MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

A great weekend of basketball to wrap up another exciting regular season in the MIAC.

Thanks to all the participants who played in the inaugural Second Half MIAC Pickems which began the end of January, first part of February.

If you recall, contestants were asked to correctly identify the final league standings & each team's final regular season record. 11 points were earned for correctly picking the first place team, 10 points for 2nd place, 9 for 3rd place until we reached the 11th & final team which would receive 1 point.  

10 points were also awarded for correctly picking each team's final regular season record.

So here are the final Pickem Results:

League Standings Pickem

1.   Sumander        UST -1, GAC – 2nd, AUG – 3rd, HAM – 5, MAC -11th = 38 pts

2.   Drake Palmer   UST – 1st, GAC – 2nd, AUG – 3rd, MAC -11th = 31pts
3.   Hoopmaster   UST – 1st, GAC – 2nd, AUGS – 3rd, Mac – 11th = 31 pts
4.   GACman      UST – 1st, GAC-2nd, CARL- 4, MAC -11th =30 pts

5.   Jquentint      UST – 1st, GAC – 2nd, STO – 8th, MAC -11th =26pts

6.   AO         UST -1st, GAC – 2nd, MAC -11th = 22pts
7.   HUHoops      UST – 1st, GAC – 2nd, MAC – 11th = 22pts
8.   MIACMadness   UST – 1, GAC – 2nd, MAC -11th = 22 pts
9.   Nites      UST -1, GAC 2nd, MAC -11th = 22 pts
10.   Piperinsider    UST -1st, GAC- 2nd,MAC – 11th = 22pts


Individual Team Records Pickems Standings

1.   Nites      AUG = 13-7, CARL = 12-8, SMU = 7-13, BET = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 50pts

2.   Gacman      CARL = 12-8, HAM = 11-9, BET = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 40 pts
3.   Hoopmaster   UST = 19-1, AUG 13-7, HAM = 11-9, MAC = 0-20 = 40 pts

4.   AO           UST = 19-1, AUG = 13-7, MAC = 0-20 = 30 pts
5.   Drake Palmer   AUG = 13-7, SMU = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 30 pts
6.   HuHoops      STO = 8-12, BET = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 30 pts
7.   Jquentint      STO = 8-12, SMU = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 30 pts

8.   MIACMadness   BET = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 20pts
9.   Piperinsider   SMU = 7-13, MAC = 0-20 = 20 pts
10.   Sumander   HAM = 11-9, MAC = 0-20 = 20 pts


As always, double-check your results against my records in case of operator error.  If no mistakes, congratulations to the seasoned old vets, Sum & Nites!

Special awards will be presented by the Pickems committee at the MIAC Posters' Awards banquet this Saturday afternoon or evening before the MIAC championship game. Winners must be present to receive their special commemorative awards.  There's a chance Sum might be there, Nites can you make it?

Congrats also to Hoopmaster who finished in the top 3 in both contests.  Unlike Sum & Notes who basically blew away the competition in one contest, & then flat out sucked in the other contest.   Hoops, I guess we can think of you as the more versatile, dualpickems athlete, while Sum & Nites are the solo event specialists.

[wabbit]

USA! USA!

Gotta love the STrib - can't even copy and paste.

MIAC basketball playoffs Monday
No. 3 seed Concordia will host St. Catherine and No. 4 Macalester will host St. Thomas on Monday night in the first round of the MIAC women's basketball tournament.

The men's tournament begins Tuesday, with No. 3 Augsburg hosting St. John's and No. 4 Hamline at home against Carleton.

Bummed about this week - Tuesday Hutch hosts Shakopee in a game between teams at the top of the conference - Thursday - playoff hockey and state girls hockey - Saturday I'm in Duluth.

Checking both the Carelton and Hamline sites Monday morning says Carleton is number four and will be hosting Hamline Tuesday night.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

USA! USA!

