MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

Stat line of the Night
Sam Paulson: 6-8 FG, 13 points, 7 rebounds (Bobby J with for 8 and 10 off the bench)
Mike Moberg: 0-6 FG, 0 points, 9 rebounds

Looks like another lost season for the Bethel hype machine.

This season reminds me a little of 2004, though UST is deeper than my GAC team was. There is a clear favorite and their chief rival isn't as strong as in past years (UST finished 6th in 2004, but beat us at their place). Will the Tommies go undefeated? I have to think it isn't likely, but an injured starter (knock on wood) isn't necessarily as big a deal as it would be to most teams given their bench strength.

Can the Gusties win Saturday? They are certainly capable...but I like their chances better late in the year at Gus Young. The Tommies are always tough at home and these Gusties have been too inconsistent to trust them as a road dog. But if GAC plays as well Saturday as it did tonight, anything is possible and that's what makes this rivalry fun.

Willy - I wouldn't be quite so quick to play the possum or underdog role yet.   

Your Gusties are playing well – very well.  This is a fairly young team with a good combination of upper classmen & younger players.  As I mentioned the other day, I was very impressed with their performance against Hamline & had a pretty good hunch they could beat Bethel at home – thus my selection of the Gusties in the Pickem yesterday.   That's some pretty solid defense being applied – 50 points for the Royals???  For Bethel, defending the post & scoring in the lane continues to be a challenge. They were dominated by a smaller UST team last week and & once again by the Gusties last night.

I noticed my guy Dan Schmidtknecht had another strong floor performance with 6 points on 3-5FGA, 4 assists & 0 TOs.  The last few years, the Gusties have had athletic forwards but they were somewhat limited in the backcourt because they were either running smurf type players – Tyler Kaus, Tyler Kramer, Andrew Olson etc. or the guards just weren't as talented as their biggs or forwards.  But now they've got decent sized wings with athleticism & yes, ball handling skills.  So running that disciplined system of Coach Hanson's makes them a very dangerous club as they know how to move, cut, screen & deliver the ball in the best position to feed the post,  hit a wing for the jumper, or a cut to the basket. (I forgot to include the skill - the selective art of dribbling the ball.  I can't show too much love for the Gusties  )

Interesting stat from this Gustie win was that they did it without the deep ball.  They shot 2-11 for 18.2% from the 3pt line, but overall they shot an outstanding 55% from the floor.

It's shaping up to be a very nice battle on Saturday with the Gusties & Tomcats.  If Gustavus keeps improving like they have, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them knock off the Tommies later on this season.  I don't know about this Saturday but...

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

As solid as UST is playing now, I for one am not looking forward to Saturday's game, as the Gusties scare me. If UST is going to lose at the Shoe, this is the one they might.  The other 3 games on their schedule that worry me are the return match at Gus Young and the trips to Concordia and Carleton, all places UST has struggled in the past.

Right now, I'd say Hanson is Coach of the Year, with Greis a very close second. Both have done great jobs getting the most and then some out of their roster.  I did not expect much out of GAC this year, but am eating a steady diet of crow on that. Appearing not to have someone to step up and fill the void of Femi's graduation, I didnt expect the Auggies to be in the thick of the playoff hunt, either.

Disappointments? Hamline...I expected the Pipers to jell and contend, but that hasnt been the case thus far (most of the reasons have been discussed in detail on here)

[finsleft]

Wonka if you thought Cville was heaven, you should have attended...

He couldn't get in, so he had to settle for GAC. Must've had a cousin in admissions at GAC.

Fins-- will you be in attendance tonight or have you come up with a creatively crafted alibi? 

I was there. As painful as the first half was, I bolted early in the second when it became simply unbearable.
Impressive purple squad, pounded us on the boards. I like the Halverson kid-he's money. But the yo-yo dude at halftime really stole the show.

[VOJ]

As solid as UST is playing now, I for one am not looking forward to Saturday's game, as the Gusties scare me. If UST is going to lose at the Shoe, this is the one they might.  The other 3 games on their schedule that worry me are the return match at Gus Young and the trips to Concordia and Carleton, all places UST has struggled in the past.

