MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bball1122]

The Tommies came out scorching hot, going nine of eleven from three point range in the first twelve and a half minutes of the game to take a 14 point lead.  They then built the lead up to twenty at one point, settling in at an 18 point margin at the half.  Anders Nelson lead the way with 16 in the half.  It seemed like SNC left a lot of shooters very open which...I wouldn't do against UST?   

The second half was a much different story.  UST scored the first bucket, stretching the lead back to twenty, but then didn't score again for about eight minutes, their lead whittled down to eight at that point.  SNC made some great defensive adjustments at the half, ratcheting up the pressure and not helping as much off of shooters.  I think that is the gameplan to beat UST - make them beat you off the dribble and finish over the top of you.  UST stretched the lead back out to 12 with about ten minutes left, but SNC chipped away and made it a two point game with about 7:30 left, then took the lead with about 3:30 left.  On the next possession, Burt Hedstrom to the rescue, as he takes a highly contested, probably ill-advised three from the right wing but buries it, giving the Tommies a two point lead they would not relinquish.   UST knocks down their free throws the rest of the way, SNC loses their composure and takes some bad shots (which they had avoided doing for most of the second half), and the Tommies survive and advance. 

I feel like UST could beat anyone in the field when they're shooting well or could probably lose by twenty to most of the teams left if they aren't hitting from deep.  With no true post presence and not a ton of guys who can create their own shot of the dribble, things can bog down a bit offensively without the triple.   The good news is, they have a ton of guys that can get hot.  Tonight will be a battle - I'm hopeful UST pulls it out and we can see Tommie/Johnnie Part 4.

[faunch]

🐎 💩 officials in Collegeville!!

[faunch]

Now I'm watching the U$t game and those refs are letting teams get away w murder. I don't mind some physical play but call an obvious foul!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I don't think any of the UST or UWP players or coaches would agree with you Faunchie...the reffing was even, they let things go about the same on both ends of the court....and were consistent throughout the game. THAT'S the measure of a good ref.

[Pat Coleman]

The host sites for the men's Sweet 16 have been released: https://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2020/bracket and game times: https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2019-20/ncaa-tournament?date=2020-03-13 and https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2019-20/ncaa-tournament?date=2020-03-14

[Drake Palmer]

I don't think any of the UST or UWP players or coaches would agree with you Faunchie...the reffing was even, they let things go about the same on both ends of the court....and were consistent throughout the game. THAT'S the measure of a good ref.

Man, some tough ball games all around the country today.  Well played games in C-ville and Platteville by the MIAC elite. Plus, the Jays & Tommies get to square off for an unprecedented 4th time (?) this season?  Help me out Mose/Summit. Let's squeeze every last bit out of the UST- SJU rivalry before it goes the way of the DeLorean.

[jamtod]

So that's 6pm CST right? The site doesn't specify the timezones for that 7pm time.

[Gregory Sager]

6 pm CDT. We sprang ahead today, remember.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I don't think any of the UST or UWP players or coaches would agree with you Faunchie...the reffing was even, they let things go about the same on both ends of the court....and were consistent throughout the game. THAT'S the measure of a good ref.

Man, some tough ball games all around the country today.  Well played games in C-ville and Platteville by the MIAC elite. Plus, the Jays & Tommies get to square off for an unprecedented 4th time (?) this season?  Help me out Mose/Summit. Let's squeeze every last bit out of the UST- SJU rivalry before it goes the way of the DeLorean.

There has only been one other season with four Tommie games vs the Little Boys School in the Woods.   UST. led by Johnnie Tauer and an awesome crew, walloped the Rats and rolled on to reach the Final Four-- https://www.miacathletics.com/general/2019-20/releases/20200308hbqxd9  ("This will be just the second time in history that the two storied programs have met in the NCAA Tournament. In the only previous matchup, St. Thomas defeated Saint John's, 75-61, in the second round of the 1993 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament en route to an appearance in the Final Four.")

