MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[piperinsider]

My first MIAC tailgate wound up being an incredibly awkward meeting with none other than the mother of Adam Denny. I know PI has that infamous photo somewhere.

I remember that pic. That was a good laugh!

Reminds me of how much I miss One-Armed Scot (and his constant shilling on behalf of those MIAC championship tailgate Stiftungsfest burgers).

Those were the good ol' times on the board. Yes, somewhere I still have pictures from that tailgate. "Welcome OneArmedScott and MIAC fans" - I mean, how Adam set it up to drink in a liquor store's parking lot on the main drag in St. Peter was pure genius. And they had a banner made up for him. When that place switched to MGM, we rented a park once.

My favorite, of course was when Pat Russell pulls up in this 350-sized truck with a grill. It was 50 degrees at 3 p.m. and 20 by 5 p.m. Plus OAS wore the cow get-up if I'm not mistaken. Good times...I wonder where Pepe is.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Either the Oles are completely laying an egg in Northfield tonight or Bethel is playing out of its mind, or both... 68-40 Bethel in the second half.

[carletonsid]

First time in MIAC Playoff history that road teams won on the same night.

#6 Bethel 77, #3 St. Olaf 58
#5 SJU 47, #4 Augsburg 45

Watched most of the Ole-Bethel game. Not sure what happened to the Oles, but no doubt they left their "A" game in the locker room. Might have been their "B" or "C" game. No disrespect to the Royals--they brought the fight to the Oles from the drop and never let up. Surely a disappointing end to the season for the Oles--I really felt like they were playing the best of the playoff teams, but Bethel disproved that theory tonight in a big way.

Just caught final play of the Auggie-Johnnie tilt. Burns runs a little high screen-roll, Auggie switches and Burns rightfully takes big to the hole (sorry, didn't catch defender's name). Big forces Burns to take a highly-contested, runnning one-handed flip from about 10 feet out on the right side, but Burns gets the teardrop to go right before the horn.

Have to think UST is either a)overjoyed to get a third crack at its archrivals, or 2) scared that this could be a short run having to face those darn Johnnies again.

And a GAC-BU rematch so quickly on the heels of Saturday's surprise? Wow. Have to think Coach Hanson will have some adjustments in store for the Royals. It will be an interesting Friday night (or whenever they play these games). 

[HarryDH]

Doesn't Bethel go to play St. Thomas, not the Johnnies?  I would think the top seed gets the lowest remaining seed, but I haven't kept up with things a whole lot this season.  Can anyone clarify this?

[Drake Palmer]

First time in MIAC Playoff history that road teams won on the same night.

#6 Bethel 77, #3 St. Olaf 58
#5 SJU 47, #4 Augsburg 45

Watched...
Have to think UST is either a)overjoyed to get a third crack at its archrivals, or 2) scared that this could be a short run having to face those darn Johnnies again.

And a GAC-BU rematch so quickly on the heels of Saturday's surprise? Wow. Have to think Coach Hanson will have some adjustments in store for the Royals. It will be an interesting Friday night (or whenever they play these games). 

Just back from the Auggie - SJU game.  More later but Cisd, doesn't the lowest seed go to UST?  If so, that would mean Bethel goes to UST & the Jays to St. Peter.  I'm fairly certain I'm right.

Worst sports parent in the league - SJU's Andy Burns' dad. Sheesh rush the court after the game & jeer at the Augsburg students for yelling "airball" whenever young Burns had the ball in his hand. Stay classy Mr. Burns.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

First time in MIAC Playoff history that road teams won on the same night.

#6 Bethel 77, #3 St. Olaf 58
#5 SJU 47, #4 Augsburg 45

Watched...
Have to think UST is either a)overjoyed to get a third crack at its archrivals, or 2) scared that this could be a short run having to face those darn Johnnies again.

And a GAC-BU rematch so quickly on the heels of Saturday's surprise? Wow. Have to think Coach Hanson will have some adjustments in store for the Royals. It will be an interesting Friday night (or whenever they play these games). 

Just back from the Auggie - SJU game.  More later but Cisd, doesn't the lowest seed go to UST?  If so, that would mean Bethel goes to UST & the Jays to St. Peter.  I'm fairly certain I'm right. Worst sports parent in the league - SJU's Andy Burns' dad. Sheesh rush the court after the game & jeer at the Augsburg students for yelling "airball" whenever young Burns had the ball in his hand. Stay classy Mr. Burns.

