MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[John Gleich]

WIAC's about to lose another one against the CCIW.  Whitewater currently losing by 10 with about :40 to go to Elmhurst.

Perhaps it's the curse of Grinnell, b/c WW played pretty well and kept Grinnell to 90 pts, I believe, but they've gone ahead an allowed 95+ pts to Elmhurst.

:26 to go, now WW down 8 with the ball... and they miss, but get the ball back again, 97-91 after the WW layup, with :16 seconds to go, EC makes 1/2, :05, 98-91 EC ball.

And yep, Elmhurst beats WW 98-91.  UWW now 5-4.  Elmhurst scored 61 pts in the second half and made a bundle of free-throws down the stretch.  WW Cut the lead to 6 in the last minute, but they couldn't overcome the 14 pt deficit from earlier in the game.

[UWPSUPERFAN77]

I listened to the UWP vs RMSpringfield 2nd half and post game show. The reason for the loss was no defense and we did not get our post game into the flow. i do not think the opponent was that good. they play at Golds Gym. Is this the private gym or at their school.? RM Chicago is the King of the Chicago land Conference and are a great team. I saw them play last year and they are a D2 team that could beat some D1 teams. My pioneers gave them a game for 35 minutes last Year. Thank you for the -post on the non conference schedule, we need to save that one for selection week.Merry Christmas and God Bless!

[UWPSUPERFAN77]

Dear Point Special: You have hit it on the Head, UWW has to play some defense to win in the WIAC. Elmhurst is a good team. I saw them last year and UWP was fortunate to win. Blessings and Merry Christmas!

[Gregory Sager]

Yes Springfield is the lesser of the 2. RMC Springfield is a USCAA D1 team who recently had over half of the team get dismissed from the team. The core 5 from the past few seasons is still there and they took complete control of the game. Each player getting around 38 minutes. The bigger, stronger Platteville team could not keep up with the quickness of the eagles. Corley Lee led the eagles with 23 pts and 8 rebounds.

Actually, it appears that RMCS's best forward, Brian Price, didn't play in that game. I wonder if he was one of the players dismissed from the Eagles for academic reasons.

Corley Lee is a serious talent. He's a 6'6 former D1 guard who is now playing center, so he can face the basket and beat you off the dribble as well as post you up and score on you. A 23 and 8 game is about par for the course from him.

RMCS may be the lesser of the two Robert Morris teams, but the Eagles are not chopped liver. They're 5-3 against D3 competition this season, with a win over Millikin as well as the win over UW-Platteville, and they only lost to North Park by one and to CCIW preseason favorite North Central by ten.

RMCS doesn't have a home gym; the Eagles play their home games in Springfield's Prairie Capital Convention Center. It was probably booked on Saturday, which is why the game was played at Gold's Gym in Springfield instead. Oh, and RMCS's better-known sister campus, RMC-Chicago, is not D2. They're an NAIA Division I program, and perennially one of the best in the country at that level.

Anyone want to clue me in on Whitewater's win vs. Grinnell in Elmhurst?  126-90 or something like that.

Layup drill. That's about all that needs to be said about that game -- although Elmhurst head coach Mark Scherer gets my "canny coach of the week" award for making UWW play Grinnell in the opener of the Bluejay Backer Classic. As PS alluded, it's awfully hard to run up and down the floor with Grinnell one day and then come out sharp against a tough opponent the next day, even if you play your entire roster against the Pioneers, as Pat Miller did on Saturday. I'm sure that that was part of Scherer's plan to upend the Warhawks.

As the UWO people will tell you, the Bluejays are a good team. You don't want to play them with your legs at less than 100%.

[UWPSUPERFAN77]

Thank you for the correction on RM, I know NAIA, I just think they are the equivalent of D2Mr. Sager, keep us informed about BB in Ilinois, it is appreciated. Merry Christmas to You and your family!

[buck14]

Unfortunately, Brian Price was one of the players who was unable to make it academically. He brought a lot of energy and excitement to the eagles line up. With or without Price i think RMC would of won that game but, there may have been a few posterizing dunks on Plattevilles big boys.

This was also the first regular season game in RMCS history that has been played at Golds Gym. The home floor was booked for a high school shootout. Why the scheduling conflicts? I dont know, but judging a team by where they played a game at is not a very good idea. Escpecially after they just got done beating the supposively 13th D3 team in the nation.

