MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Yeah, but you have to take their record against all teams they are tied with. Gustavus would be 2-4 against the three other teams, and Carleton would be 2-4 against the three other teams. So they would go to tiebreaker #2 which is combined results against teams above those tied - so St. Thomas, Concordia and Augsburg. Carleton is 3-3 against those teams and Gustavus would be 2-4.

So that's why I'm saying if Bethel, St. John's, Gustavus and Carleton all finished tied at 11-9, Gustavus would be out.

I think but am not 100% sure...in this scenario of the 4 way tie....Carleton would be the odd man out (I think).

As you pont out, GAC & Car were 2-4 vs the other 3 and BU & SJU were 4-2.  I think (and this is where it gets dicey) the next step would try to break the tie between Car & GAC and reverts to head to head, which GAC wins, leaving CAR home and GAC  seeded 6 and playing @ Augs. 

Bethel woud be the 4-seed by virtue of tie breaker #2 and would host SJU.

However, if tiebeaker #1 is ruled a "push" as 2 teams failed it, then the 4 tied teams go to tiebreaker #2...in which case SJU is odd man out as they are 0-6 vs UST/CORD/AUG, while BU, GAC and CAR all have at least one win vs the top three.

[AO]

Yeah, but you have to take their record against all teams they are tied with. Gustavus would be 2-4 against the three other teams, and Carleton would be 2-4 against the three other teams. So they would go to tiebreaker #2 which is combined results against teams above those tied - so St. Thomas, Concordia and Augsburg. Carleton is 3-3 against those teams and Gustavus would be 2-4.

So that's why I'm saying if Bethel, St. John's, Gustavus and Carleton all finished tied at 11-9, Gustavus would be out.

I think but am not 100% sure...in this scenario of the 4 way tie....Carleton would be the odd man out (I think).

As you pont out, GAC & Car were 2-4 vs the other 3 and BU & SJU were 4-2.  I think (and this is where it gets dicey) the next step would try to break the tie between Car & GAC and reverts to head to head, which GAC wins, leaving CAR home and GAC  seeded 6 and playing @ Augs. 

Bethel woud be the 4-seed by virtue of tie breaker #2 and would host SJU.

However, if tiebeaker #1 is ruled a "push" as 2 teams failed it, then the 4 tied teams go to tiebreaker #2...in which case SJU is odd man out as they are 0-6 vs UST/CORD/AUG, while BU, GAC and CAR all have at least one win vs the top three.

Tiebreakers don't establish all the seeds at once.  Bethel would win the 4th seed, then you go back to the top of the list with the remaining tied teams to break the tiebreaker for the 5th seed, which SJU would win.  Then GAC is chosen over CAR for the 6 seed.

[TommieHoops4Life]

When was the last time 3 teams were playing for MIAC Playoff berths of the last weekend of the regular season? Usually the 6 playoff teams are decided by now, it's just the jockeying for seeding that's up in the air. Should be a great weekend as 4 teams battle for 3 spots.

Drake,

With all due respect to Concordia and Augsburg in the region rankings, they have zero chance, none, zilch, of making D-3's Big Dance unless they win the MIAC Playoffs. The only at-large lock right now is UST if they don't win the playoffs.

UST holds of St. Olaf 62-57 to give the seniors an undefeated home season. Sounds like it could have been a much more comfortable win with a better night at the FT line, Tommies went just 16-of-30. Maniac, any concern with UST having more than a week off now before the MIAC semis? They don't seem like the type of team to let that be a reason to be flat, especially in the playoffs.

Regardless of what the match-up is, I plan to be at UST next Friday for the semifinals.

[Drake Palmer]

When was the last time 3 teams were playing for MIAC Playoff berths of the last weekend of the regular season? Usually the 6 playoff teams are decided by now, it's just the jockeying for seeding that's up in the air. Should be a great weekend as 4 teams battle for 3 spots.

