MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Nites]

Bryan Schnettler: 26 points on 9-21 shooting, including 4-15 from deep. MVP Ike: 20 points on 9-10 shooting.

Since I wasn't there and didn't listen, I could be wrong...but those stats would seem to suggest someone didn't pass someone else the ball nearly enough.

oAs - Were you in attendance? I have to guess the Schnettler tantrum level may have reached an all-time high yesterday...

MM - I still don't see a response to my question.

Willy,

Drake or someone else in attendance can confirm this, but I think Carroll had 3 guys on Ike when he got the ball in the low post and they had the 6"7" Colomy shadowing Schnettler.  What may have been open was Keating in the low post with a 6"3" player trying to match up on him.  That being said, the Tommies did score 80 points, which should have been enough to win, except that they played Carroll style of BB and gave up way to many open looks and transition baskets when they didn't get back on D and pick up the shooters.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Tough one for the Tommies to have their season end on their home court. I wasn't there to see it myself, but in talking with some of the guys on the team the last couple weeks, this group had larger goals in mind than this for the year. Disappointment, and a huge one at that, is the only word I can come up with to describe last night's loss. To be ranked the whole year and lose on your home court to an unranked team in the NCAA Tournament is unacceptable.

80 points is more than enough for UST to win if it plays good defense. Combine that with 17 turnovers, and it's not a good formula if you run into a hot-shooting team like it sounds like Carroll was. Like others have said, give credit to where it's due for Carroll. That's two big tournament wins away from home. I don't want to say they were overlooked, but UST had bigger and better plans this year than to get a first-round bye and then lose on their home court, where it's been next to impossible for a visiting team to come in and win.

The Tommies will definitely miss Ike, Schnettler and Keating. Three great players and great guys, and Dwyer is a classy guy also. I know this is a loss that will eat at them for a while. Robinson, Dwyer and Schnettler combine for 14 of the 17 turnovers, ouch. To shoot 62.5 percent in the second half and almost 56 for the game is almost always good enough for UST to win, so the defense must not have been the best, and Carroll was hitting shots.

Tough loss for UST, but that's the beauty of tournament time. The best team doesn't always win, especially if they don't play like the best team when it matters the most. Good season for the Tommies, but they wanted more than this. Congrats also to the Johnnies on their year. I'm gonna miss Ohme, that kid was fun to watch when he was on his game. If anyone cares, Tammy Filzen's (Carleton women's coach) son dropped 39 Friday night on Farmington in a win. Kid was ridiculous.

[Greek Tragedy]

To be ranked the whole year and lose on your home court to an unranked team in the NCAA Tournament is unacceptable.

80 points is more than enough for UST to win if it plays good defense. Combine that with 17 turnovers, and it's not a good formula if you run into a hot-shooting team like it sounds like Carroll was. Like others have said, give credit to where it's due for Carroll. That's two big tournament wins away from home. I don't want to say they were overlooked, but UST had bigger and better plans this year than to get a first-round bye and then lose on their home court, where it's been next to impossible for a visiting team to come in and win.

Based on YOUR comments, maybe YOU overlooked them.  Simply because they aren't ranked by D3Hoops.com, doesn't mean they aren't good.  The MWC was a bit down this year, but they played a tough schedule that included MWC champion Grinnell, last year's champion and NCAA tourney entry, Lawrence, Stevens Point, Oshkosh and Whitewater, to name a few teams.  They are on a good run.  They had to win the MWC tourney just to get a bid and now they are taking full advantage of that.

[Gregory Sager]

Tonight was an excellent ball game by the Carroll Pioneers & the UST Tommies.  Unfortunately, if you're a UST or MIAC fan, it was a tough season ending loss.  Carroll College was one of the quickest & most athletic teams I've seen this season.  IMO, they effectively lured the Tommies into playing the game at a pace the quicker Pioneers preferred.

In a close, well played ball game such as this, each mistake seemed to be magnified, and the 9 1st half TOs by the Ts were almost all as a result of trying to push the tempo, & beat Carroll down the court.  After pushing the proverbial rock up the hill for most of the game, midway through the 2nd half, it looked like the Tommies would be able to weather their own mistakes & overcome some of the unreal sharp shooting by the Pioneers.  However, I believe the effort of chasing the quicker Pioneers for most of the game led to a few, critical, defensive lapses in the closing stages of the game.

