MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[miacwatchmen]

DrakeSJU is UST's "real" rival...to say anything else is IMO wrong...its like brother vs brother, but it is still a rivalry...maybe Gustavus because of their success on the hardwood, but when you get down to it...Johnnie-Tommie is the top rivalry in the conference...

I was asked about Fogt, he did not play yesterday, Frank has written he might be done for the year, another MRI is scheduled for Monday.

So Coach Fritz is looking for win number 500...hope it does not come tomorrow night...good motivation for the J's no doubt

Coach Whitmore did not have a good afternoon in his first visit to Collegeville, he was on the officials a little bit, but there were foul calls missed both ways, I didn't see him throw a chair, or anything like that, but I have only two eyes and have to keep them on the ball (and the missed calls )...in fact three times a Johnnie came away leaking blood after a drive or put back on the offensive end...guess how many fouls were called on those three incidents???  thats right 0, and no the Asian Sensation was not reffing, I am sure he will be at the UST/SJU game tomorrow night...

its great to see the board come alive...+K all around!

That spells serious trouble for the J's. Burtzel has been solid all year averaging 30 minutes 8 rebounds and 7 points per game this year. BUT he can't replace Fogt and anyone who follows the J's knows this. Fogt is not only one of the emotional leaders of this squad but he was a MASSIVE presence inside. Currently in 3rd place in the MIAC the J's will need Brink Leiser and Schwartz to come up huge if they want to get a home game in the playoffs.

[piperinsider]

Not a SJU hater, but w/o Fogt (which means Burtzel starts), is there anybody off the bench that can chip in? In 24 minutes yesterday, one shot, five rebounds, zero assists, one steal, one block and two turnovers?

Than again, Hamline had five bench points yesterday as Whit (I have a good vibe with him - you have to listen to Common Man to get it) limited to his rotation to really only eight players.

Tomorrow, HAM vs MAC - loser is sunk! I thinking about making the drive up if OAS is on board.

[Drake Palmer]

If this season ending injury of Fogt is true - that's an absolutely huge loss for the Johnnies. In the past 3 years I've seen him develop from a stumbling, bumbling oaf, into a very effective post player.  And Watch is right - Fogt was a real leader on this squad.

I think at this point it looks like Gac is the team to beat and are 10-1 in there last eleven. Until someone beats them, they are in the driver seat. Obviously a lot of teams are right there, but nobody is hotter. Also, some of you have been a little surprised at Gac's success when wittwer doesn't play well, but this team may be the deepest in the miac, and that offensive system promotes balance and equality. Coach hanson has surounded wittwer with some very good shooters. Sievisind, Van Sickle, Kaus, and Schmidt can all stroke, so its kind of pick your poison because you can't cover everyone. Plus if there big guy paulson can play like he did last night, who knows how tough they can be.

On the other end of the size spectrum - might mite Tyler Kaus.  Sparty - Kaus is the real key that turns the Gusties engine.    Actually the loss to Mac & Abe W. back in November might have been a good wakeup call. It forced GAC to start developing & playing more of their guards - Schmidtknecht, Kaus, & yes, Schmidt. 

With the style of ball it looks like Hamline is trying to develop under Whitmore, Bethel ball, & UST's deep, more guard oriented team, Gusties' coach Hanson is just making good use of his talent.

[piperinsider]

From the SC Times:

Burtzel's efforts were especially important because of Fogt's absence. After missing the first six games of the season due to a knee injury in the preseason, the 6-9 senior had returned for the past seven games and was averaging 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.

But he hurt the knee again in last Saturday's 70-60 victory over Augsburg and it had been swollen all week. Fogt has another MRI scheduled for this week and hopes to return this season. But he said Saturday that he is also preparing for the fact that his season may be over.

If that proves to be the case, Johnnies coach Jim Smith said the team will look into pursuing a medical redshirt.

"We'll see what the MRI says," Fogt said after Saturday's game. "Maybe it will turn out to just be bone bruise and I'll be able to play again with a lot of ice. I just don't know right now."

"I wish he could come back," added Smith, who picked up the 680th victory of his collegiate career. "We'd love to have him. He means so much to our team. But you don't want to see a guy get permanently injured. So we're going to be cautious."

[miacwatchmen]

Not a SJU hater, but w/o Fogt (which means Burtzel starts), is there anybody off the bench that can chip in? In 24 minutes yesterday, one shot, five rebounds, zero assists, one steal, one block and two turnovers?

PI- There isn't anyone else!! Thats been the knock all year on the J's after their first 5 or 6 players no one has stepped up and contributed consistently. This may be contributed to a lack of experience. Looking at the J's season box score their top 6 players (Brink, Leiser, Schwartz, Fogt, N. Johnson, Burtzel) all average near or above 24 mpg. The other 9 players who have played this year only 1 was even on the team last year!! Its hard to throw freshman and sophmores into the fray at this time of the year and expect a major impact. The J's have a very talented group of freshman but aside from Burtzel and Schwartz it appears most of them aren't ready to play at the varsity level.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Drake:  SJU is UST's "real" rival...to say anything else is IMO wrong...its like brother vs brother, but it is still a rivalry...maybe Gustavus because of their success on the hardwood, but when you get down to it...Johnnie-Tommie is the top rivalry in the conference...

Agreed....UST/SJU is always THE rivalry... no goats, no lutefish, no trolls, just hard-nosed battles

So Coach Fritz is looking for win number 500...hope it does not come tomorrow night...good motivation for the J's no doubt

VJ-- I'm not sure how that motivates SJU, but I know this much, it is a HUGE incentive for UST... my guess is the Toms would like to see a game like any of the lat 3 SJU @ UST games...and my hunch says that will be the outcome, especially if Fogt is sidelined. SJU has essentially no bench, while Fritz goes 10-12 deep game in and game out. The Tommies speed, quickness and intensity will wear down SJU.

