WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Da-dented1]

I guess I am going to elbow my way in here, since there seems to be no responses to my questions. So, I'm lighting the fire again. Back to the scheduling in the MIAC.   

"Have you seen them play?" -- She_scores51

I'm not sure about the question,"Have you seen them play?" Who are you you talking about the MIAC, WIAC, or the Teams with injuries? The thing I am concerned with is the fatigue building as the schedule grinds along.

Secondly, (and someone brought this up(can't find it)) for a Conference who boasts of academics, the present schedule is to the point of being ridiculous. This, especially for those who travel the most. Those who are more than 60 miles from the Metro area spend literally days in a vehicle during a season. Those especially at the extreme ends of the Conference have 11 road trips/year.  Those from the Metro area have 4 road trips/year.  Now, compound those trips, by stuffing three games in each week.

We of the MIAC, are in our own little world, don't get out to see what is going on in the rest of the BB world.  We are so used to what we see regularly that we are being left behind by the rest the BB world.  Some of the BB I see as I get around the MIAC is so Retro that it is tough to watch. There are some, very few however, who can use the spin off the dribble, can hop-step for the shot, or who have a real sound Jumper.  So when we are not able to see the rest of the world, via nonconference confrontations, here again our scheduling becomes a problem for us.

So, for those of you who have your pants in a wad about rankings etc., maybe consider getting on the board to discuss dealing with the schdule.  Tell me how those who vote on the rankings are to compare MIAC schools with other schools who are getting all the votes.

Another topic that comes to my mind. How do coaches from outstate get to see the GOOD players who could raise the level of play in the conference when they are in a constant frenzy to GET THE WOMEN READY FOR THE NEXT GAME syndrome. Oh yes, the old tired "recruit in the summer" phrase, but you know what, the girls like to be seen during the season.  If they don't get that attention during the season, they will revert back to the D-   2 school who is asking them to walk on or get a partial; thereby lose the D-3 experience.

It is time for change, I have some ideas on how to get to a 16 total game season,  but the Board may light up and incinerate and I hate to see that.               

[hoopscoopsmiac]

Da-dented 1!!!

What is so wrong with our MIAC Schedule? Truly you make it seem like the girls can barely walk by the end of the season? It's basketball and it does get grueling but not to the point that you are expressing. Part of being a DIII athlete is knowing you have academics, and athletics. And to be honest, if there wasn't all those games and practices I know I would have been bored as a player. Even with all of this, there is still downtime for every athlete, I don't care how busy you are. OH NO, so some people lost fatigue?? It's part of the game and those players and teams that can dig deep enough and continue to push themselves.

Truly, I have sat and read your posts and they just annoy me. You're so concerned about something that is barely a problem.

I don't know about you, but being a coach, player, recruiter this is what you live for. You go into this knowing this is how it is going to be. You make time to get on the road to recruit. And if coaches are too tired to do so then thats their problem. Sure some people would find this insane, but if you're one of these players you wouldn't want it any other way.

[Collegeville Magic]

Wonka- Monahan is probably the conference MVP, I've never said she wasn't deserving of it.  You're too busy trying to start fights with anybody who's taking breath on this board to put together more than two consecutive posts that make sense.   

I'd say, having seen a few games, that Hageman is as good as the GAC 2, and Schneider, Oken-Berg, and Keely might have the right to be in the discussion as well.

ECMF- I hate to say this, but I'm now agreeing with supporters of other teams.  For a person "very well connected" and "very knowledgeable" about the conference, you don't know squat.  There's not a program in the conference that doesn't recruit hard.  The lack of scholarship money, when pursuing athletes who get athletic money offered, is not an easy thing to overcome for ANY coach, regardless of the school's reputation.

Pat- Thanks for providing a forum for us crazies, and thanks for not banning certain inflammatory people (myself included).  The redundant stupidity is wonderful entertainment. 

[she_scores51]

I guess I am going to elbow my way in here, since there seems to be no responses to my questions. So, I'm lighting the fire again. Back to the scheduling in the MIAC.   

"Have you seen them play?" -- She_scores51

I'm not sure about the question,"Have you seen them play?" Who are you you talking about the MIAC, WIAC, or the Teams with injuries? The thing I am concerned with is the fatigue building as the schedule grinds along.

