MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Nites]

MAC over Martin Luther 81-69 behind 19 pts by Kyle Hamblett.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

MAC over Martin Luther 81-69 behind 19 pts by Kyle Hamblett.

Being thoroughly bored, I trekked over to Mac for the game. The Scots look much improved over last year's version, but only two words can describe Martins Lutherans: Absolutely putrid.

[piperinsider]

Yeah, outside of Greg Holzhueter (his brother Galen would make a nice MIAC guard) and Josh Danell - both local products of New Ulm, Martin Luther doesn't have much this season. They are now 1-7 with the lone win coming over Superior.

Chalk up another one for the good guys (MIAC).

[Buddo]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

[AO]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

[Buddo]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

They still lost to the worst team in the MIAC by 12, got crushed by 29 against Dubuque who is a very average team, and... they're 1-7.

As far as the Superior win, UW-S was winning nearly the entire game until Holzhueter hit a J with 3 seconds left to put them up by two. Fluke...

[Gacman]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

AO quit fooling yourself with this logic. Superior is toward the bottom of the WIAC which is a strong league but towards the bottom nonetheless. The UMAC is in trouble because you have at least 5 abissmal teams this in Martin Luther, Bethany, St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown. The UMAC is a combined 16-53 overall and 8-45 outside it's own conference. Now if this doesn't clarify how down this conference is I don't know what does. And to think people were trying to imply that Bethany with it's win over GAC last year was starting to tip the scales in recruiting the southern part of the state.

[AO]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

They still lost to the worst team in the MIAC by 12, got crushed by 29 against Dubuque who is a very average team, and... they're 1-7.

As far as the Superior win, UW-S was winning nearly the entire game until Holzhueter hit a J with 3 seconds left to put them up by two. Fluke...

Is there some other column in the standings next to Win/Loss for Fluke losses?   Give me a break Buddo.

[Nites]

AO quit fooling yourself with this logic. Superior is toward the bottom of the WIAC which is a strong league but towards the bottom nonetheless. The UMAC is in trouble because you have at least 5 abissmal teams this in Martin Luther, Bethany, St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown. The UMAC is a combined 16-53 overall and 8-45 outside it's own conference. Now if this doesn't clarify how down this conference is I don't know what does. And to think people were trying to imply that Bethany with it's win over GAC last year was starting to tip the scales in recruiting the southern part of the state.

Gac - Is it true that Nebraska Christian is petitioning to join the UMAC?  If so, they might be in the mix for the conference title since they put 21 points on the board against Bethel.    

[AO]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

AO quit fooling yourself with this logic. Superior is toward the bottom of the WIAC which is a strong league but towards the bottom nonetheless. The UMAC is in trouble because you have at least 5 abissmal teams this in Martin Luther, Bethany, St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown. The UMAC is a combined 16-53 overall and 8-45 outside it's own conference. Now if this doesn't clarify how down this conference is I don't know what does. And to think people were trying to imply that Bethany with it's win over GAC last year was starting to tip the scales in recruiting the southern part of the state.

There is no doubt the UMAC is way down this year. The point was that even in a bad year, a last place UMAC team is capable of beating a team from a power conference.  In regards to the Gustavus vs Bethany recruiting in southern minnesota, I would think the jury is still out as the recruits have yet to really contribute for either team.  Out of curiousity I pulled up the rosters from each team and noticed that Gustavus only recruited one player from the southern minny and has put him on the JV.
44 Erik Jacobs SO 6-3 180 Lake Crystal, MN. 
Bethany lists 11 Mike Knight G 6-1 Fr. LeRoy, Minn. LeRoy-Ostrander, 21 Garrett Benson G 5-11 Fr. Rochester, Minn. Rochester Mayo, 35 Patrick Garvin G 6-4 Fr. Jackson, Minn. Jackson, 41 Ben Scheevel F 6-3 Fr. Heron Lake, Minn. Southwest Star Concept, 51 Josh Rowe F 6-4 Fr. LeRoy, Minn. LeRoy-Ostrander, 53 Gavin Kroehler F 6-4 Fr. Le Sueur, Minn. Le Sueur-Henderson.

Bethany might have won the battle for the southern minnesota players, but both teams best freshman are from the metro, so....whatever.

[AO]

Gac - Is it true that Nebraska Christian is petitioning to join the UMAC?  If so, they might be in the mix for the conference title since they put 21 points on the board against Bethel.    

Funny, I don't see any UMAC members even with 6 more non-conference games to fill, putting anybody like Nebraska Christian on the schedule.

[Gacman]

The bottom of UMAC athletics is pretty bad.

Martin Luther is not typically at the bottom of the UMAC, (though currently they are in a very down year for the conference), but if the bottom of the UMAC keeps beating a UW-superior team who in turn has wins over minnesota-duluth and river falls, the UMAC might not be in such bad shape.   

