MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

The NCAA, Hamline and you and I can't determine his best course of action.

Not without all of the relevant data, we can't. But that doesn't mean that he'll correctly determine what is his best course of action.

It wouldn't matter if you did have the data.  Just like you were wrong to suggest Joldersma shouldn't try and go pro, you also shouldn't decide what is best for Ray.  If the decision he is making is deciding whether or not to take drugs again, then obviously you can decipher the correct option, but this is not that sort of "responsible" vs "irresponsible" decision.

The NCAA's not in the gauging-best-life-choices business. It's in the supervising-college-athletics business, and one of the things that it's attempting to do to atone for the mess that D1 sports have made of the educational process is to track graduation rates (and not just at the D1 level).

How has a d1 sport hurt the educational process?  Are coaches requiring basketball players to practice dribbling in the classroom?  The individual is the only one responsible for his/her education.

Again, neither you nor I can say for certain what the future would hold for him if he were to leave school without his degree. Life circumstances can often make it very difficult for someone to complete an unfinished degree, particularly if he or she has breadwinner responsibilities or there are economic issues involved. And the terms upon which he leaves vis-a-vis Whitmore and Hamline, good or bad, aren't really relevant.

In the end, the best scenario is that Ray Brown gets his diploma from Hamline in May and can move forward in his life with that very valuable piece of paper in hand.

We both agree it's going to be more difficult for student athletes if they leave school early to chase dreams, but I'm not going to discourage someone from doing something because of the difficulty. 

If I'm the athletic director or a supporter of Hamline I would consider how the players leave the program to be very relevant.  The program's reputation isn't built by wins and losses alone.

[Drake Palmer]

The NCAA, Hamline and you and I can't determine his best course of action.

Not without all of the relevant data, we can't. But that doesn't mean that he'll correctly determine what is his best course of action.

It wouldn't matter if you did have the data.  Just like you were wrong to suggest Joldersma shouldn't try and go pro, you also shouldn't decide what is best for Ray.  If the decision he is making is deciding whether or not to take drugs again, then obviously you can decipher the correct option, but this is not that sort of "responsible" vs "irresponsible" decision.

Aww c'mon AO, don't make me waste the +k on you.  Leave well enough alone.  You're on the Gacman end of the debate stick - sliding down that slippery slope without your sea legs to prepare you for the plunge, & not the Nestea plunge either.

Cut your losses, take advantage of the free admission at the Leonard Center & take in the Carleton-Mac game tonight.  You can watch the Jonker man go to work & pick up a few tips for your next run at the gym.  Watch him back his man down on the block, do the bully up & under, or what is quickly becoming my favorite - the "Jonkerator."  After he schools his man with the inside move, Jonker comes back with the counter - the turnaround Jumper.  And he can turn & hit the jumper off either shoulder. 

Or finally, tell you what - I'll quit hustling Jonker, you quit the Sensei debate, & mebbe UMACfan can write 3 consecutive posts without referring to Ray Brown.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

not to interrupt the beatdown from Sensi or AO's swimming valiantly upstream into a tsunami, but we got us some ball games tonight, 4 of which have big implications on the playoff seeding.

** GAC @ UST---Can the Gusties pull it off again? Can they beat UST on one of the 2 courts in the state that UST has never lost on? (bonus points if anyone can name the other court on which UST is undefeated all-time) A win locks up a home game for GAC and gives them a near-lock on 2nd place. A loss could send them on the road Tuesday. Home court is huge for GAC, so this game is pivotal.

** HU @ USJ-- HUGE playoff impact here, and a possible rematch on Tues or Thurs. Can USJ snap its losing streak or is Schwartz their real MVP since the tailspin coincides with his injury? Is their lineup wearing out from too many minutes? Can HU play like they did vs GAC & BU or will "Mr Hyde" show up like he did vs SMU? Will Rayray dunk over Burtzel or will Burtzel reject him into the bleachers?

** AUG @ BU-- A must-win for Augsburg if they are to have a shot at 2nd place and nearly must-win to avoid being on the road on Tuesday. Can they reverse the "curse of Robertson Center" where their playoff hopes were snuffed out 2 years ago? Can their inside game (AG-G and Polta) contain Robertson? Will the Three-three amigos (Cassens/Olson/Flavin) get their shooting hands back which were MIA at Carleton?

