Fritz should get COY.  With all of the horsepower they lost last year, losing 4 starters, to come back and win the conference, that's pretty impressive.

They beat teams pretty good too.  Everyone thought UST would finish 4th or 5th in the conference and to lock up the conference 2 games early, that's pretty good.

I'm sure the coaching staff doesn't want to switch up the starting lineup.  You can't argue with what their record has been for the year.  Every team hits a few snags, look at Duke.  2 losses in 4 days.  This is probably what the Tommies needed if they thought they could coast since they wrapped up the conference.  Fritz has been here many times in the past and he will have the players FULL attention going into Saturday and the playoffs.

Playing up at Concordia is as tough a game as their is in the MIAC.  UST never plays well up there and Fritz hates to lose at that place.  This is a good game to lose because it puts the focus back in their heads.  I guarantee today Fritz will put them through a good practice to make sure that they're ready to go Saturday night.  This is the best game of the year for UST and SJU and both teams will want to beat the daylights out of one another.  Should be a good atmosphere!

I went to the UST/MAC game last night and I have never seen such a pathetic display as I did last night.  MAC is awful.  I cannot believe this is the same team that beat UST earlier in the year. 

If Conboy and Abe had 3 other guys that could walk and chew gum they might actually be halfway decent. 

I'm just glad I didn't pay money to watch that game.  I think I would have rather watched the T'wolves.

I bet they put Lonnie on him.  He's lock down and they'll put Teddy on him when he's in the game.

The thing is, UST doesn't usually own the paint.  They are a terrible rebounding team and their losses have been because they don't have anyone that controls the paint. 

Should be fun.  Off to Groveland Tap!

Should be a good game tonight as it will be the first real UST/SJU matchup for a lot of the UST players.  I hope there is a good crowd there tonight.  This was always one of the best games to play in. 

I'm sure Big Man would want to get number five hundo against Jim Smith.  There is nobody he enjoys beating more.

If Al lost 30 pounds he wouldn't be half as good.  That kid has got the quickest hands in the MIAC.  I know he's stripped me after getting a rebound more than once.

Heartbreak at the barn last night!!!! It was rockin though.   The fans were as loud as I've ever heard them there and people were on their feet quite a bit during the game.  It was an awesome game to be at except for the fact that Spencer blows at the line.  That was a statement game that could make a difference when bubble time rolls around.  Too bad they couldn't pull it out.

Anyways it was awesome seeing Sampson and Tubby on the sideline with their crazy antics going back and forth.  A few possessions I'm pretty sure Sampson was their 6th man.

The UST/Concordia game on Wednesday night was terrible.  All that matters is a win for UST but just an overall awful game.  Linz has got nobody on his team to help him out and you can tell he has to try to force things just to keep them in the game.

Play of the night:  Linz at the top of the key trying to shake past Al, Al rips him and goes coast to coast for an and 1 layup.  Linz looks at the ref in disbelief and big Al pumps his chest and gets the crowd alive.  Too bad that was the most exciting play of the night.

One reason the Tommies are better than everyone expects this year: They don't have any stars on the team.  It could be a different person every night and that's why they have been successful.  Plus it doesn't hurt that they are going more than 7 or 8 deep.

St. Thomas had a good defensive night forcing a lot of Auggie turnovers.  They locked up Cassens and he had noboby to go to.  Augsburg is lacking some players to help him out on the offensive side of the ball.  The game was never close even though St. Thomas couldn't quite pull away.

Scott had a real nice game scoring wise with 24 and even had 3 assists which increases his season total to 8.  Brett Tuma had a nice game off the bench as well.

Impressive win considering the Tommies were outrebounded by 17!!!!  The Tommies leading rebounder was Peltier with 3 in 8 minutes.  Nobody else had more than 2......WOW.  Good win for the Tommies, for some reason the Augsburg game is always tougher than it should be.


Also, word on the street is Ike is on his way back to the states.  He broke his hand earlier this year and missed some time and don't think he ever got off to a good start.  Evidently his coach doesn't speak any English and communication has been a problem.  I think he's going to try to catch on with another team.  Hopefully he finds a team.

