MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

Drake - Who died and made you God of the Bethel posters' thoughts?

If a Gustie player who normally doesn't shoot suddenly goes 4-16 in the season ending game, while also making a turnover that gives the opposing team the chance at the winning basket, I can guarentee you I'd be asking questions and assigning blame on here in a much more blatant way then FreeBird did.

I expect everyone involved in an OT game played hard and did his best...but that's not the point. You can pick nits for other singular plays (re: Meadowcroft's lack of defense), but Laugen seems to have more than his fair share of bad play. Defend if you like, but don't call out BU backers for alledgedly throwing a player under the bus. Sometimes it's warranted.

cmob - Nope. If you hear of anything, let me know though. My GAC class with a few younger guys has been looking for better competition for a few years now...I think we/they have lost once in the last three years.

I'm still just me - expressing my opinion just like you, Freebird, BethelGuy etc. And it seems my opinion is shared by people who are fairly knowledgeable about the Bethel team.  Two out of three of us who attended the game last night thought the criticism of Laugen was excessive.  And yes, sometimes criticism is warranted.  The question is whether the additional criticism of Laugen is warranted.  Did Laugen mess up? Sure he did, but IMO to lay the loss at his feet is unfair.

And, I was not picking nits with Meadowcroft's defense. I was simply citing other examples - other than Laugen turning the ball, of other players or plays one could have singled out as reasons why Bethel might have lost the game.  All things considered, I thought Meadowcroft played a solid game. IMO, the sum total of all these events is what led to the loss, not one single action or player.

What, you didn't get enough sleep last night? 

[miacwatchmen]

Such energy and excitement today!

UST vs. STOLAF-   Tommies could sleep walk through this one and still win my 15. I think the oles used up all their juice last night.  The 4 B's for the oles can't play that well again if they tried! ( Watch they will combine for 70 pts and 40 rebs.)

SJU vs. GAC- Could go either way depending on which team shows up. WHich SJU team will show up? The one that demolished the Gusties just two weeks ago at home or will it be the 30 % FG shooting team that played last Saturday at UST? Which Gusties team will show? At home vs. UST or the team that rolled over last time at SJU?  I like the Johnnies at home but by no more than 10. This one will be close and could go to the Gusties if SJU isn't careful.

[Nites]

Is it fair to say, "where were the Bethel seniors last night?"  Crunch time is when the experienced players need to step up and take charge since presumably they've been through the wars before.  Meadowcroft had 8 points on 4-7 shooting and Strom had 2 points on a pair of free throws.  They combined for 8 shot attempts.  The 3 sophomore starters (I think they're all sophs) combined for 50 shot attempts.

It seems to me that perhaps the Oles' junior and senior leadership is what may have tipped the scales in the Oles favor.  Thoughts by anyone who was at the game?

[funbballer]

Well, I just couldn't take it anymore!

The fact Koz is in the semifinals absolutely blows me away. What people don't realize is that that really wasn't Koz coaching on the sideline. No, it was actually John Wooden with a Koz makeover.......well enough of that.

The ONLY reason STO won is because once again BU played with both hands around their throats....much like they do in football when they play the Johnnies. OK, so they won recently, what's 1 out of 100?!! And no, the blame should not be put on Laugen, although he does play out of control most games. Madsen had a poor shooting night (that happens) and they are young. We'll see what BU is REALLY made of the next two years when the target will be on their back instead the others. I predict UST over Koz's minions by at least 15. If Koz thinks he needs to start coaching, that margin will be over 25.

WW...what team will show up in Collegeville Wed. night? What's with Stein...played 8 minutes?

Funbballer predicts: the Johnnies are on a mission and THE BIG RED MACHINE WINS THE MIAC PLAYOFFS!!!

Cmob.....you still pounding down those triple burgers?

Enough for now........................cheeeez, Koz in the semi's, that will tell you how average the MIAC is this year.

Happy New Year basketball fans.....it's a great time of year, isn't it?!!!

[columbianmaffia]

Cmob.....you still pounding down those triple burgers?

FUNBBALLER!!

YOUR BACK!!!

you better believe ive been pounding down the tripple burgers!!

i hope your back for good...new years resolutions are for sissys anyway!!

[VOJ]

CMOB...just to let you know...you got "Panninged" last night...that is when Brad Panning makes a ludicrious call and you are left to deal with it...

That is two big games in a row for him...he was on SJU-UST and the playoff game last night, he also T-d up Jim Smith in the Tommie-Johnnie game

I can understand Bethel fans problem with Laugen, but here is the thing you have to remember, they are basically kids, kids who can play ball at a higher level than you and I but kids nonetheless.  Just like coaches don't call plays they don't think will work, players don't take shots they think they can't make...

The games tomorrow should be interesting...I see the Ole's staying close for a while and i think the score will stay low if I know Koz he will try to make it a possession game, lots of defense...

the J's will shoot better at home...look at their road and home percentages, i think you will find there is a bit of a contrast.  the J's guards are very quick, maybe too quick for the Gusties.  In the game in Collegeville the Gusties failed to get back numerous times, if that happens again...look out.

