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Post by phearthephoenix on Mar 1, 2012 16:20:38 GMT -6
We are all disappointed the season came to an abrupt end this week, but the team's future is incredibly bright and I cant wait until next year. Since it's never too early to talk about next year, I figured I'd start a thread so we can talk about the WIAA state tournament and the 'Nix commits and targets performance. I wrote a little preview over on the fan site about it, basically just summarizing what kind of regular season they had and who stands in their way on their quest to get to Madison. In my opinion, Onalaska and Nick Arenz are the team to beat in Division 2. The game against Rice Lake should be a dandy, as those two teams are 1 and 2 in the latest coaches poll, respectively. Cody Wichmann and Pulaski will have a really tough game with Kaukauna on their road to state. Division 3 will be really interesting, with Jordan Fouse and Racine St Cats having a pretty good chance at making it to Madison, plus targets Turner Botz from Little Chute and Toby Hegner from Berlin. My champ predictions: D1: Germantown D2: Onalaska D3: G.E.T. D4: Dominican D5: Racine Lutheran Good luck to Fouse and Arenz, I know I'll be cheering hard for both of them.
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Post by greenflyingmachine on Mar 3, 2012 17:32:29 GMT -6
No East Troy in the D3 championship game? Their size is unreal, with 6'9" twins, plus a 6'8" DI recruit.
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hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 3, 2012 22:02:36 GMT -6
Xavier upset Little Chute tonight
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Post by phearthephoenix on Mar 6, 2012 12:38:21 GMT -6
Thursday's blockbuster match up in Division 2 featuring #1 ranked Onalaska with Nick Arenz and Matt Thomas against #2 ranked Rice Lake and the Ellenson brothers has been moved to Johnson Fieldhouse on the UW-Stout campus and is sold out. Thankfully, it will be streaming live online on Fox Sports Wisconsin. I cant wait to watch this game
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hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 6, 2012 15:05:11 GMT -6
It is really disappointing how the WIAA has forced fans to pick the one game per night they would like to see. It used to be you could see D-2 Sectional games on Thursday night/Sat afternoon, and then D-1 games on Friday and Sat night. Now you have to choose the one game you want to go to on Thur night, and then sit home Friday night watching meaningless College conference tourney games.
Better yet, how do recruiters get to two places at once when all the games are played for the most part, at the same time?
BTW, I saw Brian Wardle and two Northern Iowa coaches at the De Pere game last night. I am assuming Wardle was there just for fun, and UNI to see Poydras? Beyer?
I believe Cody Schwartz was there too. Would hope GB makes a very early offer.
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hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 6, 2012 22:08:27 GMT -6
I confirmed today that the two Northern Iowa coaches at the De Pere game last night were there to watch Adam Beyer, De Pere's 6'6"? PG. I had heard he played well at the UNI team camp last year, and their interest remains strong. He made a lot of key plays in the 4th quarter and had a monster left handed dunk down the lane. He is definetely an interesting prospect.
Is it possible Coach Wardle is monitoring Beyer for the 2013 class? Or was he just out enjoying a hotly contested Monday night HS game in his kids school district?
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 8, 2012 20:46:24 GMT -6
All 3 Phoenix recruits win tonight. Love scored 26. Fouse with a huge all-around game.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 9, 2012 7:15:48 GMT -6
It is really disappointing how the WIAA has forced fans to pick the one game per night they would like to see. It used to be you could see D-2 Sectional games on Thursday night/Sat afternoon, and then D-1 games on Friday and Sat night. Now you have to choose the one game you want to go to on Thur night, and then sit home Friday night watching meaningless College conference tourney games. I agree, and that's if your lucky enough to even get tickets. These gyms are just too small to hold these games. It's like the WIAA has taken HS basketball away from the public.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 9, 2012 7:51:58 GMT -6
The WIAA should try to have some of these sectional games at more of the UW camapus gyms, which are larger than most high schools. They have done so in the past (UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, and UW-Eau Claire have been sectional sites at times in the past)......
Good too see our next year's recruits still alive in the tournament......Also good to see Turner Botz in the playoffs again after the forfeit by Xavier (for use of an ineligible player). Winning a close one with next to no practice.....Too bad Wichman's Puklaski team couldn't get by Kaukauna last night.....
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 10, 2012 20:50:12 GMT -6
Jordan Fouse and Racine St Cats falls 3 points shy of a return trip to Madison.
