MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[KnightsArmor]

Some b-ball action in LaCrosse tonight:  Carleton plays UWL while MAC plays Viterbo in some high school gym. Not sure why Viterbo's gym is unavailable.
Should be interesting to see how CAR plays against UWL.

And, yeah, the MIAC is not the WIAC, and with maybe one or two exceptions, it doesn't want to be.  The MIAC is comprised of mostly small enrollment, private liberal arts schools, not large enrollment, state subsized universities with taxpayer financed athletic facilities and coaching staffs.   

[sumander]

The MIAC is comprised of mostly small enrollment, private liberal arts schools, not large enrollment, state subsized universities with taxpayer financed athletic facilities and coaching staffs.

KnightsArmor brought up an interesting point. Average undergraduate enrollment for the 11 MIAC schools is 2,829 with the largest being UST at 5,584 and the smallest SMU at 1,350.

Average enrollment at the 9 WIAC schools is 7,932 with the largest being Osh Kosh at 11,013, smallest is Superior at 2,900. Two other WIAC schools have enrollment in excess of 10,000. Whitewater 10,632 and Eau Claire at 10,542.

For what it's worth!

[playdefense]

When you ask the athetic departments, players and coaches in the MIAC, I think they'd beg to differ about not wanting to be like the WIAC.  They want to win and compete as badly as anybody, well, all of them excpet Saint Mary's........whose athletic administration could care a less if any program has any success.  They just want "FULLY ENROLLED ROSTERS."

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Play defense-

You sure seem to know it all about SMU and the rest of the MIAC for that matter. Sounds like you have a personal grudge against SMU which clouds your vision (as does excessive cheese intake, according to the AMA)

I see SMU as an athletic department making a big turnaround overall. They had been in total chaos for a long time, and that takes time and patience to turnaround, particularly for a small private school. Unlike the WIAC, SMU can't run to the legislature with its hat in its hand asking for more $$.  Being situated across town from WInona State and across the river from UW-exLAX and Viterbo doesn't help matters.

Word coming out of Winona is that they plan to resurrect their football program once a stadium can be built.  They have made some very good coaching changes as needed in several sports-- men's and women's-- over the past few years. 

Trewick is in a very tough position of having to sell kids on a program that has been in disarray for well over a decade. the fact that his predecessors have little to no contact with the high schools in the are doesn't help-- I'm sure many cases when he talks to a potential recruit his biggest obstacle is getting the kid to  recognize the school's name.  Mike's a great tactician and once he can bring in talent that fits his offensive & defensive stratagems, he will have SMU in the playoff hunt on a regular basis, something they've never been able to pull off.

As for the rest of the MIAC, we'll hold our own against the WIAC, despite "grey-shirting" by the cheese schools, and lower academic standards, state-funded facilities and higher paid coaches at the UWs. AND our females put UW-anything's to shame.

[ustbumkneez]

KnightsArmor & miacmaniac
I dont want the direction of this board to shift away from the basketball, but I think you need a lesson in 'public universities', as some of the statements in your most recent post are incredibly off base.
First, the point that the WIAC is made up of large enrollment, state subsized universities is relatively true. Compared to the MIAC, the WIACs enrollment is large but thats because they are public universities that MOST people can AFFORD, unlike the MIAC where cost eliminates a lot of potential students. Obviously they will have bigger numbers. Insinuating that this somehow gives the WIAC an edge is ridiculous. The average enrollment fee at a MIAC institution is almost double what the average fee is at a WIAC school-there is no advantage either way.
And your point that tax payer money gives an edge to WIAC schools in terms of facilities and coaching staffs? Laughable. I live in River Falls, WI-Ive followed WIAC basketball closely since my formative years. Ive been to every school in the conference, what venues have you been to make such a statement? UWRF has a decrepid gymnasium, as well as subpar lifting and training facilities. While they are at the bottom in terms of facilities, the remainder of the conference-aside from EC, Point and WW-doesnt fare much better. I played the last 4 years in the MIAC, and what the WIAC has is no better than the MIAC in terms of facilities.
Public funded universities are going to have more money to spend on athletics, is that what you are alluding to with your point, Armor? Private universities can raise as much $ as they want, and can spend it however they deem fit, unlike public universities whose spending is rather regulated by government and taxpayers alike. I coach 9th grade basketball for the high school here in town, and can say that I make a relatively comparative salary to the top assistant, whom Ive known for some time now, at UWRF (the only paid assistant position). Unless top assistants are working for free in the MIAC, theyre not any worse off than those in the WIAC. Besides, my friend teaches at UWRF and has had her salary scaled back for the last decade-I doubt that money, or the vast majority of the $$ coming in, is being redirected to the athletic department. Theyve already had to eliminate 4 sports in the last 6 years to cut costs, as have numerous other schools in the 'taxpayer financed' WIAC.

