MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[carletonsid]

Csid- I know you SIDs have gotta stick up for each other, but c'mon...  Jim Cella couldn't have a student worker at least put up the roster in time for the MIAC preview?


From the Preview...


Concordia
Coach: Rich Glas
Career Record: 38-38 (3 seasons at Concordia)
2010-11 Finish: T-6th (14-12 overall, 10-10 MIAC)
Concordia Season Preview
Concordia preview coming soon.


Seriously?!?

Well, I know Jim's not big into previews and I have to agree with him. I'd rather see a capsule/notes that lists returning starters and key players with relevant stats, alongside some notes on top newcomers.

Unless you've been there, you just don't know how tough the crossover time between fall and winter sports is, and SIDs at this level have to make choices. Get up a basketball preview, or make the soccer and volleyball teams feel really great about their NCAA Championships experience by going above and beyond in your coverage of their national tournament run. I see your point about the previews, but Jim's made a choice to focus time and resources elsewhere, and I applaud him for standing up and doing what he felt was right by his department and its student-athletes.

[Also, just a reminder I'm not really the Carleton SID anymore, although I still work at the College, just in a different capacity. Still, once an SID, prolly always an SID.]

Until someone proves otherwise, UST is the team to beat, IMO. I think the Oles have as good as chance as anyone, but they need to prove they can do it consistently over the whole season, which UST (and Carleton) has done. Can't wait to find out and watch the season play out.

As for the Pipes, I'd have to say the jury is still out on going the "run-and-gun" style. The MIAC has traditionally been won by a very good, if not the best, defensive team that is efficient on offense. UST, GAC and Carleton all follow this formula and it's worked over the last decade. In fact, I'd be willing to bet (without checking) that the last 10 regular-season champions have all been ranked in the top 3 of scoring defense. [An aside, scoring defense isn't the best way to judge the 'best' defense team, but that's all we have right now in the absence of some public, tempo-free efficiency stats.] That's not to say going to a high-powered scoring attack won't work, but I'm not sure Hamline has the superior athletes it would take to make this successful. I think they're a top six team, not sure they're a championship-level team. IMO, championship teams can get that crucial stop when they need it in a close game or lean on their defense on those "dog days" games of January/early February when the legs are tired and the shots aren't dropping.

[Drake Palmer]

Csid- I know you SIDs have gotta stick up for each other, but c'mon...  Jim Cella couldn't have a student worker at least put up the roster in time for the MIAC preview?


From the Preview...


Concordia
Coach: Rich Glas
Career Record: 38-38 (3 seasons at Concordia)
2010-11 Finish: T-6th (14-12 overall, 10-10 MIAC)
Concordia Season Preview
Concordia preview coming soon.


Seriously?!?

Well, I know Jim's not big into previews and I have to agree with him. I'd rather see a capsule/notes that lists returning starters and key players with relevant stats, alongside some notes on top newcomers. ...

Sid - I realize that being a SID can be a thankless job, but that's why they let you attend all those sporting events for free.  Jim Cella didn't do any of those things you mentioned.  His work study could have at least posted the roster. And I don't really see too much difference between a preview & a capsule.   

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Csid- I know you SIDs have gotta stick up for each other, but c'mon...  Jim Cella couldn't have a student worker at least put up the roster in time for the MIAC preview?


From the Preview...


Concordia
Coach: Rich Glas
Career Record: 38-38 (3 seasons at Concordia)
2010-11 Finish: T-6th (14-12 overall, 10-10 MIAC)
Concordia Season Preview
Concordia preview coming soon.


Seriously?!?

Well, I know Jim's not big into previews and I have to agree with him. I'd rather see a capsule/notes that lists returning starters and key players with relevant stats, alongside some notes on top newcomers. ...

Sid - I realize that being a SID can be a thankless job, but that's why they let you attend all those sporting events for free.  Jim Cella didn't do any of those things you mentioned.  His work study could have at least posted the roster. And I don't really see too much difference between a preview & a capsule. 

not to jump on poor Jim, but when Cord's football team was defending conference champs, he cranked out a multi-part preview (yes football you have the luxury of working the whole summer on it). its not like posting the roster and a preview is a new concept. Jim does great work, promotes all Cobber sports & teams well, but he got behind a bit on this one... but its hardly end-of-the-world crisis level, but it would be nice to know something about the team before they start playing.