But no doubt about it, Carroll College won this game as opposed to the Tommies giving the game away.  The Pioneers refused to fold under the Tommie pressure & had an answer for practically everything UST wanted to do.  One of the big tactical moves of the night that paid off for Carroll was to have lanky, 6-7 Buck Colomy guarding 6-1 Bryan Schnettler.  Although he didn't shut Schnettler down - 26 points, he harassed Sensei into a 4-15 shooting performance from behind the arc, 1-7 in the 2nd half.  Schnettler was most successful scoring by beating the slower Colomy to the rack or getting to the FT line.   Another defensive matchup that I thought UST could have done a better job of exploiting was to have 6-6 Mike Keating post up his shorter 6-3 opponent – Adam Ligocki.  I don't recall anytime at all in the first half when the Tommies went inside to Keating.  In the 2nd half right out of the box, the Tommies must have heard me screaming (not) & went inside to Keating on two straight possessions.  But then Carroll made another defensive adjustment & shut off that option.

Offensively, Carroll had the best tandem of guards I've seen all year in sr. Nathan Drury & soph Wes Ladwig.  Both of them have excellent handles, could drive to the basket, dish, & were more than capable of filling it up from the outside.  In the first half Ladwig was ridiculous & was a disgusting 4-7 from behind the arc, scoring 14 first half points!  Lonnie Robinson did a decent job of containing superstar Nate Drury – 11 1st half points, so in the 2nd half the Tommies switched Robinson to Ladwig & Andy Dwyer to cover Drury.  Drury ends up with 17 total points & Ladwig with 25 points.  Sadly, Carroll had other scoring options they decided to deploy as the previously mentioned Buck Colomy decides to get in on the aerial attack.  Colomy does his best Dirk Nowitzki impersonation & starts dropping bombs from all over the court & scores 13 of his 15 points in the 2nd half!  In the UST game summary they said he dropped in an NBA 3, which was not an exaggeration. He was a good 5-6 feet in back of the 3-pt line - a disgustingly good shot!   And, it wasn't a case of the Tommies playing that poorly on defense, these guys were just shooting unreal & kept hitting big shot after big shot. Adam Ligocki also proved his mettle & was an effective slasher around the glass, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the 2nd half. 

My props & respects to the Carroll College Pioneers.  I also hope the ankle injury to Ladwig in the closing minute of the game was minor & that he'll be able to play at full force next week.  Well done & good luck!

I'll let those who are UST alumni do the senior wrap ups, but I would like to add that it has been a treat to watch all these seniors play & develop the past 2-3 years.  For a couple of guys like Isaac Rosefelt & Mike Keating, it's been 10+ years of watching them off & on from traveling ball & AAU days, to high school & college. Best of luck to them in all their future endeavors!

Great recap, Drake! And, BTW, I thought that Bumkneez did an outstanding preview of the Carroll @ UST game as well.

[Gregory Sager]

To be ranked the whole year and lose on your home court to an unranked team in the NCAA Tournament is unacceptable.

80 points is more than enough for UST to win if it plays good defense. Combine that with 17 turnovers, and it's not a good formula if you run into a hot-shooting team like it sounds like Carroll was. Like others have said, give credit to where it's due for Carroll. That's two big tournament wins away from home. I don't want to say they were overlooked, but UST had bigger and better plans this year than to get a first-round bye and then lose on their home court, where it's been next to impossible for a visiting team to come in and win.

Based on YOUR comments, maybe YOU overlooked them.  Simply because they aren't ranked by D3Hoops.com, doesn't mean they aren't good.  The MWC was a bit down this year, but they played a tough schedule that included MWC champion Grinnell, last year's champion and NCAA tourney entry, Lawrence, Stevens Point, Oshkosh and Whitewater, to name a few teams.

They also beat a pretty good Carthage team (right, WW? ) in a game in which Carroll led all but the first minute and a half.

[Nites]

The College Sporting News had a slightly different take on MIAC awards.  It named Schnettler "Player of the Year" and Ike "Most Valuable Player."  It also picked a 1st, 2nd and 3rd team.  Interesting differences from the coaches choices are that Ohme and Z. Johnson were selected over their respective teammates, Lieser and Drake.  Drake didn't even receive Honorable Mention.

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=84274

[Drake Palmer]

Either way you split awards, I think there's going to be somebody that's upset.  It's nice to see Ohme make an AC team which I believe he rightfully deserved, but I also think Lieser deserved recognition as well.  I like the fact that CSN places players by team - 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but I wish they would go one step further & try to name players by position - PG, SG, W, SF, C/PF.  I realize this sometimes gets tough to do, as in the CSN 3rd team which is full of wings & forwards.  This year we seemed to have a surplus of players in those spots.

