WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[blazerguy]

Yeah, heard the news about both Frank and Bryant last night at the summer league.  So much for CSB repeating this next season, huh?

Durbin has a bag of tricks like no other coach, and a deep bench and a great incoming class. AND now, added incentive, (like we need more), to beat UST. I guess the lack of ethics in college recruiting has now sunk to the D3 level, at least at UST.

[Willy Wonka]

Also, Maggie Bryant has changed mind and will be attending UST instead of CSB. She committed to CSB and played in summer leagues with CSB players and worked camps but changed directions. I guess UST believes its ok to keep recruiting after players commit. 

Please.

This isn't D1, or even D2. Until someone sets foot on campus in the fall or signs a scholarship at a higher level, they remain fair game. Besides, isn't it also possible that she didn't like the players/coaches/atmosphere and decided to go a different direction after the initial taste?

Why did Frank decide to transfer? Was it academic, athletic or strictly personal reasons?

[blazerguy]

Also, Maggie Bryant has changed mind and will be attending UST instead of CSB. She committed to CSB and played in summer leagues with CSB players and worked camps but changed directions. I guess UST believes its ok to keep recruiting after players commit. 

Please.

This isn't D1, or even D2. Until someone sets foot on campus in the fall or signs a scholarship at a higher level, they remain fair game. Besides, isn't it also possible that she didn't like the players/coaches/atmosphere and decided to go a different direction after the initial taste?

Why did Frank decide to transfer? Was it academic, athletic or strictly personal reasons?

Please?? Once a player at the D3 level has committed to a coach, registered for school, been interviewed in the paper and was announced in the paper, it is, in my opinion, unethical for competing coaches to recruit a player with that knowledge.  You are right about a player changing his/her mind right up until 1st day of school. It is not ok for a competing coach to continue to recruit! As far as Frank..The paper $aid it wa$ about her major, I believe there are other rea$on$.

[Willy Wonka]

Also, Maggie Bryant has changed mind and will be attending UST instead of CSB. She committed to CSB and played in summer leagues with CSB players and worked camps but changed directions. I guess UST believes its ok to keep recruiting after players commit. 

Please.

This isn't D1, or even D2. Until someone sets foot on campus in the fall or signs a scholarship at a higher level, they remain fair game. Besides, isn't it also possible that she didn't like the players/coaches/atmosphere and decided to go a different direction after the initial taste?

Why did Frank decide to transfer? Was it academic, athletic or strictly personal reasons?

Please?? Once a player at the D3 level has committed to a coach, registered for school, been interviewed in the paper and was announced in the paper, it is, in my opinion, unethical for competing coaches to recruit a player with that knowledge.  You are right about a player changing his/her mind right up until 1st day of school. It is not ok for a competing coach to continue to recruit! As far as Frank..The paper $aid it wa$ about her major, I believe there are other rea$on$.

You are obviously more familiar with the situation than myself (would it change your mind if the player contacted the coach about, uh, uncommitting?), but I'm still not sure I can agree with your point. We're talking about a world where Letters of Intent are basically worthless at the D1 level these days. It was only a matter of time before we experienced some trickly down effect.

As a newspaper guy, I completely understand Frank the Tank's ability/willingness to crank out recruiting news on SJU/CSB. But many (most?) of the league won't even talk specific recruits with alumni for fear of them changing their mind at the last second. There is no binding contract to be signed (LoI), which makes the recruiting process tricky, to say the least. For better or for worse, putting recruiting info in the paper doesn't mean it's guaranteed to happen at the D3 level.

Speaking from personal experience, I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to play football at GAC until the week before fall camp began...and then I ended up leading the team in TD catches as a freshman. Strange things can and often do happen.

As an aside, I've heard less-than-flattering reviews of Sinn as coach. Late recruiting/ethics sketchiness would simply add to that list.

[LA RAMS]

Willy,

I'd be hesitant to put Sinn on the same level as Cheatey Petey Pom Pom over at U$C.

From a purely ethics/shady practices standpoint there are other coaches in the MIAC who garner far, far more consideration than RS.

[blazerguy]

Willy,

I'd be hesitant to put Sinn on the same level as Cheatey Petey Pom Pom over at U$C.

From a purely ethics/shady practices standpoint there are other coaches in the MIAC who garner far, far more consideration than RS.

Name one!

[gottaluvhoops]

It is almost that time again for another great year in the MIAC.  Being from Southern Minnesota, which games should I mark down on my calander to go see this year?   St. Benedict and St. Thomas are they the cream of the crop this year?

