All Things D2 and D3 College basketball

[AO54]

Wild finish at Hutton last night

 

[Ope3]

Wild finish at Hutton last night

Wow, huge ramifications for the MIAC playoff race. Oles, Pipers & Cards all tied in the loss column with 7 for 5th place, just 1 behind the Gusties with 6.

Top 6 advance.

2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings - Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

The official 2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings for Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

miacathletics.com

Somebody is going to get left out that could otherwise do some damage.

 

[cheeseheadgophfan]

Butch had quite the career.

Started out with HS coaching jobs at Fairmont and Mpls Southwest.
was HC at Augsburg College (his alma mater) from 69-73.
then HC at MSU-Mankato from '73-84.
then HC at St. Cloud State from '84 to '97.

from '97 to 2004 he was the AD at SMSU.
from 2004 to 2014, he was the Commissioner of the NSIC.

he's currently serving as a special assistant to the AD at St. Cloud State.

Butch had some really fun teams to watch during his SCSU days.....Reggie Perkins was an amazing DII player....

 

[Ope3]

Wow, huge ramifications for the MIAC playoff race. Oles, Pipers & Cards all tied in the loss column with 7 for 5th place, just 1 behind the Gusties with 6.

Top 6 advance.

2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings - Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

The official 2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings for Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

miacathletics.com

Somebody is going to get left out that could otherwise do some damage.

With a Bethel win over Hamline, they have forced themselves into the conversation. Meanwhile, St Olaf dropped a heartbreaker to St Mary's. The Cards were due after losing their last 2 at the wire.

 

[Goph4Lyfe]

I work in the sports information department at Carleton and spent work today running possible scenarios for MIAC playoffs as of right now. Every team can technically make the playoffs, and Carleton has clinched a spot in the playoffs regardless of all other results

 

[disco]

Moorhead has really turned into an excellent basketball school in the last ten years or so. It's good to see.

As per usual, Crookston is awful in everything. They should really drop back down to the UMAC.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Butch had some really fun teams to watch during his SCSU days.....Reggie Perkins was an amazing DII player....

Yep very good! Kevin Catron was a baller!!!

 

[Ope3]

Bethel at Carleton yesterday featured the 2 hottest teams in the MIAC coming into the game. It was a very entertaining contest, both teams playing with high offense efficiency.

Knights prevail 86-81. Royals were extremely dismayed by a potential non-5 second call, down only 3 with 6 ticks on the clock. I think the Knights must have inbounded at the 4.999 second mark. They made their FTs to put it out of reach.

Johnnies also lost to the Hammies, so Carls are up 3 in the L column.

Big week ahead for Carleton, hosting St John's on Wednesday and at Macalester on Saturday, both currently tied for 2nd.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Carleton	13-3	.812	18-3	.857	W4
Macalester	10-6	.625	14-7	.667	W1
Saint John's	10-6	.625	13-8	.619	L1
Saint Mary's	9-7	.562	13-8	.619	W2
Gustavus	9-8	.529	9-13	.409	L3
Hamline	8-8	.500	12-9	.571	W1
St. Olaf	8-9	.471	12-10	.545	L4
Bethel	7-10	.412	9-13	.409	L1
Concordia	6-10	.375	8-13	.381	W2
St. Scholastica	5-11	.312	6-15	.286	L1
Augsburg	5-12	.294	7-14	.333	W1

MIAC Men's Standings as of Sunday, Feb 5. two weeks left in the regular season.
Carleton has games remaining vs St. John's, Mac, Concordia and St. Scholastica.

the top 6 teams begin the League playoffs in late February.

FWIW - Carleton's last MIAC titles -won Playoffs in 2009-10 season; tied St. Thomas for regular season title in 2010-11. (went down rabbit hole in MIAC record book..)

 

[Ope3]

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Carleton	13-3	.812	18-3	.857	W4
Macalester	10-6	.625	14-7	.667	W1
Saint John's	10-6	.625	13-8	.619	L1
Saint Mary's	9-7	.562	13-8	.619	W2
Gustavus	9-8	.529	9-13	.409	L3
Hamline	8-8	.500	12-9	.571	W1
St. Olaf	8-9	.471	12-10	.545	L4
Bethel	7-10	.412	9-13	.409	L1
Concordia	6-10	.375	8-13	.381	W2
St. Scholastica	5-11	.312	6-15	.286	L1
Augsburg	5-12	.294	7-14	.333	W1

MIAC Men's Standings as of Sunday, Feb 5. two weeks left in the regular season.
Carleton has games remaining vs St. John's, Mac, Concordia and St. Scholastica.

the top 6 teams begin the League playoffs in late February.

FWIW - Carleton's last MIAC titles -won Playoffs in 2009-10 season; tied St. Thomas for regular season title in 2010-11. (went down rabbit hole in MIAC record book..)