Tough call on the Drake & Johnson awards at Carleton.  Being my namesake, I guess I would go with Drake this year. 

[abominable_snowman]

last thoughts on season ender (for UST)....it's one thing to go out having fought a hard battle and played your best game.  it's another thing to have "played timid" (from an inside source) and felt like you have played one of your worst games to end it all.  it makes it sting worse. wich leads to a question that may be skewed by team allegiance.....

What would be a better season, conference champs and losing first game in NCAA, or winning at least one NCAA game?  (Otherwords, who do you think the best season, SJU or UST?)

*****
one of these years we will get another miac team deep into the tourney.  for know I have to watch and hope the ponies I picked natioanlly will carry me well.  good luck to DP and sum as well.

[finsleft]

Congratulations to the Johnnies and the Tommies on their successful seasons!
I've enjoyed the banter here. Some of you hoopsters should pay a visit to the football board once in a while. I'm living proof that knowledge is not a prerequisite to posting.  
8)

[sumander]

Had a chance to A.)recover from the drive B.) catch up on some work C.) reflect a little on the season.

UWSP is a strong team, whether they are #1 in the nation remains to be seen. It sure would have been fun to see them match up with the Tommies. J's played them very well for the first 15 minutes or so of the game. Pointers close out the first half hitting 14 0f their last 17 shots (82%) from the floor. They put a 15 point run on the Johnnies so fast you almost didn't realize it was happening. Pointers are very solid 1-5.  Point guard El Amin is as fast as Abe and knows how to finish! SG, Hicklin was 4-5 from deep. Didn't miss an open look. Rortvedt and Beamish/Jackson were solid as well. J's at time tried to have Lieser gurad Rortvedt 6'2" on 6'5", didn't work Point recognized it and posted him up. Rortvedt has range like you wouldn't believe.  Krull might be a little undersized at 5 but he took our posts away from the basket. If they didn't follow him he shot the 3 (1-4). Krull had a difficult time handling C. Schafer 1 on 1. Unfortunately, the game got out of hand so it didn't matter too much. Might have been an abberation but I was not overly impressed with their overall team defense. Jackson was a very solid defender and had Westman tied up most of the night. Ohme managed to lose his man for at least 3 or 4 easy back door cuts for lay-ups!

The Quandt is a great venue for college basketball. With the regional there Point will be tough to beat!

It was a great season for the Johnnies. Sure there were a few speed bumps that were hit but any time you win 20+ games and go to the NCAA tournament things were successful.

I think it is remarkable that seven seniors hung in there for 4 years! I suspect you won't see a senior class that large very often. Being a relative newcomer to program I can't speak for what things were like 4 years ago, but coming off an 8-17 season if you had told these guys they would win 21 games and go to the NCAA tourney when they were seniors you might have got some skeptical looks.

More to follow, but Congratulations Johnnies and Congratulations Johnnie seniors save for a very good St. Thomas team you were the class of the MIAC this year.

[sumander]

one of these years we will get another miac team deep into the tourney.  for know I have to watch and hope the ponies I picked natioanlly will carry me well.  good luck to DP and sum as well.

Same to you A-snow. I need afew teams to go a long ways. Looks like I have some ground to make up!

[Drake Palmer]

last thoughts on season ender (for UST)....it's one thing to go out having fought a hard battle and played your best game.  it's another thing to have "played timid" (from an inside source) and felt like you have played one of your worst games to end it all.  it makes it sting worse. wich leads to a question that may be skewed by team allegiance.....

What would be a better season, conference champs and losing first game in NCAA, or winning at least one NCAA game?  (Otherwords, who do you think the best season, SJU or UST?)


*****
one of these years we will get another miac team deep into the tourney.  for know I have to watch and hope the ponies I picked natioanlly will carry me well.  good luck to DP and sum as well.

Snow were you at the game?   And before someone tries to jumps on my case, I'm not trying to call Snow out.  He said an - "inside source said..." which leads me to believe he might not have been at the game.  The UST loss was certainly perplexing & frustrating but I don't know if "timid" is the adjective I would use (I'm not sure which word I would use either  ).  And this worst performance of the season stuff I don't get either.  IMO - MAC I win, LAX loss, AUGS II win, CARL II win, & GAC II loss were all poorer performances than the loss the other night by the Tommies. 

