MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

scots - You hate flopping? You'd have hated the Tommies yesterday with a passion. Gustavus got called for around 8-9 offensive fouls, many away from the ball. It was ridiculous.

My full report to come after I fill my belly on Perkins.

[concordia of the north]

i don't know how many offensive fouls they had total, but st. thomas drew 7 open court charges.  by open court i mean either on cuts away from the ball, or on non-scoring dribbles.  teddy archer literally jumps up in the air backwards on a couple in the first half.

i don't know what to say about flopping.  it is certainly frustrating from the bleachers when you see a ref get utterly fooled, but from the perspective of the players and the coaches it pays good dividends. i think, when you are drawing a legitimate charge some flopping is just good common sense.  they teach you to start falling with the contact and let out a big grunt.  what is annoying is just running alongside someone, feeling some impact and flying backwards.  i would like to see those players held accountable for a risky defensive gamble.  by held accountable i mean allowing the play to develop with the new 5 on 4 advantage created by the over-the-top display.


i share fightingscots distaste for johnson if not his passionate loathing.  it is not based on his flopping but on his egotistical displays.  he has made it a "thing" of his to leave his shooting hand in the air after a made field goal.  that is a gimmick that he consciously chooses to continue for several seconds.  that is longer than a passionate outburst after a play.  it is a cocky and prolonged decision.  people rarely "choose" to scream or pound their chest, etc., after a great or dynamic play.  johnson's little fanciness is different.

[concordia of the north]

p.s.  i neglected to mention that those players who irk me the most can often prove to be the most interesting people outside of the game.  i think it is very possible that i would dig johnson in another environment. i'm sure a great many people hated me on the court, and only many people hate me off the court.

[miacwatchmen]

I was not at the SJU Auggie Tech game yesterday but wow thats a bad loss, another one slips through the grasp of Coach Smith and his boys. These days you never know which Johnnies team or which combination of players is going to show up for the game.

Box Score Recap

Maybe at this point in the season the minutes are finally catching up with Schwartz? He had just 6 points on 2-7 shooting in just 23 minutes.

Brink seemed to be stellar again. 26 points on 12-18 shooting, 13 rebounds (7 offensive!!)..0-4 FT??  The Johnnies need to finish in the top-4 because he has had an MVP season and deserves to be in the talk at the end of the season.

Auggie was led by their MVP candidate  Femi had 22 and 13 on 6-12 shooting, he was also 10-12 from the FT line.

As much as I have ripped on Cassens in the past it appears he manned up last night.

Who the heck are Matt Quammen and Carlius Hodges? These guys go a combined 6-7 from the field draining 3 threes and combining for 16 points in 33 minutes off the bench.

Auggie MAKES nearly twice as many free throws as SJU ATTEMPTS. Was anyone at the game? FT's were J's: 7-14 and Auggie: 25-33 (They were also 11-12 in the final two minutes of the game)

Also, Auggie's scored 30 points on 19 SJU TO's while the J's only managed 18 points off of 16 Auggie TO's.

I just don't get this Johnnie team sometimes.     Hopefully they can turn it around at MAC this week.

i share fightingscots distaste for johnson if not his passionate loathing. 

I'm neutral on Johnson but I love CMOB !!  8)



HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!

[Drake Palmer]

Hmm, sounds like the board is starting to heat up again for the end of the regular season & playoffs. Good!

While VOJ has made the false accusation that I wear purple blinders, I'd like to point out that like CMob, I have a number of "favorite" teams in the MIAC.  And of those "favorites," some I tend to like more than others.  That being said, the recent comments made by Fighting Scots", CON, & perhaps upcoming comments by Wonka, may only support my selections for various post-season awards.  And some of those "awards" may be of dubious distinction i.e. –"All MIAC Hair" team, and All-MIAC "Players You Most Love to Hate" Team.  CON, if this awards category would have been around during your career, I'm sure you would have been a lock for the team.    I'll go ahead & let a little cat out of the bag & announce that the two front runners for this award come from Carleton & UST.  As one friend told me, one of these players seems to believe that basketball is a form of performance art.  The comment got a chuckle or two from me. 8)

It seems one of the Gustie players that was a certain lock for the Hair team, & no not Wittwer, got wind of this category & cut his hair.  I almost didn't recognize the former shaggy sheepdog when he stepped foot on the court yesterday.

[piperinsider]

Matt Quamman was a standout on the Holy Family team that beat Maple River in that exciting OT state championship game last year. I believe he averaged somewhere in the 24-26 points per game range. A very nice player that I almost commented about last week when I brought up Ellsworth's Van der Stoep.

Also, congrats to Hamline men's hockey taking three points from No. 5 UST. It was the first win over the Tommies since 1993!!! The Pipers were 0-30-1 against the Tommies in that stretch. The women's hockey team also split with UST.

Don't forget that really important makeup game Monday between HAM and SMU. 

