WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[billys]

Big games to me are tournament games and games that can win you a regular season title.
If you want to contend for the league you better not lose many conference home games. Game 1 of 16 or not; if you're hoping to compete for the title and you've got a fellow contender at home ... if you don't call it big, I'll at least call it pretty important. Now you've got to win at their place to avoid a sweep.

My point from last night is I'm not sure why I was thinking I'd pick La Crosse to win that game.
And if you look at their history in Heeren's career they have won but maybe one conference tournament game? Last night just reminded me not to trust them.

And for the record your picks of "big games" leaves them at 4-5. That's not all that impressive unless you're shooting for the middle of the pack.

Not sure if you have a daughter on the team and that's why your perspective is more recent; but many of us that have been around for last last 8-10 would say the same. In fact I believe someone did a month or two about how they always hear this is the year for La Crosse and River Falls.

Last night just reminded me of that.

[WithasilentK]

I guess you could call it a big game, or not. Doesn't really matter. It'll be important for uwl to both show they are strong at home and can win some tough conference games on the road. They have a tough opening conference schedule, but from what I've seen they have the ability to be very, very good; they'll have the chance to demonstrate it during the tough games in the wiac.

Also, 4-5 in big games for a team learning to gel and returning most everyone isn't terrible.

[PRF2009A]

Big games to me are tournament games and games that can win you a regular season title.
If you want to contend for the league you better not lose many conference home games. Game 1 of 16 or not; if you're hoping to compete for the title and you've got a fellow contender at home ... if you don't call it big, I'll at least call it pretty important. Now you've got to win at their place to avoid a sweep.

My point from last night is I'm not sure why I was thinking I'd pick La Crosse to win that game.
And if you look at their history in Heeren's career they have won but maybe one conference tournament game? Last night just reminded me not to trust them.

And for the record your picks of "big games" leaves them at 4-5. That's not all that impressive unless you're shooting for the middle of the pack.

Not sure if you have a daughter on the team and that's why your perspective is more recent; but many of us that have been around for last last 8-10 would say the same. In fact I believe someone did a month or two about how they always hear this is the year for La Crosse and River Falls.

Last night just reminded me of that.

Top 6 teams in the conference last year and their records vs. eachother:

Stout 6-4
Whitewater 6-4
Point 5-5
RF- 5-5
UWL 4-6 (0-4 to start year, 4-2 to finish)
EC 4-6

I think that 4-6 record is impressive after a 0-4 start.  Puts you in contention for a conference title.  Win 1 or 2 more of those games (don't trip up against the lower half) and the title is probably yours.  Of course this is only if the WIAC teams beat up on eachother like they did last year.

As i previously said I am not arguing UWL's playoff woes.  Just simply saying it's a long season and making a comment about a team not winning a big game after the first game of the year when every team beats every team over and over again is ridiculous.

Save the comment until a big game is lost.  For UWL over the years that is usually some time in march during the first round of the playoffs 

And trust me you don't have to be around very long to hear plenty about UWL's playoff woe's over the years.  For example, you brought it up after the first conference game of the year.

[The Champ]

Wins that would qualify as "big game wins" under your methodology last year:

Double OT win at Stout
Sweep of RF
20 point blowout of Point

I'll give you 2 out of the 4 as "big game wins", but the Point game was an 11 point victory, not 20 (72 - 61).

Timing is everything and you caught RF after they lost to WW, ending a 13 game winning streak.  RF went into the tank the rest of January - only beating Platteville and Oshkosh while losing to WW, UWL, Stout and Superior.

River Falls was not the same team the rest of the year.  They did pull out a couple of nice wins, but lost badly to many teams.

[PRF2009A]

RF- Agreed.  They did go into quite a tailspin last year
Point-  Unless this box score is wrong...http://uwlathletics.com/news/2010/2/20/WBB_0220105826.aspx?path=wbball

Either way I agree with your points. 

[JMM]

Just want to remind folks that the competition in the WIAC is fierce. LAX, EC, Point, Whitewater, River Fallsand yes, maybe Platville. All are excellent teams this year. There will be lots of big wins and big losses. We're not talking 2 good teams, we're talking 4-5. That's what's great about the WIAC. Picks for Saturday:

Platville over Sup by 11
SP over RF by 17
EC over LAX by 6
WW over Stout by 24

[UWRF]

I will be very surprised if the SP-RF game is a 17 pt win for SP.  It will be a one possession game right up until the end.

River Falls beat SP (by 11) at home last year and yes they struggled on the road, but everyone seems to forget that T. Gregorich was battling the flu all week.  They weren't even sure she was going to make the trip, let alone play. They came out flat and uninspired with their leader well under 100%.

Injuries plagued the Falcons down the stretch last year, but they seem to be healthy and focused. The season opening loss at Gustavus might have been good in the long run.

Its going to be a good Saturday of basketball at the Karges Center. I can't wait!

www.pureradio887.com to hear my call of the games!! 

[billys]

Big games to me are tournament games and games that can win you a regular season title.
If you want to contend for the league you better not lose many conference home games. Game 1 of 16 or not; if you're hoping to compete for the title and you've got a fellow contender at home ... if you don't call it big, I'll at least call it pretty important. Now you've got to win at their place to avoid a sweep.

My point from last night is I'm not sure why I was thinking I'd pick La Crosse to win that game.
And if you look at their history in Heeren's career they have won but maybe one conference tournament game? Last night just reminded me not to trust them.