It seems some posters from here & the MWC board are pooh-poohing Carroll College, but they certainly looked like a quality team to me.   An 18-8 W-L record, with 2 wins on the road against top 10 ranked teams in the "Big Dance" certainly makes me stop & take notice of them.

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

More NCAA wins would be nice, but take the titles. You put a string of conference titles you're bound to start improving your postseason percentages.   Look at the Gusties.

Congratulations to the Johnnies & seniors as well.  I'll miss Matt Ohme & what will we ever do without the twin grain silos of the great plains of Nebraska! 

Fins, now that I know there might be "friendly faces" on the football board, I just might stop by more often. 

[abominable_snowman]

last thoughts on season ender (for UST)....it's one thing to go out having fought a hard battle and played your best game.  it's another thing to have "played timid" (from an inside source) and felt like you have played one of your worst games to end it all.  it makes it sting worse. wich leads to a question that may be skewed by team allegiance.....

What would be a better season, conference champs and losing first game in NCAA, or winning at least one NCAA game?  (Otherwords, who do you think the best season, SJU or UST?)


*****
one of these years we will get another miac team deep into the tourney.  for know I have to watch and hope the ponies I picked natioanlly will carry me well.  good luck to DP and sum as well.

Snow were you at the game?   The loss was certainly perplexing & frustrating but I don't know if "timid" is the adjective I would use (I'm not sure which word I would use either  ).  And this worst performance of the season stuff I don't get either.  IMO - MAC I win, LAX loss, AUGS II win, CARL II win, & GAC II loss were all poorer performances than the loss the other night by the Tommies. 

It seems some posters from here & the MWC board are pooh-poohing Carroll College, but they certainly looked like a quality team to me. An 18-8 W-L record, with 2 wins on the road against top 10 ranked teams in the "Big Dance" certainly makes me stop & take notice of them.

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

More NCAA wins would be nice, but take the titles. You put a string of conference titles you're bound to start improving your postseason percentages.   Look at the Gusties.

Congratulations to the Johnnies & seniors as well.  I'll miss Matt Ohme & what will we ever do without the twin grain silos of the great plains of Nebraska! 

Fins, now that I know there might be "friendly faces" on the football board, I just might stop by more often. 

agreed on carroll, getting it doen the hard way.

let me clarify, i was not at the game.  "timid" was used for non-big three, and also to the already discussed "uncharacteristic" play by the tommies.

[Jimmy Chitwood]

