MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I just want to make sure I understand correctly: We're talking about how a football coach references part of the basketball season? And why, exactly?

[Gregory Sager]

... and I just want to make clear that I had absolutely no part in this discussion.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For the third consecutive year, Hoopsville will air for 12 hours as the regular season enters the final four weeks. Dave McHugh will chat with coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and others involved in Division III basketball from around the country. Other guests will include those who have Division III roots or appreciate the division and the game along with the student-athletes who play the sport.

Hoopsville will air from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (and maybe later) on Thursday, February 4 live from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can see what guests are scheduled, get more information, and watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/feb4

You can also read the press release about the show: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/hoopsville-marathon-2016

Here is the guest list as we speak. All times are Eastern and subject to change. Additional guests to be added if and when necessary:


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Time	Guest	School
10:15am	Connie Tilley	St. Norbert (WBB) - WBCA Center Court
10:40am	Jamie Purdy	Peidmont (WBB)
11:00am	Keri Carollo	UW-Whitewater (WBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
11:20am	Brent Pollari	Saint Mary's (Minn.) (WBB)
11:40am	Kent Madsen	No. 21 Wheaton (Ill.) (WBB)
12:00pm	Russell Loyd	Rose-Hulman (MBB)
12:20pm	Kevin Broderick	Nazareth (MBB)
12:40pm	Justin Scott	Arcadia (MBB)
1:00pm	Sam Hargraves	No. 12 Alma (MBB)
1:20pm	Lenny Reich	Mount Union (SID)
1:40pm	Maureen Webster	Clarkson (WBB)
2:00pm	Betsy Witman	York (Pa.) (WBB)
2:20pm	Sara Lee	Denison (WBB)
2:40pm	Klay Kneuppel	Wisconsin Lutheran (MBB)
3:00pm	Brian Van Haaften	Buena Vista (MBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
3:30pm	Sydney Moss	No. 1 Thomas More (WBB)
3:45pm	Aaron Rousell	Bucknell (WBB) - former Chicago coach
4:00pm	Tim Shanahan	Staten Island (WBB)
4:20	Pat Cunningham	Trinity (Texas) (MBB) - NABC Coach's Corner
4:50pm	Bubba Smith	Sewanee (MBB)
5:15pm	Ben Strong	Former Guilford All-American
5:30pm	Kevin Connors	ESPN SportsCenter Anchor - Ithaca alumnus
6:00pm	Kristen Dowling	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (WBB)
6:20pm	Allison Coleman	Sage (WBB)
6:40pm	Landry Kosmalski	Swarthmore (MBB)
7:00pm	Dave Niland	No. 23 Penn State-Behrend (MBB)
7:20pm	Aaron Galletta	Lasell (MBB)
7:40pm	John Baron	Gwynedd-Mercy (MBB)
8:00pm
8:20pm
8:40pm	Melissa Hodgdon	Wheaton (Mass.) (WBB)
9:00pm	G.P. Gromacki	No. 2 Amherst (WBB)
9:20pm	James Wagner
9:40pm	HAPPY HOUR	Free-for-all of calls, tweets, and fun!

We hope to get at least the full show on a podcast, or several podcast, during the on Friday. You can find it here:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

And a reminder the Hoopsville Fundraising Project has begun yet again. Please consider helping us cover Division III basketball the way it deserves to be covered. If you can not donate, please don't worry about - we understand. At least share the campaign with anyone you think might be interested: http://igg.me/at/hoopsville-fundraiser/x/6029509

Also, if you know any advertisers interested in promoting their company or products on the show, send them our way: hoopsville@d3hoops.com

Thanks!

[Drake Palmer]

Woo - wee! Cobbs come from 15 points down in the second half against Gustavus to win in two overtimes at home. 114-107!

Two teams not traditionally noted for their offensive firepower both score over 100 points?    Will wonders never cease? 


 

[MIAC23]

What a great game at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties were fighting for their playoff lives and the Cobbers fighting to get that all important 2-seed. Cobbers with a very sloppy first half with 12 TO's and the Gusties took advantage with a 7 point lead at the break. Like Drake said the lead grew to 15 in the second half before the Cobbers made their run with timely threes, defense and free throws. The lead went from 3 to 1 about 3 times in the last two minutes before the Gusties went 1 of  2 at the line with 8 seconds left. Alderman drove the lane, had the ball knocked away from him only to arrive in Brady Syverson's hands, he short armed his first attempt from the left block, the rebound bounced right back to him and he put it in at the horn. OT was a back and forth affair until the Gusties were up 3 with 8 seconds left. Tom Fraase hit a bomb to force double OT. Cobbs got up 7 in the second OT thanks to an and-1 by fraase. Gusties were never able to get closer than 5 after that. Huge win for the Cobbs putting them in position to nab that 2-seed with games at home with Mary's and Mac, and on the road against Hamiline and the Johnnies. Huge game by Fraase as he went for 35 and also for Dylan Alderman as he went for 24, including some clutch buckets in regulation. Was nice to see a couple other guys take the load off of Bolger for at least a game. Gary Cooper with a monster game for the Gusties going off for 39, getting to the bucket with ease and also hitting some tough off-balance J's against the 6'7 Austin Nelson.

