Making a decision on which college to attend is a difficult one for just about any high school student. Imagine the pressure on a 7th grader and his folks when Division 1 college programs start sending letters and phoning the house. That's right...the recruiting of Evan Anderson by college programs started in the 7th grade. Not coincidentally, the media attention followed soon afterward. Beyond the stories on TV and in the newspaper, the life of Evan was a hot topic on internet message boards. Just how tall is he? How good is he? Is he transferring from Stanley-Boyd? To which school? More recently, which colleges are recruiting him? Will he be an impact player? Which school has the inside track?
I don't know Evan all that well, since he's still a high school sophomore, but everything I've seen and heard is that he's a fairly grounded 16-year old, a hard worker, very coachable, and an excellent student. His approach on the court is very businesslike; he's not the kind to draw attention to himself with gestures or trash-talking. Evan is the kind of kid who'll battle hard inside but will be the first to extend a hand when an opponent lands on the floor. Talking to him Sunday night about his decision, it sounds like he went about the process in the right way--getting a lot of input from wide range of sources, and then going with his gut. That's what led him to the Wisconsin Badgers program.
Evan seemed more relieved than elated about his decision, which probably had more to do with the fact that he'd just driven back from an AAU basketball tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'll always remember the looks on his mom & dad's faces...another mix of pride, relief, and amazement...I can only imagine what they were thinking watching their son being interviewed by members of the Eau Claire media...my guess is that they both thought back to that day when they brought a son into the world, and how that son has grown over 16 years.
With this decision made, Evan may get a bit of a reprieve from all the attention...until next season starts, and the internet message boards can start heating up again with people debating his progress on the basketball court. I support every person's right to express their opinion on a topic, but let's remember he's a 16-year old kid. I would certainly hope he has a successful finish to his high school basketball career, then becomes a Big Ten standout with a shot to play professionally. If that never happens, that's okay, too. It's far more important to society that he gets a college education and continues to grow as a person, a teammate, and a citizen.
I think that would make his parents extremely proud.
Let me state for the record that I like football. While I prefer the atmosphere of a college game day to any pro stadium not named Lambeau Field, I do enjoy watching and following the NFL as much, if not more, than the average fan. But my enjoyment comes from watching GAMES...actual competition between two teams, not the "competition" between NFL GM's sitting in "war rooms," and certainly not the "competition" between talking heads or writers spouting opinions about what grade each team gets for its draft.
Drama is Eli Manning somehow evading the Patriots pass rush to chuck the football downfield in the general direction of a little-known player named David Tyree--who just happens, in traffic, to catch the ball by pinning it to his helmet, keeping a potential go-ahead drive alive late in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Drama is not, as the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network would like you to believe, what follows if Darren McFadden were to slide out of the top five overall picks.
Yes, the Super Bowl is THE most over-hyped sporting event...but at least there's a game at the end of the week. The NFL Draft is THE most over-hyped sporting non-event. At the end of a Super Bowl, the predictions made by the aforementioned talking heads or writers are largely forgotten, replaced by by what actually happened in the game, moments that will remain in our memory for decades. What happens at the end of the draft? More opinions...more words...more people claiming they, and only they, have the ability to predict the future. Five years from now, who will remember what player wore what awful-looking pastel-colored suit while standing uncomfortably next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell? I'm still waiting for those good grades given to the Detroit Lions brain trust in recent years to translate into actual wins and playoff appearances. As fans of the Pack, do we want good draft grades, or regular season wins? Trust me, the 3-hour, one-way drive between Eau Claire and Green Bay is more than enough time to obsess over the state of the Packers franchise...I see no need to start that process in late April.
The NFL Draft is a lot like another TV creation, American Idol--sure, a lot of people pay attention at the moment, but while Ruben Studdard may have gotten way more than his alotted five minutes of fame, there's no way he's going to the Rock & Roll Music Hall Of Fame.
