MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[funbballer]

Sumander - the Sweet 16 was a nice format!  The game between Staples Motley & Mpls North in 95 was very cool.  At any rate, a 3 class format would be an improvement over the current 4 class tourney system. However, from what I've heard, many of the school administrators & COACHES are still in favor of this format mess.  And they're the ones who greatly influence  the MSHSL board of directors.

So now what they're proposing is to to have the coaches seed the tournament once the 8 sectional winners from each class have qualified for state.  As far as I can tell, all this really does is somewhat level the playing field, not create more fan interest.

TH4L -Staples- Motley, not Chisholm.  Wasn't there a kid named Blaine Joerger or something liked that who was a stud for them? And, why we're at it, while Sumander has come up with some solid posts in his 1st year on the board,  it was Funbballer who finally verified Ryan Shimek's relation to Joey Shimek.

Drake....Blaine Joerger is now a HS official and has rapidly moved up the ranks in the "officiating world."

I seriously doubt the present four class system will change as the small school coaches basically control the voting and they like the fact of "qualified for the state tournament" looks good on their resumes.

This four class system is so watered down. Attendance this year was < than 70,000. Having all these classes does is teach/preach mediocrity. (sp?) Sure the kids are excited...don't blame them for that, but the state tourney doesn't interest or excite anybody. Especially the basketball purists.

Oh yeah, these statements will ruffle a few feathers, but.....!

 

[sumander]

Willie, The honors continue to roll in for your sibling!

• Minnesota Duluth forward Lindsey Dietz, a senior from Elk River, and North Dakota forward Kristi Boese, a senior from Rochester, were named to the Kodak/WBCA Division II first-team All-America team.

FBB,

I don't consider myself a "purist" rather a fan. I am afraid you are correct when you say the present system won't change! That's sad. I will have to get my high school hoops fix by going to section finals etc. The atmosphere at a packed Halenbeck hall or Memorial Auditorium at Concordia sure beats a 2/3's empty target center!

[sumander]

Wasn't there a kid named Blaine Joerger or something liked that who was a stud for them?

Joeger was from a long list of great shooters that Lynn P. has had at Staples. Joeger went on to play at Mankato I believe. I know another Staples product played at Northern State for 4 yrs.(Hjelmland) was a great shooter as well.

By the way Staples, at times,  started two 8th graders this year. Both kid's fathers played at Staples. They were down this year but should be tough the next couple of years.

[miacwatchmen]

Does everybody really expect the entire state to show up to watch games at the Target Center?? No and they shouldn't because as you all have pointed out the attendance is on the decline but its about the money and the MSHSL must make more money this way which means they won't change back to a 1,2,or 3 class system.  I think as a player when i played in the state tourney way back when I was pretty pumped to play at the Target Center though. I mean come on no matter how bad the Wolves get the kids still get to play on the same floor as them.

[miacwatchmen]

Wasn't there a kid named Blaine Joerger or something liked that who was a stud for them?

Joeger was from a long list of great shooters that Lynn P. has had at Staples. Joeger went on to play at Mankato I believe. I know another Staples product played at Northern State for 4 yrs.(Hjelmland) was a great shooter as weel.

By the way Staples, at times,  started two 8th graders this year. Both kid's fathers played at Staples. They were down this year but should be tough the next couple of years.

Staples flat out sucked this year. They tried to run and gun their first couple games of this year and got blown out. But, they still managed to beat sumander's Lakers    I think they won something like 3 or 4 games only after about  a 15 game skid to open the season. They are however playing very very young players.

[Maroon&Gold]

The atmosphere at a packed Halenbeck hall or Memorial Auditorium at Concordia sure beats a 2/3's empty target center!

Amen Sumander.  That's why I was against the state moving the State Quarterfinal games to the cities instead of at the outstate sites.

[sumander]

attendance is on the decline but its about the money and the MSHSL must make more money this way which means they won't change back to a 1,2,or 3 class system.  

MW, Since you teed this one up... and no one else has kicked it yet I will. Your comment makes no sense. If it's all about the money then the MSHSL should be looking at ways to increase attendance. If attendance is still on the decline the 4 class tourney must not be working! Ergo, they should try something different that might increase attendance and $$$.

[piperinsider]

Extremely sad story to report from Renville/Kandiyohi County.

http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=6063&section=homepage

The living player, Shean Gerdes, was to play along with Brian Nelson in the Tim Orth Foundation this Saturday. All-star jamboree games. Wonka can vouch for it. Might be the worth the trip to Bird Island for you b-ball enthusaists.

http://www.timorthfoundation.org

If you read, note that 4 players from the team were expected to go Bethel. Out of other three living, Brian Zimmer or Eric Groen could play DIII. Zimmer is extremely athletic and can jump out of the gym. Needs to find a shot though. Groen is just an all-around player. Good height for his athletic ability and great rebounder

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hmm, I didn't have to sign in or anything to get the story - and it was very sad.  17-year-olds are NOT supposed to die.

My condolences.

[sumander]

Anyone care to weigh in on the NCAA Semi-finals. LSU is favored by 2 over UCLA and FLA is 5.5 over Geo. Mason.

I say LSU is too tough in side for UCLA. I am on the fence for the second game.

[miacwatchmen]

I think UCLA will pull it off against the Tigers and I want George Mason to win the second game but my head says FLA. Good thing I picked a UCLA and GM championship game 

[Mr. Ypsi]

My heart says GM (for obvious 'underdog' reasons) and LSU (for their 'above-and-beyond' actions after Katrina, and as a morale boost fo all of Louisiana); alas, my head says Florida and UCLA.

Go Heart!

[miacwatchmen]

My heart says GM (for obvious 'underdog' reasons) and LSU (for their 'above-and-beyond' actions after Katrina, and as a morale boost fo all of Louisiana); alas, my head says Florida and UCLA.

Go Heart!

That would be a pretty sweet championship game GM and LSU. Gotta pull for GM unless you go to the other three schools.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Obviously, I'd love to see GM win it all, but the matchup that I'd really like see for the title in terms of athleticism combined with overall basketball ability would have to be Florida/UCLA. I think that would be a great game to watch. I love watching Joakim Noah, but I will admit Tyrus Thomas is a man.

Did anyone else see Vincent Grier in the slam dunk contest last night? If not for MSU's Ager falling apart, he would have finished dead last. Some pretty sweet dunks though.

[sumander]

Didn't see the dunk constest. I thought Grier was out of his league when they announced he was in it.

How about Novak from Marquette in the 3-pt contest?? Talk about a sweet stroke!