MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Drake Palmer]

Nice post/s Kneez! +K.

Sum will be happy to read your recap of Tyler Etheridge - alleged man crush not withstanding.   

I might have to adopt a line or two of your post for a new signature line for my profile.  My apologies CON. 

When I get a minute, I'll have to give a brief recap of watching Ike & Trevor Wittwer at the Howard Pulley playoff games earlier this week. 

Could we be hearing a Joe Scott - Mike Keating comparison in a couple of years?  If we do, it won't be from me. 

Apples and oranges. Scott was a nice player in both high school and college, but Keating was a Mr. Basketball finalist and a D2 Frosh All American. People knew Mike would make an impact right away when he came to UST. While Scott would have a role next year should he transfer, I doubt purple backers are expecting that to be the missing piece between the Tommies being a borderline playoff team and a contender. I know thats not your position Drake, but theyre not even comparable IMO.

Agreed

Re: Joe Scott - Again, very nice player, but personally, I was stunned that he played as well as he did his freshman season at Colorado Springs.  It would be interesting to hear from someone who follows D2 ball how the RMAC compares with the NSIC conference.  Local - any ideas or opinions?

Hope everyone's safe, along with their friends & families after the unfortunate 35W bridge event from several days ago. 

[sumander]

Back from a little R & R at the beach! Ocean is nice, but I missed the mosquitos!

Sum – Kneez follows western WI HS hoops & he might be able to fill you in on Tyler Etheridge.

Etheridge is a very good all around player, and I think will be a premier guy in the MIAC towards the end of his junior year in Collegeville. Interested to see how the shoulder surgery affects him. Will be a nice 3 man, because he can hit from the outside and is very good off the dribble. Looks rail thin, but is deceptively strong. Top rate passer, which might be his best attribute. A Smith kind of guy, very fundamental and versatile. Extremely smart player, and passionate. Defense is average, but not a glaring weakness. And even though it may sound like I do, I dont actually have a man crush on him.

Sounds like good timing for Etheridge. One would have to think that Brink would be the probable 3 man this year. He will have a year to learn the system and the league and then compete for a starting spot his last two years! Thanks for the info Kneez.

How about a round of +k, just for getting back on the board.

[Drake Palmer]

A belated welcome back Sum!  Hope the Carolina coast treated you well.   

We've obviously hit the dog days of summer around here.  We have to keep recycling old posts to make new posts.  Can we get a confirmed transfer or a coaching hire to liven up the board??  Woody, Local, Word? 

[Woody]

Any word coming out of Hamline? I've talked with a couple of very good HS coaches and attempted to have them apply, but they declined.

Let's talk Cobber ball.....thought they drastically underachieved last year. Sieverson (sp?) must have some great pictures of the AD or Pres. as they never seem to get to that next step and his job seems quite secure. Seems like a nice guy, unlike the fella down on '169', but terrible at recruiting and developing teams.

Now there, Drake, as you requested, thought I'd "stir the pot" a little bit. I'm sure Mr. Wonka will attempt to undress me again, but what the hell, he's a "homer" (gustie) anyway so I would expect that.

[localcoach]

Alright I'm back from yet another "vacation."  I hope that the summer months have been good to each of you. 

Drake - (A little late in responding, I know)  Joe Scott is a very nice player.  He's more athletic then you think and can really shoot the basketball.  I know that he's talked to some Division II schools around here about possibilities, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him at UST.

As for the Hamline job, the latest I've heard is that the "National Search," which by the way supposedly cost in the five figures, has narrowed things down to 5-7 candidates.  An unconfirmed rumor is that some of those in the mix include current assistant coach Brady Larson; Carleton assistant and former Piper assistant Jim Hayes; and current Anoka Ramsey CC coach Bill McKee.  Also some out of state guys with fairly reputable credentials.  Interviews to start in the coming week.   The bottom line, IMHO, is that Hamline will really be behind the 8-ball again this season despite whoever they hire. 

Other then that, not much to offer in the way of news.....

[Willy Wonka]

You're going to have to do better than that, Woody.

As for rumors...I've only heard one lately, though it's rather interesting.

