WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[JMM]

Crunch time in the WIAC. Here's what I think:

LAX - ends up going 2-2. Biggest game may be EC but losses close one. Will beat either OSH or WW (not both) and also  beats Stout
Stout ends up going 0-4. Competative but not enough.
OSH ends up going 3-4. Will lose to either WW or LAX (but not both) wins the rest.
PLT ends up going 0-4. Gives EC some headaches but does not get win.
RF ends up going 2-2. Beats PLT and STout but loses to WW and EC
ST Point ends up going 2-2 beats PLT and Stout. Gives EC and WW nightmares but do not beat either.
WW ends up going 3-4. Will drop one to either OSH or LAX. Wins the rest.
EC ends up 4-0. Beats LAX, RF, PLT and ST Point. St Point or LAX could rain on the EC parade.

EC and WW take top seeds.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Women's first regional rankings of the season are out: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2018/02/women-regional-rankings-first

[Just Bill]

Central           
1   UW-Whitewater       18-3  18-3
2   Illinois Wesleyan   18-2  18-2
3   Chicago             18-2  18-2
4   Wisconsin Lutheran  18-2  19-2
5   Washington U.       15-5  15-5
6   UW-Eau Claire       15-6  15-6
7   UW-Oshkosh          16-3  17-3
8   Wheaton (Ill.)      15-4  17-4
9   Carthage            15-6  15-6

[JMM]

Looks like the NCAA committee folks did their homework when it came to the central region. Eau Claire should be ranked above Oshkosh in the region. Seems apparent the committee looked at the Oshkosh pre-WIAC conference strengnth of schedule. Hooray for those who checked out the Oshkosh SOS. The titans still are a good team but  maybe not as good as their won/loss record would lead somebody to believe.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Looks like the NCAA committee folks did their homework when it came to the central region. Eau Claire should be ranked above Oshkosh in the region. Seems apparent the committee looked at the Oshkosh pre-WIAC conference strengnth of schedule. Hooray for those who checked out the Oshkosh SOS. The titans still are an good team but  maybe not as good as their won/loss record would lead somebody to believe.

I am quite confident all information was used, mainly in primary beside vRRO, to come to the decision.

The committees do know what they are doing and for the most part do a pretty good job.

This is just a glimpse at what the committees are thinking. Next week is more of the guide since all data will be available.

[JMM]

Thanks for info Dave. Keep up the good work. Keep sane over the next few weeks. Will you talk regional rankings on tomorrows show?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thanks for info Dave. Keep up the good work. Keep sane over the next few weeks. Will you talk regional rankings on tomorrows show?

Yep - we will chat regional rankings tomorrow on the show. Not sure how in-depth. We have tried live shows on Wednesdays, but they are too difficult and not watched a lot. However, we will find time to dive in for sure.

[JMM]

Hats off to UWLAX who simply crushed EC tonight in the WIAC Women. LAX was just awesome.

[badgerwarhawk]

If you are a big fan of free throws you needed to be sitting in Williams Center last night.  In a tightly officiated game between the WARHAWKS and Falcons 59 fouls were whistled.  The two teams combined to shoot 73 free throws.  At one point in the second half 24 consecutive points had been scored from the charity stripe.  It was an interesting contrast because you had two teams that were trying to push the ball but the game was being so tightly called it was like they were spinning their wheels.  Fans were screaming and with the majority of the calls favoring the WARHAWKS the Falcon faithful were particularly upset.  The WARHAWKS avenged an earlier defeat going 40 of 50 from the free throw line and pulling out a 83-72 win.  With a win in either of the last two games (Platteville, @La Crosse) the WARHAWKS would clinch sole possession of the regular season championship.   

[JMM]

THANKS for the post. D# hoops got to see this one. Looks like WW is headed for another WIAC conference title. Also looks like the refs took charge of the game w WW and UWRF.

[badgerwarhawk]

UW-WHITEWATER'S senior guard Brooke Trewyn was selected to this week's D3 National Team of the Week for her performances against Oshkosh and River Falls.  Trewyn is only the second WIAC player named to the team this season.  Platteville's Allison Prestegaard was previously named on the Week 5 team. 

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2018/2/13/womens-basketball-trewyn-selected-to-national-team-of-the-week.aspx?path=wbball

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

New women's regional rankings: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2018/02/women-regional-rankings-second

[JMM]

Can the WIAC Women get more than 1 team in the tournament?
Second NCAA Regional Rankings for the Central
   
1   Wisconsin-Whitewater   21-3   - SOS .590
2   Illinois Wesleyan    20-3   
3   Chicago   20-2   
4   Wisconsin Lutheran   21-2   
5   Washington U. 16-6
6   Wheaton (Illinois)   20-4   
7   Wisconsin-Eau Claire   17-7        SOS .591
8   Wisconsin-Oshkosh   18-5       SOS .533
9   Wisconsin-La Crosse   16-8       SOS .585

Looks like a tough go for 2 teams to get into the NCAA tournament. UWEC may have the best chance "if" they can beat UWSP on Saturday, win 1 game in the WIAC tournament and if UWW beats UWLAX on this Saturday. 

UWLAX would need to beat UWW this Saturday to stay in contention or win the tournament, long shot. A win by UWLAX on Saturday would really help their cause.

With the loss last night by UWOSH, and its' easy schedule (SOS of .533 - vs the 3 other WIAC teams). They would need to win the tournament, possible, but a long shot. UWOSH could likely be on the road for their last 2 tournament games. Just don't see them beating UWW in the final at Whitewater. At this juncture, UWOSH with only 5 losses,  possibly would not get on the table for discussion into the NCAA tournament.

Would be nice to see 2 teams from the WIAC. It is crunch time and when all is said and done, UWW is most likely to get the automatic bid. UWEC will has a better than fair chance if they win their next two games and UWW beats UWLAX on Saturday. Stay tuned.

[JMM]

Hats off to Blugolds who found a way to comeback and win against UWSP. Life has not been easy for EC lately. Will be fun to watch/see the UWLAX and UWOSH game. I'm leaning toward UWOSH. It is a 3 hour bus ride for the Titans. Blugolds at UWW is a loonnng... shot for EC. They will need to play their best game of the year and end their newly found habit of falling way behind in the first quarter. It is over a 3 hour ride for the Blugolds.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The NCAA released the third set of women's basketball regional rankings with few changes from last week's version. This is the final set that we'll see before the Tournament bracket is released on Monday. Full list here: http://d3hoops.com/notables/2018/02/women-regional-rankings-third