MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

...<back to the present> How full will The Shoe be tomorrow? Im guessing 1400 in attendance.

Yeah because you lost the quickness argument. 

I've still got too much snow to shovel, where's Bumkneez with his scouting report on Carroll?

I've read it....very thorough and concise 

Alright then, be that way.   I was going to trade you "keys to the game" for the scouting report but... 

check your email 

[Touchdown Tommy]

OAS: I will be framing and POSTERIZING that Johnnie praise...

[ustbumkneez]

Drake, I didnt post it because I have trouble being "concise" when I do scouting reports (as you can see  ). I think its an extremely favorable matchup for UST. Carroll likes to play the game at a fast pace (will pull up for more than a couple 3s on the fast break), and favors a lot of dribble penetration and outside shooting (things that you know the Tommies defend against extremely well). They are very streaky from the field, but can get hot quickly. In addition, they are very agile and athletic on the wings, with a lot of quicks. That helps them get into the paint, where they almost always try to draw and kick. Keating could get exploited on D, so he'll have to play smart (which he generally does anyway). Carroll is perimeter oriented, as they lack size (in terms of strength) and production (tend to do their scoring from outside of the post) down low, and you know that UST has dominated teams like that all year (not saying that will happen with this team). Also, Carroll has good ballhandlers, but tend to force things and can be pressured into mistakes. Pressuring them near halfcourt could expediate that.

Their bigs can get roughed up, and are soft on the defensive side of the ball. They have two 6-7 starters (and a 3rd who plays major mintues off the bench), but they are all more finesse type of guys, and one of them is only 190 lbs. Rosefelt can exploit the bigger guys lack of speed, and wont get pushed around, so he should be effective. Keating will be able to beat on Colomy (the 190 pounder), even though he'll be 3 inches shorter. However, Colomy is the better defender (quick leaper, disciplined), so he probably will match up with Ike (in which case Keating would be able to put the ball on the floor and exploit Bohn/Mueller). If the Tommies dictate the pace, and slow the Pioneers down, they will struggle to score buckets. (Though they were effective in a half court type set against Augustana last night) Carroll also tends to lose interest on the defensive end if a team works the shot clock on them. Drury is smart, and wont get many fouls, but you can push him if you constantly attack him off the dribble. He isn't particularly great when he's forced to move laterally on D. If he gets in foul trouble, or tires, Carroll is DONE. Tommies should also pound the glass, on both ends, as Carrolls work on the boards is anemic. Robinson could make a huge impact here as he will have a decided strength advantage over whomever on Carrolls perimeter picks him up. In the Augustana game, Carroll was outrebounded by 10, including 12 offensive rebounds allowed.

[ustbumkneez]

I think Robinson needs to D up Drury. Especially since he can body him, and be a little more physical with him. Wearing him down will be crucial, and I think Lonnie can take more out of Drury than Andy can. Drury (6'2 195) is just a solid ballplayer, who can do just about everything on the offensive end. He is good at creating, can hit off the dribble just as well as he can off the catch, and is strong and quick enough to finish at the rim. Robinson will have his hands full (think Madson of BET in 2 years, but with more ball skills). Plus, I think its better to have Andy on the ball, which is where Ladwig (6'2 180) will be (who I think will be Carroll's X factor on Saturday). He's quick, and can get in flows pretty quickly if he gets a couple open looks to kick off the ball game. Dwyer can pester the hell out of him when hes bringing the ball up, and force Drury to beat Robinson repeatedly for the Pioneers to win.

Thing is, they might throw 4 guards out on the floor (which they did tonight for a stretch, and apparently have done a lot in conference), so Mike could really have to bear down against a quicker guy. Dwyers so long (and vastly underrated as a defender), deceptively quick, and that allows him to cover a lot of ground out top. Plus, he just really plays angles well and doesn't waste a lot of energy because of that. Keeps him fresher, so he can badger guys from 3/4 court. That will help UST slow Carroll down. This will be a game where Schnettlers defense will have to step up, because any one of 4 perimeter players for Carroll could get hot in a hurry. UST has to stop them from getting on a roll, as Carroll did against Augustana. They do have a tendency to hit a lull in the early part of 2nd halves, so first 5 minutes are a good time to push offensively for the Tommies.

