WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Just Bill]

Our best players go to D-I just like everyone else's.  The biggest difference is we don't have nearly as many scholarship schools as Texas.  Wisconsin has just 4 D-I's and 1 D-II.  Without D-II schools, WIAC teams typically get a fair shot at every kid that doesn't get a D-I ride.  That's one of the reasons for the WIAC's relative strength over many other D-III conferences.

[jdoug2]

Thanks Bill. That makes sense. I am sure there are many reasons the wiac is strong, but this has to be pretty high on the list.

[Pat Coleman]

The biggest difference is we don't have nearly as many scholarship schools as Texas.

Nor nearly as many people.

[The Champ]

Coming from someone who has never been in Wisconsin, I have a question concerning the recruits to the DIII schools. Do the best high school girls typically attend and play for the DIII college? Or do the DIII just get those who can't play at a higher level?

I live in Texas and my niece plays in the SLIAC. I know there was zero chance of her playing DI, but she is ok in D3. And Texas puts out tons of kids that play D1. But the best players go D1.

Just wondering.

I'm not a total guru on this, but the WIAC can't offer scholarships.

If a player is good enough to be offered a scholarship to play D1 BB, in most cases, they'll play D1 vs. paying to go to one of the state DIII schools.

Now there are some players, who have an educational mindset, that will pay to go to the state school that provides them the better education in their chosen field vs. a free ride at a school that won't (see Kelsey Duoss after 1 year at D1).

The WIAC has some great schools with very solid programs.  They are also pretty darn good BB schools as well...

[muellertime09]

Could anybody tell me who's being recruited to UWO for next year?

[wisconsinball]

Here is a list found on http://wissports.net/playground/tm.asp?m=894568   Didn't see anything for UWO, UWP, UWW, UWSP. 


Tiffany Gregorich, Altoona, UW River Falls
Courtney Jensen, Cornell, UW River Falls

Hailey Hart, Osseo-Fairchild, UW Superior

Emily Mattison (Chippewa Falls) - University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Morgan Stueber, Park Falls, UW LaCrosse   
Trisha Zwiers, Freedom, UW LaCrosse
Brianna Roberts- UW Lacrosse

Cody Vanden Heuvel, Cadott, UW Stout
Kerri Kost, Rhinelander, UW Stout

Brittni Hover, Clayton, UW Eau Claire
Laura Olson, Osseo-Fairchild, UW Eau Claire
Katie Pospishil, Eau Claire Memorial, UW Eau Claire

Carol Cayo, Lake Mills, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Jena Darwin, Menomonie, Dubuque
Joelle Domingos, Hortonville, Dubuque
Hannah Haugestuen, Barron, Dubuque
Kerry McDermott, Rio, Dubuque
Aimee Reyzer, Altoona, Dubuque
Heather Taylor (River Ridge) - University of Dubuque

Ashleigh Galligan, Campbellsport, Northland
Kristin Zimmer, Laona, Northland

Emily Romataski, Northland Pines, Ripon
Erin Lind- Ripon

Caitlyn Krenz- Marian

Katie Hackbart (Arrowhead) - St Norberts

Holly Schiedermeyer, Waupaca, Macalester

Kayla Solum, Somerset, St. Benedict

[badgerwarhawk]

Though I don't usually post the names of recruits until they have arrived and enrolled I'm making an exception because I'm certain that Whitewater High School's Megan Thuene will join the lady WARHAWKS next season.  Thuene is an athletic player, an off guard/forward type and three point shooter who led the Whippets in scoring the past two seasons averaging approx 15 pts/game.  She was also a member of Whitewater's D2 state champion relay teams.   Seemingly a perfect fit for WHITEWATER'S style of play.   

I'm also pretty certain that Whitewater's Leah Harms will be joining the LaCrosse Eagle program.  Harms was also a member of the Whippet relay teams and is similar to Thuene in position though perhaps more of a guard.  She averaged 12-13 points/game and is also very athletic.

[buf]

UWEC's Recruits

Kaylee Cardinal (Hartland Arrowhead)- 5'9" 3rd Team All State.

Tessa Feyereisen (River Falls)- 5'9", 11pts, 1st Team All Big Rivers, 4th Team All Northwest

Jess Freagon (Chippewa Falls McDonell)- 5'10", Honorable Mention All Northwest

Brittni Hover (Clayton)- 5'7", career stats: 16.5pts, 7.7as, 6.5 rebs, 238 3-pointers.  3rd Team All Northwest.

