D4 field is set.

Upsets ruled the day in Championship games so this years tournament is not as many would have predicted. Southern NAIA Tech claimed a #1 seed in the South despite having a 16-14 record when they knocked off Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 87-76. Wisconsin A&M-Springstead also pulled off an upset in overtime over Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute at Ojibway (EIEIO) 118-117 to get an automatic bid. This knocked Bodine Military Academy out of the tournament.

EIEIO seemingly had the game in hand but fouled WAMS on a 75ft 3 pointer with no time left on the clock. WAMS converted the 4 point play and won it in the 4 minute overtime period.

The bracket is as follows:

North Region @Mercer K-12 School
#1 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 18-11 vs. #4EIEIO 2-2
#2Wisconsin A&M-Springstead 3-2 vs. #3Bugtussle State 14-14

South Region @Sam Drucker Arena
#2 Daisy Moses Medical College 19-10 vs. #3 *Alaska-Adak 11-16
#4 Mount Pilot Central State 17-12 vs. #1 Southern NAIA Tech 16-14

Regional games will take place on Tuesday and the semi finals and finals will be on Friday and Saturday. Regional winners will move on to Sam Drucker Arena whereas the losers will compete in the consolation bracket at the Mercer K-12 School.

*Did not participate in a conference tournament.

Championship Game gets Technical............

Thanks to a pair of upsets it will be an all Southern NAIA Tech final. Southern NAIA Tech rode a wave of hot three point shooting to down Daisy Moses Medical College 94-79 and Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville erased a 20 point deficit with a 35-8 run in the final five minutes to up end "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State 178-171.

Although Hooterville won the season series 3-1 all records are out the window when these two get together. The rivalry between Hooterville and the main campus at Petticoat Junction dates back to the 1960s and has involved everything from frog gigging and cow tipping to greased pig wrestling. Tonight it will be hoops with a possible #1 seed in the regionals going to the winner.

Despite the fact that there is no reason for it, there will be a consolation game between Daisy Moses Medical College and Mount Pilot Central State.

Southern NAIA Tech advances

Just as Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville failed to repeat as Regular Season Champions, Bugtussle State won't be repeating as the LNCUTMV Tournament Champs. Falling 87-48 to Southern NAIA Tech in the 4 vs. 5 play in game of the conference tournament. Bugtussle enjoyed a brief 11-8 lead but the wheels quickly fell of the cart and the game was over at the half. Trailing 62-23 at the break Bugtussle pulled their starters and SNT did the same which allowed the J.V. squads to battle to a 25 all tie in the second half. Both teams are now 14-14 on the year.

Losing in the Conference Tournament might not seem like that big of deal since Bugtussle is assured of an at-large bid in the D4 Tournament but getting ousted in the first round may send them out of region. Since the only place they have ever played is in Sam Drucker Arena, they may now be facing the first road game in school history. Seedings and regional placements will be determined Sunday immediately following the U.C.W.I. Tournament Championship Game.

In LNCUTMV semi-final action tonight #1 Daisy Moses Medical College faces #5 Southern NAIA Tech and #2 Mount Pilot Central State takes on #3 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville in the nightcap. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville may need to win the tournament if they want to stay at home for the regionals. They need to regain their mid-season form when they went on an 11-1 tear and nearly ran away from the rest of the conference. However, they did finish on a down note and have no guarantee of a favorable seeding despite being the host school for the Southern Regional.

LNCUTMV Dance goes international, comrades.

Thanks to the internet even those in the former Soviet Union are able to follow Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference action these days. As a token of their appreciation the first 500 fans in the door at Sam Drucker Arena tonight will each receive a Russian Lottery ticket. Courtesy of whatever it says on the ticket. None of the schools in the Conference have Russian departments so a translation has yet to be made.




Tip off of tonights opening round game between Bugtussle State and Southern NAIA Tech is scheduled for 6:30PM but may be delayed due to a sale on NASCAR merchandise at the local Tractor Supply store. The officials all work there and they may have some overtime tonight with the big sale.

UCWI expands

The University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois has officially expanded today and here is how it happened. You really can't make this type of story up either.

Whilst sitting in the break room at work my former boss popped in to get a coffee and began talking to a couple of the engineers about his boat. Apparently he had some service work done on the lower unit and while they were at it they replaced the water pump. Which is a good idea as you need to take the lower unit apart should the water pump fail. So far the story makes perfect sense. Then my old boss had an idea...............

"I wonder why they don't put a radiator on there then they wouldn't need a water pump". I will repeat that "Why don't they put a radiator on there then they wouldn't need a water pump".

