MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Surprisingly, Aurora only committed 10 turnovers, while UST committed 14 (a number of which were just very careless passes).

When you're up by a million and your bench players are in, that'll happen.  I didn't look at the boxscore, but I'd assume most of those were by reserves?

[wabbit]

Ok. I'll say it. Aurora looked bad. Real bad. I think any of the MIAC playoff teams would beat them. I saw the Tommies play Carleton twice and Carleton made much more of a game of it than Aurora. To be truthful I started watching mid-way through the second half and didn't recoginize the Tommies. They had the reserves in. Aurora starts to catch up a little, bring in the starters and then StT blows them out.

Which leads me to Zorro not getting the MVP. Carleton lost by 9 and 11 against St. Thomas and Zorro had 35 and 24. How does Carleton do without him...I know someone said it before but it bears repeating.

Finally, Burns and Davis on the All-First Year team. Two completely different style PGs. Burns, strutting and preening, Davis methodical and cold blooded. Fire and Ice! Looking forward to these guys battling the next few years.

[Nites]

Surprisingly, Aurora only committed 10 turnovers, while UST committed 14 (a number of which were just very careless passes).

When you're up by a million and your bench players are in, that'll happen.  I didn't look at the boxscore, but I'd assume most of those were by reserves?

Yes, they were.  The reserves threw the ball away a few times in a row and Aurora cut the lead to 15 with about 6 minutes to go.  Fritz got upset and put all 5 starters back in the game.  The more surprising stat is that the Tommies only got Aurora to turn it over 10 times.

What is it that makes Point so tough?  This ought to be an interesting match up.  We'll see if UST is capable of playing with the big boys. 

[Drake Palmer]

... tonite WILL be a whole different animal, but tommies will prevail by 10.

I'm glad you're feeling confident Supe, cuz I tell ya, I'm skeered, I'm real skeered. My teeth are chattering, & I can hardly hold on to my coffee cup cuz my hands are shaking so much.  Skeered, Supe, Skeered. 

No doubt about it - this one is gonna be live. This should be a fun, nerve wracking game. 

Surprisingly, Aurora only committed 10 turnovers, while UST committed 14 (a number of which were just very careless passes).

When you're up by a million and your bench players are in, that'll happen.  I didn't look at the boxscore, but I'd assume most of those were by reserves?

Yes, they were.  The reserves threw the ball away a few times in a row and Aurora cut the lead to 15 with about 6 minutes to go.  Fritz got upset and put all 5 starters back in the game.  The more surprising stat is that the Tommies only got Aurora to turn it over 10 times.

What is it that makes Point so tough?  This ought to be an interesting match up.  We'll see if UST is capable of playing with the big boys. 

Nites - the best adjective you can use is "interesting"?  This game along with 3 other games being played out in the "Bracket of Death" has the potential to be a part of a legendary weekend in D3 basketball:

#21 Whitworth @ #7 Puget Sound (UPS)
#4 UWSP @ #1 UST
#5 UW-P-ville @ #3 Wheaton at Elmhurst
#5 UW-Whitewater @ #2 ranked Washington

In-freaking-credible!!  All in the same quarter of the draw!  Somewhere tonight, on one of these courts, a legend/s will be made, enhanced, born, etc.  Hopefully, one or several of them of them will be wearing the purple & white of the Tomcats. 

As old folk rocker Richard Thompson once wrote in his song -  "Wall of Death"

Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time
Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time
You can waste your time on the other rides
This is the nearest to being alive
Oh let me take my chances on the Wall Of Death

These guys from both sides are competitors & tonight's game will be a great challenge. Good luck to both teams. Obviously, a little bit more for the MIAC rep.     

Regarding the UST press:

If the Tommies continue their run, I think you'll see that fewer & fewer teams will be as rattled by it.  One, as they get deeper in the draw (& it's tougher to get much deeper than the 4th ranked team in the country – UWSP) ball clubs will have better ball handlers.  I think last night's press was designed to apply pressure, keep Aurora out of their offense, & not let them establish any kind of offensive rhythm.

Secondly, their other full-court press, "the all out, knockout, hell's a coming" type of press can only be used sparingly, or for the element of surprise.  If they try to run that press all night, good teams like UWSP will make the adjustments & eat  them up.

Third, once the game was in hand against Aurora, I don't know how much the old mastermind Coach Fritz wanted to show his upcoming opponent for tonight's game either.   

