MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sumander]

Word out of Hamline is that Kyle Foster turned an ankle in practice on Tuesday and is day-to-day. 

PiperInsider, Any word on Foster's status for the game tomorrow? I see he didn't play on Wednesday at SMU. If he can't go who would the pipers put on C. Schafer? Schafer, in my opinion is quietly having a very nice season(12.4ppg,7.1reb). He creates the same opportunities for Lieser & Westman as Foster does for Thrasher and DeRock.

[BETHEL34]

ustbumkneez-
I also was very baffled, but not at the coaches more at the players who were gaurding Schnettler.  I don't even recall who was on him the whole game, because he was that wide open.  I wasn't baffled at the coaches becuase that is how they coach.  I don't agree with it, but they just don't ever tell you to not help off someone.  In my experience, only one time in  the four yr's i was at Bethel, did coaches tell us to not help off someone.  It was my Freshmen yr, i wasn't even playing, and it was in the championship game against St Thomas.  Coach just mentioned to not help off so much on Fin.

I think most of it is that they believe in their system, and if you play good hard Def using their principles that they taught, then Schnettler shouldn't be getting that wide open anyways.  That is how they see it.  They don't like to make those adjustments to the def like not helping off of someone, because then you have to make adjustments to the whole def.   I have never agreed with that, but that is how they coach.  I know as a player i would rather make sweeny try to finish then helping off and giving Schnettler a wide open three.  I'd put money on Schnettler hitting a wide open three then sweeny trying to finish a drive amoungst the big guys down low.   That is why i mentioned in my early post that sometimes as a player you have to take things into your own hands.  And that is why i was baffled at the players and not as much at the coaches.   I remember many times in my career that if i was gaurding "him" or if Travis was gaurding "him", we weren't going to help off.  There were certain players that we just weren't going to help off.  But it was always something that as players we had to take into our own hands, because the coaches never would talk about it.  They would talk about how they are a good shooter or give us their percentages for the yr.  But, they would never suggest not to help off someone and to just stay glued to them.  That is why you will always here westy yelling, "Get in the Gap!"  They feel that you should be able to help enough and then get back to your guy in time.  Most players that will work, but for Schnettler, and some of the good shooters that are out there.  All they need is a split second of being open to make it a high percentage shot. 

[localcoach]

Bethel34 - I can name you at least a pair of MIAC coaches who will not help off Schnettler.  The only other guys I can think of might be Eckhoff, if he wasn't injured, and guys like Espo and yourself when you played.  I do however laugh at the coaches and players for that matter who don't realize how good and how quick Schnettler's shot/release is.  His range is out of this world. 

sumander - I want the same answer that you do.  If Foster doesn't play tomorrow that will be a tough match-up inside for Hamline.  My assumption would be that Joe Smock would start again, like he did against Saint Mary's this week.  However if I remember correctly, Smock is more a guard than a forward?

[piperinsider]

Foster is day-to-day. It just kind of a game-decision thing.

Kory Kelzer would replace him most likely. 6'5 and lanky.

More to come...

[sumander]

PiperInsider,

I am not too familiar with the Hamline players. What does Charley Good bring to the table? Would they consider putting him on Schafer. If Kelzer is lanky I think Schafer, after having wrestling match with Conboy on Wednesday, will have Kelzer for lunch.

[localcoach]

piperinsider - Are you saying that Mr. Kelzer would play the post position for Hamline?  I thought that he too was more a forward/guard.

sumander - The game will feature a lot of interesting match-ups.  How will the Pipers handle Henrichs and Schafer and how will the Johnnies handle DeRock, Thrasher, and Wiener.  I think the key will be, can St. John's shoot well from the outside, make their free-throws, and control the pace of the game.  Hamline likes to get up and down more then anyone in the MIAC and if they get going, they're much more athletic, particularly in terms of the forwards and posts.
All in all it should be a very competitive game, and as was mentioned by previous posters it's huge for both teams in terms of their standing in the conference.

[sumander]

Local, Thanks for the insight. I wish I was able to attend this one in person! Will you be in attendance?

I think a healthy B. Brink gives the Johnnies one option for defending Mr. Thrasher. If his playing time is limited I'm not sure who they put on him (Henrichs?). I presume Ohme will have the task of trying to shot down Mr. DeRock.

I agree, it will be a big win for either team!

[ustbumkneez]

B34
I figured that was the case, that it was a little bit of stubborness by Bjorklund. It just seemed that at a certain point, if he really wanted to get back in the game, he was going to have to swallow his pride and make an adjustment. Like you said, TP or Blazejak should have made the decision themselves. Though Im not sure it would have made much of a difference in terms of having a shot at winning, it certainly would have helped the game from getting THAT out of hand.

[piperinsider]

I guess Good would be the better match-up, but I would expect to see Kelzer guard him as well if Foster can't go. A lot can happen from Tuesday to Saturday.

