MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[crazy_carl]

In any and all of my experiences, the Maffia gets around (and, of course, sees a lot of basketball).  You'd be surprised . . .

[Willy Wonka]

Ken Lien? I've never heard that name before. Don't you mean "Mr. BB"?

It will be interesting to see what happens at SJU. I like Hinrichs and more perimeter threats can only help him, but not if they start playing BU-type of ball (ie. refusing to enter to their posts).

Who will coach longer, Smith or Gags?

[columbianmaffia]

i do talk a lot of nonsense about vampires and lawn ornaments and what not but i enjoy watching the sport of basketball but not as much as i like talking to the ladies or playing pick up sticks blind folded

[localcoach]

ww - Gags will coach longer then Smith, although I've heard some people say that Gags is more a fixture rather then the head man at SJU. 

Staying on the topic of SJU, it sounds like there will be high expectations for the basketball program this season.  I will be sure and get to a few early games and see the Johnnies as I'm interested in viewing their new group of players.

By the way, does anyone know why the Timberwolves aren't holding their pre-season practices there anymore?

Drake - You and your comedic efforts.       The way you speak you'd think that I know more then I actually do.

[miacwatchmen]

The new timberwolves coach decided to keep the players down in the city. I'm sure why but i believe the bottem line is that the new coach had the main say and he said that they were staying in the cities for camp. Maybe next year they will return to SJU.

[Willy Wonka]

This post from PC is being copied from the basketball boards in regards to AO's claim that the UMAC will be competitive with the MIAC. It may help spur some discussion with the season just 6 days away.

*As a point of reference for those who don't follow both boards, AO insisted that Northwestern would beat SJU this fall and has continued to make ludicrous posts on the gridiron side all season.

The MIAC and UMAC played 16 times in men's basketball last season. The MIAC won 10 of the games. This isn't exactly a very representative sample  -- for example, the top three teams in the MIAC standings did not play a single UMAC school, and No. 4, Bethel, went 3-0 against the UMAC.

19-Nov   Augsburg   St. Scholastica   57-58
19-Nov   Bethel   Martin Luther   101-63
20-Nov   Northland   Hamline   62-90
23-Nov   Northwestern (Minn.)   Macalester   70-68
23-Nov   Martin Luther   Hamline   84-66
23-Nov   Augsburg   Crown   69-79
27-Nov   St. Olaf   Crown   72-50
27-Nov   Northwestern (Minn.)   Hamline   78-66
29-Nov   Martin Luther   St. Olaf   53-79
3-Dec   Bethel   Minnesota-Morris   112-79
10-Dec   St. John's   Presentation   81-70
11-Dec   Crown   Bethel   61-82
14-Dec   Minnesota-Morris   Concordia-Moorhead   108-115
18-Dec   Hamline   St. Scholastica   71-76
30-Dec   Augsburg   Northwestern (Minn.)   80-77
31-Dec   St. John's   St. Scholastica   72-56

Being that I am pretty lazy and am currently resting for 36 holes of golf tomorrow (on the clock ), I am not going to check who won the UMAC or how good any of those teams were. However, I am guessing that league will compete with our non-playoff teams most years but will get mopped by the top schools. Is that conference getting an AQ after a certain number of years?...

As another point of reference, the Gusties usually scrimmage Bethany in Mankato during the preseason and it's been a joke in the past. They are scheduled to play an actual game this year and it will be interesting to see how long a series like that lasts - the Gusties tend to find quality opponents in non-conference affairs and that doesn't strike me as fitting that mold.

Anyway, fire away

[Pat Coleman]

Probably no AQ for that league until 2011, so there's some time.

Northwestern beat Scholastica in the UMAC title game.

[sju4life]

I would love to see this guys posts.  He is saying Northwestern will beat SJU this year?  How can that be possible when we dont even play each other??  We scrimmage very early in the year and no score has ever been kept so how can he even make such a predicition followed by the fact if you look at last years scores SJU was 2-0 vs the UMAC and beat Scholastica by what 15 points and they made it to the championship vs northwestern?  wow interesting.  Here is maybe a good topic, who has the toughest schedule this year?  BAsically it comes down to who has the toughest non-conference schedule.  I know this year SJU plays 4 div 2 schools along with a good wisconsin river falls team.  any other big schedules like that??

[Pat Coleman]

AO was talking about football.

I don't believe he actually said Northwestern would beat SJU, but that Northwestern was the equivalent of a middle-of-the-pack MIAC team in football (which is decidedly not the case).

[localcoach]

I see that we have moved some of the football discussion over this way.   

I have nothing to offer about the UMAC Conference other then the fact that I always hear great things about Northwestern College in St. Paul and their program. 

We are less then a week away from the beginning of another season.  I am excited to attend some practices in and around the metro area, including at a few MIAC schools. 

Does anyone have anything new to offer up?  Still no word out of Augsburg regarding their roster or potentially new additions to it.  I spoke with a friend and Tommie alumn over the weekend and he told me that the word around their campus is that Mr. Keating is going to be an impact transfer for Coach Fritz from the start.

Who else wants to chime in?

[sju4life]

Ive actually played aau with Keating and umm he is an extrememely good player.  He will play a major role for them.  I still think UST more underrated player is going to be Schimek this year.  The kid is huge, plays like an animal.  One of the most physical players in the miac with a great touch around the hoop. 

[funbballer]

Mr. Keating will be POY....hands down. People don't realize how good this kid is.

Shimek is a good tough competitor in the post that knows how to score and is vital to the Tommie's success this year. Rosefelt (sp?) will have a great year as well and with the 2-3 excellent shooters in the line-up, who's going to touch them? Everybody else is playing for spots 2-6.

[miacsuperfan]

hey wonka,   gac will certainly beat bethany this year, but the best player on the floor will be a cat named alonzo mayfield.   he is supposed to be the real deal (he played at bethany a year ago and then sat out last year), and if he can get 30 the vikings will keep this thing close for a half.  i think it is a great opportunity for some fans to make a 12 mile road trip and actually become a decent draw at some point.  down the road a few years, this series could get more interesting as bethany (a juco up until two years ago) adjusts to the division 3 format.    as far as quality pre-season opponents are concerned, playing bethany or luther on last year's schedule is about a horse apiece.

sj4life or funb'er, what relation (if any) is this keating you speak of to fomer sj 6 year player r. keating?     

[sju4life]

from what i know, i do not believe there is any relation but i could be mistaken, maybe second or third cousin at best.
     And still on the keating roll here, picking him as POY is a long shot.   ST. thomas has so many weapons it will be hard for any of them to put up outstanding numbers game in and game out.  I really think tebrake is going to get it, but i could see eckhoff in a close running, but tebrake is still my favorite.

[Cardinalboy]

Player of the year....hum..I am going to go WAY out on limb and pick one of the most skilled post players in the league and select Mike Rohr as Player of the Year.

Why? Well he has showed the ability to cause problems in the post because of his size (6'7) and skill level. He can knock down the three and has a great touch around the basket. He is just a SOPH but last year as a freshman he had 18pts and 8reb against the powerful GAC. Also, in a guard driven league. There aren't many dominate threats in the post.  His youth and inexperience could be a down fall.
He could stand out tremendously if the following happened.
1. He puts up the numbers he's capable of
2. SMU goes from the cellar to a conference contender.

As a smu supporter this defintely wishful thinking but I believe after watching whats on the team this year. SMU has a legit shot at being the most surprising team in the league. 

Go Cardinals