MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr_Downtown]

Oshkosh also has The Marshmallow

I wouldn't say it's the worse nickname out there, but if I was a basketball player i wouldn't want to be compared to a Marshmallow.

DJ "The Marshmallow" Marsh. That sounds like a Berman-ism.

[Mr_Downtown]

They have the mentality and game sense to win big games. Oshkosh lacks that concept.

I wouldn't go that far. I mean, they did beat Whitewater and Elmhurst, with the Warhawks beating down Stevens Point...

I know. Point beat Augustana...on their home court. Perhaps the Augies are a better road team this year...?

Here's the kicker about the WIAC starting up again after the new year. Even though it's a huge game for both team's, it's only 1/4th of the conference season done with. So whoever wins, is still very far away from winning the WIAC.

I say that, and Oshkosh has a road game against Point, and then home again against Platteville. Yeesh.

[chmarx]

Loras is a solid ball club and earned their win.

Probably the big news was that Brandon Brown was on crutches.  According to the La Crosse Tribune, he has a high ankle sprain.

The other interesting thing was that Billy Kegler had a solid first half, with six rebounds, but played very little in the second half.  He didn't look injured.

I'm not sure we will be able to finish in the middle in the conference.  We may be a little lower.

[Greek Tragedy]

No one needs to be reminded that Oshkosh came into Quandt and won last year.  If Point loses, they'll be two game back in the loss column.  Not something they want to be.  But, as you said, it's a long season.  I think Point is worried about Cal. Lutheran first. 

Are the men going out early to watch the women play out there first at the Surf n Turf Classic?  Ummm.

Marshmallows a good.  DJ is good.  lol...just a spur of the moment name I thought of.  Better than DJ Jazzy Marsh (being guarded by The Fresh Prince-Drew Jackson)! 

Brandon Brown on crutches is not good for my fantasy team!

[dansand]

Anyone can look at a boxscore and get their own conclusions from that, but I'd like to get some input from Augie fans that were there on what they thought about Point.  Obviously, I can always come up with my opinions of Point because I wear those purple and gold colored glasses  , but it would be nice to get an honest outside view from you. 

The boxscore doesn't always tell the whole story, so what impressed you about Point, what do you think they could do better?  Did Augie just have a bad game and some of you might have felt they should've won, did Point just do a real good job on them, what players impressed you, etc...thanks.

TITAN  Q

Thanks for you always kind words on Point, but they have a batte for the WIAC title with Oshkosh being a real good team (but no depth) and Whitewater already knocking off Point.  We also can't forget a pretty solid Platteville team with arguably the best post player in the league (Jeff Skemp).

Obviously Pete Rortvedt was impressive. Playing on a recently repaired knee, he really hit Augie with some daggers. He has great range and a very quick release. Hicklin also looked good. He and El-Amin hit some really tough shots over Chandlor Collins, which, believe me, is not an easy thing to do. Beamish and Hoelzel handle the ball very well for big guys, which is a really nice luxury for them to have.

Comparing them to Oshkosh (although one game against each probably isn't the most accurate measuring stick), I think maybe the Titans are a little more athletic with Marsh and Jordan Johnson, but The Pointers defense gave Augie more difficulties, especially early in the game when they did a nice job of doubling down and getting in passing lanes to force turnovers. Also, at least in the two games I saw, UWSP has more good shooters and definitely better depth.

I've also seen Platteville play a couple times down in St. Louis and although Skemp might me a bit of a matchup problem (although Wotachek, who was a non-factor last night, should help combat that), I think they're better all-around than Platteville. Their bigger perimeter players (both Rorvedts and Hicklin) I think also give UWSP an advantage over UWO and UWP.

Unfortunately, the box score does give pretty good insight as to why Stevens Point won the game. It pretty much comes down to Augie's early turnovers and lack of outside offense. The former hasn't been too much of a problem this year, but, unfortunately the latter has been, especially since the injury to Jordan Delp. Defensively, Augie didn't let the Pointers have a crazy-good shooting game (46% overall and 36% behind the arc) but it was good enough.

[chmarx]

Brandon Brown on crutches is not good for my fantasy team!

Its not good for my reality team either! 

[badgerwarhawk]

Merry Christmas everyone and here is to a prosperous New Year for all of us.  Just a little more prosperous for my WARHAWKS.

Have a safe holiday season.

[sac]

A little late but here's livestats for LaCrosse's game with Marian, same link will get you tommorrows game.

http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics/livestats/xlive.htm

[buf]

EC wins 79-78 over Marian in OT

Good contributions from Probst(28pts) and Boone (10pts)

Its nice to see EC win these close games.  They lost a lot of these last year.

[David Collinge]

EC wins 79-78 over Marian in OT

LaX wins 83-81 over Marian (IN) in (double) OT

...this is not a repeat...I guess tonight was just the night for WIAC OT wins over Marians!

La Crosse faces host Wittenberg tomorrow with the coveted Zimmerman Classic title at stake.

[chmarx]

I almost went to that tournament since my alma mater, Olivet College, was also entered.  If they had won, or La Crosse lost, the two schools that have been most important in my life would have  tonight.

[Greek Tragedy]

Busy holiday schedule before next weekend's conference games

Fri 12/28/07
Marian (WI) at UW-Eau Claire   
UW-La Crosse vs. Marian (IN) (Wittenberg (OH) Classic)
 
Sat 12/29/07
UW-Platteville at Point Loma Nazarene (CA)  San Diego, CA 
UW-Stout at Buena Vista (IA)   
Northland at UW-Superior   

UW-Eau Claire Holiday Classic
Consolation Game
Championship Game  Eau Claire 

Wittenberg (OH) Classic
Consolation Game
Championship Game  Springfield, OH 

St. Norbert Tournament
UW-Whitewater vs. St. John's (MN)
 
Sun 12/30/07 St. Norbert Tournament
Consolation Game
Championship Game  De Pere   
UW-River Falls vs. Villa Julie (MD)  Phoenix, AZ 
 

Mon 12/31/07
UW-Platteville vs. George Fox (OR)  San Diego, CA   
UW-River Falls vs. Westminster (PA)  Phoenix, AZ 


Tue 1/1/08
UW-Stevens Point at California Lutheran   

Wed 1/2/08
Finlandia (MI)  @ UW-Oshkosh 
North Central (IL)  @ UW-Whitewater

[Greek Tragedy]

La Crosse wins in double overtime

What's the word out of La Crosse?  Brandon Brown out for awhile (and not just for fantasy purposes!)  TJ Nereng plays only 10 minutes (had 3 fouls)?  Billy Kegler plays only 6 minutes?  Both are starters!  Austin Scott (28 min), Matt DeMars (36), Dan Beck (33) and Andrew Haass (25) all got huge minutes off the bench!  Injuries or what?

[chmarx]

I wish I knew what's going on, OS.  The media has had nothing except the initial report of Brown's injury.  I have no contacts inside the program.

[buf]

Stout gets thumped by Buena Vista this afternoon.  Stout only 2-10 on FTs.  Of course BVU was only 13-28 from the line.