MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[ColonelJohn4Life]

So, Pat posts in here at 5 AM, and posted in my home board (MAC Freedom) at 1 AM.

Dude, Selection Sunday isn't for a full calendar month.  Get some sleep.  We'll need those 20 hour weeks soon. 

[onearmedscot]

Five players Pat.  It's actually a legit squad.

oAs.

[localcoach]

Looking through last night's box scores, here are a few stats that caught my eye. 

Mr. Perry and Mr. Bjorklund from Bethel combined to shoot   0-11 in the Royals loss to SJU.  The bright spot again was Matt Fredrickson with another excellent game off the bench, finishing with 15 points.  I also must second the praise by a previous poster about the play of Craig Schafer and Paul Henrichs, who combined for 33 points and 32 rebounds.

Macalester defeates St. Olaf at home in overtime, despite the Oles being ahead by 14 early in the second half.  Jesse Hollander apparently played out his mind, scoring 18 points and getting 12 rebounds.  MAC makes 11 3's, this after making 12 vs SMU in their previous game.  I also noticed that the Oles got a grand total of 0 points from their bench.

All of this got me thinking again about how the MIAC will ultimately finish up.  Here are my comments on each of the remaining teams, with a predicted order of finish and some commentary about their schedules.  I'm not even about to try and predict final records.

1. St. Thomas, toughest test will be @ SJU

2. Carleton, might get tripped up @ GAC or @ Bethel

3. Gustavus, they still have to play Carleton, @ SJU, and @ Bethel who beat them the first time around.  If the Gusties are without Mr. Olson, they might flip flop with St. John's.

4. St. John's, The Johnnies have lost their last 3 road games.  Thankfully for them, 5 of their last 7 are at home.  However two are UST & GAC and they have to travel to MAC which isn't an easy place to play. 

5. Hamline, As has been noted, the Pipers have the most favorable remaining schedule.  Their two toughest games look to be @ MAC and @ SJU.

6. St. Mary's, SMU is 1-7 away from home (1-4 MIAC).  5 of their last 7 are on road including @ GAC and @ Carleton.  They also have a home game with UST.

7. Bethel, The Royals still have to play GAC, UST, and Carleton, although all are at home, and don't forget about St. Mary's which beat them the first time around.

8. St. Olaf, The Oles are 1-5 vs. their remaining schedule. The lone win by 1-point over Saint Mary's and this time around the game is @ SMU. 

9. Macalester, What a tough stretch for the Scots who play @ Concordia tomorrow (long road trip), and then host an up and down Hamline team that beat them the first time around, along with games @Carleton and @GAC, and they travel to Collegeville vs. the Johnnies.  All in the next 2 weeks.  Ouch!

10. Concordia, a win over Augsburg, but can they get any more?

11. Augsburg, they might get MAC on the last game of the year, although the game is away.

[sumander]

Johnnies got a much needed win last night. This is the first time that I have seen them this month where it appeared they were ready to play from the start! Westman had a monster first half. He had 17 pts on 8-12 shooting. These were by no means wide open shots either. BET played tough defense. Henrichs had 10 boards in the first half alone. He was possessed. He ended up with 19 reb including 7 on the offensive end. C Schafer had 13 reb to go with his 17 pts. SJU doubled up BET on points in the paint 36-18.

I wa impressed with BET. They hung with the Johnnnies in one of the J's best all around performances. The game was tied at 42 with 15 minutes to go. Johnnies went on a 10 - 0 run with Westman hitting a duece and back to back threes!

I thought the best player on the court for BET was # 22 Strom. Very athletic kid. 12 reb, 13 pts and one very impressive dunk off a steal. He was a pest in BET's press defense.

[onearmedscot]

While it was pretty darn ugly, MAC got the five point come from behind victory.

Consecutive threes by Bosman, Johnson and a banker by Conboy in a 1:26 stretch was the key run.

Ranwick is taking up solid minutes and playing well.  If that kid just hits the weights a little bit, he could become a solid 10 ppg scorer in this league, maybe more.  He's 7-13 on 3s this year with 5 asts, 5 stls, 5 tos in 3 games.  I

If I were Kietzer I'd give him the green light, especially when your other guards are shooting 16% 26% 28% and 34% from 3.

Also, kudos to MAC for the video webcast.  That was awesome and a treat for those who can't make it to the game for whatever reason.

oAs.

[onearmedscot]

If I'm not mistaken, Strom is an SJU transfer to BU.  That's almost like transferring from Duke to UNC.

oAs.

[KnightsArmor]

Actually, Local, the Johnnies will play MAC in the Cage.  And with CON so obviously crippled with injuries, MAC has a very good chance of getting the road win in Moorhead.  I don't think MAC can beat GAC or CAR on the road, but I do think they can defeat SJU, HAM, and AUG at home.  So, with 6 games left, MAC could very well finish 9-11, an maybe that will prove good enough to secure a 6th seed in the conference tourney.  

