MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Kilroy]

That link is embarrassing... ouch.

As far as UST... I think Reidemann could end up being very good for them. He's a lengthy, talented sophomore that seems versatile.

[piperinsider]

This guy is going to try to get back into the MIAC loop this season, but I can't make any guarantees at this point.

Nice to see the Tommies bounce back from losing at RF with a win at Concordia. It's great to see the Tommies put up 94 points and shoot 52.5 percent from the field, but I'm sure Tauer would rather see a game in the 70's if that's possible. Riedemen scores 26 on 11-13 from the floor??? That's about as efficient as it gets. Nice to see Hannon with 19 and 9, they'll need him to be a force inside this year.

UST is the MIAC favorite until someone beats them, but if they get there this year I have the feeling a lot of games will be hard-earned and won at the free-throw line.

Opening the conference with Olaf is a very intriguing match-up. Even though they're 1-3 this is probably their most talented roster in recent memory.

I'm excited to see how things take shape this year. The Tommies should be in good hands with Tauer.

Being back in the Cities for the first time since 2005, I would like to get back into the loop as well. We'll see how that goes with work and a family. Let's hit a game or two TH4L.

Looks pretty wide open for 1-4 and then 5-10. St. Mary's in their own "crappy" league.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

This guy is going to try to get back into the MIAC loop this season, but I can't make any guarantees at this point.

Nice to see the Tommies bounce back from losing at RF with a win at Concordia. It's great to see the Tommies put up 94 points and shoot 52.5 percent from the field, but I'm sure Tauer would rather see a game in the 70's if that's possible. Riedemen scores 26 on 11-13 from the floor??? That's about as efficient as it gets. Nice to see Hannon with 19 and 9, they'll need him to be a force inside this year.

UST is the MIAC favorite until someone beats them, but if they get there this year I have the feeling a lot of games will be hard-earned and won at the free-throw line.

Opening the conference with Olaf is a very intriguing match-up. Even though they're 1-3 this is probably their most talented roster in recent memory.

I'm excited to see how things take shape this year. The Tommies should be in good hands with Tauer.

Being back in the Cities for the first time since 2005, I would like to get back into the loop as well. We'll see how that goes with work and a family. Let's hit a game or two TH4L.

Looks pretty wide open for 1-4 and then 5-10. St. Mary's in their own "crappy" league.

welcome back, stranger 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

That link is embarrassing... ouch.

As far as UST... I think Reidemann could end up being very good for them. He's a lengthy, talented sophomore that seems versatile.

I couldn't agree more....with BOTH points. The Vavra story is shocking--- by all accounts, he was a stand-up guy while at Bethel, about the last person you'd expect to be inplicated in something like that.

[Drake Palmer]

Wow – the crazy times in the world around us seems to have reached the world of the MIAC.  This is too bad for both the alleged victim and young man.
***

Looks like the board is trading in one Willy Wonka poster/journalist for two TH4L & PI poster/journalists.  PI - you still doing the news thang, or did you move on to greener pastures?
Welcome back, hope to see you around the board. TH - you still in Northfield?
***

On to other matters, the 2011-2012 MIAC basketball season opener. Originally, I was planning on attending the game of the night -St. Olaf @ UST, but in an attempt to see all projected top 4 team in live action before the first of the year, I might have to switch things up.  With the rescheduling of the UST- GAC game to Saturday night, gives me a bit more flexibility..  Hmm decisions decisions.

Tonight's Games

GAC @ HAM- pickem. or Gusties by 2 pts.

SJU @ AUGS – originally I would have picked Augsburg, but after the Jays' win over UW-Stevens Point, who knows?  Dawgs by 7.

STO @ UST- if recent defensive tendencies are any indication, this game could also hit the 90s. But I suspect Coach Koz wll try to rein this one back in & keep the score in the 70s. TomCats by 5.

SMU @ CARL – a swift, decisive, butt kicking by the Carlies. Winning score not to exceed 70 pts.

CORD @ MAC – I wished I shared Mose's optimism for MAC, but early signs for this season don't look promising.  Is Andy Bowman, the other post for Mac injured? He hasn't done anything this season & would at least force opposing teams to acknowledge an inside presence. Now all they need to do is neutralize Pierce Peters & it becomes game, set & match. Cobbs by 13.

[piperinsider]

Looks like the board is trading in one Willy Wonka poster/journalist for two TH4L & PI poster/journalists.  PI - you still doing the news thang, or did you move on to greener pastures?
Welcome back, hope to see you around the board. TH - you still in Northfield?

Still hanging in there for a short longer. Living in Eagan and working for the Chaska/Chanhassen weekly papers. Moved within the company when I got married this July.

TH4L traded in his ink-stained hands for web work at WCCO.

