WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[LA RAMS]

Was at the UST - Macalester game last night.  Thought maybe Mac was a little too tight despite the fact that they did get out to a 7-0 lead.  Trina PaStarr struggled the whole evening and the Rene Sisters were not able to light it up from the outside.  More importantly, Rachel Booth was simply too strong down low.  Don't remember how many easy shots that Mac had that wouldn't fall; and missed FTs as well.

Am not all that surprised about St. Kate's going up to Moorhead and knocking off a solid Concordia team that has had some up and down moments this year.  Looks like the Cats got 'em on a good night.

Miacmaniac - My power rankings have been done all season w/o regard to the actual conference standings.  Sometimes they reflected the standings more or less; sometimes they didn't.

[gacbacker]

Latest Regional Rankings are out:

1. George Fox 17-1 23-2
2. Puget Sound 17-2 22-3
3. Redlands 19-4 20-5
4. Gustavus Adolphus 20-4 20-5
5. Coe 17-7 18-7
6. St. Benedict 20-5 20-5

Another new team from the SCIAC jumps to No. 3...

[gacbacker]

A tough one for Gustavus last night...Radtke went down with an ankle injury midway through the first half and sat out the remainder of the first half. She played just about the entire second half but wasn't herself. Then later in the game, Booth went down with what looked like an ankle injury and missed 5 or 6 minutes late in the second half.

The loss definitely hurts the Gusties' NCAA tournament hopes, but if St. Ben's can hold off the Tommies in the championship game I think they still have a shot. A lot of course will depend on what happens across the country in other conference tournaments.

Looks like the Blazers and St. Kate's had an entertaining game as well. The Kitty Kats were up 16 at one point?!?! Nice comeback by the Blazers, but not all that surprising to be honest. I've seen Durbin-led teams play a stinky first half and come out and look like a totally different team in the second half many times.

[Pat Coleman]

Another new team from the SCIAC jumps to No. 3...

The women's committee definitely needs to follow the men's committee's lead and rank more teams. These jumps would seem less arbitrary if a team was ranked No. 7 the previous week.

[scorekeeper]

I was trying to take a look around the region to see how things are developing and take a stab at what pool c might look like for the MIAC.  The top WIAC teams won which is good since I think they were both locks anyway.  The top IIAC teams won as well, which I think is a good thing, except that it might have been better for the MIAC for Coe to lose in the semis and then Simpson take the title over BVU.  It would have made Coe more of a bubble team than if they lose to Simpson Saturday. 

At this point it seems like a toss up if it's between Coe and GAC or CSB given strength of schedule.  Coe would certainly be ahead of UST.  Also, the NWC is tipping off the semis and the top two teams there would seem to be locks so hopefully they both win.  After looking at what happened last year and thinking about how things are shaping up this year, I am becoming more convinced the MIAC will get the AQ and that's it.  I know we have to consider what is going on in the East as well, but given budget concerns I have to think the committee will have travel distance in the back of their mind when organizing the pods.  I believe it's going to come down to one pool C bid for either the IIAC or MIAC, but not both. 

[Pat Coleman]

They will consider travel distance when bracketing the teams, but not when selecting them. MN/IA/WI is not so far out in the hinterlands that they can't find another team within 500 miles to pair up with teams who qualify via the criteria.

[buf]

UST wins over St. Bens, 65-62 in OT

[blazerguy]

UST wins over St. Bens, 65-62 in OT

Great win today by UST, unfortunately the officials again decided the outcome with 12 seconds to go. Good luck to all MIAC teams that get into the NCAA playoffs. UST should have a good chance with strong play by Booth and a solid supporting cast. Hopefully CSB will get in also but at this point who knows, we've been screwed over before by the playoffs selection committee.

[LA RAMS]

Great MIAC Championship Game today as UST wins a thriller in OT at CSB.  Thought the Tommies did a great job in neutralizing the effectiveness of Heather Gillund who had been on something of a tear coming down the home stretch of the season.  Booth showed why she's probably the best player in the MIAC with her performance this afternoon.

With today's turn of events I would have to THINK that CSB is safely in anyway although now they'll most likely get sent somewhere else.  Hard telling what the NCAA brain wizards will do with UST now that they have the AQ.  Simpson's win over Coe in Cedar Rapids will probably give the IIAC Champ Storm a pretty good shot at hosting for this next week.  Ironically, with Coe's loss today, GAC still may not be giving up the ghost just yet as far as that cherished NCAA Tourney invite is concerned.  Stay tuned.... 

[carletonsid]

UST wins over St. Bens, 65-62 in OT

Great win today by UST, unfortunately the officials again decided the outcome with 12 seconds to go. Good luck to all MIAC teams that get into the NCAA playoffs. UST should have a good chance with strong play by Booth and a solid supporting cast. Hopefully CSB will get in also but at this point who knows, we've been screwed over before by the playoffs selection committee.

Sounds like, at least according to Amy Stifter's comments to the St. Cloud Times, that the first in-bounds pass was off her foot, not off UST. With that said, wouldn't be shocking if MIAC women's officials missed a key call (or any call). Sounded like a great game, but one I'm sure CSB feels like they should have won.

I sure hope CSB gets into the tourney, along with GAC. They have the same resume, basically, even down to two of three non-conference foes they played and the outcome (both beat Eau Claire and Wartburg, which are solid wins).

[gacbacker]

D3Hoops is projecting that both Gustavus and St. Ben's will get Pool C bids, but they have them as the last two teams getting in. Going to be an anxious wait to find out.

