MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Occidental and Puget Sound, I think, lead their respective conferences, so we have to hope they win their conference tourneys.

The SCIAC doesn't have a conference tourney, OS. At least they didn't have one last year, and I don't remember reading anything in the SCIAC room about their having one this year.

People should be worried about Oxy (8-1 in SCIAC, 10-1 in West Region) losing at CMS (8-1, 10-5) a week from Saturday. Oxy won the first matchup between the two teams by four in the Occidental gym two weeks ago, and it's quite possible that CMS could win the SCIAC with a 13-1 record while Oxy settles for second with a 12-2 record. But they'd be 14-2 in the West Region, and the #1 ranking that they drew in this initial regional poll is ominous. It means that one defeat probably wouldn't drop them too far down (their QOWI is in the top ten nationally), and that they'd be a Pool C shoo-in. Worse, from a WIAC perspective, they'd be clogging up the final West Region ranking on Selection Monday and probably making it a lot more difficult for any WIAC at-larges to get Pool C consideration.

[Greek Tragedy]

Uh....Go Occidental!

Even if that would happen where Occidental would NOT win the SCIAC and be put in the Pool C group, I don't think they'd be too much of a hinderence (sp?) to the WIAC.  If they were to suffer just one more loss and have no conference tourney to worry about, they'd be, like you said, 14-2 in the West Region.  Looking at all the other regions, the majority of the teams have MORE than one loss already and with many of those conferences (the UAA aside, off the top of my head) having conference tourneys to come, that adds yet another loss to their records.  Therefore, I would think Oxy (with their high QOWI) would be one of the first Pool C teams to be plucked from the group, thus putting Stout and La Crosse next in line, basically immediately.  Though Stout or La Crosse will have AT LEAST two more losses since they play each other prior to the WIAC tourney.  Of course, I think La Crosse is already out of it (Pool C) since another loss gives them SIX in-region losses, which I think is too many for consideration.

[Gregory Sager]

Everything you've said is true. Nevertheless, even if Oxy is one of the first teams taken for Pool C, it's still one more turn that a WIAC at-large team would have to wait to get placed on the table as the West Region's next best Pool C candidate on Selection Monday.

[Rico 21]

Parental duty called and was unable to attend the game at Johnson. Actually, doesn't sound like it was much of a game, but I was really wanting to watch Leonard Cobb play. Looks like he carried Superior again.  Unfortunately for him, not much of a supporting cast.

[stoutguy]

Everything you've said is true. Nevertheless, even if Oxy is one of the first teams taken for Pool C, it's still one more turn that a WIAC at-large team would have to wait to get placed on the table as the West Region's next best Pool C candidate on Selection Monday.

So, I am hearing that Stout (who has the best chance right now at pool C in WIAC) might still have to run the table to get in.

[Gregory Sager]

The Blue Devils might be able to afford one more regular-season loss, particularly if it's the game at UW-LaCrosse (which would be worth more QOWI points than a home loss to UWSP), but if that happens they'd better make it all the way to the WIAC tourney championship game before losing if they want to get some consideration for Pool C on Selection Monday.

[frodotwo]

Tough game to watch at the Quandt last nite. WW basically took Point out of the game immediately with a tough "D" that just didn't quit. Point missed alot of shots, but from where I sat, it was due to the D. Point's motion offense was alot of running around, with very few picks that set anyone up for the open shot.  Jon Krull appears to be the only Pointer who can create a shot and when WW packed it in around him, there wasn't much of an opening to make a move. Great effort by the "D", which I haven't seen out of WW before. Drew Jackson had a nice game, but Point continues to lean very heavily on their "big three" for too much I think.

[playdefense]

Hey Old School....................I'm starting to enjoy reading several boards soley because of the information you provide on Wisconsin DIII Hoops.  Thanks for your insights and thoughts.  Hope one of your teams is in the post season!

[stoutguy]

The Blue Devils might be able to afford one more regular-season loss, particularly if it's the game at UW-LaCrosse (which would be worth more QOWI points than a home loss to UWSP), but if that happens they'd better make it all the way to the WIAC tourney championship game before losing if they want to get some consideration for Pool C on Selection Monday.

Thanks Greg. Now, are you paying attention, Stout?  This guy knows what he is talking about.  You know what has to be done and I don't want to stop watching games anytime soon, so let's cover all the bases and keep playing.