Gotta love the STrib - can't even copy and paste.

MIAC basketball playoffs Monday
No. 3 seed Concordia will host St. Catherine and No. 4 Macalester will host St. Thomas on Monday night in the first round of the MIAC women's basketball tournament.

The men's tournament begins Tuesday, with No. 3 Augsburg hosting St. John's and No. 4 Hamline at home against Carleton.

Bummed about this week - Tuesday Hutch hosts Shakopee in a game between teams at the top of the conference - Thursday - playoff hockey and state girls hockey - Saturday I'm in Duluth.

Checking both the Carelton and Hamline sites Monday morning says Carleton is number four and will be hosting Hamline Tuesday night.

Uh, yeah, Wabb, we ALL knew that., PI was pointing out yet another error by the Strib.  (It helps to read all the words not just the ones in bold) 

[piperinsider]

DP-
Back in school they used to announce just the top kids and how they did, not the ones who failed. Thanks for that. Great showing!

Some great matchups for Tuesday. Let's break them down....I'll start with HAM/CAR

Each team won at home in highly competitive games. The first meeting saw HAM pull away for the 77-65 win. The Knights got two points from its bench with Rosett pouring in 19 and Jonkey Kong netting 17 - most in the first half. Hamline was very balanced with Brown (19), Hipp (16) and Aguirre (13) leading the way. Andersen was also 4-for-5 for 10 points.

The second game was 66-63 in favor of the Knights. Sutherland really started his second-half push with 20 points, while Rosett had 16 and Jonker had 15. Hipp was 5-for-6 for 13, while Brown was 3-for-9 for 11 with 10 rebounds. Taber had his best game of the year with 5-for-9 for 12.

I saw the first game and Brown won the matchup between him and Sutherland. Judging by points and shooting, Sutherland won the second matchup. I see that is key No. 1 for Hamline. Hipp's struggles from the paint need to halt is No. 2 and handling the ball is No. 3. I really liked at SJU when Schmidt was bringing up the ball.

For Carleton, do what has gotten them to this point. Balanced scoring so if someone (Kong against BET) has an off-night, another player is there to pick them up. I think Davis and Biewen are huge in this one. They struggled at HAM. If they are hitting shots, it forces the Pipers to come out on them and leave the posts without any help on Rosett and Jonker.

[huhoops]

DP-
Back in school they used to announce just the top kids and how they did, not the ones who failed. Thanks for that. Great showing!

Some great matchups for Tuesday. Let's break them down....I'll start with HAM/CAR

Each team won at home in highly competitive games. The first meeting saw HAM pull away for the 77-65 win. The Knights got two points from its bench with Rosett pouring in 19 and Jonkey Kong netting 17 - most in the first half. Hamline was very balanced with Brown (19), Hipp (16) and Aguirre (13) leading the way. Andersen was also 4-for-5 for 10 points.

The second game was 66-63 in favor of the Knights. Sutherland really started his second-half push with 20 points, while Rosett had 16 and Jonker had 15. Hipp was 5-for-6 for 13, while Brown was 3-for-9 for 11 with 10 rebounds. Taber had his best game of the year with 5-for-9 for 12.

I saw the first game and Brown won the matchup between him and Sutherland. Judging by points and shooting, Sutherland won the second matchup. I see that is key No. 1 for Hamline. Hipp's struggles from the paint need to halt is No. 2 and handling the ball is No. 3. I really liked at SJU when Schmidt was bringing up the ball.

For Carleton, do what has gotten them to this point. Balanced scoring so if someone (Kong against BET) has an off-night, another player is there to pick them up. I think Davis and Biewen are huge in this one. They struggled at HAM. If they are hitting shots, it forces the Pipers to come out on them and leave the posts without any help on Rosett and Jonker.

PI...I'll add to a good start of keys for HU.