[Nites]

Nites - the best adjective you can use is "interesting"?    This game along with 3 other games being played out in the "Bracket of Death" has the potential to be a part of a legendary weekend in D3 basketball:

Yep, that's my best adjective because I'm skeered, just plain skeered.   

The Tommies rolled through the MIAC and their non-conference schedule this year without too many tests.  Now, it's on to the front lines to the raging battle.  From boot camp straight to the front!     Will they fight (yes, I think they will), but will they be overrun anyway (that's the question).

If the Tommies continue their run, I think you'll see that fewer & fewer teams will be as rattled by it.  One, as they get deeper in the draw (& it's tougher to get much deeper than the 4th ranked team in the country – UWSP) ball clubs will have better ball handlers.  I think last night's press was designed to apply pressure, keep Aurora out of their offense, & not let them establish any kind of offensive rhythm.

Secondly, their other full-court press, "the all out, knockout, hell's a coming" type of press can only be used sparingly, or for the element of surprise.  If they try to run that press all night, good teams like UWSP will make the adjustments & eat  them up.

I agree and that's to be expected.  Although the pressing D didn't cause turnovers, it clearly took Aurora out of its offense in the first half.  The question will be how well the Tommies will adjust to not getting a bunch of easy baskets off of turnovers.  I thought they looked crisp in the half court sets with good ball movement that gave them open looks.  I think Big Al had something like 7 assists out of the post.

[Pat Coleman]

Ok. I'll say it. Aurora looked bad. Real bad. I think any of the MIAC playoff teams would beat them. I saw the Tommies play Carleton twice and Carleton made much more of a game of it than Aurora. To be truthful I started watching mid-way through the second half and didn't recoginize the Tommies. They had the reserves in. Aurora starts to catch up a little, bring in the starters and then StT blows them out.

Aurora was the five-seed in a low-level conference. There's a reason St. Thomas got them. That's what a 1-16 game looks like.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I'm here, alive and well (sorry to disappoint, VOJ)

UST looked good vs an overmatched Aurora. AU would be a good non-conference game for Ham or Augs or BU next year. 

Cornell gave UWSP a good fight; I was impressed with both the way they played and how well their fans traveled. Ditto the loud crowd from UWSP (altho some of them need to learn manners and get out of the UST parents section after the UWSP game. But they finally got the hint and left)

While UST will have its sternest test of the season tonight (aside from possibly Con-StP) , I'm reasonably confident UST will wear Point down and prevail. That said, I am expecting a titantic sruggle. Point hit the baords well, but UST is scrappy off the boards, and I think that- not guard play- is where this game will be won. If UST's atleticism can enable them to control the ball off the glass-- tipping to teamates when you cant haul it in yourself for example- then UST should be OK.

WW-- just to clarify- I wasnt saying Viau was/is UST "best" player, but was saying he is their MOST VALUABLE. BJ does things that dont show up in the box score that make the team better, whether its tipping loose balls or possible opponent rebounds or defensive play or that intangible of leadership, he sets the tone of the team.  But if you're giving a Player of the Year, rather than MVP, then if you feel you need to pick a Tommie, I'd go with Scott.

I think the coaches should have voted "St Thomas" and 4 others as the all-defense team. And they REALLY blew it by omitting Hipp from All-MIAC. He is a potential MVP over the rest of his career.

[Drake Palmer]

...WW-- just to clarify- I wasnt saying Viau was/is UST "best" player, but was saying he is their MOST VALUABLE. BJ does things that dont show up in the box score that make the team better, whether its tipping loose balls or possible opponent rebounds or defensive play or that intangible of leadership, he sets the tone of the team.  But if you're giving a Player of the Year, rather than MVP, then if you feel you need to pick a Tommie, I'd go with Scott.

Hunh?  - Forget the Harvard trained comedian, the former mayor & Democrat, turned Republican, former senator & the MN Senate recount.  I say write in Mose & be done with it. Talk about reaching across both sides of the aisle, bipartisanship at it's best.  Ladies & Gentlemen your new senator...

[miacsuperfan]

I'm here, alive and well (sorry to disappoint, VOJ)

UST looked good vs an overmatched Aurora. AU would be a good non-conference game for Ham or Augs or BU next year. 

hey, anyone from aug or bu listening?

