MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

*Don't ever let it be said that Drake Palmer doesn't man up. 

Taylor Hall met arguably his closest rival for the league MVP, & blew the contest out of the water.  Other weekend activities interfered with posting and actually making it out to a game, but I did watch a bit of the Bethel –Carleton game on the web, & Hall was clearly the most dominant & talented player on the court.  I would still contend that Guy Kalland has less talent to work with than Jeff Westlund at Bethel, which until Saturday would have given Scott Theisen a fighting chance at the MVP.  Scott Theisen did end up with another double-double as he had 11 pts, 11 rebs, 7 assists, 2 blks, & 2 steals.  However, Hall's signature performance in a money game nearly makes this argument moot, although it will be interesting to see how he'll fare against the Tommies the 2nd time around. In the first game Bethel got clocked by UST 90-48, & Hall ended up with 9 pts & 2 rebs.

*Cobbs are making things exciting up in Moorhead as they have now defeated 1st & 2nd place UST & Agusburg on their home court. On Saturday the Cobbs manhandled Augsburg 88-68.

*Not unlike their broadcast radio station, "Relevant Radio," the Jays are relevant and definitely in the hunt for the playoffs.   I thought the Gusties had the game in hand when they led by 6 points with under 6 minutes to play, but the Jays made another stirring comeback,59-57.

*Gustavus will have a dogfight to stay at .500 ball, & will probably need to go 4-2 in their last 6 games just to make the playoffs.  SMU, Hamline, & Mac are 3 games they have to win.  In the last 3 games of the season they need to get at least one victory against UST @ home, or @ Carleton, or at what is now an intimidating place to play - @ Moorhead against the Cobbs.

*The Oles still have an outside shot at the playoffs with a 6-7 record, but will have to win at least 4-5 games of their remaining seven to get within sniffing range of the playoffs.  @ Concordia, Bethel, @ Carleton, Hamline, @ Augsburg, @ UST, SJU.  Stranger things have happened, but I don't see this happening.

*A little bird said that Coach Whitmore was not on the bench for the Hamline –UST game on Saturday & AD Jason Verdugo continues in the interim role of head basketball coach.  I spoke with a former Hamline player a few weeks ago when this unfortunate story first broke, and it was his opinion that this is the end of the Whitmore era at Hamline.

[carletonsid]

As I said, without question Taylor Hall is the leader in the clubhouse for MIAC POY.  Saturday's result reinforced this thought.

Mr. Theisen had a nice all around game, but two things stuck out.  He was 3-9 shooting and his team lost.  Your best player should not have the third most shots in a big game such as this one. 

Mr. Hall's stat line was ridiculous.  15 for 24 shooting - 37 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers. 

Down the street, the Pipers are 1-8 since the incident.  Looking at their schedule they might beat MAC but I don't see any other games where they will be favored.  It could be a long off season at HU.

Good points all around on Hall and Theisen. Obviously Hall got the better of this match-up, and I think in large part because of Hall himself. He's tall enough to play behind Theisen in the post and quick enough to stay in front of him on the perimeter. Not many guys in the MIAC can do that from the 4 spot. The Royals then have the bulk down low to have someone on Taylor Hanson, although it looks like they had trouble staying with Goetz (5-10 on three-pointers).  I would argue that the Knights need Theisen to do much more than the Royals need Hall to do, but Hall is a marvelous player and probably the leader in the clubhouse for player of the year.

Tough loss for the Knights, but still like how the schedule lays out for them to maybe go 5-2 or 4-3 down the stretch. UST at home Wednesday, then at SMU Saturday. After that, finish with four of final five games at home, with lone road contest at Macalester.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

A win Saturday will offically clinch at least a share of the MIAC regular season title for UST and a win + a Cobber loss will assure the Tommies of the #1 seed.

This leaves seven teams battling for the final 5 playoff spots and positioning. Could this be the year GAC's string of playoff appearences ends @ 12?

Impressive performance @ Carleton last night....very workman-like... unflappable, steady play. Good to see Kaiser back, altho his shooting looked a little rusty. Also nice seeing Tengwall back in action too....and shooting! The defense bottled up Theisen in the 2nd half, allowing him just 2 points...also held Sawatzke to just a three for the 2nd half.

[gustie12]

Being at the Gustavus-Hamline game today, I noticed the Hamline team plays chippy and talks...a lot. Leadership from a head position definitely seems to be lacking. It will be interesting to see what happens after the season. A changing of the guard definitely should occur in my opinion.

