MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[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.

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.

fouls are like timeouts, if you don't use them you lose them.  you can get away with not hacking St. Mary's but you've got to make the Tommies earn it.  You don't want to be in the same top 10 with 0-19 Principia.

[Retired Old Rat]

Hamline, Whitmore officially part ways

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2013/02/hamline-whitmore-part-ways

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Hamline, Whitmore officially part ways

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2013/02/hamline-whitmore-part-ways

So in the same week that WhitMAN beat WhitWORTH,  WhitMORE was canned. (I guess that's a WHITTY week)

[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.

fouls are like timeouts, if you don't use them you lose them.  you can get away with not hacking St. Mary's but you've got to make the Tommies earn it.  You don't want to be in the same top 10 with 0-19 Principia.

When you've finished in the top four in the conference in points allowed each of the last 10 seasons, including finishing first or second six of those 10 years, I think teaching your players how to play tough defense without fouling has proved to be a good strategy for the Knights. Their record over that stretch in MIAC play - 97-60 (.618). Think there are only 2 other programs (St. Thomas, Gustavus) with a better record during that time. Since D3 has tracked this statistical category, Carleton has ended the season ranked first in least fouls per game five times out of seven, and that doesn't include this year (as they also lead D3).

Great game at West last night as the Knights completed the season sweep of the Auggies. Knights used a nice first-half run, keyed in large part by Shane McSparron (16 first-half points) and held off a couple of Auggie runs in the second half for a big-time win. Really like how the Knights are playing right now and they are well-positioned to grab a top-four seed. Three straight wins after back-to-back losses @SJU and vs. UST.  They could catch Augsburg for third if they win out and the Auggies trip in one of their final three games (vs. STO, vs. Mac, @SMU). Not sure I see Auggies losing any of those games and the Knights with a tough one next Wednesday vs. GAC, but if the Knights win out they finish fourth and get a first-round home game.

Big comeback win for the Cardiac Cobbers - a Johnnie win sure would have helped their playoff cause. St. Olaf stays in the hunt with a close win vs. Hambone.

[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.

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.

fouls are like timeouts, if you don't use them you lose them.  you can get away with not hacking St. Mary's but you've got to make the Tommies earn it.  You don't want to be in the same top 10 with 0-19 Principia.

When you've finished in the top four in the conference in points allowed each of the last 10 seasons, including finishing first or second six of those 10 years, I think teaching your players how to play tough defense without fouling has proved to be a good strategy for the Knights. Their record over that stretch in MIAC play - 97-60 (.618). Think there are only 2 other programs (St. Thomas, Gustavus) with a better record during that time. Since D3 has tracked this statistical category, Carleton has ended the season ranked first in least fouls per game five times out of seven, and that doesn't include this year (as they also lead D3).

Great game at West last night as the Knights completed the season sweep of the Auggies. Knights used a nice first-half run, keyed in large part by Shane McSparron (16 first-half points) and held off a couple of Auggie runs in the second half for a big-time win. Really like how the Knights are playing right now and they are well-positioned to grab a top-four seed. Three straight wins after back-to-back losses @SJU and vs. UST.  They could catch Augsburg for third if they win out and the Auggies trip in one of their final three games (vs. STO, vs. Mac, @SMU). Not sure I see Auggies losing any of those games and the Knights with a tough one next Wednesday vs. GAC, but if the Knights win out they finish fourth and get a first-round home game.

Big comeback win for the Cardiac Cobbers - a Johnnie win sure would have helped their playoff cause. St. Olaf stays in the hunt with a close win vs. Hambone.

Maybe Kalland really coaches 'em up to not foul, or maybe, just maybe, the Knights get all the calls!!!!!     

Gustavus is looking like the odd man out, Bethel and St. John's hold tiebreakers and the easier remaining schedules.

[carletonsid]

Gustavus is looking like the odd man out, Bethel and St. John's hold tiebreakers and the easier remaining schedules.

