MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

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.

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

You're right Buddo & Mose- this should be a very exciting,opening week of the New Year in conference play. In addition to the games Buddo highlighted, on Wednesday UST plays Carleton & then close off the week at home against arch rival- Gustavus.  SMU plays St. Olaf on Wednesday & then host Carleton on Saturday.

In the 2nd bunch of teams –Augsburg, Hamline, Concordia, etc. everyone's jockeying for position as they hit the conference quarter turn by the end of week, first part of next week.  I would guess that coaches are reminding their players that the MIAC race is a marathon, and not a sprint.

[Drake Palmer]

Shake, Rattle, & Hum.

APB HUHoops.  Come back to the MIAC Pickem Contest. 

Fellas- if we don't find him, one of you gents will need to step up & run the contest.  Mose, JQuentint?

[Buddo]

So, let's talk about it:

What will SMU have to do to beat UST?

Palmer, WW, and Holland probably need to get into double-figures scoring, preferably with two of the three in the 20's. Freeman will have to pour in a few key 3's. Someone will have to come off the SMU bench (Seifert?) and come up big, much like he did in the Hamline game last year. It will certainly be tough for SMU, but if they will ever beat UST in the near future, it will be this year.

UST's top three scorers (Nicolai, Hannon, Healy) are all floating around 12-13 PPG... Teddy starts and averages only 3.4 PPG, but is by far leading the team in assists. Halvorson may present a matchup problem as he is a very mobile 6'9". Interesting that Pedretti has taken a dip in playing time; didn't he start last year?

Here is an article from the UST SID's blog:

Here come the Cards

The Tommies can't afford to look ahead to the Carleton and Gustavus games. St. Mary's comes to town Monday with an 8-1 record after exciting wins on Wednesday and Thursday at a tournament in Illinois. The Toms and Cards are allowing an identical 61.3 points a game this season.

The Cardinals, who won just two games in 2007-08, are among the most improved teams in Division III. Their 8-1 start is the program's best in 71 seasons since it opened 13-1 in 1939-40. They are looking to post their first winning season since 1986-87.

SMU senior guard Will Wright and sophomore forward Chris Palmer each average 17.8 points a game this season. Wright already has 1,514 career points in 84 career games, including a buzzer-beating basket Thursday to edge Illinois College, 61-60.

Monday will mark the fourth consecutive game that St. Thomas will face a once-beaten team.

Led by 5-0 marks by St. Thomas, St. Mary's, Augsburg and St. Olaf, MIAC men's teams are 36-18 thus far in non-conference games. That's despite a 2-9 record vs. Wisconsin state university teams. The Toms' two close home-court wins over Point and River Falls are the MIAC's only victories against the WIAC.

[Drake Palmer]

Date   Home Team   Away Team
1/3/11   Augsburg   St Olaf 2
1/3/11   Carleton   St John's 1
1/3/11   Gustavus   Hamline 5
1/3/11   St Thomas   St Mary's 4
1/3/11   Concordia   Macalester 3

I have a difficult time thinking that all the home teams will win tonight, but that's what it sure looks like.
If I were to rank potential upsets I'd rate them like this:

St. Olaf over Augsburg  -70% likelihood
Macalester over Concordia - 55% likelihood
St. Johns over Carleton – 50% likelihood
Hamline over Gustavus – 45% likelihood
St. Mary's over St. Thomas – 35% likelihood

Augsburg – St. Olaf:  Personally, I like the Oles' overall talent (is Nate Krosschell back for the Oles?), but I give the coaching edge to Augsburg.

SMU - UST: I think UST just has too much depth for the Redbirds. Teddy Archer will neutralize Chris Palmer.  Tyler Nicolai & Peter Leslie can rotate defensive coverage on Lukas Holland, Alex Healy & John Nance can guard Will Wright.  The Birds big 3 will all have to score in double digits & one of them will have to go off & have a career scoring night.

CARL – SJU: It could be a battle royale down in Northfield with the Carlies & Johnnies going at it.  Under 65 points I like Carleton, over 65 I give the edge to the Johnnies.  Can anyone from the Johnnies control Jeremy Sutherland?