On another note Congrats to Elmhurst for a big win over another WIAC powerhouse.

[Mr. Downtown]

Good thing Elmhurst is not in the WIAC...or they could be contending with Point this year.

Big game tonight at Kolf with LU coming into town. Should be a good one. Any posters going tonight?

[ItIsWhatItIs]

On another note Congrats to Elmhurst for a big win over another WIAC powerhouse.

Define powerhouse

[Greek Tragedy]

Big game tonight at Kolf with LU coming into town. Should be a good one. Any posters going tonight?

I'm thinking about coming, so don't ignore me this time! lol 

Where will you be?

Good thing Elmhurst is not in the WIAC...or they could be contending with Point this year.

Along with the likes of Augustana, Wheaton, Carthage, and IWU. 

For the purposes of this year, add Platteville, Whitewater, Oshkosh and La Crosse to the mix and you have yourself a VERY BIG 10 Conference! lol 

[Greek Tragedy]

Define powerhouse

traditional powerhouse

2005-2006: WIAC regular season and tournament champions.
2004-2005: 4th place finish (regular season), lost tournament final to Point (national champions)
2003-2004: Tied for 2nd place (reg. season)
2002-2003: 2nd place (reg. season)
2001-2002: Tied for 1st place (3-ways, reg. season). lost tourn. final to Oshkosh
2000-2001: Tied for 1st place (reg. season)

I think that's a pretty good run the last 6 years.  Aside from Point, there probably isn't another WIAC team with that consistency. 

[badgerwarhawk]

WW scored more baskets, including three-pointers, than Elmhurst and committed a season low 7 turnovers.  Though outrebounded 41-32 the WARHAWKS did manage to pull down 18 offensive rebounds to only 11 for Elmhurst.  But Elmhurst's innate ability to get to the charity stripe and  their hot shooting, particularly in the second half, pretty much tells the story in of the game.  Vernon, Perry and Toellner all foul out.  36 of their 98 points undefended from the free throw line.  

You would have thought it was a BADGER game.  

 

[Greek Tragedy]

Thanks for the info, BW.  Sounds like WW outplayed them, but again, free throws might have been the difference.  The CCIW is smoking the WIAC this year and the last hope is Point hosting Augustana at the end of the year.

11/18/06 Illinois Wesleyan 69, UW-Whitewater 68 (Overtime)
12/5/06 Elmhurst (IL) 55, UW-Oshkosh 52
12/17/06 Elmhurst (IL) 98, UW-Whitewater 91

At least we have the Midwest Conference to beat up on! 

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Define powerhouse

traditional powerhouse

2005-2006: WIAC regular season and tournament champions.
2004-2005: 4th place finish (regular season), lost tournament final to Point (national champions)
2003-2004: Tied for 2nd place (reg. season)
2002-2003: 2nd place (reg. season)
2001-2002: Tied for 1st place (3-ways, reg. season). lost tourn. final to Oshkosh
2000-2001: Tied for 1st place (reg. season)

I think that's a pretty good run the last 6 years.  Aside from Point, there probably isn't another WIAC team with that consistency. 

Well, I see...I would say traditionally competitive though.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, I see...I would say traditionally competitive though.

There is a lot of would've-could've-should'ves for Whitewater, IMO.  They blew a 20+ second half lead against Wesleyan and failed to make free throws at the end of that game.  It sounds like they outplayed Elmhurst, though I wasn't there and I haven't read the CCIW board to get "their" side of the story.  They should've beaten Point, but again failed to make free throws.  They lost to La Crosse at home, but the Eagles are a very good squad.  Carroll will be a test, but the other NathCon games should be wins, though they escaped Fond du Lac with a win against Marian.  They are "only" 5-4, but are still very competitive...and that's an understatement.  Look for them to be near the top of the WIAC come Feb.

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Whitewater this year is a very dangerous team, because they have not played quite well enough to win thus far, but when they do find a way to win they may just streak all the way to and or through the conference tourney.  It is interesting that teams can find ways to win or lose and they usually tend to do one or the other in ridiculous fashion.  Regarless of the competition.  As a fan it can get frustrating.