WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[LA RAMS]

Gacbacker - Was at St. Olaf - UST game last night (UST won 61-52 but it wasn't anywhere near as close as score would indicate).  I like this St. Olaf team.  They're very young obviously but they've got a lot of promise and I would have to think that when this team gets a little more experience under their collective belts they'll be very, very good.  But they're experiencing some growing pains right now which probably best explains the roller coaster ride they're going through right now. 

Good win for the Gusties at home last night vs Macalester.  Hopefully it'll give them a shot of confidence going up to St. Joe on Saturday....

[blazerguy]

Stifter played a fantastic game today in beating GAC by 3. She scored like a hundred points, ok it was actually 24 or 25, but took over the game when Blazers needed. GAC has a nice team, but without a dominent player, geise or something like that is a very good player but they could use someone down low to score when needed. Maybe the player of the game although she only scored 5 is Devin Bowlen, when down by 5 she scored all her points late in the game to tie the game. Also played better at the point after losing her starting position to young Canton a couple of games ago. I think she plays better coming off the bench. Nice win today in cold windy St. Joe, oh and gotta comment on another great game of coaching by the GAC coach, next to Durbin I think she is the best in the MIAC.

[LA RAMS]

Utterly embarrassing performance last night by GAC as they get dough-popped on the road against Hamline 83-76 last night.  Gusties looked lost, confused and completely clueless at times during the second half.  As I look at it now, GAC is NOT a playoff contender and this could be a LONG, long season for them.

[gacbacker]

L.A. Rams,

When you say you believe that Gustavus is not a playoff contender, do you mean they are not a contender to finish in the top 6 and make the playoffs, or they are not a contender to win the MIAC Playoffs?

I'd agree with you that right now they are not a contender to win the MIAC playoffs and get the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, but I'm still pretty confident they are going to finish in the top 6 and make the playoffs.

I mean they just had St. Thomas, who is the only undefeated team in conference play, on the ropes on the road without their second best player in the lineup.

The Gusties could make an immediate improvement if they would make a conscious choice to defend the three point line better. They are giving up way too many wide open looks from the perimeter due to their defensive philosophy which relies so heavily on help side defense. Allowing Ali Johnson open look after open look on Saturday was ridiculous and the fact that no adjustment was made throughout the game was embarressing.

But look at the stats, they have given up 71 made three pointers in 11 games which is by far the most. The average among the 12 teams is 50 and Bethel and St. Mary's haven't even given up 40 yet. The Gusties are also the worst in the league in 3-point FG percentage defense.

The three pointer is such a difference maker in the college game, the Gusties have to take note of this and make a change instead of just hoping that opposing teams are going to start missing more frequently.

[LA RAMS]

Gacbacker - I'm talking about just making the playoffs.  True, there was much better effort and execution on Saturday against UST than during the debacle over at Hutton Arena.  I hope somehow I'm wrong and I'll gladly eat crow if they finish in the top six but this team's pysche is very frail right now and with league co-leader CSB coming into Lund Arena on Wednesday night the Gusties will likely find themselves under the gun very quickly.

[LA RAMS]

OK.  Time for my first power rankings of this season:

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

I have to have the Tommies at the top right now because, well, because they're finding ways to win games.  And they'll have a huge test tomorrow night when they're up in Moorhead to take on the Corn.  Despite the road loss at CSB on Saturday, I still feel that Concordia is the best team in the conference.  I know I've said this before but this team is different.  They've got an experienced, senior-laden line-up with a huge presence down low in Alexandra Lippert; something they simply haven't had before.  While it's a little weird to see SMU as high as they are right now (and I have serious doubts that they can maintain their position), I'm not at all surprised that St. Olaf has made huge strides this season.  This is a young team but they are going to be very, very good in the next year or two.

