WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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Cobbers play Simpson @ Point.  Other team is St. Norbs

[LA RAMS]

Good luck to Concordia in their 1st round game tonight vs Simpson.  Should be a good one.  Would really like to see the battle between the Cobber's Alexandra Lippert and Simpson's Stacey Schutjer.

[LA RAMS]

Running a little late this year but I guess it's time I dust off the cobwebs on this board (since I'm about the only one posting up here anymore) and offer up my prognostications for the 2011-12 MIAC race:

The Title Contenders

UST & GAC

The talent that UST has amassed over the last few years is nothing short of amazing and, because of that, they'll have the inside track to both the regular season and tournament titles.  They have Maggie Weiers who can simply dominate down low, an incredible sophomore in Taylor Young, and senior three point shooting Queen Ali Johnson plus a pretty capable backcourt duo of Kellie Ring and Carolyn Dienhart; not to mention a bench that's LOADED.  Still, as good as this team is, they are not infalliable and their loss in the MIAC Championship Game at home to Concordia proved that.  The one team that will challenge them for the title this year has to be GAC.  They have one of the top two or three PGs in Colleen Ruane, a do-it-all senior in Molly Geske, a much, much improved Abby Rothenbuehler at the post, and, like UST, a bench that is absolutely LOADED.  The Gusties will get tested early, though, with a roadie over to WIAC powerhouse UW-River Falls tomorrow night and a trip out to the Motherland to take on SCIAC opponents Redlands and Occidental.


Playoff Contenders

St. Olaf, CSB, Concordia, & Bethel

To me, St. Olaf is the team that makes the big jump this year into the elite group.  They have the best PG in the conference, IMHO, in Mackenzie Wolter and a big front line that includes Erin Haglund and Elise Raney at the post position.  On the downside, they are not deep and if their roster starts getting red crosses like my fantasy football team does, everything could go awry for them.  Last year's senior-laden team CSB and defending MIAC Champ Concordia are both incredibly young this year although the Corn still has lanky 6'4" post Alexandra Lippert.  I give Bethel the best chance to snare the 6th spot this season despite losing Scottie Moats who had to end her basketball career prematurely.  They still have Taylor Sheley and a great defender in Kelly Swenson.


The Lurkers

Hamline, Macalester, & SMU

I have not seen Hamline's roster yet but they should be dangerous as always if not consistent.  Macalester still has the Rene Sisters who can terrorize opponents from behind the arc and if anyone can squeeze the most out of a lemon, it's Macalester Head Coach Ellen Thompson.  I have to say that including SMU in this group is somewhat generous given the fact that the coaching staff there doesn't even have ten years experience amongst them and also includes an assistant who is a media hack (cough cough....Willy Wonka) with an agenda.  Still, SMU does have a very capable senior in Emily DeWitt plus an up-and-coming post in Courtney Euerle so they will have their moments.


The Cellar-Dwellers

Carleton, St. Kate's & Augsburg

I don't expect much from either one of these teams this year although St. Kate's will be a team to keep your eye on with all the newcomers they have; particularly Jule Muegge.  New Augsburg coach Bill McKee has a tough task ahead of him but if anyone can make Augsburg competitive again it's him.

[gacbacker]

Don't jump off the bandwagon L.A. Rams. It's only one game.

[LA RAMS]

Don't jump off the bandwagon L.A. Rams. It's only one game.

No, I haven't as UW-River Falls is a quality opponent.  On the flip side, just checking the boxscore from last night's game does give me cause for some concern....

Was able to catch Hamline's 69-59 win over Northwestern last night which proved to be a very entertaining game.  Hamline FY player Jordan Sammons is the real deal.

[LA RAMS]

OUCH!  UST gets dough-popped over at UW-Stevens Point (again).  Maybe the Tommies should think twice before hopping over the River into Wisconsin again for awhile....

In any event, with GAC's loss in a tough game to UW-River Falls the other this is not a positive development for the MIAC in terms of the conference's NCAA tournament chances; i.e., getting more than ONE team into the Big Dance.  Hopefully St. Olaf will have some positive results out in the Motherland this weekend and the Gusties likewise over the Thanksgiving holiday.

