MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

You could use last year as an barometer.  La Crosse got in at 20-7 (and just 18-7 in-region) as a Pool C.  So, with the expansion of the Pool C bid, seven losses might get you in.

I was a year off. So sue me. It used to take a .750 or better before last year's Pool C expansion; now it takes about a .700 to get into the ballpark, and I'm still not used to typing that new number yet.

If you look at the list Q provided, you'll see that the two lowest winning percentages of teams that made the Pool C cut were UW-LaCrosse (.720) and Illinois Wesleyan (.714). Consider them your baseline. But don't look at losses, as OS is leading you down the garden path by talking about seven losses and suchlike. The criterion is regional winning percentage, not regional wins and losses. If you have a big pile o' wins, seven losses is do-able. If you have a low number of regional wins (i.e., you play a low number of regional games, as many of the MIAA schools are prone to do), five losses can be too many. It's winning percentages that matter, not number of losses.

And, remember, regional winning percentage is only one of the five primary criteria for determining Pool C, although it and QOWI are the two of the five that everyone seems to think are the most important.

[chmarx]

Glad I brought this up.  I'm learning a lot about how the selections are made.

[Greek Tragedy]

You could use last year as an barometer.  La Crosse got in at 20-7 (and just 18-7 in-region) as a Pool C.  So, with the expansion of the Pool C bid, seven losses might get you in.

I was a year off. So sue me.

The criterion is regional winning percentage, not regional wins and losses. If you have a big pile o' wins, seven losses is do-able. If you have a low number of regional wins (i.e., you play a low number of regional games, as many of the MIAA schools are prone to do), five losses can be too many. It's winning percentages that matter, not number of losses.

I won't sue you.  I was adding a possible alternative...so I wasn't contradicting! lol.  Anyway, I used losses as a barometer, but I also included the record.  I think most would figure out that 18-7 isn't the same as 14-7. 

Glad I brought this up.  I'm learning a lot about how the selections are made.

In all honesty, I think most posters just view this site as an opportunity to trash talk about their teams or conferences and look up scores (though some don't even know those are posted here).  Many don't realize, thanks to Pat, among others, that this site is VERY informative, not only in learning things, but also the neat little stories about players and teams that some pass up on the front page. 

[David Collinge]

And, remember, regional winning percentage is only one of the five primary criteria for determining Pool C, although it and QOWI are the two of the five that everyone seems to think are the most important.

The other three are as follows:

• In-region head-to-head competition.
• In-region results vs. common regional opponents.
• In-region results vs. regionally ranked teams
Ranked opponents are defined as those teams ranked at the time of the ranking/selection process only.

The first two (head-to-head and common opponents) are only relevant when considering team A vs. team B, while QoWI and regional win % can be compared across all regional teams.  The third one, results vs. ranked teams, is almost an unknowable factor for us, since as the note suggests, it is only the final regional ranking that counts, and that ranking is not released to the public.

So while it may be true that QoWI and regional win % are thought to be the more important factors, it also may be true that they seem to be more important because they're the most easily quantified and thus most discussable.

[John Gleich]

Finals:

Platte 61 EC 58
Oshy 90 RF 67
LaX 90 Sup 67
WW 65 Stout 59

[buf]

UWP repeats what they did a couple weeks ago - they trail the whole game until the final seconds and win.  UWP leads for like 30sec the entire game.

EC came out hot in the 1st half to take a 9 point lead at the half.  They then went on a 5-0 run to start the 2nd to take a 40-26 lead and it looked like EC may ruin Bo Ryan day.  UWP kept chipping away at the lead, numerous times coming within one possession of tying or taking the lead.  However, to UWEC's credit, they hit crucial shots and kept the lead.  EC takes a 4pt lead with less than a minute, but UWP hits a 3.  UWP then forces a jump ball and go on to score the go ahead points.  A steal and 2 FTs later UWP extends the lead to 3 and the sell out crowd watches EC miss one last attempt to send the game to OT.  A perfect ending to Bo Ryan day for the Pioneers.

While EC did a good job at hitting some crucial FGs, they did a poor job hitting crucial FT's.  EC was only 4-9 on FTs.  In the last couple of minutes they missed a front end of a 1-1 and went 1-2 on another trip.  Despite this, EC played pretty well and are showing some signs of improvement after getting blown out a few games in early January.

[fredfalcon]

BDB--It's good to see you don't give in to pressure like stoutguy did in his pick of Stout over WW. Though that's not exactly an example of "peer pressure," it will truly be "beers for peers" Wednesday nite at the Alehouse, depending on who wins, of course. I'm looking forward to a victory swig or two.

[bulk19]

UWPSUPERFAN77 -
Waiting for your thoughts on the Bo Ryan day down there!

So, the Golds lead 58-57 with 33 seconds left, have the ball and call a time out, to set up a play... They have a turnover, and the Pioneers go down to score to take the lead 59-58...

Blugolds come back down and with 16 seconds left, call another TO, I'm presuming to draw up a play. After the time out, another turnover. Seems to me they have had some other problems down the stretch in having turnovers coming out of time outs... EXECUTION...