Right now, I'd say Hanson is Coach of the Year, with Greis a very close second. Both have done great jobs getting the most and then some out of their roster.  I did not expect much out of GAC this year, but am eating a steady diet of crow on that. Appearing not to have someone to step up and fill the void of Femi's graduation, I didnt expect the Auggies to be in the thick of the playoff hunt, either.

Disappointments? Hamline...I expected the Pipers to jell and contend, but that hasnt been the case thus far (most of the reasons have been discussed in detail on here)

Mose just tell Fritz to imagine the Gusties in red and white rather than black and gold...you need to have 4 guys who can break down their guy off the dribble to effectively score against the Tommies...otherwise their defensive pressure will wear you down...

Couple of observations with regards to the Tommies....

1.  If they play D like they did last night, they will have a good shot to go 20-0...if you can bring that kind of "pirrahna" activity to the floor, you are tough to beat, the Johnnies had to work very hard to get a shot up, let alone defend UST when they had the ball.

2.  So many weapons and interchangeable parts...Halvorson outside, the Great One inside...Viau did not have his best game but he and Joe Scott are incredible athletes...you can't leave Scott, the Johnnies did on more than one occasion and he hurt them...Nicolai was solid, other than Lonnie Robinson, Tuma is possibly their best backcourt defender...he really did well against Andy Burns.

3.  This may draw some fire but this might be the best Tommies team I have seen in 10 years of watching MIAC bball...they may not have the individual talent of the Sparby, Sioris bunch or the Schnettler, Rosefelt crew...because they play together so well,  they are built with defense first and play defense with their feet and hands at times, and officials won't call every foul or you would turn it into a FT shooting contest...I think if there are no major injuries this team will make it out of its own gym in the playoffs, provided the road is not littered with WIAC teams...

A respected former assistant coach tempered my views on UST a little when he reminded me how young SJU is and it was an intense game, the Johnnies will be better for going through this and will continue to grow, I saw some good things from hard working Sam Blank, and Larry Walker got more PT last night and he could help keep Burns fresh, Garrett Bassett is coming along quickly and will be needed this weekend against Hamline and next Monday vs Gustavus with their size...

Todd Herman will not be back for the J's this year because of accademic issues, that has been in the paper and Coach Smith said the same thing on the pregame show at Concordia.  Hopefully he will stay in school and be back next fall.

Drake did you get a ride up to see the game, I forgot to ask Uncle Steve...his mother and other family did come...the Toms also had two student busses, people back a winner no doubt about it...

[Willy Wonka]

Stat line of the Night
Sam Paulson: 6-8 FG, 13 points, 7 rebounds (Bobby J with for 8 and 10 off the bench)
Mike Moberg: 0-6 FG, 0 points, 9 rebounds

Looks like another lost season for the Bethel hype machine.

This season reminds me a little of 2004, though UST is deeper than my GAC team was. There is a clear favorite and their chief rival isn't as strong as in past years (UST finished 6th in 2004, but beat us at their place). Will the Tommies go undefeated? I have to think it isn't likely, but an injured starter (knock on wood) isn't necessarily as big a deal as it would be to most teams given their bench strength.

Can the Gusties win Saturday? They are certainly capable...but I like their chances better late in the year at Gus Young. The Tommies are always tough at home and these Gusties have been too inconsistent to trust them as a road dog. But if GAC plays as well Saturday as it did tonight, anything is possible and that's what makes this rivalry fun.

Willy - I wouldn't be quite so quick to play the possum or underdog role yet.   

Your Gusties are playing well – very well.  This is a fairly young team with a good combination of upper classmen & younger players.  As I mentioned the other day, I was very impressed with their performance against Hamline & had a pretty good hunch they could beat Bethel at home – thus my selection of the Gusties in the Pickem yesterday.   That's some pretty solid defense being applied – 50 points for the Royals???  For Bethel, defending the post & scoring in the lane continues to be a challenge. They were dominated by a smaller UST team last week and & once again by the Gusties last night.