I also enjoyed the fact Hamline was complaining about calls to the referees. And eventually a technical was given. I wonder if they stopped complaining so much and actually played the game that they might be successful. They have an ego and I don't know where they got it from.

[John Gleich]

Being at the Gustavus-Hamline game today, I noticed the Hamline team plays chippy and talks...a lot. Leadership from a head position definitely seems to be lacking. It will be interesting to see what happens after the season. A changing of the guard definitely should occur in my opinion.

But, if they were going to "change the guard" why didn't they do it right away and announce an interim head coach? That would make more sense.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Kind of hard to have leadership at Hamline when the guy running the program is suspended. I've heard it's for the rest of the season and that Mr. Whitmore is unlikely to be back.

Anyone out there know why the MIAC web site has UST beating Augsburg 80-60 on Saturday when it was really 66-56, at least according to the UST/Augsburg sites? Tommies can wrap up a record 8th straight MIAC title with a win over Bethel tonight. It certainly sounds like the MIAC is a 1-team league this year for the NCAA tourney unless somebody beats UST in the playoffs.

Also could be time to revisit the MIAC Playoffs schedule... Why in the world would you ever have the title game on a Sunday afternoon? I understand there's scheduling issues/traveling issues depending on playoff teams and who makes the finals, but it makes absolutely no sense to me. Get the title game back on Saturday night where it belongs, makes for the best atmosphere you can have for a title game.

It will be very interesting to see how the last 4 games transpire for those looking to make the playoffs and those jockeying for seeding.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

TH4L-
I am pretty sure the host team is responsible for updating the MIAC website for socres & results. Augs hosted UST in a women's/men's double header and the score of the women's game was 80-60, so my guess is that their SID put the wrong score in on that page. If you look at the statistics area on the MIAC site, the correct data was uploaded there. (your employer has had worse snafaus )

As I understand it, the league playoff schedule is drawn up in coordination with the coaches. Maybe the best way to get it changed would be to lobby the coaches....same for the ridiculous M/W doubleheaders. It is chaos but kind of funny to watch the gym empty out and refill with an entire new audience in the 20 minutes or so between games. Id say less than 5% of the crowd stays for both. Not to mention the waste of the players time.....in most cases they are forced to sit there for 2-3 hours waiting for the other gender's game to get over so they can get on the bus and get back to campus.....all this to save the schools a (very very) few bucks.

[AO]

As I understand it, the league playoff schedule is drawn up in coordination with the coaches. Maybe the best way to get it changed would be to lobby the coaches....same for the ridiculous M/W doubleheaders. It is chaos but kind of funny to watch the gym empty out and refill with an entire new audience in the 20 minutes or so between games. Id say less than 5% of the crowd stays for both. Not to mention the waste of the players time.....in most cases they are forced to sit there for 2-3 hours waiting for the other gender's game to get over so they can get on the bus and get back to campus.....all this to save the schools a (very very) few bucks.

When are these M/W doubleheaders, thought the women played on Saturday night?  Doubleheaders seem to work pretty well for the UMAC.  Makes for a good atmosphere late in the 2nd half of the women's game as the men's crowd shows up.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

As I understand it, the league playoff schedule is drawn up in coordination with the coaches. Maybe the best way to get it changed would be to lobby the coaches....same for the ridiculous M/W doubleheaders. It is chaos but kind of funny to watch the gym empty out and refill with an entire new audience in the 20 minutes or so between games. Id say less than 5% of the crowd stays for both. Not to mention the waste of the players time.....in most cases they are forced to sit there for 2-3 hours waiting for the other gender's game to get over so they can get on the bus and get back to campus.....all this to save the schools a (very very) few bucks.

When are these M/W doubleheaders, thought the women played on Saturday night?  Doubleheaders seem to work pretty well for the UMAC.  Makes for a good atmosphere late in the 2nd half of the women's game as the men's crowd shows up.

Every Sat is W/M doubleheader and some of the weeknights are too, depending on if it involves Cord or SMU

[Walter Eagle]

As I understand it, the league playoff schedule is drawn up in coordination with the coaches. Maybe the best way to get it changed would be to lobby the coaches....same for the ridiculous M/W doubleheaders. It is chaos but kind of funny to watch the gym empty out and refill with an entire new audience in the 20 minutes or so between games. Id say less than 5% of the crowd stays for both. Not to mention the waste of the players time.....in most cases they are forced to sit there for 2-3 hours waiting for the other gender's game to get over so they can get on the bus and get back to campus.....all this to save the schools a (very very) few bucks.