Your take on it? What happened on these two plays? I could only hear on the radio... Did the Pioneer D create them, of did the offense just screw up? I can't understand how they call a time out, draw up a play and then turn the ball over right after that???

Oh, since I just love free throws... 4 of 9 from the stripe to the Golds... But the bright spot? They led the game for 38 minutes! 

Good crowd on hand - 2,300. But only 300 stayed around for the women's game? The reverse scenario happens in EC...

[Greek Tragedy]

Mr. Downtown MIA?

I was at the Oshkosh game, didn't see you guys doing any radio stuff.  Were you there?  You missed your pick em and your fantasy league.  More comments on the game(s) later.

[chmarx]

Last year Cobb schooled Werner when La Crosse hosted Superior.  This year, he played well, but I think Werner outplayed him.

Brian asked me who would get our rebounds next year without Werner.  I replied, "Our opponents."

[stoutguy]

BDB--It's good to see you don't give in to pressure like stoutguy did in his pick of Stout over WW. Though that's not exactly an example of "peer pressure," it will truly be "beers for peers" Wednesday nite at the Alehouse, depending on who wins, of course. I'm looking forward to a victory swig or two.

I notice that you are always talking beer and Alehouse when you know darn well that I do road games on Wednesdays.  That means I am in RF for the women's game, Mr. Big Shot Mayor.  Is Davis out for the season?  Can't you at least get him into a Tractor Driving class and get him back on the court.  He was fun to watch.

[fredfalcon]

stoutguy--I've learned that it's always best to offer to buy when you know the int4nded recipient wont/can't accept. The first rule of politics is always to get credit for things you don't actually do--talk a good game in other words. Sorry I'll miss you again.

I think Davis is done for the year, altho Jeff Berkhof said he has a "50/50 chance" of competing if the grade not yet reported from his J Term course is high enough. I hope he makes it.

[stoutguy]

stoutguy--I've learned that it's always best to offer to buy when you know the int4nded recipient wont/can't accept. The first rule of politics is always to get credit for things you don't actually do--talk a good game in other words. Sorry I'll miss you again.

I think Davis is done for the year, altho Jeff Berkhof said he has a "50/50 chance" of competing if the grade not yet reported from his J Term course is high enough. I hope he makes it.

I do too, Mayor.  He was amazing to watch in the La Crosse/RF game.  The best player on the court that night.   Tell me if I should pick RF Wed. night.  I have no read on Stout at all. 

[Greek Tragedy]

UW-La Crosse 90, UW-Superior 67   
UW-Oshkosh 90, UW-River Falls 67
UW-Platteville 61, UW-Eau Claire 58
UW-Whitewater 65, UW-Stout 59


A sleeper of a game in Oshkosh yesterday.  I didn't see cubs, Mr. Downtown or titansrus there.  Were you guys doing the radio at all?  Anyway, River Falls did make it a game (17-16 Osh) for about 7 minutes until Oshkosh went on a run and within five minutes, they were up by 15.  Lights out basically the rest of the way. 

Down 24 at the break, River Falls did cut it to 14 a couple of times, but I don't think Oshkosh ever felt they were threatened. Gibson had a great all-around game with 10 pts, 6ast, 6 reb and 11 blks.  Some guy I've only heard in passing on this board, DJ Marsh, I think was his name ( lol  ) had a decent game with 16 pts and 2 rebs and 3 stls.  It's an OK player! j/k.

Robertson had a good offensive night, but still seems like he's limping around a lot.  He only had ONE rebound...looking like he wasn't even making an effort. 

Pearson also had a decent game, 11 pts, 5 rebs and 3 asts. 

Best shot of the game was, Pearson, I think...he was on the baseline near the side, angle-wise, behind the rim and he launches a long two-point shot that he actually banked off the backboard and in!

HUGE game on Wednesday with La Crosse coming into town. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Last year Cobb schooled Werner when La Crosse hosted Superior.  This year, he played well, but I think Werner outplayed him.

Brian asked me who would get our rebounds next year without Werner.  I replied, "Our opponents."

Funny you mention this.  I was thinking about this earlier...

Maybe not "our opponents"

Stevens Point-graduating Jon Krull 4.7 reb/gm (leads team)

Eau Claire-Junior Dan Beyer 6.7 reb/gm (leads team)

La Crosse-graduating Joe Werner 9.7 (leads team)

Oshkosh-graduating Jim Capelle 6.3, and Kerry Gibson 8.1 (leads team)

Platteville-graduating Mark Gossens 6.1 (2nd on team) (returns injured Skemp for possibly two years)

River Falls-Fresh. Nate Robertson 6.9 (leads team), Jun. Courtney Davis 5.2

Stout-graduating Jacob 9.3 (leads team) and John 5.4 Nonemacher returns Heisler 5.5

Superior-graduating James Nobles 8.7 (leads team) and Leonard Cobb 7.9

Whitewater-graduating Toellner 2.6 and Fruend 3.6 (2nd on team) returns Rob Perry 5.4 (leads team)

A lot of big men leaving the conference.