I'll pay casual attention to the NFL Draft, but I won't be riveted by it. My approach is much like it is for the Academy Awards--if I'm around and a TV is on, I'll take a glance--but generally, I'll wait until it's over, then log onto a computer and look at the list of picks and read a few stories. When I do watch, it's only for about 5-10 minutes at a time...occasionally, I'll react. For instance, the 2007 NFL Draft, my reaction was as follows: "Justin Harrell? What? What are they thinking by taking a d-lineman in the 1st round?" I then shared that opinion by sending a text message to former co-worker David Kmiecik (who loves the NFL & NBA drafts, by the way, and spends an inordinate amount of time preparing for each non-event). After that, I grabbed a beverage, and walked back down to the lake to enjoy a fantastic spring day--outdoors, far away from the bombastic proclamations of Mel Kiper, Jr.
The NFL may be known as the No Fun League, but it's an organization that knows the benefits of marketing. With the draft, OTA's, minicamps, and training camps, the NFL has managed to keep itself in the limelight for nearly 12 solid months each year. The league certainly has enablers in the media...the website of the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network devotes as much (if not more) space to previewing the NFL Draft as it does covering actual playoff games in the NBA & NHL. Could it be because the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network owns the rights to broadcast the drama that is the NFL Draft?
I've tried to avoid most of the pre-draft hype, but sometimes you simply can't...especially if, within your line of sight, there's a television tuned to one of the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network stations. A few days ago, Mel Kiper, Jr. was on the "Budweiser Hotseat" (more cross-promotion gone mad), wearing a dark suit, dark shirt, and dark tie. With the mood lighting casting shadows on his face while darkening the tint on his presciption glasses, along with the faux flames around him, it looked like Beelzelbub was broadcasting from a set somewhere in Hades.
Eight days ago, I gazed out the window of a downtown Detroit hotel and pondered the possibilities of Wisconsin making it to both a Final Four and a Frozen Four. Neither had seemed likely during much of the season, but on that sunny afternoon, it was easy to dream. Each team had to win just two more games for it to become reality.
That evening, when Davidson's Stephen Curry hit a ridiculous reverse layup against the Badgers which impressed even LeBron James (who was sitting several rows behind us--probably one of the few times in my life that I'll have better seats at an event than LeBron)...it hit me. The Badgers were not Final Four material. They were a good team, one that certainly exceeded preseason expectations, but they lacked the NBA-quality talent of the teams that wound up advancing to this year's Final Four.
Is this a problem? Should fans be badgering (sorry) Bo Ryan to recruit better talent to Madison? Has the UW not set its sights high enough when it comes to the major, revenue-producing sports?
I don't have the answers...but now that my disappointment has faded, I'll ask any Badger fan who's still bitter to keep a sense of perspective. During my years in Madison, Michael Finley was a true talent, but overall, the UW teams of 91-92 and 92-93 were barely NIT-caliber. Things got better over time, but it wasn't until Dick Bennett took over that there was stability in the coaching staff--it's no coincidence that the program became a conference contender in his tenure. Sure, Stu Jackson got Wisconsin into the NCAA tournament, but he was a short-term fix. Say what you want about Dick's style of play, the guy won games. Now, that pattern continues with Bo Ryan, albeit with a slightly more up-tempo style and more displays of athleticism. You can complain about the Big Ten being down in recent years, but Bo gets it done, even in seasons like this past one, when teams like Indiana and Michigan State were supposed to be the conference powers.
Detractors like to harp on Bo's NCAA record with the Badgers, but again, I don't have any major beef with what Wisconsin has done in the postseason. Tournament success depends on a lot of random factors (your draw, injuries, etc.), but I can't say bad coaching has been a factor in the Badgers losses these past two seasons--simply put, Wisconsin was unfortunate to run into a couple of hot-shooting teams. True, I would have liked to see the Badgers play a box-and-one or a triangle-and-two defense against Curry, but Bo is a man-to-man guy, so he goes with what got him there.