[Drake Palmer]

Watch – at the beginning of the season, Coach Griess was quoted as saying one of the strengths of this Augsburg team was their perimeter shooting.  Unfortunately, the Dawgs had been mired in a near season long jumpshooting slump.

It's no coincidence, the Dawgs' fortunes have changed when their outside shooting has improved.  Over the past 3-4 weeks the Dawgs went to a smaller line up & went with 3 guards, 5-7 Justin Koslowski,  6-1 David Olson, 6-1 Jon Cassens along with forwards Nate Alm & Femi Solaja.  Both Olson & Koslowki have had huge offensive games & Cassens has started to find his shot again.  FY Matt Quammen was big-time in their recent win against the Oles.  He was 4-5 from downtown & finished with a career high of 14 points.  FY Carlius Hodges, is a short, quicksilver like guard who can create havoc on the defensive side of the ball & is more of a slasher type guard.  Typically,  Hodges is more of a streaky shooter than a legit 3-pt shooter, although it seems he was on fire against the Johnnies.  Yesterday he was 2-2 from 3-pt land & shot 4-4 FGA overall.

[VOJ]

Drake...it might be me...but you seem to lean to the Tommies, maybe not as much as Maniac does...but its a lean.

I was at the SJU-Auggy matchup...give credit to the Auggies who lit it up in the second half with 75% shooting from all angles...the field, behind the arc(actually 80% there) and they were stellar from the line...which brings me to my next point...the J's had two post players foul out while trying to guard Solaja and another pick up 4...I felt as though he was a bit "protected"...what did you think Watchmen? 

As for Zach Johnson...its a matter of perception, back a few years ago I liked Kevin Buth...for obvious reasons...others thought he was the most hated kid in the MIAC(there is a new award for you Drake), anyway it just matters on your feelings for the kid...I know that Gustavus was hot after him, until they had him on campus and their interest cooled...I feel the same as others on here...yes he plays hard and is a good player, but his antics and behavior can leave a bad taste.

I read a number of comments about offensive fouls...having watched a number of games this year, offensive fouls, especially in the post, are the most inconsistent part of reffing in the MIAC...if the SJU-Auggy game was called the way the Gusty-Tommies matchup was...Solaja would have fouled out in the first half, but it was not and he was a bull in the china shop.  Its frustrating...because if a post defender holds his position he has a good chance of picking up a foul, if he gives ground he is giving up a layup.

Its going to be an exciting week...the J's loss at Gustavus is magnified by yesterday's short-coming at Aug...The Auggies are sneaky good, they could create problems for others in the MIAC playoffs if they get there.  Does everyone think 10 wins will be enough to get in?

one more thought on what went down at Carleton...the J's had a similiar situation earlier this year...final 5 seconds, J's turn it over and with 1.3 seconds left, the Carls inbound from half court, take 3 dribbles and launch a shot from just outside the top of the key...I heard that Coach Trewick chased the officials off the floor...after the game against the Knights

[Pat Coleman]

p.s.  i neglected to mention that those players who irk me the most can often prove to be the most interesting people outside of the game.

A lot of coaches are like this too -- if you only see a coach on the sidelines and never away from the count, odds are you're getting an incomplete picture.

[Drake Palmer]

Drake...it might be me...but you seem to lean to the Tommies, maybe not as much as Maniac does...but its a lean.

While VOJ has made the false accusation that I wear purple blinders, I'd like to point out that like CMob, I have a number of "favorite" teams in the MIAC.  And of those "favorites," some I tend to like more than others.

Yeah, I tend to "lean" towards the Tommies, but I also lean toward the Dawgs, Cobbs, Scots & Pipes etc. .  Mose is a graduate of UST, I'm not. However, unlike my colleague Mose, I'll also single out a team's flaws as well as their positive attributes.  This year's Tommie team has definite holes in their makeup, but as a fan, it doesn't take away from my enjoyment of watching them play.

Your "most hated kid in the MIAC" would fall under my post season awards category - "Players you Must Love to Hate" Team.

You might be on to something with this clock conspiracy theory down at the West gym.   

[VOJ]

+K Drake for admitting your lean, sometimes the truth stings a little

Can't wait for your postseason lists...Drake since you watch more than just one team in the MIAC and multiple games what is your take on play in the post and how it is officiated...I know you don't like to dwell on it, but I would be interested in your opinion...

I think if Auggy makes into the postseason Coach Greiss should be getting some attention for coach of the year...5 straight wins right now

Drake where did u graduate from?

[big_shocker]

Okay, here's my report from the GAC/UST game:

1) The game reminded me a lot of the first matchup this season: UST shoots the heck out of the ball in the first half, looks more athletic than GAC, and basically makes you winder if these two teams are really evenly matched. Second half, GAC hardens up on D, stops making silly mistakes and just pounds away, regardless of what the score was. UST starts missing shots, losing confidence, and soon, it's a game. GAC got it back down to three a couple times. Only this game, UST recovers enough to hold on.

