MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Typically most schools ask for it. Good for the institutional profile and often coaches will do masters work as grad assistants.

[VOJ]

Ok fellas...it comes down to the guards of Bethel and since they have 3 all conference type players in Madson, Vavra and Laugan, they should be able to stay in this game, winning it will be a lot tougher.

Guards are the key to any playoff run, they handle the ball more, they make a majority of the decisions and they set the tempo.

Running with the Tommies has never been a good idea. I think being paitient, playing the best D you can play is the key to hanging with UST and putting yourself in a position to win...the Tommies "close" games this year can be counted on one hand and they have made the plays to stay undefeated.

Madson has to have a stellar game, similiar to what he had against Augy...Yes its alot to ask, but maybe he can get in the zone...

I see it Tommies 63 Bethel 59

[Freebird]

WW is right. I've always been mystified by Bethel's tendency to not give its posts the ball when they have position on the block. Even with very capable scorers, the guards at times never even acknowledge the fact that they have a legitimate post threat who can score on the floor. Instead, they jack up shots and try to grab rebounds.

As fun as the blowouts have been, I'd like to see a close game tomorrow night. It should be after the OT game last time between the two at Schoenecker. Tommies win by 7-10, and I wish I could be there to see it with my own eyes. My gal bought me a ticket to the food and wine show in MPLS and the title game won't be on our schedule. I also wouldn't mind seeing Bethel win to get two teams in the tourney, who knows.

Sounds like you have a nice little Saturday planned.  Are you two going Home Depot and Bed, Bath, and Beyond if you have enough time?? 

[wizbegs1304]

Anyone know who will be in the running for the Macalester job?

[papahoops]

VOJ,
I can't find fault with your predicted margin of victory, but I am curious as to your low score forecast. I see a probable close game with scoring in the mid to high 70's. I just don't feel Bethel defends well enough to keep the score in the lower 60's. Your 3 Bethel guards can come up big and perhaps average close to 20/man, but I still think Moberg's scoring needs to be in the teens for them to compete, as I think Bethel needs to score close to 80 to win. Although it is likely to be a close game, a win by UST in the 15 point range would not surprise me. Look for that UST bench that I like to make a big run to possibly open up the game;) They have been on a roll lately.

[papahoops]

Oh, I forgot to advise TH4L that he needs to re-establish some priorities in his relationship. I will assume you are possibly in the relatively early stage of this relationship, so I will cut you some slack. If you have been going out with gal for a while though, you need to man up!!!Fortunately after 30 years of marriage, my wife recognized that scheduling an alternative event the evening of the MIAC championship was not an acceptable option

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I have to echo Papa. I can not imagine a low socring game between these two. BU's guard play will be important in three aspects: (1) they must handle the ball and the pressure like they did last meeting, not like they did at Bethel; (2) they need to put enough threes in (not just up) to keep UST's defense spread; and (3) they must find a way to keep Moberg engaged in the game. 

Of the 3, the first is most important, but the last is essential. If Moberg goes MIA like he did at BU vs Hamline, they might as well pack it in. If they have as much troble with the press as they did at Bethel, it coudl get ugly, with UST feeding off the home crowd. BU played a near-pefect game last time at the Shoe. They need to match that and then some if they dont want their season to end tonight.

[Chocolate Hoops]

Can you spell UPSET?

BU 76  UST 72;  BU's lost something like 11 straight to the Tommies? You know it's going to end sometime.

Now, having  said that, it also would not surprise me if the Tommies won by 10-12.

It'll be jumping at the Shoe tonight! What time will people have to get there to get a seat? Being it's sold out and no ticket, I can't go, but was curious. That's a small gym for a game this big.

[Chocolate Hoops]

Anybody know who's wearing the stripes tonight?

Yorky? ha ha ha

[MiacLostProphet]

I'm going with Bethel for the upset.  BU just has to keep the pace slow and pound it inside, sounds easy enough for any other team than BU, who doesn't get it down low a whole lot.  Moberg will eat McCoy inside. like shaq said when lewis was guarding him in the all-star game.   moberg will have a "BBQ chicken dinner."

It would also be nice to have two teams represent the miac in the tourney, i think bethel would fare well with its bigs.

I will be at a wedding so posters should keep the score updated on here so many others like myself who can't make the game can keep up. 

GO BU!

[Nites]

Although anything can happen in a single game, I think the Tommies simply have too much depth for the Royals.  The Royals' bench is pretty thin. 

I wonder how much different things might have been if the Royals hadn't had some significant underclassman departures, most notably Michael Much, Nick Otterson and Shane Flannery.  That trio accounted for about 20 points a game last year.  Much had an athletic all-around game and Otterson was an outside shooting threat.   

[wabbit]

Bethel couldn't handle the press. They needed better guard play. The Tommies go undefeated!

[sumander]

WOW! can't wait to hear the reports. Listened to PC on the play by play. Tomcats go on a 19-0 run in the second half, win by 17. BET guards weren't a factor?? Madson with only 11? Defense wins championships.

[sumander]

[I'd also think the committee would take into account that 3 of bethel's losses came to the #1 ranked team in the nation.......they've got a shot.

Bethel's two chances (slim & none) left the building last night when Warty knocked off Buena Vista and Marymount beat St. Mary's md.. B.V was 6th in the latest regional rankings and is likely to get a pool C bid. St. Mary's was #1 in the latest Middle Atlantic region rankings.

If Bethel wants in to the tourney....the only way is to win on Saturday.

P.S. It looks like the WIAC will get all 3 of their ranked teams into the dance as well. 

AO, thoughts after tonight?

[papahoops]

Just got home for the evening. Don't know which was better, the Tommie's second half or the Pepperjack California Nook Burger after the game . I thought going into the game that Bethel's guard ball handling against UST's pressure defense and Moberg's performance in the paint would be keys. Neither measured up for the evening spelling a Royals loss. Bethel stayed close in the first half with good defense and strong half by Vavra, overcoming sub-par performances by Madson and Moberg to stay within 2 at the half. 19-0 run for the Tommies in the second half, however, sealed the deal, and UST coasted to victory. Special defensive kudos to Lonnie Robinson and Brady Ervin, who absolutely smothered Madson defensively and took him out of his comfort zone all night. McCoy, Viau, Eicher, and Pelletier also completely neutralized Moberg and Robertson. What many thought should be a Bethel physical advantage in the paint never materialized. After a very so/so first half in which they gave up 6-8 points of a lead, the UST bench returned to form in the second half making a stong contribution to the winning margin.