Maybe Wisconsin's not at the level of North Carolina or Kansas, but then again, the UW has long since passed former Big Ten powers like Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan. Recently, you'd give the Badgers the edge over both Indiana and Michigan State. I'm willing to let Bo coach out the rest of his tenure, and I'm pretty confident that the level of this program will at worst, stay where it is. I am, however, a little concerned about what John Belein and Tubby Smith might be able to do at Michigan and Minnesota, respectively.
Regarding hockey, it would have been easier to accept the season being over if Wisconsin hadn't completely outplayed North Dakota for two periods on the Badgers home ice in the NCAA Midwest Regional final. Unfortunately for the UW, a 47-second stretch of the third allowed the Fighting Sioux to get back into the game. Getting that close to a Frozen Four had to really sting, even for a team that had such a small window to just get into the NCAA tournament.
What the future holds for the hockey program is a little less clear. Mike Eaves has a very good understanding of how to prepare his players for pro hockey, but that may be an issue for his own program, with early defections of players like Kyle Turris for the NHL. Still, only two years removed from a national championship, the hockey program continues to be one of the consistently strongest at the University of Wisconsin.
If you're still a bitter Badger fan, take a look back in time to the pre-Donna Shalala, Pat Richter, and Barry Alvarez era...overall, things look a whole lot better these days.
With the NFL season done, and the sun melting (albeit slowly) the snow on my lawn, that can only mean that America's pastime is right around the corner — that right, baseball is right on your doorstep. This past week I got the opportunity to travel down to Arizona to take in a few spring training games.
If you have never had the chance, I would recommend leaving the sub-artic weather of Western Wisconsin to fly down to the 80-degree home of your favorite baseball team. The ballparks are gorgeous, the mood is relaxed, but that does not mean that the play on the field is lacking. You might see a few players that you did not know existed, but with these players having to fight to fulfill their major league dreams, these guys work hard. Plus, if you are a sports nut like me, you have to love getting a first glimpse at the players who will make take your team to the next level a year or two down the road.
Spring training is not only about making the regular season roster, but also earning a role. If you are a fan of the Crew, you know this team is full of talent. That means that this spring holds plenty of competition for not only starting spots, but for backup positions. While players like Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and Ben Sheets always are impressive, here are a few players who are fighting for a roster spot who really impressed me this week:
Tony Gwynn Jr., CF
There is a lot in a name. Gwynn will probably never be able to live up to the career of his father (and really, not many could), but this young guy plays the game with a passion that is sometimes lacking in professional players nowadays. Since being drafted in the second round in 2003, Gwynn has struggled to find playing time in a crowded outfield. Last season Gwynn appeared in 69 games batting .260.
However, don’t be surprised to see him get more time this season. The outfield is still stacked with starting spots going to Corey Hart, newly signed Mike Cameron, and last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, but Gwynn is seriously making a case for himself this spring. He’s batting an impressive .353 with three steals, two triples and a homer. His bat might be hot, but it can be argued his glove his better. Against the Royals on Thursday (3/20), he caught a ball over the shoulder that made you think you were watching Willie Mayes.
Character wise, Gwynn is a class act. He signed autographs before and after each game this week, spending a few moments sharing stories with fans. In spring training, it is common for the starters leave and board a bus during the seventh inning stretch. To watch Gwynn take the time to sign autographs speaks volumes about his character. He probably won’t win a starting role, but he’s definitely deserves some more at-bats this season.
Seth McClung, RP
McClung has been in the league for a few years, including appearing in 14 games with Milwaukee last year. This spring, he’s has a 2.35 ERA in five games. Against the Royals (3/20), McClung pitched three innings. Through the first two, he looked dominant at times. He does a great job of mixing his pitches, including some incredible power (he topped out at 97 mph), and some finesse (his changeup dropped all the way down to 73 mph). The impressive thing is that his arm motion is so similar; batters looked like Elmer Fudd swinging at Bugs Bunny. They would swing, then sit and wait for the ball to finally cross the plate. The Brewers spent some big money this season on relievers (Salomon Torres, Eric Gagne), but McClung has the stuff to be an effective bridge between the starters and the end of the bullpen.
