Wisconsin D3 Basketball Challenge

[Greek Tragedy]

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, if I were going to post it at all. So, instead of posting where some may not care to read or post where it doesn't relate, I've decided to open a new thread, so if posters don't care, they don't have to read this specific board.

As some of you may know, there are 23 Division 3 schools in Wisconsin and I've decided to take it upon myself to try to attend a game at each school...in one season.

I have been posting on Twitter (@greektragedy08) and I created a public group on Facebook (Wisconsin D3 Basketball Challenge).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/650269139884255

I figured since this is a D3 basketball site, this may be the best place for people to follow my adventure. If you want to see pictures, you'll have to head to my Facebook public group or check out the limited number of pictures that are allowed on Twitter (apparently only 4 at a time?). It's cool to see the different gyms.

Obviously with the digital age, you can see these gyms in the comfort of your own home, watching online. However, there is something special in attending games in person, even if you have to pay $7 to get in and $3 for a soda.

To review to this point, I've been to 5 games, 3 in one day. It's interesting that I was able to make 3 games in 3 cities in one day because I wasn't even supposed to be in town last weekend. My original plan was to go to Bloomington to see Stevens Point take on Webster on Saturday and then play on Sunday, which ended up being IWU. Apparently I missed a great weekend of Pointer basketball.

It is a busy week if I make all the games I'm planning. In about an hour, I'll be driving down to Mequon to see the Concordia v Concordia matchup in the NACC. Tomorrow I plan to head west on Highway 23 to Fond du Lac to see Marian take on ranked Elmhurst. Saturday I'm planning on traveling to the capital to see the Pointers take on Edgewood.

Wish me luck, especially those trips to Superior, Northland and those far west WIAC schools.

Teams I've seen in person
Lakeland - NACC - 11/8/22
Lake Forest - MWC - 11/8/22
Ripon - MWC - 11/11/22
SNC - NACC 11/11/22
MSOE - NACC - 11/12/22
Bethany Lutheran - UMAC 11/12/22
WLC - NACC -11/12/22
Martin Luther - UMAC - 11/12/22
Carroll - CCIW - 11/12/22
Dubuque - ARC - 11/12/22


Wisconsin Destinations:
Lakeland - 11/8/22
Marian
MSOE - 11/12/22
Concordia
WLC - 11/12/22
Superior
Northland
Eau Claire
Stout
River Falls
La Crosse
Stevens Point
Oshkosh
Whitewater
Platteville
Carthage
Carroll - 11/12/22
Beloit
Edgewood
Lawrence
St. Norbert
Ripon - 11/11/22
Maranatha Baptist

Games:

11/8/22 Lakeland 98, Lake Forest 72 (at Lakeland)
11/11/22 Ripon 68, St. Norbert 55 (at Ripon)
11/12/22 MSOE 85, Martin Luther 45 (at MSOE)
11/12/22 Bethany Lutheran 95, Wisconsin Lutheran 78 (at WLC)
11/12/22 Dubuque 68, Carroll U 53 (at Carroll)

[Greek Tragedy]

It is multi-regional after all, although it's basically Regions 8 and 9 consisting mostly NACC, WIAC, MWC and the Wisconsin based CCIW teams.

[Greek Tragedy]

I traveled south down Interstate 43 to Mequon last night to catch the Concordia WI v Concordia Chicago game. It was the NACC opener for both and, interestingly, it was the host's season opener as well. I think it kind of sucks to have your first game a conference game, but I'll leave that up to Concordia's scheduling gurus.

Of the 6 games I've been to, it was, by far, the best, most competitive game. The only game won by single digits...87-85 to the southsiders. I don't think there was a lead larger than single digits.

Jared Jurss went to the line with less than 3 seconds left down 3 and made the 1st FT. After a timeout, I'm pretty sure he tried to miss the 2nd one, but it rolled in. Con WI still had a chance after fouling right away. Con Chicago missed the 1st, but made the 2nd. A 3/4 court desperation heave wasn't even close and Con Chicago escaped with the win.

[WUPHF]

I love this.  I'll do this in Missouri this year, but we only have 4 Division III schools, so not impressive.

[Inkblot]

I pledge to visit every Division III team in Oklahoma this year... wow, I'm finished already.

