MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[localcoach]

Drake - I didn't make it to the metrodome last night but a friend of mine and Hamline alum did go and he called me with updates throughout.  Here's what he told me.  The Pipers came out hot and got an early lead only to begin turning the ball over (19 for the game) and missing layups in traffic.  They actually finished the game with 21 offensive rebounds, according to the stats, but I was told they rarely got many second chance points.  Mr. Norberg was on fire, and scored 15 points off the bench in the first half alone.  It sounds like Hamline concentrated on Butala and Banick too much and didn't get to Norberg in time and he just made his shots.  I was also told that Tony Thrasher was in foul trouble for most of the game and that is evidenced by the statistics which had him for 2 points on 2 shots in 9 total minutes. 

Despite their play as of late, Hamline still has what I would consider a favorable schedule.  However unless they develop some consistency, which hasn't happened this year, it won't matter.  Right now I would peg them for a fifth seed at best, and maybe a sixth seed who has to use a tie-breaker to get in.

[columbianmaffia]

what would be the tie breaker if CAR ends up catchin UST since they split this year??

[Skander]

Rumor has it that the Hamline coach has decided to sit his freshman and start seniors.

Can this be true?

How do you sit players who have done the job all season?

[Drake Palmer]

what would be the tie breaker if CAR ends up catchin UST since they split this year??

You'd have to reference the latest tiebreaker rules listed in KA or Mose's post above.  Funny, they used to have the tiebreaker rules listed right on the front page of the MIAC basketball site, but now they've replaced it & you have to go digging through the PDF files.  If I'm over looking it, someone point it out to me.

Despite their play as of late, Hamline still has what I would consider a favorable schedule. However unless they develop some consistency, which hasn't happened this year, it won't matter. Right now I would peg them for a fifth seed at best, and maybe a sixth seed who has to use a tie-breaker to get in.

Thanks LC.

Here's my early take on how I see the conference race shaking out.  Although based on my record in the MIAC Pickems this year, it would be advisable to take any of my predictions with a grain of salt.  

1) UST -   (17-3)  
2) CARL - (18-4)

3) SJU -   (13-7) Johnnies take 3rd with some obscure papal tiebreaker ruling  
4) GAC -  (13-7)

5) BET -  (10-10)
6) SMU -  (9-11) The Birds beat the Pipes with another tiebreaker

7) HAM -  (9-11)
8.  STO -  (8-12)
9) MAC -   (7-13)

The  basement Lutherans - the Dawgs & Cobbs  prop up the conference cellar.

[miacwatchmen]

Gotta have experience down the stretch like that. Freshman may be tired right now. D-3 is longer than high school and I bet the freshman can't play as long as the seniors. I understand the decision to switch to seniors.

[onearmedscot]

Zach Johnson with 28 last night.  I know one freshamn who isn't getting tired.

oAs

[miacwatchmen]

Zach Johnson with 28 last night.  I know one freshamn who isn't getting tired.

oAs

But is there another??  Thrasher?? Derock?? I haven't heard much about them lately!!


Drake- If SJU beats GAC then they would split at 1-1 and I think the Johnnies would get the tiebreaker over GAC because their record versus CAR. GAC lost twice to CAR and the Johnnies are 1-1. The tiebreaker is only if they tie though.  I don't know if the Johnnies can beat UST down the stretch and MAC  and GAC will be a very tough game. At best they could go 5-1 at worst they could finish 2-4. The tiebreaker may not come into factor.

[Touchdown Tommy]

Don't avoid me OAS...