Manny Parra, SP
Prior to the game I watched, Parra had a 2-0 record with a .64 ERA. He was roughed up a bit against the Royals, giving up 8 runs in just 3.2 innings. Even in the defeat, this kid flashed some major potential. The left-hander is just 25, but already has some major league experience appearing in nine games last season in limited work. However, now with LHP Chris Capuano appearing all but gone, there is a need for a strong lefty in the rotation. Parra showed off four effective pitches, including a 95 MPH four-seam fastball that really has some zip, a two seam fastball that averages around 90, an effective slider that he can throw between 82 and 85, and a changeup that dips down to 74.
It’s obvious he has the makeup to pick up the ball every fifth day, but he has to be careful about tipping off his pitches. His leg kicks much higher when he’s throwing hard. On his slider, his arm motion is noticeably different from his other three pitches. Also, he struggled getting back into the game after giving up four runs in the first inning, and appeared frustrated on the mound. The latter should change as he gains more experience on the mound. I think he can be very effective this year, and the Brewers will need to rely on him.
Others who impressed: Alicides Escobar, SS; Mitch Stetter, RP; Gabe Kapler, OF; and Mike Rivera C.
Spring wasn’t kind to every player; here are a couple people who did not shine:
Gabe Gross, OF
He played in both games I attended this week. Gross is an experienced veteran who is savvy at the plate and gets a good jump in the outfield. But this spring he’s batting just .238 and hasn’t looked good in the field or at the plate. Against the Angels (3/18), he was fooled badly by pitchers such as Darren Oliver and Jason Bulger. He has showed some pop, hitting four home runs, but he swings for the fences too often. Not helping his cause is the fact that the outfield is loaded this season.
Derrick Turnbow, RP
It just seems like yesterday that the shaggy haired pitcher was tearing up the mound as the Crew’s closer. However, Turnbow has really struggled the past four seasons. Maybe it’s because he can’t see the field (Honestly, it’s hot out. A haircut wouldn’t kill you) or he is trying to become comfortable with the setup role, but he’s had a hard time getting people out. He gave up three runs in an inning of relief against the Angels (3/18). He has an ERA of 9.0 this spring. The Brewers need the Turnbow of a few years ago to make a playoff run.
Eric Gagne, Closer
It’s never good when two of the pitchers with work to do are the setup man and the closer. Unfortunately, Gagne has struggled even more than Turnbow this spring. An 11.25 ERA is excessively high for a man who holds the record for most consecutive saves in MLB history. On top of if, teams are batting .450 against Gagne this spring. Gagne needed a strong showing in Arizona after severely fizzling down the stretch for the Red Sox last season.
He looks to be forcing some pitches. They would have worked few years ago, but with his velocity now in the high 80s, it isn’t fooling anyone. He’s still has a few pitches that are very effective, but they don’t work if he can’t set them up with the heat. Gagne has been around for awhile, so look for him to figure it out as the season goes on, but I can’t help but be concerned for the Brewers in tight games.
Others who struggled: Jason Kendall, C; Rickie Weeks, 2B; Jeff Suppan, SP; Dave Bush, SP
The experience in Arizona was fantastic. The ballparks are gorgeous, the people are all very friendly, and it’s amazing to see the turnout for a Wednesday afternoon game. Baseball fans are truly some of the most devoted fans in all of sports.I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the first pitch and the months of baseball ahead.
