MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[papahoops]

It is bad enough that I have to miss the big UST/Stevens Point contest tonight to take my wife to a musical involving a young man dancing around on a stage, but Mose making public my unfortunate situation on the board is really piling on Perhaps as retribution, I can have the league arrange to schedule the asian sensation to ref tonight Mose

Although five minutes further than the other places, my vote would be for Shamrocks for pre or post game activities. Although the fried chicken is very good at Mose's spot Kims Chow Mein, stay away from the chinese food is you actually enjoy authentic chinese without MSG .

[papahoops]

DoubleO, as of now that is my plan.  My buddies and I are hitting up Tiffany's after the game and see where that takes us later in the night.  Thanks for all the replies everyone, greatly appreciated.

If Tom4525 is over 21, he may find the crowd at Tiff's a bit young. Unless they have changed in recent years, they have been known around the UST campus for admitting, shall we say, a younger crowd, despite the fact they are all SUPPOSED to be 21

[Drake Palmer]

Rumor has it that Papa Hoops has contracted DP's Fine Arts Virus. The FAV has caused Drake to miss MIAC games for the opera.

Word on the street is thet Papa has caved in to Momma Hoop's desire to see Billy Elliott  tonight, resulting in a "no show" for the UST/UWSP game.

Expectations are that Papa will pull several muscles attempting to replicate the "Billy jump"

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

*Early favorite for an Academy Award next year - "True Grit"

*Fantastic choral group Cantus and their holiday concert, "Christmas with Cantus" at the St. Thomas chapel, or attend another event on the UST campus...

*A D3 basketball game - UST vs. UWSP basketball game?

Hmm. 

[John Gleich]

Does UST have Live Stats?  I think I remember them not having them... but just checking with the experts!

[Buddo]

*Even in a down year, the WIAC is becoming the bully from the east.  They currently hold a 6-1 advantage over the MIAC for the season. I also think they would be regarded as favorites in the 5 remaining inter- conference games for this season.

I've been saying for a while that there should be an annual WIAC/MIAC Challenge, like the one that Big 10/ACC does... I think that would be great.

[Drake Palmer]

UST 61-54 UWSP

Fun ball game.  The first 8-10 minutes of the game looked like neither team had their offensive systems in place and defense was the name of the game.  No open looks at all. Also lots of unforced TOs – I'm guessing it was a result of the nearly two week layoff, but there were also plenty of forced TOs as a result of each teams' defense.  For the night UST had 16 TOs & UWSP had 18 TOs which is not like either team.

These are two teams who get after it on the defensive side of the ball.  At one point I thought the halftime score wouldn't reach 20 points - combined.  Finally waterbug quick PG Jerrel Harris entered the game & the game slowly started turning Point's way.  Anyone know why he didn't start?  Harris has a tremendous first step & excellent vision to find the open man, plus he hit a couple of big triples.  Halftime score was in favor of UWSP 25 -20 over UST.  Unsung first half hero for the Tommies was John Nance who scored 5 points off a triple (no kidding) & a layup.  UST would have been in an even bigger hole if he didn't score.

In the 2nd half Pointers stretched their lead out to 12 points 37-25, before the Tommies started applying a little more defensive pressure & was able to score in transition before UWSP could set up their deadly half court defense.  Nicolai hit 2-3 KEY threes.

But my game MVP goes to the player everyone loves to hate – Teddy Archer.  He was absolutely huge down the stretch, & doing it in his inimitable, annoying style.  Archer was diving for loose balls, hand checking & grabbing on defense, dropping off assists, snaring key rebounds & even scoring.  He even managed to pull off one of my favorite Archer antics – twice.   As he's bringing the ball up the court, all of a sudden he'll hesitate, & an unsuspecting defender will run into him from behind, & Thespian Teddy will collapse to the court like a felled ox & writhe in mock pain.  Foul called on UWSP.  

