WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[gacbacker]

Great win for the Gusties tonight and just a great game period...both teams played very well in the second half.

Bri Monahan is now officially a major contender for MVP...if she's not the leading candidate, she's second to maybe Heikenen.  She had 26 tonight including the winning basket.

Also a huge night for the freshmen Emily Nelson and Ashley Raymo...they outshined the Blazer freshmen Tauer and Carter tonight...it wasn't even a contest.  Nelson with 8 points and huge free throws down the stretch...Raymo with 9 points including a big three when the Blazers were threatening to put the game away early in the second half.

Heikenen and Noreen were very good for the Blazers, but personally I thought Kempe stunk up the joint tonight...3-13 from the field and one of her makes was a banked in three.

Big games on Sunday as GAC goes to Hamline and St. Ben's and Concordia clash.

[Collegeville Magic]

Congrats to GAC on winning a game that neither team deserved to lose.  The Heikenen-Monahan duel was a thing of beauty, and makes me wonder what could have been if Bri had stayed enrolled at CSB instead of jumping ship to follow her boyfriend the summer before her first year...

I think the key to the game was GAC's rotating double-team pressure.  They do a great job of swarming to the ball at key times during a possession, and disrupted the Blazer offense just enough to pull out the win. 

Looks like a three-team battle for the #1 seed in the second half, with the next round coming Saturday! 

GAC will struggle with Hamline, and CSB will struggle with the Cobs.  I'm still convinced that the Blazers have the best team (all 3 overall losses by 1 point each), and I hope that the game last night fires up CSB for the rest of the season.  I still haven't seen the Blazers put together a full 40 minutes of consistent basketball, and once that happens, watch out!

[blazerball]

I have not been posting as much this season but if I get back in the swing I don't want to be accussed of only posting when my Blazers win.  I was also at the game last night and it was a rather fun contest ---- a nice battle down to the wire.  Heikenen and Monahan were both impressive.  Monahan should be an MVP candidate ---- in my mind she is tied at #2 with Opdahl.  Obviously, I am biased and think Heikenen is the MVP after the first half of the season but there is a lot of basketball left!

I give a TON of credit to GAC - they played exceedingly well and deserved the win.  CSB was rolling up by 9 in the second half and playing the way they are capable and then they regressed and just let GAC back in the game.   My Blazers committed too many turnovers and many of them were self-inflicted and not really due to GAC pressure.  Also, CSB was disappointing defensively in the post as GAC repeatedly got opportunities inside that CSB has not let others teams have much of this season.  CSB probably played their second-worst game of the year (next to Carleton) and they were still there at the buzzer...

I will say that CSB fans and players should not be overly concerned about this loss.  The games we have lost have all been by one and the Blazers have played poorly while the other team has played exceedingly well.  I remember just last season when the Blazers lost two embarrasing games in January and another one in early February and many were dismissing them.  I would rather lose a game or two here and save the best for the end of the season. 

GAC has many tough road games left and must face CSB again...and I know the rematch will be eagerly anticipated.  GAC --- enjoy the win, celebrate, and be happy.  Be sure to overlook Hamline on Saturday --- that will be an easy win so just ignore them and keep celebrating your CSB victory! 

On to Concordia for a tough road game.  CSB has lost in the regular season up there the last two years but got a big win up there in the playoffs last year.  Should be fun and I wish I could be there but work calls and I will be traveling on Satruday...

Safe travels and GO BLAZERS!

[LA RAMS]

BOOM!!       BAWWWWWKKKKK!!     GULP    YECHH!

OK WW, Gacbacker, et al.  I did it.  I finally decided it was time to shove that ubiquitous crow down my pie-hole once and for all and just get it over with.  Obviously, GAC is a much, much better team than I thought they would be and I dare say better than even what you guys would have thought at the beginning of the season.  Who'd have thunk they would go up to St. Joe and stab a dagger into the Bennie ship?  But they did just that.  Only wish I could have watched that battle last night.  Must have been a beauty.  Needless to say, they're in.

