MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

1. Oshkosh:  They're pissed.  They had a horrible season and with four senior starters, they'll show this year was a fluke.
2. Stevens Point:  Bauer will be missed, but hopefully Beamish will learn not to be afraid to shoot the ball.
3. Whitewater:  Manchester and Williams were the only two double-digit scorers on the team.
-------------------------
4. Stout:  Nonemacher is there, but inside players Chaisson and Farmer are huge losses.
5. La Crosse:  Warner is a stud.
6. Platteville:  LaVon Crawford finally graduates.
-------------------------
7. River Falls:  Hans Hoeg can light it up.
8. Eau Claire:  What will the player turnover look like?
9. Superior:  They'll win two conference games next year.

I think the top 3 can be interchangeable.  I'd put Stout in the next three with La Crosse and Platteville because Farmer is a huge loss and BDB and Stoutguy said he's the team's POTY. 

[BDB]

I think the top 3 can be interchangeable.  I'd put Stout in the next three with La Crosse and Platteville because Farmer is a huge loss and BDB and Stoutguy said he's the team's POTY. 

I agree that losing Farmer is a big loss, and I believe he was our POY.

However, both Nonemachers will continue to improve, as well as Chandler and Stangl. Those guards will be starting in their 3rd year as Juniors.

And to replace Chaisson is Nate Severson, who was a key reason they beat Augustana back in December. He has been out with injury for a couple months but will be fine next season.

Eric Heisler, who got alot of minutes this year most likely will replace Farmer.

[Greek Tragedy]

Would there ever be a situation where they'd play both Nonemachers at the same time?

[BDB]

Would there ever be a situation where they'd play both Nonemachers at the same time?

It would have to be a special situation I think.

Eddie believes with both 7 footers on the floor at the same time it opens the defense to other options they can't defend.

[diehardfan]

This week, the biggest governing body on College Broadcasting, National Broadcasting Society have listed there National Nominees.

In the category of Best Sports Play-by-Play for both Radio AND TV...

is me 

You can take a gander here:
http://www.nbs-aerho.org/docs/2005-2006_Comptetion_Finalists.pdf

There's 5 pages of it, but the first one is on the bottom page.

Again, for those who don't know...I go to UW-Oshkosh (WHOA!! Major shocker there!!  )

Also, titansrus was the color man for the Audio piece.

Awards will be given out next saturday in Washington DC.

Neato! And congrats. Have some karma to celebrate. 

[buf]

And to replace Chaisson is Nate Severson, who was a key reason they beat Augustana back in December. He has been out with injury for a couple months but will be fine next season.

I was wondering what happened to Severson.  I was hoping (for Stout's sake) that he didn't quit again.

[chmarx]

I'm not going to try to seed the whole conference.

As far as La Crosse, I think we'll have a hard time having as good a year as this one.  We are going to be thin in the forecourt unless Koebl recruits some good big men who can contribute right away.  Fifth or sixth sounds about right.  We probably won't be able to win all our nonconference games either, and probably won't get a bid.

I'm just hoping we have a solid season and continue to rebuild the program.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm not going to try to seed the whole conference.

As far as La Crosse, I think we'll have a hard time having as good a year as this one.  We are going to be thin in the forecourt unless Koebl recruits some good big men who can contribute right away.  Fifth or sixth sounds about right.  We probably won't be able to win all our nonconference games either, and probably won't get a bid.

I'm just hoping we have a solid season and continue to rebuild the program.

Way to sandbag them! lol.    Actually, I had them down that far, not because of a lack of talent, but because everyone else is that good or going to be that good or continue to be that good!  No disrespect to La Crosse...(not that I thought you'd think that)...

[bankshot]

News from River Falls today.  Best wishes to Rick, always a class act.

After 20 years as UW-River Falls' men's basketball coach, Rick Bowen announced Thursday he is resigning to become the university's full-time athletic director, effective April 1.

Bowen has been the head basketball coach at UW-RF since 1986 and has served as coach and athletic director since 2004, the only coach in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) to hold both positions. He said the decision to give up coaching was not an easy one, but he looks forward to continuing to serve the university as its athletic director.