Defensively:

* Limit Jonker's post touches. In both games, HU sat behind Jonker and let him get catches in the post. As Drake has noted  , he is one of the few posts in the MIAC with a full range of post moves. If you let a guy with that many moves get comfortable catches down low, you are in for a long night. I'm assuming this will be up to Brown, as Hipp has traditionally matched up with Rosett.

* Make Theisen and Biewen hurt you off the dribble. These are two guys that provide a huge lift for CAR from the perimeter but are very limited as far as their play making abilities. Theisen had some daggers late in the HU game at CAR.

* Make Sutherland hurt you as a scorer and not as a facilitator. If you stay closed out to shooters and don't help too far off the bigs, I think Sutherland is prone to take some wild/uncomfortable shots. The question for HU is whether or not anybody can stop him from getting to the basket.

* Push the tempo. I know CAR is great at keeping the game at a snail's pace, but if HU can somehow turn it into a scoring match, I think they have the edge.

Offensively:

* Feed the big man. Nobody can guard Hipp inside on this team and you can bet CAR will be sending double teams. As long as Hipp can handle the doubles and find open shooters, I think HU is in decent shape.

* Brown needs to play within the context of the game. He did a nice job for the most part against UST picking his spots, but still had 5 turnovers. CAR is not a team that gets up in your grill and forces you into uncomfortable situations, so he just needs to slow himself down and make good decisions. As long as he stays in the game mentally, again, HU is in decent shape.

* HU shooters need to be ready/able to knock down open threes and look to score. The vast amount of the pressure will be applied to Hipp and Brown (now more than ever), so the HU supporting cast will have some opportunities to capitalize on their team mates' popularity 

That's all for now. I'm pumped 

[papahoops]

Also, some interesting happenings down in Winona last night.

SMU actually played some defense (!!!!) in holding Fong to a 1-11 shooting night.

More importantly, Holland was getting his Shuffle on to the tune of 32 points. He hit his first 10 shots from the floor and finished 12-15. Tough night to be little Alfie...

I still maintain Holland is at least as good as Nicolai, if not better. I've posted their overall stats below for comparison. At the very least, it'd be interesting to see how they'd fare if the roles were reversed.

Holland
14.7 PPG
4.0 RPG
2.4 APG
46% FG
43% 3 pt
79% FT
.6 SPG
.1 BPG
1.6 TO
33.6 minutes

Nicolai
14.6 PPG
2.0 RPG
2.1 APG
49% FG
43% 3 pt
74% FT
1.7 SPG
.1 BPG
.8 TO
29.3 minutes

Willy, I know we will continue to agree to disagree on this issue, but the .8 TO ratio you listed for Nicolai is misleading. In fact, he led the MIAC in that category with around a  2.5 TO ratio, which is outstanding. Not that Holland's figure is bad, but Nicolai is better statistically in terms of taking care of the ball. Although I agree overall stats are similar, I feel Nicolai has demonstrated more consistancy in producing his numbers than Holland. He has also demonstrated to me the uncanny ability to hit "big shots" at critical points UST wins. I realize this is an intangible that cannot be measured, but it is a key factor in how I differentiate the two players. I acknowledge I see Nicolai more frequently than Holland (although I saw Holland have an outstanding game at MAC this year). I also realize Holland has played on losing teams and has not had as many opportunities to hit "big shots" in critical game situations as Nicolai.

Both are fine MIAC guards, but I feel the factors listed above, along with the fact that Nicolai generates his stats on a winning team with fewer minutes is the reason Nicolai consistently has been "rated" higher. We cannot know how they would be viewed in opposite circumstances. I would make the observation that you typically favor players with lower stats on winning teams that share the ball among several players (GAC), so I would think you would be with me on this "discussion"

[Pat Coleman]

That number is not the ratio, it's the average number of turnovers per game. Averaging less than one turnover a game is a good number regardless of the position or how many assists you are credited with.

[wabbit]

USA! USA!

Gotta love the STrib - can't even copy and paste.

