MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

Sad News

For those of us who follow the NCAA Pool C projections in the late winter when potential at-large bids are at stake, a great D3 poster was lost earlier this week. Patrick Abegg, otherwise known as "Pabegg" passed away suddenly from a staph infection.  The story is on the front page of D3Hoops.  He'll be missed

[Drake Palmer]

Toward the end of the week I'll compile the latest prep signings into our master list for future reference.

TD - nice find on the Illini recruit for the Vipers.  If it's not too revealing can you tell us how you happened to uncover that little nugget?   From the sounds of it, Hamline will need quite a few more guards/players to fill out their roster. While the rich (UST) keep getting richer. 

I might have to find an underdog team to support next season.  C'mon Cobbs!

[sumander]

St. Cloud Tech's Nate Wolters has signed with SDSU .

News out of the WIAC that UW Platteville head coach Paul Combs is headed to Wayne State! I only follow the NSIC casually, but this would seem a curious move. Other than moving up a division to D-ll I would think it would be a real challenge to build a winning program in NE Nebraska.

DP, Article on the front page of D3hoops on Pabegg. 44 is way too young.

[columbianmaffia]

hats off to pabegg...i will pour some out of my glass for him tonight as well as for my other friends and family that left too soon

[columbianmaffia]

im headed of to the university of drunken sconnies this weekend to participate in their block party...i should really grow a mustach for this event

i will probably eat some cheese while im there

[wcbsas]

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2009/05/01/college/00wsu.txt

D2 Winona State announced the '09-'10 schedule.  They play St. Thomas in an early season exhibition game.

[Chocolate Hoops]

Off-season news -- Nice column in today's Pioneer Press about retiring Gustie tennis coach Steve Wilkinson.  In national tennis circles he's respected every bit as much as UST's Steve Fritz, or SJU's John Gagliardi.  Wilkinson going out on top

If this has been discussed previously, I apologize, but the word on the street is that Wilkinson has cancer, which forced him to retire, and is literally fighting for his life.

Anyone heard the same or have any other updates?

[miacsuperfan]

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2009/05/01/college/00wsu.txt

D2 Winona State announced the '09-'10 schedule.  They play St. Thomas in an early season exhibition game.

interesting.  i am  amazed that u-m crookston continues to belong to the nsic and is on wsu's schedule twice (once as a non-conference game???)  somebody tell me, would crookston finish in the first division of the umac?    i saw winona play in february this past year---they were good, but would be surprised to see them come out of their first four games/exhibitions vs d3 opponents unscathed,  (ust-help me out here.)   

[wcbsas]

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2009/05/01/college/00wsu.txt

D2 Winona State announced the '09-'10 schedule.  They play St. Thomas in an early season exhibition game.

interesting.  i am  amazed that u-m crookston continues to belong to the nsic and is on wsu's schedule twice (once as a non-conference game???)  somebody tell me, would crookston finish in the first division of the umac?    i saw winona play in february this past year---they were good, but would be surprised to see them come out of their first four games/exhibitions vs d3 opponents unscathed,  (ust-help me out here.)   

No Crookston would not finish first in the UMAC, probably not even in the top 3.  UMC did bring in a whole batch of news recruits at first glance with some talent but it is still UMC!

Specific to Winona they are going to be pretty good ... conference championship contenders and possibly NC contenders.  A lot depends on the kid (Vette) who transferred from Iowa State and sat out last year.

I do think think they'll win their first four D3 games .. UW-Eau Claire, UW-LaCrosse, UW-Stout and St. Thomas.  UWEC, UWL and UWS will be absolutely no problem.  St. Thomas will be the toughest test ... its early enough in the season where their may be a repeat of 2007.

[piperinsider]

Off-season news -- Nice column in today's Pioneer Press about retiring Gustie tennis coach Steve Wilkinson.  In national tennis circles he's respected every bit as much as UST's Steve Fritz, or SJU's John Gagliardi.  Wilkinson going out on top

If this has been discussed previously, I apologize, but the word on the street is that Wilkinson has cancer, which forced him to retire, and is literally fighting for his life.

Anyone heard the same or have any other updates?

That definitely wasn't in the news release. I know the women's coach, I could ask him, but if he does have cancer, that's a personal thing. They did hire his replacement - current assistant coach I believe.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Wilkinson does indeed have cancer. Mike Max did a story with him on last night's Rosen's Sports Sunday about his time at Gustavus, and his illness came up. He's not "retiring," just stepping away from coaching. He said he does a ton of other stuff there and isn't going away from campus, he is just done with coaching. He sounds like a class act.

WW,
You don't even want to go there with our D-1 recruit here. Some interesting news came to the forefront after spring break here. College might be in jeopardy. Call me if you want details.

[piperinsider]

Some notes from today's PP:
Concordia Academy's Zach Towle, the No. 9 scorer in Minnesota boys basketball history, has signed a letter of intent to play at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. He finished his career with 2,519 points and holds the record for career three-pointers with 373.

Former Concordia Academy standout A.J. Wilson has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Murray State. He played his junior and senior seasons at Concordia. Last season, he played at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo.

Fridley's Isaiah Thomas has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Concordia-St. Paul.

[Willy Wonka]

Wilkinson does indeed have cancer. Mike Max did a story with him on last night's Rosen's Sports Sunday about his time at Gustavus, and his illness came up. He's not "retiring," just stepping away from coaching. He said he does a ton of other stuff there and isn't going away from campus, he is just done with coaching. He sounds like a class act.

WW,
You don't even want to go there with our D-1 recruit here. Some interesting news came to the forefront after spring break here. College might be in jeopardy. Call me if you want details.

Just got the indirect scoop from the person who was house sitting for his "family." Sounds...interesting. Good luck with all that.

[piperinsider]

Any MIAC baseball fans? The St. Paul Saints had five former MIAC players on their roster this season. Charlie Ruud and Andrew Schmiesing from St. Olaf, Kyle Foster and Andrew Bennett from Hamline and Lonnie Robinson from St. Thomas. 

May have to check out the Energy Park Drive crew this year.

[columbianmaffia]

sounds like gophers 3rd string qb john nance will be leaving the gophers and may be joining UST to play some hoops...or at least that seems to be one of his top options right now