MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[miacfan55]

I was also hoping on getting over there for that game. I know Tommie/Johnnie is always a big deal but with a conference championship on the line it's even bigger. Personally my guess is that St. Thomas will destroy St. Johns, if they have a healthy Dwyer. Although his numbers aren't overly impressive he does many things that don't show up in the boxscore. In a conference championship game you'd rather have experience running the show rather than the Freshmen Tuma. Ike will dominate the Schafer's and whoever they throw at him. Also I think Keating will step up because I think there's some extra motivation because of his brother playing at SJU. If Schnettler gets hot early watch out. I played with Schnett in high school and the kid works as hard as anyone I've ever seen. He went from being recruited by one school (Superior) out of high school to being the all time leading 3 pt shooter in Miac history. Congrats to him and I think he will be in for a big day. He hit a buzzer beater over Lieser in the section semis senior year and I anticipate more of the same come Saturday.

[Drake Palmer]

Don't get me wrong BG - I think Meadowcroft, & Wittwer for that matter, are having very solid years.  But that's what they are - solid seasons, not your superstar type of year.  IMO, I don't think the type of year Charles (or Wittwer) is having is in proportion to the tremendous amount of talent that I believe he has. He's solid, as Wittwer is – two solid ensemble players, not the brightly shining superstar that say a Bryan Schnettler, Ike, early-season Keating or Tim Madson appear to be.  They've shown flashes of this brilliance, but they haven't sustained it over the entire season or even a game.

By my loose definition, superstars come up big in big games.  For example, I thought Meadowcroft rebounded extremely well in the closing minutes of the upset win over the Js, but he was somewhat limited in other areas of the game.  His performance was certainly critical & important in the Royals' win, but not a superstar performance.  Madson in the first half, Laugen & Moberg in the 2nd half were the exceptional performers.

I also saw Wittwer & Gusties take down your Royals in the first clash of the season & I swore I thought I saw a star being born that night.  Wittwer was all over the place, & the winning move he made at the end of the game when he took the "Jordan-esque" spin move from the top of the key to the hoop was money. But since that time I can only recall one other game in which he played like that & that was the upset win over the Tommies last week. Make sense?

********************************************

Dunk – I liked your earlier posts, but I think you're dangling out on the end of the limb with your last post.  The MIAC is a solid basketball conference, but its national reputation was built on the backs of the success of the football programs – St. John's & Concordia.

[Drake Palmer]

I was also hoping on getting over there for that game. I know Tommie/Johnnie is always a big deal but with a conference championship on the line it's even bigger. ...

A couple of little nits MIAC55. Brett Tuma for the Tommies is a soph from Minnetonka HS.  The same high school that sent Ryan Keating to St. Johns along with his younger brother Matt (?). Mike Keating of UST is from St. Paul & a Cretin Derham Hall grad, & as far as I know, is not related to the Tonka Keatings.

Keep posting - the more, the merrier.

 

[Freebird]

Assuming Bethel wins there 1st round playoff game(which I realize is not a given):

I would prefer going to SJU over UST.  SJU will be very tough in Collegeville but I think we stand a better chance in the second round there.  Then if only GAC could beat UST we would have the opportunity to complete the second of my two biggest MIAC sporting goals in now my senior year of college: 

1. beat SJU in football
2. end GAC's season in basketball

That is some heavy wishful thinking for a Tuesday afternoon but just a fun thought

[miacwatchmen]

I would love to see a Hockey page but on the national scene I suppose it is not as big. 

Saturdays SJU/UST game seem like it will be a lot of fun, I think I will dip out of the BU/AUG game a little early in order to take it in.

You may need to get there at noon to get a seat for the varsity game. Its goint to be a packed house I imagine.

You are probably right...do they quit selling tickets at a certain point?  I may just have to skip the BU game

I'm expecting a full house. The JV game will have alot of people even! I'm guessing and hour or two before the game and you will be safe. Showing up at tip-off will land you a spot outside the gym!

[South Dakota Gusties]

I would love to see a Hockey page but on the national scene I suppose it is not as big. 

National D3 Hockey Coverage - http://www.uscho.com/d2d3/
D3 Hockey Message Board - http://board.uscho.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[miacwatchmen]

I was also hoping on getting over there for that game. I know Tommie/Johnnie is always a big deal but with a conference championship on the line it's even bigger. Personally my guess is that St. Thomas will destroy St. Johns, if they have a healthy Dwyer. Although his numbers aren't overly impressive he does many things that don't show up in the boxscore. In a conference championship game you'd rather have experience running the show rather than the Freshmen Tuma. Ike will dominate the Schafer's and whoever they throw at him. Also I think Keating will step up because I think there's some extra motivation because of his brother playing at SJU. If Schnettler gets hot early watch out. I played with Schnett in high school and the kid works as hard as anyone I've ever seen. He went from being recruited by one school (Superior) out of high school to being the all time leading 3 pt shooter in Miac history. Congrats to him and I think he will be in for a big day. He hit a buzzer beater over Lieser in the section semis senior year and I anticipate more of the same come Saturday.

