MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

It sounds like Whitewater needs to send some students for a semester at Otterbein, where they offer a major in attendance guessing. 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

I voted other in the poll.

I'm including Jason Price vs. Carroll College.  29 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts, 9 3's

7 of the 9 3's in the first half

If you noticed, they were all conference games.  I didn't include nonconference games in the survey.  Going through all the conference games was enough! 

More comments later on, wow, all the posts! lol 

My bad!!!!    Strike it from the record book!  I'll vote as someone else, just don't turn me in for voter fraud

My thoughts on fieldhouses/gymnasiums/centers

UWP- Was fun in the 90's, can still be fun...just not as loud.  Does need new rims and backboards for that matter.  Something a little softer would be nice for the shooters

WW- Nice gym, great facilities now out side of the gym.  Always fun here just because it's Whitewater.  Would've liked to witness some Bo vs Auggie games.

RF- Reminds me of a small local High School gym.  Always weird going to Oshkosh, then Falls.  It's almost like being back home for the small town kids.

Sup- Yuck...dark yellow lighting (at least when i was there).  Always seemed there was draft coming in from Lake Superior.

EC- Other than Bo Ryan Court in Williams Fieldhouse, this is my favorite gym.  Get it packed in there and it fun.  Friendly (IMO) shooting and playing environment.

Stout - Not a big fan of this one.  Reminds me of a mini Kolf, only the bleachers touch the walls.  Nice facility though.

LaX- Neat place.  Big, lots of hallways.  I'd imagine good environment if it was full or even half full....I'm optimistic!

SP -  Although the Pioneers lack of success in this building, great atmosphere for DIII basketball, epecially during tourney time when everyone is wound up.

Osh-  I think I've covered this one, well for me any way.

[Mr. Downtown]

Yes, when the Titans play the Warhawks, it's always a big game.


Oshkosh doesn't always build (or for that matter, improve) facilities with only their athletic program in mind.

For example, the Oshkosh Sports Complex (Titan Stadium) has the new field turf and one of the best track surfaces money can buy.

Its not only for UWO athletes, but the university already has the National Championships at Oshkosh the next two years, and its bidding for the State Football Championship. Rumor has it that it's also (if not) trying to take the State Track and Field championship away from La Crosse.


So when they built Kolf, it's not so they can brag about having a huge arena to play in, it's so that UW-Oshkosh can be a site for National Competitions.


If you want to see Kolf packed, come to a West vs North game. Both High Schools have just recently signed a two year deal to play at Kolf, because both gyms (North holds 3,000...West holds 2500) are too small for the contests.

First game they played at Kolf this year...

Sold out.


If UW-O finds a way into the National Tourney AND finds a way to host that first round game, I can assure you AT LEAST 2,000 people would show up.

Last time UW-O packed Kolf...2004 when Oshkosh beat then #1 Point.  2,604 people were in attendence.

[Greek Tragedy]

Old School:
Perhaps we quibble over the definition of "size."  Aside from the obvious really tall guys (Kerry, the Nonamachers), nobody else you noted it taller than 6'7". 
Tall in terms of the general public, yes.  Tall in terms of basketball, no.  There just aren't that many meaningful players 6'9" or up in the league this year.

When regarding basketball, size, IMO, doesn't mean just tall.  I mean effective post players.  You can be tall and just stand there, or you can be a 6'4" Jon Krull and be very good in the post.  All because Werner is only 6'7" doesn't mean he isn't a stud in the post and will most likely get POTY.  Remember, we're D3, we don't get many 6'9" or taller guys.  Believe me, I'd rather have Werner than a tall stick boy.  Name a year when there were "many" meaningful players 6'9" or up.  Rich Melzer was 6'8", Kalsow 6'7",

EC:  Haven't been there in ages.  But, the FSN guys are right, but up all the individual banners, not that one generic banner with the years on it.  

RF:  Nice size, not too big, not too small.  Good if you get a fullhouse in there, but not too huge if you only get a couple of hundred.

ST:  I like it.  It helps that they draw well, especially the women's games too.  The atmosphere is great.

Osh:  Snoozefest.  Way too big for a regular season game, but hosting a "quad" would work.  In addition to the huge capacity, it's not very cozy at all.  Way too much "empty" space for a basketball game.

PL:  Old but has a nice traditional feeling to it.

LX:  The lighting is really bad, especially if you sit up past halfway.  

WW:  Ceiling seems really low, but a cozy place if they could have fans not dressed as empty bleachers.

