MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sumander]

MW, It would do my heart good to see your beloved Tarheels get beat tomorrow, except for the fact I drew the Heels in a pool! It's with very mixed emotions that I have to cheer for UNC!

[sumander]

MW, 5 out of the 6 "Big 11" are gone. Will Ohio St. survive the weekend?

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

MW, 5 out of the 6 "Big 11" are gone. Will Ohio St. survive the weekend?

I told you in was an overrated conference!!

[miacwatchmen]

MW, 5 out of the 6 "Big 11" are gone. Will Ohio St. survive the weekend?

I think they will but G'town will make it tough on them. The "weak 11"  or big 11 and MM calls them is a very weak conference. I really hope they lose so Florida makes it to the elite 8 

[Nites]

Kudos to Ike for being named Second Team All-American.

http://www.d3hoops.com/tow/06/menallam06.htm

[sumander]

Kudos to Ike for being named Second Team All-American.

Well deserved. After averaging 19.4 ppg and 10.3 rpg it will be intersting to see what kind of numbers he puts up next year.

MM, Not that I ever questioned you, but you are right the Big 10/11 sucks.

[Nites]

Well deserved. After averaging 19.4 ppg and 10.3 rpg it will be intersting to see what kind of numbers he puts up next year.

I agree.  If Ike continues to improve, the Tommies should be national title contenders next year with the 1-2 punch of Ike and Schnettler.  The North Central win was a big boost for the team.  NC beat Illinois Wesleyan twice this year.  Of course, IW, with its 2 First Team All-Americans and a third kid (Freeman) who was Second Team All-Region, may have been either the most overrated or most underachieving team in the country.

[localcoach]

Nites - While I agree that Rosefelt and Schnettler will be the best tandem in the MIAC and quite possibly even one of the best in the nation, St. Thomas will feel the loss of Sean Sweeney signficantly.  He meant so much to that team and they will have a hard time replacing his qualities like toughness, the willingness to take the big shot, and his ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates.

[sumander]

Well deserved. After averaging 19.4 ppg and 10.3 rpg it will be intersting to see what kind of numbers he puts up next year.

I agree.  If Ike continues to improve, the Tommies should be national title contenders next year with the 1-2 punch of Ike and Schnettler. 

They lose two proven players in Sweeney and Shimek and a key reserve in Weaver. It would appear they have people capable of filling those spots. I think that,how well the replacements play will be a bigger factor than Ike and Sweeney improving.

[miacwatchmen]

Thats a big step for UST jumping from national tourney participant to National title contender!! I agree that they will be good if Ike improves and Schnettler continues to shoot so well but I agree that the team will be drastically changed. Sweeney was huge and I guess Shimek actually helped the team. Those two will need to be replaced and I know their JV was good last year but can two of them jump into starting roles??  I think UST will make it further than last year.

Bucknell over Memphis today       (Call me Sumander)

[Nites]

Nites - While I agree that Rosefelt and Schnettler will be the best tandem in the MIAC and quite possibly even one of the best in the nation, St. Thomas will feel the loss of Sean Sweeney signficantly.  He meant so much to that team and they will have a hard time replacing his qualities like toughness, the willingness to take the big shot, and his ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates.

Good point.  I forgot about Sweeney.  They probably need to come up with a plus point guard.  Who logged minutes at point when Sweeney went out? 

It will also be interesting to see what kind of year Keating has.  He'll be an important cog.

[miacwatchmen]

Nites - While I agree that Rosefelt and Schnettler will be the best tandem in the MIAC and quite possibly even one of the best in the nation, St. Thomas will feel the loss of Sean Sweeney signficantly.  He meant so much to that team and they will have a hard time replacing his qualities like toughness, the willingness to take the big shot, and his ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates.

Good point.  I forgot about Sweeney.  They probably need to come up with a plus point guard.  Who logged minutes at point when Sweeney went out? 

It will also be interesting to see what kind of year Keating has.  He'll be an important cog.

Not sure who will take Sweeney's spot but they only had 6 guys average in double digits for minutes played last year.  I think the leading canidates to take Sweeney's spot are Dwyer who will be a senior next year. He averaged 6.5 minutes a game. Also, Lonnie Robinson who is 6'2'' and got 8.1 minutes a game last year. If i remember right though Robinson was more of a shooting guard than a PG. Miacmanic could tell you without a doubt who the starter will be next year though. I'll go with Dwyer.

[sumander]

Bucknell over Memphis today       (Call me Sumander)

I'll take a lot of that action!!

[Gregory Sager]

Of course, IW, with its 2 First Team All-Americans and a third kid (Freeman) who was Second Team All-Region, may have been either the most overrated or most underachieving team in the country.

They made the Final Four and lost to the eventual national champions by two points. Nobody who makes the Final Four can be called "underachieving".

[Nites]

[They made the Final Four and lost to the eventual national champions by two points. Nobody who makes the Final Four can be called "underachieving".

Greg,

Probably true, but it seems to me that the team was perhaps "over" something.  Maybe the correct term is over-hyped.  Clearly, an excellent team, but not, in my mind, a great team.  Not with 7 losses, especially with 2 First Team All-Americans and a Second Team All-Region player.  No doubt all three players are outstanding, but maybe not as good as some other players who might have been named to those teams?  I really don't know.  I never saw the team play so I can't legitimately judge the talent of the team or the players.

IW got a lot of press when they went to number 1 and then later in the playoffs when they went on their run to the Final Four.  Three marquee players; yet the team still lost 7 games.    Based upon their press clippings, I guess I was expecting the second coming of the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers.  The likely reality is that there is great parity in the game today and while expectations are often great, there can only be one champion.  That doesn't make everyone else a loser.  IW had a great season and everyone associated with the team should be proud of the team's accomplishments.

What's your take Illinois Wesleyan?