MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[abominable_snowman]

I will go back to this time and time again but is it possible that SMU had UST doing uncharacteristic things which hindered them from playing the type of ball they were comfortable with? I wasn't at the game and it sounds like you have a pretty good feel for the game or were possibly there. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure I would draw many comparisons to Sean Sweeney and Brady Brink. Where I do think Sean was the heart and sole of that 05-06 Tommie team, he had some guys to fall back on. Schnettler, Ike, Keating...these were possibly the 3 of the best players in the conference last year not to mention Joe Shimek. I think the load on Brink's shoulders is a little bit greater than it was for Sweeney on that team. Your point is well taken that with a strong leader a team can do wonders, but a 5 person team with a great leader against a 12 person team with a very good leader may be outmatched in the wear and tear of the MIAC season.

Sometimes the oppsing team beats you, sometimes you beat yourselves.  I was not at the game, but form what I hear it was more of the latter.  But don't get me wrong, I'll give credit to  the birds for making it a good game. And if they continue to work hard, they'll ge theirs.

My reference to Sweeny is just to highlight one specific characteristic, that Bethel34 alludes to in his post. It's that willingness to do the dirty work, to carry the team on their back, to ignite the spark when things get dark.

Keep up the posting hoops, a little controversy makes the board hot and fun.

[abominable_snowman]

TOMMIEHOOPS4LIFE, I DO NOT HAVE YOUR PICKS YET FOR TONIGHT.


Good job everyone else on nice early pics.  Should be some fun games tonight!

[piperinsider]

I love all the Piper posters on here. Nothing like a 2-0 start to jump start the wagon I've been riding for eight years straight.

Would love to make it to St. Paul tonight, but gas + getting home at 11 just isn't worth it for round No. 1 between the two best teams in the conference (as of right now).

And before you Johnny fans get on me - who have you beat? That's right, you're No. 3.

Have fun tonight gents - let's meet postgame for some reaction.

[Nites]

I love all the Piper posters on here. Nothing like a 2-0 start to jump start the wagon I've been riding for eight years straight.

Would love to make it to St. Paul tonight, but gas + getting home at 11 just isn't worth it for round No. 1 between the two best teams in the conference (as of right now).

And before you Johnny fans get on me - who have you beat? That's right, you're No. 3.

Have fun tonight gents - let's meet postgame for some reaction.

PI - Maybe Sumander and Finsleft will loan you the Johnnie Bandwagon so you can carpool to the game.  I think they aren't ready to pull it out for the Johnnies just yet.  Besides, 2-0 is as good as it's going to get so this may be your only chance to jump on the Piper Bandwagon before the wheels fall off.   

[piperinsider]

MIAC Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Hamline University first-year guard Eric Clute (Hawley, Minn.), in leading the Pipers to a 2-0 start in conference play last week, Clute totaled 54 points and 10 rebounds. Against St. Olaf, Clute scored a team-high 23 points coming off the bench during the Pipers' 87-84 win, going 13-for-14 from the free throw line. During the Pipers' 87-81 upset of preseason number one Bethel, Clute tallied 31 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor. Clute was 3-for-6 from outside the arch and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line. He also pulled in eight rebounds (three offensive, five defensive). In the Bethel win, the Royals had a one-point lead with a minute remaining, but Clute scored five unanswered points to give Hamline a 85-81 lead.

[TommieHoops4Life]

AS,

Just made my picks on the other board. My apologies for the delay, it was a crazy weekend with the weather and I'm currently elbow deep in a 20-page winter sports preview.

[abominable_snowman]

AS,

Just made my picks on the other board. My apologies for the delay, it was a crazy weekend with the weather and I'm currently elbow deep in a 20-page winter sports preview.

All good--just didn't want you to miss out.  Good luck with your preview.

[sumander]

I love all the Piper posters on here. Nothing like a 2-0 start to jump start the wagon I've been riding for eight years straight.