[columbianmaffia]

speaking of Alaskan Assassin...does anyone remember trajon langdon the true Alaskan Assassin cuz he sucked cuz he went to duke but he was still kinda neato

interesting fact for the day
former gopher hosea crittenden lived in alaska when he was younger and was a team mate of trajon langdon from 5th grade to 8th grade and then hosea's dad got moved to an army base here in MN

also...its tuesday...you know what that means...its almost HUMP DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sumander]

If I'm not mistaken, Strom is an SJU transfer to BU. That's almost like transferring from Duke to UNC.

oAs.

He certainly played like he had a point to prove!

oAs, Your Scots finishing 9-11 is now a definite possibility! 3 tough games left CAR, GAC and SJU. With SJU @ home.

[KnightsArmor]

OAS...

I don't know if this is true, but someone told me last night that in high school Ranwick shot 56% from beyond the arc.  He's also a career 86% FT shooter.  He's a spot-up shooter, but if he gets help from teammates in finding the open look, he can be lethal.  After watching him play the last two games, my impression  is that MAC's whole offense, the ball movement, the reversals, goes much faster and smoother when he's on the floor.    I think he's a real nice option for the Scots.

[onearmedscot]

Local-

C'mon.  If you think MAC has the toughest finish you're crazy.  The "long road trip" excuse is weak with the high school team that Concordia is putting on the floor these days.  Sad but it's true.

SJU is a home game as others have pointed out and they are suspect on the road.

AUG and HAM are very likely wins.

If MAC can sneak a GAC or CAR win, we could finish 10-10 and Watchmen will be at the local post office!!

Combine this with Ranwick coming into his own and MAC could surprise.

KA-
Yes, I've heard Ranwick is the state record holder in 3 point % while at Minnetonka at somewhere near 56%.  I didn't give him much credit after the UST game but he is playing real well right now and taking minutes from Jepma and T Rob.

oAs

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I agree that Zach Johnson from Carleton has positioned himself nicely to win the freshmen of the year award.

How exactly does one position himself for an award that does not exist?  I think it is good that the league stresses the all-freshman TEAM as opposed to a Rookie of the Year.

oAs.

Thats what i was thinking....along those lines, Schnettler has positioned himself to win the "junior shooting guard from the st. cloud metro area" (although Lars is maknig his move) and Foster is leadng the race in the "cheap-shot eye-poker" award

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

TH4L & WW-
Were you guys at the same game?  TH4L says GAG posts were ineffective, while WW says GAC took the ball inside with ease     From my vantage point, GAC was able to get the ball in the paint, but really couldn't do much other than draw (cheap, ticky-tack) fouls. The crew- especially Mr salt-&-pepper (name escapes me) should be relegated to girls JV HS game-- that's the highest level they can handle.

I was disappointed with Sowden...GAC was able to get him the ball in the hole often, but he either couldn't or was afraid to try moving on Ike/Shimek...ATB played inspired ball, but the sum of the parts never came together for GAC, whereas in year's past, the synergy has made the sum greater than individual efforts.

Tough break if the word on Olson is true...which I suspect it is, based on how he went out of the game. Great shot, solid "d"...GAC will miss him more than they realize.

Still , the straw that broke GAC's back last night was Sweeney. Clutch threes when GAC was threatening and a pair of critical rebounds when Ike, Shimek & Keating were on the bench with fouls. He, Schnettler & Weaver did a fantastic job burning off as much time as possible.

Did anyone hear the result of the UST/GAC JV game? Rumor has it UST won by over 50...wow.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

in honor of Co-Mob, a "triple" (no cheese, watching calories)   

As solid and hot as Forkrud has been of late, I agree with TH4L that Ike is unquestionably the MVP. I highly doubt any opposing coaches plot their defensive scheme around stopping Fork, but you can be assured that stopping Ike is first and foremost in every opposing coach's mind gearing up for UST.

Team by team MVPs:

UST- Ike
CAR- Forkrud
GAC- ATB
SJU- Westman
BU- Meadowcroft
SMU- Smith
HAM- Thrasher
STO- Bannick
MAC- Conboy
AUG- Kozlowski
CON- the trainer (or any character from the show MASH)

[onearmedscot]

Not sure Conboy is MACs MVP.  Hollander and Johnson are making a late push.  Conboy has been quiet in the last two wins.

We gotta create a Puchtel Award for the way that kid played for the Gophs on Sunday.  Awarded annually to the most untalented hustler on the floor who can shut down the other teams all-conference player.

Any nominees?

oAs