MIAC basketball playoffs Monday
No. 3 seed Concordia will host St. Catherine and No. 4 Macalester will host St. Thomas on Monday night in the first round of the MIAC women's basketball tournament.

The men's tournament begins Tuesday, with No. 3 Augsburg hosting St. John's and No. 4 Hamline at home against Carleton.

Bummed about this week - Tuesday Hutch hosts Shakopee in a game between teams at the top of the conference - Thursday - playoff hockey and state girls hockey - Saturday I'm in Duluth.

Checking both the Carelton and Hamline sites Monday morning says Carleton is number four and will be hosting Hamline Tuesday night.

Uh, yeah, Wabb, we ALL knew that., PI was pointing out yet another error by the Strib.  (It helps to read all the words not just the ones in bold) 

My bad. I did read the whole thing...I just read it wrong. 

[Willy Wonka]

Also, some interesting happenings down in Winona last night.

SMU actually played some defense (!!!!) in holding Fong to a 1-11 shooting night.

More importantly, Holland was getting his Shuffle on to the tune of 32 points. He hit his first 10 shots from the floor and finished 12-15. Tough night to be little Alfie...

I still maintain Holland is at least as good as Nicolai, if not better. I've posted their overall stats below for comparison. At the very least, it'd be interesting to see how they'd fare if the roles were reversed.

Holland
14.7 PPG
4.0 RPG
2.4 APG
46% FG
43% 3 pt
79% FT
.6 SPG
.1 BPG
1.6 TO
33.6 minutes

Nicolai
14.6 PPG
2.0 RPG
2.1 APG
49% FG
43% 3 pt
74% FT
1.7 SPG
.1 BPG
.8 TO
29.3 minutes

Willy, I know we will continue to agree to disagree on this issue, but the .8 TO ratio you listed for Nicolai is misleading. In fact, he led the MIAC in that category with around a  2.5 TO ratio, which is outstanding. Not that Holland's figure is bad, but Nicolai is better statistically in terms of taking care of the ball. Although I agree overall stats are similar, I feel Nicolai has demonstrated more consistancy in producing his numbers than Holland. He has also demonstrated to me the uncanny ability to hit "big shots" at critical points UST wins. I realize this is an intangible that cannot be measured, but it is a key factor in how I differentiate the two players. I acknowledge I see Nicolai more frequently than Holland (although I saw Holland have an outstanding game at MAC this year). I also realize Holland has played on losing teams and has not had as many opportunities to hit "big shots" in critical game situations as Nicolai.

Both are fine MIAC guards, but I feel the factors listed above, along with the fact that Nicolai generates his stats on a winning team with fewer minutes is the reason Nicolai consistently has been "rated" higher. We cannot know how they would be viewed in opposite circumstances. I would make the observation that you typically favor players with lower stats on winning teams that share the ball among several players (GAC), so I would think you would be with me on this "discussion"

Like I said, Papa, I'd be interested to see how Holland would have done if the situations were reversed. It's easy to speculate, but he essentially went to the Clippers of the MIAC and has toiled in relative obscurity for three years now. If nothing else, his efficiency on such bad teams is commendable.

You give Nicolai credit for hitting big shots in critical game situations, and rightly so. I'm simply saying it's tough to take that away from Holland when he really hasn't been able to play in any of those situations. And Nicolai would NOT have made SMU a winning team had he switched with Holland.

For the Hamline fans out there...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Northern-State-coaching-icon-Don-Meyer-to-retire-022210

[Drake Palmer]

...For the Hamline fans out there...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Northern-State-coaching-icon-Don-Meyer-to-retire-022210

Coach Meyer was a good, old school, hardnosed coach who is/was highly regarded as a coach and teacher on the national level.