[blazerguy]

Good to have MIAC back in action. I don't know much about this years teams other than UST is loaded as always. The good news is they still have Sins as coach, she will figure out a way to disrupt the team. The Blazers will have the most inexperienced team Durbin has coached for a long time. They will also have one of the deepest teams Durbin has ever coached, and that says alot as Durbin usually has a deep team. Once one starter (Dale) and a top reserve (Hylla), return from studying overseas they will even be deeper. Expect a much different team this year, an offense and rotation will surprise many. 

[LA RAMS]

Well, here we go.  Time for my first MIAC Power Rankings For the 2011-12 Season:

1.  UST
2.  GAC
3.  St. Olaf
4.  Bethel
5.  (tie)  CSB & Concordia
6.  Augsburg
7.  (tie)  SMU & Hamline
8.  Macalester
9.  (tie) Carleton & St. Kate's

I don't think there can be much of an argument against the first two spots.  After that, though, it gets a little tricky.  St. Olaf got through a bit of a rough stretch; losing to both UST and GAC but has rebounded nicely with a comfortable home win against Concordia and then picking up that huge roadie "W" at Bethel on Saturday.  The Oles hopes have also been bolstered by the return of Elise Raney off the IR as she had dislocated her knee this last fall but looks as healthy and strong as ever now.  Speaking of Bethel, they were looking VERY good at the first of the year; riding an 8-game win streak but the Royals have suddenly been brought back to earth; losing home games to both CSB and St. Olaf which proved to be a very costly week for Herbie's squad.  They have two "must win" games, IMHO, this week:  at home against SMU on Wednesday and then the little trek down Snelling Avenue at Hamline this coming Saturday, if they are to keep pace with the big names in front of them. 

CSB appeared to be on life-support a mere week ago but picked up that big win at Bethel and then held serve against Hamline at home on Saturday.  This is a very young squad but you can never count a Mike Durbin-coached squad completely out.  Like the Blazers, Concordia is also very young and has been going through its share of growing pains already this season.  Still, I have a feeling that the Corn are going to get better and better as the season progresses and will be a factor down the stretch.  I'm just not sold on SMU as they have a habit of faltering as the season progresses.  Hamline has a lot of exciting young talent on board but they've already lost Cassidy Vogt to injury and they've been wildly inconsistent this season.  Macalester has dug themselves into a canyon already and I don't think even Head Coach Ellen Thompson can get them out of this one.

[LA RAMS]

Another interesting week and weekend in the MIAC has resulted in some re-shuffling in my lastest MIAC Power Rankings:

1.  UST
2.  GAC
3.  St. Olaf
4.  SMU
5.  Bethel
6.  Concordia
7.  Augsburg
8.  CSB
9.  Hamline
10.  Macalester
11. Carleton
12.  St. Kate's

UST needed Kelly Brandenburg's heroics with just five ticks left on the clock to lift them past the Corn up in Moorhead on Saturday - and to hang on to the top spot in the power rankings.  GAC, meanwhile, overcame a feisty challenge by always dangerous Macalester in the first half to cruise to an easy win in the second half.  St. Olaf, despite looking like (expletive deleted) on Wedensday night at Augsburg, took care of business at home against CSB so I'll let them hang on to the third spot.

It's really, really hard for me to do this but I simply have no choice but to shove SMU up to the fourth spot.  Why?  Well, simply because they've found ways to win games on the road that they really probably should have lost.  Can they hang on to this spot?  We'll see.  Meanwhile, Bethel, which was riding high coming into the first of the year is suddenly reeling after that disastrous three-game homestand and needed a scoring outburst from Taylor Sheley to overcome a 27-18 halftime deficit at Hamline.  With UST visiting the Robertson Center tonight and GAC likewise this next Saturday, the Royals somehow have to make a stand to avoid yet another January swoon.  Concordia blew a big chance to pull off a huge upset of UST at home and this young squad is going to have to find some consistency if they want to entertain thoughts of hosting a conference playoff game.  Ditto for Augsburg which has improved tremendously under new Head Coach Bill McKee.  They looked very good against St. Olaf this last Wednesday night but inexplicably let down against SMU at home on Saturday.  This week is a big chance for the Auggies to right the ship with a trip to Northfield tonight to take on Carleton and then home dates with CSB and St. Kate's on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.  Speaking of CSB, isn't it weird to see them on life-support this season?

