WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Rico 21 · February 28, 2007, 04:26:33 PM

Quote from: stoutguy on February 28, 2007, 10:59:34 AM
Quote from: Rico 21 on February 28, 2007, 10:15:26 AM

......an attempt to change the subject

Do ya think there's any possiblity we can get Eddie to sing and do some cheers prior to Friday nights match-up (Pat Summitt - Tennessee)

Rico, please, please do not ask him. I'm sure he'll say yes. Now, getting him in a cheerleader outfit--that might be fun.

:can't wait 'til Hoops club tomorrow

badgerwarhawk · March 01, 2007, 12:20:00 PM

The women's All Conference team has been announced (and I have to admit to being exceptionally disappointed).....http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/wbasket/07allconference.html

Duoss repeats as POY. Not unexpected and well deserved.

Mark Thomas is the COY. (You won't convince me that Keri C didn't get hosed, so don't try Champ.

) I guess getting picked to win the league (again) and doing exactly what everyone thought you would is a bigger accomplishment than going from eighth to second after being picked seventh. (Don't even try, Champ.

)

Nice to see Lindsey Buechner make the first team and Trisha Thill garner HM honors. Both return next year.

Congrats to Natalie Lechault who was named the scholar athlete. As well as all the players selected and ....yes, you too Mark.

Just Bill · March 01, 2007, 12:42:43 PM

It's not fair, but there is definitely a popularity aspect to the COY award. I'd guess it's very possible some coaches couldn't set aside personal feelings when they voted. That's a shame.

foul_language · March 01, 2007, 12:53:18 PM

QuoteI'd guess it's very possible some coaches couldn't set aside personal feelings when they voted

So, either you're saying T is so liked by everyone, he was a shoo in for COY; or the most likely contender was so disliked that he/she (most likely a she, since most of them are) couldn't attract a vote; or...what?

Just Bill · March 01, 2007, 01:42:15 PM

I can't know for sure, but my feeling is that the likely contender is not very well liked among her peers. And like I said, I think it's B.S. that that should even matter.

buf · March 01, 2007, 01:51:09 PM

WOW! I thought Keri C. was a shoe-in for COY

foul_language · March 01, 2007, 01:58:45 PM

I'm trying to envision someone who makes T look like Mr Congeniality

Just Bill · March 01, 2007, 02:03:19 PM

Quote from: foul_language on March 01, 2007, 01:58:45 PM
I'm trying to envision someone who makes T look like Mr Congeniality

Ah, he's a big old teddy bear. Of course, you know that. I can understand how a new person, watching him from the stands for the first time might think differently, but all you need to do is talk to him for about 30 seconds to see what a good person he is.

I tend to think the same about all of the WIAC coaches, the ones I've met anyway. Sometimes that competitive streak can cause one to put on those "perspective blinders."

buf · March 01, 2007, 02:41:39 PM

Anyone know if Blue Devil Video is doing the games this weekend? I was thinking about going to Stout for the games, but it look like the snow will keep me at home....AGAIN!!

billys · March 01, 2007, 04:23:42 PM

Quote from: Just Bill on March 01, 2007, 01:42:15 PM
I can't know for sure, but my feeling is that the likely contender is not very well liked among her peers. And like I said, I think it's B.S. that that should even matter.

Completely agreed and it is B.S. I believe her youth plays a part in it.

Bottom line is, if you were picked for 7th, finished 2nd, and made the greatest 1-year jump in the history of the league, you probably deserve COTY. It's as much a staff award as it is a coach award ... and it's hard to argue their staff didn't do the best job with their group this year.

That said, I do often think coaches that are expected to do well, are taken for granted. They should also get credit for assembling the talent to earn high expectations (transfers aside). So I'm not trying to take anything away from Coach Thomas. Not that he didn't deserve it, I just think someone deserved it more.

badgerwarhawk · March 01, 2007, 04:45:49 PM

I've never intended my comments to detract from the job that Mark has done. He's very deserving. It's just that from where they started I think Keri did more and she did it with young players too. I'm befuddled. I actually thought it was a no brainer. So it goes.

It's a wrong we can right next year.

The Champ · March 01, 2007, 06:49:27 PM

This is not intended to be read by BW...

I posted this earlier, and I do think it came into play in making the decision.