[miacwatchmen]

Wow ......I thought i could make it a day without posting but no. It sounds like the Johnnies could really use the amazing defensive skills of Joe Shimek. What a joke he is. The Johnnies could put Henrichs on Thrasher or even Jacob Kincade. Kincade is long lanky and a good jumper. He would be a pest and maybe could contain Thrasher to a minimal night. As for DeRock I think Sumander is correct Ohme will guard him and they may keep fresh legs on both of Hamline's freshman all afternoon. Also i agree with Sumander if you put a lanky person on the Schafers inside then expect a huge game from Craig Schafer. He ate up Conboy and he has the ability to play with anyone inside.

[miacwatchmen]

Another point to bring up is the fact that Hamline beat MAC by 6 (77-71) and CAR by 6 (81-75) that is pretty close to the Johnnies beating MAC by 4 (75-71) and CAR by 8 (77-69). Both teams mopped up on STO. However Hamline lost to St. Scholastica 77-59 and CSS is 5-8 this year with a loss to a very young and weak Wis. Eau Claire team by 16. I suspect the Johnnies should win this one if they play as well as they are capable of.

[Drake Palmer]

The SJU Hamline match up looks to be a real intriguing game.  After watching the Johnnies beat Bethel earlier this season, I posted that I thought the HAM vs. SJU game could be a fun game to watch.  They've got similar type of athletes, size, & quickness. We know Wohler will turn the troops loose, but if Coach Smith chose to unlock the shackles, we could have a beaut!  90 something to 80 something.

I think the big difference is going to be which team is tougher – physically & mentally tougher.  At this stage of the season I'd say Hamline still makes some boneheaded mental plays, but for the most part, they get after the opposing team & are physically tough.  Ask the Tommies how tough the Pipes can be.  On the other hand I'm not so sure about the Johnnies right now.  This toughness factor is one reason I think they got hammered by the Tommies, lost to SMU, & barely beat MAC.

I think Local is right.  If the Johnnies want to win, they need to force their will on Hamline & make them play at a pace they're uncomfortable with.  Take care of the ball, take good shots, pound the ball inside, kick it back out for the Westman & or Ohme trey.  The "GETS": Get physical on Defense, Get Smart (be smart  ) Get out & run when the opportunity arises, & Get the swagger back in their stride.  Otherwise, the Pipes will run them out of Joe Hutton arena & back up 94.

At the other end of the state, I think SMU might be a little short on the talent end of the stick, but they've been playing tough.  If the Tommies take them lightly & don't respect them, SMU could lay a little whoopa$$ on the Tommies.

Local – In addition to my Trib & PP sports sections, I'm expecting to see a detailed, insightful, & witty   analysis of the Hamline vs. Johnnie game from you when I return from my travels.  8)

[sumander]

On the other hand I'm not so sure about the Johnnies right now.  This toughness factor is one reason I think they got hammered by the Tommies, lost to SMU, & barely beat MAC

Drake, once again you hit the nail on the head. The Johnnies are at a very critical point in their schedule. They have Auggie at home on Monday and then go on the road to GAC,Con,STO,Car. I thought playing 4 straight games against D-ll schools was going to toughen the Johnnies up. Watching them play at UST I thought it had the opposite effect. They looked intimidated. I passed that off and thought it was jet lag from the Hawaii trip. Then they go to Winona and stink up the gym!

If the Johnnies don't find some resolve this weekend, they could be 4-9 or 5-8 by the end of the month!

[sju4life]

There seems to be talk about how are the pipers going to stop henrichs and schaefer and how are the johnnies gunna stop hamlines backcourt?  Its hard for me to make this arguement but the johnnies backcourt is pretty good with leiser, ohme, and westman.  Nobady is saying much but westman has only played in 6 games this year and as of now he is our leading scorer at 13 points a game.  He is shooting 48% from the 3point line and put up 18 vs mac.  The 4 games sju lost recently they have shot a horrific percentage from the floor.  The beginning of the year they were shooting like they were capable of and were 5-2.  If sju shoots like they can tomorrow they will have no problem at all with hamline nor many teams in the miac if they continue their shooting woes like they did againt smu and mac (10-22 from freethrow line) then it will surely go down to the wire.  I think everyone is underestimating the defense lieser and westman provide as well, keep that in mind too.

[sju4life]

here is kind of an interesting stat, may spark talk or may not but.. in the johnnies 6 wins this year they have shot an average of 48.5% and won by an average of 10.5 points and in their 6 losses of the year they have shot a lousy 37% and lost by 20.9 points.  Seems to me that they are either hit or miss, either they win by a good amount or get killed.  Why is that?  I mean some teams can play bad but still hang around and maybe sneak out a win but it seems as of SJU plays bad its all over.