MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[txg]

Congrats to St. Mary's.  I hope they get to host the final on Saturday.

[Smitty Oom]

First time ever the two road teams get a win?

Congrats to both teams on their wins. Hoping we can have some exciting games Thursday night!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

First time ever the two road teams get a win?

First time in quarters. Never happened in the old 4 team format. Only other time both road teams won was the semifinals in 2018 when #3 Bethel & #4 Augsburg won

[Cav-J]

Wow, almost spot on..

Looks like missing Carik really hurt Augsburg. Good for St. Olaf for getting the win after the controversy that was the previous SO-Augsburg game.

I was worried that my Red Birds would be too deflated to pull this one off. I will admit I was nervous until :47 seconds when Bethel unloaded the bench. The UST memory was too fresh. SMU never let Bethel back in the game. It got closer but of course, Bethel is good and this is playoffs.

I know cliche but literally history being made for SMU. First ever playoff win. If given the choice to beat UST on Saturday or win against Bethel last night, I would take beating Bethel last night. I can't explain or describe how great that playoff win was.

Not sure what to think about the rematch with UST but you know, I know the boys would not have it any way..

In the 19 seasons in which the MIAC Playoffs have had six participants, the #5 seed has won just four times and the #6 seed has only won eight. No #5 or #6 seed has ever reached the championship game (no #3 has ever won the title either).... these trends do not bode well for SMU and Olaf. Still, I expect both games tonight to be highly entertaining and close till the final minutes. 

i think a key in the Augsburg-Olaf game will be Matt Karik-- he has not seen action in the Auggies past four games and played less than 15 minutes in six of AUG's 7 games prior to that. A healthy Carik and the Auggies should roll....without him the game could be as close as the Jan 22 meeting of these two teams (75-74 Augs).

Will Saturday's loss to UST devastate the Cards or will SMU take solace in the fact that they played well enough to beat the (now) #2 team in the country? If they can bounce back from that loss, I see SMU slipping by Bethel....if not, it could be a Royal win, possibly handily.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Congrats to SMU!  They showed up ready last night with no signs of a hangover from last game, and outplayed BU all night. 

I'd be more bummed about the BU loss if I weren't as happy as an overall MIAC and basketball fan to see SMU's progress as I am.  This Bethel team wasn't going anywhere this year, so I'm just about as excited to jump on the SMU bandwagon, and hope that they can pull off an upset in the next round and keep their story going!

Thank you to the outgoing BU seniors!  Kingland and Jenson both had solid 4 year runs!

[hazzben]

Congrats to SMU!  They showed up ready last night with no signs of a hangover from last game, and outplayed BU all night. 

I'd be more bummed about the BU loss if I weren't as happy as an overall MIAC and basketball fan to see SMU's progress as I am.  This Bethel team wasn't going anywhere this year, so I'm just about as excited to jump on the SMU bandwagon, and hope that they can pull off an upset in the next round and keep their story going!

Thank you to the outgoing BU seniors!  Kingland and Jenson both had solid 4 year runs!

Went to the game with my kids. Hat's of to SMU, they played well the entire game. And holy cow, Bethel couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. It felt like we were 0-13 from 3 to start the game. SMU came with great energy and were fearless. Bethel played good, tough D, but just couldn't get anything going on the offensive end.

[miac952]

SMU gets the rematch I'm sure it wanted. Two low seeds fighting for their seasons, with nothing to lose. Should make for a compelling semifinals.

[Cav-J]

So, as we approach the MIAC semi-finals games here are how the teams compare with each other head to head..
[*based on the 2 head to head games this season]

Not sure what this means but here it is..

St. Olaf at St. John's

Points: SJU +15.5 [more points per game]
Shots: SO +13.5 [more per game]
FG %: SJU +13% [54%-41%]
3FG%: SJU +23% [48%-25%]
Fouls: SO +6 [per game]
Free throws: SJU +12 [per game]
FT%: SJU +18% [82%-65%]
Rebounds: SJU +14.5 [per game]
Assists: SJU +.5 [per game]
Steals: SO +2.5 [per game]
TO: SJU +7.5 [per game]


Saint Mary's at St. Thomas

Points: UST +9.5 [more points per game]
Shots: UST +6.5 [more per game]
FG %: SMU +6% [45%-39%]
3FG%: SMU +7% [41%-34%]
Fouls: SMU +1 [per game]
Free throws: UST +5 [per game]
FT%: UST +11% [75%-64%]
Rebounds: SMU +1.5 [per game]
Assists: UST +2 [per game]
Steals: UST +1.5 [per game]
TO: SMU +5 [per game]

[jamtod]

+k for this

I think it's safe to say UST isn't going to shoot 25% from 3 again. I didn't see any indication that the poor shooting Saturday was due to defense, just a bad shooting day.

