MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

Voj- I think PI is still stuck out in the Hutchinson hinterland & his contacts at Hamline might be drying up.

I did a little checking around & apparently Ray Brown is occasionally getting in a run with some hoopers at a local St. Paul YMCA.  Eric Webb from Grand Rapids who went on to play at Furman (?) has also made an appearance or two, along with a smattering of D2, D3 & NAIA type college players.  I guess Mr. Brown is taking a laid back approach in the pick up games, but his J still appears to be a bit flat (shaky).   

In other news, here's a very important Public Service Announcement for any new college parent/posters out there who may want to keep tabs on their children this school year. 

Eric Webb absolutely torched Winona State two years ago in Star of the North. He played with a bunch of his HS teammates and was literally the only one who could score...but they still beat the Warriors. I hadn't heard of Webb before (too far north, I guess), but he was extremely impressive. And he did go to Furman.

[Pat Coleman]

Couple days late but congrats, WW. Good to know some newspapers still hire for open positions.

[MiacLostProphet]

Wow, dead board lately.  Great Vikings game sunday.  It was nice to see Favre help the vikings win on a last second drive, instead of beat us.  Anybody have any word on Herman if he will be playing ball this year at SJU?  Also watched an Open gym up at Hamline, they are looking a lot more athletic this year, got some players to fit into Nellies system.

[Norskie]

Only asking from curiosity and not being familiar with his coaching/teaching philosphy, but what is his "system?"

[Willy Wonka]

Only asking from curiosity and not being familiar with his coaching/teaching philosphy, but what is his "system?"

He seems to prefer smallball, similar to what Don Nelson did in Dallas and is currently doing at Golden State. Whitmore hasn't really had the horses (ponies?) to do so effectively at Hamline yet.

[Drake Palmer]

I see you beat me to the punch Willy.  Double post to follow...

I'll just add a bit more from a poster/former coach/ player/friend of  Whitmore from the NY days.

With the Pipers new up tempo style of play, are the putting on a full court press? I see in last nights game they had 9 steals. Northwestern had very Concordia like 19 turnovers and 12 assists. If they are pressing what type is it, man to man

Whitmore's teams in the past have done a mix of man and zone press. In the half court his style is making the other team uncomfortable. Similar to Michigan State's National Championship team with Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Mo Pete, AJ Granger, and Andre Hudson. There will a lot of fouls and the other teams generally wear down mentally and physically.

Don't be surprised to see a comeback from a sizable deficit late in games in next couple of years. His teams are usually in prime condition and I don't expect these Hamline teams to be an exception. 

Not being too familiar with how things work in the MIAC but being very familiar with how Coach Whitmore functions, I'm going to chime in after a long hiatus. His style at Brockport and I would assume at Hamline is up and down (though I haven't seen them play). He needs players that can get up and down. If someone can't get up and down, he won't play them very much if any at all. He will sacrifice size for speed and quickness if it is necessary. His former player at Brockport, Brandon Williams, is a perfect example of that. A 6'2" center that did a heck of a job last year during the NCAA tourney. Just ask the Oklahoma Sooners football squad about that philosophy right now.

He has had plenty of quality big men including several all-conference players (Alex Smith, Brandon Mills, and Brandon Williams) and three All-Americans (Mark Wadams, Mike Medbury, and Charlie Croff). Though I have never seen Gusaas play I would assume that he isn't exactly the creme of the crop. He is 6'10" and playing D3. No knock on D3 (Guilford's got a great 6'10" guy), but generally speaking if you are 6'9" or taller and not playing with a scholarship chances are you aren't very good.

And by the way, the Pipers have won 5 of their last 6. Not too shabby for a coach unfamiliar with the conference. They were picked to finish last in the league and they are going to be alright.

[Drake Palmer]

Part 2:

The two mini Ivies of the league, Carleton & Macalester both have their 09-10 rosters posted.

Carleton 09-10 Roster

Macalester 09-10 Roster

As anticipated, Carleton picked up PG Tommy Sawatzke from Monticello, along with G/W Scott Theisen from Champlin Park, & Tyler Goetz from Chaska.

The Scots seem to have lifted a recruiting page from Washington University where new head coach Tim Whittle previously worked as an assistant coach, & from the T-Wolves new president – David Kahn.  Recruit/draft globally, play locally! 8)

Internationally, the Scots added a guard from Jamaica, & Switzerland.  Domestically they added a big post from Kansas, a swingman from Madison WI, & the early front runner for the Palmer All Name FY of the year – Pierce Peters from Glenwood, MN Minnewaska HS. 

