MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[miacwatchmen]

I manage to stay close to the Cobbers too but i am not pleased with the coverage they recieve from the Forum. Good to see an SJU supporter up north though. Go Johnnies!!!

[localcoach]

I spent part of my lunchhour today scrolling through the MIAC statistics.  I was astounded when I  realized that Mr. Eckhoff is not even among the top 15 players in the conference in terms of 3-point accuracy.  He's shooting 11 for 32 for the season which is 34.4%.   Is anyone else shocked by that statistic?

Drake - I agree with your points on the Cobbers.  They will be a lot more vulnerable if they can't make the long distance jumper.

[miacwatchmen]

They really used Lonz well inside against the Johnnies is Collegeville. Has anyone else been to a Cobber game? How has their inside game been? Is it noexistent or what is the deal with Linz is he an outside guy?

[sumander]

Local, I think you hit the nail on the head. Eckhoff had a decent night from beyond the arc (3-7) against the Johnnies. The johnnies had to defend or respect that threat which freed up Linz on the inside. Linz repsonded and had a big night 20 pts 6 reb. More difficult for him to have this type of game if Eckhoff's threat from the outside is diminished and teams can give inside help.

[Drake Palmer]

You're absolutely right Local.  In my way of thinking, the Cobbs are very vulnerable without the threat of the long ball.  However, I think they still make better adjustments than the Bethel Royals, who don't really seem to have a viable, alternative game plan when the trey isn't dropping.  On the other hand, the Cobbs will pound it inside, or Eckhoff, Linz & (gulp)  Dixon,  force people to foul them so they can get to the FT line.

As a Keith Eckhoff fan, I was semi-superstitiously putting a lot of stock in the game against UM-Morris last night.  Last year the Cobbs beat Morris 100+ to 100+ in OT & Eckhoff absolutely scorched them to the tune of 38 (?) points. That game seemed to be the kick start Eckhoff needed to bust it into overdrive for the rest of the season.  I was hoping that the Morris 05-06 game would do the same for him this year.

If there was a "Sharpshooter of the Year" award, last year there was a gnat's hairs difference between Eckhoff & Schnettler from UST in 3 pt shooting proficiency.  Schnettler was at 49.3% 3 pt FGA & Eckhoff was at 48.9%. 

Overall, they both shot from the field extremely well & Eckhoff had a slight lead at 50.8% & Schnettler at 49% FGA.  (By the way, I'd give the overall edge to Eckhoff since he shot nearly twice as many shots - 319,  to Schnettler's 177 FGA.)

This year while they're both marked men, Schnettler is only slightly down at 44.9% from deep, & 48.5% overall FGA, while Eckhoff is way down.  As you pointed out Local, he's at 34.4% from deep & for him, a lukewarm 43.9% FG%.

I haven't seen Cord play this year, but unless Eckhoff's made a drastic change to his shot, or sustained an injury**, I'm thinking it's only a matter of time before he revs it up.  He's got a pretty clean shot & although he doesn't shoot a true jumper, his release & arc are as close to ideal as I've seen.

MIACwatchmen, from the games I saw last year, Luke Linz & Jason Miller are both primarily post players.   Linz more so than Miller, can step out & hit the occasional J, ala Soren Nelson.

** Don't even get started on me Wonka,  I'm not alibi-ing for Eckhoff  - - yet.   

[megalomaniac]

MAC claims a 62-54 victory over visiting River Falls tonight. Conboy had 20 and 8, while Bosman contributed 13 and 9. Scots claim victory despite 21 TOs and a hot night from Falcon Hans Hoeg, who led all scorers with 24 (5-10 from deep). MAC did shoot over 50% for the game, which will always help.

[sumander]

Hoeg is a Litchfield boy. He had 17 to lead River Falls against the Johnnies as well. Checking the RF stats he is the only player averaging double figure points for them at 16.9. He is a nice player.

[big_shocker]

I've been off the board for a few days. Are any MIAC teams making tough trips for the holidays? I think GAC is travelling to that sunny hotspot that is eastern Wisconsin to play Carthage. Anyone else going anywhere spectacular?

[sumander]

SJU is going to Hawaii to play Hawaii-Pacific and Chaminade.