There is always a ton of excitement and joy when those brackets first get announced on Selection Sunday, but then reality hits on the first day of the tournament. People say "you're the sports guy, you should be great at picking winers," but those people are wrong. I am terrible at filling out brackets. I pick too many upsets, and when upsets actually happen, they are the wrong ones. I was convinced Georgia would beat Xavier, but I was wrong. One of my good friends had 1 game wrong after the first day of games this year. What game was incorrect? The one I talked him into changing...USC vs. Kansas State. If you don't know me well, you may not know this, but I am a huge USC sports fan.
One positive to the games was our former Weekend Sports Anchor David Kmiecik coming back to Eau Claire to watch the games. We headed down to a local watering hole to watch the games. It was very humorous to watch him pace and scream at the televisions during the Marquette-Kentucky game. But afterward, I realized one of my brackets was done because I had USC in the Final Four.
As for the Wisconsin Badgers, I can honestly say that I have been impressed. The game against Cal State Fullerton wasn't the best of games, but Wisconsin did pull away at the end a little bit. One of my friends, a big "sports fanatic", missed Thursday night's game because he was at the Avril Levigne concert in Minnesota...and he went to Madison. If I were the team, I would take that as a slap in the face. The win over Kansas State was a very nice one. I would like to describe it differently than "nice" but they just really looked good. I didn't think a team without any "standout" players could do much damage but they are proving me wrong. After all, I am the guy who can't win a NCAA pool.
Our four area teams represented themselves very well in Madison this past week.
Flambeau took home a Division 4 state title for a third straight year, an amazing accomplishment for head coach Ted Alberson's program. The Falcons join some pretty elite company in Wisconsin girls high school hoops (Milwaukee Washington, Cuba City), as the only schools to have won three consecutive state titles. Once again, Flambeau's balance, depth, unselfishness, and defensive pressure helped carry the Falcons to a title--the same characteristics of Alberson's previous teams.
Altoona should be proud of its first trip to state, but the Railroaders may be wondering "what if" for a long time. What if Altoona hadn't started out so cold against Monroe in their Division 2 semifinal? It may very well have been the Rails hosting a gold ball on Saturday afternoon instead of the Cheesemakers. Still, congratulations to coach Scott Harmon and his team, for a great comeback against Monroe in one of the most entertaining games of the entire tournament.
Likewise, congratulations go out to head coach Joe Doucette and the Colfax Vikings, for making that program's first trip to state since 1994. Colfax competed very well against a talented Markesan team, and like Altoona, the Vikings kept it close after falling behind early. Watching all the players in the tournament, I didn't see anyone shoot the 3 better or from a longer distance than Courtney Doucette did for Colfax.
Eleva-Strum's performance against Flambeau in the semifinals showed that the Cardinals may have been the second-best team in the D4 field. The Cardinals look to follow the same blueprint that brought a boys state title back to Eleva-Strum: get through to state one season, then make it to the championship game the following year. With all the starters returning, Kyle Kaufman's team figures to be one of the area's top teams in 08-09.
Thanks to all the players and coaches from all the teams for a very entertaining 2007-2008 season!
I haven't been around as long as some media members across the state, but 2008 was the 14th WIAA boys basketball tournament I've witnessed in person. I was courtside for the 1992 and 1993 tourneys as an intern at WKOW-TV in Madison, and since I became sports director at WQOW-18, I've had the privelege to do play-by-play at every tournament since 1997.
Start to finish, this may have been the most competitive tournament of all those I've seen. Every single game had its share of drama...clutch shots...intense play...and great hustle. I'll always remember Eleva-Strum's Nick Zander hurdling a courtside photgrapher in pursuit of a loose ball, then calling a timeout before crashing into the E-S band's bass drum.
Since I've called Eau Claire home, I always enjoy seeing teams from this area compete at state, although there have been a few years when the locals aren't at the same level with teams from other parts of Wisconsin. 2008 will be remembered as the year when Chippewa Valley teams proved they were every bit as good as the others from around the state.