Colomy (6'7 190) is a lot like Keating; does the little things, passes exceptionally well, and always seems to be near the ball and making big plays. Very good ball skills, but generally only shoots when others create for him. And hes more of a face up kinda guy, not comfortable with his back to the basket. Mueller comes off the bench (6'7 225) but will play the majority of the minutes in the post. He has zero defensive presence, and will bite on head fakes all day, which leads to foul trouble. Very nice touch, and will pop out for a couple 3s (which he shoots very well). The two games I saw he was their best offensive player, and only legitimate scoring option (Drury was contained). Ligocki (6'3 190) is a lot like Ladwig, although he works more in the midrange area of the offensive floor. Wont shoot the 3 as much as the others, but is very good in terms of % (which is extremely high from both the field and behind the line). Very active.

[ustbumkneez]

Im looking forward to it. Carroll is well coached and a very athletic team, who showed their mettle against heavily favored Augustana last night. Theyre no slouch, and it should be a barn burner.

[Drake Palmer]

Nice reports Kneez!  I'm looking forward to the matchups.

[VOJ]

Hello all...its been kind of a hectic day sorry this is my first post.  I was there last night taking in the show that was Johnnies basketball. 

Observations:  The boys still need to find that killer instinct...they had Loras down 18 and kind of wore down in that first half on defense because the Duhawks run their offense so well, they had them down 8 at the half and could not find the knockout stretch to go up 15 or so like they have done to other teams...

Momentum was huge...it seemed to me when Loras went up 5 they had it totally going their way, but give the player of the game Tyler Westman credit he kept shooting and hitting, the off-balance 3 to win the game was tremendous...he saw his teammate in trouble and helped out...he may not be the shooter that Schnettler is, but you can't take away from his ability to hit the "clutch" shots...he has done it time and time again...

Point sounds like UCLA under Wooden, SJU will just have to be Notre Dame and snap that streak...to be totally honest the J's will have to play a near perfect game to win, but I am sure it will be a fun environment to play in.  I wonder how the game will be called, there were WIAC refs last night and they called everything, very ticky-tack...and I thought the WIAC was a ruff and tumble league...I think the J's can do what Oshkosh did...not get into a run and gun affair and make it a half-court game...pound it in to C. Schaf and J Fogt, Fogt was an unsung hero last night...

Oh has anyone seen freebird...he owes SJU fans an apology as they do not go one and done...his silence is thanks enough...by the way dunkmachine...way to step up...major respect from me for that post.

Good luck to the Tommies...I see a 7-10 point win over a confident Carroll team...but the Shoe environment is too much...I hope everyone has a safe trip to Stevens Point, oh and try the Point Special...its good stuff, either the light or Amber light variety


oh yea one more thing...DP you were listening to the Loras feed?  Jeez I thought u were an MIAC guy, lol...

[Drake Palmer]

oh yea one more thing...DP you were listening to the Loras feed?  Jeez I thought u were an MIAC guy, lol...

VOJ - When half of the people on the board couldn't pick up a Johnnie signal last night, I think it means a school should probably put some of their capital improvements into shoring up their IT department.   

[sju56321]

I agree with that and we have been harping on that during football season. At least the link was valid-there was a time or two during the football season when the link just didn't work.

[VOJ]

Hmmm...that is too bad...I know Johnniepress and Tom Stock work hard on making the feed available...I will pass it along when I see Johnniepress tomorrow...

Well, I just finished looking at the roster and stats for the Pointers and I sense there may be some matchup problems...it does not look like a true post player starts for UWSP so defensively the J's might be a little under the gun...Ohme will be up against the quickest PG he has probably seen this year not named Abe W....big wing players for the Pointers could be tough to handle...they will be tough to handle but that why they are number 1...

[columbianmaffia]

is the game tonight at 7 or 730?

[columbianmaffia]

i dont know if anyone is watching but if you read this turn your tv to espn and watch college game day at marquette...its frickin hillarious...they have a giant inflated pink flamingo, a giant inflated frog, the market mascott and a GIANT INFLATED DONKEY WITH A MUSTACH!!!

i feel like im at mcdonalds cuz "im lovin it"

[ustbumkneez]

Mob, its at 7.

[columbianmaffia]

thanks homey

[ustbumkneez]

Predictions:

UST calms down after a rough first 5 minutes, and slows a hot shooting Carroll in the 2nd half. Rosefelt has a very good night inside, and Robinson continues his recent stretch with another big game. UST 78 CC 70

St Johns plays hard and stays in the game through the first half, but doesnt have enough to match the Pointers weapons and overcome the Quandt home court advantage. UWSP 81 SJU 68

Good luck to both squads!