Drake,

With all due respect to Concordia and Augsburg in the region rankings, they have zero chance, none, zilch, of making D-3's Big Dance unless they win the MIAC Playoffs. The only at-large lock right now is UST if they don't win the playoffs.

UST holds of St. Olaf 62-57 to give the seniors an undefeated home season. Sounds like it could have been a much more comfortable win with a better night at the FT line, Tommies went just 16-of-30. Maniac, any concern with UST having more than a week off now before the MIAC semis? They don't seem like the type of team to let that be a reason to be flat, especially in the playoffs.

Regardless of what the match-up is, I plan to be at UST next Friday for the semifinals.

No offense taken.  Although I would not be so certain that if Concordia and or Augsburg close out the regular season well, play strong in the playoffs, & say lose to UST in a close championship game, that their names would not  be tossed into the consideration pile.  Overall though, it's my opinion that this is not one of the MIAC's strongest years.

The couple of years when Carleton had respectable outings in the Big Dance  (tough losses to UW-Stout & UW-SP), the league was arguably quite a bit stronger.  It would be great if we could actually send two teams to the NCAA & have them represent well by going deep into the draw.

[miacsuperfan]

I agree with TommieHoops. . .so here's hoping somebody can upset the Cats in the playoffs allowing us to see another MIAC team alive for the NCAAs.   Right now it is hard to imagine anyone up to the task, but some recent narrower margins in the Tommie's wins appear to be a step in that direction.   

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

heres the definitive word, from the league wesbite poisted a few minutes ago:

"There are four teams in play for the final three seeds, with Carleton (14-10, 11-8 MIAC) and Gustavus (14-10, 11-8 MIAC) holding the inside track on Bethel (14-10, 10-9 MIAC) and Saint John's (11-13, 10-9 MIAC). The clearest way to paint the picture of the final three seeds is that Carleton, Gustavus and Bethel are all in with a win Saturday, and Saint John's needs a win and a little bit of help. Even with a loss, the Knights and Gusties are still in better shape for a bid than the Royals, though all three could lose and still find a way in.

There is only one possible scenario in which each Carleton and Gustavus would miss the postseason. If the Knights lose Saturday, Gustavus loses and both Bethel and Saint John's win, Carleton would be on the outside looking in due to tiebreaker criteria in a four-team tie with BU, SJU and GAC grabbing the final three seeds in that order. For the Gusties to miss out on a bid, they would have to lose Saturday with Carleton, Bethel and Saint John's all winning. In that scenario, Carleton is No. 4 at 12-8, while the other three would tie at 11-9. Bethel would sit atop the three-team tie and grab the No. 5 seed, SJU would be No. 6 and Gustavus would see its season come to an end.

Bethel is in the best shape of the two 10-9 teams. If the Royals win Saturday, they're in regardless of any other outcomes thanks to tiebreaker criteria against Saint John's. If the two tied for the No. 6 seed, Bethel would be in. The Johnnies are eliminated with a loss, and would need either a Gustavus loss or a Bethel loss to make the field. SJU swept the Gusties, which would help Saint John's prevail in a two- or three-team tie scenario."

[carletonsid]

Pretty quiet on here for it being MIAC Playoff week!

Good win for my Knights, who took care of business against a Piper squad who seemed to have a high level of motivation to close out the season with a win. Was impressed how hard the Pipers battled, but the Knights' offense was operating at a high level and they got the stops they needed in the second half. With such a short bench and two players missing multiple games (McSparron and Hanson) it's a little stunning to think of the 8 playoff-caliber teams in the league that Carleton finished fourth. Goes to show that talent alone doesn't get it done, especially in this league.

If you get a chance, head over to St. Olaf's website and watch the final minute of the St. Olaf-SJU game. What a botched call at the end of the game! SJU up 3 with less than 5 seconds left, Ole ball. Oles get it up to their Kuck, who is out-and-out grabbed by the jersey before he can get a three-pointer off, yet no intentional foul call. Such poor officiating, but about what one expects in the MIAC. Sigh. Not saying at all if the intentional foul is called that SJU loses - Oles would still have needed to make two FTs, then score off a sideline inbounds play with 1.8 seconds left (or whatever it was).

