MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[piperinsider]

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/images_sizedimage_321012332/resources_photoview

Haha

[WXYZ]

Bethel is underway with pretty balanced scoring and lots of players in the mix. Martin Luther was very aggressive in the first half and then seemed to slow a bit in the second. It's fun the see my first game of the season.

Martin Luther has to have the most crazy halftime show. Tonight's included a fake soccer game which was interupted by a streaker in a rubber suit with fake genitals. It was a scream. Later they had a guy playing  genie who could do the belly dance stomach to perfection.

http://athletics.bethel.edu/News/mbball/2008/11/15/mlc.asp?path=mbball

Here is the New Ulm Journal's rendition:
http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/503923.html?nav=5013

Madson (14) and Laugen (10) led the Royals balanced attack.

I was looking at the Pipers website one more time...why are they playing North Dakota the second to last game of the season. Unless a playoff seed is locked up then, I'm not sure the timing of that game is good.

Vavra had 12, Much, Moberg and Robertson had 8, Lang had 6. That's what I meant by a balanced scoring effort. 35 in the first and 35 in the second. Different scorers but the same production. Robertson is listed as Center and Moberg as a forward. This is a nice combination and the two big guys work well together.

Martin Luther just ran out of gas in the second half. They played nice defence in the first. I think they could have a nice season when they make the transition from football shape to basketball shape.

Piper - Thanks for the story links! I'm looking forward to seeing your guys play.

[Drake Palmer]

Snow –

I'm not quite sure why you mentioned me in your post (were you thinking of the departed Townswick topic?), but I did notice the nice stat line Chris Schwartz of SJU in last night's game. In fact a WIAC poster had this commment on the WIAC board.

Pointers win 97-70. Sluggish start saw them fall behind by 9 then come back to lead by 9 at the half. Defensive intensity to start the second half was awesome and resulted in the bench being cleared for the last 5-1/2 minutes of the game....

Pete Rortvedt (22 pts) got going early and his at least 5 treys, one from at least 26 feet. Nick Krull had great plays on both ends of the floor and scored 10. Beamish had his way inside as did Jordan Brezinski. Wotachek had his moments around the basket, but seemed content to play outside. El Amin played fast tonight, scoring several baskets beating his man to the rim. Moses had several steals.

St John's has a nice trio of sophs that led the way for them. Schwartz was tough inside and out (23 pts) and Burtzell (14) and Herman (18) did alot of damage inside with their quickness and leaping ability.

**Elsewhere around the league, MAC turned a blowout into a respectable showing as they lost their season opener to Pacific Lutheran, 84-72 in Tacoma Washington.  Soph Kyle Hamblett had 24 points & last year's FY All MIAC All Name member, Colin Keeley had a double –double with 19 pts & 11 boards.

**The Oles, led by the (gulp)  frosh attack of Bobby Fong, 18 points, CMob's homeboy - Mark Wieloch -17 pts, 3-4 from behind the arc, & "Little Lord" Alfred "Alfie" Jaryan with 13 pts, crush the preseason UMAC favorite Bethany Lutheran 94-76.  The Oles were up 50 -29 at the half.  It could be a real interesting matchup next Tuesday between the Oles & Pipes. Too bad I have to go out of town next week.

**Speaking of UMAC teams, bad weekend for the UMAC & their biggest fan, AO.  His beloved Northwestern Eagles got crushed by UST in football 41-0, & the NW basketball team got beat, thumped & buried by Southwest State.

**Us posters will get plenty of opportunities to play the "comparative scores" game as there appears to be a number of common opponents this season – Winona State, Bethany Lutheran, UW-River Falls, Northwestern, UW-LAX, Martin Luther Buena Vista etc.

[Drake Palmer]

Deuce

Due to a dearth of games in the metro area, I made my semi annual trip over to Stout, WI & watched UW-Stout play 6th 8th ranked Buena Vista yesterday afternoon.  Sloppy, opening game performances by both teams, who combined for 50+ TOs.  If I'm Buena Vista, I'm glad to get out of there with a win when they didn't play nearly as well as they are capable of, their PG is on the sidelines for much of the 2nd half, but still pulled out a win on the road.