[LA RAMS]

A damn shame this board is so bloody quiet; especially after the wild Saturday we just had.  Nonetheless, here are my latest power rankings:

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

It's hard to deviate too much from the actual standings at the moment as far as the top tier of teams are concerned.  CSB took full advantage of the slip-ups by both UST and Concordia on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the conference - and my power rankings as well.  UST simply did not show a sense of urgency in the second half against a scrappy St. Kate's squad.  Concordia, I suppose, can make a case that it got hosed towards the end against Bethel but that might detract against a determined effort by this rising Bethel team that is not only in the midst of a 7-game winning streak but also making a strong case for itself that it belongs in the upper echelon of teams.  SMU had a chance to do the same but got knocked off by a Hamline team that is showing it can be very, very dangerous at times.  St. Olaf has suddenly hit the skids and it'll be interesting to see if it can somehow regain its mojo it had going earlier.  GAC is hanging on by a thread and its unimpressive win at home against a downtrodden Carleton team is not going to do much as far as moving up in the rankings is concerned.  They've got to take care of business tonight at Augsburg and then roll the dice on Wednesday night at Bethel. 

[gacbacker]

Why does Olaf get to be tied with the Gusties in your power poll, when they are a game back in the standings AND the Gusties beat them head to head? Seems silly. Ties are for soccer...stick your neck out a little

[blazerguy]

A damn shame this board is so bloody quiet; especially after the wild Saturday we just had.  Nonetheless, here are my latest power rankings:

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

It's hard to deviate too much from the actual standings at the moment as far as the top tier of teams are concerned.  CSB took full advantage of the slip-ups by both UST and Concordia on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the conference - and my power rankings as well.  UST simply did not show a sense of urgency in the second half against a scrappy St. Kate's squad.  Concordia, I suppose, can make a case that it got hosed towards the end against Bethel but that might detract against a determined effort by this rising Bethel team that is not only in the midst of a 7-game winning streak but also making a strong case for itself that it belongs in the upper echelon of teams.  SMU had a chance to do the same but got knocked off by a Hamline team that is showing it can be very, very dangerous at times.  St. Olaf has suddenly hit the skids and it'll be interesting to see if it can somehow regain its mojo it had going earlier.  GAC is hanging on by a thread and its unimpressive win at home against a downtrodden Carleton team is not going to do much as far as moving up in the rankings is concerned.  They've got to take care of business tonight at Augsburg and then roll the dice on Wednesday night at Bethel.  

I agree, unfortunate this board is so slow. I think part of it is because it is very hard to find. Not sure the answer but I had to switch computers, lost my favorites and had to reconnect. Couldn't find the board until searching throughout the site, and found it under D3boards, kinda hidden. Maybe i'm just challenged but i think it might be part of the answer. What do you think Pat?

[blazerguy]

Half way through the MIAC season so a few comments, mostly to myself but maybe to a few others. I haven't seen all the teams but have most. My blazers, we struggled early with a few too tight games, Durbin made a couple mid season changes that have helped. Starting W. Canton and M. Dale gave the team a boost and I think Devin and L. Canton are better off the bench. the team is finding its stride now and i look for us to only improve the rest of the way.
The Cobbers have surprised me. They have so much talent and but are struggling to win games. I think they are the scariest team along with UST to challenge the Blazers. I thought going into the season that UST was the team to beat and frankly thought they might run away with it, not sure what the problem is but they have had a ton on turnover of players and may have chemistry issues. Bethel looked good early but have now gone back to the coaches normal 2nd half doldrums. My opinion is he is most of their problem. St. Kates is an impressive scrappy team, I don't see any superstars but sometimes that is good for all around play. St. Olaf could surprise teams in the second half and make a run and GAC will get straightened out and be a force. I've said it before, they also have the 2nd best coach in the MIAC. Maybe that will get a little board interaction. Controversy usually gets fans going. How about somebody starting by doing a ranking of MIAC coaches. I will contribute if anybody cares enough to post!!

[Pat Coleman]

A damn shame this board is so bloody quiet; especially after the wild Saturday we just had.  Nonetheless, here are my latest power rankings:

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

It's hard to deviate too much from the actual standings at the moment as far as the top tier of teams are concerned.  CSB took full advantage of the slip-ups by both UST and Concordia on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the conference - and my power rankings as well.  UST simply did not show a sense of urgency in the second half against a scrappy St. Kate's squad.  Concordia, I suppose, can make a case that it got hosed towards the end against Bethel but that might detract against a determined effort by this rising Bethel team that is not only in the midst of a 7-game winning streak but also making a strong case for itself that it belongs in the upper echelon of teams.  SMU had a chance to do the same but got knocked off by a Hamline team that is showing it can be very, very dangerous at times.  St. Olaf has suddenly hit the skids and it'll be interesting to see if it can somehow regain its mojo it had going earlier.  GAC is hanging on by a thread and its unimpressive win at home against a downtrodden Carleton team is not going to do much as far as moving up in the rankings is concerned.  They've got to take care of business tonight at Augsburg and then roll the dice on Wednesday night at Bethel.  