Carrington Love and Nick Arenz each win, and will face each other in a state semi-final! Best of luck to both.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 19, 2012 19:36:14 GMT -6
Terrific talent at the State Tournament this year. Best group I've seen in the 15 years that I've been to. Phoenix coaches Wardle, Barone, and Foster were all there.
Sam Dekker will get the headlines for the epic shot he hit to win the D5 title game. He had 12 points in an amazing 80 seconds to close that game.
However, Dekker wasn't even the best player at the state tournament. That was Duane Wison. Wilson scored on Cuba City like they weren't even there. Yes, the same Cuba City team that I watched hold Dekker to 13 points earlier in the year. Wilson is just a junior. Dekker has great length and hops, but lacks toughness, and has poor shot selection. He doesn't pass well. He can do some amazing things, but also has numerous holes in his game that are hid by playing against D5 competition.
Zak Showalter is a very impressive player, it's almost unfair that UW gets him as a walk-on. He is better than a number of scholarship players recruited to UW by Greg Gard.
Diamond Stone has awesome potential. Luke Fischer is a solid player, but I'm surprised he isn't a bigger defensive presence. Matt Thomas is extremely polished, but not an exciting athlete. He had trouble getting open shots versus HS competition. Cam Ward is an interesting player, he has enough quickness to be a D1 PG, and is an outstanding shooter.
Neither Phoenix recruit had highlight preformances for different reasons. Onalaska played primarily zone, to keep Love out of the lane. He struggled with his 3 point shot, and missed some driving layups too. However, he flashed everything we needed to see in the last 4 minutes as he lead Pius back into the game. He showed his speed picking up steals defensively, and driving to the basket. He found open teammates with pin-point passes, or scored himself, finishing through contact. He isn't a finished product, but he is ahead of Perine at the same age.
Arenz still isn't recovered from his knee injury. He is held back by a massive knee brace. It really limits his lift and mobility. What he excells at is passing. easily the best passing big man in the state. Very unselfish player, a winner. Hope he can get into top shape in the offseason, and can start working on gaining some lower body explosion. He rushed back from the injury to help his HS team, but not having an offseason has really effected him.
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hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 19, 2012 21:38:35 GMT -6
"Dekker has great length and hops, but lacks toughness, and has poor shot selection. He doesn't pass well. He can do some amazing things, but also has numerous holes in his game that are hid by playing against D5 competition"
Wow, do you think he could play in the Horizon league?
It didn't matter to me if he palys in D-5 or is home schooled, I've seen him in too many venues before this weekend to question his DNA or ability. From an article last summer: Toughness and desire
Sam Dekker (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Lutheran) When you have a combination of good traits it helps you become that much more effective in big moments during a contest. Having firsthand experience with the Wisconsin commit, as he was on my team at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, he showed some vital traits that Badgers coach Bo Ryan will be pleased to work with. Dekker displayed a strong work ethic at the camp, asking to work out after practice and showing up before the camp started for drills. He displayed incredible toughness during the camp when he had a floating rib but insisted on playing. He said "let's just wrap it up" and not only did he play he rebounded and even took a charge. That's toughness. Plus, his desire to learn the game from whoever is coaching is refreshing and his basketball IQ is quite evident because of it. Dekker is a hard worker who is tough and wants to be a student of the game, which is a nice combination.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 20, 2012 6:15:34 GMT -6
"Dekker has great length and hops, but lacks toughness, and has poor shot selection. He doesn't pass well. He can do some amazing things, but also has numerous holes in his game that are hid by playing against D5 competition" Wow, do you think he could play in the Horizon league? I fully realize he is a Big Ten caliber player, and that he has the tools to possibly some day play in the NBA, but it's naive not to admit that he has some holes in his game. He is a terrific scorer, but is not yet a complete player. He avoids the post, and prefers to drift on the perimeter. I commend him for playing through an injury this summer, but it is hard not to notice that he consistently tries to avoid contact on the basketball floor. Were you at his 13 point game versus Cuba City this year? Luckily for him, teammate Tyler Zastrow was awesome that day, or the game would have been a total blowout.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 20, 2012 6:35:43 GMT -6
I didn't realize that Arenz was playing hurt.....Will he be healthy by the time he ends up at GB, or is he a redshirt candidate?
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 20, 2012 7:47:42 GMT -6
I didn't realize that Arenz was playing hurt.....Will he be healthy by the time he ends up at GB, or is he a redshirt candidate? Arenz is healthy, but not yet recovered. He should have a full off-season to work back to, and build on his pre-injury form. A redshirt may be an option, but isn't necessary.
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