MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

In looking at the box score, I got him and Will Wright crossed in my memory.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Whle most of the rosters arent posted yet, I think it is safe to say the MIAC can be sliced into 4 groupings (teams are listed alphabetically):

1) Legit contenders for the regular season title and could make a decent run in the NCAA tourney:
    Carleton, St. Olaf, St. Thomas

2) should make MIAC playoffs, could challenge for top spot:
    Augsburg, Gustavus

3) In the mix for MIAC playoffs:
    Hamline, Macalester, St John's  and Bethel if Taylor Hall stays healthy

4) Looking to the future
    Concorida, St, Mary's   and Bethel if Hall misse 4 or more games

Names to know if you want to talk about Player of the Year (again, in alphbetical order):
Seth Anderson
Mike Campbell
Andy Grzesiak-Grimm
Taylor Hall (if healthy)
Tommy Hannon
Stu Neville
PIerce Peters
Caleb Rosenow
Scott Theisen

[localcoach]

Good to see some friendly faces posting again on the message board.  A few comments to add to the conversation.

- This could be Coach Koz's best team at STO in a number of years.  He has a good group of seniors and some promising young players.  No excuses this time around.

-What on earth is going on over at Hewitt and Snelling?  My Pipers just can't seem to build any momentum. 

-The MIAC POY, if healthy, is without question Bethel's Taylor Hall.  He has skills that no one else in the MIAC has.  If Coach Westy lets him go, it will be fun to watch.

-My darkhorse team is SJU.  There's more talent in Collegeville then some seem to think.

[Gault]

-What on earth is going on over at Hewitt and Snelling?  My Pipers just can't seem to build any momentum. 

I'd like to respectfully disagree with localcoach regarding Piper momentum...

Season  Record  MIAC   Standing
   
    2010-11          16-11            13-7             3rd
    2009-10          15-11            11-9             5th
    2008-09           9-16             8-12             8th
    2007-08           8-17             6-14             9th

That record reflects a consistant positive movement forward every year.
       

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

-What on earth is going on over at Hewitt and Snelling?  My Pipers just can't seem to build any momentum. 

I'd like to respectfully disagree with localcoach regarding Piper momentum...

Season  Record  MIAC   Standing
   
    2010-11          16-11            13-7             3rd
    2009-10          15-11            11-9             5th
    2008-09           9-16             8-12             8th
    2007-08           8-17             6-14             9th

That record reflects a consistant positive movement forward every year.
       

But does that reflect more on the overall improvement of the program or the growth of Carl Hipp?

Still, an interesting pattern, for sure

[Gault]

But does that reflect more on the overall improvement of the program or the growth of Carl Hipp?

Still, an interesting pattern, for sure
[/quote]

A very valid point...

I think another great center put it best:     

"One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team."   
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem

[AO]

-What on earth is going on over at Hewitt and Snelling?  My Pipers just can't seem to build any momentum. 

I'd like to respectfully disagree with localcoach regarding Piper momentum...

Season  Record  MIAC   Standing
   
    2010-11          16-11            13-7             3rd
    2009-10          15-11            11-9             5th
    2008-09           9-16             8-12             8th
    2007-08           8-17             6-14             9th

That record reflects a consistant positive movement forward every year.
       

But does that reflect more on the overall improvement of the program or the growth of Carl Hipp?

Still, an interesting pattern, for sure

Does Hamline have anyone else leave besides Pratt?  Hipp is a big loss, but he was the only senior on the team.  If it takes a while to figure out how to play without the big man, look for the Pipes to start 0-6 with their brutal opening schedule.  NWC, Eau Claire, Whitewater, Gustavus, St. Thomas, St. Olaf.  Ouch. 

[Drake Palmer]

AO - Josh Pratt transferred to St. Olaf. And if the Ole roster is correct- looks like young Mr. Pratt spent many hours in the weight room during the off-season.  They have him listed as 220lbs - that's huge! A 30 lb weight gain from his FY Year!  That's bigger than UST's Brady Ervin.