Gustavus & Hamline:  Two teams that lost in OT the other night to a couple of WIAC teams.  It will be a very interesting matchup between the Pipers' Carl Hipp & GAC's Bobby Johnson.  During Johnson's time away from basketball rehabbing his knee, he must have spent hours in the weight room.  This is one seriously built dude.  

CORD vs. MAC: This could be one of those sleeper matches for the Scots & Cobbs..  If the Cobber bigs don't play physical with Mac's Pierce Peters he could light them up.  The Gusties had a tough time controlling Peters & unlike the Cobbs, they're noted for their defense.   After a Jekyll & Hyde start to the year, the Cobbs closed out the 2010 portion of the season with a couple of big wins against St. Olaf & Presentation.

[miacsuperfan]

So, let's talk about it:

What will SMU have to do to beat UST?
Palmer, WW, and Holland probably need to get into double-figures scoring, preferably with two of the three in the 20's. Freeman will have to pour in a few key 3's. Someone will have to come off the SMU bench (Seifert?) and come up big, much like he did in the Hamline game last year. It will certainly be tough for SMU, but if they will ever beat UST in the near future, it will be this year.

looks like loaded revolvers might have helped.   

[bball1122]

So, let's talk about it:

What will SMU have to do to beat UST?
Palmer, WW, and Holland probably need to get into double-figures scoring, preferably with two of the three in the 20's. Freeman will have to pour in a few key 3's. Someone will have to come off the SMU bench (Seifert?) and come up big, much like he did in the Hamline game last year. It will certainly be tough for SMU, but if they will ever beat UST in the near future, it will be this year.

looks like loaded revolvers might have helped.   

Most classless thing posted on this board in awhile?

[Drake Palmer]

WOW!  Crazy opening night to kick off the 2011 portion of the conference schedule!!! Five of the teams in action tonight score over 80 points – while 3 of the teams score 90+ - Augsburg -92 pts, Hamline -94 pts, and UST 90pts!

And who can honestly say they saw this coming? Hamline beats Gustavus in St Peter of all places - 94-89 in OT! A couple of stats that jump off the boxscore – Carl Hipp had a monster game & was 12-15 from the floor, 5-7 from the FT line, for 29 pts & 15 boards!  Playing the part of Robin to Hipp's Batman performance, Noah Aguirre scored 23 points, & was 2-2 from downtown.  I'm guessing the following stat might have been one of those daggers that lead to the Gusties defeat:  In the 2nd half Hamline was 15-15 from the charity stripe.  

Carleton defeats SJU 71-63 behind Jeremy Sutherland's 20 pts, 11-13 from the FT line.  The new Carlie flex offense must be to let Sutherland attack the glass & get to the FT line.  This is the 2nd game in a row where he's scored 10 or more points from the FT line.   In one of two league games which featured the return of a "prodigal son" - Todd Herman was back in the lineup for SJU & scored 14 pts in his season debut.

Augsburg trounces St. Olaf – 92-74. In great news for the Dawgs, Prodigal son #2, Ben "Energizer Bunny" Flavin has returned, and made an immediate impact! Flavin drained 3 triples for 9 pts & 3 assists. Pretty remarkable team stat for Augsburg is that they scored 92 pts & only had 7 turnovers.  Pretty impressive. I like Augsburg's chances of making the playoffs a lot better with Ben Flavin back in the lineup to help the young guards out.  

Cord handles Mac – 84-49.  Big surprise.  Not necessarily the win, but the lopsided margin of victory. Hopefully the MAC coaching staff can keep the young Scot team from getting discouraged. It's going to be tough as they have games at SJU, Hamline, & at UWSP next Monday.

If the Cobbs continue playing & shooting from the outside like this, I just might have to buy Mose some of his beloved fried chicken from Kim's.

