MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MiacLostProphet]

Where is Mafia?

Carlton is winning and not a chirp.  I know the goose is loose again in northfield, has he been trying to catch it while on his roller skates again?

[miacwatchmen]

Where is Mafia?

Carlton is winning and not a chirp.  I know the goose is loose again in northfield, has he been trying to catch it while on his roller skates again?

The rollerskate clad Knight bandwagon will be out in full force shortly I'm sure. CMOB is lurking somewhere.

[Gregory Sager]

It wasn't that long ago that the Gusties played for the title and lost a tight one, was it?

Yep, which means that Willy and his eight associates in black and gold are the only MIAC alumni who have ever played in a D3 championship game. Picture Willy with Pig-Pen's voice:

Frieda: I can't go on. There's too much dust. It's taking the curl out of my naturally curly hair.

Charlie Brown: Don't think of it as dust. Think of it as maybe the soil of some great past civilization. Maybe ancient Babylon. It staggers the imagination. He could be carrying soil that was trod upon by Solomon, or even Nebuchadnezzar.

Pig-Pen: Sort of makes you want to treat me with more respect, doesn't it?

Not sure Greg, but I think Hamline played in the NCAA title game in the late 70s... will need to check my "bible" at home this evening. But as I recall, that was the era when most of what are now D-3 schools prefered to play the old NAIA tourney and the NCAA d-3 was a 4 or 8 team invite/beg. HU finished 3rd or lower in the MIAC back then, as Augs and SJU were the top dogs

According to the MIAC 06-07 media guide,  the Pipers played in the Final 4 in 1976  and again in 1977. They finished 4th one year and 2nd the other (not sure which is which). However, the Hamline website says they were a quarterfinalist in 1975, and finished 4th in 1977 (and didnt participate in the NCAA tourney in 76). Not sure which is correct.

PI-- any idea which is correct?

Hamline has never appeared in a D3 title game. This is the entirety of the Pipers' legacy in the D3 tourney:

1975
West Regional
-- first round bye --
Hamline 48, Doane 47

Midwest/West Quarterfinal
Augustana 49, Hamline 42

1977
Midwest Regional
Hamline 44, Beloit 42
Hamline 53, Central 50

Midwest/West Quarterfinal
Hamline 82, Nebraska Wesleyan 60

National Semifinal
Oneonta State 61, Hamline 56

National Third Place
Scranton 60, Hamline 59

As miacmaniac said, Hamline didn't win the MIAC either year. Augsburg and Gustavus Adolphus shared the title in 1974-75, and Augsburg won it in 1976-77. Hamline hasn't won the MIAC since the 1959-60 season.

Hamline didn't appear in the 1976 D3 tourney. The Final Four participants that March were: Scranton (1st), Wittenberg (2nd), Augustana (3rd), and Plattsburgh State (4th).

Nearly all of Hamline's other postseason triumphs have come via the NAIA:

1940: 4th place
1942: national championship
1948: 3rd place
1949: national championship
1951: national championship
1953: 2nd place

In 12 NAIA tourney appearances between 1940 and 1960 the Pipers went 36-10.

Hamline made one appearance in the NCAA College Division national tournament (the College Division split into D2 and D3 in the mid-'70s). That was in 1962; Hamline lost to Northern Iowa, 81-68, in the first round, and then won the regional third-place game by beating Grinnell, 76-69.

The D3 tourney has never been a "4 or 8 team invite/beg". Here's the number of participating teams in each edition of the D3 dance:

1975	30 teams
1976	28 teams
1977	30 teams
1978-1988	32 teams
1989-1994	40 teams
1995-1997	64 teams
1998-2005	48 teams
2006 to date	59 teams

[AO]

What a tremendous outpouring of support for the upper-tier d3 conferences.   

Now, let's actually look at what I said--Augsburg, Hamline and Olaf could match up with a lot of teams from "power conferences" most years.  Let's take a look at the UAA--Case Western, Emory and Carnegie Mellon are not going to exactly be striking fear into the ole hearts. 

We have few games to compare scores from with the power conferences and yet everyone is so quick to jump down the throat of the MIAC.  I would like to see how the MIAC might fare in another region's bracket in the tournament as facing a WIAC champ  or runner up in the first or second round has to be one of the toughest matchups in the entire bracket.

The real trouble in the argument is the lack of score comparisons as the MIAC plays an unreal 20 conference games with only 5 games left over for non-conference play as the NCAA has mandated for D3.  Is 5 more games going to ruin any hope of attending class?

