WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[foul_language]

The WARHAWKS shoot very poorly, 28% for the game and 17% in the second half

OK. Was it poor shooting or UW-Superior's stifling defense? I've been impressed by Breeana Herzog a couple of times. Last year, I thought she was clumsy and did more damage than help. This year, she seems to have gotten some control and some spirit. She held up well against taller players when River Falls was here. I think she's come a long way.

Too bad someone didn't step up when Moench got shut down. There are certainly players capable of it. I think Superior is still a little tunnel-visioned. They figure out how to do something well, but then they miss other stuff. Ah well. Maybe next year.

[Just Bill]

Here is an update on my previous Pool C analysis. Stuff I copied from the last post is in italics:

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 - 17-2
Stevens Point - 13-5
Whitewater - 13-5
Eau Claire - 11-5
River Falls - 11-7
La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville and Superior all have at least 8 regional losses.

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

Stout still should be a Pool C lock.

Huge Point/Whitewater game. The winner has a chance, especially if Point wins since they still get one more regular season crack at Stout for a chance to boost their resume. The team that loses will be looking at having 7 in-region losses (including the assumed loss in the WIAC Tournament).  That's going to be very hairy, especially if you don't have any wins over a regionally ranked opponent (like Stout). Even the winner will probably have to run the table all the way to the tourney championship game, and even then they can't feel safe.

Eau Claire is still hanging in there, but really needs to run the table to the WIAC Tournament championship game in order to go to Selection Sunday with just 6 in-region losses. Their in-region win percentage is a bit lower than Point or WW since they've played two fewer in-region games.

River Falls gets mentioned since they beat Stout this week, but 8 regional losses probably won't do it.

La Crosse fell off the radar this week with that loss to Point.

I'd say the only sure way to get two teams into the NCAA is if Stout loses in the WIAC Tournament.  Any Pool C possibility for anyone other than Stout is a long shot.

[foul_language]

Has women's WIAC ever had more than one team in play-offs? Seems like any multiple from a single conference usually come from out East. I haven't really studied this; it's just an impression.

[badgerwarhawk]

OK. Was it poor shooting or UW-Superior's stifling defense? I've been impressed by Breeana Herzog a couple of times. Last year, I thought she was clumsy and did more damage than help. This year, she seems to have gotten some control and some spirit. She held up well against taller players when River Falls was here. I think she's come a long way.

Too bad someone didn't step up when Moench got shut down. There are certainly players capable of it. I think Superior is still a little tunnel-visioned. They figure out how to do something well, but then they miss other stuff. Ah well. Maybe next year.

As is typical in most cases it was probably a combination of the two though I wouldn't call Superior's defense "stifling."  They played hard but we missed a bunch of good looks too.  I don't recall Herzog from last year so I don't really know if she's any better or not.  She is bulky, plays physically and had a knack for being in the right place at the right time to scarf up some loose balls around the basket and converted them into scores.  I don't know if she does that on a regular basis but it seemed she did step up and kept Superior in the game.   But 29 turnovers is pretty much going to get you beat unless your opponent is playing worse.  We played poorly but not worse.  Dominating the offensive rebounds and nine fewer turnovers gave us a lot more shots (65-49).

Wednesday's game is huge but so are the other three.  As a program we can take a big step forward this year but we've got to learn to win games in places like Point to do it.  We've played down to the competition the past two games and managed to win.  If we don't play up to it in Point I doubt that will happen.

It seems to me that we have had more than one team in the NCAA tournament in the recent past but I could be mistaken.

[buf]

Has women's WIAC ever had more than one team in play-offs? Seems like any multiple from a single conference usually come from out East. I haven't really studied this; it's just an impression.

Yes, I think there has been 4 teams in the tournament either once or twice.  Back in the 90s, I believe, the tournament temporarily expanded to 64 teams, without AQs bids??

The problem is that the WIAC has a number of good teams year in and year out throughout the conference.  As a result, the 2nd and 3rd place teams have more losses than lets say a conference with only a couple good teams.  In these types of conferences, the top teams just usually lose to each other.  The mid to lower teams very rarely get wins over the top teams.  As a result, the top teams only have 2 or 3 losses.  In the WIAC, it is very uncommon to see the 2nd or 3rd place team with only 2 or 3 losses, it is usually something like 5 or 6 losses. 