Would love to make it to St. Paul tonight, but gas + getting home at 11 just isn't worth it for round No. 1 between the two best teams in the conference (as of right now).

And before you Johnny fans get on me - who have you beat? That's right, you're No. 3.

Have fun tonight gents - let's meet postgame for some reaction.

PI - Maybe Sumander and Finsleft will loan you the Johnnie Bandwagon so you can carpool to the game.  I think they aren't ready to pull it out for the Johnnies just yet.  Besides, 2-0 is as good as it's going to get so this may be your only chance to jump on the Piper Bandwagon before the wheels fall off.   

LMAO, +k, when time allows!

[miacwatchmen]

I love all the Piper posters on here. Nothing like a 2-0 start to jump start the wagon I've been riding for eight years straight.

Would love to make it to St. Paul tonight, but gas + getting home at 11 just isn't worth it for round No. 1 between the two best teams in the conference (as of right now).

And before you Johnny fans get on me - who have you beat? That's right, you're No. 3.

Have fun tonight gents - let's meet postgame for some reaction.

PI must be nice to have someone to ride on the wagon for once. Had to of been a lonely 8 years prior to this one. It is pretty hard to call the Pipers one of the top two teams in the league right now too. Granted two wins over projected playoffs teams are solid but that doesn't mean they are #2 in the league. I guess tonight we will see how good the pip-squeeks are. UST who defeated #1 in D-II by 1 on the road or the Hamline pipers who lost to SMSU by 24 earlier this year. Two convincing losses in Wisconsin doesn't make Hamline #2. Sorry.

This doens't mean I am defending the Johnnies either. Morris is a cupcake...(Sorry CORD) and so far in the league they haven't blown anyone out to make a case for themselves. The J's have one of the best starting 5's in the league but they will only go as high as their bench can take them and that appears, as of right now, to be not to far. Winning without ANY bench points is impressive but I am by no means proclaiming SJU as the second best team in the league. However, I would take them in a D-3 college basketball game over Hamline right now.

Also love the stiff competition over the holiday's for Hamline. Two UMAC games for Hamline over the Christmas season. Hopefully the vaunted Pipers don't take a stumble in Duluth versus Scholastica over the holiday season. 

[d3bballfollower]

Watchmen- do we really want to call Morris a cupcake?...an easy win over Concordia...a tough loss to SJU that was a lot closer than the score indicated...a win over what should end up being a Bethel team that will win atleast 15 games this year...a 3 point loss that came down to the buzzer against NAIA Mayville State...and then splitting with NAIA preseason #8 Jamestown, losting at JC 99-96 and then turning around and beating the Jimmies at home 73-68 in overtime...

I wouldn't go as far as to say Morris is a top-tier division 3 Minnesota team, but they are definitely not a cupcake...with the way they are playing I think that against the 11 MIAC schools Morris would probably go 7-4, possibly 8-3 right now...

[MiacLostProphet]

PI-  My old man has a wagon that we could use.

So the pipes get some sarcastic love and everyone turns serious.  The pipers may not end the season at the no. 2 spot, but c'mon watchmen we are just trying to have a little fun.  And losses out side of the conference, much less in Wisconsin have any affect on the pipers placement in the MIAC.  If i'm not mistaken only your Conference record really matters.....and that would be 2-0.  And to be fair i dont' think there are going to be any teams whose bandwagons hit a few bumps in the road.......mainly when they play the PIPERS! 

FEAR THE FLUTE

[miacwatchmen]

Watchmen- do we really want to call Morris a cupcake?...an easy win over Concordia...a tough loss to SJU that was a lot closer than the score indicated...a win over what should end up being a Bethel team that will win atleast 15 games this year...a 3 point loss that came down to the buzzer against NAIA Mayville State...and then splitting with NAIA preseason #8 Jamestown, losting at JC 99-96 and then turning around and beating the Jimmies at home 73-68 in overtime...

