MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

I heard that Griffin from Iola is leaning towards Point

Is he 6'9", 250 lbs?   

Anyway, tough way to end the season...not the way we wanted our senior(s) to go out.

Of course, I'm pretty sure 58 teams will be saying this.

I've had a little time for this to sink in and it still sucks.  Point goes down 53-52 vs. Buena Vista.

8 out of 30 from 3 isn't going to win you too many games and it looks like BV's big men played a part in that since we took 61 total shots, so nearly half were outside the arc.  I guess it's a silver lining to see that we did out rebound them and also had 12 offensive boards.  Of course, the two that BV got at the end of the game were the biggest...as was the one Kolinski (?) got at the end of the WIAC Tourney Final.

Hicklin's 1-9 from 3 reminds of me Matt Miller's similar effort in Oshkosh's quarterfinal game vs. Superior, so it sucks that Hicklin has to go out like that.  I'm never comfortable with Beamish launching threes, but his 0-5 showed me that it was tough to get inside. 

The way the St. Thomas fans were discussing their team, it looked like we matched up better with them.  For the second straight year, it looks like the lack of a legit big man inside was our doom and the fact our outside shot let us down.  Obviously no offense to Wotachek, I like him and I think everyone saw a drastic improvement on his part this year.  I'm hoping for more of the same next year. 

Long wait until November and next year will be just as tough with everyone a year older and the likes of Beyer, DSA, Goodwin, Skemp and others all back.  I hope Pete Rortvedt makes a full recovery and makes a run for POTY in his senior year.  Point will have a ton of experience back with a strong class of seniors in Rortvedt, Beamish, El-Amin, Drew Jackson and Wotachek.

[Greek Tragedy]

Next year:  Starting lineup losses?

EC-Zach Ryan
LX-Chris Fehrenbach, Billy Kegler
OSH-Jordan Johnson
PL-none
RF-Scott Kelly, Courtney Davis, Willie Wright
STP-Steve Hicklin
ST-Miles Webb, Eric Heisler
WW-Josh King, Rob Perry

Platteville has to be the favorite next year.

[Mr. Downtown]

Whoa whoa whoa, Skemp is coming back for another year??

[Gregory Sager]

I agree, Bill, but we also need to remember this weekend when we brag up our power conference.

The WIAC went 55-29 (.654) in non-conference play this season, including the 1-2 record in March. That isn't chopped liver if you're looking for something upon which the WIAC can hang its hat, to mix a metaphor.

[badgerwarhawk]

Whoa whoa whoa, Skemp is coming back for another year??

If I remember correctly Skemp was medically reshirted one season. 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Whoa whoa whoa, Skemp is coming back for another year??

If I remember correctly Skemp was medically reshirted one season. 

He was medically redshirted last year, so this past season was only a Junior.

[UWBadgers]

Isn't Beyer a senior?

http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/08allconference.html

http://www.uwec.edu/Athletics/mbkb/0708/roster.htm

[Greek Tragedy]

Isn't Beyer a senior?

http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/08allconference.html

http://www.uwec.edu/Athletics/mbkb/0708/roster.htm

In 2004-2005, his Freshman year, he played and started 7 games...that was it.  So, I'm guessing he had some kind of medical redshirt.  7 games is more than the 20% for a medical redshirt, so not sure how that worked out.  I just remember buf (?) saying he had another year. 

[bulk19]

Yep, Beyer has another year with UWEC...

[badgerwarhawk]

Next year's POY should be very interesting with  four of the top five vote getters and nine of the top ten all returning.   I haven't done any checking but having nine of the top ten players in the league returning seems an unusual situation.  Though Perry, had he stayed healthy, would also have been included and with Beyer that's three of the top ten who are seniors.  Only three seniors were honorable mention so totally six seniors are among the twenty best.   Again I haven't done any checking but that seems low to me.   

[Pat Coleman]

Isn't Beyer a senior?

http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/08allconference.html

http://www.uwec.edu/Athletics/mbkb/0708/roster.htm

In 2004-2005, his Freshman year, he played and started 7 games...that was it.  So, I'm guessing he had some kind of medical redshirt.  7 games is more than the 20% for a medical redshirt, so not sure how that worked out.  I just remember buf (?) saying he had another year. 

That's probably because 33% is the standard for a medical redshirt, as far as I can recall.

[Greek Tragedy]

Perry played in 14 games.

That will be too many to get a medical redshirt.  20% is the cutoff.

That's probably because 33% is the standard for a medical redshirt, as far as I can recall.

Pat,

This is what I was going by...I don't know what the number is...

[Just Bill]

I was incorrect.  It is 1/3...

(b) The injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not competed in more than three contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or one-third (whichever number is greater) of the institution's completed or scheduled

[Greek Tragedy]

I think this might be a long post, but possibly worth the read since it brings up some "off season" topics since no one else is playing! 

A buddy and I were talking about the recent early exits of the WIAC teams and were trying to come up with "reasons", if any, for these "poor" performances of WIAC teams recently, not only in the NCAAs, but possibly overall.  In this discussion, I didn't agree with all the points my friend was making, though he claims to be as knowledgeable as me in this topic! lol...