Schnettler will be playing in Ultimate Hoops and the Brooklyn Center League on my squad.  He will be student teaching in the spring.  He's also coaching at Edina right now.

Next fall he is planning on trying to play again either here or maybe Australia.  He hasn't given up yet.  I feel bad for him because he is as good as I have ever seen him.  Scary thought I know.


On another note, the MAC-UST game was something else.  Conboy owned  UST and was as good as I've seen him.  He probably could have had 40 points if he wanted.  It was terrible watching this.  UST didn't play very good defense and their help D was non existent.  He's probably happy Ike wasn't there to make his life miserable like the last 3 years.  I only saw his shot blocked once compared with the last few meetings when at least half his shots were blocked or altered in the post.

Abe didn't play all that well, not that he played bad but not the best I've seen him. He got past his guy half a dozen times and dropped nice passes to Conboy or that freshman for easy layups.  That's what beat UST right there.   He was the difference maker I think in the game, especially in the first half.

Winning 18 games in the MIAC is no easy task especially when you're supposed to be the team to beat.  When everybody is gunning for you every game you have to bring your best night in and night out.

I would say the T'Wolves have a better chance to win 18 games all year (probably not going to happen) then Bethel does in conference.

That's too bad.  They could be really good but if that's not their style, than theres  not much you can do.  Moberg is good and if they went inside out, they would be really good

Tommies are 2-1 going into a big game against #1 Winona State on Saturday.  Hopfefully that turkey doesn't sit in their stomachs too long or it could be a rough game!

Surprised that Bethel would lose to Morris with all of the firepower they got.  Their bigs must not be very aggressive right now.  What's Moberg's deal?  No way they should lose to them.

Mafia~

I'm playing with a few of your Carleton boys in a league.  Scotty and Beste.  Beste is the answer to the question, "What has happened to the midrange jumper?"



UST will be better than people expect.  They looked really good in Ohio especially on defense.  If they play that hard in the MIAC they are going to beat a lot of teams. They took a good Wooster team to the end and actually should have won that game.  They were in control the whole game until the last 4 minutes when I'm pretty sure Wooster made 6 or 7 consective shots to close the game.

They play River Falls tonight.  Should be a good matchup.  Not sure how good River Falls is this year

Hoops,

Don't believe everything you read in the boxscore.

Alex Healy never saw the court, that was an error by the scorekeepers.  They also had Sam Eicher in the boxscore and he did not even make the trip. 

The Tommies played a very good game tonight.  Strong points were their defense. team play, and intensity.  Joe Scott also came out very strong in the second half scoring 10 straight points to get the Tommies going.  He's the real deal and hit a variety of shots including a few 3's, mid range, and a few nice drives.  One was a nice little finger roll in transition and he made it look eeeeeasy.  He looked good as did Tyler and Teddy Archer  The Tommies played good team ball with just about everyone playing equal minutes, especially the posts.  Fritze started Baker and Lonnie at the 4 and 5, then brought in Shimek and Peltier, then McCoy and Anders. He did this with everyone getting equal time.  The posts looked pretty good but have to be more aggressive.  Al and Baker had some nice moves to the hoop. 

Lonnie had an off game tonight and only attempted 1 shot from the floor and finished with 4pts.  He'll find his groove and average double figures this year.

Tuma played good when he was in the game.  Tuma is a key piece for the Tommies and whoever said he would not play in order for the Tommies to do well, doesn't know what's going on.  Tyler is going to be very good and Tuma can flat out score.

The biggest problem/advantage with UST is they have a lot of guys of equal ability.  Depending on who is having a good night, you go with that guy.  This can be a good and bad thing.  It all depends on who is willing to accept their role.


The Tommies play a real tough Wooster team tomorrow.  Wooster has 3 guys over 6'6 and 240.  A few beasts and they return Cooper, an All-American from last year.  Should be a good test for an inexperienced Tommie team.