MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[PauldingLightUP]

Oshkosh plays one of their better conference games of this season to win at home going away 75-51.

Titans will play the Blugolds on the road on Monday.

[ChickenHoops]

Low confidence in the Pointers today. Not enough defense to stop LaCrosse.  Dad says he'll cover the chicken oversight so I can go to Oshkosh to watch the Stout/Oshkosh game. Winner likely gets Eau Claire on Monday in the WIAC tourney. Anyone know a good place to hang pre-game in Oshkosh? 

I've given up on the Lady Dawgs for 2024/25. Thought there was great potential for them, but no.

Why do you say that? They were picked last in the preseason poll. Today's NPI has them with a better chance of making the NCAA tournament than the men. And...they just knocked off La Crosse. They clinched 4th.

I was hoping for a WIAC crown. I guess its still possible for both of them, at least tourney.

[Greek Tragedy]

Monday, February 24
First Round
UW-Platteville (#1) - Bye
UW-La Crosse (#2) - Bye
UW-Oshkosh (#6) at UW-Eau Claire (#3) - 7:00 PM
UW-Whitewater (#5) at UW-Stevens Point (#4) - 7:00 PM

In the regular season, Eau Claire swept Oshkosh, both by double-digits, while Stevens Point had probably two of their best games against Whitewater, in a season sweep. Of course, none of that matters.

[Mitch Hall]

Does anyone know what caused the technical fouls to be called in La Crosse ? Were they discussed on the radio broadcast ?

[palum]

I see that the 2026 Final 4 will be at Duquesne University at their Cooper Field House which seats 3,500. Any chance that Eau Claire could host at their new Sonntag Center or Oshkosh at the Oshkosh Arena

[tomt4525]

Does anyone know what caused the technical fouls to be called in La Crosse ? Were they discussed on the radio broadcast ?

Pretty simple from what I can gather...the officials lost control of the game.

I was able to listen to part of the broadcast from the video, that would be the La Crosse radio as well as went back and listened to UWSP's version of the radio broadcast.  They both didn't know exactly what was going on with any of the official's calls.

I listened to the whole UWSP radio broadcast during the scenario in question so I will give that side.  They didn't see any reason for calling La Crosse's coach for the first technical.  That seemed to start the downfall of course.  Seconds after that technical, Dernbach got called for a technical.  UWSP's radio guy said he was feet away from Dernbach when this happened and Dernbach didn't say a word.  The radio guy made multiple comments about thinking it was a makeup call on the first technical.  It was the same ref who called both.

I haven't gone back and looked at the physical play that caused the flagrant 1 on Krohn as well as another technical on Thomas.  It was hard to see when the play actually happened.  It did look like Krohn came in late but I didn't see if he got pushed into the contact or if he came in voluntarily.  I did see Thomas react after getting fouled and was very animated.  La Crosse/Stevens Point is turning into a heated rivalry.

I don't like saying this but with how out of control the game got and with the refs handling it terribly, I hope we don't see them in the WIAC again.

I'm not sure how many people listened to the pregame radio show(I think) of the game after La Crosse/Point's first game.  I listened to it.  If you remember back Gritzmacher was animated after the game and talking directly to Dernbach and the bench before shaking hands.  I'm sure I didn't like this mostly being a Point fan but he should have some more respect for a coach that basically recruited his roster.  Without Dernbach's players he recruited to La Crosse, Gritzmacher wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the WIAC. In that pregame radio show Dernbach alluded to Gritzmacher's comments being centered around owning UWSP and winning a bunch of games in a row.  Which is laughable as new as Gritzmacher is to UWL, many of those wins were Dernbach's coaching against UWSP.  Anyways, I'm really going to enjoy the next Point victory over La Crosse because of that interaction.  I know Gritzmacher reads this board as I see his username on here, not that it matters.

[Pat Coleman]

I see that the 2026 Final 4 will be at Duquesne University at their Cooper Field House which seats 3,500. Any chance that Eau Claire could host at their new Sonntag Center or Oshkosh at the Oshkosh Arena

The previous AD told us that was part of the plan for the Sonnentag Center was to bid to host things.

I wouldn't go to Oshkosh if we can't even stream regular season games from there.

[Mitch Hall]

Thank you, Tom4525, for the information. I appreciate your effort.

[PauldingLightUP]

I was pretty high on James Wilbern for a while. But, this season he's going down on my list of better WIAC officials, too many mistakes and probably led to something like this with the first techs called in La Crosse. (Box score has it wrong on who was there) And thank goodness Thad Hilliard wasn't there; he's a primarily a football line judge that does a few basketball games not well either.

I don't blame David Gawrisch for the last tech on the Stevens Point bench. Probably necessary after it had gotten out of control.

And Jacob Budnik is still a pretty young official. Hasn't been through the wringer of all the situations and history.

Mad mix all the way around in La Crosse.

[WIACer]

Having seen plenty of games this year. I would say reffing is down. I understand let the players play and we are WIAC. But hand checking, moving back screens, ball screens, and offense player bully balling dribbles to the rim and calling a foul on def player for legal guarding creates cheap physical play. It's what we see in WIAC now. Players do what is allowed. Adjust as necessary. Not calling fouls, that are fouls is not reffing. Unfortunately, it won't help the WIAC in playoffs. Because refs in other leagues will call fouls. Leaving us wondering why so many fouls.

[PauldingLightUP]

Having seen plenty of games this year. I would say reffing is down. I understand let the players play and we are WIAC. But hand checking, moving back screens, ball screens, and offense player bully balling dribbles to the rim and calling a foul on def player for legal guarding creates cheap physical play. It's what we see in WIAC now. Players do what is allowed. Adjust as necessary. Not calling fouls, that are fouls is not reffing. Unfortunately, it won't help the WIAC in playoffs. Because refs in other leagues will call fouls. Leaving us wondering why so many fouls.

Absolutely. They don't call a lot in WIAC games. Then NCAA tournament comes and guys from other conferences come in and so much gets called and it takes less contact for a foul to be called.

It's an adjustment for WIAC teams in the NCAA tournament.

Whether, right or wrong I like the way the regular season gets called because there is a little bumping that isn't a lot of contact, it just happens in the WIAC. Problem is you then have to adjust in the WIAC Tournament.

[Greek Tragedy]

Did they even figure out the ownership issues with the Oshkosh Arena and lawsuits or whatever was going on there? I would guess 3,500 is a minimum for capacity.

[Greek Tragedy]

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2024-25/week12#google_vignette

Platteville stays at 3 with the only other 1st place votes that didn't go to Wesleyan. La Crosse up to 4.

[ChickenHoops]

I see that the 2026 Final 4 will be at Duquesne University at their Cooper Field House which seats 3,500. Any chance that Eau Claire could host at their new Sonntag Center or Oshkosh at the Oshkosh Arena

I think Oshkosh could host at the Kolf Center.  More seats (my guess is 5000 would fit) and better for parking, etc.  Plus a practice gym a block away at Albee Hall and another small gym downstairs for stretching, walkthroughs. But I don't expect NCAA would ask.  I was there Saturday and walked that building, it has potential for this.

[ChickenHoops]

Did they even figure out the ownership issues with the Oshkosh Arena and lawsuits or whatever was going on there? I would guess 3,500 is a minimum for capacity.

I think on campus is much better, see last post. I think they could get 5,000 in Kolf.