MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sumander]

PI, It's still early, but I think that a 10-10  record takes the last spot in the playoffs. I can't see MAC going 7-3 in the second half either.

[concordia of the north]

macalester has no chance for the playoffs.  they are tail-spinning so fast that they remind me of that cartoon.

i don't think hamline will make the playoffs either. it looks like things are pretty set in stone with st. thomas, gustavus, carleton, st. john's, concordia, and bethel.  I think from carleton down to bethel there can be any degree of change. st. thomas could even fall out of the first round bye.  i think gustavus is playing too tough right now to predict they'll drop from the top two. 

here's why concordia will get in: st. john's, st. thomas, and carleton all head up to moorhead, the game versus bethel should hopefully be tight with the cobbers wanting some measure of revenge. 

[Willy Wonka]

TH4L and C of N — Annually, the Gusties are hardly worthy of a second look from those expecting a flashy performance. Some call their style boring and rarely do they dominate or overwhelm an opponent. But they continue to win, as they did last night on the road against what was/is the third best team in the league.

The Gusties are currently 12-3 and could very easily be 14-1, if you employ the double-edged philosophy of flopping outcomes of tight home games against Luther and Mac — two teams who have since struggled. They are one of two MIAC teams currently receiving votes in the top 25 poll...and very likely would be a top 15 team if they'd defended their home court.

What's my point? Whether you were impressed with individual players or not isn't particularly relevant. The sum has, and always be, greater than the whole at Gustavus.

If you need further evidence, ask Drake how super-slow-footed Kane happened to sneak his way onto his All-Defensive Team

[columbianmaffia]

I can't speak for c-mob, but I'm getting a little confused again about the Geese. I was under the impression the Goose was not loose tonight since Zorro missed the game tying 3-pointer, but then I noticed the added Snelling Ave Goose. Now I understand. There is a Northfield Goose just as there is a Hamline Goose. Its all coming together... 

when in doubt about a goose or some geeses...just look for a flying V and it will come together

dont get caught feeding the geese though

[miacwatchmen]

Bethel will finish 12-8 in the conference at worst (they get GAC, UST, CARL, & CORD all at home the second time through!).  They will be playing at UST in the "Shoe" for the conference championship...Mark it down.   

BNB, the Royals are the only playoff contending team (top 7 teams) with 6 home games in the second half of the year. I still can't see them going 7-3 in the second half, given their inconsistent play thus far. Saturday will be a big test for them as the play 1 of their 4 "road" games @ HAM.

SUM- I believe the Oles finish the last half of the season with 6 home games as well. HAM, CORD, Auggie Tech, BET, GAC, and CAR. I know you stated that BET is the only team in the top 7 with this schedule but if the Oles can go 4-2 at home and win a couple on the road at SJU, MAC, SMU, or UST they would hit 10-10. It would be tough but you can't count them out if we are thinking 10-10 gets you in.

I can't speak for c-mob, but I'm getting a little confused again about the Geese. I was under the impression the Goose was not loose tonight since Zorro missed the game tying 3-pointer, but then I noticed the added Snelling Ave Goose. Now I understand. There is a Northfield Goose just as there is a Hamline Goose. Its all coming together... 

when in doubt about a goose or some geeses...just look for a flying V and it will come together

dont get caught feeding the geese though

Once as a small child I had my hand bitten by a rather large goose when I was attempting to feed him. All should heed the advice of CMOB in this case.

[sumander]

Watch, I will stick with my earlier statement " the 6 playoff teams will come form the top 7 teams in the standings as of 1/21/08".

You must have forgotten the Koz factor!

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I'd have to say that UST & GAC are clearly the top of the conference, and are locks for no lower than 4th place and more realistically they will be the top 2.  From what I've seen, I'd say Cord could easily end up in 3rd-- in addition to the schedule factor pointed out, their young players (particularly Olmscheid, Lein and Olson) are playing like vets. Car has the talent to end up 3rd, but the bench is the thinnest I've seen on a playoff contender and because of this, they are an injury away from missing the playoffs. Bethel has too much talent to not make the playoffs, but they are not consistent enough to crack the top 3. Of the top 6 teams in the standings at the moment, the one with the biggest worries about making the playoffs has to be SJU. Having seen them 3X this year, I see a team with one incredibly talented player (Brink), a loose cannon who misfires far too often (Lieser), some good role players (Burtzel and Schwartz) and a decent PG who isn't much of a scoring threat (Johnson). The bench is almost as lean as Car's and without Fogt, they lack a presence in the paint. They could tailspin similar to what Mac is experiencing. HAM has the talent to overtake them for 6th, but again lacks consistency; Olaf could sneak in at 6th. Mac needs things to revert back to early December levels ASAP or they are doomed. Aug might pull off a few upsets, but is not a threat to make the playoffs. SMU--- well, Drake, make your reservation. The Birds are toast 

