MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

2) Who did Hope beat??? Calvin only solid team faced and went 1-2 vs them.

No, Calvin and Hope played four times and fought to a 2-2 split. Hope beat Calvin in a non-conference tourney in November. Then the two teams each won on the other team's floor in the league's double round-robin schedule. Finally, Calvin upended Hope this past weekend in the MIAA final at Hope.

[Andrew Wagner]

Of course, money would be the key. Which means a presenting title sponsor would be the first place to start. My proposal?

The USCellular CCIW/WIAC Shootout

Why US Cellular? Well, judging from my monthly bill alone, they are rolling hand-over-fist in money. They are pretty much fully covered in Wisconsin and Illinois, have major presence in both MKE and CHI, and have a pretty good tradition of supporting major events (WiState Fair, MECCA, Sox Park, etc ... )

If they - and several other corporations - can shell out just enough money to cover buses, that's step one. And as somebody mentioned to me as I work on starting my own business, there is nothing wrong with in-kind sponsorships.... for example:

Coach USA, Official Transportation Sponsor
Hyatt/Hilton/Best Western ... Official Lodging Sponsor
Levy Catering ... Official Dining Sponsor (and provider of the tasty and all-important media meals)

As Deep Throat once said ... Follow the Money

If the cash is there, ADs will do just about anything. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Gregory Sager]

frodotwo,

IWU travels extremely well (we take a point of pride in turning opposing gyms into 'home courts'), Wheaton travels well, the rest are still good by d3 standards, but not near the fanatic bases (Calvin and Hope will probably EACH have more fans this weekend at Aurora than Aurora does).

"Wheaton travels well"? Since when, Chuck?

Wheaton never travels well. I haven't seen more than a handful of Wheaties at an away basketball game in all the 28 years that I've followed the CCIW.

I do like the CCIW/WIAC Challenge idea. The CCIW/MIAA Challenge has proven to be a smashing success over its four-year history, which is why the four schools that participate in it (Calvin, Carthage, Hope, and Wheaton) just re-upped for four more years. But the more teams that you throw into the mix, the tougher the logistics get. And there's no way that you could rent out a neutral site for this; it'd have to be in campus-based gyms.

CCIW schools are increasingly finding it difficult to schedule regional games, a trend which played a role in Elmhurst's inability to garner a Pool C spot this season. A CCIW/WIAC Challenge could help allay that problem.

[Just Bill]

I know its all hypthetical anyway, but I don't know why anyone would think a neutral site for a WIAC/CCIW challenge would be a good idea.  Have you noticed that the Big Ten/ACC challenge doesn't play on a neutral floor?

[Just Bill]

The WIAC team that does not qualify for the conference tourney the year before can be the one left out of the WIAC/CCIW challange.

By the time the ninth place WIAC team is determined in February, it would likely be too late for them to pick up 1 or 2 non-conference games to fill the schedule for the next year.  It would need to rotate somehow.

That's not true. Teams add games late into the summer.

Maybe in other parts of the country, but I've rarely seen that in the West/Midwest region.  With rare exception, WIAC men's and women's schedules are completed by October or November of the previous year.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WIAC teams are already hurt by their beating up on each other and my general impression is that the CCIW teams have a similar problem.  

I think a WIAC/CCIW challenge is a great idea and I understand the scheduling problem but given the way the selections are made why would they want to meet and beat up on each other?  

[diehardfan]

The WIAC teams are already hurt by their beating up on each other and my general impression is that the CCIW teams have a similar problem. 

I think a WIAC/CCIW challenge is a great idea and I understand the scheduling problem but given the way the selections are made why would they want to meet and beat up on each other?   

I hate to admit it, but this thought has occurred to me as well. 

I still think it's a good idea, just from the fact that the games are regional and the games would be high caliber. It would also sort of "answer" the question that's posed each year on whether the CCIW or the WIAC is better. I love the MIAA-CCIW challenge, but Wheaton is going to continue playing Calvin (and almost definitely Hope) each year no matter what.... we share educational philosophies, and are often competing for the same recruits. Branching north into the great state of Wisconsin would be an interesting opportunity for each of our teams to get more quality regional opponents, and more wins against teams that will be regionally ranked.

[John Gleich]

Just got my tickets for the SP/TBA game... I hear those TBAers can play too, should be a good one!

Swampgoon was about 4 places in line ahead of me, I assume he got tickets ("your seats" OS) and I got some that should be just behind.

There were a few people waiting outside when I got there about 6:45, but by the time I left, the line was out the door.  Looked like it would be steady for a while.

[Just Bill]

TBA can definitely get it done.  They're very hard to scout.

Every year my favorite football team plays the always difficult Open.  We never seem to lose, but it doesn't feel like a win either.