"The University has given me the opportunity to be the full-time athletic director at UW-River Falls. I am accepting the offer," Bowen said in a statement released Thursday morning. "The basketball program has been my life and my passion the past 20 years. That passion and love remain. It is just time."

Bowen leaves with a record of 265-249 at UW-RF. His 265 wins are the most by a coach in university history and seventh on the all-time WIAC list. He was named WIAC Coach of the Year and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) West Region Coach of the Year in 2003-04 after guiding UW-RF to its first conference championship in 54 years.

UW-RF Chancellor Don Betz has appointed Jeff Berkhof, a former Falcon player and assistant coach under Bowen the last 11 years, as interim head coach for the 2006-07 season.

Bowen said he is excited about serving the interests of all the UW-RF athletic teams' programs and facilities as athletic director.

"The work loads of both positions demand a full-time person," he said. "I am proud to be the full-time athletic director at UW-River Falls. I am also pleased the Jeff Berkhof will be replacing me as interim basketball coach."

Bowen said he was grateful for the opportunity to coach the Falcons the last 20 years.

"Being the basketball coach at UW-River Falls has been the privilege of my life," he said. "I leave the program with a profound sense of gratitude and thanks for a university and a community that has allowed me to do what I love and supported me so well."

[uww4ever]

Surprising news from RF.  I am from there and Coach Bowen has always been a class act and there has never been a bad word said about him at all (at least I don't think). 

Interim coach?  Why don't they just name a person to take over?  This interim crap is getting old, maybe they should contact coach Dickie Bennett

He coached many great players, my first introduction to the WIAC was players like Rick Montreal, Dean Cook among others, but that Rich Melzer team will be remembered for a long time.  Should have gotten a shot at a National Championship IMO.

GO LAWRENCE

[Gregory Sager]

Surprising news from RF.  I am from there and Coach Bowen has always been a class act and there has never been a bad word said about him at all (at least I don't think). 

I had an e-mail exchange with Coach Bowen a few years ago during one of the redshirting debates. He struck me as an articulate defender of the WIAC who had an excellent knowledge of the D3 landscape. And he was very gracious. I hope he enjoys his new post at UWRF.

Interim coach? Why don't they just name a person to take over? This interim crap is getting old, maybe they should contact coach Dickie Bennett

UWRF is a state-owned institution, so Wisconsin law requires that certain protocols be followed in terms of advertising any full-time job at the school. In other words, the state won't allow a school to simply name a successor without a search.

[laxeagles1]

I'm not going to try to seed the whole conference.

As far as La Crosse, I think we'll have a hard time having as good a year as this one.  We are going to be thin in the forecourt unless Koebl recruits some good big men who can contribute right away.  Fifth or sixth sounds about right.  We probably won't be able to win all our nonconference games either, and probably won't get a bid.

I'm just hoping we have a solid season and continue to rebuild the program.

I completely disagree with you chmarx.  I think with warner in the middle and any big man stepping upt hey are fine down there.  Pelkofer is a great underrated player and will get his chance this year.  Brandon Brown, Ask, Bach, Pelkofer they are fine in the backcourt.  I also expect Kegler to step it up although I so dislike his game he will be vital next year.

[voice]

Today's news of Rick Bowen stepping down as the longtime head coach at RF is not that surprising.
The term "Class Act" that has been used on this website today in connection with Coach Bowen is truly appropriate.  As a journalist, I alway appreciated at WIAC Media Day each year the way Rick would answer a question.  Instead of skirting the issue, he would speak from the heart and lay it on the line.  We need more of those kind of coaches in NCAA Division III athletics. 
As we say goodbye to the "Dean" of WIAC men's basketball coaches, I sure hope Coach Bowen's longtime assistant, Jeff Berkhof, will get the UWRF coaching job on a permanent basis.  Much as Pat Miller did under Augie Vander Meulen, Jeff has certainly "earned his wings" and in my mind would make an excellent head coach in the WIAC. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Maybe Tharp can go to River Falls...there seems to be talks in the past about Tharp possibly leaving Lawrence for a "bigger" job and MWC posters had asked in the past if there were any WIAC jobs open...I guess there is now.  

[proudofLU]

I hope not.