MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[d3bballfollower]

79-71 with 45 seconds to go

[d3bballfollower]

Torrell with a 3 point play...79-74

[d3bballfollower]

final from Northfield...UST 85 STO 78...Nicolai with 32...he carried the Tommies to a victory

[Chica yea false identification]

FINAL

MSU- 91
SMU- 57

[PTPer35]

cMob - I might be in the area, couldn't make any games today but I can only hope to be that lucky again.

To keep beating the horse, I'm still impressed by the parody in the conference this year. The phrase anybody can beat anybody really hits home this year. It will get even more exciting when Augsburg and St. Mary's start to pull out the close ones and playoff spots are on the line.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Tommies get an 85-78 victory at Skoglund Center today. Nicolai is nothing short of an absolute stud. He will be the FOY and should be in top-3 consideration for POY. The kid is sick. He's quick, can rebound for a point guard and he flat out doesn't miss when he shoots. Had 32 today and was 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. They needed him too as Joe Scott struggled to find his shot (3-11 from the field).

Teddy Archer was a great boost with 10 points off the bench, but will be remembered in this game for a dunk. After a steal at midcourt in the first half, he sent in a 2-handed flush and followed with a Kris Humphries like flex of his arms over his head directed at the Ole students. Hilarious. He had another 1-handed dunk in the second half, as did Scott, who took off from outside the lane on the left wing for the flush, that was sweet.

The Tommies lack some size on the inside, but with their speed and athleticism, it doesn't matter, at least today it didn't. The only thing I was confused by was Fritz's lineup. In the first half, looked more like a hockey team on line changes (he used 13 guys!), but shortened it to I think 3 guys in the second half.

The Oles were very pesky and kept the margin within 12 most of the game before their second half push. I give them credit for gritty play. Hunter had 22 and so did Torell thanks to some solid outside shooting. Whoever said Banick was a mediocre PG, feel free to shut your mouth and actually watch him play. He did everything but score today, but his points came in the second half when they were much-needed. That offense moves the ball really well in the half court, and it starts with Banick (12 assists today).

It was a little sloppy at times, but overall a well-played game by both teams.

[d3bballfollower]

so my boy Banick didn't lead the Oles to victory today, but has TH4L noted, he did have 12 assists...Banick now has 55 assists and only 15 turnovers on the year...that's a 3.7 A/TO ration, which is incredible...only 1 pg in the MIAC is averaging more assists per game, that is Jon Cassens, but Cassens has 20 turnovers in 2 less games than Banick...I will shut my mouth about Banick possibly being the best pg in the league until the Oles win a few more games, but there is no denying that if you were a coach you would take a pg with a 3.7 A/TO ratio any day of the week...

[MiacLostProphet]

D3, you have opened my eyes.  I was more focused on Banick and the Oles instead of just Banick.  He is a solid point guard.  He does do a lot for his team, but doesn't have much other than personal stats to show for it.  Banick is playing a great year on an average team.

TEBOW FOR PRESIDENT.  Tebow wins, Wolves win, Gophers win.  It is a good day.

[piperinsider]

Power rankings entering the break:
1. MAC (3-0)
* Beat UST and GAC and is the onlu undefeated - enough said
2. UST (3-1)
* Still the team to beat in my mind w/ Nicolai and Scott
3. CAR (3-1)
* Tough loss to Bethel, but have showed some toughness early on
4. GAC (3-1)
* After loss to MAC, really has played well last 10 days
5. HAM (3-1)
* Definitely the surprise (good) team so far - Hipp and Clute are good
6. SJU (2-2)
* Here is a team that will get better as the season goes on
7. BET (1-2)
* Definitely the surprise (bad) team so far - talented, but?
8. CON (1-2)
* Lucky to steal one from a better STO team - name two Cobbers, I can't
9. STO (1-3)
* Another team that will get better as the season progresses
10. SMU (0-4)
* Some good things, but just can't finish out a game
11. AUG (0-3)
* Tough schedule with GAC and CAR to begin the season, no wins to show

[Drake Palmer]

TH4L - Nice recap of the Tommie - Ole game, so I'll just add a few additional comments.  You're absolutely right about Teddy Archer's dunk.  Plus, it had ripple effects throughout the rest of the game.  As for the dunk itself, technically it was just ok - say a 7 or 8 on a 10 point scale, but the post dunk reaction – off the chain!

Unlike Kris Humphries' infamous dunk in which he flexed one bicep & pointed at it with his other hand in front of the camera, Teddy went for the double bicep flex!  You could tell Archer wasn't certain what to do for a half a second, thought about it, and then he ran in front of the Ole student section with a smirk on his face & pulled off the double flex!  I think in the future, I might have to inform athletic trainers where I'm sitting in the stands so they can keep an eye on me in case I fall out from laughing too hard!  If nothing else, I'm starting to compile a nice body of work for end of season poster team awards i.e. – best dunks, players you love to hate, nicknames, helmet heads etc.   I think it's safe to say young Mr. Archer has earned a spot in several categories. 

Post Archer dunk game effect:  Of course his dunk had an inflammatory effect on the Ole student section.  Later on in the game, Archer had a couple of turnovers so a number of Ole students stood up & flexed their arms to mock him.  Good humor!

While I agree Tyler Nicolai should be a lock for the All-FY team, & could be a real force in this league for the next four years; as a PG I'd like to see him get his teammates more involved.  Hopefully as he matures & grows as a player, I think we'll see him continue to develop in this area.
-----------------------------
Steve Banick highlight.  At one point in the first half, about 25-28 feet from the basket, he unloads a great one handed bounce pass through traffic to a cutting Ole on a sweet backdoor cut & basket.  Banick looked like a center fielder firing a deep, 1-hop throw to home plate to cut off the runner.  Very nice.

[Nites]

Off Topic

Northfield's Zach Filzen (son of Carleton women's coach), a FY at D-I Northern Arizona, lit up Cal Poly for 25 last night in NAU's 85-51 win.  http://nau.newtier.com/index.php?module=pnNews&tid=1&sid=1952

[sumander]

Nites, It looks like the MN connection at NAU continues. Filzen is picking up where C-D-H alum (?) Steve Sir left off.

[Nites]

Nites, It looks like the MN connection at NAU continues. Filzen is picking up where C-D-H alum (?) Steve Sir left off.

That's right.  I'd forgotten about that.  If memory serves me correct, Sir could hit the 3 pt shot with his eyes closed.

[d3bballfollower]

Sir could most certainly shoot while sleeping...I remember seeing him and Bryan Schnettler in a gym together once...and let me just say, I have never seen such a tremendous display of shooting ability...

[sumander]

Sir could most certainly shoot while sleeping...I remember seeing him and Bryan Schnettler in a gym together once...and let me just say, I have never seen such a tremendous display of shooting ability...

D3, that would have been an awesome game of long distance h-o-r-s-e!