[LA RAMS]

Guess I've been putting this off for too long and considering how my two favorite football teams (L.A. Rams and UCLA) are seeing their seasons quickly going down the tubes I thought it was time to play Carnac the Magnificent and offer my bold predictions for the upcoming 2009-10 season.

The Contenders:

1.  UST - Hands down the favorite this year.  I thought after last year that this might be something of a rebuilding/reloading year for them minus Katch (who SHOULD have got MVP award), Gillard, Wirtz, et al - until Sinn landed St. Cloud St. transfer Rachel Booth and Maggie Bryant.  Booth alone is an incredible addition and she coud very well be the dominant player in the conference.  Mix in the returners from last year and some other new fresh faces and you've got the team that should win both the regular season and playoff titles.

2.  Concordia - I have a bunch of mixed feelings about this team.  I thought at one point last season they were the best team in the conference.  But they faded badly down the stretch and went out meekly in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament.  And now Jenna Fruedenberg has graduated and moved on as well.  Still, I think this team has enough returning talent to be a force

3.  CSB - Perhaps something of a rebuilding year for Mike Durbin's program that was unexpectedly rocked with the transfers of Frank and Bryant from the program.  While I think another run at the MIAC title is out of reach for them, there's too much returning talent and MD's simply too good of a coach to let this program slip too far so you should count on them being in the mix at least; a solid playoff contender for sure.

4. GAC - Okay, where do I start with this group?  They may very well be the most talented team overall in the conference with Molly Geske along with senior leaders Julia Schultz and Bri Radtke.  Also, the new recruiting class brought in is nothing short of amazing.  So why is it this team ALWAYS finds a way to fold like a bunch flimsies and break your heart into a zillion little pieces?  I personally have been asking myself this question for a few years now and still have not been able to come up with an answer.   This team COULD win the MIAC IF it could somehow find some toughness and rebounding ability and NOT fold a la the Chicago Cubs.  If everything comes together this could be the best GAC season since that magical season of 2002-03.  If not, it could be even more of a disappointment than last year.  The guess here is that they'll somehow find a way to snare the 4th spot - and then do the quick exit - stage right - like last season.


The Middle Of The Pack:

St. Kate's, Hamline, Bethel, Macalester

Pull a rabbit out of your hat on how/where you want to rank these squads.  I think Macalester may very well be a team to keep your eye on this year.  In the end, I think Bethel and St. Kate's will nail down the 5th and 6th spots, respectively.     Hamline's best chance may have come and gone last year when they had 3rd place all to themselves in January and then did a big-time fade job.  The two late season choke jobs against UST did nothing for the long-term prospects of this program either.


The Cellar Dwellers:

Carleton, St. Olaf, Augsburg, SMU

Hard to believe that the once-mighty Carleton program took a rather hard tumble down the proverbial stairs but that's exactly what happened this last season.  I just don't see things radically improving on the east side of Northfield anytime soon.  Ditto for crosstown rival St. Olaf which graduated Elyse Erickson.  Augsburg and SMU may snare a few wins here and there but it's difficult to imagine them doing much more.    

[gottaluvhoops]

Thanks for the insight into the conference season.  Should be a fun one to watch.  Have any teams scrimmaged yet?  Or do you know when certain teams scrimmage?  I have an itch to get out and see some basketball 

[LA RAMS]

I watched St. Kate's scrimmage earlier this week against Anoka-Ramsey CC; they look pretty decent.  Hope to catch them again this next week.  Also might be able to watch Macalester scrimmage this next week against Anoka-Ramsey as well.

[gottaluvhoops]

Thanks!  Any other known scrimmages?  What about up in the Minneapolis area?  Augsburg? St. Thomas?  My wife likes that idea because then she can shopping 

[blazerguy]

  Great win for the Blazers last night against EauClaire. The BlueGolds are massive underneath. 6'5, 6'2, 6'1 with one 6' guard. Blazers beat them with 3 point shots and scrappy play by Guilland and Morgan Dale underneath. Stifter had 28 points with good scoring spread around by the rest. Congrats to the team and Durbin for a great start. Durbin is of course no COY but it will be amazing if he can have a good season after losing 3 starters off last years team.

[buf]

Stout defeats St. Bens, 85-76.

[BDB]

Congrats to St. Benedict's for having a very nice squad.

Well coached, great hustle.

Particularly liked the #23.

[gacbacker]

Gusties over Carleton
Bens over Bethel
Cobbers handle Tommies with ease 

I've got three early candidates for MVP this year and they all had big games tonight...

Bri Radtke with 15 points, 13 assists, 4 steals tonight for the Gusties
Amy Stifter with 23 points, 5 rebounds for the Blazers
Laura Kalbfell with 24 points for St. Kate's tonight in their win over Olaf