Provided Coach LA kept a corral around the remaining Piper players - Hamline should have a good nucleus of players. 2G Mike Campbell, SF - Noah Aguirre, the Cailfornia munchkins - Wenrich & Rieg, & the west coast bomber Tyler  Pannell.  If they recruited a big guy or two for the post - they should be decent.

***
I don't think we can discuss potential MIAC Players of the Year without mentioning the Oles' Bobby Fong. Plus if he builds on his fantastic FY year, Connor Gunderson could be a potential nominee.

If the Scots added to their roster - I really like Mac's Pierce Peters. He's got a terrific game, on both ends of the floor & appears to be a good leader.

Regarding Taylor Hall.  IMO he's got tremendous talent but seems to be a bit reluctant to do the necessary dirty work to help carry his team. In recent years Bethel even had the much maligned Charles Meadowcroft, plus the hardworking & talented Travis Jones manning the interior.
***
As a fan of the league, it's sad to see the decline of Bethel basketball fortunes & it would be fun to see them return to the glory years of the mid & late 2000s. The student fans at Bethel were fun to watch in action.  The dude in the white suit – the umbrellas, beach balls, obnoxious cheers during opposing team's FT attempts, etc.. Good stuff!  During their heyday, I'd actually make it point to sit behind the team benches so I could keep an eye on any of the shenanigans the students would pull off. 

Some of my favorite games have been played at the old Robertson Center.  In addition to the guys I named above - Tim Gilbert, Tim Madsen, the beleaguered Cook twins, Mike Moberg, etc. Bethel-GAC in 05-06 (Doug Espenson), Bethel Cord 03-04-05 (?) – The Big E, Sofa King, & Soren Nelson, the OT thrilla vs. UST during the Isaac era, the 30-1 season Tommies vs. the Royals & the BJ Viau breakaway dunk, the '10 (?) game against Augsburg when Femi Solaja threw down the monster drop-step dunk.  Great ball games – great excitement, theatre & atmosphere in the gym. 

Does the season start tomorrow? 

[nca11]

Not sure a POY list is complete without Cory Polta.  He has a greater chance than AG-G in my opinion.

[Patriot]

Long time follower of MIAC hoops, first entry to this blog. 

In response to the previous question - "does Hamline have anyone else leave besides Pratt?  Hipp is a big loss, but he was the only senior on the team.  If it takes a while to figure out how to play without the big man, look for the Pipes to start 0-6 with their brutal opening schedule.  NWC, Eau Claire, Whitewater, Gustavus, St. Thomas, St. Olaf.  Ouch"

Pratt - St Olaf lists him at 6'3" and 195, must be updating roster info. Nice add for coach Koz & the Oles.
Markoe - transferred to St Johns. SJU graduated a lot of good players last year.
Voigt - I've heard that he's at the U & not playing hoops.
Schmidt - not sure where he ended up.  I believe he had a leg injury last year & didn't play much.

[papahoops]

***
As a fan of the league, it's sad to see the decline of Bethel basketball fortunes & it would be fun to see them return to the glory years of the mid & late 2000s. The student fans at Bethel were fun to watch in action.  The dude in the white suit – the umbrellas, beach balls, obnoxious cheers during opposing team's FT attempts, etc.. Good stuff!  During their heyday, I'd actually make it point to sit behind the team benches so I could keep an eye on any of the shenanigans the students would pull off. 

I usually am with you on a lot of your points Drake, but am not with you on this one. I realize a lot of very nice Christian young people attend Bethel, but the way their PA announcer used to start the game advising everyone to cheer in a supportive Christian manner, and then have the student cheering section proceed to hurl one after another personal insults at opposing players throughout the game made the whole scene very hypocritical to me. That idiot fan with the umbrella in the Bethel "glory years" used to make we wish I could place it somewhere where we would not see it again

[AO]

***
As a fan of the league, it's sad to see the decline of Bethel basketball fortunes & it would be fun to see them return to the glory years of the mid & late 2000s. The student fans at Bethel were fun to watch in action.  The dude in the white suit – the umbrellas, beach balls, obnoxious cheers during opposing team's FT attempts, etc.. Good stuff!  During their heyday, I'd actually make it point to sit behind the team benches so I could keep an eye on any of the shenanigans the students would pull off. 