UST	17-1	@SJU/vs STO/bye
Cord	13-5	@Ham/bye/vs. GAC
Augsburg	11-6	vs. STO/vs. MAC/@SMU
Carleton	10-7	@Mac/vs. GAC/vs. Ham
GAC	10-8	bye/@Car/@Cord
SJU	9-8	vs. UST/vs. SMU/@STO
Bethel	8-9	vs. SMU/vs. HAM/vs. MAC
St Olaf	8-9	@AUG/@UST/vs. SJU

[Drake Palmer]

Gustavus is looking like the odd man out, Bethel and St. John's hold tiebreakers and the easier remaining schedules.

UST	17-1	@SJU/vs STO/bye
Cord	13-5	@Ham/bye/vs. GAC
Augsburg	11-6	vs. STO/vs. MAC/@SMU
Carleton	10-7	@Mac/vs. GAC/vs. Ham
GAC	10-8	bye/@Car/@Cord
SJU	9-8	vs. UST/vs. SMU/@STO
Bethel	8-9	vs. SMU/vs. HAM/vs. MAC
St Olaf	8-9	@AUG/@UST/vs. SJU

The next week should be great basketball for those teams in the hunt for a playoff spot.  I still think the Gusties figure out a way to make the playoffs.

Tommies have got a huge trap game at C-ville this afternoon & the Jays should come out loaded for bear, err tomcats.    It should be great atmosphere in Sexton Arena today!

Augsburg has painted themselves in a corner as they have to go up against Oles who are desperately clinging to the hope/illusion:-)  of making the playoffs.

Carleton is in good shape.

If Bethel doesn't become complacent, they should be in good shape for the playoffs.

Hypothetical question: if the Royals don't make the playoffs or only finish 6th, does Taylor Hall still win the league MVP?  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but typically doesn't the MVP go to a player whose team finished in 4th place or higher?  If  this is the case, a logjam and tie for 4th place will solidify the argument for Hall's selection.

By the way, if people haven't read this, here's a fun article on Augsburg's Bunch of Guys Chorus

[carletonsid]

Hypothetical question: if the Royals don't make the playoffs or only finish 6th, does Taylor Hall still win the league MVP?  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but typically doesn't the MVP go to a player whose team finished in 4th place or higher?  If  this is the case, a logjam and tie for 4th place will solidify the argument for Hall's selection.

I wondered that, too. To add to the "what if" scenario, say Carleton beats GAC and Hamline this week and finishes in the top four. Does that swing it back to Scotty T.? A SECOND triple double yesterday - he is one of only two NCAA players to have more than one triple double. Fully realize this came against cellar-dweller Macalester. To be honest, I thought his performance Wednesday against Augsburg was more impressive. He did a great job defensively on Dan Kornbaum (who got most of his points vs. frosh Eckert), which was a major factor in Carleton completing the season sweep of Augsburg and may be a huge help in tiebreakers for playoff positioning. I don't know many guys in the league who lead their team in rebounding, steals and assists, bring the ball up the floor and are their team's top interior defender.

Guess it comes down to how one defines player of the year: best player on best team (then someone from UST), best scorer, best all-around player, most valuable to one's team, etc., etc.?

[Greek Tragedy]

The league MVP is secondary when Carleton is in possession of The Belt^TM.  They could hold it until next season if they were to win out and not make the conference tourney. 

The Belt thread

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

The league MVP is secondary when Carleton is in possession of The Belt^TM.  They could hold it until next season if they were to win out and not make the conference tourney. 

The Belt thread

sorry to say Greek, but if Carleton wins out they finish at least 4th and will definitely be in the MIAC playoffs. I think  they could sneak in even if they lose both remaining games, which is extrememly unlikely. Your best hope is for them to lose he belt to Hamline, but that would be one of the biggest upsets of the season in the MIAC should it happen.

[Greek Tragedy]

Thanks. I just read the standings wrong.

[Drake Palmer]

Interesting news development.  As I was making my way through the Saturday game summaries this weekend, I came across this interesting bit of news.

Even if Concordia were to lose their last regular season game against Gustavus to finish the regular season 14-6, and Augsburg wins out and also finishes 14-6, the Cobbs will take 2nd place.  Based on the tiebreaker scenario, here's why:

Playoff Seeding Tie Breakers
1. Results head to head amongst all tied teams.
2. Combined results against teams above those tied.
3. Results against teams above those tied in rank order. (In the case of a multiple tie the teams that remain after this breaker will return to breaker #1 and so forth).
4. Record against teams below tied teams in descending order.
5. Random draw.