** CAR @ MAC-- Last chance till fall for the Scots to snap their 47-game MIAC losing streak. a win here & again on Sat and a couple of breaks and <surprise> the Knights could slip into 2nd place by the end of the week.

[Gacman]

I had a little time at work and the UST vs. GAC game got me thinking. What is the last team to beat UST twice in a season since GAC is the only team this year with a chance to do that at this point? I did a little digging and I found out that it was GAC in the 04-05 season, but they split the regular season and GAC won in the championship game for its second win against them. You have to go back one more year, the 03-04 season, to find a team that swept the regular season against UST. You might be surprised that it was Concordia and Bethlel who both did it that year to be the last to sweep UST during the regular season. That's a pretty dominant stretch if you have to go back 6 seasons to find the last time that happened to them.

[huhoops]

not to interrupt the beatdown from Sensi or AO's swimming valiantly upstream into a tsunami, but we got us some ball games tonight, 4 of which have big implications on the playoff seeding.

** GAC @ UST---Can the Gusties pull it off again? Can they beat UST on one of the 2 courts in the state that UST has never lost on? (bonus points if anyone can name the other court on which UST is undefeated all-time) A win locks up a home game for GAC and gives them a near-lock on 2nd place. A loss could send them on the road Tuesday. Home court is huge for GAC, so this game is pivotal.

** HU @ USJ-- HUGE playoff impact here, and a possible rematch on Tues or Thurs. Can USJ snap its losing streak or is Schwartz their real MVP since the tailspin coincides with his injury? Is their lineup wearing out from too many minutes? Can HU play like they did vs GAC & BU or will "Mr Hyde" show up like he did vs SMU? Will Rayray dunk over Burtzel or will Burtzel reject him into the bleachers?

** AUG @ BU-- A must-win for Augsburg if they are to have a shot at 2nd place and nearly must-win to avoid being on the road on Tuesday. Can they reverse the "curse of Robertson Center" where their playoff hopes were snuffed out 2 years ago? Can their inside game (AG-G and Polta) contain Robertson? Will the Three-three amigos (Cassens/Olson/Flavin) get their shooting hands back which were MIA at Carleton?

** CAR @ MAC-- Last chance till fall for the Scots to snap their 47-game MIAC losing streak. a win here & again on Sat and a couple of breaks and <surprise> the Knights could slip into 2nd place by the end of the week.

I've got UST big tonight. They avenge the loss in St. Peter by 15+ 

Could be another ugly loss for BU if they don't strap up because my guess is AUG is on a mission after Saturday's loss. It would sure be a pity for AUG to brick one of these two lay ups down the home stretch.

Apparently Wyclef is making a guest appearance at half time at the Leanord Center tonight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI6MWZrl8v8

Last chance for HU to win a longer road trip. Things could get dicey if Kelso's boy Hyde shows up 

[OldUMACFAN]

The NCAA, Hamline and you and I can't determine his best course of action.

Not without all of the relevant data, we can't. But that doesn't mean that he'll correctly determine what is his best course of action.

It wouldn't matter if you did have the data.  Just like you were wrong to suggest Joldersma shouldn't try and go pro, you also shouldn't decide what is best for Ray.  If the decision he is making is deciding whether or not to take drugs again, then obviously you can decipher the correct option, but this is not that sort of "responsible" vs "irresponsible" decision.

Aww c'mon AO, don't make me waste the +k on you.  Leave well enough alone.  You're on the Gacman end of the debate stick - sliding down that slippery slope without your sea legs to prepare you for the plunge, & not the Nestea plunge either.

Cut your losses, take advantage of the free admission at the Leonard Center & take in the Carleton-Mac game tonight.  You can watch the Jonker man go to work & pick up a few tips for your next run at the gym.  Watch him back his man down on the block, do the bully up & under, or what is quickly becoming my favorite - the "Jonkerator."  After he schools his man with the inside move, Jonker comes back with the counter - the turnaround Jumper.  And he can turn & hit the jumper off either shoulder. 

Or finally, tell you what - I'll quit hustling Jonker, you quit the Sensei debate, & mebbe UMACfan can write 3 consecutive posts without referring to Ray Brown.

Awww ... c'mon now Drake.  I have to stick up for my friend, and recently peoples posts have been more ignorant than ever with regards to the Ray Brown topic.  I will try though after this post.   

