MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

Someone brought up the topic of talented/athletic bigs the other day. (Actually I know who did, but I'm trying to avoid another Snelling & Hewitt avenue poster standoff.  ) In my opinion- we have very few players in the league who's a true 5 or center type player.  I think the following guys most resemble a traditional center:

John Fraase – CORD
Carl Hipp-  HAM
Paul Blacklock –GAC
Cory Polta - Augs
Tommy Hannon - UST ?
Andy GG – AUG ?

Out of that bunch I'd probably go with Andy GG as the most athletic. Hipp is the most dominant on both ends of the floor.

Then you've got guys who are more like 4s ...

Stu Neville – STO
Seth Jonker – CARL
Aaron Burtzel - SJU
Anders Halvorsen – UST
Taylor Hall – BET
Chris Palmer – SMU
Darrin Olmscheid - CORD

IMO - Palmer & Burtzel are more like 3s, but are forced to play inside because of their team needs.

Everybody knows I like Jonker, Palmer has got a terrific motor & chip on his shoulder, Burtzel is a stat sheetstuffer & potential MVP, & two guys who could be poised to have a breakout season: Bethel's Taylor Hall & the Oles' Stu Neville. They both have tremendous talent & it will be fun to see which player does the most with his abilities this year. I'm leaning in Neville's direction.

[Buddo]

Superfan has clarified that he is NOT a Piper player! Only a Piper fan. No need for anyone to get on his back. Welcome to the board.

While we're on the topic of Andy GG, I think he may have a real breakout year. The last two years I have seen crazy potential from him in the games I have seen... he is just longer, lankier, and more athletic than anyone his height in the entire MIAC (unless Halvorson from UST emerges).

As for picks, I like Carleton over Hammie by 8 pts and SMU over Auggie by 4 pts. Both games could go either way.

[Drake Palmer]

Finally, the MIAC Baskeball Coaches' POLL and Preview was released. To no one's surprise, UST was a near unanimous pick to defend their league title. Interestingly, both SJU & Carleton received a first place vote from one of the coaches.  

Did anyone see a movie this summer/fall called "Inception"? It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is about invading a person's mind and stealing their secrets. I think my mind has been invaded.    

I have no recollection whatsoever of a 2 year starting PG named Blaise Davis who was an unsung hero, & steadying influence at Carleton College during their playoff run last year.  The dude has been totally removed from my consciousness, sub consciousness, & the latest Carleton roster. I wonder if the MIAC coaches who voted for Carleton knew that Davis doesn't exist anymore. I'd have to see a lot of improvement out of the other guards to rate them as high as 2nd place without an experienced PG.

[papahoops]

[
IMO - Palmer & Burtzel are more like 3s, but are forced to play inside because of their team needs.

Everybody knows I like Jonker, Palmer has got a terrific motor & chip on his shoulder, Burtzel is a stat sheetstuffer & potential MVP, & two guys who could be poised to have a breakout season: Bethel's Taylor Hall & the Oles' Stu Neville. They both have tremendous talent & it will be fun to see which player does the most with his abilities this year. I'm leaning in Neville's direction.

[/quote]

Disagree on the Palmer/Burtzel take. I think they are very good undersized 4's, particularly Burtzel, who is an undersized 4/5 without the 3 point range you need from a 3 man . I love their games, but they are not 3's. You didn't think I would let all your comments go did you I like your take on Neville, however, and his potential this year.

[RAsportsnut]

Hello everyone,

Long time reader, first time poster. Seems like a few others have joined in the past few days as well. Big fan of the MIAC, especially basketball. I hope to contribute to the board constantly through the year as I have found myself wondering why I have been keeping up with this board so rigorously, but not posting. So here it is.

Looking forward to the start of the conference season tonight. I hope to be able to get into the Pick-Em as well, and will post my picks immediately after this.

Can't wait to get into conversation on the board and contribute my two cents of knowledge on MIAC basketball.

Thanks guys,

-RA

[aero75]

Would someone explain the 1-4 to me and this it necessary to use this to play pickem?

[RAsportsnut]

It's the confidence rating associated with each game. A 4 being your most confident pick, to a 1 being your least confidence pick. It's being used for conference games only, and is being used in the calculation of points alongside of the conference record. Correct me if I'm wrong Hoops or anyone else

[papahoops]

Just watched first half of Hamline/Carleton game on the web cast. UGLY . Hopefully it was first conference game jitters for both teams.

[Gacman]

Gac up big at half 42-21. Gac's D is the story of the game so far.

[jquentint]

UST up over MAC 70-63 with a minute left in game

[papahoops]

Knights beat Hamline 62-56. Sutherland leads very balanced Carleton scoring attack with 15 points. DP's boy Jonkey Kong has a nice double/double with 11 points and 12 boards.

