MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tomt4525]

Jamison Kryshak from spash will be playing for pointers next year I bet could turn out to be solid player I heard Ted kearney is going to lacrosse he's perhaps one of best defenders in state.

I saw Kryshak a few times, he certainly can shoot the rock.  With that said, I don't see him as a good fit for the Pointers or the WIAC Conference.  He played with possibly the best high school team that Wisconsin has ever seen, atleast in recent years, and benefitted from teams having to focus on the Hauser brothers and Trevor Anderson.  Not once did I see him have to create a shot for himself.  That's what I see will be his problem, being able to get his shot off.  He's not overly athletic either, I could see him having problems staying in front of quick guards in this league.

[badgerwarhawk]

New thread opened up in the multi-regional board on gyms in respective conferences. Anyone think their gym is the best or what stands out about their gym?

I've been to every gym (though it's been awhile)...does River Falls play in their new one yet?

I think Stout's gym is unique because it has an actual press box at the top of their stands. I always liked that. Other than that, I'm not real sure any one gym stands out. Thoughts?

Aside from the tradition there's nothing very special about our gym. I think it's nicer since the remodeling but it's just a gym built in the 60's.  Overall we have a really nice facility in Williams Center particularly since the field house was added but I don't know that the gym itself "stands out" compared to any other in the conference let alone someplace like Hope.   

While this year was clearly a matter of necessity and I suspect next year will probably have to be as well I don't know that historically we have utilized transfers to any greater extend than other programs.  Maybe I'm missing something but I was a little surprised to see it referred to as the "UW-W philosophy."

I certainly don't want to start a pissing match by any means...but it seems to me that Whitewater uses transfers much more often than other programs, maybe it seems that way to me because Whitewater has gotten quite a few high profile transfers recently.  I know UWSP has gone the transfer route a few times but most of their transfers have been underclassmen when they transferred.  Guys like Mark Nelson who came in after a redshirt year at Lindenwood, and Stephen Pelkofer who came in as a sophomore after being a starter as a freshman at Northern Michigan.  Trevor Hass who also came in as a sophomore after starting his career at D2 Augustana and not playing a ton.  These guys still kind of fit Point's philosophy of spending time in their program learning all the nuances.  The only guy that comes to mind, atleast lately, that came in as an upperclassmen was Ross Forman.  He was a D1 transfer from Loyola, if I remember correctly, who helped Point win a title as a senior.   EDIT*****  I completely forgot about Clayton Heuer transferring as an upperclassmen to Point.  He did spend more than 1 year at Point though and certainly was a big part of an extremely successful 2 year run.

Whitewater, especially last year, gets quite a few upperclassmen transfers that are in and out of the program.  I'm not arguing against it, it's worked for them obviously.  This is just my thought process of why Whitewater is thought of asTransfer U in the WIAC in my mind anyways. 

I didn't take any offense to your comment so we're cool.  Not that it matters and I understand it's just your "thought process" but I have never heard another person refer to us as "Transfer U." 

[tomt4525]

New thread opened up in the multi-regional board on gyms in respective conferences. Anyone think their gym is the best or what stands out about their gym?

I've been to every gym (though it's been awhile)...does River Falls play in their new one yet?

I think Stout's gym is unique because it has an actual press box at the top of their stands. I always liked that. Other than that, I'm not real sure any one gym stands out. Thoughts?

Aside from the tradition there's nothing very special about our gym. I think it's nicer since the remodeling but it's just a gym built in the 60's.  Overall we have a really nice facility in Williams Center particularly since the field house was added but I don't know that the gym itself "stands out" compared to any other in the conference let alone someplace like Hope.   

While this year was clearly a matter of necessity and I suspect next year will probably have to be as well I don't know that historically we have utilized transfers to any greater extend than other programs.  Maybe I'm missing something but I was a little surprised to see it referred to as the "UW-W philosophy."

I certainly don't want to start a pissing match by any means...but it seems to me that Whitewater uses transfers much more often than other programs, maybe it seems that way to me because Whitewater has gotten quite a few high profile transfers recently.  I know UWSP has gone the transfer route a few times but most of their transfers have been underclassmen when they transferred.  Guys like Mark Nelson who came in after a redshirt year at Lindenwood, and Stephen Pelkofer who came in as a sophomore after being a starter as a freshman at Northern Michigan.  Trevor Hass who also came in as a sophomore after starting his career at D2 Augustana and not playing a ton.  These guys still kind of fit Point's philosophy of spending time in their program learning all the nuances.  The only guy that comes to mind, atleast lately, that came in as an upperclassmen was Ross Forman.  He was a D1 transfer from Loyola, if I remember correctly, who helped Point win a title as a senior.   EDIT*****  I completely forgot about Clayton Heuer transferring as an upperclassmen to Point.  He did spend more than 1 year at Point though and certainly was a big part of an extremely successful 2 year run.

