MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BanditUWSP]

Winneconne Legend

Krull  had nearly 200 fga's last year but only 25 were 3's.  Bauer attempted 22 of his 56 fga's from 3 point land.  Krull was the recipient of many excellent passes that resulted in layups.  He did most of his scoring from close in.  He was 3rd in rebounding but also lead the team in steals.  I would not be surprised to see him either 1st or 2nd team all WIAC this year and next.   He could be the "go-to" guy this year.

I agree Oshkosh has to be the favorite but I think a few others might make some noise also.  Whatever happens, it would be great to have the WIAC represented at Salem again in March.  Maybe by 2 teams this year?                 

[bulk19]

Winneconne-Legend:

Ooops. I think you are correct about UWSP's Lee, as corrected by laxeagles1...Not sure who will start at the spot opposite Hicklin, but they do have depth. Hirsh and Kalsow's brother Brad could be fighting it out for that one. Kalsow is a shooter...

I'd consider Krull a slasher who charges to the hoop, not necessarily a banger inside. But he didn't need to on the previous teams... He will be the go-to guy, I think, but it will be left to be seen what happens to the offense if he gets shut down... Maybe they will slow things down, and run a little 4-corner O, and rely on the D to keep things close?

Bauer has the size and intensity to be a banger; I think he will be counted on for D. We'll see how he steps it up in what I presume will be a starter's role.

As far as gelling goes,  I was just trying to mention that the Pointers have a new coach and will be young, so by WIAC tournament time they will have had a chance to see how they play as a team, and have worked out the chemistry and stuff like that....If they have had a somewhat successful season, and know they can win, they will be able to draw on the previous two season's NCAA tournament experience...

But I do know Coach Bennett will be right down the hallway at Quandt, and I'm sure he has an extra case of that extra-special NCAA D3 Championship gel if the Pointers need it.  

Well, enough about the Pointers. Ha. I'm a Blugold fan. And we have our intrasquad games tonight! Might be looking at a long season or two here though...

[badgerwarhawk]

I disagree that Krull and Bauer were players who hung around the outside and didn't rebound that well.  Here's why....

Last year Krull had 122 rebounds in 754 minutes of play.  That translates to an average of 6.5 per game if he played 40 minutes.  Which actually tied him with the superduper Kerry Gibson for sixth in the league.  Now I know he won't play forty minutes, nor did Gibson, but let's say he plays 32 minutes.  That's still over 5 rebounds a game which would still place him in the top 15 rebounders in the league based on last year's numbers.

Bauer had 37 rebounds in 292 minutes of play which translates to an average in excess of 5 in 40 minutes.   In 32 minutes it slightly exceeds an average of 4 per game.  Which, based on last year, would have put him about 20th in the league.  Not as strong as Krull but given another year of maturity and more time on the floor, I think he'd improve on those numbers.

Neither is a Joe Werner or Scoobie Griffin but those aren't too bad of numbers all things considered. 

I don't know why I, a WARHAWK GUY[/color], bothered with that but I did. 

[Winneconne_Legend]

I never said either one didn't rebound well...just that they weren't inside players, which was meant inspite of their size. I may have been a bit off on Krull...but Bauer (at 6-5 245) didn't manage to find his way near the hoop on the offensive side of the floor.

Krull may be on the border of the 1st team WIAC list this year...but I think it is a fringe at best. Plus it will be interesting to see how they play once teams start to key on them defensively....not saying they won't step up, but it will be worth watching.

Side Note: I have been indirectly following Bob Semling since he was at GB...the guy knows a basketball court

[John Gleich]

Re: Bauer and Krull playing outside...