[Drake Palmer]

Aside from the trip to Hawaii by St. Johns, it looks like the other tropical trip will be made by the Oles to Florida.  BS - I've heard the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan is spectacular this time of year. 

Here's how the MIAC holiday schedule shakes out:

12/28/2005 (Wednesday)
St. Olaf vs. TBA @ Florida Tournament
Saint John's @ Chaminade, 11:30pm (NC)

12/29/2005 (Thursday)
Saint Mary's vs. TBA @ UW-Eau Claire Tournament
St. Thomas vs. TBA @ UW-River Falls Tournament
Carleton @ UW-La Crosse, 7:00pm (NC)
Macalester vs. Viterbo @ La Crosse Central, 7:00pm (NC)

12/30/2005 (Friday)
Gustavus @ Carthage (NC)
St. Olaf vs. TBA @ Florida Tournament
Saint Mary's vs. TBA @ UW-Eau Claire Tournament
St. Thomas vs. TBA @ UW-River Falls Tournament
Augsburg @ Northwestern, 7:30pm (NC)

[Willy Wonka]

Drake - I believe you have the GAC game listed wrong. I know that's what it says on the MIAC web site, but the GAC web site lists the game for the 30th. So - unless the Cheeseheads agreed to move the game so the Gusties can watch the Goophers bowl game - I would guess the 30th is correct.

Eckhoff has struggled mightily with his shot thus far, especially after being proclaimed as the best shooter a former Bloom. Jeff. (who played with Tim Brown) has ever seen last fall. He's still found ways to score, but the Cobbs won't be nearly the same threat to the top-tier teams unless he can find his stroke. I can't wait to read Drake's rendition of "How Keith got his groove back" later this year

Linz is a versatile athlete in the same mold as...(brain fart - insert graduated post from last fall). He is skilled enough to play on the perimeter, but he didn't seem to post all that much when I saw him earlier this year. That offense doesn't call for any true post, so that plays to the their strengths.

As for your quote, Drake, you might want to include my preface, "If they play like that, there's..." to start your blurb. I, for one, don't expect them to play at that insane level the rest of the year. I have my fingers crossed anyway, and so should the rest of the league

[oleroll]

Is it your birthday Wonka? Ricky Pendelton says happy b-day if it is!

[Drake Palmer]

Willy - Sorry about the GAC scheduling info.  I took it directly from the MIAC site.  After checking the Carthage & Gustie site, I see that the MIAC has the info listed wrong.    I made the change to my earlier quote. My bad.

The dearly departed Cobber post player was Soren Nelson.

As for your quote, Drake, you might want to include my preface, "If they play like that, there's..." to start your blurb. I, for one, don't expect them to play at that insane level the rest of the year. I have my fingers crossed anyway, and so should the rest of the league

Thanks for lobbing up that fat pitch Willy ...

Aaah, you noticed.    I've had the quote in my signature line since I posted the photo of Espo last weekend.  Your statement brought a sneer to my lips, a smirk & cyber satisfaction.   Initially, I had your quote listed as you originally posted, but it seems a little more newsworthy this way.  It's also similar to how newspapers emphasize (distort) movie critics' quotes doncha think?  At least I (barely) had the courtesy to include the ellipsis so other readers would know there was more to your quote.
 Just think of the headlines possibilities...

Former Gustie concedes...

But ya know, I can still innocently proclaim - I'm not taking any liberties with your quote.  I'm merely following in the footsteps of my posting mentor.  I'm choosing to highlight one section of your quote to serve my purpose.  Sound familiar?  In the future, if a poster engages in posting revisionism or manipulations, we should refer to it as "Wonka-draking".   

By the way, if I ever go over the limit - just tell me to back off, or like my father used to tell me  - "you're skating on thin ice".
   

[miacwatchmen]

Tyler Westman practiced today for the Johnnies and it looks like he will play in Hawaii.

[Gregory Sager]

It's also similar to how newspapers emphasize (distort) movie critics' quotes doncha think?

It's similar to how newspapers emphasize (distort) everything, if you ask me.

What? Nobody asked me? Sorry. Pass me a triple burger, CM.