MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sumander]

For what it's worth......From Frank R's blog out of the St. Cloud Daily Planet...

Also stopped by St. John's basketball practice Wednesday. 6-9 post Michael Stiller has been sitting out because of what he said were problems with both his knees and hips. He said he had an MRI scheduled on his hip today and does not expect to play Saturday when the Johnnies take on Concordia-St. Paul in an exhibition game at Sexton Arena.

[localcoach]

Bethel's roster is up...well sort of anyways.

http://athletics.bethel.edu/roster.asp?path=mbball

A quick glance of the newcomers and a couple of names popped out at me.  Kellen Dahlquist from Foley and Lars Anderson.  Both were standouts in high school and could make early contributions for the Royals.

[Drake Palmer]

Bethel's roster is up...well sort of anyways.

http://athletics.bethel.edu/roster.asp?path=mbball

A quick glance of the newcomers and a couple of names popped out at me.  Kellen Dahlquist from Foley and Lars Anderson.  Both were standouts in high school and could make early contributions for the Royals.

I'm guessing by the end of the day or so, the Royals will have a complete roster listed with heights, numbers & high schools.  Last week when I first looked at St. Mary's roster it had all the returners listed, but not a single newcomer.  Later on that afternoon the Birds added the freshmen.

It's a sad day at the Palmer house. Carleton's outstanding senior Tommy Drake has graduated and I see no evidence of my other namesake, JJ Palmer listed on the Bethel roster.    Palmer was the burly, 6-5 post FY player who got a decent share of clock last year subbing in for "Man Mountain" Mike Moberg. Palmer looked like he could have carved out a nice career at Bethel.  Another interesting name to note on the Bethel roster is Nate Robertson who successfully made the transfer from UW-River Falls.

In a smaller surprise, I noticed Mark Mann's name listed on the roster.  Mann is a college junior & played his HS ball at New Life Academy in Woodbury where he was "Scottie Pippen" to Max Holmgren - a small school "superstar."   

Coming out of high school both Holmgren & Mann (or did Mann go to Northwestern?) decided to attend Bethel. Holmgren made varsity his freshman year, while Mann was on the JV roster. I fully expected Holmgren would go on to have a very nice/outstanding career at Bethel.  If my memory serves, Holmgren's father was a big-time quarterback for Bethel back in the 70s or 80s?  I remember Bethel34 & me both speculating with anticipation how tough Holmgren would be working with Tim Madson, & filling in when Madson needed to take a breather.  However, for some reason Holmgren quit playing ball by Christmas time, if not earlier in his freshman year.  And I never heard anymore about Holmgren or Mark Mann for the next several years.  Can anybody with ties to Bethel fill us in?

Revision:  OOH -  one last glance at the Bethel roster shows no Nick Otterson or Shane Flannery either.  Otterson was another outside scoring option, but in my opinion Flannery was the defensive glue & grittiness the Bethel teams sometimes seemed to lack.  Plus, Flannery was a larger, more physical PG than quicksilver Cory Laugen.   He also filled in more than admirably when Laugen was out with an ankle injury last winter.  Flannery's loss could be a greater impact than Palmer & or Otterson.

[Drake Palmer]

Ok – one last post to try to stir up the pre-season stew.  Out of the known returners to the league this year, who would everyone select for their Pre-season All-Fire Team?  That is - players who draw you to the edge of your seat in excitement, anticipating their next move?

I realize I may take some potshots from my esteemed colleagues in gold & black, & cardinal red & baby blue  but here goes:

Tim Madson – Bethel (turnaround J is sick)
Zach Johnson – Carleton (the reverse pivot, elbow to the opponent's midriff, baseline drive should be patented & taught at all post camps) 
Will Wright – SMU (a one man break)
Al McCoy – UST (hair going one way, body going another)
B.J. Viau – UST ( other than a J, the cat does it all – gets steals, blocks, boards, major D, huge dunks, you name it)

6th Man: Teddy Archer – UST (Teddy can take you from the penthouse to the doghouse faster than anyone else in the league)   

[miacsuperfan]

Bethel's roster is up...well sort of anyways.

http://athletics.bethel.edu/roster.asp?path=mbball

A quick glance of the newcomers and a couple of names popped out at me.  Kellen Dahlquist from Foley and Lars Anderson.  Both were standouts in high school and could make early contributions for the Royals.

