WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

CM- You must think SMU is really bad since you didn't even include them in your rankings.  Ouch.  I think Macalaster will be better than they ever have been, but I don't think they are going to make a major jump up.  I think that a lot of teams are going to be really good, but as is the case every year, a few teams will struggle to turn the corner.  We'll also see how good a few coaches really are now that their studs have graduated.

[Collegeville Magic]

ECMF- I was actually hoping SMU would drop out of the conference, so that Mac wouldn't feel like they were the only program worth mocking openly for cowardice. 

Leaving them out was actually a typo on my part.

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

Why do you think SMU should be dropped from the league?  Not even two years ago they were one of the top teams in the league.  Granted that great senior class is gone, but I think they are going to get turned around in the next year or two, based on what I've heard about the coaches that they brought in.  I even think MAC will be a respectable program in a few years with the coach they have now.  She has experienced success at UST, and she seems to be recruiting in all the right places right now.

[Collegeville Magic]

Good lord, read a bit more carefully, please.   

I wasn't saying I think SMU should be dropped, only that it would be funny if they did.  That way, as I said, MAC wouldn't feel lonely about being the one constant target of all members of the posting community.

New topic for all:  Any surprises on MIAC rosters this winter?  Anybody actually seen his/her favorite squad practice?  Any "big" recruits not make the cut?

[LA RAMS]

Was glad to see that Tasha Mrosak of Bloomington Kennedy is on the roster at St. Olaf.  I thought GAC would have had their roster up by now but haven't seen it yet.

Can't wait for the season to get started.  My UCLA Bruins have tanked after that heart-breaking loss to Notre Dame that I witnessed a couple of weekends ago   Wouldn't surprise me if Guererro axes KD if we lose to USC again.   

[Willy Wonka]

I saw GAC in one of its first practices. Intensity needs a major pick-me-up, but the Gusties have added some solid size - height and weight, which is new - that should prove useful. The 6-4 freshman won't see much/any time this season, but it wouldn't surprise me to see a freshie PG and SF on the court for the season's opening tip and a freshman post as one of the top girls off the bench. Good for the future of the program, but perhaps not so good for the start of the 2006-07 season.

Not much word on the new assistant yet. I'm sure that will play out as the season starts, with us (RE: me) either singing her praises or offering, um, constructive criticism

[Maroon&Gold]

Haven't seen the Cobbs practice yet, but from what I hear things look pretty good.  A couple freshmen appear ready to deepen an already deep team at the guard spots.  The biggest spot of concern will obviously be a lack of size inside.  Hageman is very talented, but they need to be able to find ladies who can take some defensive slack off of her so that she is not saddled with foul troubles.  The backcourt should be ready to roll. I would expect the PG spot to be better this year (it improved as the year went by last year) as there is now some experience to build off.  Keeley should be a big threat from distance again, and hopefully also be able to put the ball on the wood and get to the hoop.  Overall, I am very excited about this squad.

One more thing; afte the year that this team had last year, and the fact that they lose only one player off their squad,  they get no love from the D3Hoops poll, not even a vote?? What's up with that?

[scorekeeper]

M and G, I hear you on the lack of respect for Concordia.  I was on record in an earlier post that I see Concordia as the MIAC favorite.  However, the early D3Hoops poll often just includes the teams which have always been there in the past.  I love my Blazers, but there is no way I think they should be ranked #19 when Concordia and GAC are not even in "others receiving votes."  There will be a lot of changes as the year goes along. 

The Blazers have a very tough opener this year in Boston as they take on NCAA Tourney participant Wesleyan.  If they beat them they will likely match up with another NCAA tourney team from last year in Emmanuel (the tourney host).  It's a great test for CSB and if they pull of the victories, it could be important come selection time if the Blazers need the boost with strength of schedule. 

CSB will scrimmage Southwest Minnesota State this Saturday.  I will be out of town so anyone who attends please let us know how it goes.  Any other scrimmages out there?   

[Cager]

It's good to see MIAC teams getting out on the road in preseason and test themselvs against other competition. With success, this will raise the awareness and respect of the MIAC.

Keep it up coaches!

[scorekeeper]

From the MIAC website. 