Likewise, I don't expect SMU to shoot < 50% from the line.

I'm looking forward to the game tonight. Lines up with my free-night from parenting responsibilities so I'll be at UST.

And dare I say, go Oles?

So, as we approach the MIAC semi-finals games here are how the teams compare with each other head to head..
[*based on the 2 head to head games this season]

Not sure what this means but here it is..

St. Olaf at St. John's

Points: SJU +15.5 [more points per game]
Shots: SO +13.5 [more per game]
FG %: SJU +13% [54%-41%]
3FG%: SJU +23% [48%-25%]
Fouls: SO +6 [per game]
Free throws: SJU +12 [per game]
FT%: SJU +18% [82%-65%]
Rebounds: SJU +14.5 [per game]
Assists: SJU +.5 [per game]
Steals: SO +2.5 [per game]
TO: SJU +7.5 [per game]


Saint Mary's at St. Thomas

Points: UST +9.5 [more points per game]
Shots: UST +6.5 [more per game]
FG %: SMU +6% [45%-39%]
3FG%: SMU +7% [41%-34%]
Fouls: SMU +1 [per game]
Free throws: UST +5 [per game]
FT%: UST +11% [75%-64%]
Rebounds: SMU +1.5 [per game]
Assists: UST +2 [per game]
Steals: UST +1.5 [per game]
TO: SMU +5 [per game]

[Cav-J]

Of course you can dare. I am hoping SMU will be hosting St. Olaf on Saturday..

+k for this

And dare I say, go Oles?

So, as we approach the MIAC semi-finals games here are how the teams compare with each other head to head..
[*based on the 2 head to head games this season]

Not sure what this means but here it is..

St. Olaf at St. John's

Points: SJU +15.5 [more points per game]
Shots: SO +13.5 [more per game]
FG %: SJU +13% [54%-41%]
3FG%: SJU +23% [48%-25%]
Fouls: SO +6 [per game]
Free throws: SJU +12 [per game]
FT%: SJU +18% [82%-65%]
Rebounds: SJU +14.5 [per game]
Assists: SJU +.5 [per game]
Steals: SO +2.5 [per game]
TO: SJU +7.5 [per game]


Saint Mary's at St. Thomas

Points: UST +9.5 [more points per game]
Shots: UST +6.5 [more per game]
FG %: SMU +6% [45%-39%]
3FG%: SMU +7% [41%-34%]
Fouls: SMU +1 [per game]
Free throws: UST +5 [per game]
FT%: UST +11% [75%-64%]
Rebounds: SMU +1.5 [per game]
Assists: UST +2 [per game]
Steals: UST +1.5 [per game]
TO: SMU +5 [per game]

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I'm looking forward to a good game at the Shoe tonight....hopefully not as nerve wrecking as Saturday!

Jamtod- yes, we can & should say "go oles"--- but so help e, if you break out with the "Ohm Ya Ya Ya Ya" stuff, there's gonna be serious repercussions  lol

[jamtod]

I'm looking forward to a good game at the Shoe tonight....hopefully not as nerve wrecking as Saturday!

Jamtod- yes, we can & should say "go oles"--- but so help e, if you break out with the "Ohm Ya Ya Ya Ya" stuff, there's gonna be serious repercussions  lol

Don't worry. Cheering for the Oles is entirely self-serving. Don't get me wrong, I do hate the Johnnies (intensely) but hosting the championship on Saturday would be nice.

[Smitty Oom]

Honestly, I’d be lying if I was rooting for anything other than another great chapter in the UST vs SJU book...

Seeing either #5 or #6 seed getting to the championship would be a nice consolation.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I'm looking forward to a good game at the Shoe tonight....hopefully not as nerve wrecking as Saturday!

Jamtod- yes, we can & should say "go oles"--- but so help e, if you break out with the "Ohm Ya Ya Ya Ya" stuff, there's gonna be serious repercussions  lol

Don't worry. Cheering for the Oles is entirely self-serving. Don't get me wrong, I do hate the Johnnies (intensely) but hosting the championship on Saturday would be nice.

I totally agree with you. However, I'm less concerned with hosting Saturday night as I am with hosting the first two weekends in March, which is eminently possible if we win out. (Three home NCAA games would be pure & purple hoops heaven!)

[Smitty Oom]

Sources tell me that Walford is sick and will be our indefinitely... a huge blow to the Johnnies if true.

Doesn’t look like it will matter tonight against the oles.