I’m guessing by the end of the day or so, the Royals will have a complete roster listed with heights, numbers & high schools.  Last week when I first looked at St. Mary’s roster it had all the returners listed, but not a single newcomer.  Later on that afternoon the Birds added the freshmen.

It’s a sad day at the Palmer house. Carleton’s outstanding senior Tommy Drake has graduated and I see no evidence of my other namesake, JJ Palmer listed on the Bethel roster.    Palmer was the burly, 6-5 post FY player who got a decent share of clock last year subbing in for “Man Mountain” Mike Moberg. Palmer looked like he could have carved out a nice career at Bethel.  Another interesting name to note on the Bethel roster is Nate Robertson who successfully made the transfer from UW-River Falls.

In a smaller surprise, I noticed Mark Mann’s name listed on the roster.  Mann is a college junior & played his HS ball at New Life Academy in Woodbury where he was “Scottie Pippen” to Max Holmgren - a small school “superstar.”   

Coming out of high school both Holmgren & Mann (or did Mann go to Northwestern?) decided to attend Bethel. Holmgren made varsity his freshman year, while Mann was on the JV roster. I fully expected Holmgren would go on to have a very nice/outstanding career at Bethel.  If my memory serves, Holmgren’s father was a big-time quarterback for Bethel back in the 70s or 80s?  I remember Bethel34 & me both speculating with anticipation how tough Holmgren would be working with Tim Madson, & filling in when Madson needed to take a breather.  However, for some reason Holmgren quit playing ball by Christmas time, if not earlier in his freshman year.  And I never heard anymore about Holmgren or Mark Mann for the next several years.  Can anybody with ties to Bethel fill us in?
Revision:  OOH -  one last glance at the Bethel roster shows no Nick Otterson or Shane Flannery either.   Otterson was another outside scoring option, but in my opinion Flannery was the defensive glue & grittiness the Bethel teams sometimes seemed to lack.  Plus, Flannery was a larger, more physical PG than quicksilver Cory Laugen.   He also filled in more than admirably when Laugen was out with an ankle injury last winter.  Flannery's loss could be a greater impact than Palmer & or Otterson.

dp  i don't have official ties to bethel and can't speak for mark mann, but i do know that max holmgren would have been an outstanding player in
the miac----but was unable to keep playing because of health reasons.   and more notably as you suggested drake,  the absence of flannery (is that for real?) is another hit to the royals following the recent  loss of eric hugoson.  i had heard about otterson earlier (i think that is a big blow as well to the royal cause) so that was not news to me.

[Willy Wonka]

Coming to you live from Cobberville, here are a few random tidbits of info...

1. The Gusties have three freshmen practicing with the squad full time and rotate in a few others. They are gonna need vintage Bobby J* production from the "new" Bobby J if they're gonna make any noise to start the year, however.

2. I just re-met an uncle I hadn't seen in about 15 years. He's apparently spent the last few years driving the Cobber athletic bus around Minnesota for road games. Small world, huh?

3. A new uncle just informed me of his son's playing days decades ago at St. Olaf. SJU's Gagliardi was running up the score on the Oles (SURPRISE!!!) so my uncle went to the opposite sidelines to give him a piece of his mind from the stands. Willy's Uncle was apparently rewarded with a "Shut the f*** up!" by old man Gags.

Naturally, he instantly became my favorite relative.

