WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[The Champ]

bulk

You're right, I have only seen two EC games this season, and I'm sure the two of you have seen more than two games.  Advantage to you and buf in evaluating a Blugold performance.

Your defense held us to only 65 points.  That's nearly 8 points below our season average - an average that is only that low because of the fact that in the first game you held us to 44 poiints.

This is the fourth WIAC loss this season by the 'Golds, and it was by the second smallest margin for UWEC in WIAC games this year. 

I suggest, without having seen those two games, that the defensive performance in the first LaCrosse game (UWL shot 48.9%) and in the Point game (UWSP shot 50%) were worse.  Your comment of your D having played "well, as of late" seem to conflict with the fact that the Point game was only 3 games ago.

Our WIAC season FG% is 43.3 and your D held us to 39.2.  I think your D did a much better job than you give them credit for.

You came to Johnson Fieldhouse hoping for an upset.  To do so would have taken a great defensive effort by your squad like they had in the first meeting.  IMHO, based on watching several Stout games this year is that your defense represented themselves quite well, but not as well as in Zorn Arena in November.

Fair enough?

[hoops49]

Champ - The 'Golds have played aggressive D the whole season, and quite well, as of late.

But if you've been following them all year, like buf and I have, you'd have seen that they did have several lapses last night. There were far too many plays where Stout players took it to the rack, and the defensive player who got beat had no help. Thus, bunnies. I can think of at least five, and I don't recall any on fast breaks...

I can't speak for buf, but what I think he and I are saying is that we were not pleased with how the defense was, and are in no way trying to discredit the your team or the Stout O. Rather, we, who have most likely seen this team more than you have this year, were disappointed in how the 'Golds played defensively, compared to how they can and have been, and expected a better performance and more than they gave...

You know what Bulk? I'm sorry, but I have to step in here. I don't think you have a clue just what these girls give to this game.

They are NOT playing this game to please you. They are out there because they love the game of basketball. Period!!!!!!!!  They work really hard at competing and going to school.
They don't have the luxury of having so much free time like you and me.

It's a game. That's all it really is.

[crazy4hoops]

haha...finally some talk on here....it has been a while since we have had this much talk in 2 days time.....

I know it sounded bad but I know coaches have their "practice" teams play a little dirtier when preparing for Stout...it wasn't a knock to women's basketball at all....basketball isn't about pulling shirts and being held....but a lot of this stuff is being let go more and more in our league because of how the officiating has gone down....I can count on maybe 1 hand how many officials are "decent" in the league and that is it. So yes I agree with how officiating has gone bad in the league....BUT i do know being an official sucks...never officiated this league but it seems more and more that people are so quick to blame officials before actually being accountable for there own actions...


so here is a question....with so many losses in the league do you guys think we only get 1 into the tourney again?

[Just Bill]

Last year one team received a Pool C bid with 7 in-region losses.  That was NYU with an in-region record of 18-7.  Moravian (19-6), Bridgewater (22-6), Rochester (18-6) and Bates (18-6) got in with 6 in-region losses.

Based on last year, 7 regional losses would leave you hanging by an extremely thin thread, 6 in-region losses would put you firmly on the bubble, and 5 looks relatively solid as long as you've beaten a few good teams to keep your QOWI up.

Here are the regional records for the WIAC as of today:
Stout - 15-1
Stevens Point - 12-4
Whitewater - 10-4
Eau Claire - 9-5
River Falls - 8-7
La Crosse - 7-7
Oshkosh, Platteville and Superior all have at least 9 regional losses.

Remember that if we are discussing a Pool C bid, we have to assume 1 loss in the WIAC Tournament.

Unless Johnson Fieldhouse collapses on Kelsey Duoss's head, Stout should be a Pool C lock.

Point and Whitewater are OK for now, but one of them really needs to establish themselves over the other.  They still have to play each other (that's a huge game) and they each get another crack vs. Stout.  If WW sweeps Point, that certainly gives them the edge. If Point can salvage a split, then it might come down to who has the strongest performance against Stout, and who doesn't blow a game they should win. A win over Stout would certainly boost their QOWI and their argument to the selection committee.

Eau Claire already has a win over Stout, but they really need to run the table into the WIAC Tournament in order to go to Selection Sunday with just 6 in-region losses.

Even if River Falls or La Crosse can win out all the way to the WIAC Tournament Championship game they would still have 8 losses.  That probably won't cut it.

[Rico 21]

I'll be listening to the Saturday morning show on my way to a tournament and then both Stout games.  That's a lot of Stoutguy in one day...

God Bless me!

[The Champ]

Unless Johnson Fieldhouse collapses on Kelsey Duoss's head, Stout should be a Pool C lock.

Had to laugh when I read that...   I really don't want Johnson Fieldhouse collapsing, much less on Kelsey's head...  

Besides, I'm hoping that Johnson might be the site of at least one game in the WIAC tourney - and I'd prefer that we have a roof over our heads.  Outdoor basketball in February is not recommended.

Great analysis of the Pool C situation.  I really don't want to think of going in through the back door, but it wasn't that many years ago that Point did it - and went on to win it all... 8)

Still can't figure out how a "back door" team got that many home games in the tourney though, when the WIAC Tournament Champion had to go on the road???