Sooooo...let me get this straight, Drake.

You're saying I shouldn't be so quick to cast the 7-5 Gusties, who recently got absolutely hammered twice by two ranked teams, as an underdog against the undefeated, second-ranked Tommies? At Schoenecker, where the last GAC win came six years ago?

You got some 'splainin' to do, Lucy!

[columbianmaffia]

i dont think it is that cold outside...too many people putting weak sauce on their cereal

[Drake Palmer]

i dont think it is that cold outside...too many people putting weak sauce on their cereal

Not all of us have super, impenetrable, kryponite winter weight Spandex tights like you CMOb! 

[Drake Palmer]

Sooooo...let me get this straight, Drake.

You're saying I shouldn't be so quick to cast the 7-5 Gusties, who recently got absolutely hammered twice by two ranked teams, as an underdog against the undefeated, second-ranked Tommies? At Schoenecker, where the last GAC win came six years ago?

You got some 'splainin' to do, Lucy!

Willy – Your Gusties are definitely going to be dogs when they take on UST on Saturday, but a different type of dog than what you & I might have expected to see even two weeks ago. They're going to biting, snarling, scratching, and digging junkyard underdawgs with an attitude.  Then they'll need to bring that same cool, calm composure when the Big Dawgs from UST start bringing the defensive heat.  And I think the Gusties will be up for the challenge. If you can't tell, I'm liking how this Gustavus team is playing. 

Last year I don't think your guards could physically or athletically match up with the Tommies, in terms of strength, quickness & intensity, but this year is a slightly different story.  I still give the overall edge in guard play to UST, but what I see happening is the rapid development of your team.  There's an old adage that says "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" & I think this certainly applies to this year's version of Gustavus.

I'm not sure about Whitworth, but Puget Sound is a senior dominated team.  And as I've said before, UPS is one of 2-3 quickest D-3 teams I've seen in recent years.  Gustavus got hammered, but survived UPS & Whitworth, the frenetic style of Hamline, & the quickness of Bethel.  They'll be ready for UST.

[Gregory Sager]

There's an old adage that says "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" & I think this certainly applies to this year's version of Gustavus.

Yes, but the gentleman who coined that particular old adage went insane.

[Drake Palmer]

There’s an old adage that says “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” & I think this certainly applies to this year’s version of Gustavus.

Yes, but the gentleman who coined that particular old adage went insane. and dead.

I guess the insanity must have killed him. 

[miacsuperfan]

Todd Herman will not be back for the J's this year because of accademic issues, that has been in the paper and Coach Smith said the same thing on the pregame show at Concordia.  Hopefully he will stay in school and be back next fall.


too bad for sj.  imo herman was j's best all around player---a huge hit for coach smith.

[Gregory Sager]

There's an old adage that says "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" & I think this certainly applies to this year's version of Gustavus.

Yes, but the gentleman who coined that particular old adage went insane. and dead.

I guess the insanity must have killed him. 

Nope. He died of a stroke, eleven and a half years after he went cuckoo.

[Willy Wonka]

Who was it that said Bobby Fong was going to be a multiple MVP award winner? With competition like this, I'm not going to argue with it...

http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/basketball/women/statistics/teamcume.htm#TEAM.OCF

Get a clue, Luddy!

While we're here, this looks like a kid destined for the MIAC. Rumor has it LOTS of schools are already hot on his heels...

http://www.faribault.com/news.php?viewStory=40190

Drake - I'm certainly going to be cheering for the Gusties...but I only recently accepted a bet on the game when given 15 points. And I'm still nervous about it. I *hated* playing at Schoenecker...except for that one glorious day in 2003. Moses, you still remember that one, right? 

[piperinsider]

There's an old adage that says "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" & I think this certainly applies to this year's version of Gustavus.

Yes, but the gentleman who coined that particular old adage went insane.

Are you sure this guy didn't coin it?

[Gregory Sager]

There's an old adage that says "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" & I think this certainly applies to this year's version of Gustavus.

Yes, but the gentleman who coined that particular old adage went insane.

Are you sure this guy didn't coin it?

Who is that?