MIAC Women's Basketball
Five teams received first place votes in the women's basketball poll but Concordia finished first. The Cobbers topped 2005-06 MIAC champion Saint Benedict, along with Carleton, Gustavus, and St. Thomas close behind. Non-conference women's basketball games begin on Friday, November 17 and MIAC conference games start on Wednesday, November 29.
1. Concordia (3)
2. Saint Benedict (4)
3. Carleton (2)
4. Gustavus (2)
5. St. Thomas (1)
6. Bethel
7. (tie) Hamline
7. (tie) St. Olaf
9. St. Catherine
10. Saint Mary's
11. Augsburg
12. Macalester

[cobbernation]

Haven't seen the Cobbs practice yet, but from what I hear things look pretty good.  A couple freshmen appear ready to deepen an already deep team at the guard spots.  The biggest spot of concern will obviously be a lack of size inside.  Hageman is very talented, but they need to be able to find ladies who can take some defensive slack off of her so that she is not saddled with foul troubles.  The backcourt should be ready to roll. I would expect the PG spot to be better this year (it improved as the year went by last year) as there is now some experience to build off.  Keeley should be a big threat from distance again, and hopefully also be able to put the ball on the wood and get to the hoop.  Overall, I am very excited about this squad.

One more thing; afte the year that this team had last year, and the fact that they lose only one player off their squad,  they get no love from the D3Hoops poll, not even a vote?? What's up with that?

I agree here with M&G.  The guards will have a lot of talent and depth.  Hageman will be the best post and I think Sarah Krabbenhoff, senior from Souix Falls will play at the 4 spot.  It should be a competitive year in the MIAC.

[gacunk]

Well, if I'm going to post my comments now and then, I should stick my neck out and give my predictions.

Here goes:

1   Gustavus – Returning Monahan and Vadnais plus one of the  greatest  recruiting years. The Gusties have five veterans who make up a strong starting team. I agree with Willy-Wonka, however , with the talent of the freshman someone could break into the starting five.

2   St Benedict – Who will replace Heikenen? Although she has only one year under her belt, Ariel Tauer could step it up another notch. Teamwork is a strong plus for this group.

3   Concordia – Had their fifteen minutes of fame. Poof !   This year could be the proof.

4   Carlton – Vig's gone. No superstars, but the team has good athletes and the coach always seems to bring out the best in the players.

This top four are very close and could win or lose on the play of a freshman here or there or with the tremendous growth of some players between their sophomore and junior years. These are the big ticket no miss match ups.

5    Bethel – Big inside – Who plays PG – Will anybody play defense?

6    St Thomas – Opdahl gone – Eight losses in the last nine games last year. Can the coach resurrect   this team?

7    St Olaf – Always a high level of adequacy. Can they raise the bar?

8    Hamline – Couldn't get it done with Ewert and Korchik. Does the freshman class bring hope?

9    Augsburg – Very young and very short. 

10  Saint Marys – New coach – Always tough first year with lots of adjustments.

11  St Catherine – No Jenna, new coach – Ditto.

12  Macalester – In a world of their own.

So there it is. It's possible that some of us will change our predictions after we see some scrimmages and non-conference games. After all, we really don't know what's going on in all those practices. Hopefully, there will be some real surprises and all the teams will reach higher levels and the MIAC will gain more national recognition.

You want a real scare – I voted today!

[Cager]

Loyalties abound for the top four! Could be anyone of them. Perhaps it will be the supporting casts and not the starters that make the difference.

Where are the 4-8 loyalists??

[gacbacker]

Once again Bri Monahan gets no love from the d3hoops.com awards panel...Monahan was left off the post-season awards last year and now left off the pre-season awards this year...some how Darby Noreen gets named honorable mention...she's a nice player, but not one of the top ten guards in nation. She might not even be a top five guard in the conference. I'd definitely take Vadnais and Petrich ahead of her for sure. In fact I'd take Kempe over her.

The Blazers get ranked in the pre-season top 25 as well, and I think they are the 3rd best team in the confernece at best.

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

Heard a rumor that Darby Noreen is not eligible for the first semester due to grades.  Can any one say they heard right or not there?