And if I'm a Stout booster, I'm encouraged by the potential & talent this team seemed to exhibit.   It doesn't help when your top 2 PGs are either sitting on the bench due to injury, or fouls out with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd half?!? That being said they had a chance to win, but need to learn how to close out a team when they've got a team on the ropes:

Stout has the ball with 40 seconds left in game, time left on the shot clock, a 3 point lead, foul count in their favor, & they try a twisting spinning, acrobatic, heavily contested layup.  Then after the basketball gods smile on them & they make a last second desperation half-court trey at the end of regualtion, in OT  they shank their first 3 FTs.

Ahem - A quick, pressing, athletic basketball team who has a decent # of shooters can take this Buena Vista team.  I think this is one reason why Loras would typically give Buena Vista a run for their money in the IIAC the past several years.  They had a number of 6-2 to 6-5 athletic, quick basketball players who could physically challenge Buena Vista. This is also why a certain purple clad team from the MIAC, or a gold & black team could & should give the BV Beavers a real push.

[Drake Palmer]

And the trifecta...

If my information is correct, several posters who used to share their insights with us last season have moved on.  No longer will they be posting from the posters' sideline, but have gotten a bit closer to the action on the courts.   Good luck fellas! 

[Willy Wonka]

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/images_sizedimage_321012332/resources_photoview

Haha

I just talked to Chad Courrier at the Free Press. He says an order just came in for a life-size order of that picture. The mailing address is Hutchinson.

I think PI has some 'splainin to do, Lucy...

[piperinsider]

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/images_sizedimage_321012332/resources_photoview

Haha

I just talked to Chad Courrier at the Free Press. He says an order just came in for a life-size order of that picture. The mailing address is Hutchinson.

I think PI has some 'splainin to do, Lucy...

I laughed so hard I nearly pissed myself when I saw the picture.....the expression of the shooter's face is great. BTW, if you talk to Chad again, mention to him that he doesn't always have to start his stories with opening paragraph and then quote.

I almost made the trip to New Ulm today, but at the last minute decided against it (a kid from Hutch was playing). A night after losing to Bethel, Martin Luther beat an up-and-coming UW-Superior squad, 79-73. The Knights only have one more MIAC opponent - ST. Olaf Dec. 1 - Ole posters should watch for sophomore PG Greg Holzhueter. Solid. His brother, Gavin, will be a kid to watch this season at Minnesota Valley Lutheran.

[miacsuperfan]

pi, nice find on the sweet picture from kato paper.   

And the trifecta...

If my information is correct, several posters who used to share their insights with us last season have moved on.  No longer will they be posting from the posters' sideline, but have gotten a bit closer to the action on the courts.    Good luck fellas! 

care to splain this a bit more, drake palmer? 

[Gregory Sager]

I was looking at the Pipers website one more time...why are they playing North Dakota the second to last game of the season. Unless a playoff seed is locked up then, I'm not sure the timing of that game is good.

I can tell you why with one symbol: $

The NCAA requires that a higher-division team hosting a lower-division team has to give the lower-division team a payout. That can turn out to be a much-needed financial shot in the arm for a D3 basketball program, which is why every D3 coach in America jumps at the chance when a D1 or D2 coach comes calling for a game. As for the timing of it, that's North Dakota's call, not Hamline's. You play the big boys (and get that payout) whenever it suits them, not whenever it best suits you.

[Drake Palmer]

About time .. Cobber Roster

[abominable_snowman]

reminder, round 3 for non-conference pickem is up.  games are tuesday so get the picks in.

drake i was calling you out on the schwartz deal because I know you're an afficionado for nomenclature and I was trying to be a little cutesy with a space balls reference.

[piperinsider]

Story on former Piper Jon DeRock:
http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/505896.html?nav=5024

"The basketball program is a lot better here versus what it was in Hamline," he said. "I feel that overall, this is a good fit for me."

Story on GAC's Sam Paulsen:
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/local_story_322223624.html?keyword=topstory

"He didn't have any moves when he came here," Hanson said. "He had to learn, and he's picked things up pretty quickly. He's a lot stronger and more confident. He's more patient. Last year, he'd decide which move he was going to use and then use that no matter what the defense did."

[klomp44]

Story on former Piper Jon DeRock:
http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/505896.html?nav=5024

I was just going to post it. You work fast.

[sumander]

Story in today's Fargo Fool-Em on the Cobbs season. Actually, more of a story in Rich Glas than the Cobbers.

[CobberFvr]

I'll let everyone know how Concordia looks after the game with UM-Morris tonight.