The game is SATURDAY at 6 pm,....  not Friday at 7pm as the Strib among other sources reported. Although if you get there for a Friday night tip off, you might get a good parking spot and seat.

Drake-- I assume you, like Faunch, will stay home and watch the webcast   

[markerickson]

Nobody on this board expressing concern about the #1v#2 pairing in the Sweet Sixteen?  I find the pairing outrageous and irresponsible on the part of the NCAA.

[jamtod]

Nobody on this board expressing concern about the #1v#2 pairing in the Sweet Sixteen?  I find that outrageous and irresponsible.

Massey (and the d3hoops.com poll which has it 2 vs 4) doesn't have much sway over the actual committee pairings and after close games with Norberts and Platteville, I'm just happy the Tommies have a chance to play another week. Especially since it's close enough to attend in person and should be a fun game.

Just hope the Tommies can keep it close and not lose by 20 again. Going to need to have our shots falling and play some intense defense to keep up with a Johnnie team that, by all accounts, is more talented this year. If we can get past this one, we have a shot to beat anyone but they'll have to be motivated or my 10 year old will end up in tears on the drive home realizing the season (and chance to watch livestreams after her bedtime) are over.

[Smitty Oom]

Nobody on this board expressing concern about the #1v#2 pairing in the Sweet Sixteen?  I find the pairing outrageous and irresponsible on the part of the NCAA.

Such is life in the west region, unfortunately. Obviously I think that it is too early for this game, but there are a ton of great games this week. Two other games this week, per Massey, are of two top 10 teams. Yeshiva-RMC and NCC-WashU. I think all these 16 teams are so good, I’m more concerned that only 1 of them can make the elite eight where I think they both could very well have made it to Fort Wayne if the bracket was laid out a little differently, but like I said before, that’s D3hoops.

[Greek Tragedy]

Nobody on this board expressing concern about the #1v#2 pairing in the Sweet Sixteen?  I find that outrageous and irresponsible.

Massey (and the d3hoops.com poll which has it 2 vs 4) doesn't have much ANY sway over the actual committee pairings and after close games with Norberts and Platteville, I'm just happy the Tommies have a chance to play another week. Especially since it's close enough to attend in person and should be a fun game.

Just hope the Tommies can keep it close and not lose by 20 again. Going to need to have our shots falling and play some intense defense to keep up with a Johnnie team that, by all accounts, is more talented this year. If we can get past this one, we have a shot to beat anyone but they'll have to be motivated or my 10 year old will end up in tears on the drive home realizing the season (and chance to watch livestreams after her bedtime) are over.

Fixed it for you. And it's not like the Tommies got smoked in every game. They did actually WIN a game vs the Johnnies too, right?

[jamtod]

Nobody on this board expressing concern about the #1v#2 pairing in the Sweet Sixteen?  I find that outrageous and irresponsible.

Massey (and the d3hoops.com poll which has it 2 vs 4) doesn't have much ANY sway over the actual committee pairings and after close games with Norberts and Platteville, I'm just happy the Tommies have a chance to play another week. Especially since it's close enough to attend in person and should be a fun game.

Just hope the Tommies can keep it close and not lose by 20 again. Going to need to have our shots falling and play some intense defense to keep up with a Johnnie team that, by all accounts, is more talented this year. If we can get past this one, we have a shot to beat anyone but they'll have to be motivated or my 10 year old will end up in tears on the drive home realizing the season (and chance to watch livestreams after her bedtime) are over.

Fixed it for you. And it's not like the Tommies got smoked in every game. They did actually WIN a game vs the Johnnies too, right?

Right. If it's close, I feel good. But the losses were not close.

[jamtod]

Ryan Scott doubting the Tommies on the d3hoopsville podcast:

I am not sure, I just feel like it's not a great matchup for St Thomas, the size that the Johnnies have. It's very hard for me to think that they are going to be able to pull that out.

UST vs The World