WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[crazy_carl]

East Coast- Hannah Oken-Berg appears to be the real deal for Carleton.  She has contributed heavily in the first three games this year.

It is also tough to determine much from the Knights' loss as there is not a box score anywhere.  However, Kenyon doesn't appear to be a slouch of a team, based on their undefeated status and regular season conference title in 2004-2005.  Granted, I do not know how strong the NCAC is year-in and year-out, but still. 

[peachbasket]

Wednesday's line-up, anyone else want to make their picks??
Hamline @ Gustavus - Hamline by 9.  This one could be a blow out if Hamline gets their stuff together!  The trouble is that it's at GAC, and they seem to have great confidence on their floor!
Carleton @ St. Thomas - Carleton by 5.  UST has had way too many TO's in their first 3 games, and Carleton is a team, at least in the past, very capable of making you pay for mistakes.  This game could be interesting, and forecast a lot for this season.
St. Olaf @ Augsburg -  Olaf in OT by 3.  The Oles traditionally start the season off very slow, and Augsburg is playing with an unbelievable amount of fiesty-ness.  The Oles should drill them, but I foresee some struggles.
Concordia @ Saint Benedict - The Bennies by 12.  I would love to say my Cobbers will win this, but realistically, if our backcourt doesn't pull it together, and Mel gets into foul trouble, it could be a long night!!
St. Catherine @ Saint Mary's - The Caties by 7.  UGHHHH!  This is not only the "pick-em" game, it might be THE ugliest game this season!!  Both teams lack the ability to score consistently.  If Martin is healthy, she will have her way with SMU's inside.

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

I'll take a stab at the first MIAC games
Hamline @ Gustavus- Gustavus by 10.  GAC doesn't lose often at home, and I don't believe Hamline is disciplined enough yet for GAC's D
Carleton @ St. Thomas- This is usually a big rivalry game.  UST has done nothing to prove this will be close though.  Carls by 12.
St. Olaf @ Augsburg -  This is intruiging because you have the up and coming Auggies vs the underachieving Oles.  I'm gonna go on the upset trail and pick AUG by 2.
Concordia @ St. Bens- Upset special in the past two years, but no Mandy this year.  I predict CSB sends a message to the conference early this year, CSB by 13.
St Kate's @ St. Mary's- The long drive will get to the Kitties.  St. Mary's is still big, and they still have Luehnman.  I'm going SMU by 7 at home.

[gacbacker]

Peach I have to strongly disagree with both of your first two picks. Gustavus will beat Hamline and Carleton will kill St. Thomas - five points is being way too generous to the Tommies.

[hoop202]

 I agree with  Val... lets talk  basketball and less of this malicious slander.  I am a new to D3 hoops and joined to follow an athlete  in the MIAC.  I  did a read through of the peach comments, after reading what Val had to say.  I noted this peach person does seem to have a personal vendetta towards coaches and even some  players...sounds more like a green bitter lime than a peach.  Very sorry  that Peach post about a family member with cancer, but perhaps that should make he or she show more kindness and realize the coaches and players  she or he spews such  bitter hatred against may also have had tragedies.  I have had my share of outright nasties during coaching , so I agree with Val......KEEP IT  CLEAN.    No problem with good natured sport  talk,  but slander is another issue entirely and I am surprised it is allowed on a forum like this.   
Good luck to all the teams, coaches and players.  Let's play ball!  Should be an interesting week in the MIAC....  I predict a  few surprises.   

[Collegeville Magic]

hoop- you can't predict surprises without coming out and declaring them as well.   

That's like saying "I know what dad got you for Christmas, but I'm not telling" to a younger sibling. 

My predictions for tonight:
Ham @ GAC - GAC by 2
Carls @ UST - Carls by 9
Olaf @ Ugsburg - Olaf by 12
Cobs @ CSB - Blazers by 14
Katies @ Cards - no clue, so I'll say CSC by 1

[peachbasket]

Tommies up by 7 with 12 minutes left, Oles and Auggies tied at half...could be interesting...

