MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

An article in the Appleton paper this week said when Chris Braier turned down Stevens Point to go to Lawrence, Jack Bennett told him Lawrence is a second-tier school when it comes to basketball, and Braier has used that as motivation ever since.  If it was second-tier then, it certainly isn't anymore.

I didn't read the article (do you have a link?), so I don't know if Braier actually said that.  What I do know is that Jack Bennett DID NOT tell him Lawrence was a second-tier school.  I talked to Jack myself tonight at the Whitewater/Stout game and he told me he basically told Chris that if he wants to play against the elite and play at the highest level, come and play for Point and play in the WIAC.  I don't think there is much argument (especially four years ago) that the WIAC is the state standard for D3 basketball.  That's not a knock on the MWC or Lawrence.  I think anyone in the national scope will agree that the WIAC is one of the best and toughest leagues in the nation.  I believe this is what Coach Bennett was telling Mr. Braier.  If you want to translate that into Lawrence being a second-tier team, so be it.  Though Bennett didn't capture Braier as a recruit, I'm sure he's not disappointed with Jason Kalsow or Eric Maus. 

[Greek Tragedy]

By the way, it was nice to finally meet the old guard  , Stoutguy and BadgerWarhawk!  Sorry, uww4ever, I didn't really see any 6'7" guys in the student section.  I got in late.

[uww4ever]

No No old school, you get me totally wrong.....  Stout is a good team, i saw a lot in them that would put them in a bracket and really do some damage, i'm not saying that they are terrible.  i just say among the greatest conference finals that we have been apart of, can you say that this has been a poor performance?  For a team that beat us twice, once on the road and once at johnson fieldhouse, one night doesn't make the season that Stout had.  I respect them a great deal, just stiring the pot with WW having a tournament team....... I'm really excited.

Anyway, Stout, good luck in the tourney. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Had you said, maybe the poorest PERFORMANCE by a #2 seeded team you've seen in a conference tourney final, I wouldn't have jumped on you like that. 

[mythicalbird]

First time poster, but I am a seasoned reader of the boards.  Anyways, I made the trip to Whitewater tonight.  I was looking for a top notch game, but watched otherwise.  But don't be fooled, Whitewater does NOT want to see Stout in the tourney if they both end up in the same area.  I've seen Whitewater 4 times this year, and Stout 5......that is the BEST game I have seen Whitewater play, and BY FAR the worst game Stout has played.  On a neutral floor, where Stout has more than 300 fans (the rest stayed for the women's game) and Whitewater doesn't have the familiarity of their own floor, I have a feeling a tournament game would play more true with Stout coming out on top.  Some shots tonight that fell for Whitewater defied logic and it seemed as though a lid was placed on Stout's baskets in each half.  As stated before, I really hope these teams go separate directions.  It would be nice to have 2 WIAC teams in as long as possible.  I don't think we're as "weak" as everyone thinks we are.  On a different note, it was nice to see the pregame ceremony for the 50 year vet of the conference.  It was my personal highlight of the night, a very special moment.  Actually, maybe not as special as Williams "throw down" over Nonemacher, but special none the less.

[bbbmd6]

Stout is a great team and deserves to get a bid regardless but tonight the Warhawks were by far the best team but Stout did not play their best game - WW took out the the highly ranked Blue Devils from start to finish. Even Fast-Eddie remarked that the Blue Devils could not match the intensity the Warhawks presented. Whitewater does not want to face Stout again but due to the dip-****s in the NCAA they probably will again too soon. Neither team is afraid of Carroll or Lawrence as their seasonal competition is nearly the same as what WIAC teams see on a weekly basis. If they should have to face each other again, it should be for a Final Four bid as they have proven they are both among the best teams in the nation - let's hear someone claim different!

[stormy]

I made the trip to Whitewater tonight. I was looking for a top notch game, but watched otherwise. But don't be fooled, Whitewater does NOT want to see Stout in the tourney if they both end up in the same area.

Whitewater does not want to face Stout again

Whitewater will play any d3 team any time, any place. whitewater had a top notch defensive game plan and followed it through from start to finish. sorry your team did not have a top notch game.

  I seem to remember

thanks for the blow-out reminder - maybe coach miller used that as a reminder to raise "(our) beloved warhawks" INTENSITY level.  Whitewater played 4 of their last five conference games on the road in must win situations. they went into Zorn arena on 2/18 and ran into a team with a high INTENSITY level start to finish. Thanks to two free throws by Jeremy Manchester (MVP) with .01 on the clock Whitewater (with some help from "your beloved" pointers) won an undisputed conference championship and HOME court advantage. Last night's crowd, the largest in years, helped to fuel the INTENSITY level.  Many times the best teams do not prevail because they cannot match the INTENSITY level of the other good team. You have seen this in the past, present and will see INTENSITY prevail in the future for your team and against your team. This DIII WIAC BASKETBALL! 8) 8) 8)

[voice]

Whitewater enters the NCAA Division III tournament playing its best basketball of the season.  The Hawks win 10 out of its last 11 games to the outright WIAC title.  You can point to a number of reasons for the Warhawks strong finish but anyone that has followed Whitewater's title run closely will tell you that the two seniors in the starting lineup, Jeremy Manchester and Melvin Williams, led their team to the league title. Great job Hawks and lets not end this journey until another D3 trophy is displayed in Paul Plinske's office.

