MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[TommieHoops4Life]

Oles lose to Buena Vista 89-70 Friday night. Beavers shoot 65 percent 911-17) from three. They basically shot their way to the lead in the first half and kept it in double digits most of the second half by banging down low.

Andre Wagner is a ridiculously good guard for BV. He scored 19 and hit a ton of shots in the first half. He's also quick, athletic and has huge shoulders for a guard. Tough player.

St. Olaf has a nice mix of players, but don't have much of a post presence. McMahon and Haugen are ok, but Bobby Hunter did most of the damage with a few nice post shots. He's more of a small forward type being forced to play in the post because he's athletic enough to guard bigger guys. Oles got out-rebounded 37-23. They cut the lead to 8 with 3:30 left after trailing by 16, then BV made some shots for the final cushion.

The Beavers were pretty solid for the first game. Olaf needs to rebound better and take care of the ball, but not a bad start despite the loss.

[VOJ]

Drake...did you post an all FY team?  If so Chris Schwartz should captain it, he does not play like a FY...at least not yet.

I was impressed with the athleticism by the J's...it was a nice win over a Morris team that can shoot the ball well from the outside...

I think the coaches were ok with the offense, but wanted better attention to D...its going to be a fun year because of the youth, at one time there were 4 FY and a sophomore on the floor...

Can't wait for 11/28 and a matchup with the cobbers, oh and by the way, someone said if brink guards linz who will handle the other Concordia post/wing?  I just want to see Linz guard Brady...he is primed to be "the" MIAC player of the year...hopefully he stays healthy.

[piperinsider]

http://www.marshallindependent.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=17131

SMSU 83, Hamline 59 from Saturday

[localcoach]

PI, Drake, et all - How about freshmen Carl Hipp's performance against SW State.  16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in just 24 minutes. Could we be witnessing the start of a huge year for the 6-9 frosh?  BTW - Too bad Thrasher only had 9 points on 3-8 shooting. Sounds like HU had some positive things happen though.

[piperinsider]

Didn't check out the complete box, but it seems by the paper box score that the Piper bench didn't play that much. Did the starting five play most of the game?

Sounds like good things from the new big man.

[Drake Palmer]

PI, Drake, et all - How about freshmen Carl Hipp's performance against SW State.  16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in just 24 minutes. Could we be witnessing the start of a huge year for the 6-9 frosh?  BTW - Too bad Thrasher only had 9 points on 3-8 shooting. Sounds like HU had some positive things happen though.

That is a nice individual performance, but it would have been more encouraging if the final game score would have been closer with SW State.  Looking ahead at the Pipers schedule, it could be a rough next 3 weeks or longer.  They have UW-Eau Claire & Oshkosh (Oshkosh picked to finish 4th in the WIAC) on the road, Oles at home; followed by Bethel, UST, SMU, & St. Scholastica, all these games on the road before their holiday break begins on December 11.  I don't see them being favored in any of those games.  Looks like a tough road ahead for a young team & new coach.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Other notable individual performances this weekend:

Femi Solaja - Augsburg shoots 16-17 for 32 points & 12 rebounds in a losing effort against Concordia University - Nebraska, in a Lutheran college tourney in Portland, OR.

Luke Linz – CORD goes 11-11 FGA for 25 points, & 7 boards in an upset loss (?) to UM-Morris. 

Tim Madson – Bethel - averages 27.5ppg in two closer games than anticipated in their annual cupcake tourney.

Brady Brink - SJU continues his strong showing in this young season by going 9-11 from the field, 2-2 from 3pt. land for 22 points & 13 rebounds in their win over Um-Morris.  Nice double–double, & I would say he's an early frontrunner for the league MVP.

Joe Scott  - UST  Soph transfer has 2 solid games out in Ohio at the Wooster tourney as he averages 19ppg, & makes the All-tourney team along with teammate Lonnie Robinson.
------------------------------------
Not all the teams in the league have played, but SJU FY Chris Schwartz certainly looks to be an early favorite for the MIAC All-FY team.  He follows up his 20 pt. outing against CSTP with 18 points, shooting 8-12, 2-4 from behind the arc, & 3 assists against UM-Morris.

In addition to Hipp & Schwartz, FY Will Wright of SMU knocks down 20 points in his collegiate debut against Winona State.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Drake - Willy is a one man fast break. He scored like 6 points early and most of the rest came with 2-time defensive player of the year Flowers guarding him. His passing was sketchy, but he can get just about any shot he wants. The problem Saturday was the rest of the Cards thought they could get any shot they wanted too...