*http://gustavus.edu/athletics/mbb/archives/2000-01/mbbstats/AUG2.HTM

Back when the GAC's original Bobby J lit up (pun intended) the pre-reformed older brother of Bethel's current stud.

[Drake Palmer]

Johnnies have a decent showing against DII Concordia-StP yesterday, as they lose the exhibition game 81-78.  St. Cloud State transfer Todd Herman lead the way with 13 points, & 14 players get in the game for the Johnnies. 

Based on their talent, it looks like the Johnnies will be playing a lot of "small ball" this year as their starting lineup was 5-11 Fy Andy Burns at PG, 6-3 Todd Herman & Cole Isetts, 6-4 Chris Schwartz, & 6-5 post/forward Aaron Burtzel.

Story
Box score

[Drake Palmer]

If the SMU Redbirds hold the unofficial title of MIAC team with the most players 6-1 or shorter, the Johnnies would hold this year's record for the team with the most wings. 10 of them by my count. St. Johns Roster I'd imagine the competition must be fierce at the 2G & small forward spot.

[sumander]

Noticeably absent from the J's roster one Kyle Townswick. He saw action in 23 games last year. I thought he was the heir apparent at PG for the J's.

14 Frosh and sophs on the J's roster....oh how times change.

[Drake Palmer]

Noticeably absent from the J's roster one Kyle Townswick. He saw action in 23 games last year. I thought he was the heir apparent at PG for the J's.

14 Frosh and sophs on the J's roster....oh how times change.

Good observation Sum.  Too bad he's not going to be around.  The last I recall Townswick's name came up on the board  was in the aftermath of the UST-SJU game in the cities.  VOJ & Mose were arguing whether or not Townswick was in the words of Mose - "draped all over UST's Joe Scott like a date at a drive-in movie," or if he was simply just playing good defense.    Good humor.

[thefox]

I heard Townswick, along with several others, grew, and are growing tired of the preferential treatment given to a couple players by Coach Mckenzie.   Some players he doesn't even talk to.   After watching a scrimmage, and a game, I fully understand why he left the team.  Others, I'm convinced will do the same.

[sumander]

I heard Townswick, along with several others, grew, and are growing tired of the preferential treatment given to a couple players by Coach Mckenzie.   Some players he doesn't even talk to.   After watching a scrimmage, and a game, I fully understand why he left the team.  Others, I'm convinced will do the same.

Fox, after a bit of sleuthing (is that even a word) I have come up with the same results as you. It sounds like Mr. Townswick was tired of the B.S. from the coaches. My sources also say, he won't be the last one to pull the plug.

P.S. Welcome to the Board. I will give you your first shot of +koolaid.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Sumander...where have YOU been hiding? Busy caddying for Daughter #1?    Sure hope they do well this spring...not like I'm biased or anything (ha)

Will you be at SJU/SCSU?

Welcome Fox...good to see new blood on the board

[sumander]

Sumander...where have YOU been hiding? Busy caddying for Daughter #1?    Sure hope they do well this spring...not like I'm biased or anything (ha)
Will you be at SJU/SCSU?

Hey MM, followed Number 1 daughter over various parts of Minnesota Wisconsin & Iowa this fall. It was a heartbreaker at MIAC. They almost climbed all the way out of the hole they dug for themselves. It appears very likely that they will get an at large bid to the NCAA tourney. Stayed tuned.

Since then I have been in various parts of Canada and North Dakota hunting fowl.

No, I won't be at the SJU/SCSU game. I have a Board retreat in Chaska this weekend. 

[abominable_snowman]

Sum - how was the hunting?  Hopefully the SW metro treats you well, you'll be in my neck of the woods. Although this weekend I'll be doing some officiating at 43 hoops.

Pre-season streak game has started, get that research going!

In other news, my company has blocked the discussion board on the grounds that it is a chat site
So my checking in will be reduced to evenings and mornings.  I guess I'll just have to be more productive at work. Sheesh!