Good ball game, by two well disciplined, quality, physical ball clubs.  UST doesn't look physically imposing, but they never backed down & just kept coming after UWSP.  And the Tommies needed every last bit of resolve & guts because Point wasn't backing down either.  One of UWSP's post players – Jordan Brezinski was a road grader on the inside & nobody from UST could effectively neutralize him all night -15 pts.  Defensively, UST made a good 2nd half adjustment & kept the ball out of Jerrel Harris' hands as he was about ready to pull off a Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo impersonation & drop off 20 assists.  Louis Hurd was also key performer on both ends of the floor & finished the night with 10 pts.  I'm sure this won't be the last we'll hear about Stevens Point – tough ball club.

Props also to UST. They still need to find a way to get better balance out of their offense, but that type of defense will win them a lot of ballgames.

[John Gleich]

Harris is typically a starter and didn't tonight because of a concussion, per the radio broadcast.

SP has a tough, tough stretch coming up... right after Christmas, they play two out in Vegas, back to back, and then they drive down to Phoenix and play two more... starting the NEXT DAY... back to back.  So, it's 4 games, back to back to back to back, with a nice 300 mile trip smack dab in the middle.

And it would be one thing if they were playing a bunch of cupcakes... they start off with #20 Ramapo (8-1) and have to turn around less than a day later and play Colorado College (5-3)... who beat Air Force earlier this year.

Then the hop on the bus for 6 hours and have to play Simpson (3-6) less than a day later.  They finally get a little rest... they play Linfield (5-3) just a bit more than a day later.

I guess it's the Stevens Point Great Western barnstorming tour...

And then they drive back to Vegas for the trip home.

Yikes...!

[miacsuperfan]

UST 61-54 UWSP

Fun ball game.  The first 8-10 minutes of the game looked like neither team had their offensive systems in place and defense was the name of the game.  No open looks at all. Also lots of unforced TOs – I’m guessing it was a result of the nearly two week layoff, but there were also plenty of forced TOs as a result of each teams’ defense.  For the night UST had 16 TOs & UWSP had 18 TOs which is not like either team.

These are two teams who get after it on the defensive side of the ball.  At one point I thought the halftime score wouldn’t reach 20 points - combined.  Finally waterbug quick PG Jerrel Harris entered the game & the game slowly started turning Point’s way.  Anyone know why he didn’t start?  Harris has a tremendous first step & excellent vision to find the open man, plus he hit a couple of big triples.  Halftime score was in favor of UWSP 25 -20 over UST.  Unsung first half hero for the Tommies was John Nance who scored 5 points off a triple (no kidding) & a layup.  UST would have been in an even bigger hole if he didn’t score.

In the 2nd half Pointers stretched their lead out to 12 points 37-25, before the Tommies started applying a little more defensive pressure & was able to score in transition before UWSP could set up their deadly half court defense.  Nicolai hit 2-3 KEY threes.

But my game MVP goes to the player everyone loves to hate – Teddy Archer.  He was absolutely huge down the stretch, & doing it in his inimitable, annoying style.  Archer was diving for loose balls, hand checking & grabbing on defense, dropping off assists, snaring key rebounds & even scoring.  He even managed to pull off one of my favorite Archer antics – twice.  As he’s bringing the ball up the court, all of a sudden he’ll hesitate, & an unsuspecting defender will run into him from behind, & Thespian Teddy will collapse to the court like a felled ox & writhe in mock pain.  Foul called on UWSP. 

Good ball game, by two well disciplined, quality, physical ball clubs.  UST doesn’t look physically imposing, but they never backed down & just kept coming after UWSP.  And the Tommies needed every last bit of resolve & guts because Point wasn’t backing down either.  One of UWSP’s post players – Jordan Brezinski was a road grader on the inside & nobody from UST could effectively neutralize him all night -15 pts.  Defensively, UST made a good 2nd half adjustment & kept the ball out of Jerrel Harris’ hands as he was about ready to pull off a Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo impersonation & drop off 20 assists.  Louis Hurd was also key performer on both ends of the floor & finished the night with 10 pts.  I’m sure this won’t be the last we’ll hear about Stevens Point – tough ball club.

