{"id":30417,"date":"2009-03-13T13:15:21","date_gmt":"2009-03-13T18:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2009\/03\/13\/ncaa-diii-quarterfinal-st-scholastica-vs-uwstout\/"},"modified":"2010-08-17T19:57:25","modified_gmt":"2010-08-18T00:57:25","slug":"ncaa-diii-quarterfinal-st-scholastica-vs-uwstout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2009\/03\/13\/ncaa-diii-quarterfinal-st-scholastica-vs-uwstout\/","title":{"rendered":"NCAA D-III Quarterfinal: St. Scholastica vs. UW-Stout"},"content":{"rendered":"
University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils (22-5-2 overall, 10-2-2 in NCHA) <\/h4>\n
This weekend marks only the second appearance ever for UW-Stout in the NCAA tournament. The first came last season. Though the Blue Devils have strung together a couple tremendous seasons, the road to this end was not a short one.<\/p>\n
The Blue Devils failed to win more than nine games in any season from 1996-2000, and then hovered just over .500 from 2001-06. It wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t until the past three seasons they have asserted themselves as a West Region power. Over that span, Stout is an impressive 61-19-7.<\/p>\n
According to Blue Devils head coach Terry Watkins, his time at Stout has certainly been a learning process, but all the lessons of the past are finally paying off.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve coached here for 23 years and we were a club team for 10 or 11, and then we joined the [NCHA]. I think it takes some time when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re starting a program. You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t crawl to the top of this kind of league in a short period of time.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Obviously I had to learn some things,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he continued. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have some of the things some other programs have, and I think the school has made a good commitment to us in recent years.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
As has been noted by numerous other coaches over the years, the concept of having a full-time position is essential to cultivating a successful program, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been no exception for Stout.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The other thing is that I had been a part time coach, and now the last three years I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been full time,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he explained. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have to dedicate a significant amount of time to be successful in this league and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to do that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Junior forward Derek Hanson’s 17 goals and 25 assists have paced the Stout attack this season (photo: Matthew Webb).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This weekend\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s quarterfinal against league rival St. Scholastica will mark Stout\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s second appearance in the NCAA tournament. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only previous experience came last season as the Blue Devils dropped an opening round game at St. Thomas, 4-1.<\/p>\n
This time, however, the Blue Devils will be at home which should provide a boost to their Frozen Four aspirations.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s great,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Watkins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bother me if we had to go up there, but being at home is an advantage. We do have great fans, but [St. Scholastica] will travel well so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be quite the atmosphere.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
One of the main storylines for Stout this season has been its experience. The Blue Devils roster boasts 14 upperclassmen, all of whom have now played in two Peters Cup finals. They also return 23 players from the team that qualified for last year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s NCAAs.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the benefit of having an experienced club, Watkins said:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a progression thing. We were talking with the kids the other night about this. We got into the league championship game against St. Norbert last year and lost in overtime. Then last weekend against Superior it was our second time around.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The overwhelming amount of experience on the Blue Devils\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 roster might also be a key player in why they can appropriately be dubbed this season\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s NCHA \u00e2\u20ac\u0153comeback kids\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
Since late November, the Blue Devils are 17-1-2 and are riding an impressive 14 game unbeaten streak. Even more notable is that among the 17 wins are nine come from behind efforts. In fact, the Blue Devils have fallen behind in their last six games. They won them all.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We work hard all year long and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in relatively good shape,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Watkins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So we came from behind a few times and you preach the keep it up, work hard, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t give up and you do come from behind you start to have some success with that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a little bit of inner-confidence, or heck, maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s luck, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he jokingly added.<\/p>\n
On the plate this weekend is the fourth meeting of the season between Stout and St. Scholastica. The two are deadlocked at 1-1-1 against each other, though Stout did defeat the Saints 3-2 in a NCHA semifinal less than two weeks ago. Though Stout\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s offensive and St. Scholastica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s defensive styles might appear to set up an interesting contrast, to Watkins things are as even as they can be between the two.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You look at the comparisons,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Watkins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got some great forwards, some great defenseman, and great goaltending. You do a matchup with them and us\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so evenly matched I just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know where the advantage is going to be.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think we both have a lot of respect for each other and for both of us it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be a great matchup. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not going to surprise them and they aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to surprise us. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be 40 kids busting their rear ends, and whoever works harder that night is going to win.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
No matter how it turns out, another NCHA barnburner will likely transpire. Playoff experience and a knack for winning close games were two huge factors in St. Norbert\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s championship run a year ago, and Stout is no doubt hoping those remain two important factors as the Blue Devils take aim at their first Frozen Four ever.<\/p>\n