[royalpain]

No one person lost it for Bethel, it was a team effort.  The game was decided on the defensive side of the ball.  STO got after Madsen like crazy and made Meadowcroft a non-factor.  Bethel had some putrid stretches  on defense, always giving up the baseline and getting lost on screens. 

[onearmedscot]

I think the senior thing is a cliche.

Just because you're a senior doesn't mean you are going to play harder.  You might think you are but c'mon.

A mediocre senior on one team isn't going to play out of his head while a star sophomore on the other team plays poorly just because it is his last game!

I think it comes down to experience and you'd a thought Bethel, with 9 straight playoff appearances, would have won that battle.  Especially at home.  But the Oles played like the seasoned playoff team they are not.

I think Butala is the least selfish kid in the league.  He's always had a nice stroke but rarely forces things.. Glad to see him step it up last night.

oAs.

[onearmedscot]

As far as reffing goes, I thought last nights crew was pretty good.  I really like Pat who looks kinda like Leno.  The other two didn't do anything too bad.  I did like how the one ref called the over and back on STO in a very critical time and then stopped to correct his incorrect call.  Almost as if he was taunting the BU fans.

oAs.

[columbianmaffia]

CMOB...just to let you know...you got "Panninged" last night...that is when Brad Panning makes a ludicrious call and you are left to deal with it...

i did indeed...many players i have talked to in the past wish they could drop him in some games he has reffed of theirs...last night you could probably add a couple more players to that list

[sumander]

CMOB...just to let you know...you got "Panninged" last night...that is when Brad Panning makes a ludicrious call and you are left to deal with it...

That is two big games in a row for him...he was on SJU-UST and the playoff game last night, he also T-d up Jim Smith in the Tommie-Johnnie game

I can understand Bethel fans problem with Laugen, but here is the thing you have to remember, they are basically kids, kids who can play ball at a higher level than you and I but kids nonetheless.  Just like coaches don't call plays they don't think will work, players don't take shots they think they can't make...

The games tomorrow should be interesting...I see the Ole's staying close for a while and i think the score will stay low if I know Koz he will try to make it a possession game, lots of defense...

the J's will shoot better at home...look at their road and home percentages, i think you will find there is a bit of a contrast.  the J's guards are very quick, maybe too quick for the Gusties.  In the game in Collegeville the Gusties failed to get back numerous times, if that happens again...look out.

Here are those percentages for the Gusties @ home 50.38% & 37.39% from deep.  On the road 48.21%/41.78%.

For the J's 53.17/39.59 @ home and 46.46/36.95 on the road.

Gusties actually shot the three better on the road. Keep in mind these are averages. I didn't add up and calculate by attempts!

[onearmedscot]

There is a story floating out there that Panning was spotted in downtown Murderapolis in a full purple valour jump suit back in the day.  Anybody hear anything about that?  He is Hollywood!

Anyone want to bet Bakko gets the Championship?

oAs.

[VOJ]

Sumander...thanks for backing me up...with the numbers

Say does anyone know, will there be new regional rankings out tomorrow?  Just wondering how far the j's will fall.  I also wonder if they lose in the semi-finals are they still the top "Pool C" team on the board?

[oleroll]

Hibache! Bain 4 MVP!

[/quote]

---don't count the Oles out for some late-season heroics!
[/quote]

[PTPer35]

Now that the ice is broken, I will offer my analysis of the CAR/GAC game last night:

First off, the atmosphere was much different than a month ago when CAR traveled to St. Peter. The GAC students executed the blackout well and CAR students didn't even put up a fight. Forkrud and CMob (along with CAR friends & other family) were about all the cheering section CAR had. However, had Carleton beaten MAC and gotten the 4 seed,  no doubt the Gusties would've showed up in full force in Northfield just like last year.

The first half was very back and forth, with Jake Phillips hitting some nasty shots to keep it close. I thought the Gustavus guards played exceptionally well and were the difference makers (DesLauriers & VanSickle) by sinking some tough 3s and playing good defense. Olson was pretty frustrated but Phillips was on fire these last four games to end his career. I'm sure the coaches told him not to let him step back which led to a few of those awkward layups Phillips does.

Second half Wittwer was doing everything (except traveling) for the Gusties. When he went down with the injury to his ankle (I think), I did not expect what happened next. GAC responded with a run fueled by the energy in the gym and no doubt the motivation to pick up Witt's slack. Very impressive. I will agree with the previous comments on officiating but obviously the refs don't put the ball in the basket. Doble also had a key 'and 1' which caused the student section to erupt, after getting fouled by Kootsikas. I was anticipating a block like the one on Tom Conboy's fast break last Wednesday, but Doble got the semi-circus shot, keeping the ball away from Koots. I will say I was a little disappointed with Tommy Drake's fouls in the first half. Kid plays hard and clean every game and gets thrown around yet manages to pick up ticky-tack fouls which ends up in him only attempting 4 shots. Oh well. Looking forward to next year's CAR team as well as the GAC/SJU ruckus, although I'll likely be watching STOLAF and the TOMMIES go at it.