If I were to guess, St Johns and Maclester have played their way out of any hope for an NCAA At Large bid. Maybe running the table in the regular season and losing in the MIAC Title would get either on the bubble, 8 or 9 losses overall seems like a no go based on past history.

 

[AO54]

If I were to guess, St Johns and Maclester have played their way out of any hope for an NCAA At Large bid. Maybe running the table in the regular season and losing in the MIAC Title would get either on the bubble, 8 or 9 losses overall seems like a no go based on past history.

No chance for the Johnnies or Scots, Carleton wouldn't be on the bubble either if they lose in the MIAC playoffs. They just don't have the strength of schedule.

It's going to be a real battle these last two weeks in the MIAC and UMAC for the last conference playoff spots.

 

[Ope3]

No chance for the Johnnies or Scots, Carleton wouldn't be on the bubble either if they lose in the MIAC playoffs. They just don't have the strength of schedule.

It's going to be a real battle these last two weeks in the MIAC and UMAC for the last conference playoff spots.

I don't doubt that with Carleton, but with no Non-Conf defeats, if they finish with 4-5 losses I have to think they would at least be in the discussion.

There are very few At-Large bids overall, so it would really depend across the country how many far and away 1st place teams did in their respective Conference Tourney. It would be a crapshoot.

Best to care of business in the MIAC Tourney. Understatement.

 

[Ope3]

Eventually it was the Knights night to clinch a share of the MIAC regular season title and a first round bye, 77-72.

Johnnies started out en fuego, hitting their first 7 from beyond 3 point arc and built I think was lead of 16. Carleton got it to 9 at half.

They chipped away several times but never took the lead until the final minute. Tremendously entertaining contest. Good crowd on hand.

 

[Goph4Lyfe]

Eventually it was the Knights night to clinch a share of the MIAC regular season title and a first round bye, 77-71.

Johnnies started out en fuego, hitting their first 7 from beyond 3 point arc and built I think was lead of 16. Carleton got it to 9 at half.

They chipped away several times but never took the lead until the final minute. Tremendously entertaining contest. Good crowd on hand.

Great game to go to. Was in the Carleton student section so I didn't have the best angle to see if the full court buzzer beater at half was on time or not.

 

[Ope3]

Great game to go to. Was in the Carleton student section so I didn't have the best angle to see if the full court buzzer beater at half was on time or not.

It was right in front of me, I have little doubt it was before the buzzer, but I still think it was the correct call (even with Townie bias). With 0.4 it has to be a catch and shoot, he caught it and turned and heaved, so I think it's automatically waved off. The ref made the call right away, was emphatic and the huddle with the other officials only took a couple seconds without any video review. That's my total amateur take.

Pivotal momentum swing and a critical 3 points. I thought I might be on SportsCenter if the call stood.

 

[Goph4Lyfe]

It was right in front of me, I have little doubt it was before the buzzer, but I still think it was the correct call (even with Townie bias). With 0.4 it has to be a catch and shoot, he caught it and turned and heaved, so I think it's automatically waved off. The ref made the call right away, was emphatic and the huddle with the other officials only took a couple seconds without any video review. That's my total amateur take.

Pivotal momentum swing and a critical 3 points. I thought I might be on SportsCenter if the call stood.

My Carleton bias had the same thought. Would've been a huge swing after the beckler free throws

 

[Ope3]

My Carleton bias had the same thought. Would've been a huge swing after the beckler free throws

Also regarding officiating, the 1st Half seemed like the let both teams really play physical not much was called. 2nd Half, much tighter, both teams got in the double bonus with a lot of time left. Haven't seen that much in the games I have been to.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

Moorhead has really turned into an excellent basketball school in the last ten years or so. It's good to see.

As per usual, Crookston is awful in everything. They should really drop back down to the UMAC.

It's awesome. I just wish it happened sooner. My last year was the first year the Dragons really hit their stride. That was the 2011-2012 season and they started it off with a victory over the NDSU Bison.

 

[Ope3]

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Carleton	14-3	.824	19-3	.864	W5
Macalester	11-6	.647	15-7	.682	W2
Saint Mary's	10-7	.588	14-8	.636	W3
Saint John's	10-7	.588	13-9	.591	L2
Gustavus	9-9	.500	9-14	.391	L4
Hamline	8-9	.471	12-10	.545	L1
St. Olaf	8-10	.444	12-11	.522	L5
Bethel	7-10	.412	9-13	.409	L1
Concordia	7-10	.412	9-13	.409	W3
St. Scholastica	6-11	.353	7-15	.318	W1
Augsburg	5-13	.278	7-15	.318	L1

Concordia is the latest MIAC team to bubble up to the coveted 6th place finish. Too bad they can't play it off in the event of a tie in the standings.

