Speed kills!  SJU appeared leaden-footed in trying to keep up with Bethany.  It also didn't hurt that two Vikings  (Eichten and Krueger) appeared to be having career games.  Fun game to watch though.  Wow, VOJ was on the officials on NEARLY every call!  Mark, were they really that bad?   I like Bethany....they will be worth another watch tonight! 

Would enjoy hearing from anyone who was actually in attendance at either Toms or Royals games. So much is lost watching on a computer screen.  Viewing the end of the regulation time in River Falls, it was difficult to see a foul on the put back at the buzzer. 

Thought BU coach was very classy in his post game comments....but he and coach Tauer must have had pretty restless nights of sleep after losing games they each appeared to have in hand near the end.  Bethel played so well, yet their failure to take full advantage of the flagrant 1 intentional foul situation clearly gave UWRF new life.

As for Tommies, up 8 with :41 to go......I taking all bets on them holding on to that lead.  Hard to imagine; that's the kind of stuff UST has been on the delivery end of a few times! 

It obviously wasn't likely but can you imagine if BU had hosted Northwestern in a first round NCAA game at Robertson?   The place would have been absolutely crazy.  I think the fire marshal may have shown up for that one.  My sources say that the 1500 announced crowd on Saturday at BU was bogus.....standing room actually closer to 2000? 

Quote from: Drake Palmer on February 23, 2017, 04:11:33 PM
Plus K to Smitty, GBU, AO, & the few other posters for helping to keep this board off the life support system. 

Amen to this, Drake Palmer.  Maybe we could get a post from VOJ to help us prepare for tonight's clash?  Sure would be great. 
I was not shocked (surprised maybe?) to see Johnnies win on Thursday, as these are not your daddy's Tommies (though my man Grant Schaeffer was working hard on his MVP status.)  And if you would have told me that BU would shoot 35% from floor and 56% FTs and beat the red-hot Carlies, I would have wanted some of what you're smokin.'  But it doesn't matter now because SJ will step into a Robertson Center snake pit tonight that should be electric!  Look out for a good Royals team that might just be ready to make a long awaited run into the NCAA tournament. 

Wow, long time since I've been in this room.
My vote for MIAC MVP is Grant Schaeffer......I really enjoy watching him play.   What a clutch shot last night vs. a very stubborn Gustie team.  Can think of few players in the league that I would want taking that shot more than Schaeffer. 
Carleton's improvement surprises me not.  Bethel's unraveling is hard to figure, looks like weird chemistry.  Though arguably the poorest Gustie team ever, their recent improvement is refreshing at the least.  It is good to see them finishing better than they started. 

I agree with AO.   BUs omission from the tournament is unfortunate in light of their last month.  They were clearly the second best team in the league the final four weeks,  and in this 'what have you done for me lately' world, it makes no sense that they are not still playing.  I am happy for Oles, but believe that Royals were clearly stiffed by the process.  I think they could have done some damage.....hopefully Toms and Olaf will represent the league well.

Happy New Year!!  I almost forgot my password, but got it on the third try.  

Hope to get a chance to watch some MIAC in 2015.   Have had limited opporunities to see much action yet. 
As of today the MIAC has fared well in non-conference action (25-4 vs. other area D3 conferences)

     vs. UMAC     15-1
     vs. WIAC       6-1
     vs. IIAC         4-2
     vs. NSIC D2   1-1   (plus 2-0 in exhibitition games v. Mankato and SSU)

Conference play really begins fast and furious on Saturday.  Looks like a five horse race with BU, GAC, AUG, UST and STO leading the pack as ususal.  Should be fun! 

Quote from: miacmaniac on March 02, 2014, 11:06:05 AM
Today is the 10th time in the 14 years of the 6-team format that #1 & #2 square off for the title,.  #1 has won 8 of the first 9 meetings (the exception: GAC over UST in 2003).
It is UST’s 11th trip to the title game under the 6-team format and 19th overall; it is the first time St Olaf has reached the championship game.

