MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[John Gleich]

The question mark for me right now will be if they can play that lockdown defense that Point has been known for.  I think they have a couple pieces defensively that play at that level.  I also think they have a few guys that need to make strides in that department over the offseason.

See, to me, defense isn't much the issue. Point was 9th in the country in scoring defense last year, and as long as they play the slowest pace in the country, AND play good (not even great, but good) defense, then they'll keep the total score of their opponents at a "beatable level."

What I'm far more concerned about is the scoring. They were literally last in the country at points scored per game (62.2 ppg). I do think that the reliance on two guys was part of that cause, especially because it really seemed to get away of the team concept (ie getting teammates open and passing to the open guy).

Such a team (slow pace, great defensively, no or little low post presence/scoring) being especially vulnerable when facing an opponent who also prefers a slower pace, also plays tight defense, and does have a strong interior game.

You wouldn't happen to have first-hand knowledge of such a team, would you? 


One reason that Point has been able to be successful in slowing down the game so much has been with a combination of great team play, individuals who could create their own shots within the offense, thus allowing them to make shots at a higher percentage. Having pure scorers (like the Tillema brothers) who shoot well but also can draw fouls, certainly helps. Part of the problem last year was that defenses could key on the two guys who were most likely to have the ball in their hands toward the end of the shot clock and they either had to force something up or the guys they passed to didn't hit their own shots.

For the first time in a long time, SP was out-shot by their opponents for the season. Opponents shot 44.1% and SP shot 41.1%.

Having a big man close to the basket is oftentimes the highest percentage shot. But NOT having a big man allows certain drives and backdoor cuts that can also be high percentage that often aren't available when there's somebody on the block. That's what Point has used the last several years and they've managed to counteract many of the bigger inside players with versatile defenders who are long and quick instead of just big.

[AndOne]

The question mark for me right now will be if they can play that lockdown defense that Point has been known for.  I think they have a couple pieces defensively that play at that level.  I also think they have a few guys that need to make strides in that department over the offseason.

See, to me, defense isn't much the issue. Point was 9th in the country in scoring defense last year, and as long as they play the slowest pace in the country, AND play good (not even great, but good) defense, then they'll keep the total score of their opponents at a "beatable level."

What I'm far more concerned about is the scoring. They were literally last in the country at points scored per game (62.2 ppg). I do think that the reliance on two guys was part of that cause, especially because it really seemed to get away of the team concept (ie getting teammates open and passing to the open guy).

i

Such a team (slow pace, great defensively, no or little low post presence/scoring) being especially vulnerable when facing an opponent who also prefers a slower pace, also plays tight defense, and does have a strong interior game.

You wouldn't happen to have first-hand knowledge of such a team, would you? 


One reason that Point has been able to be successful in slowing down the game so much has been with a combination of great team play, individuals who could create their own shots within the offense, thus allowing them to make shots at a higher percentage. Having pure scorers (like the Tillema brothers) who shoot well but also can draw fouls, certainly helps. Part of the problem last year was that defenses could key on the two guys who were most likely to have the ball in their hands toward the end of the shot clock and they either had to force something up or the guys they passed to didn't hit their own shots.

For the first time in a long time, SP was out-shot by their opponents for the season. Opponents shot 44.1% and SP shot 41.1%.

Having a big man close to the basket is oftentimes the highest percentage shot. But NOT having a big man allows certain drives and backdoor cuts that can also be high percentage that often aren't available when there's somebody on the block. That's what Point has used the last several years and they've managed to counteract many of the bigger inside players with versatile defenders who are long and quick instead of just big.

John,

As to your above question, the answer is yes. I do have first hand knowledge of such a team.   

Your statement in bold above, is very true. However, as I sense you will agree, a good team can have a strong interior game without having a dominant big man. Such teams effecutate their strong interior games through stout low post screening, and great inside passing. 🏀

[wcbsas]

Having a big man close to the basket is oftentimes the highest percentage shot. But NOT having a big man allows certain drives and backdoor cuts that can also be high percentage that often aren't available when there's somebody on the block. That's what Point has used the last several years and they've managed to counteract many of the bigger inside players with versatile defenders who are long and quick instead of just big.

Any big man with a pulse is likely to be viewed as a scholarship player at least at the D2 level. 

UWSP for years has been successful with undersized guys in the post who were just warriors defensively and on the boards.  D3 and the WIAC in general tend to be guard oriented.

Last really good big guy in the WIAC for my taste was Skemp for UWP ... and he was simply a matchup nightmare for the conference.  Dustin Mitchell was another but even he was an athletic forward more than a true big man.

UWSP had guys like Beamish, Rortveldt, Hurd, Krull ... guys who were very skilled but undersized in the true sense of a post player.

[Greek Tragedy]

I get, too, that the author of the article doesn't often pick the headline... but referring to Coach Bennett as "Ex-Coach?"