Whitewater, especially last year, gets quite a few upperclassmen transfers that are in and out of the program.  I'm not arguing against it, it's worked for them obviously.  This is just my thought process of why Whitewater is thought of asTransfer U in the WIAC in my mind anyways. 

I didn't take any offense to your comment so we're cool.  Not that it matters and I understand it's just your "thought process" but I have never heard another person refer to us as "Transfer U."

I don't call UWW "Transfer U"...It just rattled off my fingers as I typed my response.

[Greek Tragedy]

I brought up Whitewater's transfer/recruiting strategy early in the year and I was surprised I didn't get more backlash/response. Apparently no one thinks it's a big deal. Maybe everyone else does it just as much, but Whitewater's program probably stands out because they're so successfully at it and thus successful as a program.

If a players comes in with sophomore eligibility, I hardly would consider him a transfer, though obviously he is. But, he still learns the program and grows and plays for 3 years. Admittedly, I get a little annoyed when a program brings in a guy for just one year (reminds me of professional sports and their trade dealine deals).

[John Gleich]

At the top of that list, Semling said he needs a transfer who can come in and be their leading scorer...a guy who has proved his worth somewhere else.

That seems like a very un-UWSP-like ... typically they are more of a home-grown program.

I wonder if the WIAC as a whole is undergoing a shift away from their traditional roster building scenario's and are starting to follow a more UWW philosophy? 

The top 20 of Mark Miller's 50 senior's list ... shows 6 D1 players, 10 D2 players and 4 uncommitted (#6 Antetokounmpo - Dominican and #8 Adams - Brown Deer) both likely prep school and/or JUCO as well as #19 Ben Rounds and #20 Caleb Wagner.

10 years ago the list of scholarship players was much smaller.

I think that the quality of high school players in Wisconsin is now a known quantity. The WIAC was the beneficiary of this in the past (and still is, to some extent) but recruiting has increased in Wisconsin, as shown by the number of scholarships offered.

This is also helped by access on AAU circuits, as this has showcased kids from WI as well.

[Just Bill]

Wisconsin doesn't turn out all that many big-time D-I players, but we've always produced a lot of really quality D-II and D-III players. For a long time that was a guarded secret among WIAC and other Wisconsin D-III schools, but through the internet and summer circuits, out-of-state schools have been skimming a significant portion of that talent.

[gordonmann]

I brought up Whitewater's transfer/recruiting strategy early in the year and I was surprised I didn't get more backlash/response. Apparently no one thinks it's a big deal. Maybe everyone else does it just as much, but Whitewater's program probably stands out because they're so successfully at it and thus successful as a program.

There's a perception on the east coast that the successful WIAC schools are basically D2 programs because of transfers and the lack of Division II options in Wisconsin. I don't know if that's fair or even accurate, and it's definitely not fair or accurate across all sports at all schools. But I've heard more than once, "Yeah, the WIAC schools win a lot but that's because they are basically D2 programs."

For the record, I don't have a problem with it at all. Schools should try to recruit and retain whatever students are in their strategic interest, and that extends to athletics. Lots of schools have different institutional advantages based on their geography, their ability to give financial aid, their tuition amounts, their facilities, etc. As long as it's not an athletic scholarship, it's still within the rules of Division III.

[cubs]

Wisconsin doesn't turn out all that many big-time D-I players, but we've always produced a lot of really quality D-II and D-III players. For a long time that was a guarded secret among WIAC and other Wisconsin D-III schools, but through the internet and summer circuits, out-of-state schools have been skimming a significant portion of that talent.

Couldn't agree with you more!!!! 

When people talk about the talent level "dropping" in the WIAC, all they need to do is peruse the rosters of neighboring D2 schools!!!

[gordonmann]

Interesting point. So more Wisconsin kids are playing D2 in Illinois or Minnesota then?