Yup, you are right

and AMEN on the conduct of daddy B

[gacbacker]

Bobby Fong and Stu Neville finish their careers by going 1-19 from the field. Ouch!

The scenario couldn't be working out better for the Gusties. They get the Johnnies who I think is the best matchup for them out of the other five playoff teams. Plus if Bethel can stay hot and upset St. Thomas, the championship game could end up in St. Peter.

[gustie12]

Doesn't Bethel go to play St. Thomas, not the Johnnies?  I would think the top seed gets the lowest remaining seed, but I haven't kept up with things a whole lot this season.  Can anyone clarify this?

C'mon fellas...the Gusties play Saint John's and UST plays Bethel. The one seed plays the lowest seeded team remaining, and the two seed plays the highest seeded team remaining. MIAC Playoffs isn't the traditional bracket style it once was.

Definitely a good situation for the Gusties matchup wise for Friday. It'll be a showdown with GAC geared and ready to go, and the Johnnies coming off a huge win and looking for a little redemption after getting tossed around in Collegeville by the Gusties just over a week ago.

Someone better call the St. Paul fire marshall because the UST-Bethel game could be a barn burner! I'm sure it'll feel like a MIAC championship and not a semifinal game.

Lookin forward to it all!

[Retired Old Rat]

On behalf of Johnnie fans everywhere, my apologies for the behavior of Burns senior.  Very embarrassing.  I feel bad for Andy on this one.  Thankfully for Andy, he ended up being the hero of the game.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Auggie/Johnnie was one of the ugliest games I've seen in decades. The lousy shooting percentages had nothing to do with "good defense"-- neither team could hit the broadside of a barn! open short jumpers, LAYUPS, just about any decent percentage shot- both teams would clank it off the rim, backboard or lob an airball. The tone was set on the first shot of the game when McKenzie drove the lane for an easy (essentially undefended) layup and it rolled around, froze on the rim and then fell off no good. Air balls aplenty. About the only guy shooting well was Schmitt, but SJU did a good job bottlling him up. Halftime score of 21-21 reminded me of a very bad small town HS game. I tried to make a bet with the gentleman sitting near me that neither team would break 50 but he laughed and declined.
*********
Three seniors closed their careers last night on far from stellar notes. AGG was 2 for 10, joing Fong and Neville as good players laying eggs in what turns out the be their final collegiate game.
*********
I think UST go the matchup they prefered in Bethel. Based on performance last week, I think the Tommies can handle BU, setting up yet another GAC/UST title game on Sunday.
*******
I'd rather see the championship game on Saturday night, but I also am not a fan of the regular season 3 pm start. Back in the day when Sat games were at night, they were always well attended and the gyms buzzed with energy, noise (and maybe some boozed up students). The 3 pm slot is sterile, and just doesnt feel like a college game to me.

[Drake Palmer]

Good atmosphere, excitement, and environment at Augsburg last night – which made up for the poor execution.  Probably not since the days of Devean George have I seen as many Augsburg students at a game.  A good number of Johnnie & Bennie fans also made the trip down, along with a nice representation of Dawg & Johnnie alumni and created a definite buzz in the air.

ROR- I knew you were a decent sort. +K.  I thought UST Teddy Archer's mother was bad last year when she tried to dress like a college coed, and was ahem, exuberantly cheering on her son and the Tommies.  Old man Burns (OMB) was something else!  Props to Andy Burns – that was a big time shot.

And why is it that college security guards always seem to be oversized, meek versions of Barney Fife from the old Andy Griffith show?  Certainly not helped by OMB foolish antics, the testosterone filled Auggie & Johnnie students started doing a macho stare down & shout down with each other after the game. As I was leaving, I had to persuasively encourage one Augsburg security guard to leave his "hiding place" by the exit door to man up, and at least make his presence known out on center court.

What Mose said about the game.  I left my notes at home but I uncovered some interesting 3pt shooting statistics about the league this year, and it's not good.  I'll try to post it later.

Interesting Friday matchups. I think the only team feeling really good about themselves is Bethel. And they're out to prove a point, as are the other 3 teams.

Gustie12  - in addition to fire marshals, we'll need paramedics on hand to treat hot flashes, strokes, & heart attacks; or frostbite, hypothermia, and delusions of grandeur. 