I wouldn't go as far as to say Morris is a top-tier division 3 Minnesota team, but they are definitely not a cupcake...with the way they are playing I think that against the 11 MIAC schools Morris would probably go 7-4, possibly 8-3 right now...

They play in the UMAC give me a break! They are scoring around 83 ppg while giving up right around the same number.  While their scoring offense would put them at second in the league their defense would be 9th. Defense is the way to win in this league and allowing 83 ppg wouldn't cut it for the cougars in the MIAC. I also see some matchup problems considering their tallest player is 6'5''. How would they defend MIAC teams that run with two or three guys at 6'5'' or taller? I think a record around 5-6 but 8-3 is just not possible. 

PI-  My old man has a wagon that we could use.

So the pipes get some sarcastic love and everyone turns serious.  The pipers may not end the season at the no. 2 spot, but c'mon watchmen we are just trying to have a little fun.  And losses out side of the conference, much less in Wisconsin have any affect on the pipers placement in the MIAC.  If i'm not mistaken only your Conference record really matters.....and that would be 2-0.  And to be fair i dont' think there are going to be any teams whose bandwagons hit a few bumps in the road.......mainly when they play the PIPERS! 

FEAR THE FLUTE

Prophet- The comment from PiperInsider was that he wished he could see the game tonight versus the two best teams in the league right now. When I consider the quality of teams (I guess I am the only one that does this) I take into account their entire season not just two games that have been played in the conference.  Yes Hamline is tied for 1st place in the league right now and you can hang your hats on that but it won't last. Enjoy the ride.

[MiacLostProphet]

Does anybody know if St. Thomas has a live internet feed to watch the game?  I would think they would but i couldn't find one on their site.

Watch- SJU and HAM would be a good game to watch.  You have the Iron men starting 5 for SJU against the running riot of Hamline.  It would be an interesting game.

[PTPer35]

Thanks Mike for the pictures. The scoreboard in the background tells me the Pipers trailed big in the second half.

I know SJU is 2-0, but is it safe to say that Monday's game between UST and HAM is for the title?

Edit: Trying to be funny, of course. Go Missouri!

If I'm not mistaken, there is another 'title' game tonight up at Sexton Arena between 2-0 SJU and 2-0 CAR. I'm looking forward to reading the recaps from Johnnie posters (or any others attending the game) as I'll be unable to make the trip to Collegeville.

Excluding the 27 point win by Carleton in 04-05, the average margin of victory the last five years is only 4 points at Sexton Arena with SJU 1-3 in the close games. If history is any indicator, it should be a nail biter tonight (or maybe a 27 point blowout) . This won't exactly be a battle of the benches as SJU is averaging 5 bench ppg and CAR 10 bench ppg (although CAR uses their depth a little more with Kuhl and Jonker) so whichever team outlasts the other in the crunch should come up with the W.

Look for another great Brink match-up, this time against T-Drake and possibly Rosett. I'll be impressed if Brink shoots under 50% for the first time this season.

Watchman, any idea who Brink will be guarding tonight?

[hoops10101010]

I think what prophet is trying to say is that it would be nice if someone would give the Pipers some credit. When they beat St. Olaf everyone was saying how it was a nice surprise but now that they're messing up everyone's pickem's by upsetting Bethel  all of a sudden it's not legit anymore. I think we should spend a little more time being positive about the good play rather than who is messing up. If Hamline beats Bethel it should be good for them(which some people did say), not that Bethel has bad "d" or Jeff Reck is out. They flat out lost a well played game on both sides. Period. They get another shot at em' over at Hutton Jan 26 and that should no doubt be another great game.

Any takers on how many the gruesome two-some put up for the Scots tonight???  My bet is 75% plus

I'll be back after the upset to hear how Nicolai's girlfriend dumped him right before the game or maybe Fritz stubbed his toe.    Have a good night everyone, drive safe!