So finally had some time here after work where I could sit down and unfetter all my thoughts on this last season. I think it's maybe a good thing that I waited a bit too; just to get any emotional hangover out of my system and get my head clear. With that said, I think I need to get some closure on everything that went down since this last October. So, bear with me.....
1. First, what an incredible season it was for GAC as they finished with the program's best overall record ever - going 29-2 that included a piece of the MIAC regular season title and the program's fourth-straight MIAC Championship Game title. Then, on top of all that, the Gusties finally made that deep run in the NCAA Tournament that so many (including yours truly) had waited seemingly forever for - getting to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual national runner-up Smith. As disappointing as it was to see that magic carpet ride come to an end, there's so many positives for GAC (and I think MIAC Women's Basketball in general) out of all this. First, I think it shows that someone other than former MIAC member UST has the ability to make a deep run and get on the cusp of getting to a Final Four. Then you also have to consider that this run will also put GAC on another level when it comes to recruiting and there's little doubt that they'll have another contender again in due time. Of course, you never know for sure if/when you'll ever get another chance to replicate this latest feat if your the Gusties and it goes without saying that it's going to be extremely hard for GAC to find a way to replace these six departing seniors. As I've said before, the tree will grow again. But it'll be a different tree.....
2. And it was also a great season for Bethel as well as they finished 23-6 overall which included a share of the MIAC regular season title and an invite to the Big Dance as well where the Royals proceeded to put on a pretty solid showing as they knocked off DePauw in their first round game before falling to eventual Final Four participant UW-Oshkosh (b'gosh) on the Titans home floor in a tough one. No shame in that at all. Presumably anyway, Bethel should be set up pretty well for next season despite losing three key seniors to graduation. At the very least, one would have to expect the Royals to be a factor.
3. All of you know what an ardent supporter of MIAC Women's Basketball in general that I am. However, I'd be patently amiss if I didn't talk about what went on across the River in the WIAC that not only saw FIVE teams (UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater, UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse) get invites to the Big Dance but also saw two of those teams (the Titans and the Blue Devils) make magical runs to the Final Four in Salem, VA. Though both would fall in their national semifinal games, there's simply no denying that the WIAC is just so incredibly strong in women's basketball. When you have that many teams in the NCAA Tournament to begin with, you can only imagine how intensely competitive their regular season and conference tournament games must be. Given all this, I think it begs the question: Can MIAC Women's Basketball ever get on this same level? Hard telling. I mean, you have to go back to the 2017-18 season when the MIAC last got more than two teams in (UST, GAC and CSB). I suppose, too, that a lot of different things have to come together for something like that to happen on the MIAC side as well (good recruiting classes for three or four different teams coming together, staying healthy and probably a little luck too?). But one thing that I think that does help is the MIAC's current scheduling format that allows its teams to (finally) play more out of conference games that gives teams a chance to build that NPI ranking. Of course, there's a caveat that comes with playing those extra non-conference games as well. Now with NPI, you've got to WIN those games - or at least most of them. That's just the way this system works now. But, there's something of a path there at least and if you get these tough teams on your schedule and you can win some of them, it at least gives you a path.
4. Okay, so this is what I really, REALLY need to vent on. The transfer portal. When the transfer portal came about back in October 2018, no one really knew at the time how it would look and how it would evolve in a few years time. Fast forward nearly seven years later and this thing is just bloody out of control. I mean, it's just ridiculous and so out of hand. Look, I'm not saying that this mechanism shouldn't exist; I think it should but when the idea for it was formed that subsequently gave birth to it, I don't think anyone really knew what controls/guidelines should be in place. But it's more than clear at this stage that some control and modifications to it need to be made. It's almost getting to the point where it looks like the service desk at Walmart with customers attempting to return purchased merchandise. Every day, you see someone who's entered the transfer portal and you're like, "WTF, over?". And it's not just a the DI level where you're seeing this either. Even DIII is not immune to this. I just think that some controls and modifications need to be made to the transfer portal mechanism, that's all.
5. My biggest regret this season? Not getting to do much on the high school scene save for a few games where I did color commentary on with my buddy Mike Peden and I feel badly about it. There were some great moments this last season on the high school front as well as some unexpected twists and turns. With me "pulling the pin" from CPKC in early August, that'll at least (I hope) free up a lot more time to do more on the high school scene which is something I definitely want to do.
Well, that's all I have for the moment anyway. Am planning to cover the Women's College Summer League over at the Midtown YWCA come early June so hope to see you over there.
