MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

York and Wash U players out to an early lead on Seth Anderson in the D3hoops.com Fan Vote for the NABC All-Star Game. Vote between now and 11 a.m. Wednesday!

http://www.d3hoops.com/landing/index

[Drake Palmer]

Well –I guess someone has got to put a wrap to the season.  Another good year in the MIAC. Parity made the league more balanced & league games more competitive, but possibly didn't help the MIAC on the national stage.   

I made it over to River Falls on Friday night to check out our local MIAC team in action.  Good upps by Gustavus in their opening round loss to Wheaton in the NCAA.  The Gusties were outmanned at virtually every position physically, quickness, size or height wise.  Their guards had very good size, speed and athleticism, and had two very talented post players.  It's a shame Bobby Johnson was plagued by injuries throughout his career.  He and Paul Blacklock could have been a real nice post tandem.  As it is, aside from foul tendencies, Blacklock was one of the better MIAC post defenders in recent years.  Seth Anderson & crew were solid, but just got beat by a bigger, stronger & better team. There was a real nice turnout by Gusties fans & the student section & support was outstanding.

Nice opening round win by UST in OT over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, only to come back and get manhandled by UW-Whitewater the following night.  No shame in losing to a very talented team, but I was more than a little surprised by the nearly 30 point beat down the UWW put on the Tommies.

Next year the Tommies look to be the team to beat again in the MIAC, and could possibly make noise at a national level.  The only senior they'll lose who clocked a lot of time was Peter Leslie and backup post – Josh Pedretti.  I've also heard from various sources that if Tommy Hannon's knee recovers, he might come back for a 5th and final year.

Gustavus will be wiped out with the loss of Seth Anderson & 5 other seniors; Oles will lose Fong & Neville; Carleton loses Caleb Rosenow, and Augsburg loses their post players – AGG & Cory Polta. SJU lose Aaron Barmore & Andy Burns, & Hamline loses Mike Campbell.  I've also heard that Bethel's Taylor Hall will not be returning as he plans on graduating this spring.  That would be a big loss for the Royals.  Can anyone confirm or deny this information? 

So, that's all I got from my corner of the world unless some new posters decide to start posting.  I'll check back in periodically with some useless drivel, trivia or random observation – mebbe even basketball related. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Congrats to Seth Anderson (First Team), andy Grezsiak-Grimm and Bobby Fong (third team) on being named All-West Region by d3hoops
http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2011-12/west-men

[Kilroy]

Looks like UST listed an opening at head coach? Any other shakeups across the league?

[Pat Coleman]

Remember that John Tauer was hired as an interim head coach when Steve Fritz stepped down. While the job has to technically be opened, I doubt that St. Thomas intends to replace Tauer.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

about the only way I see UST going with someone other than Tauer is if Johnny decides he doesnt want the job...teaching, tenured professor and raising 2 youngsters is a full plate. However, he is blessed with some incredible assistants, so the workload of coaching isnt overwhelming, so I'd say he wants it.

maybe EL Sid can get his Old Friend Bobby K to apply?  Ha

[TommieHoops4Life]

UST legally has to do its due diligence to name Fritz's permanent replacement. When I talked to Tauer a few weeks ago, he wouldn't touch the subject with a 10 foot pole and understandably so with his team getting ready for the NCAAs.

I'm sure they'll conduct a few interviews because they're obligated to do so, but like Maniac said, I would be stunned if it ended up being anyone other than Tauer. Not that he needs a resume builder, but winning the MIAC and an NCAA game in your first year as head coach should seal the deal. He's a great coach, great guy and deserves to have interim label removed.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

yet another honor for mr anderson-- way to go seth:
http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/2012

[Pat Coleman]

A good night for Seth Anderson:
http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/03/nabc-all-star-stats.pdf

[piperinsider]

Tonka's Joe Risinger said on his Twitter account that he is headed to St. John's

[carletonsid]

Not sure if this passes for basketball news or not, but congrats to former Carleton great Scott Krohn for landing a big-time gig at 3M!

[TommieHoops4Life]

I emailed some people at UST last week about the coaching job and Fritz is out on vacation until Monday. The SID tells me they'll be conducting interviews this month and hope to have a full-time coach in place by early May.

Maniac is more in the loop on this than me, but I would be stunned if Tauer doesn't get the job. The only way that happens is if he gets an offer and turns it down, which I think is highly unlikely.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

its official...Tauer drops "interim" and takes the helm as UST's 22nd coach (and only the third since 1954):

http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/news/Tauer_423.html


Congrats JT!

[piperinsider]

Talked to Hamline SID Dave Wright and was pleased to hear positive reviews about the new AD Jason Verdugo, the coach of the baseball program since 2002 or 2003 I believe. Wright told me Verdugo expects "accountability" within the Pipers' coaching ranks.

He turned around a program that was near the bottom of the MIAC and outside of this year turned into into a perennial top-4 team in the MIAC. Football will be the toughest obviously, but there is no reason why Hamline has to be near the bottom in a lot of sports.

Also was told the first night football game (in a long time) at Hamline against Augsburg in September is a go. That should be sweet!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

bad news for SW State ...even tho they aren't D3, I will keep the Bigler famly in my prayers:

http://www.startribune.com/local/164193716.html