Since the Cobbs defeated UST earlier this season, they'll win the potential tiebreaker over Augsburg.

If I'm a Gustavus booster, I'm hoping for a win over Carleton on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff spot rather than trying to win up in Moorhead on Saturday.  Based on the week long forecast, it's going to be bitterly cold in Moorhead on Saturday.  A high of 7 degrees with winds of 10-14 mph.

So now Concordia is guaranteed a home playoff game next week in what has now become a decided home court advantage for them. The Cobbs are 9-0 in home games this season.  Who woulda thunk? 

[AO]

Playoff Seeding Tie Breakers
1. Results head to head amongst all tied teams.
2. Combined results against teams above those tied.
3. Results against teams above those tied in rank order. (In the case of a multiple tie the teams that remain after this breaker will return to breaker #1 and so forth).
4. Record against teams below tied teams in descending order.
5. Random draw.

If I'm a Gustavus booster, I'm hoping for a win over Carleton on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff spot rather than trying to win up in Moorhead on Saturday.  Based on the week long forecast, it's going to be bitterly cold in Moorhead on Saturday.  A high of 7 degrees with winds of 10-14 mph.

Gustavus cannot clinch a spot with a win Wednesday.  I believe they will also lose all potential tiebreakers.

[Drake Palmer]

Playoff Seeding Tie Breakers
1. Results head to head amongst all tied teams.
2. Combined results against teams above those tied.
3. Results against teams above those tied in rank order. (In the case of a multiple tie the teams that remain after this breaker will return to breaker #1 and so forth).
4. Record against teams below tied teams in descending order.
5. Random draw.

If I'm a Gustavus booster, I'm hoping for a win over Carleton on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff spot rather than trying to win up in Moorhead on Saturday.  Based on the week long forecast, it's going to be bitterly cold in Moorhead on Saturday.  A high of 7 degrees with winds of 10-14 mph.

Gustavus cannot clinch a spot with a win Wednesday.  I believe they will also lose all potential tiebreakers.

My bad - I guess my last post wasn't very clear. I was simply trying to show why the Cobbs have clinched 2nd place.

AO or anyone else, why don't you run the numbers and see who makes the playoffs if Gustavus, Bethel, & SJU end up tied with identical records of 11-9?  Does Gustavus have to sweep their games this week to make the playoffs?

AO- How are your Eagles doing? I see they lost to Crown last week or so.

[AO]

Playoff Seeding Tie Breakers
1. Results head to head amongst all tied teams.
2. Combined results against teams above those tied.
3. Results against teams above those tied in rank order. (In the case of a multiple tie the teams that remain after this breaker will return to breaker #1 and so forth).
4. Record against teams below tied teams in descending order.
5. Random draw.

If I'm a Gustavus booster, I'm hoping for a win over Carleton on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff spot rather than trying to win up in Moorhead on Saturday.  Based on the week long forecast, it's going to be bitterly cold in Moorhead on Saturday.  A high of 7 degrees with winds of 10-14 mph.

Gustavus cannot clinch a spot with a win Wednesday.  I believe they will also lose all potential tiebreakers.

My bad - I guess my last post wasn't very clear. I was simply trying to show why the Cobbs have clinched 2nd place.

AO or anyone else, why don't you run the numbers and see who makes the playoffs if Gustavus, Bethel, & SJU end up tied with identical records of 11-9?  Does Gustavus have to sweep their games this week to make the playoffs?

AO- How are your Eagles doing? I see they lost to Crown in last week or so.

Gustavus could get in by losing the next two as Olaf, Bethel and St. John's only have 1 guaranteed win left as Olaf faces St. John's Saturday.  The only team they will hold the tiebreaker over potentially is Carleton as a win Wednesday would make it a season sweep.  The Gusties were swept by Bethel and St. John's, and they will have a worst record against teams above those tied in the event of a 10-10 tie with Olaf (which would probably just be for 7th place).

--NWC clinched a share of the UMAC title Saturday, but having lost to Crown and Bethany at home, they aren't exactly a lock to win the bid in the conference tournament.  One of these years the UMAC is going to have someone else win some non-conference games, improve the SOS and the UMAC titleholder won't be sent to the national champ for the first round.