I agree, unfortunate this board is so slow. I think part of it is because it is very hard to find. Not sure the answer but I had to switch computers, lost my favorites and had to reconnect. Couldn't find the board until searching throughout the site, and found it under D3boards, kinda hidden. Maybe i'm just challenged but i think it might be part of the answer. What do you think Pat?

There's two links on the front page -- one is the D3boards you saw and another is this fancy little button we have right below the rotating lead stories, labeled Message Boards. I agree people don't necessarily deal with change well but we simply can't put everything in every dropdown menu -- that's just messy. It doesn't belong under News.

[blazerguy]

A damn shame this board is so bloody quiet; especially after the wild Saturday we just had.  Nonetheless, here are my latest power rankings:

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

It's hard to deviate too much from the actual standings at the moment as far as the top tier of teams are concerned.  CSB took full advantage of the slip-ups by both UST and Concordia on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the conference - and my power rankings as well.  UST simply did not show a sense of urgency in the second half against a scrappy St. Kate's squad.  Concordia, I suppose, can make a case that it got hosed towards the end against Bethel but that might detract against a determined effort by this rising Bethel team that is not only in the midst of a 7-game winning streak but also making a strong case for itself that it belongs in the upper echelon of teams.  SMU had a chance to do the same but got knocked off by a Hamline team that is showing it can be very, very dangerous at times.  St. Olaf has suddenly hit the skids and it'll be interesting to see if it can somehow regain its mojo it had going earlier.  GAC is hanging on by a thread and its unimpressive win at home against a downtrodden Carleton team is not going to do much as far as moving up in the rankings is concerned.  They've got to take care of business tonight at Augsburg and then roll the dice on Wednesday night at Bethel.  

I agree, unfortunate this board is so slow. I think part of it is because it is very hard to find. Not sure the answer but I had to switch computers, lost my favorites and had to reconnect. Couldn't find the board until searching throughout the site, and found it under D3boards, kinda hidden. Maybe i'm just challenged but i think it might be part of the answer. What do you think Pat?

There's two links on the front page -- one is the D3boards you saw and another is this fancy little button we have right below the rotating lead stories, labeled Message Boards. I agree people don't necessarily deal with change well but we simply can't put everything in every dropdown menu -- that's just messy. It doesn't belong under News.

Pat, you are right, and I am technology challenged. Thanks for responding!

[LA RAMS]

Well, here we go again with my latest power rankings.  What a difference a single week can make:

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

Shock of all shocks, the top four teams have seemingly shook themselves apart from everyone else and have firmly cemented their respective spots in the standings (and my power rankings as well) - for now.  GAC, I think, has finally got it going again.  Beyond the top four, it gets very tricky.  Bethel, which was riding high a mere week ago has suddenly gone into an inexplicable funk and they've got to do some serious soul-searching to avoid a further collapse.  Having players such as Swenson and Sheley healthy and 100% would help as well as Scottie Moats finding a way to stay out of foul trouble.  SMU's lack of experience and youth is catching up with them.  Don't look now but suddenly Macalester has inched it's way into the muddled middle and could surprise down the stretch.  Hamline is still alive but barely hanging on by a respirator.  Augsburg got a nice addition in Brittany Zins after the holiday break and should at least be a better team coming down the home stretch.  

[Out_Of_My_Kitchen]

Posters,

Is this going to be a three team race?  Does the number one seed have a clear advantage not playing the other two top teams? 

I might be underselling GAC here, but I think CSB, UST, and Concordia are a cut above.  These teams have done well in the past couple years and made the NCAAs. 

[gacbacker]

Nice and rare win for the Gusties in Moorhead today. The victory gives them a legit shot at the No. 3 seed and an outside chance at the No. 2 seed if the Tommies continue to slump. Remember, the Gusties have a fairly easy schedule remaining compared to the other top teams, since they have already played St. Ben's and Concordia twice now and they get St. Thomas at home in round 2.