MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Great post, Gacman. There's nothing like firsthand observation from a player to help fill in some of the information gaps about teams from a different part of the country.

[Drake Palmer]

Since the season is over and am no longer a player, I thought it would be appropriate to way in on the madness. Assuming that UST wins its first two games, they have the possiblity of playing Whitworth or Pudget Sound. Having played both of them earlier this year hear are my thoughts on the potential matchups.

Love the first post GacMan!  +K

That's a great description of both teams - Whitworth & UPS.  I'd been hearing about UPS the last couple of years so when I saw they were going to play UW-Stout in 07, I made a point of going to Menomonie to take in the ball game.  UPS is a fun, fun team to watch! Antwan Williams, the PG is nasty & I love their post player Robert Krauel.  UPS's other post player, Jason Foster gets more pub & is a very solid player, but I couldn't believe how quick Krauel was in the post.  No offense to Aurora or UWSP (well mebbe just a little bit  ) but I would feel like I died & gone to hoops heaven if UST, one of those teams & the top half of the bracket made it to St. Paul 2 weekends from now.

If you get a chance to come up & watch UW-Stevens Point this weekend they'll remind you a lot of your own Gusties.  Very disciplined, well schooled, excellent shooting ball club & solid defenders.   Should be a fun nerve-wracking weekend!

[Nites]

Trivia Answers:

1.  Neither Big Al nor the Hipper has attempted a 3-point shot in his career.

2.   B.J. Viau has 1 conference career 3-pointer and 2 total for his career.  Bonus - Aaron Burtzel with no 3-pointers this year, but with 2 last year (both in conference play).

Viau (0-1), Moberg (0-1), Fraase (0-1), Hipp (0-0), McCoy (0-0) and Burtzel (0-3), all went scoreless this year from 3-point land.  Somebody must have told Moberg after his first year at Bethel to stay down in the blocks (and away from the ball since it never gets passed there  ) as he has only attempted 3 shots from long range after going 3-23 from beyond the arc his first year in the program.

Warning:  Totally Useless Trivia

A bit of trivia for anyone who wishes to give it a try without researching the stats:

Of the players who were named to the College Sporting News MIAC All-Conference Teams (see below for the list):

1.     Which 2 players do not have 3-point shot attempts in their careers?

2.     (This one is the mildly surprising stat) Aside from the two players who do not have 3-point shot attempts, which player with the fewest 3-point baskets in his career (that number is 2 and there are two players with only 2 makes), has the fewest 3-point baskets in MIAC play (he has a grand total of 1)?  For a bonus, name the other player with only 2 career 3-point baskets. 

Answers will be posted at the end of the day.

First Team

Zach Johnson, Carleton College
Nate Alm, Augsburg College
John Fraase, Concordia College
Tim Madson, Bethel University
Joe Scott, University of St. Thomas
B.J. Viau, University of St. Thomas

Second Team

Aaron Burtzel, Saint John's University
Jon Cassens, Augsburg College
Carl Hipp, Hamline University
Mike Moberg, Bethel University
Tony Thrasher, Hamline University
Will Wright, Saint Mary's University

Third Team

Lukas Holland, Saint Mary's University
Cory Laugen, Bethel University
Al McCoy, University of St. Thomas
Tyler Nicolai, University of St. Thomas
Bryan Rosett, Carleton College
Chris Schwartz, Saint John's University

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

27-0 doesn't get a first round bye? The byes appear to be driven more by geographic isolation than performance.

Nothing unusual at all about that. It stinks, but that's life in D3 for you.

true its life in D3--- doesnt make it any better, but it is what it is. It would be interesting if the same limitations & criteria were used in D1 as in D3... can you imagine putting all the ACC & SEC teams in a region? or telling Marquette "gee, nice season, but you, like Buena Vista, lost in your league playoffs. Better luck next year"?

TOUGH draw for UST.. getting TO the Final 4 means beating 2 teams I feel belong IN the Final 4-- UWSP and Wash U.

No love for Wheaton, Mose?

(Or UWW or UWP, for that matter ...)

Plenty of love/respect for those 3. What I was trying to say was that if the d-3 tourney was seeded like the D-1 tourney, I'd say UST, UWSP and Wash U would be 3 of the four #1 seeds, and maybe one of the 3 you mentin would be the fourth

Since the season is over and am no longer a player, I thought it would be appropriate to way in on the madness. Assuming that UST wins its first two games, they have the possiblity of playing Whitworth or Pudget Sound. Having played both of them earlier this year hear are my thoughts on the potential matchups.

First off, Whitworth has very good guard play. They have the type of guard play to break the UST press, and they should be well practiced against the pressure since they play PS who has a better and more frantic press then what UST has and that is saying something. They also have two really good posts. These are the type of posts that a team like UST probably hasn't faced all season. One of there posts is a larger sized version of Fraase who happens to be a better passer and the other has the size of Moberg but is more aggressive and more athletic. WW plays a style very similar to GAC. To date, they were the most disciplined team we faced all year. This would be a tough match-up.

Pudget Sound is UST on steriods. They press the ball every single possession but do it even more aggressively than UST. Although their press is better, their commitment on the defensive end once you break it isn't as strong as UST. PS plays with an intent to score within 7 seconds of getting the ball and almost let you score if you get past half court so they can get back to playing offense.  PS athleticism matches and probably surpasses UST because they have a little more size but their bigs are fast and athletic and more often than not lead their press.