[tommycorn]

Peach I have to strongly disagree with both of your first two picks. Gustavus will beat Hamline and Carleton will kill St. Thomas - five points is being way too generous to the Tommies.

A huge day in the tommies comeback to prominence in the MIAC.  The tommies edged carleton by 18 points.  It was a battle today of the future of the conference as both teams relied heavily on freshman. 

The defense on Vig was amazing, and the tommies really controlled the boards tonight, which may have been the difference in the game.

Melissa Gotchnik finally played the way she can play, scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds.  Chelsea Wirtz is settling down, and took the team on her back at the 12 minute mark ending with 21 points.  I have to say this was an exciting moment for the team.  After 5 plus years of struggle, the team is starting to play ball.  Last year's team had moments of great ball, but the difference between that team and this years team is there ability to get through adversity.  This team is very resilient, and it will be a fun year to watch them grow and get even better...there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Go Toms!:)

[gacbacker]

Wow, impressive win for the Tommies tonight...after watching them barely beat a poor River Falls team a couple of days ago I thought they had no shot tonight. Even more impressive is the fact that they won and Opdahl was a non-factor.

Ugly game in St. Peter tonight as Gustavus pulls one out against Hamline. This is already starting to sound like a broken record, but Vadnais and Monahan lead the way...senior Michelle Linbo had some good minutes down the stretch, but other than that the supporting cast was fairly non-existent.

[peachbasket]

Looks like for those of us brave enough to pick 'em had a 3-2 night!!
My poor Cobbers...OUCH!!  20 points in a half just ain't gonna get 'er done!! The Bennies are a good team, with or without Marty reffing!! We are young, and a bit predictable right now...looks like I'll be on a roller coaster ride this season.
Speaking of OUCH, the Tommies put a serious ouch on the Knights!!  Sounds like Gochnik woke up, and the freshmen can play!  Tommy, how is the Katch kid?  Sounded pretty scary.  They are going to need her as it looks like they are lacking in depth. By the wayI'd take a few of their "5 plus years of struggles," they won a few championships during that time.  1991 - '03 were good to the Tommies, just like the '80's were good to my Cobbers...oh how I long for those days!
The Oles, to no surprise (to me anyway,) were in their typical early season funk.  They don't guard anyone, (5 Auggies in dbl digits,) and they don't care, (unless it's Carleton.)  I still think the Auggies are going to cause people fits.  They aren't the most talented team, but they work their butts off, and just keep fighting!!
The Gusties look to have pulled out an ugly one.  I really thought Hamline was ready to get it going...not to say that they won't, as the Vikings constantly remind us, "there's a lot of season left," but this was a game that a statement could have been made to the league.  One of these coaches have to get wise to the Gusties TWO players, and force the rest of that team to beat you!
My final ouch, SMU...oh how that coach must long for the days of old, like a year ago!!
Now, those of you brave enough to actually pick, and not "predict a few surprises..." let's have at it!!!
St. Olaf @ Saint Benedict - CSB by 17, too tough at home!! THe Oles just don't have it together, YET.
Hamline @ Carleton - is this Hamline's chance to make a statement, no, Vig can't have another night like tonite - Car by 7.
Concordia @ Gustavus - road weary, and questioning, can my Cobbers figure it out?? - This is my upset special, (going with the heart all you GAC fans,) Cobbers by 3.
Saint Mary's @ Augsburg - Auggies by 15, SMU better hope MAC comes back to the conference REALLLLLL soon!!
Bethel @ St. Catherine - is Bethel for real...we're going to find out in that terrible gym.  The Royals by 11.

[tommycorn]

Peachbasket,

From what I hear, Katch is doing fine now.  She took an elbow directly to the throat, which caused her a lot of difficulty to breathe.  It delayed the game for at least 20 minutes which was a pretty scary experience, she ended up being taken away by paramedics on a stretcher.  But all is well now, and she should be back very soon I would expect.  I agree with you, that she is a very important piece to the  team.