2) Lots of fouls called in this game. The refs were inconsistent. Paulson didn't play much for GAC, Witwer didn't play much of first half, and Hanson's T? Really? Just looked like he was talking to the ref, no yelling or screaming, but maybe he said something over the line, which, I'm not sure what it could have been. Way too many offensive fouls called on both ends, especially late in the game.

3) Teddy Archer gets the Oscar for Best Actor: he made at least four flops that resulted in GAC fouls. Hey, I guess do what you have to to win, but eventually, the refs should Vlade him up and know he's going to fall at the slightest bump.

4) Doble played intense all game and looked to score every time. He did pretty well, although Al was able to even him out on the other end of the floor.

[big_shocker]

I'll split this up into two posts:

5) Scott couldn't miss early on, I mean from anywhere. However, late in the game, UST is up by four or five, he takes a three with twenty-five seconds on the shot clock, misses, get the ball back after an offensive rebound, and launches again right away. Come on. Fritz must've been dying after that. Makes me wonder if UST's guys can keep the mental game in check. After all, they nearly blew two fifteen point leads this year against GAC.

6) GAC got blocked about ten times on shots. As a noteworthy GAC alum sitting near me stated: "Anyone head of a pump fake?"

7) Was it Viau who had a nice block and then dunk on the other end? What a play and what hustle to get back down the floor.

8) UST crowd- visible, but somewhat quiet, although it got up a little more than they are getting credit for. Pretty good atmosphere. Good day of basketball.

9) Also, hats off the the GAC women's team for winning the earlier game in dramatic fashion.

[PTPer35]

On another side note Johnson is a disgrace to James Naismith (spelled that wrong)  all he does is talk trash, try and bully people all game, but when some one even touches him he flops like a fish out of water.  I have never been more disappointed that i even played in the same conference even though it was over ten years ago!  He should never get the calls he got.  However the ref giving him the calls was the same ref who counted the late game winnning basket.  If this were the NBA the ref would be in some very deep trouble right now, the miac should review this tape and Credit the cards with the win

WOW, that's pretty brave/stupid of you to say about Johnson when you really have nothing to back it up. Especially in a game where he can't be stopped. He plays the game hard, with love, and passion and that makes him a bad person? NO. I've seen it from many players and that doesn't make them a disgrace. It shows they are intense and have a passion for the game and are out their to win. Which is why we all love watching any level of sports. Yeah, there is some flops at times, but if the calls are going your way then you take them.

Yeah, CAR might have gotten by with one(hard to tell), but their not the ones calling the game. Luck is on your side sometimes. Take your loss and move on. Seems like you have more of a problem with the refs and the game and need a player to blame. Don't bash any player just because you don't like what you see and the outcome of a game. Johnson, among many other MVP players in the league, are stand out players and deserve credit (no matter what team they play for).

No dont get me wrong scoring wise yes he had a good game against a team that has the tallest player at what 6'2 when johnson is what 6'6? man what a challenge for him.  It doesnt seem like he should get pushed arpund then.  Johnson is no where close to an MVP.  i have seen PG way tougher than him.  But you my friend may be the stupid one since apparently flopping is becoming a decorated art in this conference nowdays.  It used to be a hardnose conference and the refs would let you play.  and yes i am sticking by what i said.  Zach Johnson should be slapped in the back of the head, his father should be ashamed that he has a daughter playing on the guys basketball team

1) Rosett didn't step over the baseline. He lifted up his back foot and started to lean forward. The official began to put his hand down, initiating the start of the clock. He realized Rosett didn't step over and put it back up, subsequently causing the time to be stopped while the ball was in play.

2) Sutherland didn't take that much time with his dribbles and didn't take the shot. (We all know a pass is faster than someone dribbling so you better make sure you get the facts straight.) He passed the ball to your favorite player who pulled a thirty footer, not a half courter.

3) I already conceded that the play was probably not legit and explained how all that happened in 3.3 seconds.

4) If you think its new Zorro flops, talks a little trash, and has some on court antics, you must have never seen him play before.

5) You're bias and immaturity are really shining through with that last comment.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

good summary Big Shocker...yes, it was Viau. You are spot-on about the reffing (Hanson's T was a joke unless he dropped some colorful language on the ref--not likely). WAY too many offensive fouls called, both ways, and far too many of them were away from the ball & flow of play. Regarding Archer-- no Oscar for him,as he had 5-6 failed flops for every one that got a call. 

I dont mind a good flop on occasion, but on every possession??? save it for a key time and it will have some creditability.

Impressive 2nd half from Doble, but a key in my mind was the defensive job Viau did on Wittwer in the first half (holding him to 2 points) and how Wittwer was able to get his groove back when Viau got in foul trouble. Pretty much the game I expected.

the nightcap of my doubleheader was also a good battle, but with less intenstiy than the GAC/UST affair. BU and Cord looked a little flat, at leat in comparison to the day game. As CON pointed out, a very even game, one that was won by determination/guts.