[Greek Tragedy]

Poppers can do NY.

Sager can do Illinois.

Knightslappy can do Michigan.

FCGG can do Indiana

Plenty of fans to do Ohio.

Nescac can volunteer a New England state.

[WUPHF]

There are 40 or so Division III schools in Tax-achusetts so volunteering a fellow fan for "a New England state" is the way to go. New York would be the bucket list accomplishment of a lifetime.

[mailsy]

From my count Pennsylvania would be interesting. There are 57 division 3 schools.

[Caz Bombers]

There are 40 or so Division III schools in Tax-achusetts so volunteering a fellow fan for "a New England state" is the way to go. New York would be the bucket list accomplishment of a lifetime.

I forget exactly how many we have. Region 3 has 42 programs, all in NY, plus there's a few more in the other regions. Probably in the 50-60 range all told.

[Gregory Sager]

Sager can do Illinois.

I don't own a car, and I really don't have much interest in trying to figure out if you can take Greyhound, Trailways, or Amtrak to places like Monmouth or Carlinville, or if a cab ride from St. Louis to Elsah is affordable or even possible.

Although I can get to each of the D3 schools in Chicagoland (and over the years I've seen plenty of basketball games at all eleven of them), even if I wanted to confine my travels to northeastern Illinois I couldn't do so. Most schools play their games on Wednesdays and Saturdays, especially after the New Year, and my PBP responsibilities at North Park for both the men's and women's Vikings basically lock me in for every Wednesday and many Saturdays. I have a nephew who is a starter for an NAIA men's basketball team in Indiana, and I've had a very hard time finding a day this season where I can go see him play in person. In other words, I'm the wrong guy for your project.

I'd suggest my fellow CCIW poster Pete McBride. He's retired now, and he'd probably enjoy this.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I was going to "brag" that I did this in Michigan for maybe 15 years running starting in the 90's.  Not hard back then with just the MIAA to worry about.  But now you gotta go to Finlandia, and I'm pretty sure they have at least 4 feet of snow before practice even starts. Google maps I think has you take sled dogs for part of the journey.  Do sled dog miles count in the 500 mile rule? 

[Gregory Sager]

There are 40 or so Division III schools in Tax-achusetts so volunteering a fellow fan for "a New England state" is the way to go. New York would be the bucket list accomplishment of a lifetime.

... especially because it's so big. Midwesterners have absolutely no idea how huge New York really is. They assume that, because it's a northeastern state, it's pretty small ... but it takes seven hours to drive from Plattsburgh to Fredonia, and about six and a half hours to get from NYC to Buffalo (if you cut through New Jersey and Pennsylvania).

The sheer number of D3 schools in the Empire State makes it impossible to see a game at each one over the course of only one season, but even if you split the state in half and covered them all in a two-season span you'd put a lot of miles on your odometer.

[Gregory Sager]

I was going to "brag" that I did this in Michigan for maybe 15 years running starting in the 90's.  Not hard back then with just the MIAA to worry about.  But now you gotta go to Finlandia, and I'm pretty sure they have at least 4 feet of snow before practice even starts. Google maps I think has you take sled dogs for part of the journey.  Do sled dog miles count in the 500 mile rule? 

I hear it's Michigan's only stop on the Iditarod.

[WUPHF]

From my count Pennsylvania would be interesting. There are 57 division 3 schools.

That is incredible, but with all the regional universities and so many liberal arts colleges, it makes sense.

... especially because it's so big. Midwesterners have absolutely no idea how huge New York really is. They assume that, because it's a northeastern state, it's pretty small ... but it takes seven hours to drive from Plattsburgh to Fredonia, and about six and a half hours to get from NYC to Buffalo (if you cut through New Jersey and Pennsylvania).

The sheer number of D3 schools in the Empire State makes it impossible to see a game at each one over the course of only one season, but even if you split the state in half and covered them all in a two-season span you'd put a lot of miles on your odometer.

I had not idea until your post to be honest. 

I was going to "brag" that I did this in Michigan for maybe 15 years running starting in the 90's. 

That is brag-worthy!

[WUPHF]

Also, Ryan Scott drove through every state in the country in like 48 hours so maybe he could do New York.