MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[papahoops]

Although low scoring, the UST/Carleton game was very entertaining, with UST being very fortunatate to squeak out a 58-55 victory over the Jonker Kong express in St. Paul today. UST struggled the whole game offensively as Joe Scott's shooting woes continued (2-12) and the Carlie defense kept Tyler Nicolai from getting many good looks. UST managed only 2 treys in 13 attempts for the game. Carleton probably should have won, but a 9-24 shooting performance from the line (including 5 straight misses in the last 15 seconds that would have sealed a victory) killed their chance of stealing a road victory.

Other than their miserable foul shooting today, I was very impressed with the strides the Carleton team has made since early in the season, and can see why they have chaulked up so many recent victories thrusting themselves into the playoff picture.

[piperinsider]

We're comin! 1/2 game out of second with two winnable road games at SMU and SJU the next two Wednesdays. More tomorrow....

[bballfan247365]

Bueller? - Bueller?; Anyone? - Anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ1V-2dpm5o

I always love when they say that one.... 

Hello? - Is everyone in South Beach this weekend to root for the Vikings??

Crazy Weekend in the MIAC and no posts....

Pipes over GAC by 3
Auggie Tech over Mac by 3
Cobbers over the Johnnies by 3
Tommies over the "Eastsiders" of Northfield by 3..

THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmKRyLdBho

I always love when they sing that one.... 


My TMZ Report for the day: 

Fun crowd at Hutton - have not seen the building that full since Hopkins played St. Thomas Academy for the Joe Hutton Holiday Tourney Championship a few years back;  NBA Hall of Famer (and HU Alum) - Vern Mickelson in the house;  the University President up dancing in the stands and Patrick Reusse taking in the game as well...

Anxious to hear the rest...  two weeks left and only one team has clinched a playoff spot so far... 

I will hang up and listen....

[Drake Palmer]

1)  12+ hour posting reprieve for the  Gusties.

2) Limited posting access Saturday & Sunday morning, but will follow up Sunday night or Monday. 

3) Yes, Willy I gave up all things purple (as i often do) & watched the maroon & gray take on the black & gold. And why not, it lived up to the hype - excellent ball game!

4) Even Reusse commented that it must be a great game if Coach Hanson stood up during the game.

5)  Phil Wirtjes was clutch early in the 2nd half  & hit some big treys.

6) FY James J who? (Hill) came off  the bench looking like UST's Mike Keating & hit some big shots when it looked like the Pipes were going to pull away (2 big treys & long range jumper)

7)  GAC defense was solid, Pipe defense was outstanding.  Someone might want to start looking at Nick Carroll for All Defense team, he was solid on Van Sickle.

8)  The heart of the Hamline D was obviously Brown & Hipp. BIG.

9)  One great shot Brown had late in the 2nd half. he drove hard to the basket, misssed the layup, & quick as a cat, jumped back up & tipped it in with his left before the Gustie defenders even had a chance to respond.

10)  I've not seen a player seemingly mature in front of my eyes as fast as Carl Hipp did this week. He was the man & even made some late game, highly pressurized FTs to seal to the game. Although one of the last fouls was sorta questionable.   

Hipp basically said,  "Don't you even think about crowning anybody else the king of the post players in this league."    Yesterday he was.  Stud.

24/7 - to a small extent A little bit of this took place yesterday...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpaOuDVl4cI

[huhoops]

Congrats to HU on the quality win at home yesterday. I was most impressed with the fact that they were able to win a game against a team like GAC that stayed in the 60's. The HU defense was very solid (actually both teams played pretty good D) and they handled business on the boards much better than in St. Peter (lost the rebounding battle by 18 first time around--won 31-30 yesterday).

GAC:

* Wirtjes is a stud. He is the one player on their team who can actually go inside off the dribble as well as having the outside threat as a shooter. He passes well, rebounds, and plays hard nosed D.

* Paulson looked confused in the post. A couple of early travels and some awkward shot attempts. He actually looked like Hipp did the first time around  

* Hill provided quality minutes off the bench. He was left WIDE open a few times on missed assignments late in the game and he made HU pay on every one.

* Blacklock, Anderson, and Grey were basic non-factors yesterday (combined 9 points and 2/12 from the field in 50 minutes). The first time around the trio went 12/15 with 29 points in 52 minutes.