[VOJ]

Remember - - Bethel started the MIAC Season 1-5 last year before running off 8 in a row and 12 out of their last 14.  Will history repeat itself???   Maybe this time they will just start taring it up after beeing 0-2?   

0-3 after tonight...I see the Knights coming out on top...they play with amazing confidence and might be more athletic

[Gregory Sager]

What a tremendous outpouring of support for the upper-tier d3 conferences.   

Now, let's actually look at what I said--Augsburg, Hamline and Olaf could match up with a lot of teams from "power conferences" most years. 

Don't be disingenuous. You said "supposed power conferences" in your original post. It was clear that you were not buying into the idea that the MIAC is not up to par with those conferences. That's a substantially bigger statement than simply saying that lower-tier MIAC teams can hang with lower-tier CCIW or WIAC or UAA or NESCAC teams.

(And, by the way, I see plenty of lower-tier CCIW and UAA teams every season. They are generally better than you are implying that they are, whether they strike fear in your ole heart or not.)

We have few games to compare scores from with the power conferences and yet everyone is so quick to jump down the throat of the MIAC.

Huh? Did you not read my post? The MIAC and WIAC have faced each other sixty times in this decade. The score thus far is WIAC 45, MIAC 15.

I would like to see how the MIAC might fare in another region's bracket in the tournament as facing a WIAC champ  or runner up in the first or second round has to be one of the toughest matchups in the entire bracket.

That sounds to me like tacit acknowledgement of the WIAC's prowess on the hardwood.

The real trouble in the argument is the lack of score comparisons as the MIAC plays an unreal 20 conference games with only 5 games left over for non-conference play as the NCAA has mandated for D3.  Is 5 more games going to ruin any hope of attending class?

That's why I provided a decade's worth of non-conference totals for the MIAC. It ensured a big enough database to establish a framework for how the conference performs in non-conference play.

[AO]

I do consider the WIAC to be the best D-3 conference in the nation, so it makes since why the MIAC has struggled against them in recent years. 

My point is that the UAA compared to the MIAC is not comparing the Big Ten or SEC to the sunbelt or horizon leagues.  It's not a big upset when a Gustavus or St. Thomas might knock off their conference champ in the post-season.  When Gustavus went to the championship game in '03, they had gone 13-7 as 4th place in the MIAC.  Yet, it wasn't a big surprise when they kept on winning games.   

[sumander]

Just catching up on some reading and found the following quote in Frank R's Blog in the SC Times website: "The Johnnies could be getting 6-9 senior post Jason Fogt back from a knee injury in the near future. He said before tonight's game that he could be ready as early as Saturday's matchup at St. Cloud State. However, Smith said he's going to be extremely cautious about bringing Fogt back. So Saturday might be a stretch."

I think the big fella's presence will be a welcome relief for the J's. Sounds like they could have used him on Monday night. I think he would make a huge difference tonight as well.

[miacwatchmen]

Just catching up on some reading and found the following quote in Frank R's Blog in the SC Times website: "The Johnnies could be getting 6-9 senior post Jason Fogt back from a knee injury in the near future. He said before tonight's game that he could be ready as early as Saturday's matchup at St. Cloud State. However, Smith said he's going to be extremely cautious about bringing Fogt back. So Saturday might be a stretch."

I think the big fella's presence will be a welcome relief for the J's. Sounds like they could have used him on Monday night. I think he would make a huge difference tonight as well.

No kidding Sum!! I like the J's chances with the Doble-Fogt matchup but Doble-Burtzel/Stiller just isn't the same flavor. The J's may have a hard time stopping the Gusties inside game tonight.

[Drake Palmer]

Wow – must be the quiet before the storm.  No chatter on the board.  Ok let me toss this out.

If MAC continues to field a competitive team (2-0 in conference play baby!  ) they could realize a significant home court advantage playing at St. Cate's.  The description Willy & others provided of the "Butler Center" (name?) is accurate – it's a funky little gym like Mac's old gym & even smaller.

I was there for the first time the other night for the MAC- SMU game.  The Birds have decent alumni & parent base here in the twin cities, so there was a small Redbird following, a nice sized MAC crowd & the place was feeling a bit tight.  I can only imagine what the crowd might be like tonight for this, yet another title    game between the high flying Scots & UST Tommies.  If you're planning on attending, you better get there early to grab a decent seat. (Or maybe I should ask, what type of crowd was at UST for their home opener the other night?)

There could be a great match up between two very quick PGs in Abe Woldeslassie & Tyler Nicolai going mano-mano on each other. And Abe always seems to shine in front of a crowd.  I can just imagine Fritz telling Nicolai – "son, this isn't about you beating Woldeslassie, it's about us winning the game against Macalester."