Let's start with Eleva-Strum. The Cardinals have been a joy to watch all season, with their unselfish, hard-nosed play and their suffocating defense. E-S took apart perennial power Randolph in the Division 4 semi's, then gutted out a win over a vastly improved team from Suring to win the school's first-ever boys basketball state title. It may be a long time before we see another small school suit up a collection of athletes like the Cardinals put on the floor. Much like the Randolph teams of Greg Stiemsma and Ryan Tillema could have competed in any division, I think the '07-'08 Eleva-Strum Cardinals could have done likewise.
The other local teams may have dropped their first games at state, but all certainly had chances to win. Eau Claire North was within 3 points of eventual Division 1 state champ Wauwatosa East with 1:30 to go in the 4th quarter. The Huskies' height and 1-3-1 zone defense gave the Red Raiders fits all game. With 6-11 Evan Anderson, 6-7 Tyler Brown, and 6-5 Andy Kleist all returning for next season, I'd be very surprised if North's not a top 10 team.
Eau Claire Regis also returns plenty of talent (guards Adam Ganske and Jack Eaton) for next season, although the Ramblers have to replace their front line. This season, head coach Bill Uelmen was able to overcome the loss of four starters from the '06-'07 team, so it won't be a surprise if other players step in for next year.
Luck also loses some starters, but the Cardinals return a real talent in forward Brennan Olson. However, anyone who follows high school hoops knows getting to the state tournament doesn't guarantee a return trip the next year.
Thanks to all the area coaches, players, fans, and bands who made the 2007-2008 boys basketball season one to remember!
There are probably more than a few Packers fans that feel that way, now that Brett Favre's retirement became official on March 4, 2008. We think it's official, anyway--whether or not Favre pulls a Michael Jordan and un-retires remains to be seen.
Our former weekend sportscaster at News 18, David Kmiecik, once proclaimed in his website bio, that he would "...weep openly when Brett Favre retires." I don't know if David is weeping now, but I know that he didn't return a text message or a voice mail today...of course, he could be like the rest of us in the sports media, working non-stop all day trying to manage one of the biggest stories that will ever break here in the state of Wisconsin.
Being in the media, you have a different rooting interest than the average fan...but it was always easy to root for Favre. On the field, he did things that left you shaking your head and wondering, how on earth did he just do that...throw a 40-yard dart perfectly placed into the arms of a receiver...or avoid a loss by throwing the ball underhanded for a big gain. There were also the times he left you wondering why on earth did he just do that...e.g., the overtime interception in the infamous "4th & 26" playoff game in Philadelphia, or the overtime interception just over one month ago at Lambeau Field against the Giants. No matter what he did or how he did it, we watched--intently, never wanting to miss anything, because deep down, we all knew his kind wouldn't be coming around any time soon in our lifetimes.
Beyond his play on the field, I always enjoyed his meetings with the media. In a league where players take great pains in their off-field appearance, Favre cultivated a look that went well beyond casual--like he'd just rolled out of bed and grabbed whatever clothes were lying in a rumpled heap on the floor. After Favre broke Dan Marino's career TD pass record in a win over the Vikings at the Metrodome, I bet a fellow media member on what grubby attire Favre would wear for such a historic occasion...I won the bet, by the way, since I predicted attire closer to Favre's actual wardrobe, but neither me nor my colleague could have imagined Favre would turn up in a pair of baggy cargo shorts with hiking boots. Later, we found out that he'd broken a zipper while getting dressed, and used a safety pin to keep his shorts settled around his waist so that they wouldn't drop to the floor.
His was casual in his appearance, but he was the polar opposite of casual in his burning desire to compete and win. He managed to be supremely confident without appearing arrogant. He walked in a different stratosphere than the fans and the media, yet had a way of connecting with everyone. His private struggles with painkiller and alcohol addiction were very public, but they only made him a more endearing figure. He was the public face of a proud franchise; however, it was a face that showed the pain of losing a father and a brother-in-law. His wife is a cancer survivor; his family survived a devastating hurricane. Somehow, through it all, even late in his career, old by NFL standards, on Sunday he put on a green and gold uniform, stuck his head with its buzz-cut graying hair into a helmet with the classic "G" on the side, and morphed back into the little boy who loved nothing more than to play football.
