WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hoop_junkie]

UWL is probably the easiest school of all the WIAC's to recruit to. No offense to any of the other great institutions, but UWL is one of if not the best academic institution in the WIAC. They turn away more applicants every year than any other WIAC school. My point here I guess is, lets hold off on calling someone great who can't seem to get her team out of the middle of this league. UWL recruits itself, case in point when 2 years ago a player who now starts at UWM was playing intramurals there (Ashley Imperiale). There's no reason that UWL shouldn't be finishing in the top 3 every year in the WIAC. I think the sole reason they don't is because they're not all that well coached. They ALWAYS have talent!!! Another classic example of this is 2 years ago they had a kid named Sierra Spaude who now is on scholarship at D1 Univ of Detroit. When Spaude was at UWL she hardly even played, but she leaves the program, goes to a D1 and sees more PT than she did at a D3. Something isn't right here? That cupboard has been stocked since the beginning of time at UWL and frankly, finishing 4th and 5th all the time isn't exactly accomplishing a whole lot when you consider the resources they have.

I disagree with the original statement that she's a great coach. There is no proof in the pudding to be able to say that. JMM liked that she doesn't yell at her kids during the game; that appears to be where this comes from.

But the above statement is completely false. UWL is not even close to the easiest school to recruit to. Not by a long shot. The first thing you brought up may be the biggest reason why; because they turn kids away through the admissions process. It takes a very high ACT and class rank to get into UWL and, despite what people think, athletic teams there don't get tons of leeway to use special admissions. At one point they had to use one of those to get in a kid with a 25 ACT and if a kid has an 18 or 19 (which a lot of kids do) forget about it. Stout, WW, and UWSP with their facilities, fan bases, and lower entry requirements (not to mention success and tradition) are easier to recruit to. UWEC has similar entrance standards but scores in all the other departments. Not to mention UWL is the only one of those without a full-time assistant coach.

Ashley Imperiale is a non-issue. She went there because she thought she had to go somewhere else before she could play at Milwaukee. She had friends there so that's where she went. The intention the entire time was to go back to Milwaukee.

Sierra Spaude is now two years older/stronger/smarter/more developed than she was as a true freshman. I'm not saying she should have/shouldn't have played at UWL, I just don't think comparing a kid's freshman year in the WIAC to their Junior year in the Horizon league is a great gauge. There are a lot of kids who can't function as freshmen who go onto be great players.

If anything I think La Crosse's problems have been recruiting and talent. The cupboard hasn't been stocked since the beginning of time. They've had two or three decent classes but I fear it's closer to turning back into what it was 7-8 years ago. In my opinion, Frank transferring this year was the difference between the season they're having, and the season Oshkosh is having.

As an alumn I actually think the program would be best served with a new coach. But it's not as easy there as you think it is.

Do you know how many kids want to go to UWL? That's why it's an easy sell, because everyone in Wisconsin wants to go there. And for girls basketball, most HS girls players are also good students and those are the type of players that you want in a program anyways. Name one school that's an easier sell? Maybe Whitewater because of their facilities and location right between Mad/Milw or maybe EC, that's about it. Girls of that age want to go to a school that has a nice campus, good facilities and be in a community that has something going on. Lax has all of this. I guess the point of my last rant was that UWL could be a lot better then they are and the reason they're not is because they don't recruit as hard as they should. When you're one of the premiere institutions in the state get out on the recruiting scene and throw your weight around. This idea that you're going to sit back and let players come to you is lazy and inefficient. Every year in Wis you have a decent number of kids that are d2 tweener types and high end d3 recruits. A school like UWL should be in the mix with the majority of all those kids.

[cubs]

WOW!!!!!!

Superior knocks off Stout tonight 76-73.

Eau Claire knocks off Point 80-67.

La Crosse easily beats Oshkosh 68-51.  (Led by 30 at one point in 2nd half.)

Whitewater beat Platteville 88-77.

[PRF2009A]

UWL crushes Oshkosh tonight.  I think they were up 40 to 10 at a point.