* Wonka, you were right, GAC played Brown straight up the entire game. I was really impressed with the minimal amount of shots he forced. Paulson, McPartland, Crowder, Anderson, and Wirtjes all guarded him at certain points in the game.

HU:

* Hipp and Brown did a great job (especially Hipp) staying down against the crafty GAC posts and contesting on the ground. McPartland was relatively ineffective down low and as I said before, Paulson never seemed comfortable.

* HU worked their offense and got the ball to Hipp in great spots to score. He sealed well and held off the bigger, stronger GAC posts.

* Drake, ditto on Carroll. He's been instrumental in slowing down the conference's top scorers all year.

* This is such a different team when they have a scoring punch coming in off the bench. When Rieg, Taber, and Andersen come in looking for their shot, it makes defenses come out and defend which gives Hipp better looks inside.

* Kudos to Brown for playing under control and picking his spots offensively. I stand firm that no one will be able to guard this team if he plays like he did yesterday.

* Congrats to Hipp on 1,000 pts. Not a bad way to get it  

As nice as it was to get a win yesterday, SMU will be looking to spoil HU's playoff plans. HU has stumbled on the road multiple times this season, so they had better get their heads on straight for the home stretch.

[miacsuperfan]

carl MV hipP

[piperinsider]

Dear Hamline:
For only the third time in 10 years of supporting you, games in February actually mean something. We had a fun run down the stretch in 2003 and in 2006 we had a special moment in Collegeville.

But, as a Piper fan (and, yes, I still remember the infamous "Piper Clap" cheer), I can say this current basketball season has been the proudest moment of them all. I've driven an hour-plus three times this season, including down a highway one afternoon with drifts taller than my truck. I've also followed on the webcasts numerous times.

I mean, a win over Gustavus and a season sweep over Bethel in the same season? Preposterious statement in the past, but not this year. This year we have Ray Ray and the Hippster, Schmidty and Aggie, DA and CC-cre, TT-tin.

I always say it's more important to finish strong down the stretch than get off to a good start. Of the five teams you lost to in the first conference loop, you are now 4-0 the second time through. And with our home winning streak, why can't we make it 5-0? It's Payback time.

Go out and take care of business at Winona and I'll see you at Sexton on the 17th.

Piperinsider

[bballfan247365]

PI -

Please accept my humble apologies for ever doubting your intentions or loyalty to the HU Bandwagon.  I would see how it would be hard to get overly excited for another season when you have lost 4 super bowls and lost on last second field goals in 2 championship games... 

I think your loyalty will be rewarded for not retiring.. 

The second part of my TMZ report that I forgot is that the class for your 2010 pipers has a great start.  That was Josh Pratt from St. Anthony HS (the 6'5" athletic wing who scores 18 plus a game) sporting that Maroon & Grey with Hamline Pipers printed all over. 

From what I have heard - he committed two weeks ago.  He was heavily recruited by most of the MIAC schools & on the list of a couple of D2's.   From what I also heard - he was seen in person (several times) by the head coaches from the Gusties, Johnnies, Knights, Ollies & Royals as well as a late and hard push by the Tommies..

With that start - the HU basketball Staff may follow up the top class with another top class!!! 

Looks like Christmas all over for PI and the HU Bandwagon... 

[Nites]

Although low scoring, the UST/Carleton game was very entertaining, with UST being very fortunatate to squeak out a 58-55 victory over the Jonker Kong express in St. Paul today. UST struggled the whole game offensively as Joe Scott's shooting woes continued (2-12) and the Carlie defense kept Tyler Nicolai from getting many good looks. UST managed only 2 treys in 13 attempts for the game. Carleton probably should have won, but a 9-24 shooting performance from the line (including 5 straight misses in the last 15 seconds that would have sealed a victory) killed their chance of stealing a road victory.

Other than their miserable foul shooting today, I was very impressed with the strides the Carleton team has made since early in the season, and can see why they have chaulked up so many recent victories thrusting themselves into the playoff picture.

STU just knows how to win.  They unleashed their tough free throw defense down the stretch and they were able to hold on for the W.     They "held" Jonkey Kong and Rosett to a combined 2-13 from the line.   

The Knights are now shooting under .600 from the line on the year.