This is the hometown paper for the university that he helped bring to two national championships. His name is on the court. He's in both the UWSP and WBCA hall of fame.

They could have at least said "Former coach" "Past coach" or "HOF coach." Ex-coach sounds far too negative. But I guess it goes along with the tone of the articles as a whole.

As a former newspaper headline writer, I have to say, all three of your suggestions are longer and might not have fit on the page. Often you have to resort to Ex- because it's short.

Fair enough... though "Bennett" is the same number of characters as "Ex-Coach" 

Is there only one Bennett that could ever be quoted in a story about basketball in the state of Wisconsin?

No...

I know of at least four living former UWSP coaches who might have commented and though half of them are named Bennett, half of them are not.

In fact, a gentleman by the name of Bob Parker commented on the initial article itself. And a certain Bob Parker coached UWSP from '88-'96.


So, "Ex-coach" gives you half as much information about who is commenting on the previous article than "Bennett" would.

Not sure if it's just me, but I took Pat's "Bennett" comment as a joke. I'm assuming Pat knows there is more than one Bennett in the Wisconsin coaching ranks, whether current or in the past.

[badgerwarhawk]

Having a big man close to the basket is oftentimes the highest percentage shot. But NOT having a big man allows certain drives and backdoor cuts that can also be high percentage that often aren't available when there's somebody on the block. That's what Point has used the last several years and they've managed to counteract many of the bigger inside players with versatile defenders who are long and quick instead of just big.

Any big man with a pulse is likely to be viewed as a scholarship player at least at the D2 level. 

UWSP for years has been successful with undersized guys in the post who were just warriors defensively and on the boards.  D3 and the WIAC in general tend to be guard oriented.

Last really good big guy in the WIAC for my taste was Skemp for UWP ... and he was simply a matchup nightmare for the conference.  Dustin Mitchell was another but even he was an athletic forward more than a true big man.

UWSP had guys like Beamish, Rortveldt, Hurd, Krull ... guys who were very skilled but undersized in the true sense of a post player.

Don't forget Chris Davis.  He was a National POY.

[Greek Tragedy]

I never viewed Pete Rortvedt as a post player, let alone a forward.

[tomt4525]

Another transfer for UWSP...Former Lancaster Bible/St Leo/Crown College guard Bryce Williams is transferring to UWSP with 1 year remaining.  As a sophomore for Crown he was named as the UMAC Player of the Year as well as being an Honorable Mention All American and an All-West Region Team performer.  He averaged over 20 a game for both Crown and Lancaster Bible, leading Lancaster Bible to their first NCAA tournament this past season.  He seems like another 3 point marksman like Dodge and Delmore in this newcomer class.

[AppletonRocks]

Looks like UWSP is stealing the Pat Miller playbook,  going to build with transfers rather frosh recruits grown in house.  Okay, but last year it took UWW awhile to look like a team.  Probably hard to be a team when you don't know each other's names yet.   

Of course Point can overcome that with extra pre-season practices. 

[Just Bill]

Another transfer for UWSP...Former Lancaster Bible/St Leo/Crown College guard Bryce Williams is transferring to UWSP with 1 year remaining.  As a sophomore for Crown he was named as the UMAC Player of the Year as well as being an Honorable Mention All American and an All-West Region Team performer.  He averaged over 20 a game for both Crown and Lancaster Bible, leading Lancaster Bible to their first NCAA tournament this past season.  He seems like another 3 point marksman like Dodge and Delmore in this newcomer class.

Thoughts and prayers to the UWSP registrar who has to try and compile his transcript.

[frodotwo]

Another transfer for UWSP...Former Lancaster Bible/St Leo/Crown College guard Bryce Williams is transferring to UWSP with 1 year remaining.  As a sophomore for Crown he was named as the UMAC Player of the Year as well as being an Honorable Mention All American and an All-West Region Team performer.  He averaged over 20 a game for both Crown and Lancaster Bible, leading Lancaster Bible to their first NCAA tournament this past season.  He seems like another 3 point marksman like Dodge and Delmore in this newcomer class.

Gonna be alot of new faces on the bench this year, thinking we won't see Gjertson, Mootz, Untiedt, O'Heron and maybe Tauber there?

[tomt4525]

Another transfer for UWSP...Former Lancaster Bible/St Leo/Crown College guard Bryce Williams is transferring to UWSP with 1 year remaining.  As a sophomore for Crown he was named as the UMAC Player of the Year as well as being an Honorable Mention All American and an All-West Region Team performer.  He averaged over 20 a game for both Crown and Lancaster Bible, leading Lancaster Bible to their first NCAA tournament this past season.  He seems like another 3 point marksman like Dodge and Delmore in this newcomer class.

