MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[jaybird44]

Hello friends!

It seems that I have been the only member of the only (unofficial) fall sport at WashU, with my 100-mile ultramarathon attempt earlier this month to promote the fight for a cure during Rett Syndrome Awareness Month.  That attempt fell a bit short in miles and fundraising, so I'm going into overtime to try and reach $5,000 in donations.

Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K will commence Friday, October 30 at 8 pm Central, and end at 8 am Halloween morning.  Counting donations received (thanks to retired WashU men's basketball coach Mark Edwards and his wife Mary, and to Mike McGrath and his  University of Chicago men's basketball program for their donations!) and those yet to be sent and processed, I am at $4,440.53.  Very, very close to my goal...which will fund a researcher's work for a month.  Wouldn't it be cool if he or she cracked the code for a cure of Rett syndrome, on our dime?!

I reached 86 miles in my "Rett Gets Rocked Virtual Ultra Weekend" October 3-4.  I'm very proud of that result, but there's more work to be done.  Proceeds from the event will be split between Rettsyndrome.org (the only national organization spearheading research and providing resources for affected patients and their families) and the Rett Spectrum Clinic--a collaboration between the WashU School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Rett syndrome is a rare, non-inherited neurological disorder that is caused by a gene mutation in the brain.  Rett strikes typically when a child is 6-18 months old, and it has the characteristics of ALS, autism, epilepsy, and Parkinson's...all rolled into one sinister disorder.
It takes away the child's ability to move and communicate.  Most of them end up in wheelchairs with active minds, but mired in the physical rubble that Rett creates.  And, the neurological damage prevents verbal communication and arm and hand movement for sign language.

In essence, Rett does to a child what Lucy in the "Peanuts" comic strip does to Charlie Brown when he tries to kick the football that she is holding.  The only difference is that Charlie Brown can get back up to try again.  Those who are afflicted with Rett syndrome don't get another chance to enjoy a vibrant life.

Researchers are working to re-engineer the gene mutation that turns on Rett, so it can be forever turned off.  Four drug therapies are in the FDA review pipeline, with one (trofanitide) one level away from review.  And, iPad tablets with retinal scan technology are giving those with Rett a voice they haven't had since they were toddlers.

The full court press on Rett is paying off.  You can help keep the pressure on Rett, by going to my Rett Racers donation page:  https://rettracer.everydayhero.com/us/rett-gets-rocked-2020

Thanks for your time and consideration, and let's hope that we get back to playing and broadcasting sports much sooner than later!

Jay Murry
Play-By-Play Announcer, Washington University in St. Louis
Event Director, Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K

[tomt4525]

I received the Basketball Yearbook today, WIAC rosters are posted in it.  I have just glanced at it so far but things I have noticed...

*Eagan(MN) 6'2" G Kurt Ohlhues is not listed for UWEC
*D2 Crookston 6'8" transfer Chase Johnson not listed for UWL
*No surprises with Oshkosh other than they only have 13 players listed
*His name was brought up recently, but 6'1" Donovan Navarro listed for Platteville
*Bailey Blanchard is back from injury for UWRF
*Also, additional players not metioned for UWRF - 5'11'' Regan Merritt(Hopkins, MN) 6'5" Gunner Reed (Lewiston, MN)
*Unlike the norm, quite a bit of turnover for UWSP...returners not listed - Kaden Clark, Jeven Sachtjen and Beau Rosenthal
*Also, a couple players introduced with the recruiting class not listed for UWSP - Jaxon Flaherty and Logan Mulhern, Mulhern is a big loss
*Whitewater loses 2 big pieces, Bailey Kale and Equan Ards


Have no idea on this info, but its possible some players not on rosters opted out and could be back.

[badgerwarhawk]

I will be pleasantly surprised if there is any sort of basketball season.  However I don't see it happening.  Maybe spring sports assuming some sort of vaccine is available but I just don't see it happening any sooner than that. 

[PauldingLightUP]

UW-River Falls has posted a roster of returnees.

It would appear Lucas Carisch and Jack Huml, both freshman last year, may not return.

https://uwrfsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

[tomt4525]

Edgerton G, Clayton Jenny, has committed to play basketball at Platteville.  A high IQ lead guard that makes winning plays, solid get for the Pioneers.

[palum]

Platteville's AD announced Platteville is suspending all athletic activities until further notice.  She says the recent trends in Wisconsin and the number of tests  and lack of personal protective equipment needed to comply with safety protocol were not where they need to be. AD Navarro did not give a return date.

[PauldingLightUP]

A few roster updates can be found on the web.

For UW-Eau Claire it would appear Clay Kujawa and Luke Reader will not return. For freshman, it would appear Kurt Ohlhues will not be playing basketball as tomt said and son of UWEC Hall Famer Michael Blair, Nolan Blair (SPASH), is joining the Blugolds. So, their roster stands at 19.

https://blugolds.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/roster

For UW-La Crosse, it appears Cole Kleiner will not return as tomt previously mentioned.

https://uwlathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21

[tomt4525]

UW-Stout has picked up a commitment from Chippewa Falls W, Jacob Walczak.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS women  (first) and mens' intrasquad scrimmages. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Ipc5JTaX4&feature=youtu.be

[tomt4525]

Holmen HS 6'8" F, Cole Kalander, has committed to play basketball at Oshkosh.  Oshkosh should have a good stable of bigs for the future with last years' recruiting class along with Kalander.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I wanted to bring to everyone's attention that the the DIII Championships Committee has decided that basketball has to have 60% participation for the NCAA tournament to move forward. That means if 40% or more call off playing, the tournament will pretty much be done.

Roughly that means we need 250 schools to still be playing - or not lose more than about 170.

Currently we have about 60 or so schools who will not be playing: https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2020/11/winter-is-coming-but-who-will-play

[Greek Tragedy]

So is there a minimum number of games a team needs to play? What if the conference cancels the conference schedule but individual teams schedule 8, 10, 15 non-conference games?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So is there a minimum number of games a team needs to play? What if the conference cancels the conference schedule but individual teams schedule 8, 10, 15 non-conference games?

Nine d3 games to qualify for the tournament, if it happens.  Although those committees are meeting again this week, so things could still change.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

So is there a minimum number of games a team needs to play? What if the conference cancels the conference schedule but individual teams schedule 8, 10, 15 non-conference games?

Nine d3 games to qualify for the tournament, if it happens.  Although those committees are meeting again this week, so things could still change.

I don't get the sense the nine-game threshold will change. There has to be a minimum set so teams who play one or two aren't thrown in the mix. Other items may change and we will likely get a better sense of criteria and such in January - should the tournament still be held - but minimum games is not likely to change.

[PauldingLightUP]

WIAC with a winter sports update tonight.

https://wiacsports.com/news/2020/12/11/general-wiac-winter-sports-return-to-play-update.aspx

A reason for caution optimism. Not to read too much into it, but "The conference-only schedules will begin the week of Feb. 1, 2021." I think the word will instead of would is encouraging.