MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[big_shocker]

There's nothing like having it all come down to this, regarding AUG/BU.

I'm cheering for AUG to get in, because it's always nice to have some new teams in the conference playoffs, even though that sounds hypocritical because my team, GAC, is a member of the MIAC playoff establishment.

Does anyone really enjoy traveling up to CON?

[BBTommie]

I'm sure the coaching staff doesn't want to switch up the starting lineup.  You can't argue with what their record has been for the year.  Every team hits a few snags, look at Duke.  2 losses in 4 days.  This is probably what the Tommies needed if they thought they could coast since they wrapped up the conference.  Fritz has been here many times in the past and he will have the players FULL attention going into Saturday and the playoffs.

You're probably right about maintaining the consistently. This time of the year, with a lot of flu and other crap going around, a single bad game by any player may be more the result of health than readiness to play. 

On the other hand though, it seems strange that Baker keeps starting and is averaging only 14 minutes and 6 points.  At this point in the season I would hope there is someone else who could get them off to a better start at his position. 

Eicher and Halvorson are about the same size and are averaging a bit more PPM and comparable RPM's. 

Anyone have any insight on why Baker has started every game and played so little?

[Drake Palmer]

Triple Post:

I can understand a coach not wanting to mess up what's been a good thing at least in terms of a lineup. And with the way UST subs this year it doesn't really matter who starts.  8+ players are averaging over 10 minutes per game. 

Interestingly, for whatever reason, it looks like Bethel's Tim Madson wasn't in the starting lineup for the first time all season. 

## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
05 Rob Lang............ *  0-2    0-0    2-2    2  1  3   0   2  2  2  0  2  17
24 Mike Much........... *  3-7    0-0    0-0    2  8 10   2   6  3  2  0  1  28
30 Nick Otterson....... *  6-11   2-6    0-0    0  3  3   0  14  2  2  0  2  25
32 Shane Flannery...... *  3-7    2-4    0-0    2  3  5   0   8  0  0  0  1  27
44 Mike Moberg......... * 10-12   0-0    6-8    3  7 10   3  26  2  0  2  2  27
10 Tyler Brown.........    4-6    3-4    0-0    0  2  2   2  11  4  3  0  0  19
20 Tim Madson..........    4-13   1-4    2-2    0  1  1   2  11  2  5  0  0  28
33 Jeff Reck...........    2-3    0-1    0-0    2  2  4   1   4  0  2  0  0  14
34 Jon Altena..........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
52 JJ Palmer...........    3-7    0-0    0-0    2  2  4   1   6  0  3  0  0  13
54 Matt Johnson........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1

Maybe the burden of doing all the heavy lifting for Bethel all season is starting to weigh down on Madson's shoulders.  It seems he's not had a good statistical night shooting the ball in several weeks.
***

[Drake Palmer]

Post 2:

Voj brings up a good point regarding the "X" factor in the Bethel –Augsburg game this Saturday.  A very big key "X" factor in Augsburg's 2nd half resurgence has been the rediscovery of their outside shooting eye.  Cassens, David Olson, Justin Koslowski, FY Matt Quammen & even Mitch Dice have all had clutch outside shooting games.

In the Dawgs game against the Cobbs on Saturday, Augsburg was 8-15 from beyond the arc in the first half alone.  You take that shooting performance away from Augsburg & you could end up with a Sumo wrestling match like the Cobbs & Tommies had last night.

I may revisit this topic in a day or two, but the outside shooting for the Dawgs will be critical in their match-up against Bethel.  Two Augsburg players will have key roles:  Justin "the Fire Hydrant" Koslowski & Carlius Hodges.  Koslowski is a small mobile tank on the court & has a nice shooting touch.  Hodges is quick-quick, can run the point for a spell to let Cassens play the 2, & is an excellent on the ball & weak side defender. He does all those little things that don't always show up in the stat sheet.  He will definitely be a name to watch out for next season.

The outside shooting has really opened up the middle for Femi Solaja to do his thing & vice versa for the shooters. 

Another little known fact: Augsburg's Femi Solaja & Bethel's Jeff Reck were high school teammates at St. Paul Harding High School. Back in the day about 4-6 years ago, St. Paul teams had a nice little run of basketball success & players from Harding, Johnson & Highland Park.

[Drake Palmer]

 # 3

It will be interesting to hear Mose's slant on the Tommies-Cobbs game when he returns. This year's version of the Tommies has a decidedly outside focused game, but it would still be nice to see the guards penetrate & drive to the basket, & get to the FT line. 

If you look at the front page of the Cobbs website below, you can see a good reason why the Cobbs won. Guard Erik Lien is driving to the basket while Tyler Nicolai, the Tommie defender is playing picture-perfect matador defense. 

The Matador & Bull

[Drake Palmer]

And the beat goes on...

Before any Tommie fans slash their wrists, they should be assured upsets are happening all around the country this time of the season.  Edit:  I should add, if you get beat you want the upset to happen now, not next week.   