[Retired Old Rat]

I have two tickets to Minnesota versus Virginia Tech for tonight.  8:15 tip off.  Good seats.  No charge.  Any Tommies interested will only be required to kiss my ring.  PM me if you are interested.  I'll be in St. Paul by about 6pm, can meet to pickup anytime after that.

[Retired Old Rat]

PI, welcome back.

Any insight on the sudden disappearance of your head football coach at the end of the game against St. John's?

[TommieHoops4Life]

DP,

PI leaked what I was prepared to confirm. I left Northfield at the end of July 2010 and took a freelance job producing web content for KARE-11. A position opened up at WCCO-TV towards the end of that run and they hired me so I'm in downtown Mpls now. Also preparing for a housing move to the northwest suburbs in early January (St. Michael to be exact). I now write about everything from convenience store robberies to prep football and also do a blog for Tommie football since we have a radio contract with them for games.

Should be a good MIAC season in store and I'm expecting one of the more competitive seasons in recent memory. I don't think any of the top for projected teams runs away with the regular season title. For once, I'd like to see it come down to the season's final game. Always makes playoff match-ups more exciting.

[Kilroy]

After 10 minutes, Carleton is up 33-2 on SMU.

... umm...

[miacsuperfan]

After 10 minutes, Carleton is up 33-2 on SMU.

... umm...

oh, my. 

[piperinsider]

PI, welcome back.

Any insight on the sudden disappearance of your head football coach at the end of the game against St. John's?

What is this football team you talk about? I think Hamline should do one more than the current owners of the old Paint Bucket did some years ago - drop football altogether. Bypass the independent schedule and just clean out Klas Center. 0-10. I'm sure the Vipers Football team will have another new coach by next season. To finally answer your question, no clue. Maybe getting beat 61-0 for the third time in 11 years by the Johnnies was too much for him.

"As snow flurries whipped around outdoors, the HU shooters went cold inside as we. As a result, Hamline dropped their MIAC opener, 73-60, to Gustvaus at Hutton Arena."

Oh, good, here I was thinking the Pipers were in for a long conference season. Good, it was just the flurries last night 

Hamline starting 5: 28 points, Bench 32.

No real surprises last night. St. Thomas is the team to beat. Carleton is either really good, or St. Mary's is the worst MIAC team in last 10-15 years. Macalester is who we thought they were. St. John's will have troubles scoring. Auggie Tech is top four. The long roadies don't really affect the Cords when playing non-superior teams. Oles not ready for the spotlight.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I headed to UST last night (big shock, I know) and liked what I saw for the most part. UST started strong, but fouls and good ft shooting pulled Olaf to a tie at the half. UST's atleticism, depth and overall talent helped them pull away down the stretch, although putrid 3-pt shooing by the Oles didnt hurt the purple.  Solid, MVP-caliber play by Hannon, great defense from Nance, all around solid play by Rederman, and some nifty passnig (especially by DeBerg) setting up some easy layups for UST. FY Connor Nord is an aggressive, phyiscal presence; his play prompted a sage gentleman sitting near me to say "he plays like Chris Palmer"-- an astute observation but lacking Palmer's outside shooting.

Sat NITE should be an interesting clash, as it always is when UST & GAC lock horns.

[Kilroy]

Besides Neville, the other four St. Olaf starters combined for 13 points, including one player with 0. And according to the box score, Jaryan didn't play. What is going on there?

Very solid night for Connor Nord; 12 and 8 with 16 minutes of time. UST has some good young talent on their roster right now. SJU does, too... I'm telling you, watch out for those Johnnies in two years.

[Drake Palmer]

Around the league

Carleton - winners over St. Mary 93-48 –

Quote from Redbirds coach Todd Landrum sums it up best:  "I've been involved in basketball for a long time, and that first half was the most embarrassing I have ever experienced as an athlete or a coach," said SMU coach Todd Landrum, whose Cardinals trailed 58-13 at the break. "The freshmen and (Tim) Kunkel (Northfield, Ill.) were the only ones who showed up to play tonight — the rest of the guys left their games on the bus."

Augsburg soundly defeat St. Johns  at home  - 60-45.  I honestly expected a much closer game than this. Get up Parker Hines 18 crumbs, 5 assists.

Concordia slips by MAC on the road – 64-57. The Scots show perhaps a glimmer of hope as they find a post guy – JR Sam Marshall (Sam who?) to replace the MIA Andy Bowman. 20 pts, 8 rebs, Pierce Peters 16pts, 7 rebs.   Now if the Scots can get their outside game going.  Justin Wasik – what's going ?

The Cobbs sneaking back up on respectability. Ebo Nana-Kweson & Dewon McKenzie leading the way with 18 & 11 pts.

Gustavus slips out with a road victory at Hamline – 73-60.  The old system beats the new system. Seth Anderson another cool night over 20 pts.