Frank gets her first career triple double.  10 pts, 10 boards, and 10 blocks.  At least that's what the oshkosh announcers said.  We'll see what the final box score says.

[hoop_junkie]

What happened in the Stout/Superior game?

[JMM]

EC finally vacated the underneath game and trounced SP. Stout falls to Superior, and my noting that the coach of LAX is great doesn't fly. My predictions for WIAC totallly wrong. Therefore, the entity known as JMM signs off from d3Hoops permanently.  Live long and prosper.

[Bears rule]

What a wierd night. Well at least things are normal in the WIAC.
LX cruises
WW almost lost to Plat
Superior GIANT killers again
EC what a difference a few days make
RF feels like a winner and they did not even play

The WIAC needs a new name for this season.

Crazy WIAC?
What goes up most come down WIAC?

Any ideas?

[bulk19]

Wins and losses is but one way to measure a collegiate coach... I happen to think there are so many more factors that we, as mere fans, are not necessarily privy to seeing that factor into being called a great collegiate coach...

Perhaps some of you have heard of John Wooden, who defines success as: "peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming." He outlines his philosophies and wisdom in his 15-block Pyramid of Success.

Since I've never been privy to practices, riding on team buses, in the huddle, or in the lockerroom, I'm not qualified to truly measure the greatness of any coach in this league. I don't know what values he/she has instilled in his/her players, what wisdom or life's lessons he/she has taught, nor the impact he/she has had on his/her players... Nor do I know many of the players on a personal level, nor the successes they have had off court, so...

But I know that if a coach has made a positive impact on his/her players, which then puts them, in life after the hardwood floors, on course to achieve the success in life that Wooden defines in his Pyramid, then that person is a great coach.   

And I'd prefer to think that every coach in this league is a great one... To suggest otherwise, and base it on but one factor, Ws and Ls, is perhaps naive and ignorant of what the role of a coach at the collegiate level really is...

[phoenix_rising]

Do you know how many kids want to go to UWL? That's why it's an easy sell, because everyone in Wisconsin wants to go there

Wow. That's quite a statement. Having grown up in Wisconsin and raised two daughters in Wisconsin, I have to tell you not everyone wants to go to school there. As a matter of fact, I don't think we even considered it. From my experience, everyone wants to go to the school that's not too far away from home but far enough away that mom and dad can't drop in without warning; a place that at least a couple other people from the high school go to; a school that has an academic program of interest. Not even every athlete wants to go to LaCrosse, as evidenced by all the people who go elsewhere without being rejected by LaCrosse.

Girls of that age want to go to a school that has a nice campus, good facilities and be in a community that has something going on

First of all, by the time they're in college, they're women--admittedly they don't always act it. Second, the only thing I remembered about LaCrosse was Octoberfest and that didn't always turn out well. And, yes, a clean bathroom is always a plus.

I believe you got yourself caught up in blanket statements and that's usually dangerous.

[hoop_junkie]

I agree with a lot of your points here, but the fact remains that UWL is a program that has underachieved in terms of wins/losses. I think coaches can be great leaders/mentors and win games. Obviously, John Wooden was an example of this and in a class of his own. I just think that UWL is a school that's WBB program should be ranked in the top 25 year in and year out based on its resources.

[stoutguy]

What a wierd night. Well at least things are normal in the WIAC.
LX cruises
WW almost lost to Plat
Superior GIANT killers again
EC what a difference a few days make
RF feels like a winner and they did not even play

The WIAC needs a new name for this season.

Crazy WIAC?
What goes up most come down WIAC?

Any ideas

Wacky WIAC applies more than ever this year.

[stoutguy]

Do you know how many kids want to go to UWL? That's why it's an easy sell, because everyone in Wisconsin wants to go there

Wow. That's quite a statement. Having grown up in Wisconsin and raised two daughters in Wisconsin, I have to tell you not everyone wants to go to school there. As a matter of fact, I don't think we even considered it. From my experience, everyone wants to go to the school that's not too far away from home but far enough away that mom and dad can't drop in without warning; a place that at least a couple other people from the high school go to; a school that has an academic program of interest. Not even every athlete wants to go to LaCrosse, as evidenced by all the people who go elsewhere without being rejected by LaCrosse.

