MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

[Washington U. Basketball Ranked Second by Sporting News
Oct 05, 2008
Press Release posted by Washington U.
The first set of preseason national rankings have been released and the NCAA Division III defending national champion Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team is ranked No. 2 in the Sporting News College Basketball Magazine top-10 poll, which is currently available on newsstands.

The Midwest was represented well as the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was chosen as the favorite to bring home the title in March. Washington University (No. 2) and CCIW members Wheaton College (Ill.) (No. 3) and Augustana College (Ill.) (No. 4), and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 5) round out the top five. University Athletic Association (UAA) member Brandeis University is in the top-10 at No. 9....

JQ - nice grist for the lumbering grist mill.  +k And with that Drake was off to the mills: 

According to most veteran observers of the national D3 hoops scene, the Sporting News & other predominantly D1 sports publications' preseason polls are usually a little suspect when it comes to D3 sports.

With all of the returning players Washington has coming back, their tough conference schedule, & being the defending national champs, I have no problems whatsoever with Washington being ranked #1 or even # 2.  But the Tommies picked #1??  Top 10 or so, mebbe, but no way, no how should they be picked #1.  As Jesus in "The Big Lebowski" says - "that's laughable."

I really like the players on UST teams over the past few years, but I think they would even admit their post season results have been a disappointment.  And again I hope they or any other MIAC team fares well in the post season.  Who knows? Maybe this might be the year one of our teams makes a national splash.  It's been what - 5 years since the Gusties' fabulous run? Prove me wrong Tommies. I'd glady eat some Tommie pie at the end of the season. 

It will be interesting to see what PC & the D3Hoops crew come up with in their preseason poll.  I can almost guarantee the Tommies won't be ranked #1.

Well stated, Drake, except that I would excise the words "usually a little" from the second paragraph of your post. The Sporting News and Street & Smith preseason polls are good conversation fodder, but not particularly authoritative -- for the simple reason that those magazines don't cover D3 basketball. As far as I'm concerned, the only preseason poll that matters -- if, indeed, a preseason poll actually "matters" for anything -- is the one put out by this website.

If you want an apple pie, you don't go to the butcher shop and ask the butcher to make you one. You go to the shop that has the word "bakery" painted on the sign above the door.

[TommieHoops4Life]

I don't see Waldvogel coming out to be a game-breaking player for the Tommies this year. Like WW said, we don't even know if he's going to play hoops yet. I've seen him a few times in football and basketball, and it's clear to me that he has the greatest skill on the football field. I watched him on the basketball court a couple times, and he was good, but didn't stand out to me. He does a nice job of creating for his teammates and scoring a basket here and there. He's better at defending and running an offense than he is lighting up a box score.

I'd be surprised if he played hoops this year. He's hit the weight room a bit, but he's a much more dangerous weapon with the pigskin. If Nicolai develops like he's capable of, he could be a MIAC MVP contender before he graduates. He has to improve a lot in the meantime though.

[miacsuperfan]

I don't see Waldvogel coming out to be a game-breaking player for the Tommies this year. Like WW said, we don't even know if he's going to play hoops yet. I've seen him a few times in football and basketball, and it's clear to me that he has the greatest skill on the football field. I watched him on the basketball court a couple times, and he was good, but didn't stand out to me. He does a nice job of creating for his teammates and scoring a basket here and there. He's better at defending and running an offense than he is lighting up a box score.

I'd be surprised if he played hoops this year. He's hit the weight room a bit, but he's a much more dangerous weapon with the pigskin. If Nicolai develops like he's capable of, he could be a MIAC MVP contender before he graduates. He has to improve a lot in the meantime though.

my question is "did nicolai hit the weight room this summer?"  i liked his play for a freshman, and agree that he has tremendous potential---but what a runt!  you just want to pick him up and put him in your pocket.    he probably physically DID wear down the second half of last year.   but defense or no, i will take him on my 15 man squad no questions asked!  he can break a game open as quickly as anyone in the league. 

[Drake Palmer]

Seems like other folks who are more knowledgeable than us share the same opinions expressed by a few individuals on this board regarding the Tommies and their preseason ranking: Don't Believe the Hype.

If you scroll through the entire article (funny how those writers who cover the Tommies seem to get so long winded  )  Gene McGivern, the UST SID also mentions several possible basketball newcomers from the ranks of the football team.  The previously mentioned Fritz Waldvogel, Greg Morse, & surprise, junior transfer DB Brady Ervin. 

I had shared in a separate conversation earlier this year that I'd noticed Ervin had transferred from Iowa State to UST, & was starting & playing very well as a safety on the football team. I also mentioned that he could be a real find IF he decided to play hoops.  I saw him play several times during his HS career at Eden Prairie & I've seen very few HS players with his combination of strength, quickness, hustle & general all out nastiness on the court.  Excellent defender. Ervin & Lonnie Robinson playing defense at the same time could make an already quick, tough defensive team even quicker, deeper and deadlier on defense. It would make for some entertaining matchups if Bethel's Tim Madson got a wall to wall diet of Lonnie Robinson, Teddy Archer & Brady Ervin. 

