WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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Here's an updated list of Pool C contenders (by conference, regional record listed):

2008 Women's Pool C Bid Contenders (through Feb 17)
West
MIAC- St. Bens (18-4)
IIAC- Simpson (17-1)
UMAC (B?)- none
SCIAC- Occidental (13-3)
NWC- George Fox (13-2), Puget Sound (14-2)

Central
NATHC (B)- none
CCIW- Ill Wesleyan (19-2)
MWC- St. Norbert (18-2), Carroll (16-4), Lake Forest (18-3)
SLIAC- Maryville (15-3)
UAA- Rochester (16-4), Wash U (13-4), Brandeis (17-4), Chicago (15-5)
WIAC- Eau Claire (16-4), UWW (19-2), Stevens Point (18-4)

Great Lakes
MIAA- Hope (21-0), Albion (14-3)
NCAC- Kenyon (16-3)
HCAC- none
OAC- BW (21-2)
PrAC- Thomas Moore (20-0), Wash & Jeff (14-4)
AMCC- Medaille (19-2)

South
GSAC- Piedmont (16-3)
SCAC- DePauw (20-1), Oglethorpe (18-3), Trinity (16-4)
USAC- Christopher Newport (16-3)
ODAC- Randolph Macon (17-3)
ASC- Howard Payne (21-0), McMurry (20-2)

Middle Atlantic
MACC- Messiah (18-2), Albright (17-3), Lebanon Valley (19-3)
PnAC- Misericordia (16-4)
MACF- DeSales (21-3)
NEAC- Probably none
CC- None
Land (B)- Scranton (17-4)

Atlantic
CUNYAC- None
SKY- Mount St. Mary (21-2)
CAC- Mary Washington (20-1), Marymount (19-3)
NJAC- Kean (20-2), New Jersey (17-5), William Patterson (18-5), Rutgers-Newark (18-5)

East
E8- Stevens (19-4)
SUNYAC- Brockport State (19-3), Cortland State (14-4)
LL- William Smith (17-2), St. Lawrence (15-4)
AMCC- Medaille (19-2), Lake Erie (14-4)

Northeast
GNAC- None
NESCAC- Bowdoin(15-5), Amherst (21-2), Tufts (21-2)
CCC- None
NEWMAC- Coast Guard (15-4)
NAC(B)- None
LEC- Southern Maine (21-2), Western Conn (16-4), Eastern Conn (19-4)
MASCAC- Bridgewater State (17-2), Salem State (18-2)

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How many teams does everyone think will make the NCAAs from the WIAC? 

Well, UWW will most likely be in as a Pool C bid if they don't win the conference tournament.  So right now I would consider them in.

I would say EC needs to win both their games next week and at least one in the conference tourney.  If they do that, I think they would be sitting at a better than average position for a Pool C bid.  EC has a good OWP and OOWP rating which should help.  What may hurt EC are those 2 non-conference losses (Chicago, Gustavus).  Chicago is now currently sitting on the bubble for Pool C.  EC fans will want to root for Chicago to lose at least once, better if they lose twice.  Remember, UAA does not play a conference tournament which is a big advantage for the teams in their conference that don't get the Pool A bid but are still in contention for Pool C.  IF EC does lose this upcoming week and then in the conference tourney, I think that they will be on the outside of the Pool C bubble looking in, needing a lot of help to get in.

Point is now back in the Pool C picture after a big time week.  At this time, I feel that Point also needs to win both games this week and at least once in the conference tournament.  Point's problem is their OWP/OOWP.  It is not as good as EC's, but should improve after playing 2 tough teams this week.  Point just didn't play good non-conference teams (except for the holiday tournament).   If Point were to lose this upcoming week and in the conference tourney, I think that they will be out of the pool C picture.

Stout's loss to Lax most likely took them out of the pool C picture.


EC and Point fans also need to root for the top teams (regional record wise) to win their conference tourneys.  The more upsets that take place, the less pool C bids to go around.

[Usuallywrong24]

I expect some shake ups in the central region rankings this week after the top 3 teams all take losses.  Can't wait till Wednesday!

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I expect some shake ups in the central region rankings this week after the top 3 teams all take losses.  Can't wait till Wednesday!

Here is my guess:

1. UWW
2. Ill. Wes.
3. EC
4. Wash U
5. Stevens Point
6. Chicago

I think that I will get #1 and #2 correct, but spots 3-6 are a toss up.

[shootfromthearc]

shootfromthearc said Stout deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament.  Ooooh, such disrespect! 

The "disrespect" word is yours, not mine.  I was referring to the "I keep forgetting about Stout" reference.  Was not intended to stir the pot but to make the point that the Stout program has plenty to be proud of lately regardless of what happens this year.  And it is just my opinion that Hirssig and company could still make some noise yet this year.  I thought it was okay to have an opinion about future games on this board.  Sorry I lost my head. 