Girls of that age want to go to a school that has a nice campus, good facilities and be in a community that has something going on

First of all, by the time they're in college, they're women--admittedly they don't always act it. Second, the only thing I remembered about LaCrosse was Octoberfest and that didn't always turn out well. And, yes, a clean bathroom is always a plus.

I believe you got yourself caught up in blanket statements and that's usually dangerous.

Please remind me never to get into a pissing contest with you, Phoenix_rising, because you are way too good.  Great post.  I saw you at our Men's game last night.  Didn't get a chance to say "hi".  I know I am on the wrong board but too lazy to switch back over, but your men are fun to watch (your coach, not so much).  Wouldn't want to play those guys again and really won't enjoy playing them next year.

[phoenix_rising]

Stoutguy--Did you see me sobbing uncontrollably?

I looked for you. Were you broadcasting? Where were you? Up in the back? What the hey?

By the way, you'd likely win in a pissing contest. Really.

[stoutguy]

Stoutguy--Did you see me sobbing uncontrollably?

I looked for you. Were you broadcasting? Where were you? Up in the back? What the hey?

By the way, you'd likely win in a pissing contest. Really.

Ya, I usually only bring up contests when I have a good chance of winning   We were way up on top.  I do games with 4 different play by play guys and one older fella (cowboy hat-I think you know him) insists on going up in the crow's nest.  It sucks. 

[badgerwarhawk]

The first half of the WARHAWK/Platteville game was a see-saw affair which saw 9 ties and an incredible 25 lead changes before ending with Platteville up a single point 48-47.  Nicole Bundy had 20 of those points for the WARHAWKS and Charity Stotmeister (19) and Stacia Nemitz (12) combined for 31 of Platteville's 48.  The WARHAWKS shot 59% and Platteville 67% from the floor.  The second half started the same way with the teams alternating the lead until Platteville made a run to go up by seven 62-55 with thirteen and half minutes to play.  Over the next five minutes the WARHAWKS made a run of their own and were up 68-67.  Platteville tied the game 68-68 but the WARHAWKS pulled ahead on a steal and lay up by Chantel Burg and finished the game with a 20-9 run, scoring their final eight points from the free throw line, for the 88-77 win.

Bundy finished with 30 points while Heidi Sonntag and Kelsey Hendrickson had 17 points apiece.  Burg also finished in double figures with 14 points.  Hendrickson added 3 steals to her league leading total and had 6 assists.  Sonntag also had 6 assists.   Courtney Kumerow led the WARHAWKS in rebounds with 7.   The WARHAWKS hit 21 of 23 free throw attempts and finished 55.6% from the floor.

Stotmeister and Nemitz led Platteville with 24 and 23 points respectively.  

[billys]

I agree with a lot of your points here, but the fact remains that UWL is a program that has underachieved in terms of wins/losses. I think coaches can be great leaders/mentors and win games. Obviously, John Wooden was an example of this and in a class of his own. I just think that UWL is a school that's WBB program should be ranked in the top 25 year in and year out based on its resources.

I think you severely overestimate the "resources" UWL has. You say get out and recruit; I say again, they're virtually the only school that doesn't have a full time assistant. Heck I would venture to say Lois is on the road as much as any "head" coach in the league, if not more. You say everyone wants to go there; you have no idea how untrue that is. You say "most" high school girls basketball players are good students- "Good" students don't get into UWL, great students do if they're lucky.

I agree that they should probably win more games. Being a perennial Top 25 team is a huge undertaking no matter who you are. La Crosse has a ZERO dollar recruiting budget, no assistant coach, stringent academic standards, and is in a weak part of the state for girls high school basketball with no real "hub" closer than a couple hours away. There's a lot more too it than saying, "It should be easy there."