If anybody saw UWSP play last year, you'd notice how well Point passed the ball and how well they were spaced.  The reason why Bauer took so many 3's is because they tended to be OPEN 3's, like people have said, when his defender would help against Kalsow and Bennett.  If he'd been sitting on the block, he would have given his defender that much more of a chance to double in the post.  I don't think you can really make a valid argument about Bauer not being a banger based on the fact that Point HAD one (best player in D3 last year in Kalsow) and didn't need him to play that role.  They probably will next year.  I know from seeing Bauer mix it up in the post defensively that he definately CAN play physically.  He got called for plenty of fouls in the post banging with guys he was defending. 

[Greek Tragedy]

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.

now that was a great post.   

No special gel in Point, WL. 

[Pioneerbacker]

Whomever gives karma, please consider positive karma to bulk 19 for this comment:

But I do know Coach Bennett will be right down the hallway at Quandt, and I'm sure he has an extra case of that extra-special NCAA D3 Championship gel if the Pointers need it. 

...and to badgerwarhawk for using the word "superduper"

Great stuff!

[Just Bill]

Here is what you have been waiting for.  The SID poll for the WIAC:

1. Oshkosh
2. Whitewater
3. Stevens Point
4. Stout
5. Platteville
6. La Crosse
7. Eau Claire
8. River Falls
9. Superior

[uww4ever]

Whitewater picked second by the coaches with one first place vote, makes for an exciting season if Whitewater plays up to this potential.
Can't believe my eyes in the weight room at some of the height on this year's team.  Some big kids (Vernon, Craig looks to be in good shape) and Miggins looks 100%.  Can't wait to see how we do against Mar-friggen-quette (Whitewater's taking buses to the event, i might just call in sick the next day and make it to Milwaukee). 
Go Warhawks!!!!!!!!

[BDB]

Pretty hard to argue against the picks for the first 2 spots.

I think the 3-4-5 spots are interchangable, they could be in any order and make sense.

LAX at 6 I like and then the 7-8-9 spots again seem interchangable to me.

[badgerwarhawk]

Well, I got 5 (Osh 1, WW 2,[/color] Stout 4, LaCrosse 6 and Superior 8) out of 9 correct, .555.  Of course one, Oshkosh, was a gimmee.  Anyone could have gotten that after reading Downtown and 2K's posts  so I'm only giving myself an even .500.

Gotta get the fog out of that crystal ball.

[Mr. Downtown]

I'm wondering if others feel the same way I do about the media day conference..

afterwards, Stevens Point really is too high on the list. It seems that Platteville, which most likely will struggle scoring 70 points in a game and Stout have more answers right now. I will say this over and over, this Point team really doesn't have anything that raises eyebrows. I see this Pointer team finishing 8-8 this year.

Now after all the coaches preached about their teams. I guess I will have to say against my own will that indeed look out for La Crosse. This might be the time that the program turns the corner and really shakes up things in the conference.

Anyways, this is my preseason "power rankings"

1. Oshkosh
2. Whitewater
3. Stout
4. Platteville
5. La Crosse
6. Stevens Point
7. River Falls
8. Eau Claire
9. Superior

[cubs]

It appears as if Kerry Gibson's "Big" brother Scott has made the squard for UWO this season.  UWO updated their roster today, with everyone who made the team now having a jersey number.

[buf]

The Blu-Gold game was tonight.  All I got to say is, "Not Good."  I'll be polite and leave it at that.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm a bit surprised to see Point at 3.  Oshkosh was obvious, while I thought Stout would be a little higher.  They did get one of the 1st place votes, something Point didn't get, so I guess that's scant consolation for them.  Kind of surprised about Platteville also.  I guessed Point would be 5th, with Platteville and Stout ahead of them.  Oh well.  We'll see. 

A quick rundown (from the webpage):

Oshkosh (7 first place votes):  4 starters returning, 3 All-conference players returning as well.
Whitewater (1): 4 and 2
Stevens Point:  1 and none
Stout (1): 5 and 1
Platteville:  3 and 1
La Crosse: 4 and 1
Eau Claire: 1 and none
River Falls: 2 and none
Superior 2 and none

Let the season begin!