MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

Northwestern 71
St. Thomas 70

Porter Morrell hit a lunging trey at the buzzer to pull off the upset. Northwestern's first-ever tourney win, and, if I'm not mistaken, the UMAC's first-ever tourney win as well.

I have no words

On the 2015 Tournament board people were moaning about their destroyed pick 'ems entries.  I chimed in that even AO might not have had guts enough to pick Northwestern - was I right?

I'm a big homer but didn't submit a bracket this year.  I felt more confident about beating Whitewater in past tourneys than I did about beating the Tommies tonight.

i'm too stunned to think. i tip my hat to NW...they played a perfect game and didn't crack under pressure.


is it baseball season yet?

I'm very thankful for single elimination tournaments.  If we faced the Tommies ten more times we might lose them all by 20. I've got a feeling they will reload and pay us back soon enough.

Re: baseball
Morrell, the miracle shot maker is a baseball player and currently missing out on the Florida trip. 

[gbpuckfan]

Illogical to travel to DePere to play that game, yes. Also, just completely pointless to have Northwestern in the field. UMAC team in the tourney, really? Can't say I like the Tommies, but I can't wait to see them blowout Northwestern by 30+ and show that no UMAC team deserves to be in the tourney.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Some people don't get that the NCAA operates NATIONAL tournaments, not tournaments of the best teams.

What I mean is this. This field isn't someone's list of the 62 best teams in the country. It is a national tournament made of conference playoff champions with other teams to fill in the field.

Using D1 as the example: the ninth-best Big Ten team is likely better than the conference winner from the MEAC, Atlantic Sun or some conference you've never heard of. But that doesn't matter. It's a NATIONAL tournament of the playoff winners (except for the Ivy, right???)

Everyone knows going into it that you have one goal: Win your conference tournament. And everyone has a chance - however small - to do so. If not, you put your fate in someone else's hands.

There may be criteria, guidelines, rankings and everything else. But two different groups of people could come to different, yet still acceptable, field selections. So, win your tournament.

You may not like it. You may. But if you get that this isn't someone's list of the best X number of teams, then the MWC or UMAC team making field makes much more sense.

[gordonmann]

AO:

You were the first person I thought of when I saw that score. Soak it in.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Illogical to travel to DePere to play that game, yes. Also, just completely pointless to have Northwestern in the field. UMAC team in the tourney, really? Can't say I like the Tommies, but I can't wait to see them blowout Northwestern by 30+ and show that no UMAC team deserves to be in the tourney.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Some people don't get that the NCAA operates NATIONAL tournaments, not tournaments of the best teams.

What I mean is this. This field isn't someone's list of the 62 best teams in the country. It is a national tournament made of conference playoff champions with other teams to fill in the field.

Using D1 as the example: the ninth-best Big Ten team is likely better than the conference winner from the MEAC, Atlantic Sun or some conference you've never heard of. But that doesn't matter. It's a NATIONAL tournament of the playoff winners (except for the Ivy, right???)

Everyone knows going into it that you have one goal: Win your conference tournament. And everyone has a chance - however small - to do so. If not, you put your fate in someone else's hands.

There may be criteria, guidelines, rankings and everything else. But two different groups of people could come to different, yet still acceptable, field selections. So, win your tournament.

You may not like it. You may. But if you get that this isn't someone's list of the best X number of teams, then the MWC or UMAC team making field makes much more sense.

Well, it's a national tournament of conference winners - however each conference wants to determine that. UAA in Division III, Ivy league in Division I does that by regular season. CCIW used to do that.

And take a look at any playoff structure in college or the pros in this country and you will notice it is never the best X amount of teams... ever. Carolina Panthers were in the NFL playoffs instead of several other NFC teams who had better records. But, they won their division and thus got the "automatic bid" to the playoffs.

I never understood why people assume it's the top x-amount of teams when it never... ever... has... is... or will be.

[badgerwarhawk]

I've been trying to figure something out and I thought someone here might be able to help me.  During the St Olaf/Defiance game a Defiance player was shooting a free throw and a St Olaf fan shouted, "You swim in your tee shirt."  What is that suppose to mean?  Is it a St Olaf inside joke?  None of us had a clue.

Also given that Defiance is located in Ohio shouting "Brett Favre is a true Viking" probably doesn't mean much to them. 

The dude was entertaining though.  Considering I had to be there and the WARHAWKS weren't playing he added some humor to the evening and helped the time pass. 

Good luck to St Olaf.  They played some great second halves. 

[tommiegun]

I've been trying to figure something out and I thought someone here might be able to help me.  During the St Olaf/Defiance game a Defiance player was shooting a free throw and a St Olaf fan shouted, "You swim in your tee shirt."  What is that suppose to mean?  Is it a St Olaf inside joke?  None of us had a clue.