SP:  I like the double-level on one side (though if you are up at the top of the second level, can't see everything) and the close quarters of the stands.  Right on top of you.

Never been to Superior.  Was planning on going this year, but something was scheduled the same day.

[Greek Tragedy]

If UW-O finds a way into the National Tourney AND finds a way to host that first round game, I can assure you AT LEAST 2,000 people would show up.

Last time UW-O packed Kolf...2004 when Oshkosh beat then #1 Point.  2,604 people were in attendence.

I'll believe that when I see it.    I thought the same when Whitewater hosted last year.  They got 2500 in there on Friday for the first round game (it's noted there were a lot of Carroll fans there) and only 1750 for the Regional Championship against Illinois Wesleyan. Of course, we're talking the Whitewater attendence figures here, so can we trust that count, BW? lol 

[Greek Tragedy]

Congrats to Hicklin and Werner!

After spending WAY TOO MUCH time on deciding who I was going to vote for, I've made my decision...

Khalifa El-Amin!  Why?  Well, I'll tell you WHY NOT for the others...just for good reading, I'm sure NO ONE really cares! lol.

The reason I had Chris "Don't Ask Don't Tell" on the list is because of the 6 steals.  That leads the league in conference play with Jason "Straight Outta" Clopton and Brandon Brown coming up with 5 steals, ironically, both against Oshkosh.  If Ask hit double-digits in rebounds and added a couple of more assists, he'd get a lot of consideration.

Kerry "Don't call me Debbie" Gibson was my initial choice, considering he owns THE ONLY TRIPLE DOUBLE in the league this year.  With Gibson on my mind, naturally I had to look at Jacob's "Ladder" Nonemacher's performance...although he was just a rebound short of his own triple double, more points and more assists, the latter impressive for a guy 7-feet tall, IMO.

Rortvedt's 35 , which included 7 bombs is impressive, but he lacked in other statistical categories (4 rebs, 2 asts, 1 blk)...I'm all for the "all-around player".  He's had two double-doubles in points and rebounds, so if he had, say, 8 rebounds and/or 5 or 6 assists as well, then he'd get it.

Ryan "I'm not related to Tommy" Thompson (I don't know, maybe he is) has a pretty good statline as well.  18 points on 4 3-pters, as well as 10 dimes is very good.  There has only been three times when someone has had 10 or more assists.  But, Thompson's downfall is that he had NO steals and just four boards.  Bump that up to 6 or 8, and I'd have to think about it.

Werner is a victim of his own success.  He's had 11 double-doubles.  I almost put in Werner's 23 pt and 19 reb performance vs. Whitewater, simply because of 19 rebounds!.  Put five or more blocks up there and you have yourself a winner.

Speaking of winner...

Khalifa El "Camino"-Amin gets it for several reasons.  As I said before, 10 assists (or more) has only happened three times this year.  Getting more than El-Amin's four steals (5 or better, obviously) has only been done six times this season and just half that many in conference.  Lastly, the thing that impressed me was his FIVE rebounds.  Sure, lots of players get five rebounds, but not everyone is 5'8".  Put together one of top three assist performances, four steals, and the five boards by a guy just 5 inches taller than me and you have your Poll Winner, at least in my book!  Ironic that I can't even spell his name right on the poll.

CONGRAT'S KHALIFA EL-AMIN!

We now return to your normal posting activities!

[janesvilleflash]

Was at Osh when Kalsow hit the three to beat WW in the tournament at the buzzer. Pretty full then, and really exciting.

[bulk19]

Oshkosh doesn't always build (or for that matter, improve) facilities with only their athletic program in mind.

For example, the Oshkosh Sports Complex (Titan Stadium) has the new field turf and one of the best track surfaces money can buy.

Its not only for UWO athletes, but the university already has the National Championships at Oshkosh the next two years, and its bidding for the State Football Championship. Rumor has it that it's also (if not) trying to take the State Track and Field championship away from La Crosse.

When UWL topped $5 million in fundraising last spring for a new stadium and track, it basically assured itself of keeping the state track meet there... UW-Oshkosh administration was then said to say that that event was off therefore off the radar screen, as reported in the La Crosse Tribune at the time...

[John Gleich]

Ok, as promised...


Gates Fieldhouse (now Mortorelli Gym) in Superior- I've never seen the gym when they've opened (or had reason to open) the full bleachers opposite the scoring table and benches.  Instead, they put in bleachers across the far sideline that are 3-4 bleachers in height.  And fail to fill even those up.  Nonetheless, Superior is a tough place to play for a few distinct reasons... It's so gosh darn remote, and it's so quiet in the gym, you can hear everything.  There is negative energy, so when Superior's 200 fans come out, you can hear each and every one... and, like Oshkosh's Superfan, they're not really shy... but seriously, who are they going to be embarrassed in front of?  NO ONE IS THERE!

