MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[piperinsider]

Those aren't the MIAC Awards - those are Mose's awards.

[TommieHoops4Life]

A very intriguing match-up for the Tommies on Friday, and a game that I happen to think is very winnable if they play well.

I saw BV play St. Olaf this year. They are very athletic and go as their PG, Andre Wagner, goes. I would compare them to a St. Mary's like team that makes a lot more shots and obviously knows how to win more. I would love to see Lonnie guard Wagner, I think he would shut him down. They have a pair of post players in Matt Cleveland (6-8) and Brian Fogleman (6-5) who each average 9 ppg. They have another guard in Kyle Stribe who averages just under 9 ppg.

I remember their guards being lightning quick, and they didn't hesitate to take the first good look they got. They play with confidence and don't mind running. I saw them in their first game of the year, so I'm sure a lot has changed since. I think if there's one thing that could hurt UST, it's allowing the dribble penetration and kicking for open shots.

That's all I got for now, back to laying out my section for the night. I was actually useful during my dinner break for a change.

[PTPer35]

Any news on the All-MIAC first-year team? In years past it was pretty easy be placed on the 5-6 man team but it looked like it would be much more competitive this year. Obvioulsy Clute is on it but I wonder who else managed a spot...

[big_shocker]

Looking at that above list, I realized that I was alright with it, even though my bias points me to Wittwer as MVP. I then thought that no matter who gets the big awards, this season has been full of so much parity that there cannot be a bad pick for MVP.

Must've been a pretty competitive year when you realize that three or four guys have a shot at MVP, and none of them are on UST, the regular and tournament champs.

[LCfan]

I dont know anything about the Tommies; however, having seen BV play Loras three times this year and watching them a couple other times, Wagner is not the only one to worry about.  They have some very good "big" men.  If UST happens to shut Wagner down it is not a foregone conclusion that the Tommies will win.  I think I remember someone mention that UST lacks a post presence which I think could spell disaster for them based on the size and depth of BV.  Just my opinion about BV and knowing nothing about UST.  Good luck to both teams (have to say I am pulling for BV).  I am going to take BV 78-71.

[Dawg-Dude]

Any news on the All-MIAC first-year team? In years past it was pretty easy be placed on the 5-6 man team but it looked like it would be much more competitive this year. Obvioulsy Clute is on it but I wonder who else managed a spot...

My list
Root for Clute
Fidy cent or just a Nicolai
Holland back
Wright can't be wrong
Rosy Palmer

Honorable mention
Throw out your Hipp
Holy Schmidtknecht

[VOJ]

CSN MIAC Season awards are out

http://collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=90579

COLLEGE SPORTING NEWS ALL-MIAC TEAM
Most Valuable Player
Luke Linz, Concordia College

Player of the Year
Tom Conboy, Macalester College

First Team
Zach Johnson, Carleton College
Luke Linz, Concordia College
Tim Madson, Bethel University
Joe Scott, University of St. Thomas
Trevor Wittwer, Gustavus Adolphus College
Abe Woldeslassie, Macalester College

Sixth Man of the Year
Al McCoy, University of St. Thomas

Second Team
Brady Brink, Saint John's University
Jon Cassens, Augsburg College
Tom Conboy, Macalester College
Bobby Hunter, St. Olaf College
Femi Solaja. Augsburg College
B.J. Viau, University of St. Thomas

Honorable Mention
Steve Banick, St. Olaf College
Eric Clute, Hamline University
Tommy Drake, Carleton College
Luke Holland, Saint Mary's University
Mike Moberg, Bethel College
Bryan Rosett, Carleton College
Kane Sivesind, Gustavus Adolphus College
Tony Thrasher, Hamline University
Will Wright, Saint Mary's University

what a joke...are you telling me that Brady does not belong on the 1st team?  Joe Scott is a nice player but he is not the all around player Brady was this year...and Conboy as player of the year, another guy not on the first team and from a team which did not sniff the post season?  How many drinks were had before this list was made up? Sorry folks but these awards on not worth the AL Gore invented internet space they are written on

[VOJ]

Any news on the All-MIAC first-year team? In years past it was pretty easy be placed on the 5-6 man team but it looked like it would be much more competitive this year. Obvioulsy Clute is on it but I wonder who else managed a spot...

My list
Root for Clute
Fidy cent or just a Nicolai
Holland back
Wright can't be wrong
Rosy Palmer

Honorable mention
Throw out your Hipp
Holy Schmidtknecht

Dude.... Schwartz is better than Holland or Palmer...you missed one...

