MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

...Should be a fun game tonight, while UWRF is not the same caliber team as UST they always play them tough on their home court (similar to Ham).

Mig – it sounds like you follow the same school of thought as the Tommy SID.  On the UST website they wrote the following about tonight's game >>-"The Tommies avenged two close road losses to the Falcons in December 2003 and 2004."<<

Well, in the 03-04 season, the Tommies' loss was excusable since UW-River Falls had All American Rich Melzer & they won the WIAC regular season championship.  Last year's alibi gets a little shakier when you consider that in the first post Melzer year, UWRF ended up going 8-17.  This year they're dragging the bottom of WIAC standings & are currently 2-10.

Frankly, I'm a little concerned & I can only hope that the team is doing their version of the old Mohammed Ali strategy – the "rope a dope".  Lure unsuspecting teams into thinking they're hurt & vulnerable, then pulling off the win.   

Yet, as the UST game recap points out - 8 of their first 9 games have been on the road.  So I will concede that point.  But when you have the amount of talent they've got on that team, fans & critics alike are expecting an exceptional season.

I'm sure other coaches around the league are taking note of the Tommies' recent play & are encouraging their teams as we begin the New Year.  The Gusties certainly don't appear to be fading.  Nice win on the road at Carthage after a long, two week lay off.  It appears we could still have a very interesting conference race.

And although the Johnnies lost both of their games in Hawaii, I think they've got to be feeling pretty good about their conference prospects with the return of Tyler Westman.  It seems he shot the ball fairly well & could add some explosiveness to their lineup. It should be a very interesting match-up on Wednesday night between the Tommies & Johnnies.

[localcoach]

After spending some much needed time with my family during this holiday season I'm ready for the MIAC season to start back up.

I see that Russian Mig's prediction of a close ballgame between St. Thomas and UWRF was correct.  That's one good karma for you my friend, now that I have figured out how to do such a thing. 

I have a few minutes this evening so I've decided to offer my thoughts on Monday's games.  Plus I know that Drake and Willy need something to talk about. 

Concordia @ Macalester - The Cobbers find a way to win their first game without Eckhoff, who plays the role of emotional leader on the sidelines. 

Gustavus @ Carleton - The Knights are playing much better basketball, although Gustavus is doing the same.  Having said that I'll take the Gusties in a close one.

Bethel @ Saint Mary's - Tough to make the trip to Winona and Bethel hasn't played during the break while SMU has.  I'll take St. Mary's to win.

St. Olaf @ Hamline - My gut tells me that the Pipers will start the new year off with a win at home against a much improved Oles team.

Augsburg @ St. Thomas - Tommies win, by how much I don't know.

[funbballer]

Happy New Year to all of you and hope you have a prosperous 2006!

The MIAC title race looks to be an exciting one so it should be great days of banter and accolades!

Good luck to your respective teams....I like 'em all      

[Drake Palmer]

News: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Enjoy a free karma point on the house, courtesy of D3hoops.com/D3football.com!

Hey - thanks Pat!!  Your websites are great & we D3 sports fans appreciate all the work!  The Karma points are nice too.  Now if I could just keep that candy loving, chocolate stuffing, smite slinging poster from ...

Aw shucks,  it's a New Year.  Cool Runnings to all my MIAC brethren!

[ustbumkneez]

Mig
dont hate just cuz you wound up on the wrong side of the river. besides, youd never make it over here-you have neither the moxie nor the savvy. i annoited Kirilenko the Russian Mig and, in true UST 20 fashion, you claimed it for yourself. but youll never be a Mig, youre a prop plane at best. Happy 2006, from a bum to a slightly lesser one.

[miacwatchmen]

Great to be gone for so long and see my karma has dropped 2 points when i haven't posted in nearly two weeks........ 

Its a new year and i am interested to see what teams/players will outperform the rest this year.

Looking forward to the Johnnie vs. Tommie game...... Does anyone think the Schafers or Henrichs has a chance to guard Ike?? Also, who will the Tommies put on Mr. Automatic ( Tyler Westman)?

[sumander]

The long break is nearly over. Looking forward to the next two months and learning more about MIAC basketball from the veterans on this board! The way I see it things are going to get awfully interesting between now and Feb 21.

Pat, Thanks for the karma and the great D3 site!

Happy New Year  to all.

[Russian Mig AK47]

Bum -
You're right I could never handle the monotony that your small town of River Falls offers.  I require the hustle and bustle of my great metropolis Shoreview!

p.s. I never claimed to be a Mig (if I had to describe myself as a plane, a prop plane would be accurate), my moniker is simply a tribute to the best Russian import since vodka.  As far as who made it up, well that is a bit murky 

UST/AUG -
This won't be much of a contest.  However, given USTs recent performances I say that they never really put this one away and it will linger at about a 15 point lead the whole way.  Ike will probably have a big game since Hemmingsen gives up quite a bit of quickness (if he guards him).  I am not sure why Dan Graf is not starting for AUG but he has been known to drop some points on UST so he could add a spark off the bench.

Local -
Thanks for the karma, that was awfully nice of you.  I would return the favor if I had the capabilities.

TH4L -
I think Fritz is trying to light a fire under Peterson.  Fritz kind of shot his confidence I think by decreasing his playing time so much in the first couple games, resulting in a little bit timid play.  The season is still young so hopefully he will get his second chance and come out aggressively because UST won't be the same explosive team without him.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Looking forward to the Johnnie vs. Tommie game...... Does anyone think the Schafers or Henrichs has a chance to guard Ike?? Also, who will the Tommies put on Mr. Automatic ( Tyler Westman)?

Watchman-
Let's hope SJU doesnt pollute the air with a stinker like they put up last year... it was so bad, what few SJU fans made the trip were leaving at half. Heck, MIG even saw action  

I'd say Shimek, possibly the best defender in the MIAC,  will turn your Mr Automatic into Mr "Why Cant I get Odff A Shot?" Ive seen enough of the Schafers to tell you they have no hope in  stoppinng Ike.

Still, with SJU's good shooting (Lieser, Ohme, Henrichs & Brink), I expect a good game, somewherfe in the vicinity of a 15 pt UST win.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Hapy New Year & Karma to all

[columbianmaffia]

if i was an airplane i would be one that brings illegal products into the country from cuba and colombia...it would look all beat up and have bullet holes in it to give it some character...and the plane would be filled with chickens and ducks with a man in the back of the plane that carves animals out of wood

[Willy Wonka]

Is Carleton on break still or will the place be rocking tonight?

[columbianmaffia]

i think the CAR students all move back down there either today or tomarrow and start school again this week...so it might be rocking...hopefully not like a rocking chair but like a heavy metal rock band

[South Dakota Gusties]

With the MIAC season starting up again, don't forget to get your picks in for the pick 'em league.

[faunch]

Does anybody expect a big crowd at UST for the SJU game?  Back in my day you had to get to the game for the JV game just to have a seat for the main event?  What does anybody think?