In all games played, UST is 12-9 under the old 4 team format and 19-5 under the 6 team format for a 31-14 record. St. Olaf was 0-3 under the 4 team set up and is 2-4 in the new setup for a 2-7 overall record.

The #1 seed has won the tourney 10 times. The exceptions were in 2003 (#2 GAC won it all), 2011 (#2 UST) and 2010 (#4 Carleton was champ)

Well. make that eight of the first 10 meetings.  Big win for a nice St. Olaf team today in St. Paul.  Free throws were huge, and the Oles were up to the task of making them....27 in all. 
I watched only the second half, but it appeared UST was a step slow and not ready to compete until the end.  They do miss Tengwall, but these are clearly not your daddy's Tommies. 
Congratulations to both teams; obviously St. Thomas will live to play another game as an at large in the NCAAs.  Would be fun to see these teams meet for the fourth time this year at some point during the tournament.   

Wow, shocker on Summit!!  VOJ must have been beaming broadly!!  Tengwall injury serious?   Mose commented on the officiating.....was it a factor or just general incompetence?   

The BU scoring output of 40 points is a bit disturbing; sounds like the Oles were even defending their free throws.   Royals are going to need to step it up, or they will be buried in the Dawg pound on Wednesday!

Better get your seats early in Collegeville.  I say that place will be rockin.'   

Quote from: miacmaniac on February 21, 2014, 09:41:06 PM

Quote from: miacsuperfan on February 21, 2014, 02:14:05 PM
Interesting stats, Badgerhawk.   Wish you had the time to dig those up for the MIAC!  (Mose, you listening?)
I also find your comment on the regular season conference champion being an automatic bid quite interesting.  It would like to know how many regular season champs  DID NOT win a conference championship and continued on in the tourney.  My guess is the percentage would be quite high.   

nothing to dig up....one click and here we go (I didn't have access to my hoops files at the office or the post-work Happy Hour)....

In the 13 years of the present format:

Seed-- Record in final
#1        10- 1      .909
#2         2-10      .167
#3         0- 1       .000
#4         1- 0     1.000
#5         0- 1       .000
#6        never to title game

In the 16 years of the 4-team format:
#1     7-6
#2     4-7
#3     3-2
#4     2-1

over all:
#1   17- 7   .781
#2    6-17   .261
#3    3- 3    .500
#4    3- 1    .750
#5    0- 1    .000
#6    n/a

so, while home-court in Wednesday's 4 v 5 game is crucial to some or an "achievement" .....if you wanna win the Tourney, it really, really helps to be the #1 seed (just tweekin' your overly red nose, VOJ) ... SJU last had a home game in 2009 quarterfinals--- lost to GAC


ROR--- you need to pray for a SJU win AND a SMU win....then you get the #3 slot and host Bethel

MIACSUPERFAN--- 12 of the past 13 years =, the MIAC regular season champ has advanced to the NCAA field  (10 times with auto-berth, 2 Pool C)...the other time, my understanding was that injury-depleted UST asked not to be considered....which may be true or urban legend.... so, yeah, winning the MIAC regular season crown is a virtual lock on a NCAA berth

Great stuff, Maniac!  So it appears that the playoff participants (regardless of the format) are mere pawns in the purple empire.     Actually, the number of 2, 3, and 4 teams to play on (including both recent playoff formats) suggests that the system works.  Interestingly, the 3 and 4 seeds have statistically done better than the 2s.
But I still like the 6 team format, particularly in a league so dominated by one school recently.  It does give some mid-level MIAC schools a shot (though brief) at an extended season.

Quote from: VOJ on February 21, 2014, 03:02:31 PM

Quote from: miacsuperfan on February 21, 2014, 10:40:55 AM
Shoot, forgot.....VOJ was great to see your name show up on the board the other day.   Come back!
Love to hear your thoughts on SJUs chances in St. Paul tomorrow.  Slim, none?   Can the Johnnies do the improbable? What say you? 

