WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hoop_junkie]

Took in the EC intra squad game. Plendil looked very good in it. Also Callie Halama. EC needed mucho help in the guard area last year. A host of good quality ball handlers have now joined the team. Laura Olson really came on strong in the gaurd role last year (that was about it for EC) , Laura looked very good the other night, but did not shoot much. Messick was Messick, subtley played very well. To me, it never seeems like Messick is doing alot on offense until I see the final stats her point total is always there between 14-18. Really like her defense, aggressive but usually very few fouls. The twin towers (Messick and Plendil) looked very good in the game. EC has added yet more hieght. Emily Miller, chatfield (same as Messick) is a very strong and aggressive player. Nice addition. Another player I'm interested in seeing more of is Brynn Salava, Eleva-Strum. Those sitting by me say she is really good. My general impression with the many new freshman was that they all had played alot of hoops and were very in controll of their game, controlled in bringing the ball up (or over or under). Not forcing the ball in passing (Sorry upper classmen, EC still needs to work on not forcing the ball - it killed them last year - still saw some of this going on in the game). Finally and most importantly, two new faces on the team, Nicole Christianson, junior, (Chetek) transfer from Mankato State and Casteele Miller, sophmore, I beleive another transfer. Both play guard. They played a fair amount in the game. Both were very seasoned and exceptional ball handlers. Both were cool, calm and collective while under fire when the defense put pressure on them. Both appeared to be play-makers who could also shoot. Saw a few 3 pointers dropped by them as well.
Reminded me  a liitle of Hendricks and Sonntag of WW (a liitle and pardon my spelling). Had that same mental toughness and extreme self assurance - seasoned. I could not wait to see the two WW players play and know WW will miss them. Sonntag had attitude and was fearless. Saw a little of that in both these players. Soooooo, the big question is will they fit in, will they play allot and will they be as they appear at first introduction - exceptional guards. If so EC may get a thought or two about the NCAA playoffs. That said, if the upperclassmen who have a tendency to throw too many forced, lazy, flopper passes, don't clean up their passing - don't even think about. Fundamentals - if she ain't open, don't throw her the ball and every haphazard pass is two points for the other team. It would be great if#21 Christianson and #20 Miller are what they at first glance appear to be, A number two finish in the WIAC (I really think SP is superb this year) and a trip to the playoff would be grand. Even without the two new additions, EC could go along way in the WIAC if they would do two things: get killer instinct and lose the toughtless uncontolled passes. Several well known names on the team who really shine, need to think before they pass. Good news is it appeared better than last year - that was tough to watch. Tonja, Becca, Amanda or Peg, if you ever read these amatuer posts, three days of intense passing drill and lots of film watching of last years games could correct this. Maybe even a $20 dollar fine for each not thought out pass - For you folk out there who take everything literal, I don't really mean this. Realize it is against the rules. Though, I do hear the pay in the WIAC is really good and the players could afford it.  n

Christianson is at EC after having a baby and Casteele Miller is a transfer from Superior that came off the bench for them as a freshman. Not sure that Miller will make much of an impact, although she is a decent athlete.

As for UWSP, Barber could end up being their leading scorer this year.

[JMM]

Thanks for info on Christianson and Miller.

[The Champ]

Went to the UW Stout BB Bash last night.

I thought about giving a 700 word report about what I saw, but not claiming to be a  great BB mind that can break down an early season intrasquad scrimmage like others here, I'll suffice it to say it was good to see the familar faces of the veterans that I know and to start to put faces and names together on the newcomers on the team.

It was also nice to see a number of former Stout players come out for the BB bash.

Stout opens their season next Monday against St. Cloud State University.  They'll probably lose by 30, but it'll be a good experience for the newcomers to get ramped up for the speed of college BB.

Enjoyed visiting with Coach T and his extended family after the bash.  Made plans to spend the weekend in Menomonie for the Turkey Shootout on the 27th and 28th.