Meyer, along with Bo Ryan, the Bennett brothers from Wisconsin, & others all seemed to be cut from that same chunk of stone. Even their offense names seemed similar - the Blocker-Mover offense, & the Swing offense.  Good, salt of the earth type of coaches, unless you count the time Bo Ryan was doing the Soulja boy on Youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TajSyEm-Qg

[columbianmaffia]

ITS PLAYOFF TIME!! MAKE SURE YOUR GROIN IS LIMBER!! LOTS OF ROLLER SKATING COMING UP!!

[papahoops]

Like I said, Papa, I'd be interested to see how Holland would have done if the situations were reversed. It's easy to speculate, but he essentially went to the Clippers of the MIAC and has toiled in relative obscurity for three years now. If nothing else, his efficiency on such bad teams is commendable.

You give Nicolai credit for hitting big shots in critical game situations, and rightly so. I'm simply saying it's tough to take that away from Holland when he really hasn't been able to play in any of those situations. And Nicolai would NOT have made SMU a winning team had he switched with Holland.

For the Hamline fans out there...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Northern-State-coaching-icon-Don-Meyer-to-retire-022210

Your point is well taken Willy. Believe me, if anyone should be sympathetic to a players not recognized for statistical accomplishments on a losing team it would be me Hopefully SMU will continue to improve and Holland will have a chance to play with a winner next year.

Thanks for passing on the link on Meyer. I used to go see Northern State when they played at Concordia St. Paul just to watch him in action. He would walk up and down the sideline with a hand held tape player making verbal note of any mistake a player made. He didn't throw chairs, but has an icy stare that could strike the fear of God into his players. He would have been tough to play for, but his teams were as well coached as any I have seen.

[sumander]

Sum Jr. went to Coach Meyer's camp for two summers. This wasn't a powder puff feel, good  type camp.  The boys worked there tails off. He had some pretty amazing coaches come in as well. One year Pat Summit was in camp.

He did some pretty amazing things with the talent he had at NSU. Gotta believe the car accident was the begining of the end for his coaching career.

[TommieHoops4Life]

As far as the Car/Ham match-up, let's not forget also how the teams are doing as they enter the postseason. After all, the NCAA Division I selection committee factors heavily how teams that could earn at-large bids finish the season.

Carleton ended the year winning three in a row and seven of their last nine to earn a home game. They've also won their last five at home. The Knights, from what I've seen, play very well at West Gym and they play disciplined basketball. They might be peaking entering the playoffs, and the Pipers... not so much.

Hamline lost three straight to end the year, including a bad 21-point loss at St. Mary's. They did have a nice stretch against Bethel, Gustavus and Concordia, but are they consistent enough to get a road win in the playoffs?

With that said, this tournament is for St. Thomas to lose. Many thought they wouldn't run the table after losing to Gustavus. They did, and have won conference games by an average of more than 12 points.

As far as the MVP goes, in looking strictly at numbers, Hipp is my top selection and Brown would be next with Nicolai in third. Will Wright's numbers are good, but you have to be a playoff team to earn an MVP honor in my book.

[Gacman]

Earlier in this season I was somewhat critical but realistic about CAR and there chances of making the playoffs.  It took a pretty impressive run to do it but they are in and with momentum to boot. With looking at their team earlier in the season they didn't have any depth and had no goto star like they had last year. Both of these things were hurting them earlier in the year. The main reason we have seen there turnaround is Sutherland. Yes you could point to Jonkey Kong or the development of theisen, but they lacked the guy who would take over games on both ends. Sutherland became that for CAR and you could argue that he is more valuable to his team right now than anyother player in the MIAC. Carleton goes as far as Sutherland goes. If he has a bad game they are done. If he plays like he has over the last 9 games or so, they could win it all.

I think that this really the only key for both teams that truly matters. Carleton needs to find a way to get him going and Hamline needs to find a way to shut him down. If hamline can do that they win regardless of what Hipp does in his matchups.

I think something to look for in the other game is the emergence of a mystery player.  I have a feeling that the team that wins this game is going to do so on the back of someone unexpected.