MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[VOJ]

Sum...yes stiller will start, Burtzel will come off the bench...I would not call it burning up fouls, Stiller has progressed terrifically this season into a bonafide low post threat...he had 12 against  Concordia and I think 8 against Carleton...

its been fun to watch guys develop this year, Isetts, Schwartz, Burtzel, and Stiller

Oh Sum and any other Johnnies backer...last night's Red Tie Galla at the Northland Inn was a great event, it was the 1st annual and over 200 people were in attendance, I am hoping there is a second....Kudos to Blake Elliott, Jim Platten, Tom Stock and others who helped to plan the meet and greet...John G. got his check from Liberty Mutual which he donated to SJU, alot of J's coaches around, a fun night had by all...

[piperinsider]

gacbacker-
True, true, not everyone is all about the negative on KFAN. 9-12 is okay, if you want to hear about the Vikings every day, and not much else. 12-2 is just recycled every day. 2-4 is okay, nothing flashy, but still quite cynical. The guy I can't stand is on from 4-7. I mean, I never heard him give anyone any good vibes from Minnesota. Maybe I'm just not listening at the right time, but that's just what I think.

Really? Common is my hero! You have to get the bit, I guess. People take him too seriously, but remember he was the one saying trade Hunter last summer for a bunch of prospects. He was the one who said trade Santana before the winter meetings end, or you wouldn't get fair value. He was the one who has picked the Giants every week.

Wow, what a great sports mind.

Sum...yes stiller will start, Burtzel will come off the bench...I would not call it burning up fouls, Stiller has progressed terrifically this season into a bonafide low post threat...he had 12 against  Concordia and I think 8 against Carleton...

its been fun to watch guys develop this year, Isetts, Schwartz, Burtzel, and Stiller

Townswick? I've been waiting for him to do something offensively, but maybe that's not his role right now as a reserve.

[Willy Wonka]

Mafia...I understand how you could think that the MIAC is down this year...but I take the angle that it is more competitive this year, without a super team or two like we have had in recent years...when Auggy can go to GAC and win, the J's and Royals both win at Carleton...Oles get the better of what was a hot Concordia team it just echoes what every coach has told me this year...if you don't play well you won't win on a given night mediocre efforts and performance get you the L in this league...

Didn't you just basically say one thing and then argue the other? The MIAC is full of parity this year and that does not bode well for 2-3 teams getting a tourney berth.

When everything is said and done, the Gusties could very well be kicking themselves for home losses against Luther (2-8, 6-12), Macalester (4-8, 6-11) and Auggie Tech (4-8, 6-11).

Drake - There was a reason I waited until well after supper on a Friday night to post the Berman bit. If you're stuck at the office during that time, I'm guessing a little volume won't hurt anybody.

[big_shocker]

Don't get me wrong, it's okay to like KFAN. It's just that I don't really think it's all that great. And yes, Common is something you just have to get or not. Just an opinion thing, nothing more, nothing less.

I was wondering, and maybe I'm just too lazy to check this out, but what was the last team to enter the current MIAC? I was just thinking how much of a difference that last team makes (like could we have a 6 team playoff, would the lack of one more game create more room for non-conference games, etc). Mostly I was just thinking how restless it makes you feel when your team is on the bye week.

[WeRFans]

Insert your favorite phrase.  Ouch, uff da, and "or oh crap not again" come to mind.

HAM @ Auggie was another afternoon of watching the otherwise Magic Clute Flute spend more time with the trainer than he did on the floor and we all know what that means.  No blood, no foul, but it looked like it might be a broken nose.   

[bleednavyblue_GoBU]

P.S.  I am going to go out there and predict a Bethel win up at SJU this weekend!  They are due up there!!  They have come close the last couple of years, but just can't get it done!  Also, they have had enough of that darn arena (SEXton Arena) mocking their religious convictions and it is time to end this tomfoolery!  Anybody want to predict otherwise??


Nice call - Yeah BABY...BU wins 78-66!


Huge win for the Royals! 

They get Carleton and UST at home this week.  I predict they win one of those two...not sure which one. 

It is good to be a Royal!

[big_shocker]

Sadly, HAM and MAC are now mathematically eliminated from possibly taking first place. AUG will join them either with a UST win or an AUG loss.

Nice job BU- now there's a three way tie for third with BU only a half a game back. This looks like a fight to the finish.

[VOJ]

Mafia...I understand how you could think that the MIAC is down this year...but I take the angle that it is more competitive this year, without a super team or two like we have had in recent years...when Auggy can go to GAC and win, the J's and Royals both win at Carleton...Oles get the better of what was a hot Concordia team it just echoes what every coach has told me this year...if you don't play well you won't win on a given night mediocre efforts and performance get you the L in this league...

Didn't you just basically say one thing and then argue the other? The MIAC is full of parity this year and that does not bode well for 2-3 teams getting a tourney berth.

When everything is said and done, the Gusties could very well be kicking themselves for home losses against Luther (2-8, 6-12), Macalester (4-8, 6-11) and Auggie Tech (4-8, 6-11).

Drake - There was a reason I waited until well after supper on a Friday night to post the Berman bit. If you're stuck at the office during that time, I'm guessing a little volume won't hurt anybody.

Wonka...more competitive to me means more parity...I think GAC and UST are great teams, but I think we can all say they are not the juggernauts we have seen in the past years...The Ike teams at UST, last years J's and of course the Espenson led teams at GAC...

Look at yesterday...give credit to the Royals they defended well and just like they have been all season long they hit their throws...it was tough to watch...also kudos to Madson, he didn't resemble the gunner I had seen earlier, he got others involved and had a great night...scuse me need some water for the crow, its a little rough going down.

