MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[funbballer]

do you mean the kid from Mankato Loyola who's transferring in from one of the Dakota schools...think his name is Westman, or something like that?

Or, are you referrring to somebody else besides him?

[bethelguy]

Local - while I cannot begin to try and imagine what the selection committee is thinking in most cases, UW-Platt didn't get in for a handful of reasons...

7 overall losses
2-4 in non-conference games that were considered within their region (this is probably the biggest reason they did not get in the tourney, this would have killed their SOS Index)
and they lost in the 2nd round of their conference tourny

They were probably a better team than most of the other Pool C teams, but their resume was not good enough.  While there is no guarantee that the MIAC will get 2 teams in, they are capable of doing it.  But a few things have to happen.

They both need to have 20 wins, they both need to win most of their In-Region/Non-Conference games and they'll need to face each other in the conference championship.  

UST's games vs. UW-LAX and the RivFalls tourney are very important if they should not earn the MIAC's automatic bid.  Their Wooster tourney will surely give an adequate guage as to where the Tommies stand on the national level, it will not have the same afffect on their Pool C status as the UW-RF tourney.

[localcoach]

bethelguy - You make a number of excellent points.  I'm expressed that you did so much research.  I agree with you that two MIAC, or for that matter two WIAC teams could get into the NCAA's, however as you said they would probably both need a 20-win season and/or at least a handful of good non-conference victories against regional opponents.

Speaking of the Royals, we haven't heard anything about them lately.  Do you have any information to offer in the form of new recruits or transfers?

[columbianmaffia]

corey laugen incoming frosh should be solid for bethal

[Gregory Sager]

A 20-win season is irrelevant, guys. The number of overall wins is not one of the D3 selection criteria. There have been Pool C teams in the past that have not entered the tournament having already reached the 20-win plateau, and with Pool C expanding this year it's even more likely now that an 18- or 19-win team might make it in.

Remember the five criteria listed in the handbook:

* regional winning percentage
* regional strength-of-schedule index (which this year becomes a quality-of-win index)
* in-region head-to-head competition
* in-region results versus common regional opponents
* in-region results versus regionally ranked teams

http://www.ncaa.org/library/handbooks/2005/2005_d3_m_basketball_handbook.pdf

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg,

The link wouldn't load for me. 

I've been wondering ever since the new term came along: is the switch from SOSI to QOW just a name change, or is there any substantive change?

[sju4life]

actually, yes it is Tyler Westman.  He is 6'2 and is going to be an extremely solid player in the MIAC.  Ohme, Leiser, Westman, Henrichs, are going to be a very tough 4 to shut down.  We also have two transfers who are both between 6'3 and 6'5 who have verticals in the range of 35inches plus who will add some athleticism to the SJU line up!

[Pat Coleman]

Mr. Y:

Link to Daily Dose item
http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/?p=49

[Drake Palmer]

Greg - I knew if we kept floundering in the D3 selection swamp long enough, you would come along & toss in the proverbial life jacket. 

SJUlife - It's my understanding that Lieser is a PG, as is Matt Ohme.  Is SJU planning on the Sam Cassell & Troy Hudson approach to running the team this year?  Being the competitor that he is, I don't see Ohme easily relinquishing his spot without a fight.

It's my humble opinion that St. John's will face a greater challenge in trying to incorporate all the new blood & transfers than UST will.  UST's Keating, Sweeney & Rosefelt all grew up in St. Paul playing with & against each other for a number of years.   At SJU you've got a couple of kids, Ohme & Heinrichs, who are used to being the "guy" & are now having to adjust to other players who could be regarded as their peers or better in ability. 

Although I will say that Ohme is one of the best, selfless competitors I've seen, & his high school team was an excellent example of the whole is more than the sum of it's parts.  Bloomington Jefferson was one of the best "teams" I've seen in recent years that didn't win a state championship.  They were a fun team to watch!

[sju4life]

Actually, even last year, for most of the games we usualy had John Kaus running PG with Ohme playing the 2 guard.  I would assume that leiser will play PG and Ohme will play the 2guard again this year.  Its tough to say how everything will gel, but from an open gym standpoint, ohme, leiser, westman all get along extremely well and hang out very often, so if thats any sign of whats to come, we may be able to have a very good season.

[columbianmaffia]

leiser is also capable of playing SG on offense and defending the pg on D allowing ohme to gaurd the bigger player...leiser is very good at moving without the ball...should be a good combo for SJU in my mind having both of them on the court at the same time

[Drake Palmer]

CMafia - I'm guessing with your comments about Lieser from Cold Spring & Corey Laugen from Monticello you're from the Cold Spring/ Central Lakes Conference area?

[columbianmaffia]

no actually im from rosemount...hense my talk about baquero, forkrud, kootsikas for CAR and new incomer stein for MAC

[Drake Palmer]

CMafia - Weel, that's what I originally thought, but unless you're LocalCoach who I think has seen all the new incoming players   ,  I wouldn't think most metro posters would be that familiar with Lieser & Laugen & their style of play.

The only reason I know of them at all is that I happened to go to the Tartan Xmas tourney back in 2003/04 & saw them play.

[columbianmaffia]

ken lien provided me with the excellent opportunity to watch some of these guys play many times and it was a great experience that i really appreciated getting the chance to do