MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[VOJ]

[
Nites - These ain't your daddy's Gusties anymore. If Ray Ray is half as good as people are hyping him to be and not just another Josh Hanson, there could be some battles. I'm interested to see both teams play.

Perhaps, the Piper enthusiasts ought to check with Sumander and VOJ to see if the ole' Johnnie Bandwagon is available for lease since it's been in storage since Brink and Leiser left Collegeville.

Just tell me where to send the keys and deed...Hamline is obviously the "HOT" new team in the MIAC and from the early reports, we will not be saying they are the same old Pipers at the end of the season...

Interesting story on the D3Hoops front page that involves some MIAC schools:

http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/diamonds-and-ice/2009/11/18/a-new-conference-for-cornell-coe-and-luther

Thoughts?

Wow. That's certainly interesting news, though I doubt anything will actually come from it. The travel costs are simply too prohibitive. But it still makes me wonder if this might be, as my buddy so eloquently said last weekend, the straw that murdered the camel's back for UST.

I mean, what would the MIAC do if it lost three (Carleton, Mac, St. Olaf) members? It would be a disaster. Everyone would be scrambling to take care of itself, and the Tommies are best equipped to make a jump elsewhere.

As for the all-decade team...I'd take Fork over Conboy all day, and possibly over The Goose. I really don't see a scenario where Conboy would be on the squad, in any case. He was basically the Zach Randolph of the MIAC — he'd always get his points and rebounds, but he rarely won or did anything else to contribute on the floor. Fork was basically his antithesis.

Nites - These ain't your daddy's Gusties anymore. If Ray Ray is half as good as people are hyping him to be and not just another Josh Hanson, there could be some battles. I'm interested to see both teams play.

With regards to the possible new conference, I would hope St. Olaf and Carleton would stay but MAC can leave and it would not bother me at all...if you are going to have football and not play in the MIAC then why should they get the same treatment as Notre Dame in the Big East? 

Bring in St. Scholastica for all sports in the MIAC, they want to be in the conference from what I have heard, and they would have some growing pains but I hope would not drop from a sport from conference competition.

[Drake Palmer]

Ok...Drake nice list and great way to spark controversy but I need to take you to task for not having Brady Brink on the list...he has to fit somewhere...Are you trying to get on WW good side by putting Tebrake on the 3rd team?  Major oversight with Brink not on the teams..,Eric Jackson was a nice guard but Scott is much better than he was and Sweeney was really a key for UST during their runs.  As a coach pointed out to me one year while he was playing, UST was undefeated with him in the lineup and dropped two with him out...

Umm VOJ, are you serious? Erik Jackson was more than a "nice" guard.  Jackson, along with Mark Buri were the premier guards in the league the last 10 years.  People who really know the game would also put TeBrake & Sean Sweeney in a very close second group of premier PGs. 

I like Brink, I like him a lot but I like my other choices better.  And I would take Forkrud over Brink.
******
I was simply trying to spark some interest and fun discussion on the board.  If you want to take somebody to task, I think you need to turn your attention to the athletic department of a certain college in Arden Hills. And no, not AO's alma mater.

Here's some more info on this team's opponent last night. ...

1) They don't even belong to the NAIA, let alone the NCAA.   
2) This school has 2 collegiate sports - men's basketball & women's volleyball

Here's a blurb from their website:

The NCC athletic program strives to teach lessons that can be used both in the sports students play and the lives they lead.

We are a member of the Association of Christian College Athletic (ACCA) and the Midwest Christian College Conference and currently compete in two varsity sports- men's basketball and women's volleyball. We travel all our teams to various states to play throughout the season.

NCC is a non-scholarship school for athletes but has a variety of scholarships for other areas. We hope that you consider NCC for your opportunity to grow in Christ and as an athlete. If you have any questions about the sports we offer, please feel free to contact Dan Cravatt, Athletic Director, at 402-935-9400 or dcravatt@nechristian.edu

I usually support all MIAC teams when they face non-conference opponents but tonight - I don't know.

[AO]

Nebraska had a sixth guy on the bench who added an extra warm up top for his second half on the bench.  They had 8 guys listed in the program roster, but only 6 were there.  Scheduling this team was an embarrassment made worse by the fact that Bethel was still pressing until the score was 64-7.  As a Bethel fan I found this to be totally unacceptable.  It was clear that Nebraska Christian would not challenge you after about the first 30 seconds of watching this game, and even more clear when you went up by 30+ early.  Call off the dogs and just play solid basketball.

I'd feel very grateful if I was Nebraska Christian as they truly had no place scheduling this game.  Nebraska Christian is not NCAA or NAIA, they are ACCA which includes a college in minnesota most of the MIACers probably know nothing about..AFLBS in plymouth.  Northwestern's JV plays AFLBS every year and it isn't much of a game either.   Many of AFLBS' home games were played in Northwestern's old gym before they turned it into classrooms a couple years ago.  When you only have 5 non-conference games to schedule, Nebraska Christian is an embarrassing choice.