As for the playoffs, hard to see SJU beating Augsburg as the Auggies have handled the Johnnies twice. Auggies have averaged 39 points in the paint and shot better than 50% both times against the Johnnies. Only hope is to double Kornbaum and hope the Auggies are cold from outside.

In the other match-up, who knows? Knights won by two in December, and Bethel returned the favor in February with a one-point home win. Can the Knights slow down Taylor Hall? Can the Knights get a third scorer (Hanson or McSparron) going against the Royals (neither scored in double figures in either of the first two meetings)?

Should be a fun week!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

wow....CSID is right...I cant remember playoff week being this quiet, even with the wild finish we had on Saturday!

The quarterfinals have what could be the best game of the playoffs with Bethel travelig to Carleton. As CSID pointed out, both regular season meetings were nailbiters, and the playoff game should not be an exception. With the two top MVP candidates (Hall and Theisen) squaring off, along with a few solid guns on both sides, it should be a true battle. Both teams are a bit banged up, and that makes things dicier for the Knights, who cant get into foul trouble with their short bench. Hanson looked solid Saturday and Sawatzke is one of the best outside threats in the MIAC. BU counters with reigning POW Zimmerman and Robinson...the paint should be a regular war zone.  I'm expecting this to be 40 (and maybe more) minutes of intesne ball.....I see Carleton pulling out a 73-71 victory.

The other game is a rematch from last year, a game that neither team seemed to want to win asboth shot in the low eo% range. Both teams have quite different personnel this year, and the Auggies pretty much had their way in both regular season meetings. SJU can be very hot or icy cold, but they dont have a viable answer inside to Kornbaum. I think the final should end up 77-63. Augsburg.

That will set up semifinals of Augs @ Concordia and Carleton @ UST on Fridau .....assuming Im right   

[miacsuperfan]

Tomorrow night in Northfield, Hall and Zimmerman combine for 55 points and 25 rebounds. . . but Sawatzy hits a buzzer beater to take the Royals down by one.

Meanwhile in Minneapolis, an overconfident Augsburg team fails the difficult task of beating an opponent three times in a year.  They go down to St. Johns and the high flying FY combo of Mitch Kuck and Alex Scmitt, who shoot the lights out on the west end of Si Melby Hall.   

[tommiegun]

I'd love to see the Johnnies win because it is always a treat when UST ends a Johnnie season. 

[carletonsid]

Not sure if folks would be interested, but would love to see everyone's picks for All-MIAC, and to do it like every other basketball conference does.

First Team - five picks (regardless of position)
Second team - ditto
Third Team - ditto
Five-player All-Rookie Team
Five player All-Defensive Team
Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year

[Drake Palmer]

Personally, I think both quarterfinal playoff games could be barn burners! It's too bad it's going to be so doggone cold tomorrow night.  I'd think of making the trek down to Northfield to watch the Carlies-Royals game.  But since the Knights have got that terrific webcast, & the Auggies have a pretty decent broadcast of their own, mebbe I'll just  ...
***
CSID – I don't think I'm letting any cats out of the bag, but I've heard via your own splendid student broadcasting crew that Shane McSparron might be shut down for the year due to a concussion he sustained several weeks ago.  If so, that's' too bad. He's a talented player, and was really starting to come on strong on the offensive side of the ball in the last third of the season. 

Love the idea of All-MIAC teams.  Here are mine, plus the Sixth Man of the Year Award. 