The engineers were a little more polite about it than I would have been (at least until he left the room) and explained that you would still need a water pump even if you had a radiator on your boat. When he left the room we all about hit the floor. And people questioned me when I took a pay cut to get out of his department. I had suffered through his unique problem solving methods for nearly 18 months and could not stand anymore. He is the Fabrication Department Manager where you would think some engineering knowledge might be helpful but apparently it is not required.

For this very reason I am pleased to announce that Duane Churkey School of Engineering will be joining the UCWI for the 2005-2006 season. Just for the sake of argument they will be located in South Beloit, Illinois so the "I" in UCWI will now stand for something.

DMMC claims regular season championship

Daisy Moses Medical College and "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State met in the final tournament championship of the regular season with DMMC coming out on top 237-218. The win also gave DMMC the regular season championship and automatic bid to the D4 Tournament. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville failed to repeat as champions as a 1-2 performance this weekend dropped them to 3rd in the conference. SNT-H had held the lead since week 4.

The "High Five" for the conference tournament is now set and 5 teams is all that has made it. The #4 vs. #5 play in game will kick off the conference tournament on Thursday night as Southern NAIA Tech takes on last years Tournament Champion Bugtussle State. Sitting at 7th in the conference is Bodine Military Academy who is now the first ever "bubble team" in D4 history. They will be rooting for E.I.E.I.O. in next Sundays UCWI Championship game. If E.I.E.I.O. wins they will have secured both automatic bids from the UCWI and 7 LNCUTMV teams will make the field. If Wisconsin A&M-Springstead pulls the upset then BMA is out.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

Daisy Moses Medical College 18-9 (8-2)
Mount Pilot Central State 17-10 (7-3)
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 17-10 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 14-13 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 13-14 (4-6)
Alaska-Adak 11-16 (3-7)
Bodine Military Academy 10-17 (3-7)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-18 (4-6)

Oh, it gets better

Is it not enough that part after part has not solved the dilema of the Roopmobile??? Of course not. I've learned that following peoples advice only makes things worse. Check this out............ The alternater on car #2 has been squeeling for some time. Thankfully it stopped two days ago. Unfortunately at the same time the alternater stopped squeeling all the warning lights in the instrument panel came on simultaniously. What is that likely to mean????? That the alternater gave out. WHY NOT.

There's always a chance that it could be a matter of a failed belt but I know better than to expect to be so fortunate. Car #2 is not worth repairing. 275,000 miles on it etc. Yet it is the only one that runs at the moment. I've had an alternater go out at Ripon before and I was able to make it back to Beloit after the game running off battery power alone. The headlights faded quite a bit but I made it. I know I have one more day of car #2 before I have to get worried.

On another note...............

The "Statesmen" of Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside can still play their way into the D4 National Tournament. The Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference is assured of 6 teams in this years field. The upstart UCWI will affect things but D4 needs a National Tournament. If Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside can't make the 8 team field when there are only 10 D4 teams, then they simply don't belong.

A miracle is needed and it came in the form of a broken belt on car #2. That's an easy fix. Finally an easy fix...............

If I knew that I woudn't have asked.

The car woes continue, this time through no fault of my own. Thus far I've replaced cap, rotor and coil. Frustrating that none of this has fixed the problem but cheap enough that it isn't worth complaining about. Let's try a distributer. Nobody has one in stock so I have to order it. Welcome to Wausau where nobody has anything but they can always order it. Before leaving the parts store my comments were as follows....... "There's only one bolt holding that in place. Is all that I need to do is remove that bolt, pull out the old and drop in the new" To which I was told "Yes, that's it". Great, this will be a 10 minute fix.

The distributer came in, a day early to my surprise, so I did exactly as I was told to do. The problem is that I WAS NOT told that you need to align a distributer based on timing sequence and the easiest way to do it is mark the old one before you remove it. Nice knowing that now. I must have been pretty close by accident as I got a few pops out of the car before it officially decided not to start.

Today I will resume where I left off as it required more patience than I had yesterday. Times like these make me wish I had a 4 cylinder as the trial and error process wouldn't take as long. But of course it's a V8 so my chances of getting it right the first time are only 12.5% Which is about the same odds as me shopping at Advance again.

FYI. E.I.E.I.O. won the UCWI Play Off game over WAMS and is the regular season champion. This carries the #1 seed in the conference tournament and automatic bid in the 8 team D4 National Tournament. Should E.I.E.I.O. sweep by winning the Conference Tournament only 1 UCWI team will make it. If WAMS wins two teams will go and it will knock one of the LNCUTMV schools out of the dance.