[TommieHoops4Life]

Quick random question for the older/more seasoned veterans on the board... When was the last time one venue hosted both of the MIAC title games? The Tommie men and women obviously pulled that off last weekend, just curious how often that happens.

[Willy Wonka]

VOJ - I didn't get to see Schwartz play this year, but I feel extremely confident in saying Holland is the superior player. But I wouldn't get too huffy about those awards...everyone knows Moses is senile

I'll try my hand at a little pregame UST/BV chatter during a down night at the office...

I played the Beavers (get your chants prepared early, Tommiepitcher!) four times in my career and my team went 3-1 against them, 2-0 in the postseason at the Beaver Den. We were the underdogs in three of those contests, three of the games were on the road and one was at a neutral site (Nebraska-Weslyan Tourney).

Granted, this was all years ago, but I'll try to expound on some things that may still hold true.

1. The top players of the IIAC would not be so in the MIAC. GAC was almost always top 15 defensively in my years so this may be significantly skewed, but we held two IIAC MVPs from BV to an average of about 10 points in three matchups. I believe they averaged 20+ otherwise.

Basically, I wouldn't be too concerned about Wagner with the defenders/athletes UST can throw at him. However, BV has 8 players averaging 5.9 PPG or more so they can clearly get by without Wagner going off.

2. The IIAC, and BV in particular, does not have a strong rate of success in the tourney despite very strong regular seasons. The Beavers struggled to a 7-4 nonconference record this season — which includes a game where GAC dominated BV on its home court from start to finish early in the year — and begs the question of whether the IIAC is "down" this season.

We've all agreed that the MIAC is down this season already, and UST has a similar lack of postseason experience and success, making this an interesting but irrelevant point.

3. The Beavers' posts are usually thick, strong and not the swiftest of players. If this still holds true (I'm guessing it doesn't based on BV's 76.6 PPG), this would seem to make Baker and Eicher very interchangeable, allowing Fritz the ability to ride the hot hand...and stockpile fouls. I like McCoy to make hay against the Iowa farmboys, as he's something of an unusual matchup given his stature and craftyness.

4. UST's ability to handle the BV posts in single coverage will be especially important. The Beavers have seven players who've seen significant action shooting 39% or better from distance. If the Tommie posts struggle defensively, it becomes a pick-your-poison situation where they better hope the Beavers can't find their collective stroke on the road in front of semi-hostile fans.

UST fans consider the Tommies to be perimeter orientated after shooting 469 treys at 38.6%. BV shot 570 at 39.3%.

5. Beaver fans typically travel well...and aren't afraid of "You got fat chicks!" chants.

[SLP-O-8]

The key thing about playing GA was that it was early in the season.  BV traditionally doesn't play real well at the beginning of the year and pick it up in Janaury most of the time.  It was even mentioned on one of the hoopsville broadcasts with Coach VH was on there

[VOJ]

VOJ - I didn't get to see Schwartz play this year, but I feel extremely confident in saying Holland is the superior player. But I wouldn't get too huffy about those awards...everyone knows Moses is senile

He is such a great player that they would have finished as badly as they did with him as without him...Schwartz was the 3rd option for the J's and helped them to some big wins this year...Whitewater and Carleton to name two...who is this palmer...name did not stand out during regular season...maybe I missed him totally

[tommiepitcher]

You better believe that we'll be able to think of some chants against a team like the beavers - the most noble of creatures 

I agree TH4L... I'd put Lonnie on Wagner and see how he does, and if he's scoring I'd have Lonnie brush him back with the heat.

I really (don't want to eat my words) don't think UST is that soft under the bucket - Eicher is a solid, and Al is a ferocious, defender.

LC - if the beavers want to get runnin up and down the court it may work into the tommies advantage as UST *CAN* be deep if it needs to be.

[SLP-O-8]

BV is 11 guys deep.  They do a constant 5 in, 5 out rotation up until like around the last 5 minutes or so.  They are very deep.  Can't wait for this big game friday.

[LCfan]

You better believe that we'll be able to think of some chants against a team like the beavers - the most noble of creatures 

I agree TH4L... I'd put Lonnie on Wagner and see how he does, and if he's scoring I'd have Lonnie brush him back with the heat.

I really (don't want to eat my words) don't think UST is that soft under the bucket - Eicher is a solid, and Al is a ferocious, defender.

LC - if the beavers want to get runnin up and down the court it may work into the tommies advantage as UST *CAN* be deep if it needs to be.

I dont think I ever said that BV wants to run up and down and I think a slower game would benefit BV because of their depth in the post.  I really think Wagner will put up 20 and BV will come out on top.  SLP-O-8, any predictions???