conference play starts back up tomorrow! the most interesting matchup of the night may be Martin Luther at Presentation (yikes)...how many teams will go 2-0?  how many will go 0-2?  who will start to assert themself as a top tier UMAC team?

PI- totally agree, but back in the late 90's when Northern State was looking for a new coach people said that it would be really tough to attract a top-notch coach to Aberdeen, SD...and they ended up getting Don Meyer, who, by the time he is done coaching, will have over 900 victories and maybe even 1,000 ...it would be tough for Cord to get a Whitemore or Meyer, but not impossible...

Sum, I think he would fit in just fine...Concordia is a far cry from NDSCS, but i have known Irwin for a couple years and know that he really tried to instill discipline and character with his guys at NDSCS...at Cord he will be able to most likely forget about dealing with off-the-floor issues and will be able to focus on just basketball...he has tons of experience at many levels and his ability to deal with different types of players and kids will help him more than other coaches...

all this talk about people with ties to the Cobbs is great, but that happened with Hamline too, and they went with someone who had no association whatsoever....not saying that Concordia would make a Whitemore-type hire, but it might be good to go after someone who has had success outside of Minnesota and maybe even the midwest...seems to be working out for the Pipes so far...although if I had to choose one of the guys on that list I would definitely go with Craig Irwin...he's a great coach and an even better recruiter

game wasn't really close til the last 8 minutes...PC actually cut the lead to 4-5 a couple times in the last 5 minutes but Augsburg hit almost every throw down the stretch to keep a safe lead...solid win for the Dawgs against a mediocre Presentation club...great shooting from Mitch Dice tonight...4 3's

big day for the UMAC today with 2 games against the MIAC...NWC couldn't get by a pesky Mac team last game, but get a chance to redeem themselves today against Hamline...and Presentation hosts Augsburg, which should be a very interesting matchup...I will be at this game and will provide commentary afterwards...

Sum- I agree that the Presentation/ Augsburg game will be interesting...both teams are underacheiving so far with PC at 1-8 and the Dawgs at 1-6...I will actually be at the game in Aberdeen and will give some commentary afterwards

Hamilton goes 0-2 at Randolph-Macon...3 L's in a row drops the Conts to 4-3 on the year...trouble brewing in Clinton??

Old School- us MIAC faithful never thought the UMAC was on the same level...it was UMAC fans who tried to argue that point...and it was proven to be just as you and everyone else thought...useless

Mac squeeks out another one today winning 83-82 over Northwestern...I guess we can finally put to rest the idea that the UMAC is up to par with the MIAC because this was the unanimous #1 in the UMAC against the current #1 in the MIAC...I wonder if Mac can keep this up the next 2 1/2 months...

wow! we are now using analogies that use the opposition as part of the argument...guess you learn something new everyday

MLP- there are also the young guys who come into the league as "crafty veterans"...remember Sweeney lead UST to the conference title game his freshman year...he wasn't a Tyler Nicolai guy, but he scored when he needed to and dished the ball when he needed to...just wanted to add another type of player to the mix...

AO- better hang multiple hats on NWC this year because when this season ends I'm not so sure the Eagles might be favorites against any MIAC team next year...I am just as much a fan of the UMAC as you are, but until Crown does beat a MIAC team, or the UMAC has a winning record against the MIAC then we need to be quiet...plus we need to remember that the UMAC doesn't ever play UST and outside of Morris no one plays SJU, both of whom have traditionally been in the MIAC "elite"...hopefully NWC can at least split with Hamline and Mac, and if they win both that is great, but outside of NWC I would say that there isn't a team that would compete in the MIAC consistenly...yes Morris beat Bethel, but they've also been trounced twice by SJU who is only 2-2 in conference...that is enough from me right now....GO UMAC!!!

and if they pick Tebow they will have another monstrosity of a season next year...

a score from yesterday....Cobbers get thumped by MSU Moorhead 69-47...Lien is the only Cobber in double figures at 13....6 assists to 16 turnovers...