MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Downtown]

I'm a bit late on the topic of having 6 teams in the conference tourney, but here are my thoughts...

....

...

Okay, I really don't know what to think of just having 6 teams in the conference tourney. I'm kinda dumbfounded...

Is reseeding that big of a deal in the conference tourney?

[mab]

I haven't seen anything official, but from doing some internet snooping, it looks like at least the following players are going to UWO:

   Aris Wurtz         6-3   G   Waupun
   John Flanigan      6-5   F   Oshkosh North
   Alex Mittelstaedt      6-6   F   Berlin

And Possibly:

   Bryan Johnson      6-2   G   Randolph
   Kyle Jones         6-4   G   East Troy

That is in addition to the transfers:  Dan Tillema, Steven Waudby and John Henney.  From looking at the WIAC handbook, it looks like Henney will be eligible to play next season.  I thought players had to sit out a year if they transfer intraconference, but the handbook says that is only the case if the player has played more than one year at the previous school.

Mr. Downtown, is there any inside scoop on for sure recruits you can give us?

[Mr. Downtown]

Ha Ha Ha...

your kidding right? TVD is so closed-lip about these things until the school is back in session in the Fall.

When that comes, you'll have to ask TitansRus, or anyone that works for the Advance-Titan.

Simply put, TVD is a realist, and doesn't know who will show up until the first day of practice. He's always been that way when I helped cover the basketball team.

I'm impressed you got a list online. Good work!

[badgerwarhawk]

That is pretty much the position that Pat Miller and his staff take too.  There's no such thing as a binding committment in DIII so until the semester starts and the recruit is enrolled in school anything can and on occassion does happen.   Until that time they prefer not to say anything.

It used to be a little nerve racking when you see so many others naming their recruits and you start to wonder what's going on with your guys.   But experience indicates that we'll get our fair share and field a competitive team year in and year out so you just have to be patient. 

[wcbsas]

That is pretty much the position that Pat Miller and his staff take too.  There's no such thing as a binding committment in DIII so until the semester starts and the recruit is enrolled in school anything can and on occassion does happen.   Until that time they prefer not to say anything.

It used to be a little nerve racking when you see so many others naming their recruits and you start to wonder what's going on with your guys.   But experience indicates that we'll get our fair share and field a competitive team year in and year out so you just have to be patient. 

The thing about UWW ... is their team is absolutely loaded.  Limited graduations means there frankly isn't a lot of openings on their team.  Any high school senior who has a desire to play reasonably early is not going to want to go to UWW.

Additionally I wonder if Miller's tendency to recruit D1 transfers doesn't negatively impact high schoolers as they look for possible schhols.

[Greek Tragedy]

And another factor is the willingness to "forgo" a year or two of substantial playing time in exchange for participating in a winning program.

Sure, you don't want to sit on the bench for three, and maybe four years and be " a part" of some conference championships, NCAA appearances, and maybe an NCAA championship...but, it's also not a lot of fun to start for a 9-17 program year in and year out, no matter how much playing time you get. 

There's a definite balance that each individual is comfortable with. 

[wcbsas]

And another factor is the willingness to "forgo" a year or two of substantial playing time in exchange for participating in a winning program.

Sure, you don't want to sit on the bench for three, and maybe four years and be " a part" of some conference championships, NCAA appearances, and maybe an NCAA championship...but, it's also not a lot of fun to start for a 9-17 program year in and year out, no matter how much playing time you get. 

There's a definite balance that each individual is comfortable with. 

Nowadays though the WIAC is so tough that a handful of schools have a legitimate shot at winning the conference title.   Four teams were within shouting distance of the title last year.  Two others (Superior and LaCrosse) have young teams and could be considered contenders this upcoming season.

The attractiveness of going to UWW and sitting for a year (for a contender) versus going to UWO, gettng immediate playing time and potentially playing for a contender.

