MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

In the middle of winter given the choice of playing in Stevens Point or Southern California, I would take the CalTech game every time. LOL.

[Greek Tragedy]

I was reading AL's post and thought that too, and then scrolled down and saw your post, Rooper.  Too funny!

Back to Amos:

I think we're going to disagree on where Beloit, as a team, stands right now.  You are talking about a good team, or a team that wants to emulate those teams, as what Beloit might be. 

I'm looking at Beloit as a project and working it's way up.  Take Lawrence for example.  For several years now, they've been a force in the MWC.  But, they want to prove themselves to the nation in general, so they schedule the "big boys" from the WIAC. 

Tell me what positives Beloit got by going to Platteville (your tough nonconference opponent) and getting spanked by 52.  I think Beloit needs to play teams "a step above" them first and then work their way up.

Rockford is horrible and they only beat them by 4.  Looking at Beloit's schedule last year, it hardly looks like they've proved they have the ability to play any MWC team tough.  Sometimes it's hard to admit your not a very good team, but you have to start somewhere.

[d3bbfan]

Well I havent read about it yet, but Im hoping that they are still doing the MWCTV on the web this year. Getting transfered in a few weeks so I wont be able to watch my Bucs in person anymore. Unless I come back home for a visit during the season. But Im thinking S. Cal weather will be a whole lot nicer than Wis weather in Jan so Ill just watch em on the web...lol. Good luck bucs in your upcoming season. Ill still be watching.

[John Gleich]

There's definitely something to be said about learning how to win.  Lots of times, it's better for a team that wants to "get there" (get to a winning place) to play competition that is along their same caliber, instead of teams that are lots, lots better, to prove to themselves that they CAN win.  Winning is contagious.  Losing is too.  If you get in a rut, it can be difficult to get out of.

Now, that said, there are certainly situations when a team that ISN'T up to the caliber of a good team goes in and beats them... and that, of couse, is a great motivater and confidence builder even more than beating someone on your own level... but the chances of the big upset are much, much less than your chances against like competition.

Once the players start to believe, then great things can happen for them.  That's not to say that it is a hard and fast rule that a confident team will win all the time... that's why they play the game... but if a team can make the leap from a 4 win season and make it an 8 win season the next year, then make it to .500, then get over the hump and have a winning season... these are the kind of things that can build a program.  If you look at Beloit's games last year, they won all of their close games.  ... Now, that may say a couple different things...

First, they may have been losing fairly big to teams that they should have been able to compete with and teams they should have handled they played to a close game, and won.  Or, it may mean that when it got down to crunch time, they did what they needed to do to get the win.

If it's the second one, then they would need to look at what kept them from being in a position to be in those late game situations.  Maybe it's turnovers.  Maybe it was poor free throw shooting.  Maybe it was lower shooting percentages.  Maybe it was a combination, or all three, or something completely different.  Whatever it is, it can be analyzed and it's up to the players to raise their individual games to the next level.  

Take free throw shoowing for a second.  Beloit shot 109 fewer free throws than its opponents, and shot them at a worse percentage.  If the percentage is increased from 66% to 75%, that's worth about a point per game at the current clip, but if they also changed their mindset and attacked the basket more and too MORE free throws, and shot them at a better percentage, then that increase could be magnified, and it could cause scorers from the other team to have to sit on the pine, which also increases Beloit's chances.  So, through the simple thing of addressing free throw shooting Beloit may have been in a few more of those games and gotten confidence, which in turn could have gotten them in even more games.

There are other factors too, though.  Beloit shot 6% worse than opponents in field goal percentage and 3 point percentage, while shooting less, and turned the ball over an additional 100 times more than its foes.  If you can increase that shooting percentage, it equates to more points (obviously...) and if you cut down on turnovers, it allows you an opportunity to score AND keeps your oppenent from getting what usually turn out to be easier baskets (fast break or secondary break, attacking a defense that isn't set).  

Now, some of these things are team things... If players aren't used to playing with each other and aren't on the same page, then they are probably going to turn the ball over more.  If the players don't have the necessary ball handling skills individually though (dibbling, making the GOOD pass, catching the ball, etc), then it doesn't matter how in sync the team is, you're going to turn the ball over.

When it gets down to it, a program's destiny is going to be reached by the players.  If they players are willing to sacrifice and get better, then they will improve.  Now, that doesn't mean that every team has what it takes to win a National Championship... but they can work to improve from one year to the next and take strides in the right direction... which, for a program, can potentially lure better players, who can, in turn, keep a program moving in that right direction.

[The Roop]

While Beloit probably won't make it to Salem this season, they do have the pieces in place to turn things around in a hurry. In a way that makes recruiting difficult for Coach Vraney as he can't sell playing time as easily as he could this past year.

Still not sure why I wasn't named A.D. this past weekend so I'm guessing they are taking the "Brett Favre Drama" route. On a related note............ I have names and golf scores for those that may be able to influence the selection process. Far be it from me to exclude the highest bidder from that information.

FYI. The Roop birdied the first hole after an 8 year lay off....................

[Greek Tragedy]

miniature golf doesn't count

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tom, that was just too cruel!

I chose to not embarass The Roop by not asking "what about the second hole?"

[The Roop]

The second hole was back to normal with a double bogey 6, and I needed to 1 putt to pull that off. I'll take a 105 for 18 after the 8 year lay off though. I was never much better than that even when I golfed regularly. Low 40s for 9 on occasion then blow up on the back 9, etc.

Funny how you threaten to reveal names and scores from that day and suddenly there is a dark horse candidate for the A.D. position that is gaining momentum thanks to a write in vote. I guess it helps that my 105 was not the worst round.

If any one needs an extra TopFlite my tee shot from #10 is out in left center on the Little League field.

[gobucs]

miniature golf doesn't count

LOL....how about frisbee golf?  That's big in Beloit.........

[Greek Tragedy]

While Beloit probably won't make it to Salem this season

I'll bank roll your trip to Salem if Beloit's men's basketball team plays in the Final Four in Salem for the 2008-2009 Championship...book it.

Tom, that was just too cruel!

You're right, that was cruel. lol...for the record, Golden Tee doesn't count either.

[John Gleich]

While Beloit probably won't make it to Salem this season

I'll bank roll your trip to Salem if Beloit's men's basketball team plays in the Final Four in Salem for the 2008-2009 Championship...book it.

Hmm... if I say Point probably won't make it to Salem, will you pay MY way?   

[hickory_cornhusker]

Roop, unless you've been secretly living on the west coast these past few years it looks like Beloit has passed you over for the AD position. If I would have to point to your downfall I would say it was the talk about your golf game.

[The Roop]

Well it's all politics I think. BC went with somebody that wanted to uphold and abide by the rules while I have ways around them. Whatever happened to thinking outside of the box ?? Have they not learned how to "play ball" there yet ??

To put it succinctly this is only a blow to me, not to the N.R.O.

[The Roop]

On an unrelated note......... I think that Carroll UNIVERSITY and Lawrence UNIVERSITY need to be giving D2 some thought. MWC adds Rockford College in their absence and we can have double round robin scheduling in basketball. Why not ? ? ? ? ? ?

[hickory_cornhusker]

Outside of basketball I think both schools would get murdered. My sister who goes to St. Norbert says there are talks at SNC about also changing to a university. Then you would be down to 8 teams. That would mean you could have 9 non-conference games and still be within MWC's limit of 23 games.