Laura Olson (Osseo-Fairchild)- 5'5", 11.5pts, 2nd Team All Northwest

Ellen Plendl (Chippewa Falls McDonell)- 6'5", 12.8pts, Honorable Mention All Northwest

Katie Pospishil (Memorial)- 6'1", 14.6pts, 1st Team All Northwest, All State Honorable Mention


Seems like a pretty good class.  I would probably have to say that Cardinal and Pospishil are at the top of this class, but who really knows what will happen at the collegiate level.

[billys]

Another very good class for Eau Claire.
Cardinal was a borderline scholarship player as I have been Pospishil potentially was as well.
Olson and Hover are nice players as well.

La Crosse has a TON of freshmen coming in from what I heard. Definitely some good players as well; not just a ton of bodies. Good for them; hopefully they can cement themselves in that top 5 with the other Big 4.

I've also heard rumors of a nice transfer or two for WW.

I'll be curious to see who UWSP added ... haven't heard much around the rumor mill on them

[bulk19]

The Stevens Point Journal today gives an update on Pointer recruits, for a team that graduated the most seniors - 6 - in Coach Egner's 19-year tenure there:

Those who have stated their intentions are:

Flambeau's 5'6" point guard Whitney Verdegan, a member of the D4 champs... and a Division 4 South team player in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game in Madison.

5'11" guard/forward Cassie Bandow of Stevens Point Pacelli,  an All-Central Wisconsin Conference large division first team selection.

and Bay Port post player Myranda Hodgson, at 5'11".

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/SPJ02/806240633/1678

[bulk19]

Congrats to the Lady Blugolds 2007-08 team for its off-the-court accomplishment; the team's 3.436 cumulative GPA ranked 12th in Women's Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll (D3), as announced recently.

It's the second time the Blugolds have cracked the top 25 in the award's 11-year history... 2000-01 team GPA of 3.320 ranked 21st...

This year, Concordia University led the D3 pack with a 3.637 GPA...

[bulk19]

According to recent NCAA report, the WIAC had two teams ranking in the top ten for home attendance average among 411 schools during the 2007-08 season - UWEC, 7th, and Stout, 10th.

The top 10, according to the report =

1. Howard Payne: 15 games, 23,234 fans, 1,549 average
2. Hope: 18 games, 19,930 fans, 1,107 average
3. Capital: 12 games, 11,145 fans, 928 average
4. New York University: 15 games, 12,992 fans, 866 average
5. Buena Vista: 14 games, 12,000 fans, 857 average
6. Messiah: 18 games, 14,923 fans, 829 average
7. UWEC: 14 games, 11,362 fans, 809 average
8. Louisiana College: 12 games, 8,496 fans, 708 average
9. Hardin-Simmons: 10 games, 6,884 fans, 688 average
10. Stout: 13 games, 8,837 fans, 679 average

As a whole, the WIAC ranked 4th in the country
1. Iowa Inter = 9 teams, 107 games, 51,403 fans, 480 average
2. American Southwest = 15 teams, 176 games, 83,470 fans, 474 average
3. Ohio AC = 10 teams, 130 games, 56,550 fans, 435 average
4. WIAC = 9 teams, 107 games, 46,143 fans, 431 average
5. Commonwealth = 6 teams, 75 games, 32,257 fans, 430 average

The report also indicates that, as a whole, the 411 teams in D3 drew 1,198,495 fans, a new record, over 5,010 games/sessions, an average of 239 per game...

[Usuallywrong24]

Anyone have any predictions about how the WIAC will be predicted and actually finish this year?  The SIDs predictions aren't always accurate, but usually aren't too far.  Usually makes for a good debate

[buf]

Anyone have any predictions about how the WIAC will be predicted and actually finish this year?  The SIDs predictions aren't always accurate, but usually aren't too far.  Usually makes for a good debate

I would have UWW as a clear favorite.  After that there should be a few teams considered for 2nd place.

[Usuallywrong24]

Any word on pre-season rankings?  I see that the Platteville and WW men are ranked in the top 10, but have not heard anything yet on the women's side.  BW might be the person to answer this one since I am sure his Warhawks are up there.