[gacbacker]

Weird? I think it's GREAT to see them on life support this season 

Especially after listening to their god-awful, unprofessional, whining radio announcers during the Gustavus game the other night.

They spent so much time complaining about the officials and how Gustavus was getting every call that one would have had no idea what was going on in the game. Then they basically said that they weren't impressed with GAC (despite the sweep over their team) and that they gave GAC no chance to beat St. Thomas.

Seriously, what a bunch of homerish clowns.

[gacbacker]

L.A. Rams, were you in attendance for the wild finish at Hutton Arena last night?

[LA RAMS]

Gacbacker - Unfortunately, I wasn't.  Was over at Bethel doing color commentary on their game against St. Kate's which had none of the drama that the GAC - Hamline tilt had.  Props to Steph Comer for her ice water in her veins half-court Hail-Mary buzzer-beater just to force the OT.  Ironically (and I'm not sure of this), I think the last buzzer-beater (in any form) was Carolyn Korchik's heroics from behind the half-court line back in '03 at the very same venue as Hamline knocked off Macalester at the end.

Things are slowly starting to take shape in the conference AFA playoff jockeying/positioning.  Some teams are finding themselves in very dire straits with their hopes (Augsburg, CSB) while some others are sitting pretty at the moment (SMU).  IF form holds tomorrow and next Wednesday, that should set up nicely the titanic match-up between UST and GAC down in St. Peter next week Saturday.

[LA RAMS]

Time for my latest MIAC Power Rankings....

1.  UST
2.  GAC
3.  St. Olaf
4.  Concordia
5.  (tie) Bethel & SMU
6.  Augsburg
7.  Macalester
8.  (tie) CSB & Hamline
9.  Carleton
10.  St. Kate's

No change among the top three spots - yet, anyway.  UST has already cheated defeat a couple of times in the last week and GAC needed a half court Hail Mary buzzer-beater from Steph Comer just to force OT at Hamline and escaped Hutton Arena with a one-point victory.  St. Olaf staved off a hard challenge from their cross-town rivals on Saturday over at West Gymnasium.

After that, things are a bit convoluted.  Concordia went down to St. Joe and (expletive deleted)-slapped a moribund CSB team.  Not suprising at all to see the Corn getting better and better.  GAC was coldly efficient in hammering Bethel at the Robertson Center on Saturday and the second-half of their conference schedule is just plain brutal; I'm beginning to have serious doubts about the Royals chances now.  UST predictably clipped the wings of SMU's mirage in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.  One benefactor in all this just may be Augsburg which found a way to win at St. Kate's despite bringing only their B- game.  They do need to be more consistent.

You can never take any opponent in this conference lightly (do you hear me UST and GAC?) but it LOOKS as if things are shaping up nicely for this coming Saturday's showdown in St. Pete.

[Blazer brat]

Has Durbin lost his touch at CSB? I mean, after a collossal failure last season with a talented, senior-laden team...now this! It's not like he doesn't have talent to work with this season. I view Durbin as a relic in the MIAC. Perhaps he was a good coach back in the day, but it appears as though the rest of the league has evolved their programs while it seems Mike is still hoping his computer doesn't crash in the new millennia. The ties and sport coats still work though . UST, GAC, Olaf, Concordia and, yes even St. Mary's appear to have the upper hand, with very impressive, young and energetic coaches. The MIAC is not what it used to be, in any sport...recruiting, strategy, player development and motivation are now on a completely different level.

[MIAC23]

Ha, Blazer brat made me laugh. I think Durbin is doing just fine at CSB! How was last season a collossal failure? They were the 3rd best team in the conference and that is how they finished. They made the conference semis and lost to a better team. Seems to me they finished right where they should have.
Seems to me they have a pretty young team this year. Aren't coaches allowed one down year? If this becomes a trend, maybe two, three or four years, then you may have a point. But, I wouldn't get all bent out of shape about one down year.