Meanwhile, down in Northfield, my Knights spanked a Bethel team that was, in all fairness, OVERRATED (clap clap clap clap clap) pretty much from the get-go.  Bethel may somehow steal that #6 spot before it's all said and done but this was not a team destined to finish in the top three of the MIAC.  Are the Knights finally beginning to gel?  Maybe.  I must admit I was somewhat astonished when I saw that it was Biewen who led the Knights in scoring.

I was also impressed with Concordia when I watched them claim a tough 7-point win over Hamline last night.  Pretty solid down low and they really didn't let Ewert do much of anything.  All I can say is that CSB better bring their "A" game when they face the Cobs on Saturday.

[gacbacker]

I know I'm not going to win this argument...but when you post after a loss that the loss doesn't mean that much because your team played one of its worst games...that makes absolutely no sense. It may be true, but it's implying that the other team had nothing to do with the fact that your team played lousy. As if all the Blazer errors last night were unforced. Right.

As for MVP...everybody can make a different argument that makes sense why one person should be MVP over another, so here goes: I ask you where would the Blazers be without Heikenen? Probably still in the top 3. Where would the Gusties be without Monahan? Maybe a .500 team?

[blazerguy]

I know I'm not going to win this argument...but when you post after a loss that the loss doesn't mean that much because your team played one of its worst games...that makes absolutely no sense. It may be true, but it's implying that the other team had nothing to do with the fact that your team played lousy. As if all the Blazer errors last night were unforced. Right.

As for MVP...everybody can make a different argument that makes sense why one person should be MVP over another, so here goes: I ask you where would the Blazers be without Heikenen? Probably still in the top 3. Where would the Gusties be without Monahan? Maybe a .500 team?

Are you always this paranoid. CSB played terrible in the first half, of course they were forced errors but the fact remains that they played terrible. The second half was better by BOTH teams. GAC made the plays down the stretch and deserved to win although I would have liked to see a replay of Noreens "travel" with .4 seconds left. 

[Willy Wonka]

Is it common practice for Durbin to avoid postgame handshakes with opposing teams? Or is that just after losses?

[gacbacker]

Or perhaps just losses when the Blazers play their worst game of the year?

[peachbasket]

gacbacker, is that a tongue in cheek I see with that last post??

It's interesting when someone posts something contrary to a bennie-belief, you are crazy, wrong, or even paranoid...Gustie fans, I may need your support when I become paranoid after the game tomorrow.

I am very excited to open up round 2.  I am going to try to road trip and get to the game tomorrow, I am so excited to get out of So.Dak. and see my Cobbers!  A couple huge games this weekend that have a whole lot of meaning!

[Collegeville Magic]

people, people, people...

St. Ben's didn't play its best game of the year on Wednesday, that can't be questioned.  GAC was, far and away, the main cause of that.  However, in a one point loss, I would be brave enough to say that the Blazers missed more opportunities than the Gusties did, and didn't execute as well as we expect them to (other than Heikenen).  I'm pretty sure, as I know this person well, that "blazerball" wasn't claiming the CSB errors were unforced. 

Peaches, we here in central Minny hope that you get to chew on your tongue all day long tomorrow.  After the way the Blazers THRASHED the Cobs to open the season, I would be pretty nervous as a Concordia fan.  Heck, I'm nervous about the game as a Blazer fan, but that's because I won't be able to attend the game and watch CSB place a game between themselves and you guys.

Here's to a great second half of the season, with close games, no injuries, bad reffing, heated discussions here, and two Blazer conference victories (regular season and playoffs).  We're a lucky bunch of chumps who get to watch some of the greatest student-athletes our state has to offer build great memories and even better college degrees.

Go BLAZERS!!!!!