Also given that Defiance is located in Ohio shouting "Brett Favre is a true Viking" probably doesn't mean much to them. 

The dude was entertaining though.  Considering I had to be there and the WARHAWKS weren't playing he added some humor to the evening and helped the time pass. 

Good luck to St Olaf.  They played some great second halves.

Was the said shooter built like Barkley? Did he, um, have the assets to really box out for a rebound?  If so, I suspect the taunt was weight related. http://o.onionstatic.com/images/10/10102/2x1/1200.jpg?5871

[badgerwarhawk]

I've been trying to figure something out and I thought someone here might be able to help me.  During the St Olaf/Defiance game a Defiance player was shooting a free throw and a St Olaf fan shouted, "You swim in your tee shirt."  What is that suppose to mean?  Is it a St Olaf inside joke?  None of us had a clue.

Also given that Defiance is located in Ohio shouting "Brett Favre is a true Viking" probably doesn't mean much to them. 

The dude was entertaining though.  Considering I had to be there and the WARHAWKS weren't playing he added some humor to the evening and helped the time pass. 

Good luck to St Olaf.  They played some great second halves.

Was the said shooter built like Barkley? Did he, um, have the assets to really box out for a rebound?  If so, I suspect the taunt was weight related. http://o.onionstatic.com/images/10/10102/2x1/1200.jpg?5871

I did think of that but the player was Bernard Edwards who is 6'6", 220.  He resembled a man playing with boys so that didn't make sense to me either.  He definitely didn't appear to have any weight issues.  The dude was ripped. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

an amazing era ends----http://www.gojohnnies.com/news/2015/3/17/BASKETBALL_0317151333.aspx?path=mbball



SJU was a bottom feeder when Jim took over....he built a solid, successful program and maintained that level of excellence for decade upon decade

[jimhoops1234]

Per Hoopdirt yesterday, Bethel coach Doug Novak is involved with the opening at The Citadel. Novak was an assistant there for 4 years. Something to keep an eye on. May or may not affect recruiting.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Per Hoopdirt yesterday, Bethel coach Doug Novak is involved with the opening at The Citadel. Novak was an assistant there for 4 years. Something to keep an eye on. May or may not affect recruiting.

Interesting...that would be a huge loss.  Sort of surprises me as I heard that he came to BU in relation to wanting to be in the MN area to be closer to family. 

Perhaps being at the D3 level isn't what he thought it would be and he wants bigger things again.

Hope it isn't so!

[Kilroy]

Hi friends... some recruiting info for you.

Prior Lake PF Connor Bair to St. Thomas
Roseville SG Mitch Poss (shoots lights out) to St. Thomas
Prior Page PG Kevin McKiernan to Augsburg
Waconia PF Gabe Crowder to St. John's
Tartan SF Jake Lyle to St. Olaf


Rumors of a package deal of Wyatt Ferm (Farmington) and Mike Gutierrez (St. Croix Prep) both to Macalester. They're both very prolific scorers, would be a massive grab for Whittle.

Later... @NorthstarAlex

[GoldandBlueBU]

Per Hoopdirt yesterday, Bethel coach Doug Novak is involved with the opening at The Citadel. Novak was an assistant there for 4 years. Something to keep an eye on. May or may not affect recruiting.

Interesting...that would be a huge loss.  Sort of surprises me as I heard that he came to BU in relation to wanting to be in the MN area to be closer to family. 

Perhaps being at the D3 level isn't what he thought it would be and he wants bigger things again.

Hope it isn't so!

Glad to see that Coach Novak is staying put at BU!

http://citadelsports.com/news/2015/3/30/MBB_0330153947.aspx

[Kilroy]

Also... not sure if you caught these...

Derek Magnuson transfer from UMD to Bethel
Conrad Engstrom to Bethel
Kyle Kaupa to Hamline
Chase Seiberlich to Augsburg
Kai Endahl to Saint Mary's
Michael Gutierrez to Macalester (!!!)

[GoldandBlueBU]

Also... not sure if you caught these...

Derek Magnuson transfer from UMD to Bethel
Conrad Engstrom to Bethel
Kyle Kaupa to Hamline
Chase Seiberlich to Augsburg
Kai Endahl to Saint Mary's
Michael Gutierrez to Macalester (!!!)

Thanks for posting!  Glad to see BU finally getting some height in the 6'7 UMD transfer...next year was looking iffy down low with Zimmerman graduated...hopefully this guy has some skills.  Assume he must be at least decent, coming from D2.

[Drake Palmer]

New SJU coach is named

Really? Interesting.