[sumander]

Hey Guys we (SJU) would love to be that TBA! We need to take care of Loras at home first, though! A trip to Cheese country would make my weekend! 

Seriously, It will be a huge challenge for either team. I would like to see how UWSP compares to St. Thomas.

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

The WIAC teams are already hurt by their beating up on each other and my general impression is that the CCIW teams have a similar problem. 

I think a WIAC/CCIW challenge is a great idea and I understand the scheduling problem but given the way the selections are made why would they want to meet and beat up on each other?   

I hate to admit it, but this thought has occurred to me as well. 

I still think it's a good idea, just from the fact that the games are regional and the games would be high caliber. It would also sort of "answer" the question that's posed each year on whether the CCIW or the WIAC is better. I love the MIAA-CCIW challenge, but Wheaton is going to continue playing Calvin (and almost definitely Hope) each year no matter what.... we share educational philosophies, and are often competing for the same recruits. Branching north into the great state of Wisconsin would be an interesting opportunity for each of our teams to get more quality regional opponents, and more wins against teams that will be regionally ranked.

So pessimistic you two!  Glass is always half-full!  A win would add a few points QOWI    Trust your team and conference 

[diehardfan]

The WIAC teams are already hurt by their beating up on each other and my general impression is that the CCIW teams have a similar problem. 

I think a WIAC/CCIW challenge is a great idea and I understand the scheduling problem but given the way the selections are made why would they want to meet and beat up on each other?   

I hate to admit it, but this thought has occurred to me as well. 

I still think it's a good idea, just from the fact that the games are regional and the games would be high caliber. It would also sort of "answer" the question that's posed each year on whether the CCIW or the WIAC is better. I love the MIAA-CCIW challenge, but Wheaton is going to continue playing Calvin (and almost definitely Hope) each year no matter what.... we share educational philosophies, and are often competing for the same recruits. Branching north into the great state of Wisconsin would be an interesting opportunity for each of our teams to get more quality regional opponents, and more wins against teams that will be regionally ranked.

So pessimistic you two!  Glass is always half-full!  A win would add a few points QOWI    Trust your team and conference 

Lol... okay, okay, we'll win all the games... every year. Yay us! (ducks) JUST KIDDING!

It is nice to see the mutual respect though, don't ya think?

I don't know about you guys, but we went around 75% out of conference last year... I don't see us doing quite that well if we replace IIAC and SLIAC and NAthCon teams with WIAC teams.

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Lol... okay, okay, we'll win all the games... every year. Yay us! (ducks) JUST KIDDING!

It is nice to see the mutual respect though, don't ya think?

I don't know about you guys, but we went around 75% out of conference last year... I don't see us doing quite that well if we replace IIAC and SLIAC and NAthCon teams with WIAC teams.
[/quote]

Hey Hey now, that's why we play the games 

As Ron Burgandy once was told by Wes Mantooth "I pure straight hate you Ron Burgandy...but Gosh Darn it (PG version) I respect you"  I don't know if it goes that far, but some good rivalries could be started because of our dreaming.

WIAC went 63-28 in non-conference good for a shade over 69%  Also as mentioned before, the WIAC was like 1-6 versus the CCIW this past season.

[badgerwarhawk]

Given that in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee a win against a .500 CCIW team at home is exactly equal to a win against a .500 MWC opponent at home in the QQQQQQQwhatever a CCIW/WIAC tournament might make sense to those who favor competition but it makes little sense to those who are fighting to get their teams tournament eligible (like coaches).

Actually it would make more sense to leave your schedule a game or two short as, to the best of my knowledge, there is no penalty for not playing as many games as you are allowed.

Until the system finds a way to account for the vast disparencies between the level of competition in the various conferences it makes little sense to stack your schedule with top flight teams when you've got to navigate the WIAC regular season and tournament.  It is the equivalent of biting off your nose to spite your face. 

PS. I like competition as much as the next guy but with the system set up the way it is it you have to establish priorities.  Unfortunately most coaches are evaluated by their wins and losses, tournament appearances etc. rather than the strength of the their schedule.

[Stout survivor]

Both conferences only got the two AQ's anyway

I am a dreamer I wont argue that, as a player i wanted to play the best all the time.  Schools love to brag about tourny appearences sure but as we all know there should be more schools braging then there are. I would much rather play Wheaton, Augie, Elmhurst ect. one time rather Norhtland, North Central Minn, Finlandia and so on.  It is just one game that if you team wins would also lead to another thing teams brag about. TOP 25.

I do feel that this idea does how the amount of respect we have for eachother but in the end we are for our conference our for the other not a lot of grey.

Dare to dream