[blazerball]

Actually, a revised projection now has CSB left off...and GAC in the field.  Interesting...but not surprising given the NCAA's natural proclivity to deny CSB at-large berths  Remember - they got left out at 22-3 so this would not be a shocker.  I can understand the NCAA leaving both out but if the NCAA puts GAC in and CSB out...wow wow wow.  Please note...I am not arguing that CSB should be selected OVER GAC...they both have arguments and there is no way the committee can honestly choose one over the other...but they will...and it will be GAC.  Bank on it.  The stats are not in favor of either - it's basically a wash.  There is one intangible...   

Winning percentage - slight edge to GAC:
CSB 21-6 (.78) - all games against D3 schools...
GAC 20-5 (.80) - one loss was to D2...

Strength of Schedule - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .508 - rank #189
GAC - .502 - rank #211

Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .507
GAC - .499

Opponents Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .511
GAC - .508

GAC was 2-1 against UST and CSB was 1-2.  GAC lost to Hamline who was sub-.500 this year.  GAC lost in th semis of the conference tourney and CSB lost in the title game.  But, that extra win vs. UST could give them a slight edge. Then again, CSB has 21 Division 3 wins so it is too close to call...

SO - these two look fairly even and I just do not know how the NCAA could possibly justify picking one over the other.  They will and GAC will get the nod. ..trust me...it will happen.  CSB fans will have every right to complain.  And, to be perfecrtly fair, if CSB is chosen over GAC then GAC fans would have an argument based on what I have seen.  If GAC is denied and CSB gets a bid I will be the first to say they should have BOTH either been given bids or denied bids.  The committiee will, most definitely, keep CSB out...count on it.

The only factor I can see decidely in the GAC's favor would be having their coach on the region committee and the region committee rankings are a secondary criteria.  Understandably, GAC's coach would rank GAC ahead of CSB. Can't blame her as I would do the same.  It's just unfortunate that it could possibly come down to that selection criteria because then it is not the objective process the NCAA prides itself on...

Before I get ripped too much...I hope BOTH CSB and GAC squeek into the tourney.  But, I am not optimistic for my Blazers.  Wish we could have taken care of those darn Tommies and their scholarship athletes...oops...student-athletes!!

[LA RAMS]

I more or less have to agree with Blazerball here on most of his points.  I'd love to have the Gusties get in but you wonder with their classic choke jobs they've managed to pull off in their last two games if they're really deserving.  I honestly have to say that CSB BELONGS in.  They just do.  I mean, if you tie for the regular season title and then get to the MIAC Championship Game, that should be enough to rest on.  Had Coe managed to beat Simpson at home in Cedar Rapids then that might have blown this argument kablooey but the fact that Simpson won; giving them the IIAC AQ likely puts Coe on the edge now with either GAC and/or CSB with an advantage over the Kohawks.  Was reviewing the projections on the home page myself and am not sure what to make of it right now.  We'll see....   

[gacbacker]

Actually, a revised projection now has CSB left off...and GAC in the field.  Interesting...but not surprising given the NCAA's natural proclivity to deny CSB at-large berths  Remember - they got left out at 22-3 so this would not be a shocker.  I can understand the NCAA leaving both out but if the NCAA puts GAC in and CSB out...wow wow wow.  Please note...I am not arguing that CSB should be selected OVER GAC...they both have arguments and there is no way the committee can honestly choose one over the other...but they will...and it will be GAC.  Bank on it.  The stats are not in favor of either - it's basically a wash.  There is one intangible...   

Winning percentage - slight edge to GAC:
CSB 21-6 (.78) - all games against D3 schools...
GAC 20-5 (.80) - one loss was to D2...

Strength of Schedule - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .508 - rank #189
GAC - .502 - rank #211

Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .507
GAC - .499

Opponents Opponents Winning Percentage - slight edge to CSB:
CSB - .511
GAC - .508

GAC was 2-1 against UST and CSB was 1-2.  GAC lost to Hamline who was sub-.500 this year.  GAC lost in th semis of the conference tourney and CSB lost in the title game.  But, that extra win vs. UST could give them a slight edge. Then again, CSB has 21 Division 3 wins so it is too close to call...

SO - these two look fairly even and I just do not know how the NCAA could possibly justify picking one over the other.  They will and GAC will get the nod. ..trust me...it will happen.  CSB fans will have every right to complain.  And, to be perfecrtly fair, if CSB is chosen over GAC then GAC fans would have an argument based on what I have seen.  If GAC is denied and CSB gets a bid I will be the first to say they should have BOTH either been given bids or denied bids.  The committiee will, most definitely, keep CSB out...count on it.

The only factor I can see decidely in the GAC's favor would be having their coach on the region committee and the region committee rankings are a secondary criteria.  Understandably, GAC's coach would rank GAC ahead of CSB. Can't blame her as I would do the same.  It's just unfortunate that it could possibly come down to that selection criteria because then it is not the objective process the NCAA prides itself on...

Before I get ripped too much...I hope BOTH CSB and GAC squeek into the tourney.  But, I am not optimistic for my Blazers.  Wish we could have taken care of those darn Tommies and their scholarship athletes...oops...student-athletes!!

This all coming from the guy whose favorite word this year has been "WHINER"

My God could you possibly be more of a passive aggressive, whining, whack-job conspiracy theorist?

I'm sure the Blazers will also get screwed on the conference awards and of course coach of the year. Then Obama will blame St. Ben's for the recession and the CEO of Toyota will find some way to blame Durbin for his company's problems.

I just heard CNN report that when Blazerball jumped up and down in a tantrum after seeing that d3hoops.com projected that Gustavus was in and St. Ben's was out that it caused an aftershock in Chile.

Stay tuned for more news regarding the world is against St. Ben's...

[gacbacker]

Wow...Minnesota Morris gets in and GAC and St. Ben's stay home. Bummer.