Props also to UST. They still need to find a way to get better balance out of their offense, but that type of defense will win them a lot of ballgames.

nice report, dp.  i am assuming you were on hand, and not watching the video feed on-line as i did.  it was a bit hard to watch, as ust's web/tech related features do not begin to match the quality of the teams that they continue to put on the floor.

regardless, it was fun watching ust recover from a lackluster offensive performance in the first half (thanks to some suffocating defense by uwsp) to the great turn-around they staged in the last 15 minutes.  the defensive effort on both ends was truly outstanding.  and as drake noted, ust's forcing tempo and gettng a few transition hoops in the final 20 was 'uge.  nine tommies got decent minutes, as they continue to find quality players to keep their program at the top of the league.   it would be interesting to see where the tommie's second team would finish in the miac. 

it was not surprising to see ust's favorite son j. yorkovich working the event, though it appeared on the screen to have been a fairly officiated game.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Best wishes for a safe holiday to all and for a Joyous and Happy New Year!!!

[John Gleich]

Point v. Macalester is rescheduled for Mon Jan 10th 5:00 PM

[Drake Palmer]

Point v. Macalester is rescheduled for Mon Jan 10th 5:00 PM

Thanks PS. A couple of MIAC schools, Gustavus & Hamline had UW-LAX & UW-Whitewater on the ropes tonight, but both WIAC teams escaped with OT victories.

http://www.hamline.edu/shared/news_items/athletics/mens_basketball/1011/mbb.uww.12.30.10.html

http://www.uwlathletics.com/news/2010/12/30/MBB_1230102054.aspx

Meanwhile, the SMU Redbirds are threatening to become the Birds of Prey as they improve to 8-1 on the season.   They knocked off host Illinois College in the championship game of the IC tourney today. Pretty heady stuff. SMU's 8-1 record is the second best start in school history.  It should be a very interesting game between SMU & UST on Monday night.  Mose better wear his lucky purple shirt & make sure he eats at his favorite pregame diner to make sure of the Tommie victory.  

http://www.saintmaryssports.com/news/2010/12/30/MBB_1230100749.aspx?path=mbball

[Drake Palmer]

MIAC 2010-2011 Non-conference Game Results*

MIAC (36-18) 66.6% winning percentage**

Vs. NAIA (2-1)

Vs. NCAA DII (3-3)
NSIC (3-1)
Pacific West Conference (0-2)

Vs. NCAA DIII Midwest Region (7-0)
CCIW (2-0)
MWC (1-0)
NATHCON (2-0)
SLIAC (1-0)
UAA (1-0)

Vs. NCAA DIII West Region (23-14)
IIAC (7-1)
NWC (2-0)
UMAC (12-4)
WIAC (2-9)


* Does not include the UW-Stevens Point vs. Macalester game which was postponed earlier in December due to inclement weather.  It has been rescheduled for Monday, January 10, 2011.

** As much as I would like to see Mac upset UWSP the first part of January, it doesn't look too promising.  So the MIAC final non-conference results will probably be identical to the 09-10 season: 36-19 for a 65.4% winning percentage.

As usual, if someone spots an error, let me know. This was an unaudited report. 

[Drake Palmer]

HEY! Everyone listen up.  Be careful out there tonight.

Have a safe and prosperous New Year!

[Buddo]

I hope everyone had a good New Year...

Tomorrow:
SMU (3-1) visits UST (4-0)
Carleton (3-0) faces SJU (2-1)
and MAC may get their first conference win in a long time against Concordia... just maybe.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

UST holds a 45-game win streak vs SMU and 23 in a row at home. Still, this is a different Cardinals squad than they've had the past couple of decades...and there have been some close calls in that streak. 

All in all, an action-packed week ahead for all teams...some great matchups all over the place. Hopefully, they will stimulate convo on here