Actually, a revised projection now has CSB left off...and GAC in the field.  Interesting...but not surprising given the NCAA's natural proclivity to deny CSB at-large berths  Remember - they got left out at 22-3 so this would not be a shocker.  I can understand the NCAA leaving both out but if the NCAA puts GAC in and CSB out...wow wow wow.  Please note...I am not arguing that CSB should be selected OVER GAC...they both have arguments and there is no way the committee can honestly choose one over the other...but they will...and it will be GAC.  Bank on it.  The stats are not in favor of either - it's basically a wash.  There is one intangible...   

Winning percentage - slight edge to GAC:
CSB 21-6 (.78) - all games against D3 schools...
GAC 20-5 (.80) - one loss was to D2...

Strength of Schedule - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .508 - rank #189
GAC - .502 - rank #211

Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .507
GAC - .499

Opponents Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .511
GAC - .508

GAC was 2-1 against UST and CSB was 1-2.  GAC lost to Hamline who was sub-.500 this year.  GAC lost in th semis of the conference tourney and CSB lost in the title game.  But, that extra win vs. UST could give them a slight edge. Then again, CSB has 21 Division 3 wins so it is too close to call...

SO - these two look fairly even and I just do not know how the NCAA could possibly justify picking one over the other.  They will and GAC will get the nod. ..trust me...it will happen.  CSB fans will have every right to complain.  And, to be perfecrtly fair, if CSB is chosen over GAC then GAC fans would have an argument based on what I have seen.  If GAC is denied and CSB gets a bid I will be the first to say they should have BOTH either been given bids or denied bids.  The committiee will, most definitely, keep CSB out...count on it.

The only factor I can see decidely in the GAC's favor would be having their coach on the region committee and the region committee rankings are a secondary criteria.  Understandably, GAC's coach would rank GAC ahead of CSB. Can't blame her as I would do the same.  It's just unfortunate that it could possibly come down to that selection criteria because then it is not the objective process the NCAA prides itself on...

Before I get ripped too much...I hope BOTH CSB and GAC squeek into the tourney.  But, I am not optimistic for my Blazers.  Wish we could have taken care of those darn Tommies and their scholarship athletes...oops...student-athletes!!

Can't resist...clearly sarcasm is lost on LA Rams and blazerguy.  My comments are aimed directly at the other coaches in the MIAC who have, laughingly, decided to block Durbin from claiming Coach of Year.  While there are deserving coaches in the conference of the award, like Haller, it is almost criminal for the coach of the team with five consecutive titles to not win the COY award.  I would be willing to bet Durbin is denied again this year. 

Ah...I so miss the back and forth with Ghackbacker.  Yes, the Ghackers led the conference most of the season...because of the schedule that had them play at CSB in the final game of the season.  What a silly comment...for someone so critical of the poor writing on the CSB sports page (I agree) it is rather humorous you actually write that as if it actually means anything.  Are there bonus points for being in the conference lead the most days?  Is that in the NCAA selection formula? 

As for officiating...it's been brutal for everyone in the MIAC for years and years.  Deal with it.  Get over it.  Move on.  I'm sure GHackers think they were cheated and CSB gets all the calls.  You do know the Blazers pay the refs, right?   Worth every penny.

Love and cookies to all.

Stayed away intentionally all season...no idea what the topics have been and I've enjoyed the season so much more without the bickering and expert insights here.  Just listened to the game with the Ghackers from far away and BOOK IT...5 straight conference titles for CSB...never been done before!  Congrats to Durbin and the #1 seed Blazers!  Say what you will...5 STRAIGHT! 

Unbelievably, the Blazers have been able to win 5 straight titles with their poor coaching...Durbin is just not Coach of the Year material and it is a credit to the Blazer players they are able to overcome such poor coaching.

Enjoy the hooting, hollering, and arguing.  Have a wonderful post-season...hope the MIAC gets a few teams into the NCAA's.  Best of luck to the Blazers.

Gacbacker...I really mean no ill will to GAC or any other MIAC team selected.  I am very happy three MIAC team were selected...we know the MIAC plays good basketball.  But, it is just galling that the body of work over the conference regular season was basically ignored and the conference co-champ was left home when they had a better region record, conference record, and overall record.  If GAC had swept CSB I could maybe see the snub but they split and CSB actually had the better season (again, not a swipe at GAC)...

I had come to terms with UST getting an at-large berth over my Blazers but if I think it is truly criminal that a third team was taken from the MIAC and it was not CSB...