St. Scholastica Saints (20-6-2 overall, 9-4-1 in NCHA) <\/h4>\n
Like Stout, the Saints enter the NCAAs without a long tradition of tournament success to fall back on. Saturday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s meeting with the Blue Devils will be St. Scholastica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first NCAA tournament appearance ever.<\/p>\n
Before current head coach Mark Wick took over the program one day prior to the 2004-05 season, the Saints had suffered 18 consecutive losing seasons. The Saints only went 5-17-5 that first year, but things turned around the following season, as spearheaded by Wick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first recruiting class, the Saints finished 15-10-2. This season is the Saints\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 first 20 win season since 1978-79.<\/p>\n
Late in his first year as coach, Wick commented that him and then-assistant Randy Barker weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t willing to wait three or four years to find success. Somewhat ironically, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s exactly what it has taken for the Saints to land a spot in the NCAAs.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153[Taking three or four years] is more the reality,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d reflected Wick. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153As coaches we want to push and not sit back and wait because we are impatient. But when you look back, we had to go through some of those growing pains to get where we are now. So as much as we wanted to push it I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something we just had to go through.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Junior forward Derek Hanson’s 17 goals and 25 assists have paced the Stout attack this season (photo: Matthew Webb).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Wick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first recruiting class are now seniors and a giant reason St. Scholastica has a quarterfinal date with Stout this Saturday. All told, the Saints roster has 10 seniors and 19 upperclassmen on it. Like Stout, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no surprise all that experience has paid big dividends.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thankfully our senior class gets to experience playing in a national tournament because that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what the ultimate goal has been,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Wick<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a credit to the guys that were willing to take the risk of coming to a program that was struggling,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he added. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It gives us credibility as we continue to move forward in the recruiting process. Now it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the guys setting the goals high and we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to sell it to them as much.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Though no player on St. Scholastica has ever played in a tournament game, Wick doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think it will be that big of a factor considering all the other experiences this team has been through. The fact this will be their fourth meeting with Stout this season doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hurt, either.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know if that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s necessarily going to be a big deal for us,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he explained. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The one thing we have from a familiarity standpoint this week is our opponent. Is this really a NCAA game, is it a NCHA game? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re very familiar with. \n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As far as winning or dealing with the pressure, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think [our guys have] that doubt now. Now our guys believe in our program and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all because of the hard work they have put into it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
As far as Stout in particular is concerned, Dunn County Arena can be an intimidating place to play and will no doubt be packed. Despite the potential hostile environment that awaits the Saints on Saturday, the familiarity between opponents might alleviate some of the intimidation factor.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This will be the sixth time our seniors have played in that rink,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Wick. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So they are familiar with that environment and our opponent. So yes it is an NCAA game, but I think the familiarity with Stout doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really give either team an advantage.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Like Watkins, Wick thinks the two know each other so well that all outside factors and storylines will fall by the wayside and the only thing that will matter is who executes better.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I hate to say this, but we know each other so well that whoever plays better is going to win the game. There will be no surprises in this game so I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think there are going to be any advantages or disadvantages in that regard for either team.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Despite going on the road, the Saints might benefit from having a week off, but at the same time the Blue Devils have been on a roll for three months.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think a week off at this time is necessarily bad,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Wick said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153At this time of years it gives the guys a little bit of time to rest up a little bit. At the same time, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think it gives us much of an advantage, as when a team like Stout is winning it wants to play every day and they have that going for them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think them coming off the Peters Cup championship is going to wear them out any more and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think the extra week off for us will give us that big of an advantage,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he concluded.<\/p>\n
With similar sentiments emanating from both the Stout and St. Scholastica camps, Wick knows this is no time to look back, as come Saturday one will be headed to Lake Placid–and the Frozen Four–for the first time ever and the other will be heading home.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We got a second chance and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re excited about that, but we realize that as of now there are no more second chances.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils (22-5-2 overall, 10-2-2 in NCHA) This weekend marks only the second appearance ever for UW-Stout in the NCAA tournament. The first came last season. Though the Blue Devils have strung together a couple tremendous seasons, the road to this end was not a short one. The Blue Devils failed to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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