Snoop Dogg says "So much drama in the LNCUTMV"

8 weeks down, 1 to go and everyone is still alive. Could this year be a repeat of last season when everybody made the Conference Tournament???? As exciting as that would be it is unfortunately not likely. Having no non-conference games and therefore, no set schedule, the LNCUTMV simply has a regular season tournament every weekend. Since only 1 team can go 3-0 that means we may only have 7 teams at most in this years Conference Tournament. It is still mathematically possible for all 8 teams to make it however.

Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside looks like a team that doesn't want an invitation to the dance this year as they followed up their 5 game winning streak with 3 losses. Bodine Military Academy is clinging to life after going 2-1 but they must repeat that performance and hope that Southern NAIA Tech stumbles. Also hoping for a Southern NAIA Tech stumble is Alaska-Adak who is one game back of a berth in the tournament.

On the top side of the conference Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville still leads the way but "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State and a surging Daisy Moses Medical College are right on their heels. Bugtussle State is currently sitting in 4th place and controls its own destiny despite the fact that they seem to be fading. Southern NAIA Tech also controls it's own destiny as the top 5 records and all ties get in but they need 2 wins to be guaranteed anything. Whereas 1 win puts Bugtussle State in.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

z Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 16-8 (6-4)
y Mount Pilot Central State 15-9 (8-2)
y Daisy Moses Medical College 15-9 (7-3)
Bugtussle State 12-12 (4-6)
Southern NAIA Tech 11-13 (4-6)
Alaska-Adak 10-14 (4-6)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-15 (5-5)
Bodine Military Academy 9-15 (2-8)

z=Clinched Pool A bid and first round bye
y=Clinched bid to Conference Tournament

Brought to you by..........

Over the years the LNCUTMV Conference has been given a reputation as an athletics only conference. To which we choose not to comment. Instead we would like to point out one of the many fine and time honored traditions that some of our non- athlete students take part in. Up until now it was always known as the Farm Machinery Beautification Pageant but thanks to a generous sponsor it has been renamed the Engineering Sciences Competition.



At first the name change sent shock waves through the Conference; even worse than when NASCAR switched to NexTel. However, we feel that this will have a positive impact on all the member schools and hopefully distract attention away from our policy of "If tuitions paid, you're cleared to play".

Congratulations to this years award winner Bugtussle State.

Irresistible force meets immovable object

Although the UCWI Play Off game is still 3 days away, the mascots for both teams have already gotten into it on the road to Hooterville. The much anticipated rubber game between the Porcupines of Wisconsin A&M-Springstead and the Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute at Ojibwa (E.I.E.I.O.) Feral Hogs has the regular season Conference Championship and all important #1 seed in the Conference Tournament hanging in the balance.

Ticket sales have been surprisingly brisk for two teams playing way out of region. Part of the increased interest has come in the form of a new value meal available at the concession stand. For the UCWI Play Off Game fans in attendance will not only be able to enjoy "Barbecued Chicken in Aluminum Foil" that Sam Drucker Arena is famous for but they will now be able to upgrade the meal with an RC Cola and a Moon Pie for only $1 more.

UCWI is approved..............

The schools of the University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois received good news today as their petition was approved for them to compete in the D4 National Tournament. Typically provisional D4 members are not allowed to participate in the post season but since the only other D4 Conference is the LNCUTMV the board figured, "Why not !!!"

As a first year conference the UCWI was only able to persuade two teams to join. The Wisconsin A&M-Springstead Porcupines and the Exeland Instititue/Edgewater Institute at Ojibwa (E.I.E.I.O.) Feral Hogs. The conference is still in search of a team from Illinois, or from any state that begins with the letter "I". This greatly limited the scheduling this year and the announcement allowing them into the post season becomes even more surprising.

While the announcement is a nice surprise, there are a few obstacles to overcome. WAMS and E.I.E.I.O. finished the season tied for first at 1-1 in the conference. Since the victory margin was 10 points in each game no tie breaking criteria exists that can determine the regular season champion and #1 seed in the conference tournament. WAMS is 2-1 overall having defeated D1 Electoral College in non-conference play but that was an out of region game and does not count for anything.

A one game play off needs to be held to determine the regular season champion. However, neither team has a regulation gym so a neutral site must be found to make the play off game legal. The Mercer K-12 school is unavailable as it may be needed for WIAA High School Tournament games.