First Team

Will DeBerg – UST
Taylor Hall- Bethel
Dan Kornbaum – UST
John Nance – UST
Scott Theisen – Carleton

Second Team
Tommy Hannon – St. Thomas
Jim Hill – Gustavus
Ebo Nana-Kweson – Concordia
Tommy Sawatzke – Carleton
Eric Tengwall – St. Thomas

Third Team
Seth Marx – St. Johns
Michael Burfeind – St. Marys
Sam Marshall – Macalester
Kyle Zimmerman – Bethel
Andrew Martinson – Concordia

Player of the Year – Taylor Hall
Most Valuable Player – Scott Theisen
Sixth Man of the Year - Andrew Martinson - Concordia

All Defensive Team
Tommy Hannon
Dewon McKenzie - Concordia
John Nance
Eric Tengwall
Scott Theisen

Defensive Player of the Year – John Nance

Coach of the Year – Rich Glas – Concordia

All Rookie Team

Mitchell Kuck – St. Johns
Dylan Kilgour – Macalester
Taylor Montero - St. Thomas
Brett Rasmussen – Augsburg
Will Swiggum - -St. Marys

Rookie of the Year
Co-Rookie award – Mitchell Kuck & Brett Rasmussen

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I'd love to see the Johnnies win because it is always a treat when UST ends a Johnnie season. 

my inner Tommie couldnt agree more....nice to see the Cowardly johnnie-girl dinged you & me for being Tommies. So typical of the Joannies

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

First Team
Will DeBerg – UST
Taylor Hall- Bethel
Dan Kornbaum – UST
Tommy Hannon – UST
Scott Theisen – Carleton

Second Team
John Nance – St. Thomas
Ben Biewen– Gustavus
Andrew Martinson – Concordia
Tommy Sawatzke – Carleton
Eric Tengwall – St. Thomas

Third Team
Seth Marx – St. Johns
Michael Burfeind – St. Marys
Kyle Zimmerman – Bethel
Ebo Nana-Kweson – Concordia
Connor Gunderson- St Olaf

Player of the Year – Taylor Hall
Most Valuable Player – Scott Theisen
Sixth Man of the Year - Andrew Martinson - Concordia

All Defensive Team
Hannon
Nance
Tengwall
Theisen
Biewen

Defensive Player of the Year – John Nance

Coach of the Year – Rich Glas – Concordia

All Rookie Team
Will Swiggum - -St. Marys
Taylor Montero - St. Thomas
Brett Rasmussen – Augsburg
Mitchell Kuck – St. Johns
Dylan Kilgour – Macalester

Rookie of the Year
Rasmussen

[Drake Palmer]

Different types of barn burners in Northfield and Minneapolis tonight.

In a defensively intense struggle (both Bethel & Carleton shot less than 33% from the floor), Tommy Sawatzke hit another cold-blooded 3 pointer with 44 seconds left in the game to break a 41-41 tie.  Unlike their regular season home game against Gustavus last week , the Carlies hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Bethel's Taylor hall ended up with 21 tough pts on 9-19 shooting.  Terrific crowd on hand.  Carleton now must go on the road to take on UST Friday night.

Up in Mpls, the 2nd half 3 pt shooting display by the Johnnies' Seth Marx  20 points, 5-6 3FGA (?), wasn't enough to offset the overall team performance by Augsburg as they won 74-67.  Andy Seidlitz stepped in for the injured Noah Veach (broken foot) & and scored 19 pts, Tyler Schmidt 18 pts, & Dan Kornbaum with 20 pts, & 2 of the best dunks I've seen in  the MIAC all year.  A sweet  2-handed flush off a pretty drive & dish by Parker Hines, & then followed up with an awesome 1 handed, cock back the wrist, Godzilla-like, spread legs, power jam, off a great dime by one of top MIAC FY in the conference, Brett Rasmussen.  It made me holler... woo-hoo!

Rowdy, fun crowd & great crowd support by both the Augsburg & SJU students.  Nice payback for the Dawgs after 2011 2012 when the Jays pulled the playoff upset at Si Melby.  Now the city Lutherans must go on the road to play the country Lutherans in Moorhead on Friday night.