It's a sad day for some, but I'm of the mindset that his is a career to be celebrated. Favre did it his way...and he walked away on his own terms. The memories of his final season are good ones...the 13-3 record that was unthinkable back in August during training camp...and a quarterback in his late 30's looking like he was having the time of his life playing football for the Green Bay Packers.
Just to make those memories better, I may just take our season archive tape and edit out that final interception to the Giants' Corey Webster. However, after meeting New York offensive lineman Rich Seubert in person, I have to say I'm no longer bitter about that Green Bay loss. The Giants seem to have good human beings on their team as well.
Let the Aaron Rodgers era begin, and let it be better than the eras of John Hadl, David Whitehurst, Randy Wright, and Don Majkowski--but honestly, I can't imagine how it could be better than the Brett Favre era.
Since moving to Eau Claire in September of 1996, I've had the opportunity to cover plenty of great moments in high school sports. But I can't remember a day quite like this past Saturday, with Memorial winning a state hockey title (the 1st state championship for an EC high school in a team sport since North girls golf in 1996), North and Regis winning boys sectional titles, while the Memorial, North, and Regis girls all won girls basketball regional titles.
I had the opportunity to witness two of those accomplishments. It was a thrill to have the play-by-play call on the state-wide network as the clock ticked down to zero, while watching the Old Abes hockey team stream onto the ice for a wild celebration. Afterward, in a medium-sized room off the arena's lower concourse, the players traded in their skates for athletic shoes, but they kept their uniforms on for a spirited reunion with their families. I've gotten to know a number of the parents over the years, and seeing the joy and pride on their faces is something I'll never forget. The same goes for the players, who were experiencing the whole range of emotions--you could tell they didn't want the moment to end.
Speaking of emotion, there was no shortage of that later in the day in the cavernous Marshfield High School Fieldhouse. After I left Madison, I drove straight to Marshfield to catch the end of the Division 1 boys basketball sectional final. In the same facility where the North girls had experienced a gut-wrenching loss in a sectional final not that long ago, the Huskies boys made sure there was no end-of-game drama by combining an efficient offense with a suffocating defense in a 20-point win over Wausau West. Even though I didn't get to Marshfield until partway into the 3rd quarter, there was no shortage of highlights: two thundering dunks by Evan Anderson, Tyler Brown barreling to the hoop for the finish and the foul, plus several nice backdoor cuts by North. But I'll never forget the sight of head coach Pat Hammond, standing on a ladder, snipping the final strand of the net and then shaking his fist much to the delight of his players and the North fans.
We call this the Magic Of March....clearly, it's more than just a line in a promo.
Hopefully, Eau Claire fans can have more moments like these in the coming weeks. Thanks in advance for tuning into all the state tournament broadcasts.
Yes, I know this post comes after the start of the WIAA regionals...but often, we use the "honor system" for our in-house bracket competition. Plus, with no major upsets last night, this will work just fine.