Just to the south of us in the IIAC, league leading Buena Vista who was looking forward to the big regular season finale against 2nd place Loras College on Saturday stumbled last night.  Of all things, they tripped up against 4th place or so Central College who is coached by former Gustie assistant coach, Mike Boschee. Check this out:

Central wins 73-71 & take 57 shots.  Not so unusual you say.  Well consider this -they took (32) 3-pointers for 56% of their overall attempts, & made an astonishing 16 treys for 50%!! Sounds like Gustie offense gone whack

[piperinsider]

Another little known fact: Augsburg's Femi Solaja & Bethel's Jeff Reck were high school teammates at St. Paul Harding High School. Back in the day about 4-6 years ago, St. Paul teams had a nice little run of basketball success & players from Harding, Johnson & Highland Park.

Highland Park grad here that watched a 1999 state championship title over Bob Brink and the Rocori Spartans.

Before Cretin left (or forced) the City Conference, you had some great battles.

There was some nice players that came out of that conference - if only education didn't matter.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

not sure which was worse-- the long, boring drive to Moorhead, the mind-numbing drive back, the wierd deskclerk at the motel ("its only -26 with the wind chill, so its not really cold") or the sloppy, listless play of UST. They looked as inspired as Mac did at the Shoe a few weeks ago.

The officiating crew (which I felt did a good job and was consistent throughout the night and on both ends of the court) decides that aggressive defense = fouls.  The Cobbers adjusted to the calling, while UST continued its aggressiveness, to the point of 25 fouls in the 2nd half alone, 19 before the final 4 mintues, by which time the die was cast. As others have said on here, it was a good time for UST to lay an egg with easily its poorest performance of the year. The season is a long, challenging series of battles, and if you're going to put up a stinker, doing so in a game that means nothing to you (since you've already wrapped up the top spot) is a good time to do it. It definitely beats having a horrid night in the Playoffs of NCAAs.

But I do love "Da Barn O De Nord"! A few years back, someone on here knocked the gym up there-- HOW could you say something bad about that place?

Looking forward to a triple header Sat-- Bennies @ UST with top seed on the line, then over to BU for the Big Showdown and finally up to C-ville  (hopefully, if I get there by 7:20 I will be able to find a seat) 

[Willy Wonka]

Looking forward to a triple header Sat-- Bennies @ UST with top seed on the line, then over to BU for the Big Showdown and finally up to C-ville  (hopefully, if I get there by 7:20 I will be able to find a seat) 

Sounds like you'll need a turdy pack of Hamms for the road with all the driving you've got planned 

[miacwatchmen]

Looking forward to a triple header Sat-- Bennies @ UST with top seed on the line, then over to BU for the Big Showdown and finally up to C-ville  (hopefully, if I get there by 7:20 I will be able to find a seat) 

Sounds like you'll need a turdy pack of Hamms for the road with all the driving you've got planned 

Stroh's Light and Stroh's also come in turdy packs if your not a Hamm's guy Drake!!

[PTPer35]

Post 2:

Voj brings up a good point regarding the "X" factor in the Bethel –Augsburg game this Saturday.  A very big key "X" factor in Augsburg's 2nd half resurgence has been the rediscovery of their outside shooting eye.  Cassens, David Olson, Justin Koslowski, FY Matt Quammen & even Mitch Dice have all had clutch outside shooting games.

In the Dawgs game against the Cobbs on Saturday, Augsburg was 8-15 from beyond the arc in the first half alone.  You take that shooting performance away from Augsburg & you could end up with a Sumo wrestling match like the Cobbs & Tommies had last night.

I may revisit this topic in a day or two, but the outside shooting for the Dawgs will be critical in their match-up against Bethel.  Two Augsburg players will have key roles:  Justin "the Fire Hydrant" Koslowski & Carlius Hodges.  Koslowski is a small mobile tank on the court & has a nice shooting touch.  Hodges is quick-quick, can run the point for a spell to let Cassens play the 2, & is an excellent on the ball & weak side defender. He does all those little things that don't always show up in the stat sheet.  He will definitely be a name to watch out for next season.

The outside shooting has really opened up the middle for Femi Solaja to do his thing & vice versa for the shooters. 

Another little known fact: Augsburg's Femi Solaja & Bethel's Jeff Reck were high school teammates at St. Paul Harding High School. Back in the day about 4-6 years ago, St. Paul teams had a nice little run of basketball success & players from Harding, Johnson & Highland Park.

Both were considerably thinner as well...I'd guess they were both 180lbs max senior year in high school...now each looks around 235.

[Drake Palmer]

Another little known fact: Augsburg's Femi Solaja & Bethel's Jeff Reck were high school teammates at St. Paul Harding High School. Back in the day about 4-6 years ago, St. Paul teams had a nice little run of basketball success & players from Harding, Johnson & Highland Park.

Highland Park grad here that watched a 1999 state championship title over Bob Brink and the Rocori Spartans.

Before Cretin left (or forced) the City Conference, you had some great battles.

There was some nice players that came out of that conference - if only education didn't matter.