[ustbumkneez]

Maniac
Why bring a slingshot to a gun fight? I mean, honestly, pulling out the 'weve got better academics!' card when someone merely states the obvious (WIAC teams beat up on MIAC teams, and that the conference is down this year)?
When the schools of the WIAC "run to the legislature with its hat in its hand asking for more $$", they dont get it. Theres no money there, schools have been asking for more money for well over a decade and havent received much of anything. When, and if, they get any scraps, I assure you its NOT for athletics. Look at the statistics, athletic department budgets have been slashed from top to bottom, thats what happens when you are regulated by the state government-those are the programs that go first. The state is so strapped for cash that they have considered closing down 3 of the universities, so quit pushing that there is this never ending well of cash that sits on the WI side of the river. You know thats not the case, and its pathetic you would try to push that trash. They cant even afford to properly pay their professors. By the way, Viterbo is a private university-they wouldnt be part of this so-called begging.
And, like I said to Armor, the points about higher paid coaching staffs and state-funded facilities is garbage-a journalist like yourself should be on top of such details, do some research.
I do applaud you for pointing out the tough position of Trewick at SMU, for I do think he is a very good coach who, with a little help, could bring the Cards back around in the MIAC. Hes made som progress down there, and deserves credit for doing what he has with the limited resources available.

[tommycorn]

[
First, the point that the WIAC is made up of large enrollment, state subsized universities is relatively true. Compared to the MIAC, the WIACs enrollment is large but thats because they are public universities that MOST people can AFFORD, unlike the MIAC where cost eliminates a lot of potential students. Obviously they will have bigger numbers. Insinuating that this somehow gives the WIAC an edge is ridiculous.  there is no advantage either way.
]

bumkneez ~

i can agree with some of what you say, but not the above statement.  unless i am completely mis-understanding what you said, i find it laugable.  do you really think that there is no advantage to have a school that costs half as much to attend?  having the ability to recruit any solid d3 level player, versus recruiting a select number that fit the right socio-economic profile.  i don't know, that seems like a stretch to me.  even with scholarships and financial aid, $28,000 is not a given for any high school athlete.  you should know, you had to put up the big numbers.  or maybe i am just misunderstanding your statement.  what's your argument for wiac having no advantage because it is less expensive?

[ustbumkneez]

No, i know its an advantage in terms of recruiting as far as not alienating some good players who dont have the money to attend a MIAC school. Right now, theres a big time recruit in the RF area who is very interested in UST but cant afford it, and will play ball next year in the WIAC.
I was just saying that there isnt more $$ in the WIAC because they have more students, as was being insinuated. The cost of MIAC institutions negates the numbers advantage the WIAC has in terms of students and how much money the schools have to give to athletic programs, I was just pointing that out. I realize it is an advantage, I just wanted to let it be known that it wasnt because of the reasons Armor and Maniac had described.
Larger numbers does not equal better facilities. Thats all, sorry for the confusion.

[funbballer]

Junior Isaac Rosefelt had 24 points and five blocks and junior Bryan Schnetter scored 23 points, including a career-best seven 3-pointers, to lead No. 23-ranked St. Thomas (6-2) to an 83-69 men's basketball victory over Culver-Stockton (Mo.) (2-11) Thursday in River Falls, Wis., at the Cenex Harvest States Tournament.

Junior Mike Keating had 14 points and nine assists, senior Joey Shimek had nine points and nine rebounds, and senior Sean Sweeney had nine points. The Tommies shot 58% from the field (33-of-57), including 12-of-24 from 3-point range. Rosefelt made 12-of-14 shots.

[Willy Wonka]

fins - I seem to be pretty good at making people upset regardless of their affiliation. Thanks for the karmalization

The Tommies all put up good numbers it looks like. How was that only a 14 point game? Was anyone at the game? Is the final score deceptively close or did they play terrible defense to allow them to hang around? Even looking at the box score, I don't understand how it was so "close."

Meanwhile, Olaf just had a couple of tough losses it looks like: a 3-point loss to Hiram and a 2-point loss to Wesleyan on back-to-back days down in Florida. Rather than blaming Koz, SID Ludwig points the finger at ugly free throw shooting. The Oles finished the two day tourney 35-for-62 from the charity stripe. In related news, I haven't heard of a single player mentioned in the articles except Bain (Butala went 5-21 from the field)...

[Touchdown Tommy]

Snooze Willy snooze...


FYI: Check was mailed today, should arrive in Red Wing tomorrow unless all that snow slows it down...

[Russian Mig AK47]

Bumkneez -You are a bum and your state is garbage! Hahahaha, looks like some people struck a nerve with you!

UST -Nice to see so many guys seeing clock.  Word on the street is Mr. Lonnie Robinson was the first off the bench, a startling revelation.  He is very athletic and brings a lot of energy, however I noticed he didn't grab a board in his 13 minutes of action.  He is going to need to contribute on the boards and generate extra possessions if he wants to stay on the court.  Should be a fun game tonight, while UWRF is not the same caliber team as UST they always play them tough on their home court (similar to Ham).

[TommieHoops4Life]

Mig,

Any idea on what's going on with Peterson? I see from the box at UWRF that virtually everyone played, but his name isn't even in the boxscore... any clue about that?

[Willy Wonka]

Gusties get a nice, albeit meaningless, road win tonight over Carthage 77-70. Sowden with a shot to put the Gusties up 72-68 with 25 seconds left and FTs from there it looks like. Sager, did you make it to the game? Any comments? It sounds like the Gusties looked a little rusty.

Tommies also escape with a win 56-53. Schnettler hit his fifth 3 with under a minute to play to provide the margin. I was about to post that the break must have helped Keating's rehab (14 pt, 9 ast.) but then he threw up another stinker (4 pt and 5 rbs) tonight.

[gacbacker]

Willy, I noticed that Sivesind got quite a few minutes tonight and that Kaus didn't play at all...Is Hanson making a line-up change or is Kaus hurt?