WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[JMM]

Like the comments/insights into the complexity of coaching and the many factors that come into play. All are important. On the floor, I think the mark of a good coach is their ability to take the talent at what ever level it is at, and make a "team" and "maximize" that talent. UWSP is an wonderful example of this. The best is probably St. John's football which I am very familiar with. As I observe the talent in the WIAC Woman's this year, I think Stout is near the top in talent. Cannot figure out why the stumble so much. Wonder if the coaching style and players are not a good blend. That does not mean the coach is bad. Just a bad mix. Again, maybe I have the amount of talent at Stout wrong.

[The Champ]

As I observe the talent in the WIAC Woman's this year, I think Stout is near the top in talent. Cannot figure out why the stumble so much.  Wonder if the coaching style and players are not a good blend.

Stout does have some very talented players.  They also have a lot of youth. 

They start 2 freshman, and the "6th woman" off the bench (based on actual playing time) was also a freshman.  Regretfully, Lauren is out for the season after a knee injury at UWRF.

One comment I'd like to add the the Danielle DeWitt conversation.  You think/thought that T was playing head games with her against La Crosse.

That may or may not be true.

From your vantage point you may not have seen it, but after Danielle fouled out, the biggest cheerleader on the bench was none other than DD. 

She wasn't sulking, but doing her best to cheer her team on.

[JMM]

I did see DD cheering on the bench (sometimes behind her chair) - absolutely. She is full of entusiam and a great team player has been as long as I can remember. DD is a class act. That is a big part of why I question the coaching. I also did miss the fact she fouled out with LAX - shame on me and yes I do think fouls may come a little to easy with DD. I don't think the games ( coach anrtics may be a better term) were played so much against her during LAX. I noticed it after the first RF loss. I think it was the UW Platville game. If I'm correct - DD made the last minute foul that cost Stout the first RF game and I think I saw antics directed DD's way against Platville. Looked that way to me - could be wrong.

[buf]

RF wins over UWO.  UWO had a late 2-point lead but RF turned it up when they needed to.

UWL wins over UWP.  Another close game.

Point wins over Superior easily.

UWW wins over Stout by 5. 

[bulk19]

Here are the number of upperclassmen on each team, as deciphered from what is posted on the team websites (not taking into account any injuries that may have occurred):

UW-Stout: 8 = 5 seniors, 3 juniors
UWW: 7 = 6 seniors, 1 junior
UWL: 7 = 1 senior, 6 juniors
UWRF: 5 = 3 seniors, 2 juniors
UWP: 4 = 3 seniors, 1 junior
UWO: 4 = 4 juniors
UWSP: 4 = 1 senior, 3 juniors
UWEC: 3 = 1 senior, 2 juniors
Superior: 3 = 3 juniors

[The Champ]

UWL wins over UWP.  Another close game.

And unlike the Stout/La Crosse game where she set a career high for scoring with 27 points (20 in the first half), Melissa Lang goes 0 - 5 on 3 pointers, 4 - 12 overall and only makes 1 of 4 FT's for a total of 9 points.

She had a career game against Stout - and I commended her efforts in my post after the game.

But I sure wish she would have waited for the weekend to have a career game so she could have gone out and celebrated...

[JMM]

Out on a limb, final WIAC standings:

UWWW      13-3
UWSP      13-3
UWEC      10-6
UWRF       9-7
STOUT       9-7
UWLC       9-7
UWP      5-11
UWO      3-13
UWS      3-13

Falling off the limb:

UWWW over UWSP for championship - UWWW Seniors desire will prevail
Really would like to say UWSP over either EC or STOUT but UWWW seniors prevail
UWSP and UWWW go to the NCAA
UWSP wins 2
UWWW wins 1

[closetothechest]

When you say WW over SP for the championship, are you talking about the WIAC tournament or the regular season crown?  Also, what game do you think SP will lose?  Just wondering for the tiebreakers. 