[Drake Palmer]

I'm with you Mose.  Typically, I do think Jim Cella does very nice work, but this one just seems to have slipped away from  him. 

The Cobbers roster is now posted, but I do have a question that only a preview or another poster can answer - NCA11 or Kilroy?  I thought Manani Beavers is a SO this year?  He's listed as a FY on the roster but I thought he played at a community College in Iowa last year - Ellsworth?

[Kilroy]

Age-wise, he would be a Soph... but who knows where he is on the eligibility carousel.

[AO]

One of our fellow D3 superfans has come up with a ranking system that loves the MIAC. 

Here are his spreads for tonight:
Bethany Lutheran @ St. Olaf -20
Wartburg @ Carleton -15
Gustavus @ Buena Vista +4
Bethel @ Crown +20
Northwestern @ Hamline -13

[Drake Palmer]

The following is the real reason why I wanted the Cobber roster.   

Without a doubt- this was one of the best years in recent MIAC history for tremendously creative player names.  There were over 22 names on the list!  The judges from the Palmer MIAC Freshmen ALL-Name committee have been pouring over the rosters in the last few days trying to make the right decisions.

So without further ado, the MIAC Palmer All-Freshmen Name Teams

Honorable Mention

Samson Bialostok                       Macalester
Ashton "Kutcher" Erie                 Gustavus
Marcel "Marceau" Govan             Hamline

Marshall "Dillon" Jestings            Hamline
Otto Pfefferle                             St. Johns
Bert "And Ernie" Yaffe                Macalester
Kohner Urias                             Hamline

Almost All Alliterative Name Team

Carter "Chris" Cross                  Augsburg
Dylan "Rodney" Dangerfield       St. Johns
McDaniel Doe                            Hamline
Shane McSparron                      Carleton

All-MIAC Freshmen Name Team

"Sarge" Matt St. Anthony                      Augsburg
Paxton "Chablis"Harvieux                       Carleton
Levi "Strauss Abercrombie "Fitch"           Concordia
Manani Beavers                                     Concordia – Shouldn't he be playing for Buena Vista? 
"Christian" Dior Ford                              Hamline

Sterling "Silver" "Leslie Airplane" Nielsen  St. Olaf
Connor Nord –                                       St. Thomas - The heir apparent to the best Irish/Scandinavian name.

2010 winner  - Connor Gunderson from STO.

***

I'll take a stab at All MIAC FY players after this opening week of games are completed.  As of now, my short list would include these players

*Sterling Nielsen STO
*Dior Ford - HAM
*Connor Nord - UST
*Manani Beavers CORD
*Marcus Alipate – UST

And I've gotta believe one of those FY from Carleton will end up on the All FY team.

[Kilroy]

Let's take a stab at the 2011/2012 preseason predictions:

1.   St. Olaf – This is the year for the Oles. Their stud recruits from the class of 2008 are finally seniors, and Jaryan/Fong/Gunderson make up the best guard set in the league. Neville and Wieloch will do the dirty work in the post. Transfer Josh Pratt should contribute, and I love Michael Jenson's motor as a sub for Jaryan.

2.   Augsburg – While Olaf has the conference's best group of guards, Auggie might have the best post players. Bruiser Cory Polta and high-riser Andy G-G work well together and will be a handful down low. You also have to like the return of Humphrey, Sorenson, and Parker Hines. Hines was one of the top-rated recruits to land in the MIAC in 2010, and he undoubtedly got a crash course on PG in a tough D3 conference. Alex Schmitt transfers in after an injury at Moorhead, and brings an interesting element at 6'9" and 240. Oh, and not to mention that they already got a victory over a D1 team – Houston Baptist. Although HBU is admittedly a very weak program, that's still something big.

3.   St. Thomas – Interesting that the Tommies' "transition" year still has them voted as the top spot. I am placing them at three with the optimism that someone not named UST or Carleton wins the MIAC this year. I could definitely see them returning to their national threat-caliber in a year or two, as their freshmen and sophomore classes are STACKED. For now, Tengwall, Leslie, Kaiser, Nance, and Hannon will start. Alipate has been getting early minutes in preseason and could contribute as a true freshman. The last freshman to contribute at point guard? Mr. Tyler Nicolai.

4.   Gustavus - You can usually count on Gustie for a disciplined, halfcourt-focused team. Seth Anderson returns for his senior year, and an interesting group of vets return as well: Blacklock, Hill, Biewen, Johnson, Sallstrom. As previously noted by someone else on this board, all of their freshman recruits are from the southern portion of the state.