[miacsuperfan]

Although low scoring, the UST/Carleton game was very entertaining, with UST being very fortunatate to squeak out a 58-55 victory over the Jonker Kong express in St. Paul today. UST struggled the whole game offensively as Joe Scott's shooting woes continued (2-12) and the Carlie defense kept Tyler Nicolai from getting many good looks. UST managed only 2 treys in 13 attempts for the game. Carleton probably should have won, but a 9-24 shooting performance from the line (including 5 straight misses in the last 15 seconds that would have sealed a victory) killed their chance of stealing a road victory.

Other than their miserable foul shooting today, I was very impressed with the strides the Carleton team has made since early in the season, and can see why they have chaulked up so many recent victories thrusting themselves into the playoff picture.

STU just knows how to win.  They unleashed their tough free throw defense down the stretch and they were able to hold on for the W.     They "held" Jonkey Kong and Rosett to a combined 2-13 from the line.   

The Knights are now shooting under .600 from the line on the year.

amazing.  carleton's opponents have made 46 more free throws on nearly the same amount of attempts as the knights.   coach k has to be a bit concerned about this.  not what you would expect from a disciplined, well coached team.  missing free throws is like the basketball equivilent of careless false start penalties in football.   

[Drake Palmer]

Hmm, I understand it being Super Bowl weekend & everything, but not a peep from the posters who follow the fortunes of the Gusties and Johnnies?  To a certain extent, I understand the man with the initials as he's been asked to post sparingly about SJU.  Sum, no short road trip over to Spud town to check out the Jays & Cobbers? And then the Gusties – Willy, G-Man, Gacbacker, Westie?

I think we're well well past the 24 hour posting moratorium after your team suffers a particularly troubling, defeat.

Nites, where's the special cap we have reserved for special occasions like this?



And Denzel even has the colors right - black & gold.  

[sumander]

J's have not played well of late up in Moorhead. CORD will be fired up after Wednesday's big win.

DP, No trip over to CORD on Saturday, I had a premonition about this one. I have seen the J's struggle enough times at Memorial Auditorium. I did not feel the need to experience another occasion.

CORD is 2-0 with wins over AUG and SJU since Coach Glas (ceiling) called them out in the Fool-Em a week ago.

[sumander]

I hope with the crush of people on the HU bandwagon they don't break an axle over the last 3 games!

Otherwise we might have to get the SJU bandwagon out of Fin's gee-rodge and rent it to em!

[Drake Palmer]

I hope with the crush of people on the HU bandwagon they don't break an axle over the last 3 games!
Otherwise we might have to get the SJU bandwagon out of Fin's gee-rodge and rent it to em!

Break an axle, they might wipe out the bridge!  

Speaking of humor, during the Super Bowl last night did anyone see that Bud beer commercial with the stupid human bridge? Dumb!

[VOJ]

Hmm, I understand it being Super Bowl weekend & everything, but not a peep from the posters who follow the fortunes of the Gusties and Johnnies?  To a certain extent, I understand the man with the initials as he's been asked to post sparingly about SJU.  Sum, no short road trip over to Spud town to check out the Jays & Cobbers? And then the Gusties – Willy, G-Man, Gacbacker, Westie?

I think we're well well past the 24 hour posting moratorium after your team suffers a particularly troubling, defeat.

Nites, where's the special cap we have reserved for special occasions like this?



And Denzel even has the colors right - black & gold.  

Sorry fellas...was not on computer much after our road trip home...

Concordia did a great job of defending SJU at times, but at times, especially in the second half the Johnnies were their own worst enemy with 9 turnovers the most costly coming out of a timeout with under 30 seconds left, some quick shots that were a little forced and not in the rhythm of the offense.  The Johnnies who entered the game as the number one team in 3 point shooting in the MIAC finished 3 for 12 from beyond the arc including a tying three that front rimmed at the buzzer.

The Cobbers not eliminated from playoff contention but need to win out and get help.  IF they play like they did against Hamline, Auggy and SJU, winning out is a possibilty but not probable.  Ebo Nana Kweson is a real talent he should be on the All First Year team.

Johnnies will have to put this one behind them and the fact that if they would have won up at CC they would have been in a second place tie with Gustavus.  Augsburg on the road on Wednesday, another challenge...the gauntlet has started for the Johnnies that is for sure.

I am not surprised that Hamline beat GAC...and you have to make your FT's Knights...for a team that is so fundamentally solid in so many parts of the game, well coached, and really gets the most out of their talent...their lack of success at the line is truly surprising.