[gusties]

Zach Johnson is the biggest ego to come through the MIAC in years.  He is so frustrating to watch it is beyond belief.  The kid camps on the three point line with his arm up the entire game. If anyone besides me on this board was at the GAC game last night, they have to agree with that.  He literally does not move the enitre game.  He refuses to follow his shots also, he simply shoots and runs down the court with his outstretched shooting arm a la MJ even though they didn't go in. He even did the MJ arm extension after hitting a free throw.  IT'S A FRICKEN FREE THROW, NOT A HARD SHOT, PUT YOUR ARM DOWN.  He was in the refs face if he didn't get a call.   simply unbelievable, these are things you can do as a senior all conference player or something, but you DO NOT have the right to ride the refs, taunt the fans, camp on the 3 line with your arm up always calling for the ball, and show boat down the court after a missed shot as a freshman.  Someone has to stop this kid's ego or he will be a TYRANT by his senior year, mark my words.  The next Lucas Olson Patterson is being born.....

[localcoach]

I obviously have way too much free time today, as I've responded and posted a few times.  It's nice to have a day off once in a while though. 

Drake - Thanks for the feedback.  I'll go with my gut, which tells me that Hamline will get the sixth seed by a game over either Bethel or Saint Mary's. 

Skander - I've heard no such thing, but I haven't spoken with anyone "in the know" lately so who knows.  I just cannot imagine Coach Wohler all of a sudden sitting Mr. DeRock and Mr. Thrasher, who are two of his top three scorers. 

miacwatchmen - Hamline hasn't been winning as of late so I think that's why we haven't heard much aboue their freshmen.  Mr. DeRock had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals last night against St. Olaf.  I do agree however that Zach Johnson has had an incredible past few weeks. 

[Willy Wonka]

gusties - I wasn't there and have only seen Johnson play once, but I'm going to go ahead and agree with you, and Drake earlier. He's a very talented player, but his shinanigans are borderline ridiculous. Also, he's got the Denny-hook down in the post that should be called an offensive foul every time.

[piperinsider]

Last night Hamline played 15 players. Did Wohler wanna give everyone an opportunity to play at the Dome?

I don't see Wohler starting a lineup of Ryan Montgomery (I thought he graduated, goes from a starter sophomore year to a guy who hasn't played 40 minutes all season), Ayan Hargrove, Jesse Hendricks, Charley Good and Aaron Seliga. Jon Viemiester is the sixth senior.

Don't recognize many of those names? That's because the Pipers talent is in their youth. Youth=inconsistent. I think you are starting to see that from them as a team. Before it was individuals like DeRock, but now it's the team. Thrasher hasn't been playing as well either, whether it be fouls or poor shooting.

At 6-8, I don't see the Pipers making the playoffs. Right now, Bethel, Macalester, St. Mary's and St. John's are better than them. They should beat Auggie Tech and Concordia, but that put sthem at 8-12. they may win one of the other 4, but now that I look at it, 10-10 is sixth place. 9-11 doesn't get in.

As I said last week, the Pipers are a year away. Another freshman class for Wohler combined with another year of experience for Thrasher, DeRock and other freshmen like David Johnson and I think they are a top 3 seed next year. Nearly every team loses a top player(s), but not HAM.

AUG-nobody; BET- Bjorklund, Perry, Frederickson; CAR- Forkrud; CON- Eckhoff, Dixon, Miller; GAC- TeBrake, Hollerich; MAC- Bosman; SJU- Heinrichs; SMU- no seniors; STO-nobody; UST- Sweeney, Weaver, Peterson, Shimek, (Tas)

[onearmedscot]

Willy & Gusties:

SOUR GRAPES!!

The kid scored 28 points.  If all he does is camp at the three, it would seem he'd be pretty easy to stop.  28 points without moving--That would be awesome!!  If he does MJ stuff and showboats, have the kid he's guarding run him off some screens--ding him up a little.

Remember Sweeney his freshman year?  He learned.  If Johnson is as bad as you say he is--he will too.

oAs.

[spivey181]

FYI, OAS... "sour grapes" refers to something that you say is bad because you cannot have it, not just anything that you knock. If Willy and Gusties secretly wished that Johnson had gone to GAC, then it might be sour grapes, but they'd have to be saying that he was a bad player for it to apply.

[spivey181]

I'm just sayin...