Rather than completely scrapping the idea of men's/women's doubleheaders, the league office is looking at mixing it up a little bit. Under the current proposal/rumor, the weekday schedule would revert to split venue games (UST men @ GAC, GAC women @ UST) while the weekend games would seek to continue the men's/women's pattern from the last two seasons. I haven't heard which gender would lead off, but I've got to assume the women's games would precede the men based on common sense.

This would allow for the JV programs to gain a little more prominence than recent years, while still allowing fans to monitor both programs at a given school. Personally, I like this plan and hope this is what gets approved.

No word yet on whether SJU/CSB would be allowed to continue working the system to their advantage under these proposed changes.

[Drake Palmer]

Couple of comments.

Regarding Concordia:  Woody – it's Siverson.  And your timing is off by a couple of months for the annual "why can't the Cobbers get high quality recruits to the F-M area?" 

My guess is that there are different expectations for the basketball program as compared to the football program.  I think for the most part the school is pleased with the overall direction of the program.  The kids seem to keep their nose out of trouble, they graduate, & every 3-4 years, the basketball team makes a 1-2 year run in the playoffs.  If you look back over Siverson's career, you'll see these spikes.  He started coaching the men's team in 1991, made the playoffs in 96 & 97, 2001, & 2004 & 05.

Word through the grapevine is that the Cobbs may have picked up a couple of nice players from Buffalo who were the state champs this past spring.  It also helped that their high school coach is a Cobber grad.

Local – any idea how the RMAC compares with the NSIC or the old NCC conference? And as I've said before, Joe Scott is a nice player but I never expected him to be a FY starter at a D2 school.

Interesting that Billy McKee may have tossed his hat in the ring for the Hamline job.  McKee was the coach at Cretin HS during the early 2000s, moved to Blaine HS, & as Local pointed out, for the past couple of years he's coached at Anoka Ramsey CC.  And guess who one of his assistant coaches was this past year? -- None other than Sean Sweeney of UST.

Willy - the revised scheduling sounds a 100 times better than the scheduling fiasco from last year.   Now this way we can potentially see a Big Monday game on ESPN, or get a quick workout in before heading out to check a Monday night MIAC game.  Same thing holds true for Saturday afternoons.

What's the latest on that Paulson kid from Waseca?  Has he filled out, improved, etc.
 

[localcoach]

Drake - First off, I was checking the CCS website and Joe Scott is not on the 2007-08 roster.  Has an official transfer been announced?  I wasn't sure on that.

The RMAC is a very good Division II league.  Metro State out of Denver is traditionally a Top 20 team and Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Lewis are also solid programs year in and year out.  As for how it compares to the NSIC, I can't offer much except my personal opinion.  I would say that both leagues are in the upper third of Division II over the past 5-10 years. 

Now, on to Mr. Scott.  I was a little shocked as well to see him start so many games as a true freshman.  However he came from a solid DeLaSalle program where I'm sure Coach Thorson prepared him better than most would.  He also played with the Howard Pulley AAU program, so I'm sure Joe knew what top notch competition was. 

In my book, any freshman who can go into any league, especially at the Division II level and average double figure points (10.3) and shoot nearly 40% from 3-pt (38.2) is going to make an immediate impact if he comes to play in the MIAC. 

[VOJ]

Rather than completely scrapping the idea of men's/women's doubleheaders, the league office is looking at mixing it up a little bit. Under the current proposal/rumor, the weekday schedule would revert to split venue games (UST men @ GAC, GAC women @ UST) while the weekend games would seek to continue the men's/women's pattern from the last two seasons. I haven't heard which gender would lead off, but I've got to assume the women's games would precede the men based on common sense.

This would allow for the JV programs to gain a little more prominence than recent years, while still allowing fans to monitor both programs at a given school. Personally, I like this plan and hope this is what gets approved.

No word yet on whether SJU/CSB would be allowed to continue working the system to their advantage under these proposed changes.

Willy...can you give me a few details on this?  What do you see as "working the system to their advantage"?  As I remember from last year the Johnnies play 10 games at home and 10 on the road...and in last years schedule I think they might have been the only one to go to Moorhead and then to Winona for back to back games...some advantage there.

[Woody]

Regarding Concordia:  Woody – it's Siverson.  And your timing is off by a couple of months for the annual "why can't the Cobbers get high quality recruits to the F-M area?"


