MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

of the 3 rosters DP has posted-- one of them is missing a fairly key player from last season. word has it that james murrey of mac is skipping hoops to focus on baseball.

[Drake Palmer]

of the 3 rosters DP has posted-- one of them is missing a fairly key player from last season. word has it that james murrey of mac is skipping hoops to focus on baseball.

Mose - to be honest, only a true league historian such as you would have noticed something like that.    On a team that goes 0-25 last season, it's hard to notice what few bright spots the Scots did have.  James Murrey was not one I noticed.  +k

I'm thinking with the return of former All FY All-Name player in Holden Bigler-Johnson from last season's ending ankle injury, and a likely DP All Name FY this year with Pierce Peters, we might see 4-5 wins out of the Scots this year. I hope my guy Colin Keeley hit the weight room this off -season.


On another note - I've dogged the Hamline program the last couple of years, but you certainly can't fault their non-conference scheduling. Nice.

2009-10 Hamline University Men's Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Time
Sun., Nov. 15 Elmhurst  2:00 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 17 Northwestern 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 29 Buena Vista 3:00 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 2 Augsburg* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 5 Macalester* 3:00 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 7 at St. Olaf* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12 at Concordia* 3:00 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 29 -
Wed., Dec. 30
at Cal Lutheran Tournament
Thousand Oaks, Calif. 
Tues., Dec. 28 vs. Wheaton 8:00 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 30 vs. Cal Lutheran or Monmouth TBA

Sat., Jan. 2 Carleton* 3:00 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 4 at Bethel* 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 6 Saint Mary's* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 9 at Gustavus Adolphus* 3:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 13 Saint John's* 7:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 18 at St. Thomas*
Location: Macalester College 7:45 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 20 at Augsburg* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 23 at Macalester* 3:00 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 27 St. Olaf* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 30 at Carleton* 3:00 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 1 Concordia* 7:45 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 3 Bethel* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 6 Gustavus Adolphus* 3:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 10 at Saint Mary's* 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 17 at Saint John's* 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 20 St. Thomas* 3:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 23 MIAC Tournament Quarterfinal TBA
Thurs., Feb. 25 MIAC Tournament Semifinal TBA
Sat., Feb. 27 MIAC Tournament Final TBA

This is the type of competitive non conference schedule a GAC or UST puts together & on occasion, the Johnnies & Carleton. In fact, I would say most of the teams in the conference deserve a hand for establishing competitive N-C schedules with one notable exception in the northern suburbs of the TCs... Nebraska Christian, Waldorf College, Crown College. 

[TommieHoops4Life]

DP,

I talked to an Ole assistant last night while covering playoff soccer in miserable weather. St. Olaf had four recruits committed, but three of them couldn't work things out financially. I was told one of them had potential to be a great player in the MIAC and would've made an immediate impact, while the other two would've needed some time and molding.

In related news, not sure if it was on here earlier or not, Matt Christensen (Olaf point guard last year) landed an assistant job under Kalland at Carleton this year. Teams started practicing today.

[Titan Q]

For help with my D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot, can you guys help me sort out the 2010 MIAC race?  Not quite sure what the league looks like this year with St. Thomas losing some key guys.  Who do you see finishing 1st through 3rd?  Who should be on the Top 25 radar?

Thanks!

[Drake Palmer]

For help with my D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot, can you guys help me sort out the 2010 MIAC race?  Not quite sure what the league looks like this year with St. Thomas losing some key guys.  Who do you see finishing 1st through 3rd?  Who should be on the Top 25 radar?

Thanks!

Q – More than likely, UST (St. Thomas) will be the prohibitive league favorite by coaches & posters.  Although they lost some key seniors – Al McCoy, Lonnie Robinson, BJ Viau & Brett Tuma, St. Thomas was hands-down, the deepest & most talented team in the league.  They bring back nine players that got consistent playing time.  A big key to their success is the returning backcourt of JR PG Tyler Nicolai & SR All American Joe Scott. 

They've got more than adequate replacements at the guard spots, excellent individual defenders & sound team defensive scheme, and 3-4 biggs they can rotate in & out of the post.  They'll need to develop another go-to scorer other than Scott & Nicolai, & develop a consistent inside scoring presence but I think they'll be ok.  A bigger, stronger type team i.e. Washington U could be their undoing.  I'm certainly not expecting the level of success that they enjoyed last year, but they'll be a real solid team.  Certainly a top 25 caliber team.  I would pencil them in somewhere in the 9-14 slot.

The other contenders in the league are a little less clear. Last year's top 2 teams were heavily impacted by graduation – Carleton & Bethel.  If I was to take a guess before the final rosters are released, I'd go with St. Johns, Augsburg, Concordia, Gustavus & or Bethel.  At this point I don't see any of these teams being remotely close to being ranked in the top 25.

[Drake Palmer]

It's heating up a bit in the run up to the football game of the year in the MIAC as the upstart, undefeated UST team takes on the undefeated,perennial football power SJU in C-ville on Saturday.  Mose & couple other Tommie backers are managing to hold their own in the mostly respectful war of words.  One minor exception was by our board's jr. wordsmith - Willy Wonka.  he had this to say which is today's

Quote of the DAY.

Maniac:  Still waiting for your score prediction.  You can run, but you can't hide...

TDT-- you and you good bear buddy VOJ can stop salivating for my prediction. Here it is.

The drought of Biblical porportions cometh to an end. After 22 years without a win on the former cranberry field turned into a mecca for small college football, the Tommies will  board the busses back to St. Paul carrying the Holy Grail for the first time. UST 28, SJU 12. Setting the stage for a rematch in the 2nd round of the NCAAs at the House that IA Built...which will be one of the best games in the history of this rivalry

(what? you thought I'd pick against my alma mater?)

