MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tomt4525]

Can Bublitz replace Pelkofer scoring 

I don't think anyone needs to replace anyone's scoring.  Next year's squad will be much more team oriented as you wouldn't expect anybody to be superstar All Americans.  The shots should be much more spread around which will hopefully lead to a higher team shooting percentage. 

Some thoughts, Pelkofer and McGann combined to shoot about 25 shots a game.  That is almost 50 percent of the total shots.  That is too much to rely on 2 guys.  Their percentage was not great either.  For Pelkofer at least, when he was a complimentary player 2 years ago, he shot 51 percent on the season, 45 percent from 3.  As one of the go to guy's, along with McGann, he shot 43 percent on the season, 35 from 3.  McGann was worse but got to the foul line a ton.  It is hard to stack up to the 2 years previous in terms of shooting percentage when they were around 50 percent as a team, but again as a comparison...this year's squad shot 41 percent as a team.

I tried to rationalize the coaching staff's rotation this season but couldn't ever figure it out, so take this with a grain of salt as I'm probably way off.

If I was the coach...my starting five consists of:

G  Ethan Bublitz
G  Mark Nelson
G  Luke Zuiker
F  Brad Freeborn
C  Zack Geodeke

I think this gives you the best mix of offensive firepower with solid team defense.  I think you can stretch the floor with 4 guys who can shoot the 3, which will also open up driving lanes.  You also have a guy who should be a solid scorer inside as he showed glimpses last season. 

Barring a freshman or transfer breaking through the lineup...I'd bring Fredrickson and his shooting along with Tauber's solid post defense off the bench when needed.  That's what I would do, but I'm not a National Championship coach.

[John Gleich]

Great points all, Tom. I hadn't looked at the roster in a what-if situation... But I totally agree on the approach. There needs to be (and by all accounts should be) better balance next year.

[AppletonRocks]

I agree as well.  Pelkofer was awesome in the Oshkosh game I saw him in at Point--no one else mattered that day, Oshkosh would have won by 30 had he not been piping hot. 

The one thing I would do if I was their coach is change the pace occasionally and take a shot before 5 seconds is left on the shot clock.  It's easier for opponents to lock down extra for 10 seconds at the end of the possession when you know they probably aren't going to the hoop or pitching up a good 3 early in the possession unless there is a breakdown. 

They play good D as always and work super hard on close-outs--more bodies and diversification on offense should make them more formidable. 

They have a big in Goedeke which a lot of WIAC teams don't (really)have.   

[tomt4525]

http://www.wiacsports.com/news/2016/3/2/MBB_0302162007.aspx

All Conference Team announced...

[fredfalcon]

I'll take Jon Christensen as POY. His stats are slightly better, overall, than Staege's. The only difference between them is that Lax finished first. But, congrats to all who made any of the teams!

[tomt4525]

I'll take Jon Christensen as POY. His stats are slightly better, overall, than Staege's. The only difference between them is that Lax finished first. But, congrats to all who made any of the teams!

I could very well be in the minority, but if I had a vote...it would always go to the best player on the team that takes 1st.  If a couple teams tie like last year with Point and WW, then I'd go to the stats between the best players on those teams.  Most valuable to me means who was most responsible for getting hardware(conference title).

There could always be that argument with a guy that puts up astronomical numbers but isn't on the best team.  I think the CCIW ran into that a little this year with Juwan Henry.

[badgerwarhawk]

Christensen would have been a good pick too.  Unless things have changed the POY is selected from the three players who had the most votes in a separate vote.  I'd have to think that it's possible Christensen was in the discussion. 

In comparing my selections to the actual players selected 8 of 10 on the first team matched and the other two were both selected honorable mention (Keefe & Martinek).   Of the honorable mention players 6 of 9 picked were named honorable mention, 2 of 9 were named to the first team (Pearson & Diekelmann).  Evidently I totally missed on Jared Schneidermann (my pick) and Grant Erickson (named).  Actually I thought about Erickson and decided not to name him because he hadn't played a full season.   If it weren't for that I likely would have listed him with the HM group.   