Here's the remaining schedule for the three teams you feel have a shot at a Pool C bid - EC/Point/WW.  All three teams play the other two, so this could be real interesting.

EC:

@ Platteville
Point
@ River Falls
Oshkosh
@ Superior
@ Whitewater

Point:

@ Eau Claire
@ LaCrosse
Whitewater
Stout
@ Platteville
@ Superior

Whitewater:     

@ Stout
Platteville
Superior
@Point
@ River Falls
@ Oshkosh
Eau Claire

There are some real tough games there for both teams, and that makes the Point/WW matchup on Feb 7th a potential mega game for both squads.

[The Champ]

I'll be listening to the Saturday morning show on my way to a tournament and then both Stout games.  That's a lot of Stoutguy in one day...

God Bless me!

What I want to know is what crimes you committed to deserve that kind of punishment - you didn't rob a bank or something like that - did you...

[stoutguy]

Hey, hey, hey.  I am reading this stuff, you know.  Foul Language, why don't you at least jump in and tell these guys what a good guy I am.

[foul_language]

Back off, you guys. Stoutguy is a good guy.

Like that?

[stoutguy]

Yes, just like that.  Now you have to start thinking of something to say at halftime of our Stout/Superior game.  You are our guest.

[foul_language]

Would it have to be coherent? I've been known to babble. I'm sure that comes as a surprise to readers

[The Champ]

Back off, you guys. Stoutguy is a good guy.

Never said he wasn't a good guy, but listening to Stoutguy for the Saturday morning show and then two BB games...  Too much of a good thing can be harmful.

We need to figure out a way where we can get Stoutguy's audio hooked up to the video of the webcast.  When I was out visiting Mrs. Champ last weekend out in D.C. - we watched the game - but it was painful listening to that kid's play by play.

I had thought that if we had two laptops running, we could have had the radio broadcast on one and the webcast on the other - but then they probably would be out of sync and I'd hear Jake talk about the shot going in before Kelsey even got the ball...

[bulk19]

hoops49 -

To respond to your post - I'm pretty sure I've been a Blugold, and Blugold fan, longer than you have, since I'm a graduate of this fine institution of higher learning. Don't fault me for developing my critical thinking skills while I was there. I call them as I see them, praiseworthy or not. I'm not on here to coddle the athletes; when they don't play to their capabilities, I say it. When they do, I say that, too.

But if you want to call me on my bluff, go back and read my posts; most are of the cheerleader-type that you seem to think they and the other UWEC teams deserve, just for putting on the uniform. Sorry, but I don't automatically give out As for effort, or for putting on the jersey...

As far as me not knowing what they give? Please. Give me a break. I know what it's like to be in school, while participating in extracurricular activities that amounted to 30-40 hour weeks in addition to my studies... I realize how hard they work, and have acknowledged that in the past. But I've seen this team play better defense this year, and have said that, too.

And in my opinion, they didn't give an their best effort on Wednesday. I'd bet they were not happy with their defensive performance either, and were told that in no uncertain terms by their coaches... If you were pleased with their effort on Wednesday, then the standards have slipped...
   
And you are incorrect; they are playing to please me. I'm one of the fans who pays $6-$8 to see them play. And they have said all season long, and in seasons past, how important it is to have the fans in the stands. Check my previous posts; I know for a fact they don't take the tremendous fan support they have for granted... 

I don't think being a fan means I'm supposed to sit back and have low expectations for such a talented group of players; I hope the team wants fans who are disappointed when they didn't play their best ball. Seems to me my best teachers (or in this case, a fan) were those who pushed me the most, and expected the most...

But, if, as you suggest, they really aren't out there to please me, and the rest of the fans, then so be it. Then my comments/opinions shouldn't mean diddly squat to you or the team, and you shouldn't get all bent out of shape over them...

It's funny, as you say, that it's only a game. And yet you show so much passion for it in your post. Yes, the women play D3 ball because they love it - ie, they don't get scholarships - but that's precisely why I pay to watch them...

[bulk19]

Champ - I'm not ignoring you. Just getting my second wind here, after my previous dissertation after being taken to task by hoops49...

Fair enough. But only because I'm too tired to type...

One thing worth re-mentioning about the first matchup this year between UWEC and Stout, was the presence in the paint of Erin Voelker, a 6-3 junior, who came from Madison Area Tech. She played pretty well and was part of the success they had against Duoss that night. But Voelker has since left UWEC, at the break...

Oh, hey, since you noted how you replaced the floor at the fieldhouse, but that it was maybe two years ago, and wasn't necessarily to confuse the 'Golds?  Guess what? The Blugolds head to Platteville tomorrow, where they're naming the court after Bo during the men's game. So, the women get to help christen that new floor, too. Ha.

I wonder, though, what they are doing to the floor, if anything? A new paint job with some sort of recognition on it, with Ryan's name? Or is it just going to be called that, with no markings? Any one - SuperPfan? know?

[UWPSUPERFAN77]

Please, we should all just say what we see, as respectfully as we can ,while still keeping our passion for sports. I too, have high expectations as a fan.But, when the game is over, we all have Wisconsin in our names during conference games. While it is not life and death, it is important. Ilove all you guys, and some gals, on this site.  I do not want this to become the FB site, where people complain about any negative comments on their teams with personal criticism and a rain of negative Karma.  God Bless as always!