 I agree with VOJ on calling a spade a spade.  The UST bench has never been a reliable source of timely points, or just points in general.  When Ike and Keating are on the bench it almost seems like it goes from well-executed basketball to a pick up game at the local cage.  The passes become spastic and the flow of the game is replaced by jerky movements with forced passes/shots.  Don't get me wrong, I like McCoy and Shimek, but neither of them provide that spark off the bench.  McCoy is scrappy down low, but his defense is lacking, especially against a quicker and more athletic team like Carroll.  Tuma has also had some bright moments this year, but his ability to control the game and get the ball in the hands of the playmakers is lacking compared to Dwyer (although Dwyer's turnover numbers vs. Carroll don't reflect this).  It would make sense that the UST seniors would be ready for a big time matchup like this, but they replaced what they had done all year for a reactive type play.  They abandoned (especially the first half) the style of play that put them atop the MIAC and into the NCAA tourney with a first round bye.  They became sloppy and tried to beat Carroll at their game, not UST's.  It is no surprise that Schnettler had jello for legs at the end of the game.  The Pioneers have been successful all year running the floor and scoring quick buckets in transition.  They have never been a half court set-type offense.  They try and score as quick as possible and keep the tempo of the game at a grueling pace.  Afterall, they definitely have the roster and athletism to do so.  Drury and Ladwig displayed sick ball fakes all night and were never afraid to pull the trigger, even at NBA range.  Why should they???  It seemed like their downtown threes had as good of a chance of going in as their layups.  They were enthusiastic all night, including the bench that spent the majority of the game standing and cheering on their teammates, a complete contrast to UST's bench.
     This is the portion of my post that I get on my soap box and become critical of the UST coaching staff.  Observing both benches on Sat. night, one couldn't help but notice the extremes in energy/enthusiam from one bench to the other.  This includes the players and coaches.  UST fans were begging for a technical call against Carroll's coach (David Schultz) all night as he seemed to argue every foul call against his team.  At one point, he ripped off his suit coat and stood their on the court starring at the referees.  Coincidently, after this unusual display of disbelief by Schultz, the refs proceeded to call four questionable foul calls against the Tommies on the next handful of possessions.  My point being, the Pointers of Carroll College had more energy and I believe this is a culture/mood created by the head coach.  It was obvious that Coach David Schultz had his teams back and wasn't afraid to get in the refs face and protect his players.   His enthusiasm and excitement permeated through his team, and as a result they came ready to run and leave nothing on the floor.  There is a reason that when Coach Schultz took over the squad prior to the 2002-2203 season, he was able to turn a pathetic team into a tourney contender.  I think a lot of this comes from his enthusiasm and the excitment that he has installed in his players.
     UST, on the other hand, and their coaching staff looked like they were watching paint dry the entire night.  One could hardly tell that they were seated at home in a second round NCAA playoff game.  In fact, they had as much of an expression as a teenager forced to watch the weather channel.  The bench seldom stood up and applauded their fellow comrades.  In fact, I don't think I saw Coach Fritz argue a call or become apparently vocal at any point.  I am not saying that yelling at your kids and constantly arguing calls is approriate or even effective, but I do think that injecting your team with enthusism is an intangible that can help push teams to victory.  I have seen Coach Fritz get in his players face and be vocal, but it is usually when he is upset at his players and it isn't a common sight.  I have never seen Fritz really try and rally his kids and pump them full of positive energy.  He seems to me like that principal that has been at the same school for 30 years and everyone is affraid to go see.  He seems more authoritative and critical than he does uplifiting and positive.  The mentality of his players are cultivated from the day to day exposure to his attitude on the practice court.  If Fritz acts anything like he does during practice as he does the game, I can see where the players have adapted this energy-lacking type of play.  Minus Keating and Ike from time to time, it is hard to really pinpont any outward enthusiasm on the team.  I might be far off with this opinion, but that is the way he comes off during the game.  It was hard not to notice the striking differences in energy levels between the two teams.  Everytime their was a player substitution for the Poineers, the coach was waiting there to encourage him, as well as the rest of the team.  The Tommies looked like they were just going through the actions during similar situations.
     The Tommies had all week to get ready for this game.  There is no excuse to lose to an unranked team at home, especially given the make up of the team.   The biggest critisism of the Tommies all year has been their lack of depth.  There is no way to argue this, as significant bench points have been as common as unicorn sightings (that might be a bit extreme, but trying to prove a point).   The Tommies knew they weren't going to be able to rely on the bench to buy them time as the starters caught their breath.  No, the Tommies knew that they were going to have to be running the entire night.  Poor Schnettler looked like he had just ran a marathon as he never stopped running.  However, with 4 of the 5 starters being seniors, they should have been more composed and controlling of the tempo.  They looked like they had never been in a meaningful game, as they were eratic with their passes and out of control most of the first half.  This comes as very surprising, especially after they had just beaten SJU on consecutive weekends, as both games were meaningful.  The Tommies finally got it together the second half and started feeding Ike the ball down low.  The Tommies have always been a half court set team.  However, they strayed away from this in the first half and as a result let the Pioneers dictate the tempo of the game.
     Like VOJ said, call it what it is.  The Pioneers are good, but they shouldn't have been able to come to The Shoe and send the Tommies to an early exit.  The only bright side to an early home loss was that the Tommie faithful were able to say their farewells to the seniors.   
     In summary, the Pioneers played outstanding and have managed to beat two top-10 teams on the road in the last week.  However, the Tommies lacked execution and enthusiasm and failed to implement their style of play.  The Tommies should have been studying for the Point game this Friday, but instead find themself at home all too early.  This was the team that could have made a serious run, but once again went one and done.   It is too bad, as it isn't often that you have three outstanding players transfer in at the same time.  The Tommies had the players to make a serious run, but fell flat on their face.   Maybe next time (although it probably won't be for a while now) Coach Fritz and his staff can get his team playing up to the level that they are capable of, maybe this can start by Fritz relaxing a bit and acting more like a peer than a dictator.  Regardless, it was fun while it lasted, albeit much too short.

[Drake Palmer]

Jimmy- where you been all year?  While I don't agree with all of your points, a number of them were on target.

I also agree about the energy & enthusiasm of the Carroll coaching staff.  They had it in spades.

And as hard as it may be to believe, behind that stoic exterior, Fritz does get animated, is a fierce competitor, a good man & solid coach.  But I'll let those closer to the program defend the UST staff.  Besides, if it was based on enthusiastic coaches, how do you think the Gusties manage to do as well as they have?