5.   Carleton – Who will step up as Sutherland exits? Rosenow and Grinnell will anchor the post. Sawatzke is a ball-hawk PG, and Theisen brings size to the wing. It's a little weird to see three out of four freshmen recruits actually from Minnesota... I was expecting the usual crop of cross-national newcomers.

6.   Hamline – This is the wild card of the MIAC. Mike Campbell returns, and I'm a big fan of his game. Pannell and Aguirre will continue to contribute from the outside, and after that... I'm really not sure. Cali products Weinrich and Rieg return as well. I have no idea what to make of these six/seven newcomers from CA/AZ... who knows, maybe one of them could turn out to be the best player in the league. I think that Hammie could finish anywhere from #4 to #10.

7.   St. Johns –Their roster is huge – along with a massive sophomore class – and there is plenty of talent. It's just a little too young. Barnmore and Burns are solid vets that return. Once Marx, Januscha, Wittenborg, Krueser, Pfefferle, and the rest of the young ones get the spotlight – watch out. I like this team a lot in two years.

8.   Bethel – Taylor Hall pushes the Royals up to this spot. Daniel Baah is a senior PG that I like, but he often plays out of control. Dahlquist and Hildebrandt return as well. I like Greg Meyer, too. Hall plays with a skill set that is rare in the MIAC... if he can produce close to 20/10 and the rest of the upperclassmen can work around him, this team could rise. It's too bad they didn't get Palmer to transfer over like it was originally rumored.

9.   Concordia – The Fraase era ends. I do admire the SID's refusal to produce a preview... I agree that they are largely generic and useless. Molina comes back at PG for his third and final year as a starter, and Abercrombie and Beavers are solid recruits. Nana-Kweson also returns.

10.   Macalester – Pierce Peters continues to mature as an interesting player. Andy Bowman is an up-and-comer as a MIAC post. Piepkorn and Quinn come back as likely starters. It's hard to project newcomers when they are from New York, Maryland, and California! Mac's roster has kids from eight different states.

11.   Saint Mary's – So... if they finished tied for ninth in the MIAC with Wright/Holland/Palmer... how will they do without the trio? It's hard to put SMU anywhere but here. Last year's team started off with a boom, but they fizzled in a big way and most of that team's contributors are gone. Burfeind and Freeman return as SMU's top scorers from last year... I haven't seen most of the rest of the team play.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Here are his spreads for tonight:
Bethany Lutheran @ St. Olaf -20
Wartburg @ Carleton -15
Gustavus @ Buena Vista +4
Bethel @ Crown +20
Northwestern @ Hamline -13

[carletonsid]

So, never witnessed this in my 30-some years of watching college hoops.

Refs haven't shown here at West Gym for the Carleton-Wartburg opener. Apparently they never were assigned to the game, so the MIAC office is scrambling to see if we can get some officials here in short order. I've seen officials be late because of weather and traffic, but not because they weren't assigned.

Of course, there was the time my father's partner he was working with was held at gunpoint in the bathroom working a game up on the reservation in southeast Montana. He was a bit late for the second-half tip, understandably.

Whups.

Both teams look sharp in warm-ups, though. Maybe we can decide the game with a game of lightning/knock-out or horse.

As the kids say, developing...

[John Gleich]

Any news @ Carleton yet...?  Wartburg can't be too pleased, Carleton isn't right around the corner from Iowa...

[carletonsid]

Any news @ Carleton yet...?  Wartburg can't be too pleased, Carleton isn't right around the corner from Iowa...

8:45 p.m. start. Indeed looks bad. Conference office never put the game into the system.

[nca11]

Olaf wins big without Fong (any idea why?)
Gusties fall behind big in second half, catch fire and win on buzzer beater 98-96
Hamline gets big three late, wins by 3
Carleton...well, they may finish by midnight


Also - I'm looking hard, but don't see Manani Beavers on the Concordia roster any longer

[gacbacker]

Wow, Seth Anderson starts the season with a 45-point effort against BV. I don't recall a Gustie player putting up 40+ points in a game in a long time.

[gacbacker]

After further investigation it looks like Anderson set a single game school record tonight for points. The previous record at GAC was 41, set by D.L. Smith in 1957.

Anderson also tied the school record for most made field goals in a single game with 18.