MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

LCMN - Bethel has ALWAYS played a weak preseason schedule. They have started undefeated the past 3 season through nearly 10 games because of it. Without looking at the scores, I would guess none were within 20 points. They take the Glen Mason approach; it's just what they do.

GAC's is weaker this year, I agree. However, they are also traveling to Carthage over winter break. I believe the Redmen finished 3rd in their league last season, but they were a legit national title contender as little as 3-4 years ago (am I dating myself yet?). They are a top notch program, but it doesn't offset the weakness of the others. Carleton typically plays a tough schedule as well (RE: McNabb on the bench vs. MSU )

I don't know all the details, as I couldn't make it due to work, but the Gusties are hosting a fundraising game tonight at 6pm called "Hurricane Hoops." The current players - with no input from the coaching staff - will be facing a team of former semi-pro players and a few alumni to raise money for hurricane victims. I know Espo and TeBrake are playing, but that might be it for alumni. Feel free to head down and check it out. It's obviously for a good cause.

[Willy Wonka]

For further information, please read this.

http://www.gustavus.edu/oncampus/athletics/news.cfm?view=home&id=1634

[columbianmaffia]

jim rome is one of the funniest people in the entire world...especially when he talks about the vikings sex boat...tune in and check it out 690AM

[Pipes]

It seems like every year we hear about a team like St. Mary's who has brought in a bunch of new transfers that will change their standing in the conference.  That being said, here are my preseason rankings:

1) St. Thomas
2) Gustavus
3) Concordia
4) Carleton
5) Macalester
6) St. Johns
7) Bethel
8) Hamline
9) St. Olaf
10) Augsburg
11) St. Mary's

POY:
1) Eckhoff
2) Ike
3) Drake
4) TeBrake
5) Conboy

Largest point spread may go to the Scots in their season opener against Furman (about 30-40 points when they had BVT, Pat Russel, Splash, Denny, Doug Benson, etc.)

[Willy Wonka]

Pipes - Are we talking all-time point spreads? If so, I think the Gusties may have you beat. No one played more than 21 minutes, meaning EVERYONE played nearly perfect basketball - except me. I killed our shooting percentages

http://www.gustavus.edu/oncampus/athletics/mbb/archives/2001-02/mbbstats/HAM2.HTM

I will get my ranking out soon, but UST has to be #1 on everyone's ballot right now.

[funbballer]

columbianmaffia....did you know Jim Rome is a big fan of the triple burger at Wendy's??

[crazy_carl]

Carleton typically plays a tough schedule as well (RE: McNabb on the bench vs. MSU )

WW- I would have puked in the last 10 minutes of the game from the pressure and intensity, had I suited up. 

Seriously though, I was out for the next game too (against Olaf), so it clearly wasn't the calibur of the teams we were playing.  Lesson to be learned: Don't have back problems. 

[Pipes]

Wow! You are right, I was way off.  Doesn't look like Muenchow was much of a test for Henke.  I can't believe I forgot about that game.

Wrong on the huge point differential of the Mac V. Furman game as it was only 27, it just seemed to be more.

Willy, your shooting was a little off, but you made up for it with defense and passing.

[columbianmaffia]

i heard rome is a sponser for a new commercial coming out soon by wendy's featuring the tripple burger..


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[crazy_carl]

Willy, your shooting was a little off, but you made up for it with defense and passing.

And fouls 

This was a pretty good margin of victory (and temporarily ignore my Carleton SoS comments from above): http://www.carleton.edu/campus/athletics/files/Bballmen/stats/2002-03/CARCRN.HTM

And to think no one from Carleton played more than 29 minutes!

[sju4life]

I am curious as to ask everyone to fill me in exactly what carleton is packing on their hoops team.  I see basically everyone predicting them to finish 3rd and i am trying to look back on what they had last year and the year before i just dont see a 3rd place finish.  Can some of you fill me in on players they have i may be forgetting or why you have them finishing 3rd??  Ill do my rankings in a week or so after i see how good we look at practice!!!

[Willy Wonka]

56-15 in the 1st half?? Good thing they put you in to even things out in the second half 

And what's up with your free throws? You look like me freshman year. And sophomore year. And...well, you get the idea

I didn't get to see the Carls play last year, but Forkrud is tough and this is his last year. Tommy Drake could also be the most complete player in the league next year, from what I have heard. They will clearly be hurt by Beste and Baquero's graduation, but at least OAS should be free to attend Carleton games without being attacked by parents now. Maybe he still has that old sign?

[localcoach]

sju4life - I saw the Knights play 3 or 4 times last year and as Willy said, Forkrud should be one of the top 5 players in the conference this season.  On top of that you have Tommy Drake, who I thought was the best freshman in the MIAC last season.  When all is said and done, I think he's going to be one of the better players to have played in this league over the last 10-20 years.  And we still haven't talked about Jake Phillips, a nice role player for Carleton who started every single game last year.  When you throw in the freshmen class that they recruited with players like the Johnson kid from Eastview and the Melson kid from Park High, you've got a nice team.  Plus Coach Kalland seems to do a good job of getting the most out of his players.

[crazy_carl]

WW- Thanks for the support.

SJU4Life-  Obiviously I am a little biased, but I will attempt to answer your question.  First, Forkrud and Drake, as WW and LC hinted at, are two of the top 10 players in the league.   Secondly, Jake Phillips (a junior), will be starting for a third consecutive year at the point, and is gradually improving.  Third, Mike Kootsikas and Brian Sharkey are solid, defensive wing players, and will bring intensity whether starting or off the bench.  Fourth, for the last five straight years, the Knights have had at least one all-first year team member.  With seven or eight first year players coming in, I would bet that at least one will start and have an immediate impact much like Christensen, Schieck, Beste, Baquero, Forkrud, and Drake did in their first years.  

The proverbial achilles' heel for the Knights is always their bench, and I don't know if that will be any different this year.  Despite a poor record in MIAC playoff action, Coach Kalland does a good job of preparing his team in the regular season and getting them to the playoffs.  

[Pipes]

Carleton always gets that one player to replace the player they just lost.  See Forkrud to replace Nuessle and Drake to replace Schieck.  I don't know if they found anyone to replace Beste, but Coach Kalland always does a good job of plugging up the holes due to graduation.