Wow...4 td's against the Johnnies D, that is a bit ambitious.  I see it as a 3 to 10 point game...either way.  There has been a major change in the Johnnies D since the opening two games...thinking less and just going out making plays.

Here is a subject for debate...what is UST's best win?  A down Concordia squad?  A Jeckyll and Hyde St. Olaf team?

If its Concordia consider the fact that the Cobbers made some mistakes, a blocked punt and an interception that UST returned for 6, so the game can be viewed as being closer than the final score would indicate

UST was down to St. Olaf at one point in time 14-13 and didn't the Oles have issues with FG's?

Just something to think about

Really, VOJ? Take off the blinders for a minute and look in the mirror.

SJU's two nonconference wins came against what are currently the two worst teams in the WIAC. The Johnnies pounded bad Gustavus and Hamline teams, as is expected. They also needed a virtual miracle to beat a solid Bethel team. At home. On Homecoming. As someone else just said, the Tommies beat Concordia more impressively. I'm really not sure what to make of that argument...

Hazzben — I'm on board, but don't expect any positive feedback from the masses here. We have a couple posters who would literally have B.E.'s (Blake Elliot)baby. I'm looking at you, TDT.

[columbianmaffia]

check out this dunk by rodney williams jr tonight at the BARN

http://www.gophersports.com/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?type=vod&oemid=8400&SPID=&DB_MENU_ID=&DB_OEM_ID=8400&SPSID=&KEY=AQRGEFLMPFFHQEC.20091017010551

[Willy Wonka]

It's all in good fun, Drake. Once you've made a guy like TDT drop a deuce on the side of the highway after a trip to Lambeau with a few mutual friends, you can kind of say anything to him without fear of repercussion.

For the sake of comparison, I'm MJ to his BRuss. He can yap all he wants, but he ain't got nothing to back it up when the going gets tough...or runny 

[localcoach]

A little birdie told me last night that the Hamline Pipers recently received some good news about a certain transfer with the potential to make a major impact.  Sounds like the folks at Snelling and Hewitt may have a lot to cheer about this season.

[Drake Palmer]

A little birdie told me last night that the Hamline Pipers recently received some good news about a certain transfer with the potential to make a major impact.  Sounds like the folks at Snelling and Hewitt may have a lot to cheer about this season.

LC- you ought to come back & visit the board more often.  Are you talking about Ray Brown?

If we wait long enough, some nice tidbits of info end up on the board.  

Klop – Eric Clute is a nice D3 player, with ok handles & is more of a streak scorer than a strong shooter such as the former sweet shooting lefty for SMSU – Matt Fletcher.  Clute's defense & quicks could be a liability, especially at D2.   Time will tell & I wish him the best.

Sum - I've not seen this Chad Calcaterra play, but I'm assuming he must be a decent D1 mid-major type of prospect.  Former NDSU coach Tim Miles seems to be developing a pipeline at Colorado State to MN for hoops talent.  Travis Busch from the Gophers was going to transfer to CSU this spring & I believe a big post from Hopkins, Dan Vandevierven (sp) was/is at CSU.

Good move Willy. +k So will this mean no more reports from Gus Young & other MIAC courts this winter?

Ray Brown had/has all the physical talent in the world.  Unfortunately, what was going on between his ears, & smooth talking sycophants who were re-living their athletic careers through this kid, helped ruin what was a once promising athletic career.  Hopefully he's learned a few lessons from the University of Life the last few years.  By the way, it will take a whole a lot more than Ray Brown & Carl Hipp for Hamline to make a playoff run this season.

+k to the usual suspects.

If it's someone other than Brown - you ought to be smited for playing the part of  news scoop tease.
*************
J Quent - I see you on the board, what's happening over at Cretin & Summit? New transfers, dynamic FY hoopers, etc.?  Tthe board is drying up from a lack of news.  

[Drake Palmer]

Sheesh- you would think the D3 pollsters might have listened to the posters. 

For some inexplicable reason they have UST ranked an ungodly 4th in the preseason poll.  With all of UST's graduation losses, there's no way they should be ranked this high.  Now if they go out & beat #9 Wooster next month, & #10 Stevens Point in December, then mebbe. 

[localcoach]

Drake - Ever since I went back to work part-time I have less and less time to get on this dang thing.  I will try to step up my game. 

Yes, I was referring to a Mr. Ray Brown.  The combination of Brown and Carl Hipp should be very plentiful for the Pipers this season. 

[Willy Wonka]

Sheesh- you would think the D3 pollsters might have listened to the posters. 

For some inexplicable reason they have UST ranked an ungodly 4th in the preseason poll.  With all of UST's graduation losses, there's no way they should be ranked this high.  Now if they go out & beat #9 Wooster next month, & #10 Stevens Point in December, then mebbe. 

I've heard through the grapevine that Conboy's dad is already on record predicting a second straight perfect conference record for the Tommies. Given that there isn't a clear-cut contender behind UST, I'm not sure I can disagree with any degree of vehemence.

But I also don't think they're deserving of the #4 ranking right now. They lost their heart (Robinson) and soul (Big Al), and will presumably be required to trust Archer to play big minutes, which is always a scary proposition.

[Pat Coleman]

Robinson is a big loss which is hard to really show in the information we give to our voters. His contribution didn't easily register in the box score.

[miacsuperfan]

Robinson is a big loss which is hard to really show in the information we give to our voters. His contribution didn't easily register in the box score.

AMEN.  His loss is a 'uge' hit to the 'cats.  He could flat out D-up.  And once in a while he could hurt you with a dagger on offense.  But even so, you have to like UST's chances----if some of their new recruits are as good as touted and the returning players have done their summer homework. 

#4 in the nation?   That might be a s-t-r-e-t-c-h, but I'm not betting against them.