MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ChicagoHopeNut]

hoopdreams and others traveling, the best advice is simply to do your best to go through Chicago in the middle of the day on Friday. Assuming, you are trying to see the Friday game that would be necessary anyways.

One possibility is to skip the Skyway (and going through the downtown Chicago area) and take I80-94 to I-294 north, it adds 15-20 miles but you are less likely to hit traffic. In the middle of the day its necessarily worthwhile though. It's always a roll of the dice with traffic.


Mr Ypsi's suggestion above adds 50 minutes to the drive according to google maps but he is right that those roads are far less heavily traveled and could be faster if you hit lots of Chicago traffic.

[wwjjdd]

Sorry to break up the banter but I have a question for anyone who has traveled to Stevens Point or near there.  Any tips on route taking once you get to Indiana?  Mapquest has me taking the standard route-skyway etc...  Is there anything I should be aware of other than the tolls?  Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Wiz, once again thank you for the laugh with the top 10 list.  Funnier than anything Letterman can offer...

As a native Cheesehead I have been trying to find the best route through Chicago for 40 years.  What I have found to be useful is to tune to AM 780 WBBM's frequent traffic reports.  If I am heading toward Madison and points north, I usually find the best way is skip the Skyway, take I 80 to the Tristate I 294; exit the Tristate at about Elmhurst and take I 290 toward Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates.  Exit to I 90 the Northwest Tollroad at that point and get on I 39 at Rockford.  From then on it is a straight shot north to Stevens Point.  The important thing is to check the traffic reports on AM 780 (or WGN AM 720 for that matter.)  Hope! this helps.

[arena]

Sorry to break up the banter but I have a question for anyone who has traveled to Stevens Point or near there.  Any tips on route taking once you get to Indiana?  Mapquest has me taking the standard route-skyway etc...  Is there anything I should be aware of other than the tolls?  Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Wiz, once again thank you for the laugh with the top 10 list.  Funnier than anything Letterman can offer...

As a native Cheesehead I have been trying to find the best route through Chicago for 40 years.  What I have found to be useful is to tune to AM 780 WBBM's frequent traffic reports.  If I am heading toward Madison and points north, I usually find the best way is skip the Skyway, take I 80 to the Tristate I 294; exit the Tristate at about Elmhurst and take I 290 toward Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates.  Exit to I 90 the Northwest Tollroad at that point and get on I 39 at Rockford.  From then on it is a straight shot north to Stevens Point.  The important thing is to check the traffic reports on AM 780 (or WGN AM 720 for that matter.)  Hope! this helps.

Good route.  Easy interchanges.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

From the Holland Sentinel - The four teams at Stevens Point "at a glance"

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1121875285/D-III-mens-hoops-preview-Teams-at-a-glance

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Sorry to break up the banter but I have a question for anyone who has traveled to Stevens Point or near there.  Any tips on route taking once you get to Indiana?  Mapquest has me taking the standard route-skyway etc...  Is there anything I should be aware of other than the tolls?  Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Wiz, once again thank you for the laugh with the top 10 list.  Funnier than anything Letterman can offer...

As a native Cheesehead I have been trying to find the best route through Chicago for 40 years.  What I have found to be useful is to tune to AM 780 WBBM's frequent traffic reports.  If I am heading toward Madison and points north, I usually find the best way is skip the Skyway, take I 80 to the Tristate I 294; exit the Tristate at about Elmhurst and take I 290 toward Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates.  Exit to I 90 the Northwest Tollroad at that point and get on I 39 at Rockford.  From then on it is a straight shot north to Stevens Point.  The important thing is to check the traffic reports on AM 780 (or WGN AM 720 for that matter.)  Hope! this helps.

Good route.  Easy interchanges.

Agreed. Listen to the radio and try to plan your route around the traffic as it happens. The route above makes a lot of sense.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Sorry to break up the banter but I have a question for anyone who has traveled to Stevens Point or near there.  Any tips on route taking once you get to Indiana?  Mapquest has me taking the standard route-skyway etc...  Is there anything I should be aware of other than the tolls?  Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Wiz, once again thank you for the laugh with the top 10 list.  Funnier than anything Letterman can offer...

As a native Cheesehead I have been trying to find the best route through Chicago for 40 years.  What I have found to be useful is to tune to AM 780 WBBM's frequent traffic reports.  If I am heading toward Madison and points north, I usually find the best way is skip the Skyway, take I 80 to the Tristate I 294; exit the Tristate at about Elmhurst and take I 290 toward Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates.  Exit to I 90 the Northwest Tollroad at that point and get on I 39 at Rockford.  From then on it is a straight shot north to Stevens Point.  The important thing is to check the traffic reports on AM 780 (or WGN AM 720 for that matter.)  Hope! this helps.

Good route.  Easy interchanges.

Agreed. Listen to the radio and try to plan your route around the traffic as it happens. The route above makes a lot of sense.

I know that route worked well for us in 07, and we plan on using it again - barring any traffic issues.  I know hoopdreams plans on going, CM and I will be there, anyone else?