Speaking of Kim's, Mose must have stopped by Kim's for his pregame meal before the UST –SMU game.  UST 90-58 over SMU.  Yikes!  The Tomcats went on a 20-0 run over the first 6 minutes of the 2nd half to blow the lid off a game that was reasonably competitive in the first half.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

So, let's talk about it:
What will SMU have to do to beat UST?
Palmer, WW, and Holland probably need to get into double-figures scoring, preferably with two of the three in the 20's. Freeman will have to pour in a few key 3's. Someone will have to come off the SMU bench (Seifert?) and come up big, much like he did in the Hamline game last year. It will certainly be tough for SMU, but if they will ever beat UST in the near future, it will be this year.

looks like loaded revolvers might have helped.   

Most classless thing posted on this board in awhile?

I dunno..."classless" kinda fits a certain Cardinals' play much of tonight. There is a line between aggressive play and thuggery, and that individual pushed that line. I'd say that beyond-aggressive play helped ignite UST's unreal opening of the 2nd half. UST's defense forced more SMU turnovers in that 6 min window than in the entire first half and every TO was converted to points.

"Classless" kinda fit the T assessed to the SMU bench late in the game too. When you're down nearly 30 with 2 minutes, there's no point verbally abusing the refs.

Still, I expect to see SMU in the playoff field for a change. It would be SMU's first berth since the inaugural playoff (back when SMU was the Redmen not the Cardinals)

Drake-- I didnt use the Magic of Kims tonight....but will use it both Wed & Sat

[bball1122]

I have no dog in this fight and have no idea what may have transpired at the Shoe, but the loaded gun post was not called for.

[TearDrop]

I have no dog in this fight and have no idea what may have transpired at the Shoe, but the loaded gun post was not called for.

Hey I have an idea... Lets make a big deal about nothing! Oh wait... no that doesnt sound like a good idea.

[miacsuperfan]

I have no dog in this fight and have no idea what may have transpired at the Shoe, but the loaded gun post was not called for.

get over it, bball.        the comment was merely an attempt to illustrate the enormous chasm between the quality and history of these two programs, including this year's entries.  you don't need to have been at the shoe to figure that out.

[Buddo]

I have no dog in this fight and have no idea what may have transpired at the Shoe, but the loaded gun post was not called for.

get over it, bball.        the comment was merely an attempt to illustrate the enormous chasm between the quality and history of these two programs, including this year's entries.  you don't need to have been at the shoe to figure that out.

It must be nice to enjoy a high-quality program when the cash flows in like water from a tap. I would like nothing more than to see UST move on to the NSIC.

[badgerwarhawk]

Last night I caught part of the SJU/Carleton game and I noticed SJU wears powder blue away uniforms.  My only other exposure to SJU is from having seen the football team who wear red and white uniforms.  So I was wonder what are the university's  colors and why does one of the programs, whichever one it is, chose to wear something different.  Or does the university have three colors, red, white and powder blue? 

[piperinsider]

Their school colors are officially: Cardinal and Blue. White, most of the time, is seen as a supplement color in uniforms. Most schools use white in their uniforms despite the fact that only St. Mary's lists white as its school color.

[papahoops]

Good overall summary Drake....I will add a few thoughts....

Very embarassing effort by MAC last night. The long road trip to Moorhead has never been kind to the Scots, and last night was no exception. Cobbers win by 35 with a grand total of 3 points from its starting front court of Fraase and Olmscheid I will say there likely was a big hot water energy savings in Cobberville last night, as the starters didn't need to shower after all logging less than 20 minutes .

I spent most of my web viewing last night checking out Augsburg/STO and Carteton/SJU contests. The STO balloon continues to deflate. It became clear that Augsburg was controlling things, so I focused on the Carleton/SJU contest in the second half, witnessing a solid Knights victory. The SJU squad really baffles me. The same guys have been playing together for the past few years and I see absolutely no improvement in the team's chemistry/performance. Andy Burns had a nice scoring game, but all the other SJU players had less than  memorable games.

Injury to Jonker late in the game looked fairly serious, which will not help Carleton's chances against UST Wednesday night. It is too bad, as I was looking forward to a good contest that evening.