fact...it's the worst Point offensive team I've ever seen, which admittedly I've only been following since about 2003.  Still, has been disappointing to watch to say the least.  I watched the game last night with some friends and we all made a comment about how we didn't need to pay attention to the first 15 seconds of every Point possession because nothing happens.  They literally pass the ball around the perimeter until atleast 15 is on the shot clock..then they scramble for a shot.  You better have a team full of guys who can easily create their own shot if this is how you're going to run your offense.  I struggle to find anybody on Point's roster right now that can regularly create good looks for themselves.  Not only that, but it seems to me and many people I've talked with, that Semling has everybody not named Bublitz, Pelkofer or McGann scared to take any shot whether it's an open layup or an open jumper.  You can't run an offense with atleast 2 guys on the court at all times that you don't need to guard past 8 feet, it doesn't open anything up for anyone else.  These guys are all capable of scoring when they get good looks, they should be taken those open looks whether there is 20 seconds on the shot clock or 3.  When you hold a team in the 50s, you should win.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS: 66
Oshkosh: 60

The WARHAWKS took an early lead on baskets by Jerry Ngobi and Cole VanSchyndel but back to back three pointers put the Titan on top after three minutes.  The WARHAWKS would regain the lead but once again back to back three pointers restored the Titan lead 17-14.  At that point the WARHAWKS went cold and failed to score for the next six minutes allowing the Titans a 10-0 run to build a double digit lead 30-18 with just under five minutes remaining in the half.  In the final five minutes the deficit would be reduced to three points but the Titans finished the half with a 8-1 run and held a 38-28 lead when it ended.  The Titans outshot the WARHAWKS 54% to 46%, sank 9 of 15 three point shots.  Trinson White's 8 points led the WARHAWKS while VanSchyndel added 7 points and Andre Brown 5.  Sean Dwyers 4-4 from beyond the arc led the Titans while Charlie Noone contributed sinking 3 of 4 three point attempts.  The Titan lead remained in the 7 to 11 point range for the first half of the second stanza when Haki Stampley hit a three pointer cutting it to six 52-46.  Over the next five minutes the WARHAWKS gradually cut into the lead reducing it to a single point on White's two free throws.  The Titans would respond with a basket but Stampley hit another three pointer tying it 58-58 with a little over three mintues remaining and another pair of free throws by White secured the lead, 60-58, with 1:45 to play and another three pointer from Stampley created breathing room with less than 30 seconds.  The WARHAWKS finished the game shooting 50% from the floor and hitting 16 of 21 free throws.  The Titans finished 44% from the field and missed all 9 three point attempts in the second half. 

WARHAWKS
White: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Stampley: 14 points
VanSchyndel: 13 points, 7 rebounds
Brown: 9 points, 2 assists

Oshkosh:
Noone: 17 points, 5 rebounds
Dwyer: 12 points
Alex Olson: 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals
Max Schbel: 9 points, 3 rebounds

Nice win in a gym that isn't particularly friendly to visitors, at least us anyway.   Can anyone who may have been at the game tell me if Drew Bryson was defending Boots?   

[Greek Tragedy]

Tough year for the Dawgs, but when I get depressed, I look at the picture of my son and I holding Point's 4th Championship plaque and all the bad feelings go away!     

Seriously though, I didn't think Point would be 1-4. As a WIAC fan, I'm happy that someone besides Point and Whitewater are making waves in the WIAC. I just hope they continue to succeed and win a few NCAA tourney games. A long way to go!

[fredfalcon]

Thanks for your broader view, GT.