MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[frodotwo]

LX win at Stout Saturday gives them #2 seed in the tourney and home court with a possible 2nd round matchup again with Oshkosh. Tough to beat a team three times in a season when they are that close in talent.

[John Gleich]

Point wins on Senior night 69-58.  Box Score

Krull led the way with 19 and 8 rebounds and a steal.  El Amin added 14 and 4 assists with no assists and a steal.  El Amin was 4/5 from the field and 2/2 from three, including a three on the possession after a Jackson steal when the score was tied at 48 all, and this was the turning point in the game.

Platteville played in Rortvedt's grill all night.  After Platteville took a 4-2 lead, Point went on a 13-0 run to lead 15-4.  Both teams played fairly even until 8:04, when Rortvedt hit back to back three's and Point led 26-16.  However, with Krull on the bench with 2 fouls (got his second with about 10 mins to go in the half) the Pio's ended the half on a 13-2 half, largely on the shoulders of Gossens, who had 7 and really out-toughed the Pointers.  Platteville seemed to be getting their hands on a LOT of balls on the offensive end, and got 10O rebs for the game.  But TO's were the killer for Pville, especially in the second half (they ended up with 17).  Point had just 5.  the 12 TO differential more than made up for the rebounding advantage that the Pioneers had for the game (34-21).

Yet Platteville, on a Gossens bucket and the foul shot, took a 29-28 lead going into halftime.

Point really showed some defensive toughness in the second half and ground out possession after possession, but they kept getting beat on ball screens, back cuts, and simple drives, and Point seemed to want to become a shot blocking team.  ... but it wasn't working.  They weren't blocking the shots, though, so they were making minimal contact (enough to draw the foul) and then they were trying to NOT make contact... but the foul was already committed, and they fouled with the bucket multiple times during the game.

Krull really came out in the second half.  He scored 15 of his 19 pts in the second half and hit 4 three's in the first 8 minutes to drive Point.  Platteville played tough, though and two Gossens FT's tied the score with 48 points.  After a couple of back and forth possessions, Richter was bringing the ball up the floor and cleanly got his pocket picked by Drew Jackson who scored the lay-up and got Quandt LOUD.  After a Richter miss on the ensuing possession, Krull grabbed the rebound and El-Amin hit a three to extend the lead to five.  Point hit 5/7 threes in the second half and ended up making 8/15, two makes below their average, but on a night where Rortvedt was kept under wraps and Hicklin was off (though he did have 5 assists) that was all Point needed, in a much slower-pace game that Point would prefer to play at.

Rortvedt made up for his lack of offensive looks by grabbing three steals and getting a block.  He played really tough defense and his block with 3:30 to go, and steal followed by fast-break lay-up sealed the deal for Point, who made 8/9 FT's down the stretch.

Point captures their 6th Conference championship in 8 years and is the #1 seed in the conference tournament.

Btw, WW 88-Oskhkosh 71, Final from WW!!

EDIT:  If both teams win out, LA CROSSE becomes the #2 seed!

[Greek Tragedy]

Apparently, Superior isn't very optimistic.

After their recent loss to Platteville, the headline says, "Superior Misses Play-offs With Loss to Platteville" and then I tried to get the Superior/EC boxscore tonight and the schedule on their site has them LOSING to Eau Claire, 58-56 (a loss, of course, would have the score, 56-58).  Well, the score is right, but they have an "L" instead of a "W"! lol.  Oops. 

I had a good feeling Whitewater would give Oshkosh a run for their money and possibly beat them, which they did.  Next to Point, I've probably seen Whitewater the most and Oshkosh next in line. 

Oshkosh/Whitewater game story and Whitewater 88, Oshkosh 71 boxscore

Superior 58, Eau Claire 56 Game story and boxscore link

La Crosse/River Falls Game story and La Crosse 80, River Falls 63 Boxscore

Stevens Point 69, Platteville 58 Game story with Boxscore link

[titansrus]

Oshkosh played, far and away, their worst game of the season tonight. Couldn't hit the broad-side of a barn after the 15 minute mark in the first half. After they took a 4 point lead, it looked like they became lackadaisical, didn't want it, didn't hustle, and just flat out didn't care much.

Possible turning point imo, was Andy Freund's 2 3's to give them the lead that they would never relinquish. Jason Price was monster-26 points, 5-7 from 3. He hit one from the end of the W that extends past halfcourt. They played great d on Gibson-who played like he was a 1st grader. Capelle made his 1st 3 and only made 1 more. My broadcast partner and I said on 1 3 that he missed that he was so wide open on the wing it was a definite make-not even close. Marsh was off-3 turnovers-most of points came at end. Josh King had a good game as well. Warhawks couldn't miss-shooting 56.7% for game and Titans D was pitiful.

Hopefully they can rebound and beat Platteville on Saturday-sounds like it should be a good one and hope Stout pulls the upset.

[chmarx]

A very sweet win for the Eagles on Senior Night.  Werner got into foul trouble midway through the first half and Billy Kegler stepped up.  Had his best game at La Crosse, IMO.  Everyone played well.  La Crosse led most of the way.

Now we have our destiny in our hands.  Win at Stout Saturday, and we have the second seed.

Congratulations to the Pointers on their championship.  No question it is well-deserved.