[Drake Palmer]

What a great game at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties were fighting for their playoff lives and the Cobbers fighting to get that all important 2-seed. Cobbers with a very sloppy first half with 12 TO's and the Gusties took advantage with a 7 point lead at the break. Like Drake said the lead grew to 15 in the second half before the Cobbers made their run with timely threes, defense and free throws. The lead went from 3 to 1 about 3 times in the last two minutes before the Gusties went 1 of  2 at the line with 8 seconds left. Alderman drove the lane, had the ball knocked away from him only to arrive in Brady Syverson's hands, he short armed his first attempt from the left block, the rebound bounced right back to him and he put it in at the horn. OT was a back and forth affair until the Gusties were up 3 with 8 seconds left. Tom Fraase hit a bomb to force double OT. Cobbs got up 7 in the second OT thanks to an and-1 by fraase. Gusties were never able to get closer than 5 after that. Huge win for the Cobbs putting them in position to nab that 2-seed with games at home with Mary's and Mac, and on the road against Hamiline and the Johnnies. Huge game by Fraase as he went for 35 and also for Dylan Alderman as he went for 24, including some clutch buckets in regulation. Was nice to see a couple other guys take the load off of Bolger for at least a game. Gary Cooper with a monster game for the Gusties going off for 39, getting to the bucket with ease and also hitting some tough off-balance J's against the 6'7 Austin Nelson.

Looks like the Cobbs suffered a serious emotional letdown after their big double OT win on Saturday as they lost to the improving Redbirds 56-55 last night.  Understandable but still.  Ouch.

*Tommies clinch at least a share of the MIAC title for the 11th consecutive year and 11th consecutive 20-win season.

*It's going to be a real dogfight to see who will end up with the 2nd seed between the Cobbs, Jays, and Oles. 

*On paper it appears St. Olaf has the easiest remaining schedule as they host Gustavus, @ SMU, and home for a potential piece of the title against the Tomcats in the regular season finale.

*Cobbs are @ Hamline, @ SJU, Macalester

*Jays have a bye on Wednesday, then Cobbs, @ Gustavus, @ Augsburg.

*Augsburg, a team I had written off is now 8-8 and making a last minute desperation push for one of the top 6 playoff spots.  My guess is that with their remaining schedule it will be awfully tough for them to make the cut.

*As I anticipated, Carleton is struggling to hang on to a playoff spot at 9-7, but the Royals are also struggling which I really did not expect.

It should be a fun finish to the regular season!

School                       Conference games     All Games

St. Thomas ^ *         15-1                           20-1
St. Olaf ^                  12-5                           14-8
Concordia                 11-6                           14-8
Saint John's              11-6                           16-6
Bethel                       9-7                             14-7
Carleton                   9-7                              12-9
Augsburg                 8-8                                13-8

* Regular season champion
# Playoff champion
^ MIAC Playoff qualifier

[MIAC23]

Should be a great race to the finish for that 2 seed! Also should be a great playoffs this season, any team of the six could be poised to make a run.

Cobbers showed the look of a team that had three starters play 47 minutes and one other play 40 two days prior. The legs were weak and the shooting showed it. Cobbers had a couple chances to put Mary's away, but to the Cardinals credit, they hung around long enough and got a couple big baskets late to seal the win. Bad loss for the Cobbs who would be in good position for that first round bye. Huge game coming up on Saturday in Collegeville if they can get by Hamline tomorrow.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2016/02/10/first-2016-regional-rankings-released-today/

[Drake Palmer]

Sniff, sure miss the good old days.   No posters to speak of, but we've got ourselves a barnburner for the leagues playoffs going into the last day of conference play on Saturday.

UST and St. Olaf are locked in at the 1 and two seeds, while four to five teams are jockeying for a playoff spot, or in the case of Augsburg and Carleton trying to make the playoffs.

Clinched: 1) UST has the one seed locked up with a 17-2 conference record & has the regular season finale against the rapidly improving Redbirds who have a 7-12 conference record.

Clinched: 2) St. Olaf finished the season with the second best record of 14-6 and lost a tough 78-72 game against the Tomcats last night.

Clinched:  Concordia at 12-7 has what appears to be a deadly trap game against Macalester at home on Saturday.  The mighty Scots knocked off what had previously been the surging Augsburg Auggies. 