[badgerwarhawk]

UW-Stevens Point's Britta Petersen named to D3hoops.com preseason all american fourth team....http://d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/women/preseason-2011






oops

[intransitionfor3]

It's Britta Petersen - but close

[buf]

Some halftime scores:

Point 37
St. Thomas 40

SCSU 53
Stout 20

Stout with 26 1st half turnovers

[buf]

Point ends up winning a close one against UST.

Stout loses by 35 or so.

[The Champ]

It was no shocker that Stout lost by 37 (101 - 64) last night.  I posted last week that the margin would be 30+.

The bad news was the number of turnovers - 26 in the first half alone - 39 for the game.

Bright spots after viewing the stats (I was working in Iowa yesterday, so couldn't make the game... ):

Trish VanVreede scored 16 points before fouling out.

Freshman guard Sami Schoeder started and scored 11 points and had only 3 of the 39 TO's in 30 minutes of playing time.

Transfer Gretta Layman also scored 11 and had 6 rebounds, off the bench.

Transfer Whitney Rawdon matched Layman's 6 boards.

Hopefully the exposure of the areas the team needs to work on helps prepare them for future games.

[PRF2009A]

It was no shocker that Stout lost by 37 (101 - 64) last night.  I posted last week that the margin would be 30+.

The bad news was the number of turnovers - 26 in the first half alone - 39 for the game.

Bright spots after viewing the stats (I was working in Iowa yesterday, so couldn't make the game... ):

Trish VanVreede scored 16 points before fouling out.

Freshman guard Sami Schoeder started and scored 11 points and had only 3 of the 39 TO's in 30 minutes of playing time.

Transfer Gretta Layman also scored 11 and had 6 rebounds, off the bench.

Transfer Whitney Rawdon matched Layman's 6 boards.

Hopefully the exposure of the areas the team needs to work on helps prepare them for future games.

Definitely agree with that last comment.  A lot of people would say what good is losing a game by 37 going to do?  I say it helps much more than beating a cupcake by 20. 

This is D3 ball, so every team has plenty of things to work on.  The coaches know what needs to be worked on for the most part, but a game like this can help get the player's buy in on what their issues are.  Better to get them out in the open and start working on them.  (Stout- turnovers, Lax- Free throws, etc...)

[buf]

EC drops their opener on the road at #25 St Bens, 69-58.  Looks like the turning point in this game came after Mesick got her 4 foul.  Shortly after that, EC had a 49-44 lead.  Five minutes later, Ben's was up 56-50.  Mesick had 25pts and Bingea with 11pts.  Others need to step up offensively.

[badgerwarhawk]

It was no shocker that Stout lost by 37 (101 - 64) last night.  I posted last week that the margin would be 30+.

The bad news was the number of turnovers - 26 in the first half alone - 39 for the game.

The good news is that in the second half they cut their turnovers in half. 

[The Champ]

The good news is that in the second half they cut their turnovers in half. 

I recognized that fact, but thought it might be somewhat related to the fact that the St. Cloud starters had fewer minutes in the second half... 

But maybe it was the fact that the team got more used to the speed of college ball.  The second half score was 48 - 44, a significant improvement from the 53 - 20 score at the half.

I expect that we'll know a little more about this team and how it stacks up against UWL after both the Eagles and the Blue Devils play in the Ripon tournament this weekend.

[JMM]

Saw St. Ben's and EC. I think that St Ben's was the better team. Got open, dropped alot of 3s and played very good defense. Also EC (while better than last year) still threw the ball away-kind of as in a daze most of the secod half. Christiansen started and played most of the game. Messick was absolutely Awesome. She could not be stopped and St Ben's had a great defense out there .Blue Golds were also very winded in the second half. Saw Stout - oh boy- they got a long, long way to go - seems like a lot of new faces. I due like Wendt. After game seeing game 1 for Blue Golds and Stout - think the EC team is better. Laura Olson, Cristiansen, and Leah need to shot more - attack those baslines! Congrads to Hannah for her 1000 point. She was absolutley outstanding. Bingea and Plendil did pretty good.

[billys]

UWRF drops their opener at Gustavus (I think)

Noticed Danielle Jorgensen didn't play? Anyone at RF know why that is?

[roaringtwenties]

Very puzzling, she also is no longer listed in the UWRF Roster!