On paper it appears the 3 domestic players look like they might have a bit of talent.  Andy Bowman, the 6-8 240lb FY post from Kansas was a multiple year AC selection, Colin Jarvis the 6-4 wing from WI played some AAU ball. Pierce Peters seems to be the prize recruit in the class. A 6-5 W/F, he was honorable mention All State, averaged 22.3 points-per-game this season, with over 1,300 career points & also averaged 8.5 rebounds per game.
****

Last bit of news from Carleton: Carlie kicks Tsunami's butt.  Glad to know he's doing alright.

[klomp44]

Not MIAC news, but SMSU head coach Greg Stemen has resigned to take a job as a physician recruiter in ND. Brad Bigler now steps in as interim head coach.

[Drake Palmer]

Not MIAC news, but SMSU head coach Greg Stemen has resigned to take a job as a physician recruiter in ND. Brad Bigler now steps in as interim head coach.

C'mon Klomp,  you're as closemouthed as the SMSU website.    What's the story behind this resignation?  Where's Local when you need him.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Mr. Clute.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

SJU announced this week that they will open the 2010-11 season with an exhibition game 11/6/10 at Marquette, which happens to be the alma mater of Coach Smith. (Hmmm... no comment on the possible irony)

In the "old" days (as recent as the late 70s), UST and SJU used to frequently play at Marquette and Creighton.  In fact, Marquette graced old O'Shaughnessy Gym (the upstairs predecessor of The Shoe) with a game Jan 22, 1958, one CST won, 69-63! A day earlier, MU had lost at The Barn 99-78. In 1978, CST was the first victim of the season for defending DI champ Marquette in their first game under Hank Raymonds. Butch Lee & Co rolled to an 80-45 win (it could easily have been 100-23). Looking at the MU site, it looks like SJU has not beaten MU.

And we are less than 50 days away from the first tip-offs of the season!!!!

[miacsuperfan]

Not MIAC news, but SMSU head coach Greg Stemen has resigned to take a job as a physician recruiter in ND. Brad Bigler now steps in as interim head coach.

C'mon Klomp,  you're as closemouthed as the SMSU website.    What's the story behind this resignation?  Where's Local when you need him.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Mr. Clute.

drake, i'll take a shot at this for the quiet klomp44 and the reticent local coach. 
rumor amongst my division two insiders has it that he left his job (in marshall) to take a job (in bismarck) to be closer to his daughter (in sioux falls.)   
the geography department at the university is remaining mute on stemen's orienteering abilities.

[Drake Palmer]

Props go out to one of our board members' offspring who earned MIAC All Conference recognition for her play during the recently concluded golf season.  Nice job Sum.  All those golf lessons and talent paid off!  +k if I can a find a recent post of yours on the board.   
*** 

In another note, here's today's random QOD (quote of the Day)

Background:

In the very early, early sparring rounds leading up to a potential clash on the gridiron next week, a couple of SJU Johnnies' football posters are exchanging, ahem,  pleasantries with the sole UST Tommie football poster on the football board.

While engaged in several post exchanges with an occasionally contentious (some would say controversial), Johnnie poster who in the past has been banned from the board, the Tommie poster had this to say:

Out of curiosity, what did you do to have the lifetime ban lifted? Pete Rose may want to talk to you.

Cracked me up!   

[localcoach]

Hello to all.  I have recently taken on a few new ventures and they have kept me quite busy.  I haven't spoken with the usual suspects lately and will attempt to do so prior to the beginning of the MIAC season next week.

Drake - I can tell you that Pierce Peters is a talented player, however he is not the next Ben Van Thorne so don't get too excited.  The Scots do need help though and he should provide some of that.

As for Coach Stemen, as the superfan stated, he is looking to spend more time with his daughter and had he remained at Southwest, that would have been very difficult.  Instead he chose family over the profession and I commend him for that.

[columbianmaffia]

Hello to all.  I have recently taken on a few new ventures and they have kept me quite busy.  I haven't spoken with the usual suspects lately and will attempt to do so prior to the beginning of the MIAC season next week.

if being a suspect involves a pat down and full cavity search by a cop man i do not want to be a suspect...if it involved boombalahties and a rub down im cool with it

[Drake Palmer]

Roster Update

Either recruiting efforts have really fallen on hard times at St. Olaf, or the coaches seem to think they've got all the players they need.   Only one freshman listed on the St. Olaf 09-10 roster.  

Or, maybe the Oles are only listing the players that will make the varsity roster?  But still, one freshman? It's not like St. Olaf was a playoff team last season. Where's Funbballer when you need him?