[concordia of the north]

miacmaniac: to piggyback off of your comments...

those freshmen on Cord's roster also need to be considered rising stock.  a team laden with young talent is less static than a veteran roster.  they have the potential for greater change over the course of a season, i mean.  there is a downside, of course.  the team laden with young talent may have greater potential for improvement, but in a tight spot experience can count more than burgeoning talent.

regardless, the progress of the youngsters should bode well for regular season advancement. the cobbers should become a tougher team to beat as the conference season winds down.  no promises about OT in a playoff game, though, you see.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Good lord, I make a couple comments on what I'd like to see a little differently from the Gusties and I'm ripping them a new one??

From what I had heard and read going into last night, Paulson had the potential to dominate a game inside. He didn't do that, but he did have a couple nice sequences. With a little work in the weight room, he'll be a solid MIAC post player.

I've always admired GAC for their patient, and as WW stated, sometimes boring approach, mainly because it's so effective. Who wants to play defense for 35 seconds on every possession of a game? They play basketball the way it was meant to be played, as a team. DesLauriers is solid, I'd just like to see him look for his shot more. GAC was at its best last night when the floor was spaced and the ball was moving.

Carleton has a bunch of forwards trying to play in the post because they have no other choice. They need a guy like Forkrud or Tanner Schieck back in there.

I'm not and will never be a "fan" of Carleton or St. Olaf. They play in the town I work in as a sports journalist, so they provide the easiest/closest venue for me to take in D-3 Hoops. I'm a Tommie and will always be. I've built good relationships with Koz and Kalland, but you'll never see me cheering for the Knights or the Oles.

[concordia of the north]

i would like to hear more people talk about the augsburg-bethel game.

isn't this kind of a big deal? essentially the consensus pre-season #1 has the 7th best record, and has just closed the first half of the conference season losing to a cellar dweller when they really should have had all the motivation in the world.

[columbianmaffia]

watch

+k for goose picture

TH4L

would you still not cheer for those teams if they were in the NCAA tourney playing a WIAC team?

i would...but i have a lot of teams i like in the MIAC for various reasons...the Knights just happen to be my favorite of my favorites

[concordia of the north]

or what if the oles were playing the knights?

you obviously can't hope for both teams to lose.   wouldn't whichever team you less desire to lose reasonably be the team for which you are cheering?

[concordia of the north]

i retract, Gacbacker!

I see that you had actually picked carleton over gustavus.  I now understand that you are not a zealot, but a traitor!

[VOJ]

  The Jays didn't muster anything close to a comeback as I kept expecting them to do.

That would be at least 4 games in a row at the Schoe that the J's rolled over and played dead after a big UST run!

Nice column from Ruesse on Fritz getting #500

Sum...you are a little harsh...yes the J's struggled with the  run the Tommies made but for 20 minutes they played the Toms even, something to build on...

So does Joe Scott molest everyone he guards?  He better hope he does not get a crew that calls everything, he could end up next to Fritz instead of on the floor.

The Tommies have a great team they move well, the shoot well, they even rebounded well last night,  I was hoping the J's would hold them off the boards but that did not happen. 

J's will re-group and go to Concordia and give a great effort tomorrow night against surging Concordia...it should be a great game...Sum you gonna make it over for that one?  IF so say hello, would have been nice if Drake would have introduced himself last night or any other poster who was at the Shoe...

[PTPer35]

Gacbacker, I was just pointing out the fact that you and I care a little more about the outcome of the game than. TH4L is a Tommie and thats why I said he was more like Switzerland. Nothing you said was insanely biased but it had a little black n gold slant to it...thats all.

watchman - I once had my hand bitten off by a goose when I was trying to feed it at a golf course. In return, I stole his eyeball.