MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[columbianmaffia]

local coach
i think carleton can finish above 500...i think alot of where and how they finish will depend on whether or not some of the incoming freshmen can step it up...they were not very impressive this summer...tommy drake and fork are really the only 2 on the team that have proven they can score when they need to...i really think they need to have a gaurd or two step it up with baquero and beste leaving...and like i was saying i think they are going to have to play the gaurds that are playing good on that night and not have planned substitutions or else they could end up with 2 or 3 players playing 80% of the game in key scoring positions not producing and that wont get the job done...i have faith in coach k and the knights though i think they will have a fine season

[localcoach]

splash, I don't know about Eckhoff out shooting Schnettler, although at Concordia he will definetly get more shot attempts per game, so you could be on to something.

maffia, I here what you're saying.  Still I would be shocked if the Knights don't finish in the top 4-6 conference spots.  I've always wondered about the rotation that Coach Kalland uses.  I'm interested to see what he'll do this time around.

scoo8b, one more thing...."20-30 recruits at the Augsburg football game this weekend?"  Wow, if that's true the new coaching staff must be working extremely hard with the recruits.

By the way, did anyone else notice that on both the St. Olaf and Hamline websites it says that they are playing a game against each other in the Metrodome this season.  Can that be right?

[miacwatchmen]

I believe that all the MIAC teams play their last games in the dome. on the same day. its like the prep bowl only with college teams

[miacwatchmen]

Has anyone heard anything about the incoming players at SJU? Issets seemed to be a good ball player but thats all i know of

[3m71578]

I too would be surprised to see Car under .500  In spite of losing Beste/Baquero they got Forkrud/Drake and Phillips.  With those two solid All-MIAC wing/fwd you need a PG that is solid.  The only X-factor is their bench and maybe as someone pointed out Kalland's rotation.  He does come up with some oudlandish moves.

As much as I don't like Sweeney UST will be solid especially under Fritz.  See if Ike can average double double and get his mind into the game consistently then UST will be dominant.

GAC will always be well-coached and will be winning some clutch games at home and will take care of bottom half-teams.

I say CAR, GAC, and UST are solid contenders. 

HAM is definitely gonna be fired up this season from dissapointing seasons they've had in the past few yrs.  They will one of the toughest inside players.

BET, CON, and MAC will be hurting this season.  BET no Gilbert nor Jones.  Does anyone know about their incoming class or transfers?  CON's prolly the best shape out of these 3 teams, Echoff's unstoppable.  Just like Splash carried MAC to play-off Echoff would do the same.  MAC doesn't sounds like they got anyone to replace Splash and the role players they have had in the past. 

SJU sounds like they got some solid recruits.  But can coach Smith can overcome the drought that he's been in the last few years? 

SMU, AUG  who knows.  Both of them seen to get some Jucos' but never able to keep 'em and build teams around key players. 

STO - who's there besides Butala? 

prediction

1. UST
2. GAC
3. CAR
4. HAM
5. CON
6. SJU
7. BET
8. MAC
9. SMU
10. STO
11. AUG

[megalomaniac]

In addition to Schnettler leading the conference in 3 PT % (and the NCAA), Rosefelt will be the leading rebounder in the MIAC. He is going to absolutely dominate the glass, on both ends of the floor. Hes quicker and stronger this year, and thats big time trouble for everyone in the conference. Focus has a key with him in the past, but I see that not being much of an issue anymore. Physically and mentally he made huge strides during the offseason, and he will destroy teams on the boards. I wouldnt come so strong with this if I wasnt confident in what Ive seen over the last couple months.

[megalomaniac]

Just to let it be known, I am a Tommie backer, but theres no blind allegiance here. UST is just going to be that good.

[scoo8b]

scoo8b, one more thing...."20-30 recruits at the Augsburg football game this weekend?"  Wow, if that's true the new coaching staff must be working extremely hard with the recruits.

Yeah, I did a doubletake too, but he confirmed it...

[SPLASH]

Megalomaniac, I should hope that Rosefelt leads the league in rebounding considering he did last year by 2 boards a game over Henrichs and the fact that he is 6'9" and his arms are about 10 feet long. How much stronger has he become? Has he gained weight? If he has added 10-20 pounds of muscle then he definitely will dominate.

Should leading the league in 3 point shooting be measured by best percentage or most made? Personally, I think most made is the best way of measuring it (but maybe that is a personal bias of mine). I think Schnettler will likely have the best percentage but Eckhoff is going to make more, as he will have to take a ton of shots for Concordia to be any good. I am also basing my prediction on guarding these two players last year and how easy it was to take away shots from Schnettler and how difficult it was with Eckhoff.