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

Per Peaches request, I will make an appearance on the board.  I have my own team to run right now, so it's a little tough to get on here on a regular basis.  Looks like there are a lot of surprises going on in the MIAC this year.  Gustavus was definately underrated, under statement I know.  Bethel, to this point, has been over rated.  Too many kids without a lot of game experience asked to be major contributors.  Not an excuse, just a fact.  Hamline is good but bad chemistry keeps them from being a major threat, that's not a surprise though.  St thomas was strong, but seems to be fading.  St. Kate's is playing D?  When did that happen?  Carleton is down, but may not be out.  Lots going on. 

I will now update my top six predictions.

1. bens
2. gac
3. concordia
4. carleton
5. bethel
6. st thomas

[blazerguy]

Is it common practice for Durbin to avoid postgame handshakes with opposing teams? Or is that just after losses?

You obviously weren't at the game or you were too busy celebrating. Durbin walked straight over to the Gustavus bench at the buzzer and shook hands with the coach. Bad losers are one thing but bad winners are even worse!

[Willy Wonka]

peach - I got your back

blazerguy - Perhaps I was spoiled by Mark Hanson. He shook hands with opposing PLAYERS after the game, regardless of the outcome. Ask the Bethel posters about it on the guys side - he went into their locker room and gave them a little speech when they upset us at GAC in the MIAC playoffs a few years back. I was told that Durbin couldn't even stomach walking through to shake GACs hands Wednesday.

Perhaps he has a different way of dealing with things (ie. his non-handshakes are common practice even after wins, making this a non-issue), thus my question. Is that normal for him - when the rest of his staff DID shake hands - or were there some sour grapes on his end?

[blazerguy]

peach - I got your back

blazerguy - Perhaps I was spoiled by Mark Hanson. He shook hands with opposing PLAYERS after the game, regardless of the outcome. Ask the Bethel posters about it on the guys side - he went into their locker room and gave them a little speech when they upset us at GAC in the MIAC playoffs a few years back. I was told that Durbin couldn't even stomach walking through to shake GACs hands Wednesday.

Perhaps he has a different way of dealing with things (ie. his non-handshakes are common practice even after wins, making this a non-issue), thus my question. Is that normal for him - when the rest of his staff DID shake hands - or were there some sour grapes on his end?

The burr in your saddle must really be hurting. I don't know who Mark Hanson is nor do I care. Some coaches shake hands with players after every game, some don't ever shake hands with players after games. Are you some kind of mind reader, or professor of body language, in that you can tell what a person is feeling, thinking or going to do, merely from being,"told", from I'm sure completely unbiased GAC fans, what Durbin did or didn't do after the game. The only sour grapes are your continuous shots at Durbin which must be from envy of his success over the years. So, to answer your question, no sour grapes on Mikes side, he handled the very tough loss in his normal classy and dignified manner!

[Willy Wonka]

With a sibling on the team - who everyone on this board seems to know about except you, and four national tournament appearances under my own belt, I can claim friendship with current players and coaches alike without a hint of jealousy - except the fact that they can still play in the Gustie uniform. Maybe you should find some tighter pants to wear and stop worrying about my "unbiased GAC fans" as source material?

You sidestepped my question very neatly with the personal attacks though, so I'll repeat myself. Is that Durbin's typical postgame routine? Does he avoid shaking players hands at all times? If so, that's completely fine - if a bit weird - but it just seems strange when, as your fellow mentioned, he recruited Monahan to the point of her nearly stepping on campus and then couldn't/wouldn't/didn't offer any type of congratulations after she lit him up.

To get back on the topic of something useful: the MVP race should be a doozy the rest of the way. Heikenen and Monahan have almost identical stats. Points (192-191) and a few rebounds (70-65) both favor the Bennie, but Monahan is shooting 4% better and leads by slim margins in steals and blocks.

Assists and turnovers can't be right on the CSB website (it says Heik has 3 and 6 on the year), so I won't compare those. If it ends this close, whoever leads her team to the title will win the award.