See, this is why I come into this room and a few others during the offseason. I usually learn something.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I brought up Whitewater's transfer/recruiting strategy early in the year and I was surprised I didn't get more backlash/response. Apparently no one thinks it's a big deal. Maybe everyone else does it just as much, but Whitewater's program probably stands out because they're so successfully at it and thus successful as a program.

There's a perception on the east coast that the successful WIAC schools are basically D2 programs because of transfers and the lack of Division II options in Wisconsin. I don't know if that's fair or even accurate, and it's definitely not fair or accurate across all sports at all schools. But I've heard more than once, "Yeah, the WIAC schools win a lot but that's because they are basically D2 programs."

For the record, I don't have a problem with it at all. Schools should try to recruit and retain whatever students are in their strategic interest, and that extends to athletics. Lots of schools have different institutional advantages based on their geography, their ability to give financial aid, their tuition amounts, their facilities, etc. As long as it's not an athletic scholarship, it's still within the rules of Division III.

Furthermore, in this day and age, transfers are becoming more common in general. Students and families can save money by going to a smaller school like a community college or junior college if they know their credits will transfer and then finish at the higher school for the bigger, maybe more meaningful diploma. I am seeing far more transfering in college now than ten years ago. Also, east coast schools tend to ignore the fact there is plenty of transfering going on there as well. The ones I hear "complain" about it the most are either blind (or deaf) to the fact it is happening in their own conferences and backyards or come from institutions where that is looked down upon, despite the fact other institutions of their same "level" do it all of the time. Whatever helps a school either retain students or pay the bills while offering a good education is fine ... and as Gordon said, it is within the rules of the division.

[tomt4525]

Interesting point. So more Wisconsin kids are playing D2 in Illinois or Minnesota then?

See, this is why I come into this room and a few others during the offseason. I usually learn something.

Definitely....schools like Southwest Minnesota St, St Cloud St, UM-Duluth, Bemidji St, Winona St, Minnesota State-Mankato, Concordia-St Paul, Northern Michigan, Hillsdale, Michigan Tech, LIndenwood(MO)--head coach has ties to Wisconsin....all these D2 schools are making Wisconsin a priority recruiting wise. 

[wcbsas]

Interesting point. So more Wisconsin kids are playing D2 in Illinois or Minnesota then?

See, this is why I come into this room and a few others during the offseason. I usually learn something.

Definitely....schools like Southwest Minnesota St, St Cloud St, UM-Duluth, Bemidji St, Winona St, Minnesota State-Mankato, Concordia-St Paul, Northern Michigan, Hillsdale, Michigan Tech, LIndenwood(MO)--head coach has ties to Wisconsin....all these D2 schools are making Wisconsin a priority recruiting wise.

I think you also have to add the fairly recent emergence of low- to mid- major D1 programs like NDSU, UND, SDSU, USD and Omaha all with connections back to Wisconsin.  These guys are taking their share of WI kids and when they take MN or IA kids the D2 programs in that state come to WI looking for players.

I'm just amazed at the number of D2 scholarship kids this year.

[sac]

Without having past rosters to back things up, its difficult to know exactly how many more Wisconsin kids are leaving to go play elsewhere.  But, Wisconsin kids on rosters from just the schools mentioned here.........

SW Minnesota St   --3
St. Cloud St.         --2
Minnesota-Duluth  --5
Bemidji State         --4
Winona State         --4
Minn. State-Mankato--2
Concordia-St. Paul  --0
No. Michigan          --4
Michigan Tech        --6
Hillsdale                 --1
Lindenwood          --6

North Dakota State   --6
North Dakota            --0
South Dakota State  --0
South Dakota           --1
Neb. Omaha              --0

[Greek Tragedy]

Interesting point. So more Wisconsin kids are playing D2 in Illinois or Minnesota then?

See, this is why I come into this room and a few others during the offseason. I usually learn something.

Well, you usually don't learn anything during the season. Sometimes this board does a great impression of the NACC board, apologies to Ryan Unstoppable. 

[Gregory Sager]

Interesting point. So more Wisconsin kids are playing D2 in Illinois or Minnesota then?

Minnesota, yes. Illinois, no. As sac's list indicates, the states where Wisconsin kids are generally recruited nowadays to play D2 ball are Minnesota and Michigan.

Illinois only has three D2 schools: Lewis (located in Chicago's southwest suburbs), UI-Springfield (located in the state capital, which is pretty far downstate), and McKendree (waaaay down at the southern tip of the state). All three have largely Illinois-based men's basketball rosters.