[abominable_snowman]

Alright Snow - begrudgingly, here's my pre-pre-season conference predictions.  I  still think you ought to wait until after Thanskgiving so we can at least attempt to form reasonably intelligent opinions,  but anyways:

If the MIAC coaches can take a shot in the dark so can we.

POLL RESULTS

Here is the link to the results of our poll.  There are 17 sets of picks ( 18 if you count the MIAC coaches).  Let me know if there are questions or the link does not work.

http://homepage.mac.com/kcn8/FileSharing4.html

FINAL
BET (17)
GAC
SJU
UST
AUG
STO (tie)
CAR (tie)
MAC
CON
HAM (1)
SMU

Parenthesis designate 1st place votes

[miacwatchmen]

PI, Drake, et all - How about freshmen Carl Hipp's performance against SW State.  16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in just 24 minutes. Could we be witnessing the start of a huge year for the 6-9 frosh?  BTW - Too bad Thrasher only had 9 points on 3-8 shooting. Sounds like HU had some positive things happen though.

That is a nice individual performance, but it would have been more encouraging if the final game score would have been closer with SW State.  Looking ahead at the Pipers schedule, it could be a rough next 3 weeks or longer.  They have UW-Eau Claire & Oshkosh (Oshkosh picked to finish 4th in the WIAC) on the road, Oles at home; followed by Bethel, UST, SMU, & St. Scholastica, all these games on the road before their holiday break begins on December 11.  I don't see them being favored in any of those games.  Looks like a tough road ahead for a young team & new coach.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Other notable individual performances this weekend:

Femi Solaja - Augsburg shoots 16-17 for 32 points & 12 rebounds in a losing effort against Concordia University - Nebraska, in a Lutheran college tourney in Portland, OR.

Luke Linz – CORD goes 11-11 FGA for 25 points, & 7 boards in an upset loss (?) to UM-Morris. 

Tim Madson – Bethel - averages 27.5ppg in two closer games than anticipated in their annual cupcake tourney.

Brady Brink - SJU continues his strong showing in this young season by going 9-11 from the field, 2-2 from 3pt. land for 22 points & 13 rebounds in their win over Um-Morris.  Nice double–double, & I would say he's an early frontrunner for the league MVP.

Joe Scott  - UST  Soph transfer has 2 solid games out in Ohio at the Wooster tourney as he averages 19ppg, & makes the All-tourney team along with teammate Lonnie Robinson.
------------------------------------
Not all the teams in the league have played, but SJU FY Chris Schwartz certainly looks to be an early favorite for the MIAC All-FY team.  He follows up his 20 pt. outing against CSTP with 18 points, shooting 8-12, 2-4 from behind the arc, & 3 assists against UM-Morris.

In addition to Hipp & Schwartz, FY Will Wright of SMU knocks down 20 points in his collegiate debut against Winona State.

Drake- Don't be suprised if Schwartz stays there all year. He has a great attitude and very strong work ethic. He has really gelled well with the Senior class and should only improve his numbers as the year goes on.

[Nites]

If the MIAC coaches can take a shot in the dark so can we.

POLL RESULTS

Here is the link to the results of our poll.  There are 17 sets of picks ( 18 if you count the MIAC coaches).  Let me know if there are questions or the link does not work.

http://homepage.mac.com/kcn8/FileSharing4.html

FINAL
BET (17)
GAC
SJU
UST
AUG
STO (tie)
CAR (tie)
MAC
CON
HAM (1)
SMU

Parenthesis designate 1st place votes

WOW.  Very impressive.  Thanks, AS.  You may want to double check one set of picks.  I believe PI posted his in reverse order, i.e., last to first, with Hamline being last and Bethel first.  That would make Bethel the unanimous preseason pick for No. 1.

[abominable_snowman]

Thanks for the catch Nites, I was reading through picks pretty quick, and I had assumed PI was rooting for his namesake.

It changes things a bit.  Indeed Bethel is a unanimous 1st place pick.  and CAR and STO are no longer tied, and Hamline is indeed in last.

1. BET
2. GAC
3. SJU
4. UST
5. AUG
6. CAR
7. STO
8. MAC
9. CON
10. SMU
11. HAM

[Chica yea false identification]

I'm telling you right now that Saint Mary's will not finish last or second to last in conference play....

[Nites]

I'm telling you right now that Saint Mary's will not finish last or second to last in conference play....

Does that mean you have them moving up to 9th or are they dropping out of the MIAC?   

[Chica yea false identification]

clever....

they will tuck right into the 6 slot....if not better

[VOJ]

that would be quite the jump from last year for SMU...If they can get to six.

I think they need to show they have chemistry before they are a playoff team...