WATCH & Drake-- you planning to show at the Shoe?   

[Drake Palmer]

...Tomorrow, HAM vs MAC - loser is sunk! I thinking about making the drive up if OAS is on board.

PI- you're right, the magic number seems to be 11, as in 11 conference losses & still make the playoffs.  In the past 5 years, only STO with a 9-11 record in the 06-07 season, & UST in the 03-04 season made the playoffs with a 9-11 conference record.  Otherwise, the 6th place playoff teams had conference records of 10-10.  So the Pipes at 4-5 can only afford 5-6 more conference losses, & at 3-6, the Scots can only drop 4-5 more games. 

The Oles are more than mathematically alive at 4-6, but at 2-7, Augsburg has got a paper thin margin of error, & realistically, SMU is trying to build a solid foundation for next season.

[miacwatchmen]

Drake:  SJU is UST's "real" rival...to say anything else is IMO wrong...its like brother vs brother, but it is still a rivalry...maybe Gustavus because of their success on the hardwood, but when you get down to it...Johnnie-Tommie is the top rivalry in the conference...

Agreed....UST/SJU is always THE rivalry... no goats, no lutefish, no trolls, just hard-nosed battles

So Coach Fritz is looking for win number 500...hope it does not come tomorrow night...good motivation for the J's no doubt

VJ-- I'm not sure how that motivates SJU, but I know this much, it is a HUGE incentive for UST... my guess is the Toms would like to see a game like any of the lat 3 SJU @ UST games...and my hunch says that will be the outcome, especially if Fogt is sidelined. SJU has essentially no bench, while Fritz goes 10-12 deep game in and game out. The Tommies speed, quickness and intensity will wear down SJU.

WATCH & Drake-- you planning to show at the Shoe?   

MM- I think you hit the nail on the head with your assestment of this years version of "The Rivalry".

As for an appearance at the Shoe tomorrow night.  Depending on when I finish my work for the day I may head down and watch at least part of the game. I'll give you a call if I make my way down there.

[Drake Palmer]

Agreed....UST/SJU is always THE rivalry... no goats, no lutefish, no trolls, just hard-nosed battles

VJ-- I'm not sure how that motivates SJU, but I know this much, it is a HUGE incentive for UST... my guess is the Toms would like to see a game like any of the lat 3 SJU @ UST games...and my hunch says that will be the outcome, especially if Fogt is sidelined. SJU has essentially no bench, while Fritz goes 10-12 deep game in and game out. The Tommies speed, quickness and intensity will wear down SJU.

WATCH & Drake-- you planning to show at the Shoe?   

The UST - SJU game should be dandy, but based on the current standings, GAC vs. UST part 2 will be the can't miss game of the year. I'd equate it to when the Tommies lost up in C-ville last year & came back to lay the smack down, & put the wood to the Johnnies in the rematch.  Sorry Watch, Sum, VOJ etal - those games were awesome.

Before I leave this topic of Johnnies & Tommies...Uncle Mose, tell that story again about old man Shaughnessy & how he got booted out of SJU & enrolled at UST.  (That's got to be one of the best sport stories in  MIAC history, along with the Sonny Gulsvig wallet story  )

My personal spectator rating of games tomorrow night:

1) GAC @ Carl
1A) SJU@ UST

2) BET @ AUGS (this could be a monster slug fest)
2A) MAC @ HAM

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Before I leave this topic of Johnnies & Tommies...Uncle Mose, tell that story again about old man Shaughnessy & how he got booted out of SJU & enrolled at UST.  (That's got to be one of the best sport stories in  MIAC history, along with the Sonny Gulsvig wallet story  )

Even I'm not old enough to remember that story firsthand, but as I've heard it he was booted from SJU for inbibing (most likely in Hamms), got canned, enrolled at CST, became filthy rich, donated a ton of $$ to ST, St Kates and nearly every other private school or charity in the area-- EXCEPT SJU/CSB

talk about holding a grudge!

[VOJ]

Cobbers 71 st. marys' 44

[MiacLostProphet]

wow sorry for the long break, i have been away for a awhile. 

This DunKujolic news really isn't news, this is what has been happening all season.  It is like a roller coaster ride.  Zev starts, doesn't play second half.  Zev doesn't play first half, ends up with 2 dunks and some buckets in a win.  Then Zev plays for a bit, then doesn't, and now he does.  Maybe its consistency that is causing this, But i really don't know.

The Marshall connection at Hamline has all left.  Defensive stopper Sam Weiner, Coach Wohler, and now Mike Kaiser have left the program.  Since Pierre has showed up on Snelling Mike's time has nearly vanished.  It is sad, he was a good shooter and could finish with either hand around the basket.

PI - Jannings is going pro.  and you keep watching those WMHS scores, in a year or two you might be seeing some familiar names in there....

[TommieHoops4Life]

As long as Brad Panning isn't reffing at UST Monday night, I'm happy. He and his hair shouldn't be allowed into Schoenecker.

WW,

I gotta go with PI on this one. Covering state danceline is one of my favs of the winter season Not a fan of work this weekend though, true team state swimming and conference dance championships. Gonna keep me from my MIAC hoops fix, yuck. I'll most likely get my first glimpse of Gustavus at Carleton tomorrow night, should be interesting.

[piperinsider]

My Monday night: webcasting the Hamline game

Prophet-
At one point last week Zev's name was off the roster, so that is why he has been brought up lately. And than all of a sudden he's back in uniform Saturday.

[Willy Wonka]

PI - Who got upset at your KU girl post?