As was covered on the Mac website, one of the other highlights from the Scots- Birds game was in the closing seconds of the game & the score tied 70-70, Abe called out the Mac signal for "four" which is when Abe goes "iso" & the rest of the Scots flatten & spread it out by lining up across the blocks.  Fy PG Lukas Holland may very well be a good PG in the MIAC one day, but he was no match for the quick & clever Abe.  Very nice move & nice use of his left to finish the basket.

UST ranked 22nd in this week's D3 poll.

[Willy Wonka]

AO - Please stop. Your point is retarded and your facts are wrong. Again, you aren't worth the cyberspace used to continue this "argument."

As for Hamline...I did a story a few months back pertaining to a guy who played on some of those Piper squads. He's a Winger who started at Hamline...but never saw the court in high school. Why not? He and his twin brother were essentially the same player (go figure) and Red Wing coach Dick Beetch refused to play twins.

Beetch died years ago or my story might have been much juicier, but the former Piper (not to be confused with MFP) still gets fired up when he talks about it

I'm excited for tonight. The Gusties have stepped up to meet every challenge so far this year (RE: Not against the also-rans like Mac and Luther) and SJU provided plenty of motivation for GAC with the way last season ended. Plus, Doble owns SJU

I just hope we don't get the horrid refs who ran us out of the gym in the playoffs last year...

Sager - Your groveling is noted and graciously accepted

[Drake Palmer]

I'm excited for tonight. The Gusties have stepped up to meet every challenge so far this year (RE: Not against the also-rans like Mac and Luther) and SJU provided plenty of motivation for GAC with the way last season ended. Plus, Doble owns SJU

I just hope we don't get the horrid refs who ran us out of the gym in the playoffs last year...

Oooh, I forgot  - wasn't this the game Hanson got Teed up? 

Edit:  I need to retire from the board - I can't even type a 1 line reply without an edit. Sheesh!

[abominable_snowman]

I am greatly looking forward to tonight's PG matchup of Abe vs Nicolai.  If you are a fan of the 'floater' tonight should be poetic with beautiful rainbows defying gravity and dropping through the net with barely a splash. Conboy, Baker and anyone else attempting to block one of those will just end up wit a mystified look on their face as the runners are scored.

[columbianmaffia]

Where is Mafia?

Carlton is winning and not a chirp.  I know the goose is loose again in northfield, has he been trying to catch it while on his roller skates again?

The rollerskate clad Knight bandwagon will be out in full force shortly I'm sure. CMOB is lurking somewhere.

THIS JUST IN....THE GOOSE IS LOOSE!!!  GOOOOOOOSE NECK!!!
i was indeed lurking...ever since that youtube video of the asian girl rollerblading was posted people from all around the world have been after me for lessons when all i really want to do is watch basketball, oil my rollerskate wheels, yell goose neck out of the window of moving vehicles, play with silly putty, and eat BIG JUICY TRIPPLE BURGERS!!

but it is what it is and that is the life i have to live with...i predicted CAR would make the playoffs this year and they are off to a good start...i think CAR will beat BET (not the TV station but the small D3 college on the northside of the cities)...i think BET will then do its best CAR impression and try to run the table after starting out 0-3...i dont think it will work out quit like that cuz they dont have FORKrud but i think they will turn it around

i was going to go to a MIAC game tonight cuz Tubby Smith aka The Holy Man doesnt have to coach tonight...however i was just invited to the wild game and im going to go to that now...marion gaborik has asked me many times how i rollerskate with such speed, power and precision without hurting my groin...i told him i would watch him skate and give him a few pointers...but in the end a mesaged groin is a healthy groin

where the heck did my main man FunBaller go?

WW
i loved the BET defense GAC offense comment a few pages back...i dont remember it off the top of my head now but it made me chuckle

T-Bird aka Tommy Drake can D up with the best of them...Sutherland is gonna have a big game tonight

HONK HONK HONK

i just thought of something funny...remember mr ducksworth from the movie mighty ducks...when emilo estavez says quack quack quack mr ducksworth...what if there was a mr. gooseworth out there some where

i could yell HONK HONK HONK MR. GOOSEWORTH!!

time for a beer



ps...i love the "floater" and the "floater" loves me 

[BETHEL34]

Does anybody know of the "Underground Restaurant" in Northfield??  I have heard some good things about it, but have never been told the actual name of it.  I Hear it has great burgers and would like to try it out tonight before the BU Carlton game...anybody have a clue what I am talking about???