[frankiet]

For Stevens Point, that is two games in a row that Khalifa El-Amin has hit a 3 in a crucial  point of the game and swung momentum into a Pointers win. Is KEA the X-factor?

[uww4ever]

FINALLY!!!!!!

A good win for the Warhawks last night, playing in front of silence is tough, but we played as if we were playing for something!  Shooting was amazing, not many silly turnovers and I heard Van Dellen during halftime yelling at his guys (it was a dream last night, I was on the recumbent bike @ Williams Center and had the badgers on one t.v., and out of the corner of my eye I was watching the Warhawks pound the titans!).  Top 4 teams could all win the tournament, but my best guess is UWSP w/ their shooting, home court also helps.

Any upset specials??  Can UWSP lose?  Can Fruend/Price keep up their play?  I admit, I've seen some streaky shooting, but Price definitely fits that category.  Glad he cracked the lineup when he did.  If he plays like that in the tourney, UWW could surprise some.

GO HAWKS/BADGERS

[Andrew Wagner]

Looks like I didn't miss much. It was strongly suggested by one-who-shall-remain-nameless that it wouldn't be prudent for me to spend my one day off of February going to a basketball game I didn't have to cover. Grrrhh, when will they understand. 

Anyway, since I've missed a lot. What should we look out for as tourney time approaches ... Does the ol' addage of he-who-wins-the-season-falls-in-the-tourney still stand?

[badgerwarhawk]

The regular season champion (#1 seed) has won 3 of the 8 conference tournaments.  Platteville (1999), Oshkosh (2002) and most recently WHITEWATER last year.   

[kluch]

No offense to any Pioneer fans out there, but I found this shirt on the web today...gotta love it.
http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?op=article&article_id=1768290#top

[Greek Tragedy]

The regular season champion (#1 seed) has won 3 of the 8 conference tournaments.  Platteville (1999), Oshkosh (2002) and most recently WHITEWATER last year.   

You missed 2000.  Point beat EC in OT.  That happened to be the same year that both went to the NCAA tourney and EC beat Point with a buzzer-beater in the Elite 8 in Buena Vista, eventually losing to Calvin in the Championship game in Salem.

Which of course reminds me of an odd trend.  Whenever Point doesn't win the National Tournament, the team that beats them ends up runner up...

'97 runner up Nebraska Wesleyan beat Point in the Elite 8
'00 runner up Eau Claire beat Point in the Elite 8
'03 runner up Gustavus Adolphus beat Point in the 2nd round

That's why I wanted Point to make the '06 tourney...I knew they probably weren't good enough to go all the way, but at least I would know in advance who would be the runner up...I was hoping to say, "Congrats on beating Point, you just won runner up!" 


Back to the WIAC tourney, check out the #4 seed.

2006 #4 Oshkosh loses in first round
2005 #4 Whitewater loses in final
2004 #4 Platteville loses in final
2003 #4 Oshkosh beats #2 Whitewater in final
2002 #4 La Crosse loses in first round
2001 #4 Eau Claire beats #6 Oshkosh in final (#1 WW loses to #8 ST 90-49)
2000 #4 River Falls loses in first round
1999 #4 Whitewater loses in first round

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Kluch:

None taken here.  I think it hilarious, but there are new admissions policies in force so I think it's much closer to 67/33 ratio....so it's getting better 
I love the other shirts there too, just wish they could come up with something for all the schools to compliment "I'll tap that"

Sounds like the Pioneers almost got things done last night, but depth at the end and Krull's experience prevailed.  Wish I could be at Senior Day this weekend.  Making a return trip to Menasha for the St. Johns Tourney for some fast paced action on a shortened and narrowed catholic school gym floor.  It's amazing how senses can be lost on a smaller court and not realizing the sideline is the same as the lane line!

[Greek Tragedy]

I love the other shirts there too, just wish they could come up with something for all the schools to compliment "I'll tap that"

My friend has a shirt that asks, "Got MILF?" obviously on a play of Got Milk.  It's a black shirt with a white soullette (I know I spelled that wrong) of a woman pushing a stroller.  Pretty funny shirt.  I also have a shirt that asks, "Got Rice?" 

[Andrew Wagner]

The regular season champion (#1 seed) has won 3 of the 8 conference tournaments.  Platteville (1999), Oshkosh (2002) and most recently WHITEWATER last year.   

Which of course reminds me of an odd trend.  Whenever Point doesn't win the National Tournament, the team that beats them ends up runner up...

'97 runner up Nebraska Wesleyan beat Point in the Elite 8
'00 runner up Eau Claire beat Point in the Elite 8
'03 runner up Gustavus Adolphus beat Point in the 2nd round

Back to the WIAC tourney, check out the #4 seed.

2006 #4 Oshkosh loses in first round
2005 #4 Whitewater loses in final
2004 #4 Platteville loses in final
2003 #4 Oshkosh beats #2 Whitewater in final
2002 #4 La Crosse loses in first round
2001 #4 Eau Claire beats #6 Oshkosh in final (#1 WW loses to #8 ST 90-49)
2000 #4 River Falls loses in first round
1999 #4 Whitewater loses in first round

I came back for the witty bantar ... I stay for the insightful analysis and random facts.

[BuckyC]

Superior upsets EC by 2

Did you see the paper tonight? It said it was the lowest attended game at Zorn in 39 years!  Seriously, how does he keep his job losing at home to Superior in front of such few fans?!!!