[Greek Tragedy]

Two more losses might be too much.  It's not like Stout has a super great QOWI.  I think it was in the mid-30's.  They are on top of the WIAC right now and if that holds true with two remaining games, that means they'll only have ONE away game left.  Losing at home is not very profitable when it comes to keeping a high QOWI.  Losing to La Crosse on the road won't kill them, but it would severely injure their chances.  As a WIAC fan, I would love to see Stout not win the conference tourney and still get a Pool C bid.  Five losses is a lot.  Oh yeah, I'm still rooting for Point this weekend!  (obviously).

[Wishoop23]

From watching the Point game last nite, it seems to me that Point needs to stop running that motion offense because they are bad at it.  It looks like guys are lost out there and just hoping to get open for a three.  And where is Point Defense at?? 

[stoutguy]

Off the basketball subject a tad, but Old School, where did you get your handle?  I watched the movie "Old School" on the bus ride home from Superior last night and I had a thought:Could "Old School" be Old School.  It was the uncut version and my favorite part was old "Blue" biting the dust. 

[BDB]

While your at it, Old School, tell us where the heck the name "Swampgoon" came from.     

[voice]

Congrat's to Coach Miller and UWW last night in its rout of Stevens Point at Quandt. According to today's Stevens Point Journal, the15-point loss was the largest at home for the Pointers since Feb. 22, 1995.

Defense was the key to Whitewater's domination. From the opening tip, WW's agressive defense took the Pointers totally out of its game.  Other than Jon Krull's ability to "create his shots" by driving to the hoop, SP seemed to have big problems getting uncontested shots inside three-point territory.

By the way, last night's victory was Pat Miller's 97th since taking over for Auggie Vander Muelen five years ago.  By attaining his 100th career victory this season, he will rank second in WIAC/WSUC history in "fastest to 100."  Only Ken Anderson acheived 100 wins isooner. Anderson accomplished the feat in just four seasons.  

[John Gleich]

From watching the Point game last nite, it seems to me that Point needs to stop running that motion offense because they are bad at it.  It looks like guys are lost out there and just hoping to get open for a three.  And where is Point Defense at?? 

Wishoop,

One thing that can't be understated about Point this year is their youth.  4 freshmen play 16+ minutes.  In a league like the WIAC, it takes some very special players to play (and suceed) on a consistent level.  For Point to have done as well as they have in the leauge thusfar, is really a testiment to the leadership of the veterans -- Krull, Bauer, Hicklin, Bouche and to the job that Semling has done, bringing this team together.  

If you're expecting to see out of this team what you saw last year from Point, you will be disappointed.  The bulk of the guys getting minutes had played together for at least 2 years, and 3 or 4 years for the seniors.  When you play with someone for a long time, you get to know each other's strengths and you can help each other take advantage of them.

While this seems like an offensive idea, the place where you see it most is on the defensive end.  Team defense, especially the type that Point plays, is about all 5 guys making it hard for the opposition to get good looks at the basket.  This, in turn, will cause the other team to shoot a lesser percentage, meaning less points, meaning Point wins ( ).  You're just going to have to give this team a little time from the defensive end.  I think they'll be back to the dominating defense you're used to in a year or two.

Particularly regarding your comments about the offense...  Point doesn't have a dominating post presence like they have, well, forever.  Krull CAN (and does) post up, and he's really good at it... but you can't rely on a 6'4" post player who is needed as a slasher, etc, especially in the WIAC.  The thing that Point has lacked this season (and the reason for all the perimeter shots) is that post player who can get in there and at least be a force to be reckoned with, either scoring, or getting fouled. 

What's amazing to me is that this team is STILL not out of the race.  A win at Stout on Saturday and a Whitewater loss (to, perhaps, Oshkosh... come on Titans, we're actually rooting for you!) and these guys are in a position for a conference title.

On a slightly different note... and from those who saw it, it sounded like Whitewater's defense was basically dominant last night... but Point only had 9 assists last night.  Point is second in the conference at 14.75 assists per...  That's 10 points (or more if they were 3's) that Point DIDN'T get.  Now, seeing that Point's shooting percentage was also 12% off the norm would account for that, but it really shows that Whitewater was able to take Point out of what they were doing. 

Coach Semling on the news last night after the game said he was disappointed by the lack of toughness he felt that the Pointers displayed in the wake of Whitewater's aggressiveness and pressure.  I just hope that Point can get it back together and knock of Stout again and really make this race interesting (especially for Point fans!!).