WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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I wonder who may get the chance to host the 1st/2nd round games.  I hope they find a way to sperated the 3 WIAC schools for at least the first two rounds. (I'm going on the assumption that all 3 WIAC schools have bid to host.)

I could see Whitewater hosting a "pod" with Chicago (if they win the UAA),  the MWC Champ, and Concordia (Wis.) as a Pool B.

I think geographically, it's going to be harder to separate Point and EC.  Either one could host/travel to Minnesota with the MIAC champ, the IIAC champ and one other.  If St. Norbert becomes the MWC champ then I could see them in this group too.  I hope they can separate Point and EC somehow.  Perhaps you send Saturday's loser out to another area and let Saturday's winner host a pod of four.

I think that all 3 potential WIAC tourney teams have a chance at hosting a pod.  I would even say 2 of those 3 have a decent shot at each hosting.  UWW has a group of teams geographically located around them (such as the teams you mentioned).  EC could host the MIAC champ, a possible 2nd MWC team, and maybe Point.  Point could also host the MIAC champ, a second MWC team, and UWEC.  I agree with you that it would be tough to separate all 3 WIAC teams.  I would bet that 2 would show up in a pod of four.  Either Point/WW or Point/EC.  Point just happens to be stuck in the middle of EC and WW.

Simpson, out of the west region, will probably host.  If EC loses tomorrow, I could see them possibly being shipped there.  Simpson also could host teams like Wash U, Ill Wesleyan, and the SLIAC champ (probably Webster).  If EC wins, I think they will have a good shot at hosting.  But who knows what the NCAA is going to do.

[The Champ]

Is there a reason the Point coach won't shake hands with the opposing players?   Germ phobia maybe? 

Coach Keri learned from Coach T at Stout, and I'm sure that you are used to seeing the hand shake done as a "normal" routine thing.

After the game last night, Coach T immediately went and shook hands with Coach Englund and then hurried back to the end of the Stout players handshake line so that he could shake EC players hands.

Another Coach T trait - at the last regular season game against each opponent, Coach T will always seek out the opposing teams seniors after the game.  It just a way to let them know that the four years they've put into the sport was noticed.

[Just Bill]

Stevens Point 27, Eau Claire 25, Halftime

STP: Nicastro and Sporle with 6 each, Houghton with 5, 36.7 FG%, 7 TOs

EC: Burns and Anderson with 8 each, Witt with 5, 45.8 FG%, 10 TOs

[Just Bill]

STP 52, EC 50, 2:25 to go.

EC struggling at the free throw line is making a big difference.  STP 14-17 at the line, EC just 4-10

[Just Bill]

STP 58, EC 50, 0:47 left

The dominance of the #1 seed may be at an end.

EC has gone the last 3:30 without a FG.

[Just Bill]

FINAL!

STP 62, EC 50

EC outshoots SP, but Point turns the ball over just 10 times (EC had 18), and holds a huge advantage at the foul line 20-23 compared to EC's 4-10.  EC doesn't score a point over the final 3:52.

Point is in, WW would seem to be a Pool C lock.  EC should be in, but they will have the most nervous Sunday.

[Just Bill]

"Local" Pool A's

WIAC - UW-Stevens Point
MWC - St. Norbert
CCIW - Illinois Wesleyan
UAA - Chicago
MIAC - Carelton
IIAC - Simpson/Coe

Possible Pool B - Concordia Wis.

[bulk19]

Credit to the Pointers, they are still playing well down the stretch and won today's game, no question. They are a scary team...

Yes, the Pointers hit their FTs, which was a factor, but I think the D they played today was tremendous.
Michelle Burns had 8 points, all the first half; Ashley Anderson (11 points, most in the first half) took up some of the scoring load to keep UWEC in it, trailing by two at 27-25...

Heidi Arciszewski was held to 6; Amanda Zenner picked up the scoring load the second half, notching all 14 of her points to keep the 'Golds in it. But the drought came down the stretch; a key was when Arciszewski picked up her fourth foul with about 6 minutes to go and had to sit out...

Turnovers were big, too, as Just Bill mentions. At with UWSP up 52-50 with 3:52m that's when the Pointers went on a 10-0 run to close it out, forcing five of the 18 turnovers, too...

Both teams denied the threes tonight, so it was an inside game, for the most part... Chelsea Kranz (15), Haley Houghton (13) and Jessi Sporle (10) lead UWSP in scoring today...

Be a shame to see the 'Golds season come to an end today; they are deserving of a bid. The Warhawks will be waiting for news, too. But the WIAC deserves the hat trick, with the Pointers hosting at least one game, for sure... If the 'Golds get in, they deserve to host as well, seeings the nice crowds they have been drawing. But I'll let the prognosticators and selection committee decide who goes where, if fate is on UWEC's side to get in... Hope they don't all have to beat each other up right away, if all three are in..

Not far to compare, but I will. The Pointers, unlike the championship-calibre teams at the beginning of the decade, don't have the marquee players this year, whereas you tried to concentrate on stopping certain players on those previous teams, and take your chances letting others on those teams beat you.