Personally, I don't think our "early" exits really mean too much and I think he was over-reacting a little when it came to the WIAC actually losing a step.  I think "lesser" leagues are improving and that can only be good for D3 as a whole, not that WE, as WIAC fans, want anyone else winning championships.  From Point's back to back National Championships, it can be argued that the WIAC hasn't performed well at all.  The year after Point won their 2nd title, Whitewater, Stout AND La Crosse all got bids.  Now, that can't be considered a disappointment.  Two of those three teams advanced past the first round, with La Crosse losing to Calvin.  Calvin was really good that year, winning the MIAA over Hope, while La Crosse was just 4th in our league.  Stout (2nd in the WIAC) lost in the 2nd round to the host school of the "pod" Augustana.  Whitewater was the biggest disappointment, winning the WIAC regular season and tourney titles, hosted the pod and didn't even get out of opening weekend...losing to Ill. Wesleyan, a team that was unconscious on their way to the Final Four.  I don't think any apologies are needed.  Maybe I'm making excuses, but those WIAC teams did play some tough opponents.

As we know, last year, Point was the only team to get in, thanks to La Crosse sweeping Oshkosh over the season and Oshkosh actually being better overall than La Crosse.  The NCAA couldn't let one in and not the other and they couldn't put both in.  Believe me, Point's loss at home hurt big time.  It was definitely a surprise yet fans outside the UAA realized how good Washington U. was.  I nearly had my ticket punched for Salem prior to that weekend, but that's why you play the game.  Disappointment, no doubt, but Wash. U. was pretty darn good.

This year was definitely a disappointment, especially for Whitewater.  No need to expand on this year's disappointments as they are still fresh in our minds.  The non-conference winning % is still Top 3 in the country.  I think I read the %s on another page recently, with the UAA tops and then the CCIW next, I believe.  So, it's not like we've lost our dominance there and I think to the WIAC's credit, we're playing tougher opponents.  With that said, give credit to neighboring conferences that have become better.  The MWC, at the top, is better than in the past, thanks to Lawrence and even Carroll.  I believe we're playing teams from the CCIW on a more regular basis than in the past, and we know they are a strong conference.  I'm not sold on the IIAC just yet.  Buena Vista and Wartburg (and Loras) haven't been known to do too much damage in the NCAAs in the past, so I don't think we can say they've turned the corner based on this year's performances.  Yes, they are on the up and up, topping two of the best WIAC teams.  I won't take that away from them. 

My friend also mentioned three other things that have effected the WIAC and it's perceived dominance.  Red-shirting.  Yes, after being in denial, I will admit this has a huge impact on the WIAC teams.  I realize public schools are a lot cheaper than private schools, so student-athletes have less desire to spend 5 years on the team, instead of just 4.  I will admit, it has effected the WIAC negatively.  But, we all have to remember, it wasn't just a WIAC rule, ANYONE could redshirt in the past.  Another thing my buddy mentioned was the double-headers.  I'm still scratching my head on this one.  I'm not sure how double-headers effect the quality of play inside AND outside the WIAC.  I remember Coach Jack Bennett saying (in an interview or newspaper article) something when we won our 2nd (?) National Championship that they purposely scheduled several games to be played on Friday and Saturday, just to prepare for the NCAA tourney schedule.  Maybe that's the problem.  Let's make an effort to play Fri/Sat. games like the MWC so we aren't "tired" on that second day.  They have "travel partners", so maybe we could too, like the NCHA does.  So, I'm not sure where my friend was going when it came to double-headers.  Yes, the only people that like double-headers are the fans and the administrations that save money.  Lastly, he said something about not having JV teams hurting us.  Did we ever have JV teams?  I'm not sure.  Why not start JV teams since we don't have redshirts anymore?  I'm sure it would cost money though, but I don't see it being a huge obstacle.  I don't know what all goes into that.

Obviously recruiting seems to get tougher and tougher every year.  Not only are we competing with each other more (Superior has gotten some good players in, for example), but we are also now competing with the Carrolls and Lawrences of Wisconsin.  And of course, the western WIAC teams have the MIAC schools to always deal with.  It's a tough business, I'm sure and it's only going to get harder.  I don't believe the WIAC is in decline, yet everyone else is getting better. 

I think the WIAC will be back as strong as ever next year with Point still loaded (even without Hicklin), Platteville, Whitewater and Oshkosh returning nearly everyone and teams like Eau Claire and Superior moving forward.  The only bad thing is that it's 8 months away.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tom,

Point 1: don't let anyone overreact about the WIAC - you are NOT going the way of the OAC or NJAC (once 'elite' conferences who are now in the lower reaches of the top 10).  While I don't think the WIAC has been flat-out #1 for at least 3 years, NO ONE omits them from the 'elite' conferences.

Point 2: don't bother beating up Whitewater for its 2006 loss to IWU.  That was probably the best team ever to NOT win the national title (2 first team AAs that year, and another the next year; and unanimously ranked #1 in several polls during the season).  Far from being "unconscious" during their run, I think they were conscious for the first time in weeks!  I'm still mystified how they did not win the title.  [BTW, they also ended Lawrence's undefeated season - at Lawrence; something Titan fans were so confident of they wore "Lawrence: 25-1" t-shirts to the game.]

Point 3: the end of redshirting IS a biggie for the WIAC.  While you're right that it was not a conference rule, many conferences DID ban it, and it just wasn't a real option for most players at most private schools.  Pat mentioned recently on some other board that 'routine' redshirting seemed to be confined to the WIAC, ASC, and NWC conferences.  A 'redshirt freshman' is a whole different player than a 'true freshman', and the advantage continues throughout their careers.

Point 4: I'm amazed to learn that you guys don't have JV teams.  They make a HUGE difference.  IWU made the FF in 1996, but graduated 4 starters.  In 1997, we won the national title with one superstar returner and guys who got most of their experience on JV.  START JV TEAMS, or you may go the way of the NJAC!