All good Stoutguy - I certainly wasn't referring to forgetting them as a knock on them...they could EASILY win the conference tourny. Clearly they've had Point's number this year. It's just the annual complaint that there's so much talent in this conference and it's just a shame to see no more than 2 teams getting in - if we're lucky! It's usually only one.

Everyone who watches women's hoops up here knows that 3 WIAC teams could make it deep into the tournament, but because it's so competitive and each great team can tack a couple of losses to you, you now walk that line of not getting in with your 4th or 5th loss. Several years ago Point went 20-5, the year after winning the title and didn't get into the tournament!

Regardless, it's going to see how our representative(s) match up in the post season. Looking forward to it...

[billys]

I think it's been bouncing back and forth a little bit. Two seasons ago I thought four teams (Stout, Oshkosh, Point, and La Crosse) could do post season damage and everyone throughout the league was pretty solid.

Last year, I remember writing that it definitely wasn't a year where multiple teams deserved to go ... even Stout lost to a bad Finlandia team; last year it felt like the league was just down.

This year the top is back to being real good ... the bottom four are probably worse as a group than they've been in awhile; young, inexperienced, whatever. I'd definitely saw Whitewater and Eau Claire can do major damage this year and Point proved with some impressive non-conference wins that they belong in the mix as well.

Interestingly, Stout probably cost themselves by playing D-2's. I know you're going to defend them by saying their playing the best but because of it they don't have any non-con wins over +.500 D-3 teams. As you've mentioned; I'm sure they weren't getting in with 5 conference (+tournament) losses but a couple impressive D3 wins would have helped.

The top is definitely BACK this year.

[Usuallywrong24]

I am just wondering who people think should be the conference player of the year.  I think Hirssig has the best numbers in leading the conference in scoring and rebounding.  Stout's lower than usual place in the conference standings might hurt though.  I was also thinking that Burns, Morton, and Hendrickson will be in the conversation.  If I had to pick, I would probably pick Burns coming into the last week of conference play.

[shootfromthearc]

I don't see how one of the two players from WW don't get it...I think there are a lot of deserving players in the conference too. Whomever they decide, I'm sure it'll be well deserved. God this conference rocks!

[Just Bill]

Anyone want to venture a guess on All-WIAC?  Don't shoot me if you don't like mine, I'm just making my best guess.

In alphabetical order:
Arciszewski, EC
Burns, EC
Hendrickson, WW
Hirssig, ST
Houghton, SP
Hunter, LC
Morton, WW
Neuenfeldt, SP
Tyriver, OSH
Wubben, PLT

I found 8 to be relatively easy picks.  My last two were tough.

[shootfromthearc]

I like all of those picks as well...you don't see Kranz in that mix?

[Just Bill]

I certainly considered her, but I had a hard time justifying three Pointers, especially when only one of them scores in double figures. I guess I felt that Neuenfeldt was just a little more valuable to Point's success.  Only 10 spots to go around after all.

[Usuallywrong24]

Anyone else surprised that Hirssig was player of the week in the WIAC.  She obviously had the numbers to deserve it, but I was just surprised because they went 1-1 and not 2-0 like La Crosse and SP did.  She did have an outstanding week, but I thought it usually went to a player on a team that had a good week. 

[buf]

Anyone else surprised that Hirssig was player of the week in the WIAC.  She obviously had the numbers to deserve it, but I was just surprised because they went 1-1 and not 2-0 like La Crosse and SP did.  She did have an outstanding week, but I thought it usually went to a player on a team that had a good week. 

Not surprised at all.  She had a fantastic week.  How many times has a player shot as well as 17-21 from the floor?  Probably happens only once or twice a season.

[badgerwarhawk]

Anyone else surprised that Hirssig was player of the week in the WIAC.  She obviously had the numbers to deserve it, but I was just surprised because they went 1-1 and not 2-0 like La Crosse and SP did.  She did have an outstanding week, but I thought it usually went to a player on a team that had a good week. 

That is why you are "Usuallywrong."    

[Usuallywrong24]

Anyone else surprised that Hirssig was player of the week in the WIAC.  She obviously had the numbers to deserve it, but I was just surprised because they went 1-1 and not 2-0 like La Crosse and SP did.  She did have an outstanding week, but I thought it usually went to a player on a team that had a good week. 

Not surprised at all.  She had a fantastic week.  How many times has a player shot as well as 17-21 from the floor?  Probably happens only once or twice a season.

Understandable, I just thought that there was some players on LAX and SP who were also deserving and should have maybe received it as their teams went 2-0 and beat some very good teams.  No real argument on my side, just trying to get some more convo on here!