The Scots, Cards and Johnnies are fighting it out for the 2nd bye or are at least solid for 1st Round Home court, if they can get 1 more win.

Gusties, Pipers, Oles, Royals & Cobbers in a huge pile for the 2 remaining bids.

Oles are having a mirror image of last years season, where they started sluggish and then ripped off a big winning streak. St Olaf is now on a 5 game slide, including an OT loss to Mac last night. They play Bethel on Saturday which is essentially do or die for both teams.

 

[Gophers_4life]

As per usual, Crookston is awful in everything. They should really drop back down to the UMAC.

I don't think they've ever been in the UMAC, where Morris has been since 2003. Interestingly though, Concordia St Paul was in the UMAC prior to the NSIC and joined the same year that Crookston joined, in 1999. Not sure where Crookston came from, then.

They probably would do well to join Morris.


I did not even realize that Crookston discontinued football in 2019.

 

[disco]

I don't think they've ever been in the UMAC, where Morris has been since 2003. Interestingly though, Concordia St Paul was in the UMAC prior to the NSIC and joined the same year that Crookston joined, in 1999. Not sure where Crookston came from, then.

They probably would do well to join Morris.


I did not even realize that Crookston discontinued football in 2019.

I thought they were in the UMAC. I was wrong. They were in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NAIA). In any case, they have no business being a D2 school. I've questioned for years if the U should even keep that campus open.

 

[Gophers_4life]

I'd say Crookston should be given over to MNSCU, and Morris should become an independent liberal arts college in the MIAC.

 

[stocker08]

Looks like the UST/Oral Roberts game was entertaining at the very least.

 

[AO54]

I'd say Crookston should be given over to MNSCU, and Morris should become an independent liberal arts college in the MIAC.

MIAC has too many teams as it is, Maximum for a conference should be ten teams.

 

[Ope3]

I am trying to wrap my head around that with only 1 week left in the MIAC, Carleton at Macalester on Saturday will feature the 1st & 2nd place teams. Granted without having to compete with the Tommies, that has at least become possible. They still need to both be better than schools with a much better track record this century, St John's, Gustavus, Bethel and even St Olaf.

Any given AAU Tournament or camp the Knights/Scots staffs attend there may be a couple hundred players looking to get recruited by somebody, but how many of them even have a shot at admission? Just a handful I would guess.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

MIAC has too many teams as it is, Maximum for a conference should be ten teams.

most conferences change over time. I remember when UM-Duluth was in the MIAC. St. Olaf was in the Midwest conference for a number of years and then came back to the MIAC.

I'd have to do a deeper dive to figure out how many schools have been continuous MIAC members since the conference was founded.

 

[Ope3]

most conferences change over time. I remember when UM-Duluth was in the MIAC. St. Olaf was in the Midwest conference for a number of years and then came back to the MIAC.

I'd have to do a deeper dive to figure out how many schools have been continuous MIAC members since the conference was founded.

Per wiki, it's down to Gustavus, Hamline, St John's, & Macalester as far as continuous members since founded in 1920. That's not counting Mac dropping from football only for a couple of decades.

Concordia joined in 1921 and Augsburg in 1924, so they have been along for the ride virtually the entire time.

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Gophers_4life]

MIAC has too many teams as it is, Maximum for a conference should be ten teams.

Sure. There are private schools in the UMAC now, as it is.

 

[Ope3]

I made the road trip north for once to witness Carleton spoil Macalester's Senior Day and in process win the MIAC outright, 74-70.

Again a very entertaining game. Impressive crowd on hand and a top notch gym. Off to Cheapo's.

 

[Ope3]

Credit to a fellow Gopherholer for pointing this out, but with St Olaf's win last night over St Scholastica, the Oles remarkably finished 10-10 by splitting the season series with EVERY opponent in the MIAC.

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Carleton *^	15-3	.833	20-3	.870	W6
Saint John's ^	12-7	.632	15-9	.625	W2
Macalester ^	11-8	.579	15-9	.625	L2
Saint Mary's ^	11-8	.579	15-9	.625	W1
Hamline	10-9	.526	14-10	.583	W2
St. Olaf	10-10	.500	14-11	.560	W2
Gustavus	9-10	.474	9-15	.375	L5
Concordia	8-10	.444	10-13	.435	W4
Bethel	7-12	.368	9-15	.375	L3
St. Scholastica	6-13	.316	7-17	.292	L2
Augsburg	5-14	.263	7-16	.304	L2

The Oles don't have a checkmark by their name, so I am not sure how the tiebreakers work it there are multi-team ties. Most should work in their favor to at least get one of the Final Top 6 playoff bids.

Could be a 4 way tie for 5th/6th if Concordia beats Carleton tonight (ppd from yesterday) and Hamline on Saturday (both games at home), and Gustavus beats St Mary's.