[Dutchmen 4 Life]

Sorry to break up the banter but I have a question for anyone who has traveled to Stevens Point or near there.  Any tips on route taking once you get to Indiana?  Mapquest has me taking the standard route-skyway etc...  Is there anything I should be aware of other than the tolls?  Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Wiz, once again thank you for the laugh with the top 10 list.  Funnier than anything Letterman can offer...

As a native Cheesehead I have been trying to find the best route through Chicago for 40 years.  What I have found to be useful is to tune to AM 780 WBBM's frequent traffic reports.  If I am heading toward Madison and points north, I usually find the best way is skip the Skyway, take I 80 to the Tristate I 294; exit the Tristate at about Elmhurst and take I 290 toward Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates.  Exit to I 90 the Northwest Tollroad at that point and get on I 39 at Rockford.  From then on it is a straight shot north to Stevens Point.  The important thing is to check the traffic reports on AM 780 (or WGN AM 720 for that matter.)  Hope! this helps.

Good route.  Easy interchanges.

Agreed. Listen to the radio and try to plan your route around the traffic as it happens. The route above makes a lot of sense.

I know that route worked well for us in 07, and we plan on using it again - barring any traffic issues.  I know hoopdreams plans on going, CM and I will be there, anyone else?

Rumor has it that there will be a small contingent of the Dew Crew their as well.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Any size Dew Crew would be awesome. 

[hope1]

sorry i  will be at the girls game

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Here is a stats comparison for game 2 on Friday

Offense	% 2pt	% 3pt	% FT
UWSP	54.2	36.6	74.3
Carleton	53.6	39.4	61.3
Defense	% 2pt	% 3pt
UWSP	45.8	31.3
Carleton	44.6	31.3
Rebounding	Team	Opp	Margin
UWSP	34.7	28.7	6
Carleton	32.6	33.6	-1
Scoring	Team	Opp	Margin
UWSP	75	59.9	15.1
Carleton	68.9	61.1	7.8
3 point shooting	Attempts	Made	Made/game
UWSP	383	140	5.2
Carleton	559	220	7.9
Blocks	Total	per game
UWSP	75	2.8
Carleton	87	3.1
Steals	Total	per game
UWSP	191	7.1
Carleton	169	6
Turnovers	Total	per game
UWSP	267	9.9
Carleton	344	12.3
Assists	Total	per game
UWSP	362	13.4
Carleton	412	14.7
Assist/Turnover
UWSP	1.36
Carleton	1.2

[ziggy]

Thanks FDF, the numbers look a whole lot closer than I expect the game to be.

[sac]

According to massey's ratings,  Stevens Point has played the #2 ranked schedule, Carleton #16.

On paper at least this game looks a lot more even than just a passing glance at the brackets would suggest.


Should be 3 good, closely contested games this weekend.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

According to massey's ratings,  Stevens Point has played the #2 ranked schedule, Carleton #16.

On paper at least this game looks a lot more even than just a passing glance at the brackets would suggest.


Should be 3 good, closely contested games this weekend.

Wow, that puts Hope and St. Norbert's SOS way below UWSP and Carleton. Not necessarily an indicator of anything but other than the fact it is hosting UWSP has to be a solid favorite this weekend.

[sac]

According to massey's ratings,  Stevens Point has played the #2 ranked schedule, Carleton #16.

On paper at least this game looks a lot more even than just a passing glance at the brackets would suggest.


Should be 3 good, closely contested games this weekend.

Wow, that puts Hope and St. Norbert's SOS way below UWSP and Carleton. Not necessarily an indicator of anything but other than the fact it is hosting UWSP has to be a solid favorite this weekend.

Massey had the WIAC #1 and the MIAC #2 for conferences.  The MIAA and MWC come in at #10 and #14

[John Gleich]

Holland Sentinel's numbers were wrong concerning UWSP's NCAA participation... See my sig below for the full history.

Caveat: UWSP played in seven NAIA tournaments in the years prior to 1997, including taking 2nd in 1983-84 and this is UWSP's 9th NCAA appearance... but they haven't been consecutive (current streak is 4 years, there was a 3 year streak from 2003-2005, including both National Championships that was broken in 05-06).

UWSP does have the highest NCAA winning percentage of all participating teams this year 19-6 (.760)

According to massey's ratings,  Stevens Point has played the #2 ranked schedule, Carleton #16.

On paper at least this game looks a lot more even than just a passing glance at the brackets would suggest.


Should be 3 good, closely contested games this weekend.

Wow, that puts Hope and St. Norbert's SOS way below UWSP and Carleton. Not necessarily an indicator of anything but other than the fact it is hosting UWSP has to be a solid favorite this weekend.

Massey had the WIAC #1 and the MIAC #2 for conferences.  The MIAA and MWC come in at #10 and #14

I'm still not sure why the MIAC is #2... they had a decent non-conference record (36-19 for 65%) but it isn't spectacular.

The WIAC, on the other hand, was 63-17 (.7875) and 52-12 against D-III.  The MIAC rating might have to do with the fact that they were 4-6 head to head against the WIAC... The only other conference to beat the WIAC in more than one contest was the NWC who went 3-7.

As an aside, Anderson did beat Platteville in non-con action, so technically that would be the best head-to-head, though this game didn't "count" as it was out of region.