[AO]

With regards to the possible new conference, I would hope St. Olaf and Carleton would stay but MAC can leave and it would not bother me at all...if you are going to have football and not play in the MIAC then why should they get the same treatment as Notre Dame in the Big East? 

Bring in St. Scholastica for all sports in the MIAC, they want to be in the conference from what I have heard, and they would have some growing pains but I hope would not drop from a sport from conference competition.

I don't think there's any way of the current MIAC schools leave unless D4 becomes a reality but Scholastica would be an upgrade from Macalester, middle of the road in most sports, and elite in baseball without any growing pains.

[huhoops]

I'm not sure what you're on, but this scenario is about as likely as the timberwolves making the playoffs this year. With the BV game, yes GAC could very well lose but BV lost a lot more than GAC did as well as the fact gac has won down there two times in a row.

As for hamline. these two teams have split 3 out of the last 4 years with the one exception being the season two years ago with wittwer as a senior so will gac lose a game to hamline this year probably, but they won't lose two....not even close.

Well, my friend, if they lose one, that's close to losing two

For the record, it is the new Piper posters who are claiming this big jump. Lost Prophet, Insider, and myself have said there is definitely potential but who knows. I remember three years back the season after the Pipers upset St. Johns in the playoffs everyone was talking about Hamline making a big jump then--didn't happen. This is a team I could see beating St. Thomas one night and Mac giving them a run the next. For me this team is a huge question mark right now. I think the jury is most definitely still out on Ray.

I think the assumptions of the Piper hopefuls were being made based on the fact that Southwest State Mustang, John Derock, would still be in cardinal and white in the 07-08 season. As far as I can see, all of the optimism about this year's team is based on players that are actually on the team.

Better game tonight:

BU vs. UW-Stout

or

AUG vs. UWRF

Any suggestions which one to attend (guys who saw them last night)?

[Drake Palmer]

Better game tonight:

BU vs. UW-Stout

or

AUG vs. UWRF

Any suggestions which one to attend (guys who saw them last night)?

I really don't think you could go wrong with either game.  On paper I would think the most even matchup would be Augsburg & UWRF.  (I would give the edge to UWRF) One other consideration might be the drive to watch the Auggie UWRF game at Crown.  St. Boni is about 10-15 minutes west of Excelsior which is already one of the most western suburbs.  There's a chance I might take in the UWRF-UST game next Tuesday so I'm probably going to watch the post-Madson era begin at Bethel.  Go Stout! 

Johnnies lost in OT to St. Cloud State last night http://www.gojohnnies.com/news/2009/11/20/BASKETBALL_1120094641.aspx

UST steamrolled Heidelberg in the Wooster tourney in Ohio. http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/news/Heidel_11-20.html

Johnnnies try to crack into the win column & play another DII opponent tonight - Moorhead State while the Tommies play 10th ranked Wooster.

[PurpleReign]

Wow this is going to be one hell of a Tommie basketball team again it's Tommies 79 and No. 10 Wooster 50.

[PurpleReign]

Tommies 82
Wooster 53

[PurpleReign]

Tommies win 84-53 over Wooster this evening - it has been a great Saturday to be a Tommie and some great things to come.  I thought that with the loss of Viau, Tuma, Robinson, and McCoy would spell trouble for our Tommies, but the freshman and Sophomore's are going to be proven as a much more talented bunch.

[wooscotsfan]

Congratulations to the Tommies on an impressive win tonight as they dismantled Wooster on its home floor.

St. Thomas was led by Tyler Nicolai with 20 points, Anders Halvorsen with 14 points and Joe Scott with 9 points.

Tommies played very aggressive defense and forced 18 turnovers by Wooster compared to only 8 for St. Thomas.  Points off turnovers were 26 for the Tommies and 0 for Wooster.

St. Thomas also won the rebounding battle 28-21 and they shot very well tonight.  Tommies were 58% from the floor and also 58% from the 3 point arc knocking down 11 three pointers.

St. Thomas looks like a top 3 team nationally, in my opinion.  Good luck to the Tommies the rest of the season!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Until the schedule opens up, and we have  more to discuss than how much Hamline has improved , here's some food for thought...

After conferring with several league historians and former players, an arbitrary

MIAC All Decade Team 2000-2009

First Team

Troy Bigalke – St. Johns
Mark Buri- St. Thomas
Doug Espenson – Gustavus
Isaac Rosefelt – St. Thomas
Ben Van Thorre – Macalester

Second Team

Andy Gilbert – Bethel
Zach Johnson – Carleton
Tim Madson – Bethel
Erik Jackson – Macalester
Bryan Schnettler – St. Thomas

Third Team

Luke Linz – Concordia
Joe Scott- St. Thomas
Sean Sweeney – St. Thomas
Chris TeBrake- Gustavus
Tom Conboy- Macalester

Ok...Drake nice list and great way to spark controversy but I need to take you to task for not having Brady Brink on the list...he has to fit somewhere...Are you trying to get on WW good side by putting Tebrake on the 3rd team?  Major oversight with Brink not on the teams..,Eric Jackson was a nice guard but Scott is much better than he was and Sweeney was really a key for UST during their runs.  As a coach pointed out to me one year while he was playing, UST was undefeated with him in the lineup and dropped two with him out...

do you REALLY think Brink was more deserving than Witt, Nester or Henirich just to name 3 Johnnies? Maybe DP should simply put out an ALL JOHNNIE team and forget the other 10 schools?