[Drake Palmer]

For those of you who wear blinders when watching the Tommies.  Here's what a Tommie blogger had to say about his own beloved team's offensive effort.

- We've reached halftime, and St. Thomas will head to the locker room with a slight 38-36 lead. Both teams have shot a very respectable 52% from the field, however St. Thomas has been visibly frustrated with the lack of flow on offense. They've had a number of blown opportunities, turning it over nine times. However, the same must be said for Macalester, as they've committed six giveaways themselves. Senior Alex Healy continues to pace the Tommies with 12 points, and Tommy Hannon has 9 points. Coach Steve Fritz also have to be pleased with the effort he received from sophomore John Nance off the bench, who chipped in with 8 points. Pierce Peters and Kyle Hamblett led the way for the Scots, with 13 and 10 points, respectively. St. Thomas must cut down their turnovers and work the ball better on offense if they hope to get out of here with a win.

--- Both teams have picked up their defensive intensity and remained tight here with 13:31 remaining in the second half, as St. Thomas leads 50-47. UST has made a concerted effort to pound the ball inside and get better looks, allowing both Tommy Hannon and Anders Halverson more opportunities. We'll see if they can keep it up.

--- A John Nance over-the-back call was the sixth foul committed by the Tommies here in the second half, compared to the Scots' four. As we get down the stretch, the outcome may come down to which team is able to execute better at the charity stripe. Scots have just taken a 55-52 lead, their largest since an early 8-4 advantage, with 8:34 remaining.

--- We're deadlocked at 58 as Macalester takes a timeout with 5:59 to play. St. Thomas desperately trying to force the Scots into turnovers employing double-teams at half-court.

--- Baskets by senior Tyler Nicolai and junior Peter Leslie, as well as stout defensive on the other end forcing three straight Scot turnovers have allowed the Tommies to open up a seven point lead, 66-59, with 3:16 to go. 

--- After a Mac basket to cut the UST lead to just three under a minute to play, sophomore John Nance hit six consecutive free throws to ultimately put the game out of reach, as the Tommies get a hard-fought win against the Scots, 72-63. If you're Macalester you can't hang your head, playing with the 11th team in country for 39 minutes. As soon as we get stats I'll be sure to pass them along.   


Also note who was Mr. Money for the Tommies in the last minute or so of the game.  Ahem... 

Keep em up Scots!

[MiacMadness]

Pretty hard to believe the Scots were in reach of a W against UST.  Looks like Fritz needs to go back to the drawing board if they want to have another dominant season.  9 pt win against the predicted worst team in the MIAC is just not good enough. 

16 mins. out of Hipp in the loss to the Knights??? He only had 4 fouls so I don't think it's due to foul trouble unless he got 2 early ones in the first half which is very likely.  But when they give up 16 offensive rebounds to Carleton I don't understand how he gets 16 mins and only 8 shot attempts.  Anyone care to elaborate?

[MiacMadness]

You probably don't care but my opinion as to whom is the most athletic big in the conference.  Clear cut Andy GG all day.  Kid is a D3 hoops freak.  Now if he could only learn to implement a consistent 15 foot jumper to his arsenal he could be pretty good.

[Drake Palmer]

Pretty hard to believe the Scots were in reach of a W against UST.  Looks like Fritz needs to go back to the drawing board if they want to have another dominant season.  9 pt win against the predicted worst team in the MIAC is just not good enough.  

16 mins. out of Hipp in the loss to the Knights??? He only had 4 fouls so I don't think it's due to foul trouble unless he got 2 early ones in the first half which is very likely.  But when they give up 16 offensive rebounds to Carleton I don't understand how he gets 16 mins and only 8 shot attempts.  Anyone care to elaborate?

**As I've said several times now, Tommie offense just doesn't seem to be clicking smoothly so far this season.  Mac has got some players & they will definitely compete this year.

**Hipp was in foul trouble early which is why he played so few minutes. Listening to the game even the Carleton announcers (who  I thought did an excellent job being homers, yet fair) said there were a few ticky-tacky fouls called on Hipp. However, he was called several times for setting illegal screens.  Hamline has no real post presence after Hipp. I listened to the post game interview & according to Coach Kalland, a real point of emphasis for this season is team rebounding to help offset the loss of Bryan Rosett.  

**Gusties doubled up Bethel at the half & led 42-21.  Kid Keating (Gusties' James Hill who looks a lot like former UST player  Mike Keating) was 5-5 in the first half with 1 trey, & 3 for 3 from the FT line.  Gustavus was on cruise control in the 2nd half.

**I continue to be impressed by the job Coach Griess is doing with a young team & short bench at Augsburg. FY PG, Parker Hines had 5 assists & no TOs in an opening day conference road game. Utility man Brett Sorenson is clutch & led the Auggies to victory with 18 points, 7 points in the last 3 minutes.