I usually am with you on a lot of your points Drake, but am not with you on this one. I realize a lot of very nice Christian young people attend Bethel, but the way their PA announcer used to start the game advising everyone to cheer in a supportive Christian manner, and then have the student cheering section proceed to hurl one after another personal insults at opposing players throughout the game made the whole scene very hypocritical to me. That idiot fan with the umbrella in the Bethel "glory years" used to make we wish I could place it somewhere where we would not see it again

The vast majority of insults I've heard from the Bethel faithful were meant to be humorous.  As a player, I always enjoyed the heckling. 

[Drake Palmer]

Word on the street was that UWRF & new MIAC transfer, Chris Palmer, scrimmaged his former school, St. Mary's (SMU) on Saturday afternoon. Anybody hear any results on how that scrimmage turned out?  How did Palmer & Shane Manor look together, is big ol' talented post player Wade Guerin, healthy & back in the lineup; Thomforde, the transfer PG, along with the other returning nucleus for the Falcons?

With the heavy graduation losses & transfer that SMU had, I can't imagine they put up much in the way of a competitive scrimmage against the Falcons.

[Drake Palmer]

***
As a fan of the league, it's sad to see the decline of Bethel basketball fortunes & it would be fun to see them return to the glory years of the mid & late 2000s. The student fans at Bethel were fun to watch in action.  The dude in the white suit – the umbrellas, beach balls, obnoxious cheers during opposing team's FT attempts, etc.. Good stuff!  During their heyday, I'd actually make it point to sit behind the team benches so I could keep an eye on any of the shenanigans the students would pull off. 

I usually am with you on a lot of your points Drake, but am not with you on this one. I realize a lot of very nice Christian young people attend Bethel, but the way their PA announcer used to start the game advising everyone to cheer in a supportive Christian manner, and then have the student cheering section proceed to hurl one after another personal insults at opposing players throughout the game made the whole scene very hypocritical to me. That idiot fan with the umbrella in the Bethel "glory years" used to make we wish I could place it somewhere where we would not see it again

Just trying to stir the pot Pops! 

If you think the Bethel PA announcer is bad, check out a basketball game at Crown.  While I agree that there seems to be a hint of smugness & sanctimony from the Bethel PA announcer, IMO the rowdy student fans were certainly no worse than any of the other obnoxious student sections around the MIAC.

For example - several years ago UST had a fairly outrageous moment or two.  In the playoff game against Stevens Point, one of their fans who happened to be wearing skintight gym shorts ala 1970s style was hoisted on the shoulders of his buddies & would "moon" the UWSP player while he was attempting to shoot a FT.  I was hysterical with laughter, & then promptly demanded that the UST administrators that I was sitting next to stop this rude behavior from their students.   .

I will give you this:  Bethel probably has the worst popcorn in the league.  It seems like every other visit to Bethel the popcorn is burnt. The 2nd worst value in the MIAC?  Buying a cup of pop at UST.  Seriously –an 8 oz cup?!?  Most people spill half of it by the time they get back to their seat.

Best value – the Auggie special – hotdog, popcorn & a soft drink for 4 bucks at Augsburg.  For 10 bucks, a 6.oo game ticket & 4.00 for food, I've got an excellent 2.0 hour entertainment package.

[Drake Palmer]

Augsburg and UST rosters are posted

The Dawgs seem to have mostly recruited FY guards, with a couple of upperclassmen transfers.  I'm not familiar with most of the names.

Tommies get the heir apparent to Tyler Nicolai in FY PG, Marcus Alipate from Bloomington Kennedy. They also picked up a couple of key recruits, forward/post players -Connor Nord & Dylan Stewart from state champion Eden Prairie. Strictly a guess - Alipate is the "blue chipper", while Nord & Stewart are good solid recruits.  I've seen Alipate play 3-4 times in high school & know that he's the real deal.  Aside from watching Nord & Stewart on TV at the state tourney, I know very little about them & their abilities.