MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[miacwatchmen]

SJU posters - Last time I checked, the leading scorer, rebounder and blocker in the MIAC -- and current MVP frontrunner -- is just a junior. If he doesn't improve a drop over the offseason, he's still got it on lockdown for next year.

Oh, and if you honestly think you Schaefer, Ohme and Lieser are viable MVP candidates for next season, I want whatever you're smoking.

OAS - By the same tokin' (in keeping with the smoking theme - funnbb, I know you feel me), UST has a ridiculous 18 point scoring margin right now. That includes a loss to the worst team in the league and a blowout at the hands of Carleton.

The league just isn't that good.

Harsh words for the SJU boys. I agree that C. Schafer may have a tough time with Ike in front of him but you need some competition to go along with the Ike for MVP contingent. Unless you want to hand Ike this years and next years MVP trophies. If you do that you might as well hand AUG the MIAC championship trophy because they are young this year and should win it all in my opinion next year.

[sju4life]

ok......for all you people who dont like Ohme at the point and a recent post claims he isnt a natural point guard along with the question of does he make incredible plays and passes at pg and they answered no?  From what ive been told he has played PG his WHOLE LIFE inlcuding in the high school state tournament.  How much more qualified does he need to be?  I just went back and looked at his freshman year at SJU when he played soley the PG position and his 3point % AND field goal % were higher then, then his following year when i believe they played John Kauss(spelling?) at PG.  He also is the best passer for SJU and maybe one of the best in the miac.  I have seen him thread some needles with passes a few times that i have not seen many other miac players do or even attempt to do.

ON the same note, I just looked at liesers statistics and he leads the johnnies in turnovers with 66. I think it said ohme has 54. Sweeney from UST has 44 and no one on GAC has more then 47.  I would assume Smith has came to the conclusion that they may not want their leading turnover man to bring it up the floor as much.  Just a thought i came up with after looking at some statistics.

[localcoach]

OAS said it best....Is this a football board?  The horse has been beaten, now on to a new topic of discussion.

Willy - I'm in agreement with you.  If Mr. Rosefelt wins the MVP this year, how does he not win it again next year when he will actually be counted on to do more for the Tommies then he's even doing right now.  The Johnnies will be talented again, but I only see maybe one MVP candidate from that foursome that was mentioned. 

Here's my comments on tonight's games as we enter the home stretch. 

Saint John's @ Macalester - OAS could this be the upset that Macalester has been waiting to pull off?  MAC had Carleton on the ropes only to lose in the final minutes.  The game is at MAC and while there's no question that the Johnnies have been playing well as of late, my gut tells me to go with the Scots in a shocker.  Having said that, my mind says that SJU will probably win.

Gustavus @ St. Olaf - Yes the Oles play the Gusties tough, but GAC seems to have found the "iron 8 or 9" to carry them through to the playoffs.  I'll take the visitors by a handful.

Saint Mary's @ Hamline - I guess this has to be "the game of the night."  SMU cannot afford to lose if they want to make the playoffs and while the Pipers have a little more breathing room as they attempt to make the post-season, it's not much more than their counterpart.  I know the Cardinals won this game the first time around, but I'll take Hamline in what should be a very exciting game for three reasons.  A) It's at home; B) They have Mr. Foster this time around; and C) SMU's conference road record this season is 1-7. 

Concordia @ Augsburg - The bottom two face off in Minneapolis.  I'll take the Auggies in what could be a game where the winner scores 50-55 points.

St. Thomas @ Bethel - Bethel's in a tough spot as they need all the wins they can muster up in this playoff race.  Still the Tommies have something to fight for (#1 seed) and so I'll take UST by 8-12 points.

[funbballer]

Willy....I agree the league is just average and I would seriously doubt any of the qualifying team(s) for the playoffs will advance very far. If anybody can advance, IMHO it would be UST as they have some size, although not great, and they've got guys who can score.

