MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The preseason exhibitions have more to do with promoting basketball in the state of Wisconsin and less to do with quality competition.   It has nothing to do with geographic area.   

With Duke, Texas, Colorado and Georgia all on next year's schedule don't you think it's kind of silly to think he's ducking Winona State. 

[BoBo]

I agree with you totally badgerwarhawk.

My comments were in reference to comments made a while back by a WSU fan that Wisconsin scheduled then backed out of an exhibition game with WSU because it was too tough of a game and a game that the Badgers could lose.  I guess by reading between the lines of the comments that it was more appropriate for the Badgers to schedule D3 schools in WI because it would be a sure win for UW - losing to a D2 Winona State team was possible in his view. 

Of course your explanation is right on in my estimation.  No argument here!

[wcbsas]

I suspect it is me that the posts where referencing.

Just so we're clear ... Wisconsin (D1) > Winona (D2) > UW-Eau Caire (D3)

There is NO WAY I'd ever say that UW would be "ducking" Winona.

Also the ONLY reason for UW to play Winona (a Minnesota school) is to watch the Flower brothers (Jonte and Michael) play against each other.

The are multiple reason for exhibition games ... playing in-state teams, giving them a payday ... is among them. 

Is it s higher possibility that UW could lose to Winona as opposed to Eau Claire ... sure ... is avoiding that risk a reason a reason to schedule as Bo has done so?   Possibly.  Is it the overriding one?  Probably not!

[BoBo]

You are correct, it was your posts I was referring to.

We are very clear in the schools division status - that was never in debate.

To give Winona a pay check just so a couple brothers had an opportunity to play each other in a semi-competitive game was already established as an invalid reason to extend an offer for an exhibition game to an out-of-state school.

The probable reason for scheduling exhibition games - the NCAA allows them.

Now, if I may, I wish to edit your remaining comment with what I consider more appropriate language:

Is it s higher possibility that UW could lose to Winona as opposed to Eau Claire ... sure know one will ever know... is avoiding that risk a reason a reason to schedule as Bo has done so?   Possibly had no bearing.  Is it the overriding one?  Probably definately not!

[wcbsas]

The probable reason for scheduling exhibition games - the NCAA allows them. DUH 
Who you schedule is the discussion.

You may consider it invalid ... but yours isn't the final authority either.  And frankly it was never established or settled as you suggest.

As stated in earlier posts ... coaches often schedule games on behalf of their seniors.  For example, North Carolina scheduled a series with Marquette when Joe Wolf went there.  This was done simply to give Joe the opportunity to play near family and friends.  That is one of a dozen examples.  I speculated, wrongly, that Bo Ryan might do the same for his senior guard Michael Taylor.

Obviously Bo Ryan chose not to do so for a 1,000 other reasons ... including state loyalty to the WIAC, the makeup of his team this year, a Minnesota school and so forth.

Now if I may edit your post ...

You are correct, it was your posts I was referring to.

We are very clear in the schools division status - that was never in debate.

To give Winona a pay check just so a couple brothers had an opportunity to play each other in a semi-competitive game was already established as an invalid reason to extend an offer for an exhibition game to an out-of-state school.

The probable reason for scheduling exhibition games - the NCAA allows them.

[badgerwarhawk]

If Ryan were so concerned about the make up of his team why would he add Texas and Georgia to the schedule in the past week? 

Who is Michael Taylor?  We don't have a player by that name on the roster.     I know you mean Michael Flowers but I couldn't resist.

Ryan made his reasons for scheduling in-state teams for the exhibitions very clear.  Whether it was to put additional revenue in their budgets or to provide their athletes the experience the bottom line and underlying reason is the same as why he's made a point of playing UW-M, MU and UW-GB annually and that is to promote men's basketball in the state of Wisconsin.   

[wcbsas]

If Ryan were so concerned about the make up of his team why would he add Texas and Georgia to the schedule in the past week? 

Trust no one, especially me, is challenging the strength of UW's schedule.  A very tough non-conference schedule ... with Duke, MU and several other tests in addition to Texas and Georgia!

Who is Michael Taylor?  We don't have a player by that name on the roster.     I know you mean Michael Flowers but I couldn't resist.

Yeah ... Flowers not Taylor ... no edit feature once you press "post".

Ryan made his reasons for scheduling in-state teams for the exhibitions very clear.  Whether it was to put additional revenue in their budgets or to provide their athletes the experience the bottom line and underlying reason is the same as why he's made a point of playing UW-M, MU and UW-GB annually and that is to promote men's basketball in the state of Wisconsin. 