I'm sure GAC is thrilled (and this is not really meant as a rip on them as they had nothing to with the selections) but maybe next year CSB can go 17-7 in the region (GAC's real region record since UWEC, Maryville, and Carroll are NOT region), finish 18-9 overall, not win a conference title, be the #3 seed in the conference tournament, lose in the semifinals of the conference tournament, lose to Augsburg and St. Catherine in the regular season and still get an at-large berth.  It is hard to swallow that three non-conference, non-region games at a tournament early in the season completely wipes out the body of work in a 22-game conference regular season...

I wish the three MIAC teams well in the tourney.  Too bad the regular season conference co-champs can't be there with you...

LA - Actually, CSB is locked in as the #1 seed for the conference playoffs.  No matter what happens in the UST-CSB game Saturday.  Even if UST wins, they will have exact conference records but CSB wins the tie-breaker.  While a UST victory would mean that the teams would have split during the regular season, UST lost to a lower conference team during the season and that is the tie-breaker that gives CSB the #1 seed.  So, no matter the result Saturday, teams must travel through Claire Lynch Hall to win the MIAC playoffs.

Congrats to Mike Durbin and the Blazers...11 conference titles and 12 straight 20+ win seasons...we are all very proud and hope for more victories to come...

yojo - the funny thing about the first-timer post was the sweeping condemnation of mudslinging and attacking and then that person goes on the attack themselves...it screams of hypocrisy.  As for the accusation of mudslinging...I do not know the details and would be willing to bet most of us don't but maybe, just maybe, someone does know something and refrained from using names...but on to talking hoops...

gotta - I have not seen any other MIAC teams but the Blazers looked a little lost in the Wartburg game...first game for many players...Schmidt was tough with 18 points but there were many uncharacteristic mistakes by the team - especially on defense.  Then again, five or six first-year players saw their first collegiate action in that game.  The next day, it was a completely different team, many of the first-year players who looked lost the night before seemed more comfortable...they played great defense and the offense clicked...the first-year that really jumped out was Laura Canton...17 points off the bench.  I also think the Blazers will get very nice minutes from Waytashek, Bowlin, Stifter, Frank, Gillund, and Hutchinson...all very nice first-years...it looks like there will be at least seven first-year players for CSB that will be four year contributors. 

While I cannot make any predictions about the conference schedule or the upcoming early games with Concordia, GAC, and Carleton I can guarantee you that the Blazers will be a very dangerous team in the 2nd half of the season and playoffs...

Interesting - monkey goes on a rant about things not being civil and then proceeds to, as monkey says, "attack, attack, attack..."

Pot, meet kettle.  Kettle, meet pot.

Congratulations to both GAC and CSB on fine seasons.  I wish they had been able to play a little longer!

I was at the CSB/Wheaton game last night and it was truly a heartbreaker.  I have complained about MIAC officiating in the past and it is awful...BUT...the WIAC officiating crew that worked the game last night called one of the worst games I have ever seen.  If that is the kind of officiating they get in the WIAC we are actually LUCKY with the officials we have in the MIAC.  It may sound like sour grapes but, unfortunately, the officials affected the outcome of the game.  Now, that being said and getting my venting out about the refereeing, CSB definitely made some mistakes at key moments when they could have put the game away.  It also did not help that at the end of the 1st OT CSB played great defense and a Wheaton player had to throw up an off-balance triple with 4 seconds left.  It missed badly - the ball bounced around and then bounced right out to a Wheaton player who picked it up and literally threw it from her hip with one second left and it went down at the buzzer...I knew we were in trouble headng into the 2nd OT. 

Kudos to Ellie Boone who dominated Jill Trenz.  Trenz may be an all-american candidate but the BEST player on the floor last night was Ellie Boone.  I had a feeling Wheaton would get drilled tonight by Simpson because they had one player go 49 minutes and another 47 minutes last night...they were not overly deep so I knew they would suffer tonight and they did...

Well, now it is on to the hot stove league as we see where some of the high school talent ends up.  I am looking forward to adding some nice talent in Blazer red next season to go with a good core of returners...   

I'm a CSB fan visiting over here and thought I would say hello to the Wheaton fans since we will be facing off on Friday.  I don't know much about your squad other than what I can see from the Web site. 