I was referring to the WIAC. Have you seen many WIAC games? They are by far a more physical conference and I would say the more physical nature of their games would be cause for more injuries than just a few more games over the course of a month or so.

Secondly, (and someone brought this up(can't find it)) for a Conference who boasts of academics, the present schedule is to the point of being ridiculous. This, especially for those who travel the most. Those who are more than 60 miles from the Metro area spend literally days in a vehicle during a season. Those especially at the extreme ends of the Conference have 11 road trips/year.  Those from the Metro area have 4 road trips/year.  Now, compound those trips, by stuffing three games in each week.

What about schools in conferences like Wash U that travel to New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and Illinois for conference games? I'm sure those student athletes are getting it done much like the student-athletes in the MIAC. And being from one of the "extreme" ends of the conference, our longest road trip is to Concordia, and all others are 2 hours or so away (with the exception of St. Ben's, which is 3:15). I wouldn't consider a road trip to St. Thomas "days" on the road by any means. You learn to prioritize and utilize time management skills.

Da-dented1, I think you are making a bigger deal out of either of these issues than what is warranted. And as for the MIAC's "retro" style of ball, I'll take it any day. I've seen MANY great games in this conference. I don't think a spin off the dribble or a "hop-step for the shot" (whatever you mean by that) necessarily puts an individual or team light years ahead of where this conference is playing.

[blazerguy]

Who's your MVP (FYI, Durbin can't win that award). It's easy to criticize if you never share any thoughts yourself.

Willy, Obviously Durbin will be the Coach of the year and I would vote for Noreen for MVP. She's the MVP of the team that is going to be #1 in the MIAC, what more do you want. 

[Korn Lover]

Blazerguy- Have you stopped taking your medication?! Noreen as league MVP, give me a break. If the Blazers wish to bestow the honor upon her as the team's MVP, so be it. But she is not in the same league as the others often nemtioned here.

The excuses made for her perfomance (Loss of Heikenen, slow first half of the season, etc.) in my humble opinion remove her from consideration. I'm not taking anything away from her second half, but she was non-extistent early this year. The Blazers success is attributable to the 10 players making up that squad. Their effectiveness as a group is the reason for the success this year, not one player's.

A true MVP ovecoms ALL obstacles and clearly rises above all others in contention. Your Blazer-Colored-Glasses are creating a condition about which we posters are becoming concerned. Time for intervention....

[cobbernation]

Cobbers oust Gustavus tonight in St. Peter 49-46!

After looking at the stats, looks like the game was a little sloppy.  Combined TO's by both teams were 32.  Cobbers shot 33% from the field compared to GAC's 28%.  But a win is a win!

Go Cobbers!

Also, Keeley is 1 3 pointer away from CC all time record.  I am sure she will get it on Wed. night!

[Nites]

Carleton upset by the Pipers 69-61.  The Knights were missing Sarah Lincoln as they go 3-18 from 3-point land.

Big win for the Cobbers tonight.

[gacbacker]

Ugggggghhhhh. That's six in a row now for the Cobbers over the Gusties....the Gusties played poorly enough tonight to lose by 20...luckily they had 5 chances from three point range to tie the game in the final 90 seconds and none of the five fell.

The Gusties just don't play well against that team and there's a number of factors that go into it.

To add salt to the wound, Carleton lost, making a #2 and #3 matchup between the Gusties and Cobbers a more likely scenerio in the MIAC playoffs.

[Korn Lover]

Blazer fans- You're welcome!

Cobber defense holds the BIG TWO below their season averages in a very tough defensive battle. Cobbers owned the defensive boards while Hageman ran free in the paint.

I wish we could play this well against the Bennies, maybe we'll get another shot at them.

Mr Coleman, no claims of national ranking merit here....we know our place

Finally, thank-you Pipers!

[blazerball]

Congrats Cobbers!  Being back at the top of the heap sure is nice...hope the Blazers can stay there. 
I was just thinking about that top ranking for the Gackers...top 10...top 15...definitely top 25...right?  Pat and D3 hoops should be ashamed and give the Gackers their proper credit...there is definitely a conspiracy and bias against GAC.  Oh, wait...ignore that...they played Concordia again.  As I have said...if one or both of the Big Two (Monahan and Vadnais) struggle nobody else steps up for the Gusties and they fall.  There is no third option for the Gackers.  GAC now also has three region losses so that is also a concern as they look at the schedule...