[VOJ]

Until the schedule opens up, and we have  more to discuss than how much Hamline has improved , here's some food for thought...

After conferring with several league historians and former players, an arbitrary

MIAC All Decade Team 2000-2009

First Team

Troy Bigalke – St. Johns
Mark Buri- St. Thomas
Doug Espenson – Gustavus
Isaac Rosefelt – St. Thomas
Ben Van Thorre – Macalester

Second Team

Andy Gilbert – Bethel
Zach Johnson – Carleton
Tim Madson – Bethel
Erik Jackson – Macalester
Bryan Schnettler – St. Thomas

Third Team

Luke Linz – Concordia
Joe Scott- St. Thomas
Sean Sweeney – St. Thomas
Chris TeBrake- Gustavus
Tom Conboy- Macalester

Ok...Drake nice list and great way to spark controversy but I need to take you to task for not having Brady Brink on the list...he has to fit somewhere...Are you trying to get on WW good side by putting Tebrake on the 3rd team?  Major oversight with Brink not on the teams..,Eric Jackson was a nice guard but Scott is much better than he was and Sweeney was really a key for UST during their runs.  As a coach pointed out to me one year while he was playing, UST was undefeated with him in the lineup and dropped two with him out...

do you REALLY think Brink was more deserving than Witt, Nester or Henirich just to name 3 Johnnies? Maybe DP should simply put out an ALL JOHNNIE team and forget the other 10 schools?

Henrich was a nice offensive player but teams really went at him defensively...Witt and Nester were very solid forwards, great complements to Bigalke on a team that went to the Sweet Sixteen.  Overall, I think Brink was the best of those mentioned but he is also the most recent, that can sway a person's decision.  You know I never mentioned those other guys I just looked at the list and did not see a guy I think was a very good player in this league that was on a team that went to the NCAA's, he had personal success and he was not all about his numbers, he wanted to do what was best for the team overall.

What is the matter maniac, do you have a problem with what I posted?  Nice personal attack, it's making me think twice about offering up any more opinions on SJU or any other team for that matter.  I gave you my take on team and who I thought should have been moved up...it was not an all-Johnnie take.  Someone else brought up Matt Ohme...a very good point guard, one of the best SJU has ever had, but is he an All-Decade player...maybe, I am not sure I would have to think about it...his role totally changed in his four years at SJU from a point guard who needed to score to win to a point guard who became a distributor to get others involved so the Js could win...

In closing...Forkrud was good...he was solid like Witt and Nester....Brink according to some coaches I spoke to was a great all-around player who would be a major focus for other teams tried to build their defensive game plan around containing...could you say that of Forkrud, no because of Zorro...Eric Jackson was a good point guard, personally I thought more of Ben Van Thore and Patrick Russell, and did his team have the success of Sweeney or Tebrake?  And as long as we are looking at team success, Linz who was a great player and Conboy who was good for a double-double most nights were not on teams that achieved alot of overall success when it came to wins and losses.  I guess when I look at the teams I regard players on teams that had greater success and their roles on them.

I love how the title of the list is an "arbitrary" list of players in the MIAC who were All-Decade, but the minute others offer up guys who they believe deserve to be on the list their suggestion is riddiculed...others have opinions fellas, I respect yours but I don't get the same vibe...but what ever Drake and Maniac think...it's their MIAC...good thing Bigalke won two MVP's or he probably would have been an after thought...

Congrats to Jim Smith on win number 700, hopefully this will be a building block for future success over the Thanksgiving Weekend @ Oshkosh.

[Willy Wonka]

You gotta love a bitter Johnnie broadcaster posting the night after his football season ends with a resounding thud after he'd been ridiculing any who dared opine that the SJU bandwagon could be defeated 

[bballfan247365]

Thanks for taking my call - LOVE the show....

Was at the BU - Stout game. 

IMO - It will be interesting to see this season who GETS to take the clutch shots and who WANTS to take the clutch shots...

There was a lot of "body language" that many on the floor were not on the same page.  Yes it is early - but will Dr. Westy and Dr. Perrel be able to cure that Psyche??? 

Also interested in any BU insight on the quote from your website "It was the first time since 2000-01 that the Royals did not win the Tip-Off Tournament".  Does that tarnish the Royal luster??

I will hang-up and listen.

[fredfalcon]

I have a post on the WIAC board to the effect that Augsburg, on the strength of their outstanding performance in the second half last night, will challenge for the top of the MIAC. (I say that without much knowledge of the overall strength of the league.)

I also think RF will give the Tommies all they can handle Tuesday night--if the Falcons play up to their first half performance last night.