PI – Funny line, but as you & I both know, not a 100% accurate.  Other than Cretin kids, the St. Paul conference has never traditionally produced many D3/MIAC type basketball players.  But higher level ball & other sports, it's certainly a different story.  In fact, there was a kid from HP – Jordan Eaton (?) who just signed with South Dakota in football.  Two year ago St. Cloud State signed about 4 kids from Highland in football.

That being said, I will readily admit the SPCC & Mpls. City conferences are down from past years & open enrollment is making an impact.  Eric Coleman at Northern Iowa should have been a St. Paul Central grad along with Isaac Rosefelt.  Although I can't blame either one of them for transferring.  Coleman open enrolled (transferred) to Tartan & Rosefelt to St. Thomas Academy.  Lamont Mack formerly of Highland Park, also transferred to Tartan & I believe is playing at UNC-Charlotte. 

Jamil Lott from Como Park played at Marquette, & his HS teammate Andre Smith was a 2-3 year starter at NDSU.  Johnson HS had a player Freddy Coleman who is a redshirt FY at NDSU & getting quality minutes.  There are also a couple of kids who are currently at some of the community colleges around the state that I wouldn't be surprised to see show up at MIAC or WIAC schools next fall.

And let me catch my breath, Johnny Tauer from UST, & Kelly Boe, the head coach at Concordia St. Paul, & an assistant coach from Augsburg are all hot on the trail of 6-5 swingman – Greg Morse from Como Park.  I've not heard what Morse's college plans are, but he could be a nice dual sport threat as he is a nice throwing QB & I think made several All-State teams.

So there. 

[Drake Palmer]

Looking forward to a triple header Sat-- Bennies @ UST with top seed on the line, then over to BU for the Big Showdown and finally up to C-ville  (hopefully, if I get there by 7:20 I will be able to find a seat) 

Sounds like you'll need a turdy pack of Hamms for the road with all the driving you've got planned 

Stroh's Light and Stroh's also come in turdy packs if your not a Hamm's guy Drake!!

Watch - I'm more of a
kinda guy, but if someone wants to enjoy a libation or two, go right ahead. 

[big_shocker]

An interesting stat regarding Saturday's BU/AUG game:

Should BU fail to win and make the playoffs, the longest current streak of consecutive playoff appearances will end. I figured that GAC or UST had the honor, but no, BU has made the playoffs for the last nine seasons, one year longer than GAC.

Of course, this only means making the playoffs. I still think BU has only made the MIAC championship game once in that same time period.

Another streak still going: GAC and UST have won the last six MIAC championships, although this one looks more likely to continue because they are the #1 and #2 seeds.

[Dawg-Dude]

Post 2:

Voj brings up a good point regarding the "X" factor in the Bethel –Augsburg game this Saturday.  A very big key "X" factor in Augsburg's 2nd half resurgence has been the rediscovery of their outside shooting eye.  Cassens, David Olson, Justin Koslowski, FY Matt Quammen & even Mitch Dice have all had clutch outside shooting games.

In the Dawgs game against the Cobbs on Saturday, Augsburg was 8-15 from beyond the arc in the first half alone.  You take that shooting performance away from Augsburg & you could end up with a Sumo wrestling match like the Cobbs & Tommies had last night.

I may revisit this topic in a day or two, but the outside shooting for the Dawgs will be critical in their match-up against Bethel.  Two Augsburg players will have key roles:  Justin "the Fire Hydrant" Koslowski & Carlius Hodges.  Koslowski is a small mobile tank on the court & has a nice shooting touch.  Hodges is quick-quick, can run the point for a spell to let Cassens play the 2, & is an excellent on the ball & weak side defender. He does all those little things that don't always show up in the stat sheet.  He will definitely be a name to watch out for next season.

The outside shooting has really opened up the middle for Femi Solaja to do his thing & vice versa for the shooters. 

Another little known fact: Augsburg's Femi Solaja & Bethel's Jeff Reck were high school teammates at St. Paul Harding High School. Back in the day about 4-6 years ago, St. Paul teams had a nice little run of basketball success & players from Harding, Johnson & Highland Park.

Excellent points on the Dawgs outside shooting. This brings about two thoughts:

Although Femi is one of the best big men in the league, I can't go with him for MVP. (Even though I could make a very strong argument to that fact). He wasn't able to carry the Dawgs during the first part of the year and it wasn't until Griess put in a three (small) wing offense to jump start the Dawgs outside shooting did they start to put it together. Compare this to a Wittwer that has just been clutch in so many games - ie that shot against Cord, money.

Second thought - Griess for coach of the year. He turned a dismal season into an exciting run. He worked his lineup until he found a winning combination. D. Olson's outside shoot opened up a lot of offense, not just Femi. Cassens and J Koz got a lot better looks. Griess has to be a serious contender if the Dawgs make the playoffs. Hats off to J Koz who has just been solid on both sides of the court this year.

I was in Winona last night. SMU's got some players. Holland took it to the Dawgs early. He's gonna be a player. They are young and will be good. SMU moved the ball real well, very unselfish play. I was impressed with their first half performance. Too bad they're like a bad t-pon right now and only good for one period.