That being said, that's why the Pointers are dangerous, a scary team heading into the tournament. There isn't one person you can key on; they have played well all year as a team, and someone different has stepped up throughout the season... Plus, they have a coach who knows a little bit about hanging an NCAA championship banner from the wall. I would not be surprised to see them make a Final Four appearance...


Best of luck to them, and fingers crossed for us Blugold and Warhawks fans, as we await our fates...

[buf]

Great game today at Zorn.  Too bad my team came up on the short end.  It was nip and tuck (except for the last minute) the whole game, usually a one possession game.  Point just played a flawless, smart game and made EC earn every point they got.  Great defense by Point.  They are probably the toughest matchup for EC.

What does the outcome of this game mean?  It shouldn't mean much as far as # of WIAC teams in the tourney.   EC will have to sweat out selection Monday, but they SHOULD get in.  The loss for EC takes away pretty much any chance of hosting.  I thought they would have a good chance to host had they won.  The win for Point now makes them a possible host. 

I have to give it up to Point.  They defeated both UWEC and UWW on the road within 2 days.  Pretty incredible!

[buf]

bulk-

You're beating me to the punch late in the season 


Also, teams host groups of 4 now.  I believe only 1 team will host for just one game on the women's side, and that game will be played on Wednesday.  Otherwise all are on Friday/Saturday

[buf]

Well, there has been a couple upsets so far.  So. Maine lost and another (Wm Smith?).  However, Carleton won the MIAC which could help EC's situation since EC beat them earlier this season.

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UWEC's Pool C Bid Competition

Regional record (through 3-1-08 games) and OWP/OOWP listed (through 2-29-08)

West
NWC- George Fox (16-3) .575/.517

Central
MWC- Lake Forest (21-4) .457/.526
UAA- Wash U (15-5) .637/.571
WIAC- Eau Claire (20-5) .596/.560, UWW (22-3) .611/.557

Great Lakes
MIAA- Albion (17-4) .479/.522
NCAC- Kenyon (18-4) .426/.465

South
SCAC- DePauw (21-1) .575/.533, Oglethorpe (21-4) .564/.537, Trinity (19-5) .545/.524
ASC- Howard Payne (25-0) .537/.509, McMurry (24-2) .532/.511

Middle Atlantic
MACC- Albright (18-5) .604/.547, Lebanon Valley (21-5) .504/.531

Atlantic
CAC- Marymount (22-5) .578/.527
NJAC- New Jersey (20-6) .619/.553, William Patterson (20-6) .592/.541

East
LL- William Smith (21-3) .548/.541
UAA- Rochester (18-5) .636/.574

Northeast
NESCAC- Bowdoin(16-6) .635/.568, Amherst (23-2) .526/.559, Tufts (23-2) .633/.570
LEC- Southern Maine (25-3) .541/.555
MASCAC- Salem State (21-4) .552/.534
UAA- Brandeis (18-6) .621/.579


These are the teams that I see UWEC competing with for the 21 Pool C Bids given out.  There are 25 teams listed above.  However, the SCAC, ASC, and the NESCAC still have their conference tourney finals to be played on Sunday.  So one bid in each of those conferences will go towards pool A.  That leaves 22 teams remaining. 

In the West, George Fox has a slightly better regional record percentage than EC, but not a lot of regional games and also they have a lower OWP and OOWP.

In the Central, UWW will clearly get a bid before EC.  EC should be in over Lake Forest.  The only thing Lake Forest has over EC is a better regional record percentage.  They have a well lower OWP/OOWP and are 0-2 against St. Norberts, a team EC beat earlier this season.  Wash U has a bit lower RR percentage but a better OWP/OOWP than EC

In the GL region, Albion and Kenyon have better RR percentages than EC but way lower OWP/OOWP

In the South region, Depauw, McMurry, and Howard Payne would have a clear advantage over EC if they were to lose tomorrow.  Oglethorpe would have a slightly better RR% but a bit lower OWP/OOWP.  EC should get in over Trinity due to a better RR% and OWP/OOWP

Well, there are 4 regions to go and I think everyone gets the idea here.  Bottom line is that I would be absolutely shocked if EC does NOT get a Pool C Bid.

[Just Bill]

D3Hoops.com women's field projections: http://www.d3hoops.com/women-final-four/08/projected.htm

They had UWW as the second Pool C into the field and UWEC as the sixth.  I think they're both in good shape.  For the pods of interest D3Hoops projects...

Wilmington vs. Washington U.
St. Norbert vs. UW-Whitewater (UWW host unless their men are selected to host. In that case Wash U. hosts)

Ohio Northern vs. UW-Eau Claire
D'Youville vs. Hope (Host)

St. Thomas vs. UW-Stevens Point
Carleton vs. Simpson (Host)

[Usuallywrong24]

If I had to guess, I would say WW will most likely be on the road after their men won last night.  I believe in even numbered years the men have first priority in hosting the 1st/2nd rounds, while the women have first priority in the 3rd/4th rounds.  The WW men were first in their region last week, so winning the WIAC tourny shouldn't do anything to change that.  Just speculation, but I would say they would be on the road. 

[Usuallywrong24]

I know that the last regional rankings don't become official, but any thought of what they will be?  I am guessin EC will drop and Chicago will be above them, since they have the same amount of regional losses and Chicago won head to head.  After a week of no changes, this week there would have been major changes.