... tonite WILL be a whole different animal, but tommies will prevail by 10.

I’m glad you’re feeling confident Supe, cuz I tell ya, I’m skeered, I’m real skeered. My teeth are chattering, & I can hardly hold on to my coffee cup cuz my hands are shaking so much.  Skeered, Supe, Skeered. 

No doubt about it - this one is gonna be live. This should be a fun, nerve wracking game. 

Drake, I saw both games last night and I am not 'skeered' for Cats.  What are you seeing that I don't  (can't?)   

[Drake Palmer]

... tonite WILL be a whole different animal, but tommies will prevail by 10.

I’m glad you’re feeling confident Supe, cuz I tell ya, I’m skeered, I’m real skeered. My teeth are chattering, & I can hardly hold on to my coffee cup cuz my hands are shaking so much.  Skeered, Supe, Skeered. 

No doubt about it - this one is gonna be live. This should be a fun, nerve wracking game. 

Drake, I saw both games last night and I am not 'skeered' for Cats.  What are you seeing that I don't  (can't?)  

Seriously?  "skeered"  was a slight bit of exaggeration on my part, but I guess I'd better come have some of your coffee. 

UWSP is a very dangerous club. There hasn't been one team UST has faced this year that is as uniformly skilled, strong, talented & disciplined as UWSP.  That's what I'm talking about.  Can they be beat? Sure, but it's going take a disciplined, talented, concerted effort by the Tommies to do so.  I don't know about anybody else, but I'm going into this game with a wary, healthy dose of respect for the Pointers.

[miacsuperfan]

... tonite WILL be a whole different animal, but tommies will prevail by 10.

I’m glad you’re feeling confident Supe, cuz I tell ya, I’m skeered, I’m real skeered. My teeth are chattering, & I can hardly hold on to my coffee cup cuz my hands are shaking so much.  Skeered, Supe, Skeered. 

No doubt about it - this one is gonna be live. This should be a fun, nerve wracking game. 

Drake, I saw both games last night and I am not 'skeered' for Cats.  What are you seeing that I don't  (can't?)  

Seriously?  "skeered"  was a slight bit of exaggeration on my part, but I guess I'd better come have some of your coffee. 

UWSP is a very dangerous club. There hasn't been one team UST has faced this year that is as uniformly skilled, strong, talented & disciplined as UWSP.  That's what I'm talking about.  Can they be beat? Sure, but it's going take a disciplined, talented, concerted effort by the Tommies to do so.  I don't know about anybody else, but I'm going into this game with a wary, healthy dose of respect for the Pointers.

as am i, but i think the tommies are MORE than capable of the "disciplined, talented, and concerted effort" of which you speak.  the difference is that you are literally going into the game tonight and i am not.   those of us not in attendance would appreciate your reaction asap after the tilt.

[John Gleich]

I'm really disappointed that I won't be able to make the game tonight... driving from Chicago to St. Paul (in the next 2 hours), just isn't feasible.  And to think I'll have to settle for #5 UW Platteville vs. #3 Wheaton (which I'm gonna go to) or #8 UW Whitewater vs. #2 Wash U.

I think this is going to be another monumental WIAC/MIAC game, not unlike the Point/Gustavus games a few years ago.  With whoever wins, there's going to be one deserving team going home that should have played at LEAST until next weekend, if not longer.

[gacbacker]

Ugly game so far at St. Thomas...

St. Thomas 17
Stevens Point 15

3:45 left 1st half

[columbianmaffia]

Which leads me to Zorro not getting the MVP. Carleton lost by 9 and 11 against St. Thomas and Zorro had 35 and 24. How does Carleton do without him...I know someone said it before but it bears repeating.

i was with a couple former st thomas players today and they were asking me for a MIAC update...i told them who won MVP and they were absolutely shocked...they said they didnt think there was a player on the team this season that was worthy of MVP

zoro got robbed...

i have disagreed with MVPs in the past due to bias reasons but have still agreed with the pick...i dont know if that makes sense HA

this year just doesnt even make sense...

UST was as good as they were because of their TEAM defense and TEAM play on the offensive end and it was the defense that truely carried them through the season...i dont think there was one player that clearly carried them and that is why i dont understand how they came to the conclusion on the MIAC MVP

[gacbacker]

Halftime

St. Thomas 21
Stevens Point 17