With a little research you might find out Tuma is a Sophmore not a freshman but you were close. The matchup Saturday will be tough. The Johnnies need to play well but I still think the Tommies can't rely solely on their big 3. Can they all play 40 minutes? The Johnnies bench outscored the Tommies becnh 20 to 1 last meeting. That was the difference. I think it could play a major factor again Saturday.

[miacwatchmen]

Don't get me wrong BG - I think Meadowcroft, & Wittwer for that matter, are having very solid years.  But that's what they are - solid seasons, not your superstar type of year.  IMO, I don't think the type of year Charles (or Wittwer) is having is in proportion to the tremendous amount of talent that I believe he has. He's solid, as Wittwer is – two solid ensemble players, not the brightly shining superstar that say a Bryan Schnettler, Ike, early-season Keating or Tim Madson appear to be.  They've shown flashes of this brilliance, but they haven't sustained it over the entire season or even a game.

By my loose definition, superstars come up big in big games.  For example, I thought Meadowcroft rebounded extremely well in the closing minutes of the upset win over the Js, but he was somewhat limited in other areas of the game.  His performance was certainly critical & important in the Royals' win, but not a superstar performance.  Madson in the first half, Laugen & Moberg in the 2nd half were the exceptional performers.

Drake wheres the long post alert! Wow you've been posting up hard today!

Where was Meadowcroft the first time Bethel played the Johnnies? 4 points 4 rebounds 3 TO's in 29 minutes of play? That was a big game for both teams and he didn't show up.

[Willy Wonka]

I've got a friend who is working crowd control for Saturday's game betwixt SJU and UST. He says there will be no pre-sale tickets and fully expects the JV game to be packed. Thus, I'd arrive VERY early if I wanted a halfway decent seat.

For reference, GAC fans began showing up en masse around 5 p.m. (2.5 hours early) for the MIAC title showdown at UST a few years back. Given the rivalry, I'd expect something similar from fins and the SJU bandwagon.

Sadly, I'll be taking in section wrestling down in Rochester and MAYBE making it up for the end of the GAC/CAR women's game in Northfield 

[Touchdown Tommy]

Wonka: Pretty sure that the Republican-Eagle OWNS you. 

[Freebird]

Where was Meadowcroft the first time Bethel played the Johnnies? 4 points 4 rebounds 3 TO's in 29 minutes of play? That was a big game for both teams and he didn't show up.

Good point but that can be said for most good players.  Where was Westman vs St. Mary's? 2-12FG(0-5 behind the arc), 10pts, 2 TO's, in 36 minutes of play?  Plus Chuck had 15pts and 11rebs last time BU/SJU played and that was a big game for both teams.  Personally I'm really happy with his play and additude this season.  

In my opinion Chuck has taken a step back but only in order to make room for Madson and Moberg.  On top of that I'm just happy he is on the team now in his Senior year

[piperinsider]

Sumander-

Thrasher didn't sit down until he fouled out. He was moving very gingerly and was a step slow guarding Sowden. I would say it had a dramatic effect on his game.

Weiner is also battling a bad back.

[sumander]

Sumander-

Thrasher didn't sit down until he fouled out. He was moving very gingerly and was a step slow guarding Sowden. I would say it had a dramatic effect on his game.

Weiner is also battling a bad back.

I'm sure they won't be 100% tonight but a couple of days of rest had to have helped. That being said I would think the Pipes would still want to get out and run tonight. They probably don't want to get in a half court game with the J's.

[hoopscoopsmiac]

A quote from Dunkmachine

"Here is a (DOUBLE who cares) for any women sport in the MIAC or in the world for that matter.  I'd maybe even rather watch "From Justin to Kelly" instead of girls trying to play sports (especially basketball)."

Wow...pretty bold statement especially considering there are some female posters on here who nonetheless are or were basketball players in the MIAC. I don't even know how to reply to a comment like that...but I am sure you have a 1,000 lame excuses why girls athletics sucks but wonder if you have any good ones? Pretty sure the top MIAC GIRLS could come up with a team that would tear you apart. Oh wait you probably don't even know how to play basketball or maybe it's just cause some MIAC Girl Basketball player broke your heart.....Are we bitter on this Valentine's Day week?

[abominable_snowman]

One-day closer....I'll be suprised if the ball doesn't explode at tip-off with all the electricity in the air.