Who knows if the Blazers will stay in first but I like the way things look right now...and GAC still has to play at Carleton...it's a beautiful night...I hope the Cobbers have a safe trip home and enjoy the love coming from St. Joe...

[Korn Lover]

Blazer- I will say a bright spot for the Gusties tonight was #5 Radtke. She handled the ball with poise and her defense was reasonable. However, she was no offensive threat.

The frustration was evident in the BIG TWO, they couldn't play their game. Cobbers just match up well against this team.

Now, stay healthy the rest of the way. We'd like to play a full game against you!

[Ghost of MIAC Past]

CM, you have proven what I knew all along in that you don't know squat, nor do you read well.  I never said that other schools don't recruit hard, and that there is an abundance of scholarship money at the Big 3.  I said that the reputation of the Big 3 makes it much easier for those schools to recruit, and because of their reputations, they frequently get good players who fall in their lap.  Now, the LACK of scholarship money is not equal among the 12 schools in the MIAC.  There are some schools, we'll just call them the ones more inclined to succeed at athletics, that seem to have a lot more money to throw at athletes than other schools.  With different costs at all the schools, and different philosophies in financial aid, all MIAC schools are not created equal.  But in the end, how many kids really pick schools based just on money?  I'd say very few, other wise most kids would go to the Cobbers and the Cardinals, because they have the cheapest schools.  Alas it does not work that way.  I'm not arguing that CSB doesn't work hard, because I've seen the boys out before, but they definitely don't have to work as hard as MAC, CSC, Auggie, or some of the other schools without the reputation of a CSB.

[Willy Wonka]

Congrats to the Cobbers for snaring the win in an ugly display of basketball by both sides tonight. The difference, in my opinion, was Concordia's ability to finish.

I bet CC had 10 points on shots coming in the last three seconds of the shot clock. They didn't panic and actually got VERY good looks on nearly every attempt. I bet they also scored 6-8 baskets on UOB plays - Hageman got a number of uncontested layups on missed/bad switches. It looked like GAC hadn't prepared for what seemed like a a pretty basic play I'm sure it saw in the first meeting. Very frustrating to watch as a Gustie fan.

On the flip side, GAC played very solid defense and shot just horrendous. Generally speaking, you have no business being in a game where you shoot under 30% from the floor, make 12-21 FTs and commit 14 TOs, but the Cobbs didn't exactly show a killer instinct either; Sorbo missed 4 straight FTs in the final 20ish seconds, CC had two costly turnovers in the closing minutes and missed 3 open 3s, any of which would have sealed it. Sadly, none of that mattered.

Why? Besides Concordia successfully making it a halfcourt game with its short bench, I bet the Gusties (the Big 2 and everyone else) missed 15 shots from inside three feet. About 5-7 were uncontested shots that rimmed out. Keeley played physical D on Vadnais (who seemed to be slowed with some sort of injury - what did you think, gacbacker?) and held her in check, though she struggled herself on the other end. Monahan simply couldn't locate the hoop.

The refs had no particular impact on the game, but were still interesting to watch. They called seven total fouls in the first half and 23 after the break. They called completely different halves, but were consistent in each 20 minute segment. I'm not sure I've ever seen something like that before, as the style of play never really changed.

Despite getting swept in the season series and now having lost six straight in the series, I'd want to see these Cobbers again in the playoffs if I were a player. CN/korn, you should make the trek down south and we'll attempt the Chuck Norris Challenge at Pattys beforehand if/when it happens

It's old now, but I heard some scuttlebutt regarding the end of the Carleton game you fellas mentioned here awhile back. Without checking the box for confirmation of facts, after TT got T'ed up, she could have easily been booted with another loud outburst directed at the ref, who smiled. Nothing was called and the Carlies got the final 11 calls in the game. Is this what you guys heard/saw? It sounds redic. At least Mandy helped you out tonight, I suppose.

[Korn Lover]

Wonka- Excellent observation on the officiating, I agree it was a tale of two halves. Although consistent by half, it makes the game tough for players to adjust.

It did look as though Vadnais was somewhat slowed, although the pressure D by multiple Cobbers had an impact I think. Also, I thought the D on Monihan was very good, she seemed out of sorts on offense.

Shooting on both sides was sub-par, but given the defense tone, I guess that's to be expected.

Be happy to take you up on the Norris offer!

Good luck the rest of the way.