MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[papahoops]

I agree Drake. Even taking Espo out of the mix, there is no comparison between the top 3 on these teams. I'll take TeBrake,Sowden, Witwer any day over top three on this year's GAC squad.

[Drake Palmer]

It has been a long time since I posted, so I figured it was time to join the fun. I never thought it was appropriate to post during the season when my son was playing, but now that his MIAC career is over, I can now be a "neutral" MIAC fan.

In response to the GAC 05 squad comparison to this year's squad, I believe the 05 team was clearly superior. I don't think any of the top level players on this year's team measures up to the Tebrake/Sowden/Witwer comparison.

I am happy to see many are jumping on the big AL McCoy bandwagon, as he has been a favorite of mine for some time. Given their relatively small size, one would think UST would be vulnerable to strong post play, but Big Al does an excellent defensive job against much taller players.

I have seen several games involving most of the teams either live or on web cam and continue to be amazed by the lack of post offense in the league this year. Bethel never uses their post players well, so I guess that is not a surprise, but overall, most of the bigs aren't doing much offensively in the paint. I keep thinking with their smaller size mentioned earlier in this post that UST could be vulnerable to a strong post offense, but it does not appear they are not going to see that in the MIAC this year. It looks like we will have to wait for the NCAA playoffs to give UST a real test in this area.

PH - I spotted you at the GAC- UST game the other day & called your name, but you couldn't hear me over the roar of support coming from the Tommie student section.  (Take that Willy  ).  Good to see you posting & also nice to see another neutral MIAC fan agree with me on the merits of Sowden/TeBrake/Wittwer. 

UWLax gave UST a strong push back in December with their big guy Merklein (?) but in the end the Tommies overall depth bailed them out in that game. 

[Willy Wonka]

As the recent seniors we all remember, it's a no-brainer to take Sowden, AT and Witter. When they were the same age as the current Gustie core, it's no so clear.

• I'd take AT over Van Sickle, easily.
• I played with Sowden and would lean that way...but the numbers suggest McPartland is much more effective in less PT (22.7-25.8 )
• Wittwer was a nonfactor as a freshman, but became a stud. Bobby J has made an impact earlier in his career, but he's built more like Chenke than the leaper Wittwer was. Hard to judge what his career will look like right now.

How's this for a segue? Pick your least effective player from recent Gusties teams: DLo in '09, Hollerich in '05, Wonka in '04 or Mark Gustafson in '00.

[VOJ]

Sum-- valid point about Healy & Nicolai needing trips to the weightroom with Ervin, but I'd rather have them skinny and quick than bulked and slowed. Hopefully, there is a happy medium in this 

DP--- nice point about the Ervin/Archer twist

For the life of me, I can't figure Hamline out. Cute goes from frosh superstar to barely an asterisk, Hayes plays 20+ mins a few games and scores/dishes, etc ..then 3-4 minutes. Gusaas hasnt played in so long he might regain 2 years of eligibilty! When they played Bethel and Hipp got in foul trouble, the LOGICAL thing would be to bring in the other tall guy off the bench, right? But he only got off his seat for timeouts, warmups and postgame handshake (altho I've heard he is nursing an injury)

PI--- I doubt you'll need to leave after Saturday...but Mac has been playing better, and Hamline has been sooooooooo inconsistent its scary

Gusaas has strep or some type of virus that is running rampant...so who knows when he will be back...Clute's shot is off, when I saw him the release point did not look good...and a lack of confidence will kill you in bball in this conference.

Boy are the Royals hot right now...back to back 15 point road wins?  Moberg was pretty good inside as was Robertson but it was Vavra who carried them to the win in the second half at SJU, they could make things interesting  in the second half.

[VOJ]

I think you missed the point of my initial comparison. I said they have similar parts to the '05 GAC team, minus an Espo-type player.

Try thinking big picture. How many points was the defensive attention Espo drew worth to AT and everyone else on the floor? How much better were the looks from the perimeter when he drove and/or posted up? Heck, Espo even brought the ball up the floor most times, allowing the guards to save their legs for shooting.

No, I followed you alright.  Espo was a definite stud no ifs, ands or buts about  it.  And yes, he certainly helped elevate the level of his teammates as well as any other MVP player in recent years. It's just my opinion the other 3 players we're discussing were stronger than the current crop of Gusties.  We're talking about a 3 time All MIAC player in  Phil Sowden; 2 time All conference selection in Adam TeBrake; & 6th man of the year award, & 2 time AC selection in Trevor Wittwer. 

Now stop this foolishness before people think I've a closet GAC backer.   

No chance of that happening...by the way which purple oufit will you be wearing this Saturday?

[Drake Palmer]

...Now stop this foolishness before people think I've a closet GAC backer.   

No chance of that happening...by the way which purple oufit will you be wearing this Saturday?

VOJ – I always took you for a reasonably intelligent guy.  I'm starting to think I might have been wrong. 

If I drank from the same purple cup of vino as Mose, why do you think when UST was playing STO back on December 6th at the Shoe, I was down in N-field sitting with some Johnnie & Carleton parents watching your beloved Johnnies upset Carleton?

