WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Willy Wonka]

As long as the Strib is willing to write huge features about how Bethel (football) can want to "Take your head off and pray with you afterwards" - to paraphrase a quote from BU coach Steve Johnson about 4 years ago - the stigma about them being ultra-religious will persist. They've worked hard to create that angle, so it's silly not to let them bask in the ridiculousness of it.

That idea was a joke then and it remains a joke to this day. If I'm not mistaken, every school has religious affiliation in the MIAC - except no one else wants to beat you over the head with The Bible to make you see it. In a round-about way, I guess I'm trying to say I agree with CM

[Touchdown Tommy]

Hey Willy,

Is your sister a good player?

[Naf layor]

One name missing from the MVP discussion is Hamline's Laurisa Ewert.  In games last season there were three players that as I watched, I said WOW! This kid is good.  They were Mandy Pearson, Megan Vig, and Laurisa Ewert.  Now, although my WOW method is unscientific, it has helped identify some outstanding players.  Ewert might not have the same talent surrounding her as Anna H., but she makes the players around her better.  One new player in the conference this year that I had the opportunity to watch for years in high school, that I would put into the WOW category, is Ariel Tauer.

[Collegeville Magic]

Willy- Don't forget the senior team captain middle linebacker that year who was proudly quoted saying "We praise Jesus by laying people out on the field."   

Ahhh, extremists...

Happy New Year to everybody, even the Tommies!

[peachbasket]

The "Christian" discussion is an interesting one, especially when today we have a man leading our country who calls himself a "Christian", yet he has no problem sending my friends into combat, and seems to favor capital punishment.

Now, all you Christians, and every other belief, lets talk basketball...my Cobbers dropped a tough one today 74-76, but I am happy to see Annie kept up her stroke, dropping in 21.  M&G were, you there?  Can anyone give me an update?

[peachbasket]

Dang, I missed today's predictions, so let's start with Wednesday's games:
1/4/2006 (Wednesday)
Concordia @ Carleton - a very interesting match-up!!  My team is young, and beginning to come into their own, and Carleton, well, they put a bit a fear in me, especially at home.  I say Annie keeps it going and Mel can't be stopped, my Cobbers by 5.
Gustavus @ Saint Mary's - should be the gusties by 11.
St. Olaf @ Bethel - The "real" Christians, I mean Royals, by 4.
St. Thomas @ Saint Benedict - the Bennies at home are too tough, they win it by 9.
Macalester @ Cal Tech - not sure what Cal Tech has, but does it matter? The Techsters by a lot!!
St. Catherine @ Augsburg - the Augie Doggies are tough, and ready to bite, they win by 13.

[gacbacker]

Interesting night as Bethel loses to St. Mary's, St. Ben's has trouble putting St. Kate's away in the second half and St. Olaf scores 56 points in one half to beat a slumping Hamline team.

Wednesday offers a great slate of games as all should be competitive and important to the conf. standings.

[Naf layor]

The Bethel vs. St. Mary's game was an interesting affair.  Ahlberg and Davis were playing sick, Bethel was up by as much as 17 in the second half, Bethel stopped Luehmann in the first half, Bethel couldn't stop Luehmann in the second half, Thielke couldn't miss, Bethel pushed it inside early and rarely late, St. Mary's never gave up and took it to Bethel in the end.

[she_scores51]

Great game last night (Bethel vs. SMU)!! I was actually expecting the game to be Bethel all the way...SMU is so young that I didn't think they'd stand a chance, especially with all this talk of Bethel being top 3 in the conference, etc.

I was pleasantly surprised. There were times when SMU had 3-4 freshmen on the court and it was actually their bench players that were key in their comeback effort. Some great 3-point shooting and clutch free throws got the game close and then the Cardinals were able to put the game away in OT.

Sick or not, I wasn't very impressed with Ahlberg. She still managed 10 points, but she really seemed to force some shots (inside and outside). I haven't seen Anna H. play yet this year (I will on Saturday), but have seen her in the past and she would definitely get my vote for MVP right now. Obviously, there's still lots of basketball to play...

[Collegeville Magic]

Welcome back 51, thanks for the insight on the surprise by the
Cards!  Ahlberg definitely forces shots, but when she's healthy, many of the "prayers" seem to go in. 

Predictions for tomorrow:

Cobs @ Carl -- Knights by 7, too tough at home
GAC @ SMU -- GAC by 3, young Cards hung over from big win
Oles @ Bethel -- Bethel by 9, fired up from upset loss
UST @ CSB -- Blazers by 11, too much pride, too much talent
Mac @ Cal Tech? -- Cal Tech by 75, will Mac ever win another game?
St. Kate's @ Ugs -- Katies by 3, they play to the level of opponents

Anybody surprised by Hamline's slump?  They need some new bunson burners by the fairgrounds or something, because the chemistry's always screwed up.

[tommycorn]

Can't wait for the game tomorrow.  Let's see if this Tommie team is the real deal.  I think so!  And I'll take by 7.

[gacbacker]

I'd love to see the Tommies pull it out in St. Joseph tomorrow, but I don't think it's going to happen. St. Ben's has too much depth for a top-heavy Tommie squad. St. Thomas is always in danger of having either Gotchnik or Opdahl getting in foul trouble and then being very thin inside. St. Ben's by 8.

I'd also like to see Carleton beat the Cobbers tomorrow, leaving only one team in the conference with one loss.

[onearmedscot]

Ye of poor work ethic...do some research.

Cal Tech is 0-10 losing by 43.3 per game.

MAC is 1-9 and losing by 38.8 per game.

I say MAC by 5.

oAs

[Collegeville Magic]

OAS- Note that I said "another game", not "a game".   

I hope the Scots pull it out, if for no other reason than the fact that their slightly less pitiful final record would end up hurting the rest of the conference's strength of schedule slightly less come NCAA selection time.

Go Blazers!!!!!

[Willy Wonka]

The Gusties should come out fired up tonight in Winona. They are apparently planning a viewing of a young Willy Wonka in spandex performing gymnastics for the busride home. If that doesn't get them fired up, nothing will