Just trying to stir some conversation.....didn't realize we couldn't talk about "old news."


Regarding Saturday's doubleheaders, I'm told the men have requested to play the first game. Has anyone heard differently?

[Drake Palmer]

Regarding Concordia:  Woody – it’s Siverson.  And your timing is off by a couple of months for the annual “why can’t the Cobbers get high quality recruits to the F-M area?”


Just trying to stir some conversation.....didn't realize we couldn't talk about "old news."

Just trying to help you out Woody.  Depending upon the time of year, some topics just aren't going to generate that much response.  I wasn't sure if you were following the board last season which is why I made the comment & followed up with a wink.     If I thought you were belaboring or beating a topic to death (like one of our posters from up north did last year) I would have said so.    By saying your timing was off, I was simply indicating that you were a couple of months early. 

During the off season the Cobbs don't seem to attract as much board attention from posters as say the Tommies, Js, the coaching revolving door at Hamline, or your favorite potential sparring partner – the Gusties.   

Why in the world would the men want to play first on the Saturday doubleheaders?

[Woody]

Thanks, Drake. It's at least comforting to know that I have one person looking out for me! I appreciate your comments & realize my prompting of a Cobber discussion was bad-timing and ill advised.

Regarding the "men's game being played first".....it was my understanding that they like the idea of being done early on the Saturday games.

I like the idea of the league reverting back to the one game per night scenario. Plus, I'd like to see all the so-called "rival games" (SJU-UST, CAR-STO, etc.) played on Saturday's. It would certainly draw bigger crowds......IMHO.

Anyone have an opinion on how the kid from Holy Angels (Wertjes?) will do at GAC? I realize that's an open-ended question....but am curious how the basketball geniuses feel!

Heard GAC also got Doble's younger brother......from Florida?

I believe the Auggies will be improved enough next year to be a definite post-season team. I think they recruited the good shooter from Ellsworth. Didn't he have 10-12 treys in last year's Class 1A championship game.

Again, if this all "old news"......shame on me!

[abominable_snowman]

Regarding the "men's game being played first".....it was my understanding that they like the idea of being done early on the Saturday games.


I like the idea of the league reverting back to the one game per night scenario. Plus, I'd like to see all the so-called "rival games" (SJU-UST, CAR-STO, etc.) played on Saturday's. It would certainly draw bigger crowds......IMHO.

I have to disagree by saying I prefer to play basketball later.

But I will agree with the concept of rival games on weekends.  Especially for UST/SJU for fans travelling wither way.

I could use a refresher on who makes/decides regular season schedules. Is it NCAA, MIAC, coaches?

[Drake Palmer]

Regarding the "men's game being played first".....it was my understanding that they like the idea of being done early on the Saturday games.


I like the idea of the league reverting back to the one game per night scenario. Plus, I'd like to see all the so-called "rival games" (SJU-UST, CAR-STO, etc.) played on Saturday's. It would certainly draw bigger crowds......IMHO.

I have to disagree by saying I prefer to play basketball later.

But I will agree with the concept of rival games on weekends.  Especially for UST/SJU for fans travelling wither way.

I could use a refresher on who makes/decides regular season schedules. Is it NCAA, MIAC, coaches?

Snow - That's what I thought.  Who wants to play in the JV - prelim game? Give me Saturday afternoon prime time baby (think Dickie V.)!!   

Here's a link to the MIAC Hoops Scheduling Policy

Woody - For not caring about the Gusties or coaching staff, you sure seem to know alot about their recruits this year

[BETHEL34]

Question for the board??? 

Which sport do the best athletes come from?

We have been debating this at work and I would love you hear some of your opinions...

Little update from Bethel Land...Moberg has been working out a lot this summer and has lost about 20 pounds of his "baby fat" and putting on some muscle.  He is looking a lot quicker and I can't see him not putting up close to 20 points a game this year.  Even with Timmy getting his.  Also, Max Holmgren is back and looking really good.  He had some personal issues second semester last year that made him take the semester off, so he will be coming back as a freshmen and could be giving bethel a solid 15 mins a game.  Great scoring spark off the bench...kind of reminds me of a Matt Fredrickson but stronger.