After watching Vig play for the past 7 years, high school and college, I really wish you would get more aggressive.  I feel like should could have scored on us every time she touched the ball tonight, if she had made up her mind to do it.  She's almost too 'nice' of a player to take a game over.  I want to see her be more self-fish with the basketball, I really think it would bring her to that level of dominance.

[LA RAMS]

It certainly doesn't get any uglier than it did for the Knights last night.  In addition to looking totally lost on offense they had an unusually tough time of putting the bloody ball in the hole as well.  It's hard telling how long it's going to take the new freshmen to adjust and feel comfortable in Tammy's offensive schemes - I think they'll be fine in the long run.  But it could be rough for awhile.

Speaking of freshmen, props to the new kid on the block in the form of Chelsea Wirtz who played a big part in laying the wood to the Knights last night.  How many treys did she have anyway?  Glad to hear the Katch girl is going to be all right.  Kind of scary when she got hurt.  Elsewhere,  glad to see the Gusties pull one out at home against Hamline.  CSB dumping the Cobbers went as expected as well.

Wish I could be at a game this weekend but I'm attending a little football game out at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Saturday between UCLA and USC.  Needless to say, I am geeked!!!!  Absolutely cannot WAIT to be wearing powder blue and gold and rooting on my Bruins to the biggest upset in college football history and throwing the B.C.S. into total chaos!  UCLA FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!!!

[Collegeville Magic]

Congrats to my Blazers on a good start to the conference season.  The Cobbers really miss Mandy Pearson.  Without her handling the ball, it was tough for the Cobs to get into their offense, and the days of open teammates waiting for kicks once the d collapses on the slash are over.

Thursday/Saturday predictions:

Mac at Simpson -- Homer/Bart/Marge/Lisa/Maggie by 50
Oles at Blazers -- CSB by 19
Ham at Carl -- Knights by 10
Cobs at GAC -- GAC by 9
SMU at ugs -- ugs by 2, 23-21
Bethel at Kate's -- Royals by 12

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

Only a measely 3 out of 5 correct.  Carleton and St. Mary's burned me.  That's okay though, time for the Swam to get back on track here.  Okay for this Saturday:

Mac at Simpson- Do i really need a prediction here, it's a matter of how much.  I'll say 25.
St. Olaf at CSB- Again, by how much.  I'll say CSB by 18.
Ham at Carls- Do they step it up?  At home, I say yes.  But only by 3.
Cobs at GAC- I'm going GAC by 4 in another ugly game.
SMU at the Auggies- I'm riding the Auggies again this time, only by 6 at home.
Bethel at Kate's- Kate's usually gives BU a run for their money, when they play in Arden Hills.  BU by 15.

Best chance for an upset though: Hamline at Carleton.  Hammy's got the shooters, and Carleton's D isn't quite as good as GAC's usually.

[scorekeeper]

Impressive outing by the Blazers last night as Jen Dalhed and Judy Falvey combined for 27 points.  Watch out for Falvey as a 6th player of the Year candidate.  We like to call her "Instant Offense."  Heikenen is as good as ever and St. Ben's had great minutes out of all three First Year players.  Kari Schroeder had 4 blocks (2 on the same player on consecutive shots).  If Ellie Boone returns in good shape from her trip abroad I think CSB will have a great one two punch in the 5 spot. 

One has to wonder if Keeley can get on track for the Cobbers.  She went 1-10 from the field last night and she is now 3-20 from the 3 point stripe this year.  Based on what I saw from the Cobbers, don't expect to see them in the playoffs. 

The big key for the Blazers last night was the Defense.  Keeley and Ehlert came into the game averaging 24 points between them and only came up with 8 points together last night. 

I'm very impressed with the UST win over Carleton.  Perhaps the "Evil Empire" is striking back.