MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Smitty Oom]

Regional rankings: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2017/02/men-regional-rankings-second

I am kinda shocked to see the SCIAC have 3 teams, including La Verne and Pamona Pitzer ranked. PP has only played 17 regional games. I'm probably very biased but I think Bethel sitting at 19-6 should be regionally ranked next week, although their sub. 500 SOS sure isn't helping. Carleton's hot streak should also be taken into consideration. Maybe a W-L in last 10 as a criteria to be added? What teams are playing well as of tourney time. Or is that flawed?

EDIT: Those teams had higher SOS than I thought. I assumed since CMS had such a low SOS, LV and PP would as well. How does the committee treat a team like PP who played 5 games, which is a lot of games, that presumably don't count as they were against non-D3?

Getting one or two of those teams ranked would be good for MIACs Pool C chances to increase W vs. RRO.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Regional rankings: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2017/02/men-regional-rankings-second

I am kinda shocked to see the SCIAC have 3 teams, including La Verne and Pamona Pitzer ranked. PP has only played 17 regional games. I'm probably very biased but I think Bethel sitting at 19-6 should be regionally ranked next week, although their sub. 500 SOS sure isn't helping. Carleton's hot streak should also be taken into consideration. Maybe a W-L in last 10 as a criteria to be added? What teams are playing well as of tourney time. Or is that flawed?

EDIT: Those teams had higher SOS than I thought. I assumed since CMS had such a low SOS, LV and PP would as well. How does the committee treat a team like PP who played 5 games, which is a lot of games, that presumably don't count as they were against non-D3?

Getting one or two of those teams ranked would be good for MIACs Pool C chances to increase W vs. RRO.

It's winning percentage officially, but at some point I assume the number of games comes into play, at least informally.  I doubt they hold the SCIAC to as strict a standard as they do for other, less geographically isolated, areas.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Teams usually don't benefit for playing three, four, five, or more games less against Division III opponents than everyone else. Their WL% can take a hit far easier with a loss and when the .030 to 2 games scenario is equated, those who played less games against D3 teams start at a disadvantage they probably can't make up. Teams who don't play as many D3 games as everyone else tend to be left out of the tournament. I can think of a lot of examples.

[tomt4525]

Deforest (WI) PG, Brodie Runez, has committed to play basketball at St Thomas.  He only played his senior year at Deforest after spending his first 3 years at Whitewater High School. 

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4646079/brodie-runez

Those are highlights from his junior year at Whitewater.

[AO]

Since I didn't see this posted anywhere, here's the playoff tie-breakers as I understand them if Concordia beats the Tommies.

Concordia wins a 2 way tie-breaker over St. Olaf or Augsburg.

If Hamline loses, and Concordia and Augsburg wins, Augsburg gets the 5 seed and Hamline the 6th.

If Hamline loses, and Concordia and St. Olaf wins, Hamline gets the 5 seed and Concordia the 6th.

[Drake Palmer]

Wow, what a great way to wrap up the season!  Since the weather is going to be decent tomorrow, maybe  a short road trip to Northfield to watch the Oles take on the Dawgs in a fight for the playoffs.  Or, perhaps a little bit longer drive to St. Peter to watch the Knights defend possession of that ^{glorious item that shall not be named}  ( or at least until I learn how to use the trademark code) against the Gusties.  Or, stay in town and watch the Pipes play the neighbors from the south end of Snelling – the Scots.  Decisions, decisions! Nice!

Carleton is for real.  Their young guards Joh Farmer & Henry Bensen have grown immensely since the beginning of the year when UST abused them at Carleton.  Senior guards Mitch Biewen, Peter Bakker Arkema & Beau Smit have been solid. FY small forward Kent Hanson has exploded over the last half of the season and uses his "leftiness" to a great advantage. And then you add Twin Tower Freddie Gillespie to the mix with Kevin Grow, and this is a very dangerous team. It's gotten to the point that JR forward Ryan Casperson rarely gets off the bench.

Can the once proud Gusties stop this Knight Train and proudly hoist the object^TM that cannot be named for an entire off season?

[Smitty Oom]

Wow, what a great way to wrap up the season!  Since the weather is going to be decent tomorrow, maybe  a short road trip to Northfield to watch the Oles take on the Dawgs in a fight for the playoffs.  Or, perhaps a little bit longer drive to St. Peter to watch the Knights defend possession of that ^{glorious item that shall not be named}  ( or at least until I learn how to use the trademark code) against the Gusties.  Or, stay in town and watch the Pipes play the neighbors from the south end of Snelling – the Scots.  Decisions, decisions! Nice!

Carleton is for real.  Their young guards Joh Farmer & Henry Bensen have grown immensely since the beginning of the year when UST abused them at Carleton.  Senior guards Mitch Biewen, Peter Bakker Arkema & Beau Smit have been solid. FY small forward Kent Hanson has exploded over the last half of the season and uses his "leftiness" to a great advantage. And then you add Twin Tower Freddie Gillespie to the mix with Kevin Grow, and this is a very dangerous team. It's gotten to the point that JR forward Ryan Casperson rarely gets off the bench.

Can the once proud Gusties stop this Knight Train and proudly hoist the object^TM that cannot be named for an entire off season?

A lot of great games most of them with a lot on the line! I would be most interested in the Dawgs and Oles. Who will have the big game and will their squad into the playoffs for a chance at the MIAC ship? My guess is the Oles sneak out a big win. Would be hard to see a team that swept the Tommies miss the playoffs...

Carleton has put a stranglehold on The Belt^TM and I would love for them to bring It^TM into the MIAC playoffs, but having It^TM hang out in St. Peter for the summer isn't a bad consolation prize!

