MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Downtown]

Whoa! That's a big deal on the volleyball side!

Anyways, good article about Carroll's run to the tourney by Andrew Wagner. Another point of pride from the RTF world of UW-O.

[mythicalbird]

I don't think those transfer rules apply to juco's where is where I believe they are looking.  With the juco's, coaches are looking to get their kids out to schools because they only get two years.  In a perfect scenario, EC brings in a couple of good juco transfers (ala RF with Davis) that can do some immediate things, all while bringing in a group of freshman that can get acquainted with the ins and outs of D3 hoops.  I'm not getting into any arguments or anything, but Manor isn't a fit for EC in my opinion.  He's 6'4, 160.  I honestly don't think he is the immediate impact type that some may think he is.  His shooting right now isn't where it needs to be....and he needs to get stronger and thicker if he is going to be a slasher.  I'm not knocking him, he is a great kid, but he is a couple years off physically before he has any type of impact in my opinion.

[Just Bill]

Of course you're right.  A JUCO player that has finished his 2 years of eligibility is a recruitable athlete, just like a HS senior.  I wasn't sure that was the type of transfer you were refering to earlier.

[Stout survivor]

you can get all the transfers you can handle they still need to be put in a spot where they can succeed which is harder then it sounds.  A team needs different kinds of players to fill different roles to win, too many of the same player no matter how talented they are makes them easy to defend, in juco there can be a lot of the same players.

I do feel that EC fans and the league would like to see them back in the hunt for a chance at a title. In recent years coaching changes have been good for their programs

Lax misses the WIAC tourny and finished second this year
Stout had no fans and were bottom dwellers and are in the rise (down year this year but i have hope)
Sup town seems to be putting a very good recruiteng class and have some players there now.
River Falls is recruiting well and showed some great signs for the future this year.

all these tams have made changes which should make this conference rise in overall talent very soon making it very hard to pick a winner.  The question, is EC recent problems a result of the coach or something else? and does the school value how their program is viewed in the comnunity and fan base?

[Greek Tragedy]

I know I'm a little late...

So I just got around to reluctantly reading that article where Whitworth's coach rips the WIAC.  I found it amusing.  I'm really not sure where he's coming from.  1.) Does he mean because we're a public school?  2.) Does he mean because we're so big?  3.) Does he mean that the WIAC schools always seem to do real well in sports?  What exactly does he mean?

1.)  Last time I checked, we're not the only public school system in D3.
2.)  Big doesn't matter.  This isn't high school where we get a bigger student body to choose from.
3.)  How many championships has Middlebury won in hockey?  How many championships has Mount Union won in football.  It's not like the WIAC wins every sport every year (like the Wisconsin high school private schools! lol )

Personally I'd like to know what he meant by his comment, but I'm not going to waste my time writing him.  I'm sure he's not the only one that feels that way.  Here's another comment I thought was interesting...

While spring break and a lengthy drive to Northern Wisconsin will neutralize the undeniable home court advantage the Bears have enjoyed throughout the second half of the season, Wash. U. will have at least one additional fan rooting them on next weekend: Whitworth coach Jim Hayford.

"Wash. U. vs. Stevens Point? I want Wash. U. to win," said Hayford. "Wash. U's players are everything that's right about Division III. They're first and foremost excellent students. They have great character. I think they represent NCAA Division III really, really well."

Apparently the WIAC doesn't have character and we're stupid. 

[Andrew Wagner]

First of all, that piece was a pot job. I don't like to rip fellow hacks, but ... don't give me a play-by-play; give me a story. As far as I know, and I admit I'm biased, the WIAC plays by the rules. I wouldn't expect anything less from Dr. Karner - a very classy individual. Secondly, do these private schools understand that the WIAC schools do not possess insane endowments from wealthy almuni? Last I checked, Curt Culver was donating a gazillion bucks to UWO and they had to work hard to upgrade the football stadiums. I have argued with many people about this topic. Fine, we gave up "redshirts", whatever? Are these private schools offended to having state schools in DIII or are they just sick of getting their asses handed to them. It's annoying.

And DTown ... I took some RTF courses, but I will ALWAYS be a point of pride for the Journalism department at UWO (And of course, Kennan who loves me like Dr. Cox loves J.D. on Scrubs....) 

And hey, I need you to E-mail me. Your listed addy don't work.

[Greek Tragedy]

Swampgoon, among others, informed me of this:

Returned (and remaining) tickets from Washington U. for the Point game will go on sale tomorrow morning at 8 am at the box office, which is located at the University book store.  The catch is, you can't buy tickets over the phone for these (unlike the first wave of tickets that went on sale and were sold out in 90 minutes).  So, YOU MUST BE IN PERSON to buy these tickets.  Unfortunately for the Carroll and Hope fans, this makes it nearly impossible for them to get any tickets for the 2nd game.  It's unfortunate, because if I were a neutral fan, I'd want to see the other game as well.  Believe me, there aren't going to be any available at Quandt. 