Again, I understand the reasons to schedule as he has chosen to do so!  I'm not critical of those reasons and I'm not upset by the decision.  My primary point is that there are multiple reasons behind scheduling who you schedule in exhibition games.  One of them is promoting Wisconsin basketball, another is preparing your players for the upcoming season ... one of (and possibly the only reason to schedule D2 Winona) would be to do so as a favor to Michael Flowers.

[Greek Tragedy]

Yeah ... Flowers not Taylor ... no edit MODIFY feature once you press "post".

[David Collinge]

Yeah ... Flowers not Taylor ... no edit feature once you press "post".

MODIFY is a privilege that you obtain with longevity; after you reach some threshold number of posts (I forget how many), a button will appear on your screen.

[BoBo]

My primary point is that there are multiple reasons behind scheduling who you schedule in exhibition games.  One of them is promoting Wisconsin basketball, another is preparing your players for the upcoming season ... one of (and possibly the only reason to schedule D2 Winona) would be to do so as a favor to Michael Flowers.

I think you are over-estimating the number of reasons behind scheduling exhibition games.  But, since you brought it up, it must not be getting clear to you that promoting Wisconsin basketball/preparing his team for Big Ten play are reasons 1 and 1a Wisconsin schedules exibitions the way they do? You also over-emphasize the importance of Winona in that endeavor. You need to take the Winona BB purple blinders off and look at the whole picture. No matter whatever meaningless scheduling examples you bring up (UNC/MAQ is certainly one), the end result is the same.

wcbsas BTW, this probably belongs on the football board, but, is David Leaf, a football wide receiver from Winona, any relation to the WSU basketball coach Mike Leaf.  I saw where he was one of the incoming recruits to the UW-Whitewater football team?   

[Greek Tragedy]

MODIFY is a privilege that you obtain with longevity; after you reach some threshold number of posts (I forget how many), a button will appear on your screen.

Like voting, I guess I take my privilege to modify for granted (don't worry, I DO vote!) lol 

[stoutguy]

WCBSAS
Being a Winona guy, what's your take on Cole Kraft (Menomonie) not playing basketball at Winona?  I know basketball has always been high on his list of things to do and even though he is now giving baseball a shot at UW-Milwaukee, it just seems like he would have been a fit at your fine school.  We have a great Menomonie/Winona pipeline (football), in my opinion.  Don't get too down on these Wis. posters.  We just all like our cheese and get fiesty about any comparisons.

[wcbsas]

WCBSAS
Being a Winona guy, what's your take on Cole Kraft (Menomonie) not playing basketball at Winona?  I know basketball has always been high on his list of things to do and even though he is now giving baseball a shot at UW-Milwaukee, it just seems like he would have been a fit at your fine school.  We have a great Menomonie/Winona pipeline (football), in my opinion.  Don't get too down on these Wis. posters.  We just all like our cheese and get fiesty about any comparisons.

As you know Cole Kraft was on scholarship for both football and baseball.  The football season goes into mid-November and the fb coach really didn't want him diverted during the football season so Kraft would really be behind (at least a month) not even counting fall workouts.

Secondly, Coach Leaf likes big guards (6'-3"+).  Of the 17 guys on the roster only 2 are smaller than 6'-2", with a average height for guards of 6'-3".  Cole Kraft is a phenomenal athlete and would have been a contributor in a year or two but Winona is stacked at the guard position this year.

Lastly, IMO Kraft isn't a true point guard and his size might have limited him somewhat at the off-guard position.  Kraft has a huge heart, unbelievable athleticism and obviously a passion for basketball.  Otherwise why leave D2 football/baseball program?

I know the football team will miss him ... as a true freshman he was already their most reliable receiver.   UW-Stout has a great athlete on its basketball team and he'll get a chance to really show Winona his stuff when Stout plays them this year.

[wcbsas]

wcbsas BTW, this probably belongs on the football board, but, is David Leaf, a football wide receiver from Winona, any relation to the WSU basketball coach Mike Leaf.  I saw where he was one of the incoming recruits to the UW-Whitewater football team?

Mike Leaf, Winona's bball coach is unmarried and thus no children.  I believe David Leaf is a nephew.

[Just Bill]

Mike Leaf, Winona's bball coach is unmarried and thus no children. 

I haven't heard these two characteristics linked since 1985.