Help has arrived in the form of Sam Drucker Arena. The LNCUTMV does not use Sam Drucker on Sundays so the UCWI play off game will be held there on 2/13/05. It's a big risk financially to move two out of state teams in for a play off, but the only other thing going on that day is the ProBowl and it's not like anybody watches that anyway. Sam Drucker Arena has also applied to host the UCWI Tournament on 2/20/05 but no decision has been made yet.

LNCUTMV Race tightens

With two weeks and 6 games to go 7 teams are still in contention for a bid in the Conference Tournament. Even lowly Bodine Military Academy is still alive although they are 3 games back. The top five records, not necessarily teams, make the field. Tie breakers are used soley for the purpose of seedings, not to eliminate teams from competition. The best tie breaker is to play another game and that's how things are done in the LNCUTMV.

The top 3 teams get Pool A bids, 5th place and all ties get a Pool C bid. 4th place gets the lone Pool B bid as we like to limit the number Pool B teams to keep it fair for everyone else. Should there be a tie for 4th place tie breaking criteria will be used and the team(s) that don't make it will be placed into Pool C.

System originator Mount Pilot Central St. has moved out of the middle of the pack and is now only a game back of the top spot. The hottest team in the conference right now is Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside. While they are only 9-12 they have won 5 straight and are knocking at the door for a Pool C bid.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 14-7 (7-3)
Mount Pilot Central State 13-8 (6-4)
Daisy Moses Medical College 12-9 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 11-10 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 10-11 (4-6)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-12 (7-3)
Alaska-Adak 9-12 (4-6)
Bodine Military Academy 7-14 (1-9)

As Predicted................

I believe I previously commented on the board that while Ripon was starting hot, they had a history of going in the tank. Well, well, well............ It seems "The Roop" nailed that one. 3-4 in their last 7 games in which they should have done no worse than 6-1; if they were truly as good as the hot start indicated that is. Short version of the story is.......... THEY'RE NOT.

Thus far they have clinched a .500 record in conference play and seem destined to back their way into the MWC Tournament, or will they???? Tie breakers will play a significant role in determining who makes the field this year and if The Red Chickens fail to win another game they may have to wait until next year.

Carroll has a chance on Wednesday to ensure that 8-8 is the minimum record it will take to make it in if they can beat St. Norbert at home. Lake Forest can accomplish the same thing with a win at Knox the same evening. So can Monmouth with a win at Illinois College. Should all teams fail we will have to wait for the weekend before it is official as Monmouth (7-6) travels to Lake Forest.

Tie breakers aside I think it's safe to say that Beloit, Illinois College and St. Norbert are all out of it now; regardless of unlikely possibilities. The biggest of which would be for any of those teams to run the table, which they won't. As I see it the Conference Tournament seedings will be #1 Lawrence vs. #4 Ripon and #2 Knox vs. #3 Monmouth. Lawrence over Monmouth in the Championship.

ESPN Eve

Well it's almost here, "The Game".............

Regardless of outcome I think the sun will still rise and set on Friday. I think it's nice that ESPN2 would put a DIII game on the air but I doubt that any McDonalds All-Americans will be signing letters of intent to Beloit or Grinnell any time soon.

Has anyone heard if John Burris is planning on attending the game??? Based on his comments posted on the Beloit website my guess is that he isn't. That speaks volumes as to his interest in the program. The friendly wager between Presidents he spoke of is to be expected but to not show up at such an event is a slap in the face to everyone concerned. I was born and raised there, trust me, there isn't enough going on in Beloit on a Thursday night that warrants a President missing this game.

Hopefully it becomes a slap in the face for him. The telecast won't light up the Neilsen ratings but people are interested in the game and my hope is that they voice their concerns to his office directly.

Katie bar the door

The LNCUTMV Conference race is heating up faster than hog boiling time. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville is still in the lead despite going 1-2 this weekend but their lead has shrunk dramatically. Daisy Moses Medical College and "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State are both only a game back. MPC St. is hot right now and moved up two places after this weekends action. They have won four in a row.

Bodine Military Academy is challenging Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside for the cellar by going 0-3 and Alaska-Adak is inching towards a berth in the conference tournament with a successful 2-1 weekend. Bugtussle St. and Southern NAIA Tech are right in the middle of things at 9-9. Both went 1-2.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 12-6 (7-3)
Daisy Moses Medical College 11-7 (6-4)
Mount Pilot Central State 11-7 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 9-9 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 9-9 (5-5)
Alaska-Adak 8-10 (4-6)
Bodine Military Academy 7-11 (3-7)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 6-12 (4-6)