It would be fun game to watch if UST played Pudget Sound.

Regardless of which one of these teams they play, UST will have their hands full as they will throughout the whole region. Good luck to UST.

VERY astute analysis, Gacman. I'd been hoping for a UST-UPS matchup some point during the tourney, now you have me wanting it all the more. +k

Nites--- excellent trivia quesation. +k

[TommieFan2012]

Interesting tidbits.  4 out of the 5 starters for Aurora average 30 or more minutes per game while UST's leading minutes player, Joe Scott, averages 27.3. UST averages about 35 ppg off the bench while Aurora averages about 21.  Aurora definately relies heavily on their starters.

[columbianmaffia]

does anyone know if there will be a video webcast for the friday game?

[piperinsider]

Great...two kids from Watertown-Mayer on the board now

[Willy Wonka]

Interesting tidbits.  4 out of the 5 starters for Aurora average 30 or more minutes per game while UST's leading minutes player, Joe Scott, averages 27.3. UST averages about 35 ppg off the bench while Aurora averages about 21.  Aurora definately relies heavily on their starters.

In many ways, that's anecdotal evidence. In most of the games the Tommies have played this season, the starters have been able to rest for the last 5-10 minutes of the game. That skews minutes by both starters and the bench. While the UST bench is very strong, I would expect the starters to play heavier minutes the rest of the way as the playing field levels.

A more interesting stat to me is the fact that Aurora has a negative assist/turnover ratio. That, along with some foul trouble, should spell disaster for AU. I'm predicting a convincing double digit victory.

[PurpleReign]

I for one, love that St. Thomas didn't make the tournament this year, because the way most of you sound "WE" would not stand a chance.

Interesting tidbits.  4 out of the 5 starters for Aurora average 30 or more minutes per game while UST's leading minutes player, Joe Scott, averages 27.3. UST averages about 35 ppg off the bench while Aurora averages about 21.  Aurora definately relies heavily on their starters.

In many ways, that's anecdotal evidence. In most of the games the Tommies have played this season, the starters have been able to rest for the last 5-10 minutes of the game. That skews minutes by both starters and the bench. While the UST bench is very strong, I would expect the starters to play heavier minutes the rest of the way as the playing field levels.

A more interesting stat to me is the fact that Aurora has a negative assist/turnover ratio. That, along with some foul trouble, should spell disaster for AU. I'm predicting a convincing double digit victory.

[basketballlover]

Nites, I knew I should have just posted with an incomplete thought. I was in the middle of posting, but had to leave the house, so didn't get a chance to post it. Honest to goodness, I had my answers of McCoy and Hipp for never shooting one and Viau with only one.
McCoy and Hipp are inside guys and a good choice to have not shot one. Having watching Viau play for many years, just had a feeling it might be him because he has always been hesitant to shoot the three, even though he is a guard, and would rather take a couple dribbles in to be a little closer.

[papahoops]

Just did a late evening check in on the board and was pleasantly surprised to see GacMan's great opening post. Great summary of potential (hopefully) UST opponents. I didn't realize Gustavus played both of these outstanding teams (UPS and Whitworth) back to back on their non conference schedule. That combined with Buena Vista and Winona State made GAC's non-conference schedule in my view hands down the toughest in the MIAC. I give credit to the program for not being afraid to take on some tough teams.

[PurpleReign]

papahoops you sound like the anti-tommie, what is your deal.  I think UST beat Winona St. when they were number 1 in D2 and not "afraid to take on some tough teams."  Quit being such an Obama and stop it!!!!

Just did a late evening check in on the board and was pleasantly surprised to see GacMan's great opening post. Great summary of potential (hopefully) UST opponents. I didn't realize Gustavus played both of these outstanding teams (UPS and Whitworth) back to back on their non conference schedule. That combined with Buena Vista and Winona State made GAC's non-conference schedule in my view hands down the toughest in the MIAC. I give credit to the program for not being afraid to take on some tough teams.

[PurpleReign]

I am sure you were "pleasantly surprised to see (Gacmans) posts.  He got his ass handed to him by 40 points the last time around.

Just did a late evening check in on the board and was pleasantly surprised to see GacMan's great opening post. Great summary of potential (hopefully) UST opponents. I didn't realize Gustavus played both of these outstanding teams (UPS and Whitworth) back to back on their non conference schedule. That combined with Buena Vista and Winona State made GAC's non-conference schedule in my view hands down the toughest in the MIAC. I give credit to the program for not being afraid to take on some tough teams.

[piperinsider]

papahoops you sound like the anti-tommie, what is your deal.  I think UST beat Winona St. when they were number 1 in D2 and not "afraid to take on some tough teams."  Quit being such an Obama and stop it!!!!

Just did a late evening check in on the board and was pleasantly surprised to see GacMan's great opening post. Great summary of potential (hopefully) UST opponents. I didn't realize Gustavus played both of these outstanding teams (UPS and Whitworth) back to back on their non conference schedule. That combined with Buena Vista and Winona State made GAC's non-conference schedule in my view hands down the toughest in the MIAC. I give credit to the program for not being afraid to take on some tough teams.

Que? Tu es loco?

[larry_u]

does anyone know if there will be a video webcast for the friday game?

I would guess no, but I know d3hoops.com/ ncaa.org will be doing an audio webcast for sure.