[megalomaniac]

Splash, I know that my prediciton for Ike to lead the league in boards was not a very risky selection considering, as you pointed out, he did last year. I just feel he is going to legitimately dominate games on the glass-not by a mere 2 rebounds. Im talking, national leading type of numbers. He is at least 10 pounds bigger than he was last year, solid muscle. Plus, he has grown to actually enjoy contact. And the fact that he has increased his speed, quickness, and leaping ability means he'll be even more of a beast.
As for your comment about the Schnettler/Eckhoff debate, I agree that Eckhoff will have more baskets than Schnettler. Schnettler is much more effective this year at creating his own shot, off the dribble and otherwise. Plus, his release has gotten faster. He put in serious hours this summer honing those aspects of his game, and I think it will have him hovering around 50% from downtown for the entire season. Eckhoff will probably be the leading scorer in the conference, because who else do the Cobbers have to score?

[localcoach]

It's great to see the board active on a daily basis.   

Good comments splash!  I agree with everything that you said.  As far as Rosefelt goes, he should be one of the nation's top rebounders.  We're talking about a young man who received a full scholarship to Bowling Green right out of high school.  With his size and athleticism it will be a disappointing year if he doesn't lead the MIAC and rank among the nation's best in that category. 

As far as who the conference's leading scorer will be, my money is on either Eckhoff or Conboy at MAC.  I think Conboy might end up taking 20-25 shots a game this year.

[funbballer]

LC, I'm with you regarding the activity on the board starting to pick up a little. BB  season is only 3 weeks away so it will be here before we know it.

As I stated several weeks ago, and then got chastized for talking BB too early (understandable), I do think UST will walk away with the MIAC crown and the conference tourney. Too many weapons. And no, I'm not a UST alum, just a BB crazed kind of guy, and a former HS coach who just enjoys the game.

Should be a fun year...and it's never too early to start talking about it, is it?!!   

[sju4life]

Well, i am new to the board.  I have been an avid reader for couple years now and i figure SJU needs to have some talk on the board as well to try and even out all the talk.  I am not going to share who i am just so i can be completely honest and so i dont start anything or have anyone get pissed off at me at sju or anywhere else but we'll just say im a good source for sju news!
     First off transfers, wow we  have a lot. I think it is somewhere around 6-8. my guess is 4 of them will play minutes on varsity this year and two of them i would call gurenteed starters. One played d2 the past 2 years and the other played d1 last year. As for freshman i would be surprised i mean really really surprised if any touched the varsity floor at all this year.  We return everyone, and added good transfers so tough luck for frosh i guess.  Even next year we only lose 2 seniors Henrichs being the only one to play. As for this year i got a ton to say but i hate for my first post to be super long but i would assume STA is the favorite but im gunna pick the GUSTIES to win it all.  I think tebrake will be player of the year.  Ill be the guy to say it but IKE equals not that good. This will cause a stir of emotions but he is not good.  Any 6'4 post in the miac who bodies him up and pushes him 4 feet off the block can hold him to 10 points a game.   8 of them being from put back rebounds.He has TWO moves. Put head down and drive to his RIGHT and square up and try to shoot of tim duncan bank shot that he cant make.   ill stop for now its already to long but quick predictions, Gusties good, sta good, hamline good, st mary's good, sju good, mac decent cuz of conboy, the rest i say put names in a hat and draw to see who wins cuz anything can happen! sorry so long

[SPLASH]

sju4life, I agree that in terms of basketball skill Ike is maybe even worse than your quote of "not that good". However, in terms of his effectiveness in actual MIAC basketball games he is (unfortunately for the rest of the league) "really good". I predict that he averages about 15 points, 12 boards and at least 2 blocks a game. He might not even need to score that much, since UST should have at least 3 more guys in double figures.

local coach, I hope that you are not correct about Conboy taking 20-25 shots a game, because that will mean the rest of the Mac squad is not doing anything. With his size and skill Conboy should be averaging 18-20 this year but it would be nice if that was on 15 or 16 shots a game. How Conboy can really help Mac is by improving his rebounding to about 8 or 9 a game. Also, I think Liddell should be taking roughly 15 shots a game as he will turn into one of the best shooting guards in the league this season.

[crazy_carl]

Any 6'4 post in the miac who bodies him up and pushes him 4 feet off the block can hold him to 10 points a game.

I think we saw that in the two regular season games last year vs. Carleton with Forkrud or Drake guarding him.  Unfortunately (for the Knights), that didn't seem to work in the playoffs.