AO quit fooling yourself with this logic. Superior is toward the bottom of the WIAC which is a strong league but towards the bottom nonetheless. The UMAC is in trouble because you have at least 5 abissmal teams this in Martin Luther, Bethany, St. Scholastica, Northland and Crown. The UMAC is a combined 16-53 overall and 8-45 outside it's own conference. Now if this doesn't clarify how down this conference is I don't know what does. And to think people were trying to imply that Bethany with it's win over GAC last year was starting to tip the scales in recruiting the southern part of the state.

There is no doubt the UMAC is way down this year. The point was that even in a bad year, a last place UMAC team is capable of beating a team from a power conference.  In regards to the Gustavus vs Bethany recruiting in southern minnesota, I would think the jury is still out as the recruits have yet to really contribute for either team.  Out of curiousity I pulled up the rosters from each team and noticed that Gustavus only recruited one player from the southern minny and has put him on the JV.
44 Erik Jacobs SO 6-3 180 Lake Crystal, MN. 
Bethany lists 11 Mike Knight G 6-1 Fr. LeRoy, Minn. LeRoy-Ostrander, 21 Garrett Benson G 5-11 Fr. Rochester, Minn. Rochester Mayo, 35 Patrick Garvin G 6-4 Fr. Jackson, Minn. Jackson, 41 Ben Scheevel F 6-3 Fr. Heron Lake, Minn. Southwest Star Concept, 51 Josh Rowe F 6-4 Fr. LeRoy, Minn. LeRoy-Ostrander, 53 Gavin Kroehler F 6-4 Fr. Le Sueur, Minn. Le Sueur-Henderson.

Bethany might have won the battle for the southern minnesota players, but both teams best freshman are from the metro, so....whatever.

I think their is an important destinction to make. True both teams best freshman are from the metro, but almost none of those players were on GAC's radar. Gustavus because of it's tradition doesn't have to rebuild. They simply just reload. Because of this they can be choosy on who they recruit. This last year isn't necessarily relevant because if there was someone from southern minnesota worth going after, they would have made a strong attempt to get this player. There wasn't these types of players to go for last year. Of all the Miac schools GAC does the best job at recruiting "Out State" talent, which includes southern minnesota. 8 out of the Gusties top 11 are outstate players, not metro, and 6 of those would be considered southern minnesota. The point is, just as transfers like going to UST to be on a winning tradition that's located in the metro, quality southern Minnesotan players will look to go to GAC first before Bethany because one loss doesn't change the prestige and tradition of a college.

[Nites]

Funny, I don't see any UMAC members even with 6 more non-conference games to fill, putting anybody like Nebraska Christian on the schedule.

A valid point.   Bethel's nonconference schedule is always an interesting topic of conversation.

[carletonsid]

I think their is an important destinction to make. True both teams best freshman are from the metro, but almost none of those players were on GAC's radar. Gustavus because of it's tradition doesn't have to rebuild. They simply just reload. Because of this they can be choosy on who they recruit. This last year isn't necessarily relevant because if there was someone from southern minnesota worth going after, they would have made a strong attempt to get this player. There wasn't these types of players to go for last year. Of all the Miac schools GAC does the best job at recruiting "Out State" talent, which includes southern minnesota. 8 out of the Gusties top 11 are outstate players, not metro, and 6 of those would be considered southern minnesota. The point is, just as transfers like going to UST to be on a winning tradition that's located in the metro, quality southern Minnesotan players will look to go to GAC first before Bethany because one loss doesn't change the prestige and tradition of a college.

The other important distinction I'd add is GAC wants players that are looking at NSIC schools. Bethany Lutheran wants players that are looking at GAC. For GAC, the difference makers in its program are those kids that are getting serious looks/offers from the DII schools. For Bethany Lutheran, its difference makers are the kids that are getting looks from GAC.

AO, the UMAC schools are going to win a few games here and there vs. the MIAC. But until the UMAC consistently competes and wins games vs. the MIAC, I'll consider it an inferior league and I think it impossible to make an argument otherwise. Heck, my Knights were struggling until St. Scholastica came to town on Saturday. 26-0 run midway through the first half=ball game.

[Gacman]

The other important distinction I'd add is GAC wants players that are looking at NSIC schools. Bethany Lutheran wants players that are looking at GAC. For GAC, the difference makers in its program are those kids that are getting serious looks/offers from the DII schools. For Bethany Lutheran, its difference makers are the kids that are getting looks from GAC.

AO, the UMAC schools are going to win a few games here and there vs. the MIAC. But until the UMAC consistently competes and wins games vs. the MIAC, I'll consider it an inferior league and I think it impossible to make an argument otherwise. Heck, my Knights were struggling until St. Scholastica came to town on Saturday. 26-0 run midway through the first half=ball game.

Great point caletonsid. +k