MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[megalomaniac]

Why is it rather easy to believe the Tommies will walk away with the title this year? Because UST loses nothing. Can that be said about GAC? Absolutely not, when they lose the best player in the conference. BU? No way, not with 40% of their offense gone. CM? Sure theyve got Eckhoff back, but Nelson drove them. CAR? Drake and Forkrud are a tough 1-2 combo, but they dont have an athlete like Beste anymore. MAC? They lost one of the best pure point guards in the country. Point is, UST only loses Anderson. The player replacing him is arguably better (Schnettler), plus they add the best all around player in the league (Keating). Add to that the most talented 6th man in the MIAC (Peterson). No other team, that is a legit contender, comes back fully loaded. And UST found a way to make themselves better.

[Willy Wonka]

Wait, wasn't Anderson the most complete player in the league last year? Fair_Fan, can we get a ruling please?

I seem to remember another MIAC team who returned the bulk of its lineup - that actually made the national tourney and did quite well - who had a somewhat disappointing season the following year. Once UST MAKES the postseason, then we can start talking 4 losses in an entire season. When was the last time that happened, 2001/02 when Buri was unstoppable?

Will UST be playing games with three basketballs this season? It sounds like they will be averaging 120 points. No matter the talent level, top teams tend to have a clunker against a bad team (GAC is Auggie, UST is Hambone, Bethel is...was is SMU?).

CC - Unfortunately I am a dirty has-been and you are a dirtier never-were and we are now being shown up by a much more talented crop of posters 

[South Dakota Gusties]

CC - Unfortunately I am a dirty has-been and you are a dirtier never-were and we are now being shown up by a much more talented crop of posters 

If I remember correctly, there was an underground cult following for you to win MVP the year you guys went to Virginia.  In fact, I remember posting that GAC was 9-4 before you were a starter and 17-3 after you were a starter.  Don't sell yourself short, MVP.   

Also, is anyone organizing the MIAC pick'em this year?

[sju4life]

first to d3bballfan you claim " stu can put 5 legit scores on the floor and all who will compete for miac first team all conference and NO OTHER teams has anywheres CLOSE to that?"  aww haha how you are wrong my friend.  SJU has returning Matt Ohme and Paul Henrichs who both will compete for first team this year along with additions of ryan leisure and tyler westman, both of which will start and have a huge impact in the miac.  Those 4 are legit scores and talent wise i believe could all compete for (maybe not make) but for surely compete for first team with their offensive talent.  Now with that and adding that we will almost certainly have the deepest bench in the league this year we HAVE THE TALENT to play with anyone this year.  What does that mean.....who knows the vikings HAVE the talent but cant put it together so i have no gurentees for us yet but watching these guys in open gym everyday we have the talent.  My predicition is that STU has 4 losses this year!  I dunno from who yet but they'll have 4.
     FOr bethel....wow i just cant see them having a good year at all.  Ive seen laugen play verse coldspring a few times and he is not a miac player.  To small, doesnt make good decisions.  Strom is a greath athlete but ive heard his shot is average to below average from outside 15 feet and he's real slow getting it off.  So what position is he gunna play??  wow i have many thoughts right now but i cant keep up with everyone.

[crazy_carl]

CC - Unfortunately I am a dirty has-been and you are a dirtier never-were and we are now being shown up by a much more talented crop of posters 

I guess I did ask.  Thanks Willy for that, er, honest analysis. 

[D3BBALLFAN]

I am pleased to hear from sju4life that SJU has improved their talent level this year. They are obviously one of the big unknowns going into the season. From what I have heard, they are positioned to make a significant improvement in the standings versus last year, although 4 losses would be a HUGE jump.  Although I am not ready to accept they have the depth of talent of STU, SJU is certainly capable of beating anyone on a given night. As a fan, my only hope is that with the improved talent that SJU abandons the slow down game that was painful to watch last year.

[sju4life]

its funny you mention that because none of the kids wanna play that boring slow pace basketball but its something coach smith loves to do.  Hopefully he can pull his head out this year and look at our teams strengths (guard play prolly 6 players deep) and use that to our advantage!  Well practice starts today so ill know if a few days where the team is headed!

[funbballer]

SJU doesn't play any "slower" than GAC do they? I mean GAC is pretty methodical with all their 1-2 foot passes, etc. They like to catch & shoot and do have a good shooters, but they aren't that athletic or anything.

Anyone else have thoughts regarding this?

[localcoach]

sju4life - You made an excellent point.  It's not like St. John's didn't have talent last season.  I felt like they underachieved, part of which was do to the style of play that Coach Smith utilizes, which doesn't exactly get the most out of many of his players.  To maximize the talent that the Johnnies have this year I think the coaches will have to open things up some more and allow the players more freedom.

funabller - Having seen both Gustavus and St. John's play last year I can tell you that Gustavus runs the floor much quicker than the Johnnies do. 

All of this talk about St. Thomas or St. John's having a starting five all of whom could be worthy of all-conference status got me wondering.  Does anyone know what team has had the most all-conference players in a single season?

[crazy_carl]

I think it is important to differentiate between slow and methodical.  I would think a team that runs offense slowly doesnt have much movement nor passing while on offense.  Meanwhile, a methodical team is doing a lot of passing and cutting, but perhaps still not shooting until 10 or fewer seconds are left on the shot clock. 

Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that a team could be doing either of the above with frequency, while still running the break effectively when it is available. 

200th post!

[tjones33]

I personally think there is a HUGE difference in the way GAC and SJU play ball.  When you play st. johns, you know where they are going before they do a lot of times.  They need to bag the flex offence.  Paul is a good player and it sort of fits his style but it isnt suited very well for ohme.  That was one of their biggest struggles last year...getting ohme involved.  Hinrichs(sp?) is gonna get his just because he is so aggressive but they need to get ohme involved and the flex just doesnt do that well enough.  GAC on the other hand is the most well coached team in the MIAC year in and year out.  I dont even feel like that is debatable.  Just when you think you know what they are doing on offence and you start to lean a little, you are going to be getting back cut for a layup.  They definately arent always the team with the most talent but they always seem to come out of top because of execution and COACHING!!!     Their interior screening and switching defence is unmatched. 

About Bethel...Corey plays bigger than he is.  He is going to have to limit his turnovers this year though which i HOPE wont be a problem.  Strom is much improved from last season, he will be one of the leaders for this team.  He is an amazing athlete and defender and his basketball "skills" have improved a lot.  He will have to be able to hit the open three to really develop into a top 15 player in the MIAC.

[SPLASH]

In the words offence & defence, I would replace each c with an s.

[columbianmaffia]

might take a year for laugen to warm up to the miac but he is a very solid player who can get out of control sometimes but is huge competitor and will do fine

i think one of the most "slow" or "methodical" (pick or choose your term) offences i have ever watched in the miac was the carlton offense your sr. year crazy carl...that was so painful to watch some games when there was a wide open fast break opportunity and the pg would pull the ball back and walk it up court...but it did work just not fun to watch

[crazy_carl]

You're preaching to the choir on that one CM.  It worked for the most part, but still . . .

[kel_varnsen]

Ah, how I love the annual "Gustavus lost the most, therefore they won't win the championship" logic. First, they lose the most because they have the most to lose. Second, hasn't anybody yet noticed that Coach Hanson seems to have a knack for replacing the departed players?

So, here's my prediction for the season:

By the end of this year, everybody will be talking about how there's no way GAC can repeat the championship next year after losing TeBrake, Whippler, Hollerich, and Hoffarber.