Tickets that were returned from Carroll and Hope will also go on sale, and must also be in person to buy, I believe, will also go on sale Friday morning at the same location.  I just hope they have different lines for folks who already have Point/Washington U. tickets who simply want to get Carroll/Hope tickets.

Anyway, HERE is an artcile from the Stevens Point Journal regarding their reasoning on a split session...

UW-Stevens Point athletic officials made a special request to the NCAA to approve the split session format due to heavy ticket demands from three of the four schools.
The proximity of Hope College, which has led Division III in attendance four straight years, and Carroll College of Waukesha to central Wisconsin is another reason for the change.
"This was done to help accomodate more of our fans," said O'Brien. "This is totally different than 2005 when the teams were from Texas, Washington and Indiana. We're expecting Hope and Carroll to bring very substantial followings."

O'Brien is asking fans with tickets to the second game to show up no earlier than 7:45 p.m. for the approximate 8:15 p.m. tip-off.


I understand their reasoning, but it doesn't sound like there will be a lot of fans from Hope and Carroll for the first game.  I called "my people" and they told me that Hope got 1200 tickets and they sold less than 300.  Carroll, on the other hand, got 400 tickets and with the deadline to buy tickets at noon today, they returned some 250.  I guess that's good news for Pointer fans that want to see the 1st game, and I encourage you to do so...it should be a heck of a game!

[John Gleich]

Another big thing to note here, OS is a change in how they will sell tickets for Saturday night's game.  They're going to be sold in the MAC (the indoor track right around the corner from the Quandt), which will help to organize the crowds seeking to purchase tickets after Friday night's games.  Of course, all the Pointer fans hope we have REASON to stand in line for tickets on Saturday...  don't want to put the cart before the horse, and I can't wait until the game on Friday, but the tickets being sold in the MAC will help to avoid the complete mass of people standing in "line" right outside the Quandt doors.  I actually talked to Bob Tomlinson about this on Tuesday morning, and he said he was going to mention something to A.D. Frank O'Brien, and this is definately a good move on UWSP's part.  See you at the Quandt tomorrow!  Should be a great game and a great atmosphere!

[Gregory Sager]

Secondly, do these private schools understand that the WIAC schools do not possess insane endowments from wealthy almuni?

Most D3 privates don't possess insane endowments from wealthy alumni, either. Typically, a D3 private institution has an endowment somewhere in the $10m-$50m range. Some have more, some have less. But those typical D3-private endowments are pitifully small when compared to the bigger private schools that compete in D1 and have nationally-known names (e.g., Syracuse = $850m; Tulane = $850m; Marquette = $300m; and DePaul = $285m).

On the other hand, all eight of the UAA schools are richer than Croesus. Wash U's endowment is $4.7 billion. Kinda gives you pause when you consider the resources battle that goes on behind the battles on the court and on the playing field.

[Andrew Wagner]

Respectfully understood, Prof. Sager =)

Still, an endowment of 10-50 million is probably considerably more than those of state institutions. I have no scientific basis to prove this; but knowing what I know about the pitiful economic state of the UW system, I don't think it's quite that easy. There are plenty of other state schools in DIII (not many, I know, but the point is there) as well as plenty of private schools that can hang.

My advice to those private schoolers .... practice and get better ;-)

[stoutguy]

I don't think those transfer rules apply to juco's where is where I believe they are looking.  With the juco's, coaches are looking to get their kids out to schools because they only get two years.  In a perfect scenario, EC brings in a couple of good juco transfers (ala RF with Davis) that can do some immediate things, all while bringing in a group of freshman that can get acquainted with the ins and outs of D3 hoops.  I'm not getting into any arguments or anything, but Manor isn't a fit for EC in my opinion.  He's 6'4, 160.  I honestly don't think he is the immediate impact type that some may think he is.  His shooting right now isn't where it needs to be....and he needs to get stronger and thicker if he is going to be a slasher.  I'm not knocking him, he is a great kid, but he is a couple years off physically before he has any type of impact in my opinion.

Have to agree with you on this one.  I watched him twice this year, the last time against BW's Helland.  The difference in those two kids, I thought, was that Helland wanted to do too much and Manor was very content not doing enough (until his last shot).  He plays soft and may become an impact player but it will take some work. 

[Just Bill]

I've never seen this kid, but I don't know how any quality player can't be a good fit for EC, considering where they are at.

[The Roop]

The initial wave of ticket sales ended about 8:30 and there are still some left for the Point game. Hate to guess a number but if you get there in the next hour you shouldn't have a problem. Limit is 4.

[WLCALUM83]

UW-Stevens Point men's turn to get the props:

http://www.jsonline.com/index/index.aspx?id=35

"State Colleges" and "Division III Preview" links: 

[buf]

I honestly don't think he (Manor) is the immediate impact type that some may think he is.  His shooting right now isn't where it needs to be....and he needs to get stronger and thicker if he is going to be a slasher.  I'm not knocking him, he is a great kid, but he is a couple years off physically before he has any type of impact in my opinion.

He definately needs to get stronger.  I think that this will be one of his biggest obstacles in the WIAC.