[Willy Wonka]

Are we talking summer ball matchups, Drake? I realize we're basketball starved right now...but the classy UST defender graduated.

[Drake Palmer]

Are we talking summer ball matchups, Drake? I realize we're basketball starved right now...but the classy UST defender graduated.

Sorry big fella, this may be news other teams & fans around the league don't want to hear.  Unless Lonnie had a change of heart, Robinson will be back as a 5th year senior.  He used up all 4 seasons of his baseball eligibility, but never went out for basketball his freshman year, so he still has one year of eligibility remaining. It's my understanding he's invoking the sometimes controversial SJU/UST 5th year policy as used by Ryan Keating, Neal Anderson, & other student-athletes.  From what I've been told, Robinson is adding another major & doing some student teaching this fall & winter.

Although this article doesn't explain how he's doing this, here's an excerpt from the article I posted last night.

...St. Thomas perhaps warrants a ranking in the high teens of a top-25 preseason poll. The Tommies return their top 10 scorers from a 23-5 team that swept the MIAC regular-season and playoff titles for the third year in a row. Joe Scott and Tyler Nicolai are exceptional shooters. B.J. Viau is a strong rebounder and defender and averaged 18 ppg over the last four games. Fifth-year senior Lonnie Robinson brings a magic touch. Lonnie, an All-American pitcher, has been a part of 13 conference championship teams -- regular-season and playoff -- in basketball and baseball. Senior Al McCoy, the conference's Sixth Player of the Year, and junior David Baker share duties at center. UST was 11-0 last season when McCoy scored eight or more points and 18-0 when Nicolai scored seven or more points. The Tommie bench scored 31 ppg last season, double the previous year's average....

[TearDrop]

  IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME!!!!

[Willy Wonka]

Ugh! Really, Drake? That's great news for UST, but absolutely horrible news for every other team in the conference/region/nation. Could make for an extremely long year for the also-rans...

I've got an insider taking a peek at Gustie practice this weekend. I'll try to get some feedback.

[Pat Coleman]

Not that we need more evidence, but Lonnie Robinson is on the preseason report from UST that we send to our Top 25 voters.

[MiacLostProphet]

Anybody know if Brandy Brink is still in Germany?

[Willy Wonka]

Anybody know if Brandy Brink is still in Germany?

I can't answer that, but I know Wittwer is.

Now for the juicy stuff...

• The Rich Glas Era has not started well, according to my people. He's already had a handful of players quit, including some that were expected to contribute this winter. I don't know if they are vets or returners, but that can't be the start he was looking for.

• Carleton has NINE freshmen, and I hear 5-6 can really play. The Knights will also field a JV team this year, which might be a first.

• Gustavus has had a strong showing from its freshmen class so far. Edina's Bobby J has looked good enough to start and there's a SG (can't recall name or hometown) who may also play significant minutes. A pair from Mlps North could also see time off the bench.

As for returners, there's good and bad. Mychal Crowder apparently looks tough as an undersized post, but Ryan McPartland has gotten pretty heavy. They could see a role reversal this year, though it remains early.

GAC plays at Winona State for its third game, which I expect could be ugly. Too much youth to shine that early, whereas UST might be able to control that one.

[Drake Palmer]

Because I don't have anything else newsworthy to report...bear with me 

Now for the juicy stuff...

• The Rich Glas Era has not started well, according to my people. He's already had a handful of players quit, including some that were expected to contribute this winter. I don't know if they are vets or returners, but that can't be the start he was looking for.

C'mon Will, you can do better than this.  It's not surprising to have player turnover when a new coaching staff takes over the reins at a school.  But if it was one of the potential big contributors like a Darrin Olmscheid, Erik Lien, Jame Baldwin or Karl Olson, now we're talking something big. 

• Carleton has NINE freshmen, and I hear 5-6 can really play. The Knights will also field a JV team this year, which might be a first.

Local - you reading this stuff??  I told you, the Carlies' baby Knights might be legit!

• Gustavus has had a strong showing from its freshmen class so far. Edina's Bobby J has looked good enough to start and there's a SG (can't recall name or hometown) who may also play significant minutes. A pair from Mlps North could also see time off the bench.

Hunh??  What was that again? Not one, but two kids from Mpls North have signed on as basketball Gusties?  Are you sure you're talking about the right school & it wasn't Mankato East or something?  Where's funbballer when you need him? 

[Drake Palmer]

Aah... was it only last year?? 




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I think Abe made this shot. 

[Drake Palmer]

One more from the recent archives.. Don't ever let it be said I don't give the Gusties their props.

Gone, but not forgotten


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[piperinsider]

Anybody know if Brandy Brink is still in Germany?

• Gustavus has had a strong showing from its freshmen class so far. Edina's Bobby J has looked good enough to start and there's a SG (can't recall name or hometown) who may also play significant minutes. A pair from Mlps North could also see time off the bench.

This has to be Tyler Grey from Montevideo. I've seen him a few times and man, can he shoot the basketball.