[voice]

Pat Coleman and his crew have been truely amazing over the years in picking how is in, and who is out, in D3 basketball and football bracketology. Those who follow the WIAC have felt a snub over the past several years when only the WIAC tournament champion is included in the D3 national tournament bracket.
Will this year be any different?  In today's d3football.com daily dose, Pat is predicting that THREE teams from the WIAC will be "dancing" later this week.
Whitewater gets the automatic bid... but he also is predicting that both Stout and La Crosse will be Pool C qualifiers!   WOW!!

[Pat Coleman]

La Crosse is our last team in. There's no margin for error or more bubble room for that pick. If a favorite loses today we would drop them out.

[mab]

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060223/APC0201/602230722/1009/APC02

It sounds like Braier and Bennett have different recollections - that happens.  They both seem like top tier people.

Congrats to the Whitewater coaches, players and fans.  After having to sweat out some eventually disappointing selection Sundays, they left no doubt last night.  This will be an enjoyable week or two or three.

It looks like Stout is also going to get a bid.  The score from last night would almost lead someone to believe there was something funny going on, like the league trying to get an extra team in the big tourney.  There is so much money involved in D1 that those things happen there, but I doubt if it ever would in D3.

The WIAC team or teams will most likely get to host a pretty easy opponent in the first round.  In the second round, they will most likely have to go to a 1 or 2 seed, and that won't be easy.  WIAC teams have had success in those games in the past.  Hopefully that will continue this year.  Best of luck.

[badgerwarhawk]

I'm not sure I've seen a WARHAWK[/color] team play with as much intensity and discipline as we're playing with right now.  Stout is a good team.  They just got caught in a whirlwind.  Maybe another day and another place things would have been different but last night, in our gym, we just weren't going to be denied again.  We put the proverbial pedal to the metal and never took it off.  If we can play like that we can play with any D3 team in the nation and be difficult to beat.  

OS, it was nice to finally meet you.  Thanks for coming down to watch us play and for taking the time to say hi.  Stoutguy, it's always a pleasure to see you but did you have to tell Jack who I was.  I've poked at him a few times but I have a lot of respect for him, what he's accomplished and what it's meant to the WIAC in general.   I have to admit that I was pretty surprised he would be so interested in meeting me.

BDBob, you picked the right game to attend.   Congrats to the BlueDevil women's team.  

The beer and liquor flowed abundantly and into the wee hours at the ole Lone Star.  It was a hell of a celebration.

Now for the league to make some noise on the national scene.  Good luck everyone, how ever many of us there are.

[Greek Tragedy]

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060223/APC0201/602230722/1009/APC02

It sounds like Braier and Bennett have different recollections - that happens.  They both seem like top tier people.

mab,

Thanks for the link.  Like I said.  I have a lot of respect for Braier and I don't want to sound like I was starting a war of words or anything.  Jack seemed a little annoyed when he told me when he read the post.  He's a fan now, so he is able to read this board now!    Like you said, they have different recollections and I'm not one to say what Braier or Bennett said or meant.  And yes, they are both top tier people.

Over in the Pool C board, I tried to "predict" the West/Midwest/South Sectional and I think Lawrence will get a bye and host the winner of one of the LMC teams (Lakeland may get a Pool C) and possibly a CCIW team (AQ North Central).  I have Whitewater in a 1st weekend regional with Carroll, WLC and a MIAC team (St. Thomas won the AQ and going into the weekend Carleton was #3 in the West Region Rankings).  Stout will be in with a possible South Region team, the other MIAC team and the IIAC qualifer, Buena Vista...all speculation of course!  Good luck to both WIAC teams.  If either host or if either regionals are "nearby" I'm hoping to attend.

Great sized crowd in Whitewater last night.  The boxscore says 1650.  This site has Kachel holding 3000.  It looked pretty full last night, so I think that count (3000) is a little off.  I've never been down there before, and I see they have bleachers like the new ones a Quandt...maybe that cut down on the capacity.

[uww4ever]

What was stupid about last nights game was there was a mix of "Student section" fans and regular fans in section A so we couldn't stand and really give the hawks a "home court" feel.  I had to ask many people behind me if it was all right to stand and clap and really cheer on a good effort by both Stout and UWW, unfortunate that there were many parent and kids who choose to sit.

Page was also honored at the game for 50 years of service for the WIAC.  I didn't stay for the award ceremony, I don't know if Stout stayed on the court for it either, but will UWW have a home game in the tourney?  Interesting to see the brackets and I wish I could travel for the tourney to see if Hawk's intensity can lead them to a couple of wins.

[badgerwarhawk]

OS, when gym was remodeled seating was lost.  I think the actual capacity right now is about 2300.