I barely had a clue when it came to figuring out which team would beat the other but at least I had a reasonable idea of who the better players were.   

[Gregory Sager]

I'll take Jon Christensen as POY. His stats are slightly better, overall, than Staege's. The only difference between them is that Lax finished first. But, congrats to all who made any of the teams!

I could very well be in the minority, but if I had a vote...it would always go to the best player on the team that takes 1st.  If a couple teams tie like last year with Point and WW, then I'd go to the stats between the best players on those teams.  Most valuable to me means who was most responsible for getting hardware(conference title).

There could always be that argument with a guy that puts up astronomical numbers but isn't on the best team.  I think the CCIW ran into that a little this year with Juwan Henry.

I maintain that different award names connote different accomplishments. The CCIW has a Most Outstanding Player award. I aver that a Most Valuable Player award should be exactly what you say it is -- the best player on the best team, because "value" in basketball is ultimately a function of wins and losses. But a Most Outstanding Player award should go to the best player, period, regardless of where his team finishes, because it's exactly that: the most outstanding player in the league, measured solely by individual accomplishment.

(Unfortunately, the CCIW head coaches very rarely see it that way. They usually treat the MOP award as an MVP award, which is what they did yet again this season in giving the award to Augustana's Hunter Hill rather than NPU's Juwan Henry.)

Player of the Year? That's a different kettle of fish entirely. The term is totally ambiguous, so I guess you could either approach it from an MOP point of view or an MVP point of view.

[badgerwarhawk]

We try to stay flexible Greg. 

[Gregory Sager]

Flexibility is the new black.

[fredfalcon]

BW--True, Erickson did not have a full season, but did play in every WIAC game. It took him a while to get into playing shape, so he played a few games at less than full capability.

[AppletonRocks]

Christensen would have been a good pick too.  Unless things have changed the POY is selected from the three players who had the most votes in a separate vote.  I'd have to think that it's possible Christensen was in the discussion. 

In comparing my selections to the actual players selected 8 of 10 on the first team matched and the other two were both selected honorable mention (Keefe & Martinek).   Of the honorable mention players 6 of 9 picked were named honorable mention, 2 of 9 were named to the first team (Pearson & Diekelmann).  Evidently I totally missed on Jared Schneidermann (my pick) and Grant Erickson (named).  Actually I thought about Erickson and decided not to name him because he hadn't played a full season.   If it weren't for that I likely would have listed him with the HM group.   

I barely had a clue when it came to figuring out which team would beat the other but at least I had a reasonable idea of who the better players were.   

Was Trinson White both All Horizon league and then All WIAC 

[ShineTime]

Point better not be relying on their bench guys this year to compete for wiac title next year.  They need to get a junior college transfer or someone that has experience already and can start.  Bublitz can really play and will be solid four year player but I personally don't see anyone else returning that is more than average payer.  I believe bublitz and goedeke are only two that will be starting.

[tomt4525]

Point better not be relying on their bench guys this year to compete for wiac title next year.  They need to get a junior college transfer or someone that has experience already and can start.  Bublitz can really play and will be solid four year player but I personally don't see anyone else returning that is more than average payer.  I believe bublitz and goedeke are only two that will be starting.

Again, you have shown you have no clue about Point athletics.  Their MO has always been to develop players in their system.  It has obviously worked.  They have plenty of talent on the roster.  I'd be willing to bet next season surpasses this season's win total, I really don't even think it will be that close.

[cubs]

Point better not be relying on their bench guys this year to compete for wiac title next year.  They need to get a junior college transfer or someone that has experience already and can start.  Bublitz can really play and will be solid four year player but I personally don't see anyone else returning that is more than average payer.  I believe bublitz and goedeke are only two that will be starting.

Again, you have shown you have no clue about Point athletics.  Their MO has always been to develop players in their system.  It has obviously worked.  They have plenty of talent on the roster.  I'd be willing to bet next season surpasses this season's win total, I really don't even think it will be that close.

Shouldn't be too hard!!!    (just kidding!!!)