Thanks superfan...The Johnnies will show up and they will give a great effort, an effort that has led to 9 wins in the last 11 games. 

Haven't seen AO come up with what he thinks...and yes the Johnnies have something to play for, getting a home playoff game would be a very nice achievement. 
UST has shown how dominant they are, especially at home...going to be a fun afternoon!!

Gusties will have a vested interest in the outcome of that game.   Might even be some GAC faithful wearing purple tomorrow around 3pm.   

Interesting stats, Badgerhawk.   Wish you had the time to dig those up for the MIAC!  (Mose, you listening?)
I also find your comment on the regular season conference champion being an automatic bid quite interesting.  It would like to know how many regular season champs  DID NOT win a conference championship and continued on in the tourney.  My guess is the percentage would be quite high.   

Quote from: AO on February 21, 2014, 10:19:24 AM

Quote from: miacsuperfan on February 21, 2014, 09:42:05 AM
Saturday's games are really quite ho-hummers (too bad that the UST/SJU game doesn't have some significance, other than the 'rivalry.') With the playoff teams set and Augsburg at St. Mary's, looks like the sites are set as well. 

I look for everyone to hold serve in the first round of the playoffs, whether well officiated or not.  The GAC game could be close, but the home venue will prove to be their ally.   The BU at Augsburg game will have some interest, as they have quite a history of recent play-off battles...but the Dawgs have too much firepower for the young but improved Royals. 

Has there been any recent talk about changing the format to allow 8 teams into the playoffs, with the top two seeds NOT having a bye?  And would it help the league to do so?  I have often thought that the opening round bye is NOT necessarily a good thing for the top two teams; gets them out of their normal game playing rotation.  This year, the added two teams would have included Carleton and Concordia, neither particulary strong, but decent enough.  The Carleton at St. Olaf first round game could have been a real doozy! 

St. John's wins the tiebreaker and gets to play the Gusties at home if they beat the Tommies on Saturday.  I'd say that's something to play for.

8 teams make the playoffs? what is this? the NHL?  It's already silly enough that the #6 team still has a chance for the automatic bid after playing a full double round robin.

I agree that 8 is a bit much, but the six format SILLY?  I think not.  There are years where teams recover from injuries/poor play early in the year and then have a legit chance to do some damage form the six spot with a late season rally.   In 2013-14 the 6, 7, 8 teams were all very similar....so the 8 team format this year would have made more sense than some others.  But year in and year out?  No.

As for the NHL?   If Drake's comments about the loose officiating are correct, perhaps the MIAC could become the NHL!!   

Shoot, forgot.....VOJ was great to see your name show up on the board the other day.   Come back!
Love to hear your thoughts on SJUs chances in St. Paul tomorrow.  Slim, none?   Can the Johnnies do the improbable? What say you? 

It is funny to suddenly hear chatter about MIAC officiating, when it is the same guys working the same games over and over for years.   

Saturday's games are really quite ho-hummers (too bad that the UST/SJU game doesn't have some significance, other than the 'rivalry.') With the playoff teams set and Augsburg at St. Mary's, looks like the sites are set as well. 

I look for everyone to hold serve in the first round of the playoffs, whether well officiated or not.  The GAC game could be close, but the home venue will prove to be their ally.   The BU at Augsburg game will have some interest, as they have quite a history of recent play-off battles...but the Dawgs have too much firepower for the young but improved Royals. 

Has there been any recent talk about changing the format to allow 8 teams into the playoffs, with the top two seeds NOT having a bye?  And would it help the league to do so?  I have often thought that the opening round bye is NOT necessarily a good thing for the top two teams; gets them out of their normal game playing rotation.  This year, the added two teams would have included Carleton and Concordia, neither particulary strong, but decent enough.  The Carleton at St. Olaf first round game could have been a real doozy!