Karges Gym in River Falls- Small... feels like a high school gym.. In fact, I think my high school gym was bigger.  Great gym to shoot in, for some reason... maybe because the backdrop is so much like a high school...?  I dunno.  Saw the most amazing shooting performance I've ever seen there.  Josh Iserloth was 8/8 from 3 and 14/18 from the field for 40 points.  Ron Nolting also hit 5/6... Point hit 17/26 3's in a 94-79.  But this wasn't the only great shooting performance Point has had at RF... I looked back at all the seasons at Karges, because Coach Bennett used to say "We always seem to shoot well here."

1998 8/19 42.1% from 3 64.8% from the field
1999 8/15 53.3% from 3 45.6% from the field
2000 8/16 50.0% from 3 55.8% from the field
2001 15/26 57.7% from 3 55.1% from the field
2002 17/26 65.4% from 3 63.5% from the field
2003 6/11 54.5% from 3 44.7% from the field
2004 6/22 27.2% from 3 41.2% from the field (Only loss at Karges since 1993-94)
2005 8/19 42.1% from 3 50% from the field
2006 11/23 47.8% from 3 46.3% from the field
2007 8/19 42.1% from 3 46.0% from the field

During these 10 seasons:

95/196 48.7% from 3.  If you take out the 2004 loss, it raises to 51.1% over 9 seasons.  WOW.  ... So, basically Point likes playing at River Falls!  It's good for the shooting percentage!


Zorn Arena in Eau Claire- I never really liked EC too much... the Point/EC rivalry over the years made this a get-in/get-out type of game... plus the locker room they put us in was tiny and always really hot.  It probably didn't help much (at least early in my career) that Coach Bennett hadn't won their yet in his first 5 coaching seasons... between 96-97 until 01-02.  But EC hasn't beaten Point since the 00-01 season, so whatever hex there was at Zorn appears to have been broken!

Williams Center (now Kachel Gymansium) in Whitewater- Every Point/WW game seems like it's a big game... and why not?  In the last 7 seasons, Point has 5 conference championships, one second, and one third place finish.  WW has had three conference championships, two seconds, one fourth, and one seventh place finish.  These were (are?) the two teams who achieved the most in the conference ranks in the 2000's.  And WW was the thorn in the Pointer's side during EACH of these years, at least in the first half of the year. 

Point lost twice to WW in 00-01

01-02 SP lost at home to WW in the first match, then got the Warhawks back in the trip to Williams (WW won the rubber match at SP by overcoming a 13 pt halftime deficit to win by 7 in the conf tourney)

02-03 SP lost at WW in the first match, then defeated WW at home

03-04 Point lost at home to WW and won in WW (by 20, against a WW team that had a two game conf lead going into the game)

04/05 WW won at WW, Point won at Point, then SP got the rubber match in the conf tourney

05-06, WW won both matches

So WW beat Point in (at least) the first matchup in 6 straight seasons, giving Point their first conf loss in 4/5 seasons.

... Due to the fact that Point has had a losing record against WW since 90-91 (16-21, one of only two schools who can boast this), trips to Williams were always stressful games... but they usually were pretty big crowds (as have been most that Point has played in front of, home or away).

About the gym itself... the fans always seemed pretty far away.  On the side behind the scorer's table, these seats, by default, have to be farther, but even the seats on the other side sure seem far away...

Kolf in Oshkosh-  Like others, I feel that Kolf is a barn... I think that Oshy could do some things to make it at least FEEL a bit more intimate...  A simple tarp behind one or both of the baskets would do wonders, because, especially on the end to the left of the scorers table is just huge and open... if that side could be closed off, it would at least give the IMPRESSION that it wasn't quite so gigantic.  Heck, Skoshy could even drop a tarp 2/3 of the way up the stands to do the same thing... because you KNOW people aren't going to sit up that high when they don't have to!  That said, I've been in Oshkosh when the atmosphere has been pretty impressive.  The game in 01-02 when Sowinski lofted a shot with 3 seconds to tie the game and Dain Christensen fouled Krajnik, still thinking that Oshy was down had a great atmosphere, due to the play of the game.  It didn't even seem like it was only 1/5 full that game!  the 02-03 game was a close 4 point Oshkosh W, and this was much the same way. 