[chmarx]

Another factor in all this is academics.  Kids who aren't playing sports also pick an school, find that it is a bad fit, and transfer.

[badgerwarhawk]

Obviously there are many reasons but when it's all said and done Miller has players that can compete successfully in the WIAC.  Whether they're freshmen or transfers doesn't really matter.

[mab]

It looks like my main recruiting source is more an indication of who is considering going to UWO than planning on going there.  WISHOOPS.com is reporting Aris Wurtz from Waupun is going to Ripon instead of UWO.  Now the only high school player I know of who has made a firm commitment is John Flanigan from Oshkosh North.

[OshDude]

It looks like my main recruiting source is more an indication of who is considering going to UWO than planning on going there.  WISHOOPS.com is reporting Aris Wurtz from Waupun is going to Ripon instead of UWO.  Now the only high school player I know of who has made a firm commitment is John Flanigan from Oshkosh North.

I think Wurtz made the right choice, assuming WisHoops is correct. I see him fitting in at Ripon and the MWC better than UWO and the WIAC.

Flanigan is tough and competitive. Reminds me of Jordan Johnson in a lot of ways, although maybe not yet as athletic as JJ nor does he have JJ's lockdown skills on the defensive end (not many do). Same kind of emotion and intensity, though. Flanigan can shoot and board a bit with his physicality.

Flanigan comes from same HS as Platteville's Charlie Lohoff. Many similarities between Flanigan and Lohoff, too. But Lohoff's a better scorer and a tick better overall IMO.

[wcbsas]

It looks like my main recruiting source is more an indication of who is considering going to UWO than planning on going there.  WISHOOPS.com is reporting Aris Wurtz from Waupun is going to Ripon instead of UWO.  Now the only high school player I know of who has made a firm commitment is John Flanigan from Oshkosh North.

I think Wurtz made the right choice, assuming WisHoops is correct. I see him fitting in at Ripon and the MWC better than UWO and the WIAC.

Flanigan is tough and competitive. Reminds me of Jordan Johnson in a lot of ways, although maybe not yet as athletic as JJ nor does he have JJ's lockdown skills on the defensive end (not many do). Same kind of emotion and intensity, though. Flanigan can shoot and board a bit with his physicality.

Flanigan comes from same HS as Platteville's Charlie Lohoff. Many similarities between Flanigan and Lohoff, too. But Lohoff's a better scorer and a tick better overall IMO.

What's your opinion of the Henney transfer from UM-Platt?

[OshDude]

It looks like my main recruiting source is more an indication of who is considering going to UWO than planning on going there.  WISHOOPS.com is reporting Aris Wurtz from Waupun is going to Ripon instead of UWO.  Now the only high school player I know of who has made a firm commitment is John Flanigan from Oshkosh North.

I think Wurtz made the right choice, assuming WisHoops is correct. I see him fitting in at Ripon and the MWC better than UWO and the WIAC.

Flanigan is tough and competitive. Reminds me of Jordan Johnson in a lot of ways, although maybe not yet as athletic as JJ nor does he have JJ's lockdown skills on the defensive end (not many do). Same kind of emotion and intensity, though. Flanigan can shoot and board a bit with his physicality.

Flanigan comes from same HS as Platteville's Charlie Lohoff. Many similarities between Flanigan and Lohoff, too. But Lohoff's a better scorer and a tick better overall IMO.

What's your opinion of the Henney transfer from UM-Platt?

Have never seen him play.

[chmarx]

I know this isn't the football board, but today was the last athletic event at UWL's Veterans Stadium.  The state track meet concluded today.  The old stadium will be torn down in about a week, and construction will begin quickly.  We hope to have it done in time for next year's tournament.  In fact, we've promised that to the WIAA!

I have to admit to feeling a bit of nostalgia as I walked to my car.  I will undoubtedly never be in that stadium again.

[Greek Tragedy]

http://www.uwlax.edu/athletics/mbasketball/schedule/

La Crosse schedule was posted on the multi-region board.