Clinched:  St. Johns' also has a 12-7 record but I believe the Cobbs are currently ahead in the tiebreaker scenario.  They play at the Dawg pound on Saturday and the Dawgs should be desperate.

The Cobbs and Jays will finish as either the 3rd or 4th seeds, or could Bethel sneak in as a 4th seed? Dunno.

Clinched:  Bethel sits a game behind the Cobbs & Jays with an 11-8 record & plays at Hamline on Saturday.  The Pipes are no pushover either and just lost in OT to the Gusties.

Bubble:   Augsburg & Carleton are both tied with 10-9 records. The Dawgs must be absolutely sick they laid an egg against Macalester last night. However, if the Dawgs beat SJU on Saturday they make the playoffs, or if Carleton loses to Gustavus.  A little bit better odds than what the Carlies have to face.

Bubble:  Carleton at 10-9 needs to beat the Gusties in St. Peter, AND also have the Dawgs lose.  Gusties are ending the season with a bang and have been playing very tough the last week of the season.

[Coach R]

As our season has now come to an end - I want to say THANK YOU to all the MIAC die hards, followers, posters and supporters of our phenomenal league.

That fact that the final playoff spot went down to the final game of the regular season was good stuff!!

This has been a incredibly competitive year from top to bottom with no nights off for anyone - regardless of who you play.

I would have liked for us to have a little better showing yesterday at the "new" shoe (and a few other times I can think of off the the top of my head) but I also am very aware what we competed against on Saturday is 20+ years in the making – so the "Redbirds" have some dues left to pay in order get to be #7 in the nation. 

I am reminded of that each time I return to the alma-mater because (even though there is very little that looks the same) – I know that us "football" guys (Benner, O'Neil, Stallings, myself and others) used to play pick up in the "old" shoe and sometimes "the box" against the ones (Batta, Thompson, Shnieder etc.) that started to establish that tradition.

One of the other things I have noticed this year - was that the wife, kids and jobs have taken over for many MIAC online posters – I know that the likes of Drake (who actually new we were alive here in Winona by saying we might be trap game for the Johnnies and even said we were rapidly improving!!  ), MiacManiac, AO, GoldandBlueBU and so many others really continue to support our teams and league by the high numbers of online hits on school websites, online broadcast follows and actual numbers of live fans in the stands  – which this year has been great (FYI - the crowd on Saturday at UST was phenomenal, even had my old High School BBall Coach -Dick Ghizoni in the stands).

While it is not always "easy" in our line of work to deal with all the "things" that get thrown our way – the one thing that can never be questioned is the passion and pride that runs so deep for all the people associated this great level and with this great league.

Good Luck to all the teams that made the conference tournament and a bit of extra Good Luck to the teams that will represent us in the NCAA Tourney.

Thanks again to all of you for a great season, I look forward to doing this again October 15th and we will see you on the recruiting trail!

Go Cards!!

Coach R

[Coach R]

FYI - I probably should have referred to Ghiz as my "former" HS BBall coach - not "OLD" coach - he still looks as if he could hold his own on the court and he may still put me on the line for that comment as well!!!   

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Final public regional rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2016/02/24/third-ncaa-regional-ranking/

[tomt4525]

St Paul Central scorer Sam Gubbrud committed to St Thomas recently.  I haven't seen him play just figured I'd pass it along.

[Drake Palmer]

St Paul Central scorer Sam Gubbrud committed to St Thomas recently.  I haven't seen him play just figured I'd pass it along.

Nice scoop for a Wisky guy.   

I knew that the UST coaches were in hot pursuit after Gubbrud but I didn't know if he had committed. He should be a nice addition. He's a very athletic, left-handed, 6-4 wing who was also quarterback on the Central football team.  Gubbrud could be the potential heir apparent to the Taylor Montero and Zach Riedeman spot.    His twin brother Jon, signed to play football at DII Augustana in SD.

[tomt4525]

St Paul Central scorer Sam Gubbrud committed to St Thomas recently.  I haven't seen him play just figured I'd pass it along.

Nice scoop for a Wisky guy.   

I knew that the UST coaches were in hot pursuit after Gubbrud but I didn't know if he had committed. He should be a nice addition. He's a very athletic, left-handed, 6-4 wing who was also quarterback on the Central football team.  Gubbrud could be the potential heir apparent to the Taylor Montero and Zach Riedeman spot.    His twin brother Jon, signed to play football at DII Augustana in SD.

Haha, Wisky guy...I like it.

I did notice that he was a football guy as well, I looked him up online and most everything that popped up were football stories or highlights.  St Thomas seems to get most of their top targets year in and year out, so I'm sure this guy will be a player.