I know Simpson pretty well because CSB has played them in the NCAA tourney each of the last two years.  I saw Stout in the tourney last year and they have a monster in the middle in Duoss.  Both Stout and Simpson like to run...a lot...so it should be a track meet between those two teams.  Can anyone tell me anything about Wheaton and what to expect from them?  Looking forward to the dance on Friday night!

I will hit on my post-season awards before I get into the important stuff...the dance!  I know some of these categories do not exist but...

Player of the Year: Jess Vadnais
Coach of the Year: Mike Durbin
Sixth Player of the Year: Mindy Schmidt
All First-Year Team: Schmidt, Connor, Radtke, Sorbo, Danielle Johnson

Vadnais, in my mind, was the clear PoY.  Monahan and Hageman were in the conversation but Vadnais was the easy pick for me...tough, handles the ball, and really runs the show for GAC.  The standard PoY pick in the past has been the best player on the best team in the conference...that is not possible as the best team in the MIAC, the Blazers, was the most balanced team.  So...my new category of Team of the Year: THE BLAZERS! 

On to the tourney...GAC gets shipped west but their bracket looks reasonable and I think they have a legit shot at coming out of it IF Vadnais is healthy...

The CSB bracket is interesting with Simpson and Stout.  I am very familiar with Simpson having seen them the last two years.  I saw Stout last year and they are also a good team that likes to get up a down.  They have a monster in the middle with Duoss who will give any team a fit.  The Simpson-Stout game should be a track meet and fun to watch (if my Blazers win the first game).  I know nothing about Wheaton other than what I can glean from their Web site.  They do not appear real deep and it appears that have a pretty good 6'2" post that keeps them in ball games...anyone know anything about Wheaton? 

If GAC makes it in (and it is no lock give the selection committee and their past history with MIAC teams) it looks like Simpson will also get in so they can have a sectional at Luther with GAC playing Luther and CSB playing Simpson.  It will not surprise me if it happens...it's just unfortunate as it would be the third consecutive year CSB has been matched up with Simpson in Round One...it would be fun to see some different teams!  But, that would be my prediction...prepare to head to Decorah...

LET'S GO DANCING!  Blazers win...on a day when the Blazers did not execute very well they get the job done and prove they are the best team in the MIAC!  Regular season and conference tourney champs...the first time it has been done since the tourney started!  Mackenzie O'Neil had a big day with 12 pts, 10 rips, and 8 steals.  Dalhed plays good D on Vadnais and keeps her to 12.  Monahan had 11 in the first half and did not get a fg in the second...WAY TO GO BLAZERS! 

Willy...say what you will...a non-GAC coach does not like the TWO winningest coaches in the MIAC.  SHOCKING!  Sounds like a little envy to me...love them or hate them Durbin and Tammy get it done.  And today, DURBIN and the BLAZERS are on top again...I guess a few more non-GAC coaches just like and respect him even less...maybe because his teams are always at the top and they seem t to always win 20 games?  Jealousy is an ugly emotion...but I forgive you...it's a beautiful day today even with the snow!!!

[/quote]
Her actions are completely consistent with her character and integrity.  She's a kind and caring person.    She's also passionate and highly competitive so in the heat of battle against your team, it's easy for someone to dislike her for reasons based upon perceptions that are wholly incongruous with reality.
[/quote]

Nites...that may very well be the case...as an opposing fan it is grating a times to see some of her antics.  I know others criticize Durbin but your above comments would have to apply to him as well...maybe they apply to most coaches...

My goodness...I don't want to be cocky...but, since we'll be accused of it regardless I will continue.  CSB put on an impressive display last night and completely dismantled the Knights.  Oken-Berg was rendered ineffective and Isler was an absolute non-factor (she really should not be a starter for a decent team...it shows how weak the Knights are at the guard spot).  CSB basically did what they wanted on both ends and cruised to the victory.  Carleton was clueless when Oken-Berg was off the floor.

Since I have given Tammy a hard time before on this page I will give her some credit and acknowledge that she was very classy when Katie Kempe came into the game with less than a minute left.  Mike Durbin wanted to honor Katie for all she has meant to the CSB program and let her step on the floor one more time with her teammates.  A much better memory than the last time she was on the floor.  Tammy called a timeout and told her team to let Katie shoot and I think they would have even let her drive for an uncontested layup.  But, with Katie's knee there was no way she was going to move or try a drive.  She missed her three looks but it was still exciting and I want to acknowledge and thank Tammy for the gesture.  Many CSB fans noticed it and it was appreciated.  I've taken my shots at Tammy but she was incredibly gracious last night...