And for the record your picks of "big games" leaves them at 4-5. That's not all that impressive unless you're shooting for the middle of the pack.

Not sure if you have a daughter on the team and that's why your perspective is more recent; but many of us that have been around for last last 8-10 would say the same. In fact I believe someone did a month or two about how they always hear this is the year for La Crosse and River Falls.

Last night just reminded me of that.

Top 6 teams in the conference last year and their records vs. eachother:

Stout 6-4
Whitewater 6-4
Point 5-5
RF- 5-5
UWL 4-6 (0-4 to start year, 4-2 to finish)
EC 4-6

I think that 4-6 record is impressive after a 0-4 start.  Puts you in contention for a conference title.  Win 1 or 2 more of those games (don't trip up against the lower half) and the title is probably yours.  Of course this is only if the WIAC teams beat up on eachother like they did last year.

As i previously said I am not arguing UWL's playoff woes.  Just simply saying it's a long season and making a comment about a team not winning a big game after the first game of the year when every team beats every team over and over again is ridiculous.

Save the comment until a big game is lost.  For UWL over the years that is usually some time in march during the first round of the playoffs 

And trust me you don't have to be around very long to hear plenty about UWL's playoff woe's over the years.  For example, you brought it up after the first conference game of the year.

All I'm saying is last night reminded me that I probably shouldn't trust them until they prove otherwise. I don't believe Point is going to lose many games this year ... so losing home games by double digits is not a good start. Like I said, I'm not the only one here who feels this way about La Crosse; and I'd love to see La Crosse do well.

And JMM ... I'll still put the over/under on Platteville conference wins at 4.5. They do have a good opportunity to start 2-0. GREAT WIN against Millikin for sure. There's also a loss against a bad St. Mary's team and squeakers against Alverno and Viterbo. It'd be great for the league if they could be good ... bad someone has to be on the losing end of all these good teams and I still think Platteville and Superior (and probably Oshkosh) are it.

[The Champ]

Point-  Unless this box score is wrong...http://uwlathletics.com/news/2010/2/20/WBB_0220105826.aspx?path=wbball

Heck, we were both wrong - the win was by 19....

[stoutguy]

Just want to remind folks that the competition in the WIAC is fierce. LAX, EC, Point, Whitewater, River Fallsand yes, maybe Platville. All are excellent teams this year. There will be lots of big wins and big losses. We're not talking 2 good teams, we're talking 4-5. That's what's great about the WIAC. Picks for Saturday:

Platville over Sup by 11
SP over RF by 17
EC over LAX by 6
WW over Stout by 24

Okay, I can't resist.  JMM, it sounds like you don't like Stout's chances!  My take on this thing is that Stout has a chance to at least get a split with Platteville and you include Platteville as one of those "good teams".  Just trying to stir the pot.

[billys]

Did anyone read this?
http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/article_1d61a962-fdd7-11df-9c28-001cc4c002e0.html

Very interesting quotes- that's all I'll say about it cause maybe I'm misreading it.

[JMM]

Which quote?

[PRF2009A]

Did anyone read this?
http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/article_1d61a962-fdd7-11df-9c28-001cc4c002e0.html

Very interesting quotes- that's all I'll say about it cause maybe I'm misreading it.

Haha, I think you're reading it right.

1. Heeren was none too pleased with her team's performance
2. There doesn't seem to be much love for WW.  Probably due to the fact that they have owned UWL.

On a side note, I noticed yesterday someone browsing the board.  None other than coach Thomas himself.  He's got plenty of bulletin board material on here.  I hope he doesn't use it, because that is lame.  Also, I hope he doesn't steal any of my great basketball mind insight.  It's priceless.

[billys]

Which quote?

The one about their "depth" seemed to be a shot at them and a bit unnecessary.

It's a personal peeve of mine when coaches say they beat themselves and that the other team had nothing to do with it. Obviously what WW did defensively created some of the turnovers. Even if they appear unforced consistent pressure makes kids do things they wouldn't normally do.

PRF you probably said it best; not much love lost there

[The Champ]

2. There doesn't seem to be much love for WW.  Probably due to the fact that they have owned UWL.

Really?  Last 20 games:  9 wins for UWL and 11 for UWW.  That's as close to an even split as you can get.

UW-La Crosse vs. UW-Whitewater

1/17/01 La Crosse 63-56 WW
2/17/01 La Crosse 92-75 LC
1/16/02 La Crosse 81-55 LC
2/16/02 Whitewater 66-55 WW
1/22/03 La Crosse 61-49 LC
2/19/03 Whitewater 64-60 WW
1/20/04 Whitewater 73-72 LC
2/18/04 La Crosse 89-74 WW
1/15/05 Whitewater 69-66 LC
2/12/05 Whitewater 69-54 WW
11/30/05 La Crosse 76-64 WW
1/25/06 La Crosse 80-69 LC
11/29/06 La Crosse 65-61 LC
1/24/07 Whitewater 75-60 WW
1/9/08 Whitewater 92-62 WW
1/30/08 Whitewater 99-87* LC
1/7/09 Whitewater 70-61 LC
1/28/09 La Crosse 62-53 WW
12/2/09 Whitewater 68-50 WW
2/3/10 Whitewater 69-64 LC

Compare that to Point at 2 - 18 or Stout at 3 - 17.  Now that's being "owned".