I made the short jaunt down to Norffield this afternoon to check out the Carleton Knights – charlatans or for real, & to see what was going with the upset minded Johnnie squad.  What I found was a Knight team that looked like they hadn't recovered their sea legs from their flight back from Hawaii & upset over D2 Chaminade.  A step slow, no lift, & no hustle in their step.  What I also discovered was that yes, Jason Weischedel & Blaise Davis were in fact playing the Carleton PG spot.  Having said that, I spoke with a Carleton parent at halftime,& apparently this is a new development for this season.   Sutherland played PG last year by default since no one else was ready to step up.  But after a year of playing under his belt, Weischedel was deemed ready by the coaching staff to take over the reins & Davis may eventually take over the spot on a permanent basis. Watch for Davis at season's end to be under serious consideration for All MIAC Freshmen awards.

The Johnnies looked tough.  But again, the typically tough Carleton D was making Chris Schwartz look like Jamaican Olympic sprinter, Usain Bolt.  Aaron Burtzel & UST's Al McCoy remain two of the best undersized or vertically challenged posts in the league....

Or, when the Tommies were beating Carleton at the Shoe on January 10th, I was at Hutton watching the Gusties beat the Pipers?

Here are a few non-temperature related comments on the Gusties -Pipers game the other day.  Tony Thrasher is still injured, & although he played – 13 minutes, you could see that his calf injury still limited his effectiveness & quickness.  Thrasher, along with several other Pipers was frequent visitors to the athletic trainers throughout the game.

Gustavus looked good.  They don't have as much quickness as say a Bethel or UST, but you can see that Coach Hanson has stockpiled up some quality, quicker guards to contend with the likes of those schools, and ward off the quickness of Hamline...

Or, when the Tommies was in a nailbiter with the Pipes last Monday at Hutton, I was at the 2nd worst game I've seen this season when the Dawgs pounded the hapless SMU Redbirds in Mpls?

Good posts Sum & LC....
*************
TD – Will Wright needs to put in more work on the defensive end of the floor.  I saw your Birds play Augsburg on Monday night & I was more than a bit disappointed.
************
Augsburg- I'm wondering how long Nate Alm can keep this incredible shooting & rebounding streak of his going? He was never known as a big time scorer in high school.  I think he's had something like 6 straight double doubles.  As far as I know he's not shown this kind of consistency - ever.  Nice senior year campaign.  Interesting thing about this winning streak by the Auggies is that they're doing it without Jon Cassens having particularly strong shooting nights.  Sort of like the Tommies, other players seem to be stepping up & filling the scoring roles on various nights - Alm, David Olson, Andy Gresiak –Grimm, Matt Quammen & others.

The worst game I saw this year was the destruction of the Mac Scots by AO's NW Eagles.  I felt so badly for the Scots I actually had to leave at halftime.  That game was one of only a handful of games I've ever walked out of in my entire life.  Fortunately, I knew UST & UWRF were playing right down the street & I could wash that bitter taste of the first game out of my mouth. 

So, with the number of MIAC games & teams I see each year, did it ever occur to you that I could be working out of the MIAC league office?  I'm not saying that I am, but I'm just saying..  


(You would shat if you really knew what school was my alma mater  )

[VOJ]

Drake...

I am just kidding with you...I know you are a total MIAC supporter and enjoy seeing each team.  I had forgotten you traveled to the Js vs Carleton, nice you can account for your whereabouts in case the Mrs Drake is suspicious, course you have never introduced yourself, so the alibi is a little shaky...as for my intelligence, lets just say I am glad I get to cover these outstanding student athletes, because I am not sure my ACT would have allowed me to attend classes with them.

You should have been Collegeville Wednesday night enjoying the stoppage in play because of a brown-out..lost 1/2 the lights during the Johnnies comeback, my theory is that  Bethelguy or someone tripped the breaker...

Tough one tomorow for the J's with Carleton coming in...hopefully the shooting percentages will go up and we can celebrate a win at the Buckhorn!

[Drake Palmer]

Good humor rainman! 

[VOJ]

Good humor rainman! 

Who is rainman?

[sumander]

The two of you want to just hug so we can get this love fest over? Let try and guess Drake's alma mater playing 20 questions. Is it Northwest of Collegeville?

[Drake Palmer]

The two of you want to just hug so we can get this love fest over? Let try and guess Drake's alma mater playing 20 questions. Is it Northwest of Collegeville?

Wow Sum - you've been getting all that insider trading information & you do this - that's a good guess.    Lets see - UND, MSU, CC, NDSSS, NDSU, Thief River Falls VoTech, AleX Votech.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

The two of you want to just hug so we can get this love fest over? Let try and guess Drake's alma mater playing 20 questions. Is it Northwest of Collegeville?

St Kates? (they wear purple)    8)

[VOJ]

The two of you want to just hug so we can get this love fest over? Let try and guess Drake's alma mater playing 20 questions. Is it Northwest of Collegeville?

Sum...do you like it better when Drake and I are disagreeing??  Maybe he is a Cobber...or Morris? 

Maniac...he is not a Katie...we can toss that one out...

[sumander]

Dp, just trying to liven things up! My guess is Wadena Tech.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

VOJ-- I only tossed it out there in jest; besides, CSC (or as they become in June, USC) is SE of Collegeville, not NW. But Kate's IS a very scenic campus

Considering he omitted a school in the short list typed, I'm thinking that might be the alma mater.

Does NW of Collegeville include Carroll College? Mont? Mont St? Gonzaga?