Regarding the SJU discussion, Ohme & Leiser are excellent BB players. Both have great BB smarts and know how to win. While it's easy to look at stats and make determinations on certain players because their TO's are too high.....remember, the more you handle it, the greater the chance that you'll likely turn it over. SJU's offense tends to have more dribbling, as does UST. GAC passes more (Hanson doesn't like all that much dribbling) so naturally the stats will indiciate as such. Ohme can be/is a great passer. He's also expected to score alot. Having Leiser around certainly takes the pressure off him, and with Schaffer being more of a threat along with Heinrich and now Westman, the Johnnies can be very, very good. We'll see if they are as tonight they have to play at MAC and if the Johnnies are as good as they think they are or want to be, they've got to run the table and set up that last game vs GAC up at Collegeville. Securing that #3 spot is big.

I think the Final Four in the MIAC playoffs will be UST, CAR, GAC & SJU. Four teams that are playing pretty well right now. GAC will have to find consistent scoring from other sources now that Olson is down and it may not be the same person every night.  Remember, the key is not only playing good BB, but it's WHEN you're playing well that is crucial. These four teams seem to be doing that right now.

Of course, now that I've made that statement, watch 1 or 2 of them stumble tonight or sometime in the next 2 weeks and make my predictions look downright stupid!!!   

[sumander]

Local, I agree....The horse has been beaten! Save all of the "hot stove" talk about next year til after the season.

The MAC-SJU game tonight scares me. I saw the game in Collegeville. MAC is not a bad team. Given that and the J's shooting woes on the road, it could be very interesting tonight. Maybe, I don't have as much confidence in the boys as the rest of the SJU poster, but, It would not be a "shock" for me to see MAC win.

FBB, I also agree with your statement about SJU running the table. Now is the time for them to step up and show that they are ready to contend for the #3 spot. Each of their last 4 games is winnable. They are also capable of losing each game!

[columbianmaffia]

where did the poster "Big Shocker" go...i was always a big fan of his name cuz you can never go wrong with a shocker...let alone a BIG SHOCKER

[Willy Wonka]

I can't believe I'm up this early...the things I do for a dentist appointment, an oil change and a tripple burger...

Big Shocker can be found hawking fitted caps in the cities. You'll have to visit them all to find him though...I don't want to give away his super hero civilian gig.

[finsleft]

OK boys, listen up. Now that I'm a veteran poster on this board let me throw a little smack around...
OAS- your boys go down by a touchdown tonight. That's seven points. Mail it in.
Willy- Your lads better get their wins in now, because they'll be singing the blues on the 18th. SJU by 2 field goals and a safety.

Now, time for my morning Hamm's...

[onearmedscot]

Fins--Have another.

Local:  I see Mr. Conboy having a solid game and Mr. Ranwick dropping about 4 threes on the J's.

Mr. Rosefelt and Mr. Shimeck have no answer for Mr. Meadowcroft as the Royals sink UST to sole possession of second place.

Mr. TeBrake stays hot against Mr. Bain and company and Mr. Koz loses another one.

Mr. Sapp And Mr. Haywood bring the thunder to Hamline sending Mr. Foster and Mr. Thrasher and Mr. DeRock and Mr. Smock to defeat.  Mr. Wohler's team still remains in the playoff hunt however.

In a matchup between Mr. bad and Mr. Worse, the Cobbers and Auggies battle it out in a game few care about.  Mr. Keto's beard reaches new lengths as does the team's losing streak.  Mr. Citterman decides to show is is a prime time scorer in the MIAC.

That's all I got Mr. Local.

oAs.

[miacwatchmen]

Fins--Have another.

Local:  I see Mr. Conboy having a solid game and Mr. Ranwick dropping about 4 threes on the J's.


oAs.

I agree with your comments oAs, but i might add something from the other side of the ball. I see Mr. Henrichs AND Mr. Schafer hitting for Double Doubles which is a solid game. Also, in regards to Ranwick he can hit his 4 threes because westman will hit 4 plus Leiser and Ohme will hit 2 each. Johnnies by 10 tonight.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Fins--Have another.

Local:  I see Mr. Conboy having a solid game and Mr. Ranwick dropping about 4 threes on the J's.

