MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BDB]

Hey BW,

  When will those SID predictions come out?

I still laugh when I think of you saying that the Catdome looks like a county fairgrounds grandstand.  

[badgerwarhawk]

BDB,

The meeting is tommorrow so I'd expect to see them on the WIAC website sometime Friday.

I guess that was one of my better lines.        

[Greek Tragedy]

My picks were an attempt to guess how the SID's are thinking and not necessarily how I think things will shake out.  Personally, I'm of the opinion that Point will be better than people will give them credit for.  They lost several good players but those that are left aren't that bad, they've added some more and I've got a hunch they won't forget how to play defense. 

That's gotta be the understatement of the preseason thus far! lol 

I'm real wary about this season for the Pointers.  I think Semling will continue on what Bennett has done, but they definitely don't have the players that they've had in the past.  But, will the system get them through?  I hope so.  Krull was such a great #3 scorer because of Bennett and Kalsow.  Will he be able to carry the scoring load?  Scottie Pippen definitely tanked when Jordan left!  Brian Bauer was a great spark off the bench, will he be the same energizer bunny if he starts?  Maus was the big man in the middle and was a great defensive player, who will fill his spot?  So, questions abound and I'm definitely looking forward to the season. 

My friend Swampgoon and I were discussing future plans and he wanted to go to the Redwings/Blackhawks hockey game in mid-March.  I told him we couldn't because that's when Point would be playing in the Elite 8!   

A long season is ahead of us and I thought it was funny that bulk19 had a hunch that no one would want to play Point in the WIAC tournament.  The WIAC tournament???  Can we play the season first? 

THE BANNER GOES UP NOV. 19TH!  WAHOOOOOO.

[Pioneerbacker]

badger-
If you seriously take a look at their stats from late in the year, LaCrosse was putting a scare in a couple teams, maybe not Whitewater, but they just about beat Platteville, Point, and Oshy.  So, I think putting a scare in the top three teams is pretty good evidence they were playing well.  Personally, I look for them to improve on that play. 

[John Gleich]

Hmm... OS, why is the banner going up on the 19th?  Point doesn't have a game that night!

[titan2000]

LaCrosse crushed the Oshvegas team at Oshkosh last year, it was a frickin disaster, they outhustled Oshvegas and they shot lights out.  TVD was flustered, Titans never got within 15 in the second half as I recall.

A few nights later, Oshkosh crushes Point with Gibson dominating the paint.

Go figure.

[laxeagles1]

           

laxeagles-you're right about coach koelbl and this team, and if anyone has met him, you know he's a class act.  I hope him the best this year and an opportunity to get in the conference tournament because I think last year there probably weren't too many teams wanting to meet that team late in the year.    

last year i really let my emotions get the best of me on him.  Having talked to a friend from home about Koelbl's coaching abilities he really made me think on most of it.  And knowing that my buddy is now going to be helping Coach Andrist on his staff at Stout it made me really think that Koelbl was a good coach and most importantly a great person, especially coming out of my buddies mouth.............

I am a harsh critic but if he accomplishes what he should at LaCrosse I will be willing and able to admit that he was a great coach

[bulk19]

Old School -

Yep, having watched the Pointers for the last 15 years, I do have a hunch no one will want to play them come tournament time. Yes...WIAC tournament time, because this team will have had time to gel... But I'm not writing them off in the regular season, either...

I'm not predicting going to the Big Dance, or winning the conference, but the cupboard is not as bare as people think. Remember, they have a guard who stepped up big time in last years' title run - Steve Hicklin, who replaced the other guard who will probably start - Shawn Lee? And they have depth at this position....

I think Bauer could have started on many of the teams in the conference last year; he couldn't in Point because he had two All-Americans in front of him there. Awe has some athleticism; will be interesting to see how much time he gets, behind Prey and Krull, who is a force. He will be an all-conference player...

They have some size, but I'm not sure how rugged/physical this team will be, and how well it will stand up to the wear and tear of the WIAC night in and night out? But the thing that could really kill Point - as with any team - is injuries...

I don't see them changing much from Bennett's style. They will play D, but I'm not sure who the designated stopper will be, like Maus was.

And I don't think this team has "learned" how to lose yet... Granted, they may take some lumps in the regular season, but come WIAC tourney time, if they have gelled, the benefits of winning two straight titles will pay off... They may get "out-coached," though, since this is Semling's first year...

And remember, these guys were practicing against the National Champs for two straight seasons...

[Greek Tragedy]

Hmm... OS, why is the banner going up on the 19th?  Point doesn't have a game that night!

My excitement got the best of me, of course I meant the 18th. 

[John Gleich]

Not sure if you were planning on coming... I wanted to make sure you had the right night!!

[Coach C]

Hey bulk19 -

Great point about learning to lose.  Teams that have had great success and then see changes in coaching or personnel often struggle when they get hit with the first loss that they did not expect.  granted, sometimes you know in the pre-season that this just isn't going to be your year.  Other times, the euphoria o fthe prior season carries over and you don't see that first loss coming.  Then some dark Tuesday night at home you get whacked by a non-conference team you ahve never lost to.

How the team recovers from that loss is crucial to the season.  Some teams have enough talent, coaching and grit to bounce back and make what could be a bad season a good one.  Other teams wander though the rest of the schedule, just making time until Spring Break.

C

BTW - where do WIACers go on spring break?

[Winneconne_Legend]

Bauer and Krull are good players...but neither were big bangers inside. Both seemed very content to hang on the perimeter and launch open 3's (because thier defenders were helping on JK and NB). I don't know if either will respond as the "go-to" guy for Point, I guess we'll see.

And a question, Isn't Shawn Lee hurt (hand?)? For some reason I thought he'd be out most of the year...correct me if I am wrong.

As far as the team gelling my WIAC tourney time....won't every other team in the league gel by them too? or do you all have some special gel in Point....if there is any extra of that NCAA title gel send some my way...i'll give it to my high school team!!!

[Just Bill]

BTW - where do WIACers go on spring break?

Point fans used to go to Salem, Virginia, but I don't know if they'll be making that trip again.

[BDB]

Good one Bill.

I think the Oshy fans are planning to use those rooms this year 

[laxeagles1]

Bauer and Krull are good players...but neither were big bangers inside. Both seemed very content to hang on the perimeter and launch open 3's (because thier defenders were helping on JK and NB). I don't know if either will respond as the "go-to" guy for Point, I guess we'll see.

And a question, Isn't Shawn Lee hurt (hand?)? For some reason I thought he'd be out most of the year...correct me if I am wrong.

As far as the team gelling my WIAC tourney time....won't every other team in the league gel by them too? or do you all have some special gel in Point....if there is any extra of that NCAA title gel send some my way...i'll give it to my high school team!!!

Winneconne, though i don't talk to Shawn much but catchup with him when he comes to Lax for games, a friend of mine is pretty close to him.  January is a good estimate of his return time, and the injury was a something to do with the knee or leg