I could see Bethel make a run in the tourney, if they are as consistent as they were yesterday...

Tough matchup tomorrow for the J's at St. Peter against a rested GAC squad, the Paulson-Stiller matchup should be fun to watch...Stilly has had double figures the last 4 games and a double-double yesterday

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Sadly, HAM and MAC are now mathematically eliminated from possibly taking first place. AUG will join them either with a UST win or an AUG loss.

Nice job BU- now there's a three way tie for third with BU only a half a game back. This looks like a fight to the finish.

a win Monday and UST wraps up a playoff berth. GAC needs 2 wins to wrap one up. @ wins and UST locks up a top-4 finish at worst. SMU is officially eliminated from playoff contention.

[Willy Wonka]

VOJ - So...you think the top teams in the league are closer to the bottom (parity, competitiveness, whatever you want to call it), but you still think the league deserves 2-3 teams in the tournament? Do you remember how Ike's powerhouse squad finished last year, by chance? Calling me confused by your rationale would be a gross understatement.

The Tommies have been the only "sure" thing the MIAC has this year. Their three losses have come against teams with a combined record of 34-19 — a mark that includes 6-12 Macalester. Gustavus has a nice team, but has shown a nasty tendency to not show up against the bottomfeeders. You can roll the dice for everyone else for as much consistency as they've shown.

I'm not sure how these observations will play out with the new selection standards, but I'm going to go out on a fat limb and guess not well.

[piperinsider]

Was there games yesterday?

[piperinsider]

There was...

AUG 91, HAM 71
UST 71, CAR 64
CON 87, MAC 83
BET 78, SJU 66
STO 58, SMU 49

I'll have to scan some box scores and edit once I get back from the grocery store.

[Drake Palmer]

Weekend Review Part 1.

Well, well, well, certainly an interesting day around the league & West Region this weekend.  I was out of commission as I was doing a long, boring doubleheader day doing some reconnaissance work on the league to the east – the WIAC.  Yawn - UW-Platteville & OW-Oshkosh over current league doormats UW-RF and UW-Stout.  The WIAC has their own supercharged version of the parity party going on as well, with their top 4 teams all ranked in the D3 Top 25. 

*#8 ranked UW-Whitewater & #22 ranked UW-Platteville are tied atop the conference standings at 9-2

*#20 ranked UW-Oshkosh is in 2nd place at 8-3

*#12 ranked UW-Stevens Point in 3rd place, a half game back at 7-3.

Out west in the NWC conference, league favorites, #7 ranked UPS – Univ. Puget Sound and recent league power, Whitworth who is listed in the "receiving votes category" were both upset in league play this weekend.

Down south in the IIAC, Buena Vista just lost their first conference game of the year.  At 10-1 in conference play, the Beavers hold a one game lead over 2nd place Loras 9-2, with 5 games left in conference play.

One of the reasons I'm pointing this all out.  This year our MIAC league motto should be – "high hopes, low expectations."

[Drake Palmer]

Weekend Review Part 2.  (actually, looking ahead at the upcoming week -  )

Things could get real interesting this week.  Either more separation by the two frontrunners or it could get real bunched up.

*UST (12-2): MAC, @ Bethel, GAC
*GAC (10-3): SJU, @ SMU, @ UST (& then a weird Monday night game against the Cobbs. More on this in a moment*)

*CARL (8-6): @ BET, SMU
*SJU (8-6): @ GAC, STO, @ AUGS
*CORD (8-6): HAM, @ BET
*BET (7-6): CARL, UST, CORD (Crunch week for the Royals)

*STO (7-7): AUGS, @ SJU, @ MAC

*AUGS (5-8):  @ STO, MAC, SJU (realistically, this is the playoffs or bust week for the Dawgs.  And, IMO they have the most difficult remaining schedule of the playoff pretenders/contenders)

Mathematically, Ham (5-9) & MAC (4-9) are still alive, but they would have to pull off a Disney like recovery to slip into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Scots don't have enough firepower or rebounding-- they were out-rebounded by 20 boards in their loss to the Cobbs yesterday.  And Lord Admiral Whitmore's Hamline crew seems to be suffering from scurvy, and injuries – both physical & emotional. 
***************************************
*I've noticed in past years, sometimes the Cobbs would come down to the cities on a Saturday for a game, drive to Winona after the game & spend the night, play the Cards the next day, & drive back to Moorhead Sunday night.

They've already done this sequence earlier this year, but here's a new variation.  Concordia plays Bethel in a late game on Saturday - 6:00PM, and then on Monday the 11th when the rest of the league has the night off, the Cobbs are playing at Gustavus.  CON, Willy or anyone else, have you heard an explanation for this quirky scheduling? Are the Cobbs driving back up to Moorhead, or staying in the TC's area for two nights?

[piperinsider]

Looking at the HAM/AUG box, I just noticed something...Hamline has no legit outside shot on their roster. Thrasher and Carroll hit a few, but here are some numbers to chew on:

Pipers have hit 108 three's (33 percent) - opponents have hit 135 (39 percent) - four teams have less 3's than Hamline.

Piper leaders:
Thrasher - 27
Carroll - 16
Hayes - 15
Clute - 13
Kujolic - 12

MIAC leaders
Scott - 43
Ranwick - 41
Woldeslassie - 41
Schwartz - 40

Hamline has now lost eight of nine games. Ouch.

Rhobelle Tekle starts for the first time and scores 11; Erik Gusaas had a career-high 19; one proble, Hamline plays no defense.

Oh, and if I'm Aaron Van Der Stoep, I transfer. Is it that big of a jump from Class A to the MIAC where the kid plays only one minute for a seventh place team?