Mr. Rosefelt and Mr. Shimeck have no answer for Mr. Meadowcroft as the Royals sink UST to sole possession of second place.

Mr. TeBrake stays hot against Mr. Bain and company and Mr. Koz loses another one.

Mr. Sapp And Mr. Haywood bring the thunder to Hamline sending Mr. Foster and Mr. Thrasher and Mr. DeRock and Mr. Smock to defeat.  Mr. Wohler's team still remains in the playoff hunt however.

In a matchup between Mr. bad and Mr. Worse, the Cobbers and Auggies battle it out in a game few care about.  Mr. Keto's beard reaches new lengths as does the team's losing streak.  Mr. Citterman decides to show is is a prime time scorer in the MIAC.

That's all I got Mr. Local.

oAs.

touche' Mr oAs ....but shoudn't it be Mr. UST and Mr MIAC?

Mr Meadowcroft will brought down to offensive reality by the defense of Mr Keating (that is for Mr WW's pesonal satisfaction-- hopefully he can smile after visiting Mr Dentist). Mr UST & Mr Car will win out, tying at 17-3. Mr UST holds the tie-breaker edge as they split head to head and both swept Mr GAC and both split with Mr SJU. However, Mr CAR lost to Mr Hamline while Mr UST swept them. (So losing to Ms Augs works out to be a minimal blessing-in-disguise).

Mr Keto's beard isn't that bad, but the hair on his shuolders is another story.

Mr WW-- a 3-point loss, no matter who it is to, doesn't hurt a team's scoring margin much. Mr UST can use the Mr SJU football mantra-- we only lost three games, counting non-conference, by a total of 8 points" (Stout by 1, Augs by 3 ane SJU by 5)...it's a good cop-out

I hope Mr Sensation is reffing the game at Ms Augs tonight... he deserves to work that one (him with the two Mr Mauers)

[finsleft]

Local:  I see Mr. Conboy having a solid game and Mr. Ranwick dropping about 4 threes on the J's.

OK, you're up to 12 points and a solid game.

Alright miacwatchmen, I'm with you. SJU by a touchdown AND a field goal (a football one i.e.3 points)

Thank you. I think I will have another.

[Flip the Red Bird]

SMU will:

Run their great road record to 2-7, Haywood will have 20+, Sapp and Batterman will have a field day inside.  This should be a high scoring game, neither team known for their D.  1 win closer to the playoffs.  I know it isn't always that exciting for some teams in the MIAC just to make the playoffs, but we are HUNGRY. . . Get out of the way and LET SAPP EAT!!!!!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I agre with WW (and after dialing 9-1-1 and being given a sedative I still agree)...anyone thinkg C Shafer is even worthy of minimal thought for MVP this year or next is using some chemicals that grossly distort reality. With his size , he should dominate in the paint. However, he's the worst thing exported from Anoka since "The Man In Pink"  

Looking to next year, UST will still be the team to beat-- Rosefelt is back, along with Schnettler & Keating (and two D-I transfers to be named later  .) They will miss Sweeney's leadership, Shimek's presence in the paint and Weaver & Petreson's energy. But Dwyer seems to be a servicable substitue for Sweeney and Danny Grant will see a lot of PT. the two heralded frosh-- Viau and Sames-- will make their presence felt. CAR will be good but the loss of Forkud will be togh to adjust to. BU, HAM, GAC and SMU will challenge SJU for third and the remianing playoff spots. Olaf remins a a question mark. Cord's prospects depend on Eckhoff-- if he comes back, they should challenge for the top spot. if he doesn't they will be in the logjam in the middle. Expect a monster year from Linz.

Weaver finally got his first college dunk Monday....getting in the Olympic spirit, I give it a 7.0. The kid can leap...at SJU, he nearly brushed his head on the underside of the rim going up for a rebound (that's as high as the SJU poster who touted Schafer for next year's MVP! )

[DuffMan]

Rumor has it that SJU will spank Mac tonight, much like the SJU football team constantly spanked Mac's football team, forcing them to leave the MIAC.