My predictions:

SP 14-2
WW-12-4
EC 10-6
Stout 10-6
Lax 9-7
River 9-7

Looks like last year a lot with the first round match-ups.  I just see WW coming out with a one loss in their trips to River, Lax, and Platteville.  Conference road games are pretty tough to win.  Point is 5-1 on the road and WW has a couple road losses already. 

[JMM]

I see SP and WW finishing 10-3. I like WW over SP in the championship tournament -I think the seniors on WW, who have had a great 4 years and seen alot of pressure games/action,  Will really want the win - big time. I look for Sontag and Hendrickson to put on a defensive show and shower the 3 pointers galore - they are very capable of doing this and they are extremely clutch.

I don't think SP can beat both Stout (who is due for a big win) and EC (this game is at EC) in a row. They willl take one of the two.

WW has a way of stumbling in the tournament - don't expect it this year but if they do - look for EC or Stout to advance. EC really matches up well against WW.

[badgerwarhawk]

Some observations:

1. Entering the game averaging just over 21 minutes per contest Julia Hirssig logged 32 minutes in the game and ended with a double-double 16 points 13 rebounds.  She also led Stout with 4 assists.

2.  Stout's 17 first half turnovers really hurt.  They shot the ball well (47.8%) but had 10 fewer attempts than WHITEWATER.

3.  Nicole Bundy has incredible range.  A couple of her three-point baskets were shot from a different zip code.  JMM, you make no reference to this senior but right now she is carrying the team.

4.  Hendrickson's 4 steals increase her league leading total to 80.  Entering the game she had 29 more steals than the runner up.

5.  WHITEWATER'S freshman big, Cortney Kumerow, is going to be a very good player in this league.

6.  Heidi Sonntag has been in a scoring slump lately but she's helping the team in other ways.  6 assists and 6 steals in this one.

7.  Stout's guards struggled in this one.

8.  This was an absolute must win game for the WARHAWKS and they responded.  



 

[The Champ]

Some observations:

I left the wrapup to you - as I knew you were there and all I did was listen to the game.

As usual, a very solid and concise report, and from listening to Stoutguy on the radio - very accurate in your comments about Bundy.

[Usuallywrong24]

I don't think SP can beat both Stout (who is due for a big win) and EC (this game is at EC) in a row. They willl take one of the two.

WW has a way of stumbling in the tournament - don't expect it this year but if they do - look for EC or Stout to advance. EC really matches up well against WW.

What is nice for SP is that they have a bye on Saturday, so even though they play Stout and EC back to back, they are 7 days apart. 

Also it is hard for me to put WW in the conference championship game, since I believe that WW has never been the championship game and has only 1 win in the tournament during the Corollo era.  Since people on here often talk about how she never has won WIAC COY, this is most likely the reason.

[JMM]

In recent times, WW has stumbled in the tournement. On a good day, either Stout or EC can beat them. I should not rule out LAX either. Realize SP does have a day off but I think Stout will take them. Stout is really due to put a great game together. Who knows maybe RF will resurrect, but I don't think so. One of the keys for any one to beat SP is to guard Cassie Bandow tight. She's a dead-eye. Whilel I'm an EC fan, would love to see Stout go on a run and play to their potential.

[Usuallywrong24]

I hate the term, "They're due."  To use another car analogy, if a car hasn't started for a couple weeks, who says it is due to start the next time you try.  Probably not.  If Stout wins on Wednesday it is because they learned something from the losses and played well, not because they are due.  Superior was due for a few wins in the WIAC the last couple seasons, but it didn't happen. 

Also, how many teams do people think will get in the NCAAs from this league?  I wouldn't say anyone is a lock yet, but SP and WW will most likely by the only teams who could deserve pool C bids.  I believe SP has 3 regional losses and WW has 4 regional losses.  WW has the potential to win out.  Still at least one of these 2 will get one more regional loss in the WIAC tournament.  It is going to be pretty interesting. 

[intransitionfor3]

usuallywrong i think u r "due" for some new analogies jk -