DIVISION 1
It's a similar situation to the boys bracket, in that any of these teams could advance...but in my mind, there's a little more separation between the seeds. And in that aging mind, I think Memorial and North are the two best teams--I guess the coaches felt that way, too, by giving them the top two seeds. The Old Abes will get a tough test from River Falls while the Huskies have a challenge on their hands with Chippewa Falls, but both Eau Claire schools figure to advance. So which one wins that crosstown showdown at the Eagles Nest? North won by 5 and by 6 during the regular season. The Abes have the advantage inside with Katie Pospishil, but the Huskies have the athleticism on the perimeter to slow down point guard Chim Okoroji and close out on shooters Jessica and Shannon Rene. Tempo will be a big key, so is keeping key players out of foul trouble...not to mention obvious factors like field goal shooting percentage, hitting free throws, and turnovers. This is a tough one to pick, especially since I don't have a crystal ball, a Ouija board, or even the Magic 8-Ball. But I do have a lot of loose change lying around...this time I use a 2005 quarter (West Virginia commemorative edition). The flip comes up tails, for the lower-seeded team: North. That puts the Huskies in a sectional final at the Doghouse versus Marshfield. This time around, North coach Dan Sippel gets to see a crucial call late in the game go in his team's favor....the Huskies edge the Tigers in overtime, so the following week, fans at the Alliant Energy Center and those watching on the statewide network will get to see the North fans doing their "bus" and "little red wagon" routines. Other sectional winners: Oshkosh West, Milwaukee King, Brookfield Central, Middleton, Milwaukee Vincent, De Pere, and Janesville Parker.
DIVISION 2
How good is the local sectional? Rice Lake could very well win it as a #3 seed...but in this case, it's a seed based on record, and not talent. The Warriors won at #1 seed Altoona this past regular season. But before those two can think about a regional final matchup Saturday, Rice Lake will have to deal with Durand, while Altoona faces a solid, well-coached Barron club. Whichever team survives that meat grinder may then wind up with top-seeded Somerset in a sectional semi. In the bottom part of the bracket, Neillsville looks to be on another collision course with Sparta--last year, the Warriors beat the Spartans in the sectional final. My picks: Rice Lake edges Durand, Altoona goes to the wire to beat Barron. Rice Lake then knocks out Altoona and Somerset to set up an all-Warrior sectional final with Neillsville at some site to be determined. Very few teams play defense like Neillsville does for head coach John Gaier. (Maybe the fact he's also the District Administrator gives him even more clout with the girls--or else he's just a very good coach) The individual matchup between Neillsville's Sheila Opelt and Rice Lake's Casey Weber is well worth the price of admission. It's hard to pick against either team, but I think Rice Lake has more scoring punch and too much talent to be denied a trip to Madison. Other state picks: Columbus, Ripon, and Slinger.
DIVISION 3
This is always a great local bracket....this year, though, three teams have separated themselves from the pack: defending sectional champ Osseo-Fairchild, Mondovi, and Colfax. O-F got shut down by Neillsville's defense in the Cloverbelt championship game, which only means one thing: the Chieftains will learn from that loss to the Warriors, and they'll be even more motivated to make a run through the D3 bracket. O-F is by far the most balanced team in the section, so I see the Chieftains beating Mondovi in the regional final, then knocking out Regis in a sectional semi, before eliminating Colfax in the sectional final. It's the same story in the other three sectionals--the defending champs will advance to state once again: Amherst, Oostburg, and Cuba City.
DIVISION 4
Thorp-Clayton could be a very intriguing sectional semifinal. On the top part of the bracket, look for the two other #1 seeds (Northwood and Flambeau) to advance. It's almost impossible to pick against Ted Alberson and his Falcons, so the folks in the Flambeau district can look forward to yet another trip to Madison, where they'll be joined by the likes of Eleva-Strum, Wausau Newman, and Pecatonica.
(A quick note on the WIAA boys BB brackets: all 8 of my D1 picks are still alive. D2 is a different story, 2 picks are still playing, but Catholic Memorial and New Richmond are both out. I should have factored in Spooner's solid play down the stretch, and recalled their nice tourney run of last season, which was sparked by the emotional leadership and scoring ability of Curtis Richardson. I have more issues in Division 3...Arcadia got absolutely waxed by La Crosse Aquinas, while Colby got bounced by Fall Creek. Clearly, I underestimated how well the young Crickets (not to mention the young Regis Ramblers) would perform in the postseason. However, Dominican and Roncalli are still playing. My dignity remains intact in Division 4, with Eleva-Strum, Randolph, Thorp, and Suring all looking ahead to sectional semifinal matchups on Friday.)