When are these M/W doubleheaders, thought the women played on Saturday night?  Doubleheaders seem to work pretty well for the UMAC.  Makes for a good atmosphere late in the 2nd half of the women's game as the men's crowd shows up.

Every Sat is W/M doubleheader and some of the weeknights are too, depending on if it involves Cord or SMU

Not even close to being accurate.  For UST the only M/W doubleheaders this year are Concordia, Hamline and Augsburg.  Concordia is the only one requiring a bus.

[gustie12]

After looking at the league standings after tonight's game, looks like 11-12 conference wins will have to be the magic number for teams to get in to the playoffs.

UST, CC, and Auggie are all in. Carleton, SJU, and Bethel all have a great chance to get to that 11 win mark with their remaining schedules.

Gustavus has a tough road. With ten wins, they need 1-2 wins against UST at home, CC on the road - which is always tough - and Carleton on the road.

I think Gustavus has a solid chance to beat Carleton. It still looks like a tough road for the Gusties in their final three games though. They have always played UST tough at home the least few years, so we will see what happens Wednesday night.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

As I understand it, the league playoff schedule is drawn up in coordination with the coaches. Maybe the best way to get it changed would be to lobby the coaches....same for the ridiculous M/W doubleheaders. It is chaos but kind of funny to watch the gym empty out and refill with an entire new audience in the 20 minutes or so between games. Id say less than 5% of the crowd stays for both. Not to mention the waste of the players time.....in most cases they are forced to sit there for 2-3 hours waiting for the other gender's game to get over so they can get on the bus and get back to campus.....all this to save the schools a (very very) few bucks.

When are these M/W doubleheaders, thought the women played on Saturday night?  Doubleheaders seem to work pretty well for the UMAC.  Makes for a good atmosphere late in the 2nd half of the women's game as the men's crowd shows up.

Every Sat is W/M doubleheader and some of the weeknights are too, depending on if it involves Cord or SMU

Not even close to being accurate.  For UST the only M/W doubleheaders this year are Concordia, Hamline and Augsburg.  Concordia is the only one requiring a bus.

The only Saturdays UST does NOT have a W/M doubleheader are Jan 12 & Feb 9. The only reason those arent W/M doubleheaders is because they play SJU, which doesnt have a women's program (or a female student for that matter).  So that's four Saturdays with WM doubleheaders (plus two vs SJU and two byes)...out of a possible four   Id say thats pretty dang close to being an accurate statement Walter.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Thru Feb 3, UST is #1 in nation in FG %, scoring margin and Assist to turnover ratio:
http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

[AO]

Thru Feb 3, UST is #1 in nation in FG %, scoring margin and Assist to turnover ratio:
http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

Good stuff.

Gustavus is #7 in FG%.  efficient but mediocre.

nice to see NWC has St. Thomas beat in Assists Per Game and just behind at #3 in Assist to Turnover ratio.  Helps when you're 5th in 3's made per game, why take the chance of throwing inside.  bombs away

also of note, Carleton has hacked its way to the top, #1 in fouls per game.

[carletonsid]

Thru Feb 3, UST is #1 in nation in FG %, scoring margin and Assist to turnover ratio:
http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings

Good stuff.

Gustavus is #7 in FG%.  efficient but mediocre.

nice to see NWC has St. Thomas beat in Assists Per Game and just behind at #3 in Assist to Turnover ratio.  Helps when you're 5th in 3's made per game, why take the chance of throwing inside.  bombs away

also of note, Carleton has hacked its way to the top, #1 in fouls per game.

That would be least number of fouls per game. Carleton has been at or near the top of least fouls/game pretty regularly, and I think they've led all NCAA schools in least fouls/game once or twice.

I'd be more interested to see eFG% - much more telling.

I had a nice long post about the schedules of the remaining games and playoff contenders, but my computer crashed before I could post . Long story short, Bethel has an easy schedule (bottom 3 teams left, all at home), SJU and Carleton have similar skeds (2 tougher games, 2 easier games) and there are a couple of scenarios of log-jam ties at 10-10 (up to 5 teams) that could make things interesting.

My Knights could take a huge step towards securing that playoff spot by completing the sweep of Augsburg tonight. SJU at Concordia big as well, along with GAC hosting UST.