Keri was a shoe-in, IMHO, until she lost to Platteville at home in the first round. I know BW doesn't think that should matter, but I think it does. If she had made it to the second round and lost, I think she gets coach of the year. I haven't talked to Coach T on this yet, but I guarantee you he voted for Keri. Keri's his protege, and it was his hope she and her team would be the one's coming to Johnson Fieldhouse last Saturday. I'd be willing to bet that Keri voted for T.

As far as Coach T (and in case anybody doesn't know it, T is my best friend, so I have a certain amount of bias - blast away...

) is concerned - yes Stout was picked to win the conference - but that also means that he's had a great big target on his back all season long. Every team brought their "A" game when they played Stout. He and his team survived and excelled with the pressure - even after losing a starting guard for the last 2 regular season games and all of the WIAC tourney.

No school in WIAC WBB Tournament history has won 4 Championships, much less 1 coach doing it with the same school over a 6 year period. Three in a row is also a record, and one that will be difficult to duplicate by any WIAC coach.

As far as the COY being a popularity contest - I don't think the other coaches vote based on popularity, but respect for the accomplishments.

Coach Keri did a great job this season. I fully expect the Warhawk WBB program to prosper under her guidance. She is building her program!!!

Just Bill · March 01, 2007, 08:16:51 PM

Quote from: billys on March 01, 2007, 04:23:42 PM
Bottom line is, if you were picked for 7th, finished 2nd, and made the greatest 1-year jump in the history of the league,

Tied for the greatest 1-year jump. Stevens Point also jumped five spots in the standings going from 8th (2-14) in 94-95 to 3rd (9-7) in 95-96. Their seven game improvement is the best in history, trumping WW's six.

No matter. Carollo should have gotten COY.

foul_language · March 01, 2007, 09:48:51 PM

There are all kinds of reasons why T should be coach of the year, including the fact that he has managed to recruit a starting ten line-up, although I think once you get a winning team, it kind of recruits on its own. Stout's domination starts with Duoss and is supported by self-less players like Savanah Oeltjen, and it was waaaay gratifying to see her get recognized. First team all conference even when she couldn't be first team Stout for most of the season. Losing Bird didn't even put a dent in the fender on this vehicle.

I would also note that this year's WIAC (let's call it the man[w]iac conference) was crazier than usual. We always say any one team could possibly beat any other team on a given night. In that case, Whitewater's rise to second place might have been as much fluke as talent--did WW go up or did the opponents go down? If WW maintains next season, it looks more like a pattern. But it's just as likely that one of the other teams will have a meteoric rise while others take similar falls. Last year Oshkosh managed a great season on the backs of five very good players; they shouldn't have, because there was no depth. They didn't fare so well this year. If they had, that coach should have been recognized.

River Falls made a good run when all its players were healthy. Again, let's see what happens next year.

Thus, a three-peat as conference champions and potentially a deep run in the NCAA DIII tournament makes T look not only a good candidate for COY but also the best one. He lost virtually half the team from last year and didn't blink.

If Stout can dominate the conference again next year without Duoss, he'll deserve COY again.

UW-Superior cancelled classes tomorrow, as did most of the northern third of Wisconsin and Minnesota. What's happening to Friday night first round play? Can teams get to Menomonie? Both bridges between Superior and Duluth closed stranding out of staters in Minnesota AND Wisconsin. That's reciprocity for you.

The Champ · March 01, 2007, 09:55:04 PM

Quote from: Just Bill on March 01, 2007, 08:16:51 PM
Quote from: billys on March 01, 2007, 04:23:42 PM
Bottom line is, if you were picked for 7th, finished 2nd, and made the greatest 1-year jump in the history of the league,

Tied for the greatest 1-year jump. Stevens Point also jumped five spots in the standings going from 8th (2-14) in 94-95 to 3rd (9-7) in 95-96. Their seven game improvement is the best in history, trumping WW's six.

No matter. Carollo should have gotten COY.

Stout played WW in the opening round of last year's WIAC tourney, which should have been #1 vs #8.

What BW was saying was they were picked to finish 7th. Of course I told him I expected them to finish much higher back at the start of the season, as I thought the team would improve with last year's experience.

Keri (and her team) did a helluva job!