[Smitty Oom]

Surprisingly quiet here lately.. a lot of drama on Saturday with the final playoff spot going to Augsburg and the Tommies winning their 12th straight MIAC regular season title. Impressive run is maybe the all time understatement. Excellent job by the coaches, players and fan base for continuing the Purple Reign. Although the Cobbs were fighting very tough with the Tommies as they took the lead with 10 or so minutes left, but then Connor Bair, 27% 3-Pt shooter for the season, knocks home 4 straight 3s to put the game essentially out of reach (6-7 threes on the night). Classic UST basketball, just being deeper than any other MIAC team.

Seedings are as followed:
#1 St. Thomas
#2 Bethel
#3 Carleton
#4 St. John's
#5 Hamline
#6 Augsburg

#6 Augsburg @ # 3 Carleton
I just don't see Augsburg going into The West Gym and knocking off this Carleton team. Auggies game is to run and score points and Carleton is the best team in the league at making the opposition play their style of ball. In other words, in a slow, long possession defensive battle, I will take the Knights every time.

#5 Hamline @ #4 St. John's
In the second quarterfinal game we have again the higher seed team who swept the season series. My guess is that Sexton Arena will be hopping for the playoff home game against the Pipers and the Johnnies will make it 3-0 and probably shoot the lights out, they seem to do that sometimes  !

The Semis are where it gets more interesting but I will wait until Wed/Thurs to see where those takes us!

LASTLY: Cool story on KARE 11 today about Hamline University and their historic Basketball program!! Only 3 minutes long and features interviews with current player Dylan See-Rockers and Coach Hayes!

[GoldandBlueBU]

...Carleton is the best team in the league at making the opposition play their style of ball. In other words, in a slow, long possession defensive battle, I will take the Knights every time.

This is why I think BU has to be kicking themselves for the road loss at Concordia.  If not for that, they're the 1 seed outright champs, rather than co-champs #2 seed via a UST sweep, and would probably feel pretty good about their chances against SJU or Hamline (I think Carleton beating Augsburg is a lock).

Now they will be coming off of an extra long break (bye on Saturday, and 1st round playoff bye) to face Carleton...sure helps that it will be @BU, but man, that one win could have made a much easier path into the MIAC championship by letting the Tommies and Knights take some chunks out of each other in the semifinal. 

Regardless, have to beat the best to be the best!

[GoldandBlueBU]

Bonus Tommie - Johnnie game tonight, Bethel tries to solve the Carleton riddle, and a day of PTO planned for Friday, gopher win last night...

Today is a good day.

Will definitely be doing some dual screening tonight.

[Smitty Oom]

Bonus Tommie - Johnnie game tonight, Bethel tries to solve the Carleton riddle, and a day of PTO planned for Friday, gopher win last night...

Today is a good day.

Will definitely be doing some dual screening tonight.

What a huge win for the gophers, great turn around for Pitino!

But for the MIAC games... I have a tough time deciding which one I will be attending tonight. I would rather watch the Bethel-Carleton game but the Tommie Johnnie atmosphere will be electric. Not taking anything away from Bethel, they have the best student section, it is just no Tommie Johnnie.

I think I am riding the Carleton train until it falls off the track and I just don't see this young Johnnie team going into The Shoe and stealing a win.

As for Pool C implications Tommies would be sitting fairly decent with a win tonight and a loss in the MIAC ship, but a loss tonight means they might be bubble watching, hoping for minimal bid thieves!

[Drake Palmer]

Bonus Tommie - Johnnie game tonight, Bethel tries to solve the Carleton riddle, and a day of PTO planned for Friday, gopher win last night...

Today is a good day.

Will definitely be doing some dual screening tonight.

What a huge win for the gophers, great turn around for Pitino!

But for the MIAC games... I have a tough time deciding which one I will be attending tonight. I would rather watch the Bethel-Carleton game but the Tommie Johnnie atmosphere will be electric. Not taking anything away from Bethel, they have the best student section, it is just no Tommie Johnnie.

I think I am riding the Carleton train until it falls off the track and I just don't see this young Johnnie team going into The Shoe and stealing a win.

As for Pool C implications Tommies would be sitting fairly decent with a win tonight and a loss in the MIAC ship, but a loss tonight means they might be bubble watching, hoping for minimal bid thieves!

Smitty - I'm with you on conflicted choices regarding tonight's pairings. If the weather goes south I think I'll do the closest drive and head over to the new Shoe for UST - SJU version 8 million.  But if the weather stays the way it is, I'll make the drive to the Robertson Center and eat a bag of the worst popcorn in the MIAC.      Both games should be outstanding!

[Drake Palmer]

Plus K to Smitty, GBU, AO, & the few other posters for helping to keep this board off the life support system. 

[sjusection105]

Johnnies > Tommies

[miacsuperfan]

Plus K to Smitty, GBU, AO, & the few other posters for helping to keep this board off the life support system. 

Amen to this, Drake Palmer.  Maybe we could get a post from VOJ to help us prepare for tonight's clash?  Sure would be great. 
I was not shocked (surprised maybe?) to see Johnnies win on Thursday, as these are not your daddy's Tommies (though my man Grant Schaeffer was working hard on his MVP status.)  And if you would have told me that BU would shoot 35% from floor and 56% FTs and beat the red-hot Carlies, I would have wanted some of what you're smokin.'  But it doesn't matter now because SJ will step into a Robertson Center snake pit tonight that should be electric!  Look out for a good Royals team that might just be ready to make a long awaited run into the NCAA tournament.