Michell Hall in La Crosse- The fans are SO far away, just like OS said.  The game last Saturday had more atmosphere than the previous 4 times I'd been there, combined. 

Johnson Fieldhouse at Stout- Johnson is my second favorite gym to Quandt.  UWSt has been second in the conference to Point the last 4 seasons, and as high as 8th in the country in attendance (2005 at over 1400 per game).  Stout has the stand-alone NBA-type baskets, and it seems like the stands are pretty close to the action.

Williams Field house (now Bo Ryan Court) in Platteville- Unlike at EC, where they slap all of the conference and post season accolades on a couple of small banners (and put advertisements all over the walls) Platteville proudly displays the 4 national championship pictures and banners.  BTW, this is impressive at WW, too, where they have their conference accolades AND the wall of fame showing you what they've done in the past...  Impressive as the banners are, and though the crowds usually are good, I've never really liked Williams.  A big part of this is due to the fact that Platteville plays great defense, so you'll really need to grind out a win that's typically not pretty.

FInally, we come to Quandt.  As a Pointer, it's a great place to play.  And since 90-91, Point has won 195/240 games there for a 81.25% winning percentage.  This is even better since the "Bennett era" began in 96-97... since this season it's up to 132/155 for 85.16%.  This is better (naturally) than the WIAC win percentage of 124/173 (71.68%), or overall win percentage 236/303 (77.89%) during the same 10 seasons.  What a great homecourt advantage, though, when the home crowd supports the team as well as it does.  Though I don't have the stats for the 96-97 season, from 97-98 to the present, 201,795 people have seen 143 games, for an average of 1411 over these 9 seasons.  Games in late January and February (especially on Saturdays) are guaranteed to be packed, and the atmosphere is almost always electric.

[John Gleich]

Was at Osh when Kalsow [sic] hit the three to beat WW in the tournament at the buzzer. Pretty full then, and really exciting.

I think you mean Tim Dworak

[Greek Tragedy]

Was at Osh when Kalsow [sic] hit the three to beat WW in the tournament at the buzzer. Pretty full then, and really exciting.

I think you mean Tim Dworak

I pretty much had no clue what he was trying to say! lol 

Great work on the gyms, PS!

[OshDude]

Titan2K,
Did you roll a few games at Club Omreau or just soak up the local flavor at the bar? Omro, "The Bridge to the Future." My hometown is pretty great. I'm not gonna lie.
If you have a minute, the Omro glee club would like to brighten your day. Crank up the volume, give it a minute and feel the love, from an Omro native to you.
Refresh as necessary. I'm convinced the world would be rid of violence if everyone listened to this song five times a day.
www.omro-wi.com

The others,
Kolf is not the best college basketball venue. I agree.
High school BB games and, believe it or not, HS wrestling are amazing at Kolf. If you have the chance, go to Kolf for HS boy's sectionals. When Beamish and Stratton from Wis. Rapids played Oshkosh West two years ago, it was crazy.
This year's Oshkosh West/North tilt was another nice crowd, though not a sellout as earlier stated. Still, 5,200 fans crammed in there looks and sounds pretty sweet.

[bulk19]

Regarding the arenas in the conference...
I haven't been to all of them, so I don't know the answer to this...

But is Point the only school that has a separate court for the women?

What do you Pointer fans here think about the Berg? It's pretty nice, cozy... When they filled it during the championship runs earlier this decade it rocked...

[Greek Tragedy]

I think it is the only school that plays in separate gyms.  It's pretty small and cozy, even smaller than River Falls, IMO.  I know that the women don't like playing in Quandt (have played a couple there in recent years) because they are obviously used to playing in Berg.  We kind of get hosed because they charge separately for the men's games and then the women's games, though you get your 2nd game of the double-header for half price!  Yippy! lol  It still gets pretty full, but has been uncharacteristically quiet, despite the number of fans...nothing close to Stout though.

As previously mentioned, next to Quandt, Stout has the best atmosphere.

[John Gleich]

OS,

Switching from Quandt to Berg (which we had to do for a game against Coe in 2002) or vice-versa (the women have done this more... they've played in the Sentry Classic a few times, and then times like the 2004 NCAA Tournament Sectional, when they shipped us out to UPS) is like playing at a completely different place altogether.  We beat Coe at the Berg (and actually shot really well there too) 100-61, but they weren't the greatest team that season...

Berg always seemed to have a bit "springier" floor... we practiced in there a few times and it always seemed to give a little extra bounce.

I never really did like the Berg, though... we used to have our early morning workouts in their occasionally, and it always seemed like the Berg workouts were always lots tougher!