Gonna be alot of new faces on the bench this year, thinking we won't see Gjertson, Mootz, Untiedt, O'Heron and maybe Tauber there?

Everybody that had eligibility remaining from last year's team is in the student directory for next semester....along with every one of the announced newcomers.  I haven't heard anything other than everyone will be back, my best guess is the roster will get sorted out in preseason practices.  It seems as though every year atleast one of the newcomers doesn't make it through more than a semester, with a bigger class...it might be more than just 1.

[tomt4525]

Thinking about it logically...

looking at minutes played for the returners:

Bublitz 32 mpg
Goedeke 19 mpg
Tauber 17 mpg (19 of 26 games played)
Freeborn 15 mpg
Zuiker 15 mpg

3 posts, a wing and a guard in the top 5 of minutes played

You have a logjam of minutes played after these 5

Nelson 11 mpg (17 of 26 games played)
Gjertson 10 mpg (15 of 26 games played)
Retzlaff 10 mpg (23 of 26 games played)
Fredrickson 10 mpg (23 of 26 games played)

2 guards and 2 posts in the next wave, most of the post minutes seem to be distributed between the returning players...especially since the only forwards/posts in the incoming class are freshman, not transfers.

The transfers

Delmore
Dodge
Robinson
Williams

Robinson is strictly a wing defender, he can play that role for the team but will only be playing in certain matchups.  As far as the other 3 transfers, they are known as shooters...something Point struggled with consistently last season.  I don't know how minutes will be distributed but along with Zuiker, Bublitz, Nelson and Fredrickson...among these 7 I'd expect the 1,2 and 3 positions to be filled.

Unteidt, Mootz, O'Heron have not been mentioned.  O'Heron played some as a freshman and seems to me that Semling has a plan for him in the future.  Unteidt got some decent minutes as a sophomore.  He very well could overtake any of the guards already mentioned for minutes if he makes some strides this offseason.  Mootz is a hustle guy that seems like a very good teammate who is happy with his role. 

The freshman

Normally, it's hard for a player right out of high school to jump into Point's rotation..especially a year like this coming year with as many returning players as there are.  Add the fact that they brought in an abnormal amount of transfers, it seems unlikely any of the freshman play more than a few minutes in blowouts.  If they break into the rotation, they are special players.

Knez
Spray
Koerner
Ehrke

Don't quote me on this because I very well could be way off....The coaching staff definitely has some things to sort out....mainly the guard rotation.

[John Gleich]

The transfers

Delmore
Dodge
Robinson
Williams

Bryce Williams (1 yr left)
Frosh - ?
Soph - 13-14 Crown 20.4 ppg
Sat out - 14-15 St. Leo (bio, DNP)
Junior - 15-16 Lancaster Bible 20.5 ppg

Jontrell Robinson (2 yrs)
Frosh - 14-15 Rock Valley
Soph - 15-16 Rock Valley

Nate Dodge (2 yrs)
Frosh/Soph - 14-15/15-16 Army

MJ Delmore (2 yrs)
Redshirt - 13-14 SMSU
Frosh - 14-15 SMSU
Soph - 15-16 SMSU

[tomt4525]

The transfers

Delmore
Dodge
Robinson
Williams

Bryce Williams (1 yr left)
Frosh - ?
Soph - 13-14 Crown 20.4 ppg
Sat out - 14-15 St. Leo (bio, DNP)
Junior - 15-16 Lancaster Bible 20.5 ppg

Jontrell Robinson (2 yrs)
Frosh - 14-15 Rock Valley
Soph - 15-16 Rock Valley

Nate Dodge (3 yrs)
Frosh - 15-16 Army

MJ Delmore (2 yrs)
Redshirt - 13-14 SMSU
Frosh - 14-15 SMSU
Soph - 15-16 SMSU

Dodge played games in 2 different years for Army, he should have 2 years to play at UWSP....unless he gets a medical redshirt for last season...he played 7 games, maybe he was hurt for the rest of the season??

[AppletonRocks]

The transfers

Delmore
Dodge
Robinson
Williams

Bryce Williams (1 yr left)
Frosh - ?
Soph - 13-14 Crown 20.4 ppg
Sat out - 14-15 St. Leo (bio, DNP)
Junior - 15-16 Lancaster Bible 20.5 ppg

Jontrell Robinson (2 yrs)
Frosh - 14-15 Rock Valley
Soph - 15-16 Rock Valley

Nate Dodge (3 yrs)
Frosh - 15-16 Army

MJ Delmore (2 yrs)
Redshirt - 13-14 SMSU
Frosh - 14-15 SMSU
Soph - 15-16 SMSU

Dodge played games in 2 different years for Army, he should have 2 years to play at UWSP....unless he gets a medical redshirt for last season...he played 7 games, maybe he was hurt for the rest of the season??

If he was in combat I would give him an extra year.....just because its the right thing to do.