[Drake Palmer]

Help!!

I'm locked in mortal combat with my archrival Mose on the pickem board.   Due to an oversight on my part (forgot to post my pickems last Wednesday - boo me) I gave up my comfortable 2-game advantage, had to gamble to get back even last Saturday (took the Jonker Express over the Dawgs), & now we're tied going into the last two days of the regular season.

Here are the night's pairings

17-Feb

St. Olaf @ Saint Mary's
Carleton @ Macalester
Agsburg @ Bethel
Hamline @ Saint John's
Gustavus @ St. Thomas

The HAM- SJU matchup is the swing game so here's my dilemma...

I thought I could find some last minute info that could influence my thinking one way or another but I couldn't. But here's some interesting stuff-

SJU has had (3) 3-game losing streaks this season.  They're currently on a 3-game losing streak. Will they lose 3+ games for the first time all season?

Hamline has never lost more than 2 games in a row all season. They lost to SMU last Saturday, have the Jays tonight, & close out the regular season at home against the Tommies on Saturday. Tick-tock, tick -tock who should it be? Johnnies or Pipers?

WWMIACPD?

 

[Gacman]

I've got UST big tonight. They avenge the loss in St. Peter by 15+  

I'm hoping you're wrong HU.  

If I had to make a pick I would chose UST as well because of how inconsistent GAC has been the second time through conference. I will say though, that out of all the teams in the MIAC I like how GAC matches up against UST the most. The size advantage that GAC has inside and good enough guard play to handle UST's pressure is the formula for success against the Tommies.

Should be closer than the 15 points you are predicting but as they say a loss is a loss.

I've got my fingers crossed.

[sumander]

Tick-tock, tick -tock who should it be? Johnnies or Pipers?
WWMIACPD?  

Drake, Ths J-s are 6-3 at home. The Vipes are 0-4 on the road when they travel outside the Metro area!

Take the J's; bet the ranch! 

[papahoops]

I had a little time at work and the UST vs. GAC game got me thinking. What is the last team to beat UST twice in a season since GAC is the only team this year with a chance to do that at this point? I did a little digging and I found out that it was GAC in the 04-05 season, but they split the regular season and GAC won in the championship game for its second win against them. You have to go back one more year, the 03-04 season, to find a team that swept the regular season against UST. You might be surprised that it was Concordia and Bethlel who both did it that year to be the last to sweep UST during the regular season. That's a pretty dominant stretch if you have to go back 6 seasons to find the last time that happened to them.

G-Man, no need to give Mose any more ammunition to spout off about his beloved Tommies. He comes up with enough of this stuff on his own The 2003-2004 season was the year GAC beat MAC in the Playoff final and UST had a pretty ordinary team that year. In fact G-Man neglected the important fact that MAC also beat UST twice in the 2003-2004 regular season, including a 79-71 win AT THE SHOE. Who'd a thunk it !!!!!!!! I am sure that event has been erased from Mose's memory with one of those Men in Black flashlights

[Drake Palmer]

Tick-tock, tick -tock who should it be? Johnnies or Pipers?
WWMIACPD?    

Drake, Ths J-s are 6-3 at home. The Vipes are 0-4 on the road when they travel outside the Metro area!

Take the J's; bet the ranch! 

So you're saying I can get one of these?


 


This one is all on you. 

[sumander]

So you're saying I can get one of these?
 


This one is all on you. 

Drake, I got one of these says I am right!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Help!!

WWMIACPD?

 

P   R   A   Y

[papahoops]

Tick-tock, tick -tock who should it be? Johnnies or Pipers?
WWMIACPD?    

Drake, Ths J-s are 6-3 at home. The Vipes are 0-4 on the road when they travel outside the Metro area!

Take the J's; bet the ranch! 

I gotta thing taking the J's puts you on the opposite side of your competition, creating the opportunity to open up a game lead if Sum is right. Are you the kind of guy that would go for 2 with no time left or play it safe go for a tie


So you're saying I can get one of these?


 


This one is all on you. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

pops-
2003-04 is painfully etched in my memory. That win you mention have have been the high point of someone's career at Mac. That night, I went to bed expecting to wake up and find that the world had indeed ended but I wasnt that lucky. Fortunately, UST reloaded and by 2005-06, the current dynasty began.