[Just Bill]

Has women's WIAC ever had more than one team in play-offs? Seems like any multiple from a single conference usually come from out East. I haven't really studied this; it's just an impression.

Years with two (or more) WIAC teams in the NCAAs:  2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 (3), 1996 (3), 1995 (4), 1994 (3), 1993 (3), 1992 (3), 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1984, 1983.

The current Pool system was started in 2000.  The most recent bracket expansion (to 63 teams) was in 2006.

As you can see the WIAC was able to get multiple teams in before the current Pool system was implemented.  Additionally, before the Pool system, at-large's were chosen on a strictly regional basis and not nationally as they are now.  That was a plus for the WIAC as well.

I believe the UAA put four in last year (and may do so again).

[Pat Coleman]

The current Pools system was started in 2000.

[Just Bill]

The current Pools system was started in 2000.

Thanks for the correction.  It's been edited.

[foul_language]

though I wouldn't call Superior's defense "stifling."

I wouldn't, really, either.

Herzog I think usually had as many fouls as minutes in a game in the past. I think Mulhern has probably made a difference. I suspect past coaching has been weak, at best. Nice enough people but not able to look at what he or she has and figure out how to put it together to make a picture; better yet, see what's available and then go out to fill in the holes. Mostly, Superior seems to have been holes. That was more a reflection on the coaching, though, than the actual talent. I think there have always been decent players on the team; unfortunately, they've been largely unsupported and undirected. I hope that given a couple of years of recruiting and capable coaching, Superior will be able to gain some WIAC parity.

How long does it take to turn a program around? I hope it happens in my lifetime. Unfortunately, some of the turn-around will rely on decent support from administration. I have no faith in the UW-Superior administration. They're so into facade, they' probably suggest cardboard cutouts of D1 stars.

Oh, now this cold is just making me crazy.

[The Champ]

The problem is that the WIAC has a number of good teams year in and year out throughout the conference.  As a result, the 2nd and 3rd place teams have more losses than lets say a conference with only a couple good teams.  In these types of conferences, the top teams just usually lose to each other.  The mid to lower teams very rarely get wins over the top teams.  As a result, the top teams only have 2 or 3 losses.  In the WIAC, it is very uncommon to see the 2nd or 3rd place team with only 2 or 3 losses, it is usually something like 5 or 6 losses. 

This is one of the reasons that some of the WIAC teams make a point of only scheduling non-conference regional games against "cupcakes", and  any tougher opponents are scheduled as home games.  They simply won't travel long distances to play tougher DIII teams on the road.

Two schools of thought on this strategy:

1. Your regional losses can be minimized by "cupcakes" and not playing any of the tougher teams on the road, if you play any at all.

2. Your team will benefit by playing a higher level of competition, and will play stronger against the other WIAC teams.

Which is the better strategy will always be a topic of discussion....

[Mr. Downtown]

Conference Tourney


1 Stout         11-2
8 Platteville     2-10


4 River Falls            8-5
5 Stevens Point      7-5

3 Whitewater          8-4
6 La Crosse             7-6

2 Eau Claire             8-4
7 Oshkosh               4-9

[The Champ]

Conference Tourney


1 Stout         11-2
8 Platteville     2-10


4 River Falls            8-5
5 Stevens Point      7-5

3 Whitewater          8-4
6 La Crosse             7-6

2 Eau Claire             8-4
7 Oshkosh               4-9

Still a logjam in the 4/5 loss category, and with EC playing River and WW playing Point it's possible that we'd have three teams tied at 8 - 5, and River would leap from the #4 seed to the #2 seed with a 9 - 5 record...

I'm not predicting wins or losses for anyone here - just pointing out that #2 - #5 seeds are a tossup at this time.

[badgerwarhawk]

WHITEWATER controls our own destiny and whatever spot we end up in was a matter of our own doing. 

[The Champ]

WHITEWATER controls our own destiny and whatever spot we end up in was a matter of our own doing. 

So, just win baby, just win...

[buf]

Regional Rankings

Central
1 Illinois Wesleyan 17-0 19-1
2 UW-Stout 17-3 18-4
3 Lake Forest 15-1 17-2
4 Carroll 17-3 17-3
5 Chicago 14-4 16-4
6 Washington U. 12-4 15-5