[carletonsid]

First time in MIAC Playoff history that road teams won on the same night.

#6 Bethel 77, #3 St. Olaf 58
#5 SJU 47, #4 Augsburg 45

Watched...
Have to think UST is either a)overjoyed to get a third crack at its archrivals, or 2) scared that this could be a short run having to face those darn Johnnies again.

And a GAC-BU rematch so quickly on the heels of Saturday's surprise? Wow. Have to think Coach Hanson will have some adjustments in store for the Royals. It will be an interesting Friday night (or whenever they play these games). 

Just back from the Auggie - SJU game.  More later but Cisd, doesn't the lowest seed go to UST? If so, that would mean Bethel goes to UST & the Jays to St. Peter.  I'm fairly certain I'm right.

My bad. Obviously I shouldn't post after after 9 p.m. when my brain stops working. This aging thing sucks.

I was kind of surprised at the SJU/CSB rushing the court (RTC). In a quarterfinal game. In a win over Augsburg. I understand in a title game (see 2010, Carleton at Gustavus) or a rivalry game (UST v SJU, Carleton v St. Olaf). Not condemning the RTC, just found it, well, odd. And certainly RTC's should be limited to students and should exclude parents of players.

[AO]

I don't know that we should exclude parents from RTC.    ---The only restriction I would advocate for is when the RTC is used as an excuse to taunt the opposing team or fans as may have happened this fall when the Auggies were on the other side of the upset at Clemens.

[hazzben]

I don't know that we should exclude parents from RTC.    ---The only restriction I would advocate for is when the RTC is used as an excuse to taunt the opposing team or fans as may have happened this fall when the Auggies were on the other side of the upset at Clemens.

Good point AO. Not that this justifies it at all, but there was some taunting by the Augsburg players directed at SJU fans seated in the endzone after the miracle finish this fall. Given the number of SJU students sitting in those seats, I'm not surprised it carried over into this BB matchup.

Should be some great games to finish things out. I'm pulling for two upsets and the rare 5-6 matchup for the title. It's definitely been a crazy finish to the season!

If Bethel beats UST on Friday, I think Westlund might pull off the unlikely COY award. He'd have beaten three of the other most likely candidates H2H in three straight road games. Big if, but it'd make his second half finish that much more impressive.

[Drake Palmer]

I don't know that we should exclude parents from RTC.    ---The only restriction I would advocate for is when the RTC is used as an excuse to taunt the opposing team or fans as may have happened this fall when the Auggies were on the other side of the upset at Clemens.

Good point AO. Not that this justifies it at all, but there was some taunting by the Augsburg players directed at SJU fans seated in the endzone after the miracle finish this fall. Given the number of SJU students sitting in those seats, I'm not surprised it carried over into this BB matchup.

Should be some great games to finish things out. I'm pulling for two upsets and the rare 5-6 matchup for the title. It's definitely been a crazy finish to the season!

If Bethel beats UST on Friday, I think Westlund might pull off the unlikely COY award. He'd have beaten three of the other most likely candidates H2H in three straight road games. Big if, but it'd make his second half finish that much more impressive.

I have no problem whatsoever with students rushing the court, but keeping Csid's perspective in mind - this was simply a quarterfinal playoff win, not a win over a nationally ranked opponent, a bitter archrival, miracle 1st place finish etc.  And as so many posters are fond of disparagingly commenting –the team the Johnnies beat was only "lowly Auggie Tech."  Plus, aren't the big, bad, Johnnies used to bullying their way through most athletic endeavors?  Given the number of times and years the Johnnies have manhandled most of the league in football, last fall's epic upset football win by Augsburg and post game celebration is to be understood.  The big dog always has a target on his back - Johnnies in football, Gusties and Tommies in basketball. Obviously, the post football game celebration was not appreciated by Johnnie fans, but Augsburg earned the win, and the right to celebrate. 

On the other hand RTC by parents for the express purpose of taunting?!?  Give me a break. We're supposed to be role models.  I'm just glad the Augsburg students displayed more maturity than a middle aged, former jock living his life out vicariously through his son.

I'm hoping there's still a breath of creativity left in the Gustie student body.  With two days to prepare, they should be able create some great cheers, banners, and posters and give Mr. Tom Burns a nice, warm Gustie welcome on Friday night...and throughout the game.   Perhaps ROR or someone else at the game can provide a post game report Friday night/ Saturday morning.