MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

Could someone explain what "UM YAH YAH" written on the floor at the free throw line on St Olaf's basketball floor means?  I don't get it. 

[Retired Old Rat]

Could someone explain what "UM YAH YAH" written on the floor at the free throw line on St Olaf's basketball floor means?  I don't get it.

It's a Norwegian thing.  https://wp.stolaf.edu/about/history/umyahyah/

[badgerwarhawk]

Could someone explain what "UM YAH YAH" written on the floor at the free throw line on St Olaf's basketball floor means?  I don't get it.

It's a Norwegian thing.  https://wp.stolaf.edu/about/history/umyahyah/

That's an interesting fight song.  Thanks

[SagatagSam]

That's an interesting DUMB fight song.  Thanks

Fixed it for you.

[SagatagSam]

Speaking of the Umm Yah Yah folk, they lost a close one to UW-River Falls, who currently sit at the bottom of the WIAC Standings.

[SagatagSam]

One quarter of the MIAC season in the books.

I know it's probably way too early to be doing this, but I'm just going to go ahead and do it anyway.



Still lots of season left to play. Plenty of time for any team to make a move to make the playoffs. The only questions is who is capable and who is not. I think we can look at teams like SJU, Carleton, Macalester, and Gustavus and know they've got an excellent shot to maintain their spot and secure a MIAC Tournament berth.

The only team on my radar that I look at and think "absolutely not" at this point is Bethel. We will know in mid-January if they can turn it around or whether the season will be done before Presidents' Day. Augsburg and Saint Mary's are in the danger zone where they need to make something happen--and fast--before this season slips away.

[SagatagSam]

MIAC action resumes tonight after the Christmas non-conference break.

Carleton (T-2) hosts Concordia (6) in what will likely be a high scoring affair. Carleton boasts the top scoring offense in the MIAC at 82.7 ppg, while Concordia ranks third at 77.2 ppg. Not much defense likely in this game as Carleton ranks sixth in team defense and Concordia is second-to-last in the conference. A Carleton win will put the Knights in a tie for the conference lead with Saint John's. A win for Concordia keeps the Cobbers in the last playoff spot and in control of their own destiny.

Augsburg (T-10) travels to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica (T-7). Both teams are on the outside of the playoffs looking in. St. Scholastica sits just a half game out, and can stay right on the bubble with a win. A loss for Augsburg really puts them behind the eight ball at what will likely be either 3 or 4 games out of the playoffs with no momentum at all.

Gustavus (4) travels to Arden Hills to face Bethel (T-10). Gustavus dropped two non-conference games over the break and look to get back to winning against a Bethel team that ranks last in the MIAC in team defense (giving up 80.5 ppg) ninth in team offense (scoring 69.5 ppg) and has been losing conference games by a MIAC worst 11 ppg on average.

Hamline (5) makes the trip down U.S. 61 to Winona to face Saint Mary's (9) in a matchup of a team looking to maintain its playoff spot against one in danger of letting its season slip away. SMU won both of its non-conference games over the break putting up 83 and 102 points, respectively, against  North Park U. and Finlandia U. It will be a matchup of strength versus strength as SMU's second ranked team offense (79.0 ppg) meets Hamline's third ranked team defense (66.7 ppg).

Macalester (T-2) makes the trip down I-35 to Northfield to take on St. Olaf (T-7). Expect a lower scoring game here as Macalester brings in the second ranked team defense (66.3 ppg) while St. Olaf's team defense ranks fourth (67.0 ppg). A Macalester win could put the Fighting Scots into a possible two- or three-way tie for the conference lead with SJU and possibly Carleton. But, will Macalester be rusty? They haven't played any games in 26 days since defeating Bethel 88-65 on December 10.

The Johnnies are idle tonight as they prepare for Saturday's matchup against SMU in Winona.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Based on the way it's headed, this is going to be the first year BU has not qualified for the MIAC playoffs in a long time - I've only paid attention since about 2000, and they've qualified every year since then.  Not a great distinction for this team.

Hopefully the new coaching staff can get things sorted out and get them headed in the right direction in the next year or two.

[SagatagSam]

Based on the way it's headed, this is going to be the first year BU has not qualified for the MIAC playoffs in a long time - I've only paid attention since about 2000, and they've qualified every year since then.  Not a great distinction for this team.

Hopefully the new coaching staff can get things sorted out and get them headed in the right direction in the next year or two.

Yeah, that's a pretty substantial drop off. I remember many years where they were in the conversation for the regular season championship.

[SagatagSam]

The game of the weekend has to be Carleton (T-1) at Gustavus (3). Carleton, despite a below average scoring game against Concordia last night, still leads the conference in total offense. Will Gustavus' second-to-last team defense be able to find a way to slow down the Knights offense?

[bball1122]

Based on the way it's headed, this is going to be the first year BU has not qualified for the MIAC playoffs in a long time - I've only paid attention since about 2000, and they've qualified every year since then.  Not a great distinction for this team.

Hopefully the new coaching staff can get things sorted out and get them headed in the right direction in the next year or two.

Bethel has been very consistent, but they did not make the playoffs in 09-10 or 10-11.  Your point stands, however. This season has been a fairly big dropoff, but I think they could make some noise the second half - getting Kidder on the court after he hung up the football pads for the year is a big deal.  He's good.

On another note, I think this is the most wide open the league has been in a long time.  Doesn't seem to be one clear top team, and most of the league seems like they will have a fighting chance at making the playoffs.  Should be a fun couple of months!

[GoldandBlueBU]

Based on the way it's headed, this is going to be the first year BU has not qualified for the MIAC playoffs in a long time - I've only paid attention since about 2000, and they've qualified every year since then.  Not a great distinction for this team.

Hopefully the new coaching staff can get things sorted out and get them headed in the right direction in the next year or two.

Bethel has been very consistent, but they did not make the playoffs in 09-10 or 10-11.  Your point stands, however. This season has been a fairly big dropoff, but I think they could make some noise the second half - getting Kidder on the court after he hung up the football pads for the year is a big deal.  He's good.

On another note, I think this is the most wide open the league has been in a long time.  Doesn't seem to be one clear top team, and most of the league seems like they will have a fighting chance at making the playoffs.  Should be a fun couple of months!

Good catch!  Yes - they've rarely been a threat to actually win the conference, but have typically had enough talent to get into the top 5.

They followed up with my writing them off with a convincing in over St. Olaf - so maybe you're right about a second half rebound.

[SagatagSam]

Now here I've been talking about how terrible Bethel has been this year and they go out and thump St. Olaf by 24!

And the Johnnies lay an egg in the second half at St. Mary's!

Carleton continues to roll with another hot offensive night putting up 91 on Gustavus.

I don't know much, but it looks like it will be an exciting fight to the finish for the MIAC regular season.

[txg]

St. Olaf is the worst road team in America, so don't get too excited.

[SagatagSam]

St. Olaf is the worst road team in America, so don't get too excited.

That's entirely possible, but my perception of Bethel thusfar was that they were just terrible. Period. If they were going to win, I expected them to maybe eek out a win, not blow out Olaf by such a large margin.