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Messages - TommieHoops4Life

#1
Absolutely a blown call in the St. Olaf game, no way to paint that picture other than that. I saw the replay on Twitter and slowed it down on my phone. Plain as day, the ball is out of the guy's hands and halfway to the basket when the red light goes on.

Should've counted. Unfortunately the officials don't have the luxury of a second look at it, and I think they weren't anticipating a tip play and just assumed it would be late.
#2
Haven't posted on here in a very long time but have watched pieces of the last 2 games...

Anyone still worried about UST? The sky was apparently falling after 2 straight MIAC losses in December, including the first home loss to Hamline in three decades. Sometimes the fun part of conference play is the parity. Programs change, losses happen. They've now won 7 straight and 12 of 13 since the loss to the Pipers, and control their destiny the rest of the way.

They don't appear to be the juggernaut of a program they've been in years past, but anything can happen if you give yourself a chance.

Was stunned to turn on the Tommies/Bethel game and see UST up 21 in such a huge game for both teams. They took their play to another level when they had to.

Watched the last 4 minutes last night and Shaeffer's play was fantastic. Nice to see him make the clutch shot after the 3 in the last minute rimmed out. It looked like the pump fake for the game-winner was something he had set up the whole game. Great effort from the Gusties in an otherwise lost season.

What the bleep has has happened to GAC? Five wins?
#3
Congrats to coach Tauer and the Tommies on winning the national championship! I fully admit I thought the season would end against Augustana, but beating the No. 1 team in the nation on their home floor proves anything is possible.

You've got to love how UST clamped down defensively and shared the ball, which is what has made them successful all year.

The most interesting thing I took away from the win over Benedictine: UST took only 7 threes the whole game, and just one in the second half (Saarela had to force one up late in the shot clock). It was obvious that the game plan was to go inside and attack the basket at every opportunity.

Johnson for Benedictine could obviously score in many ways (21 on 9-15 shooting), but for being a 1st Team All-American he was a complete liability on defense. The Tommies went right at him whenever they could and other than 1 blocked shot, he couldn't stop anybody.
#4
St. Olaf had zero chance of getting in as an at-large. Zero, none. They had a 2-3 non-conference record, whereas St. Thomas was 5-0 and had 9 wins over regionally ranked teams. The only way the MIAC was getting 2 teams in was to have St. Thomas not win the title, which is exactly what happened.

That said, impressive performance, especially in the second half for the Oles in St. Paul on Sunday. Caught the first half online and both teams did a good job of moving the ball. St. Olaf did a great job of giving itself open looks at the basket. The Tommies had to earn a lot of their scores on tough baskets.

Assuming St. Thomas beats Central College and the Elmhurst/Oshkosh winner, it'll have one heck of a test to get to the Elite 8 assuming Whitworth does its job.
#5
Solid win for St. Thomas in the semifinals, and it's fitting that the top 2 teams in the MIAC all year play for all the marbles on Sunday. I think it's a formality that both UST and Olaf are in the tournament regardless of what happens in the title game.

With Erik Tengwall out injured, Grant Schaeffer was phenomenal in his place. He helped control the tempo on the floor, scored 12 points and really finished well at the hoop. Most importantly, 3 assists and ZERO turnovers. I'm not sure UST can play a much better first half. Every time Bethel tried to make a run and get back in it, the Tommies had an answer.

St. Thomas took care of the ball all night with only three turnovers total, and they'll need that again to beat the Oles. Should be a good one tomorrow.
#6
I watched the first 6 minutes or so of the second half of UST at Auggie Tech last night and wasn't too surprised by what I saw. UST ends up winning 71-53.

Augsburg kept leaving Alipate open, and he made every open look. UST had strong guard play and got good production inside from Nord and Saarela. On the flip side, Augsburg had looks but they didn't fall. Most noticeably Kornbaum really struggled to convert at the rim. I remember him being a bit more consistent inside than that.

While it's early, I would've figured the MIAC opener on the road would've been a much tougher test than that for UST. Augsburg shot 38 percent to the Tommies 59 percent.
#7
Good to have D-3 hoops back underway this year, I'm curious to see how things shake out in the MIAC. While I think UST is the favorite to win the league, I see it being a much closer race this year.

I'm told Schved's younger brother expressed interest in trying out, they brought him in and he was "nothing special" and didn't stand out from anyone they already have. He was offered a spot on the JV team and turned it down.

UST split its opening weekend, losing to Pomona-Pitzer 80-77. They had a game-tying 3 miss in the closing seconds. Responded nicely with an 82-65 win at Occidental. I watched the first half of the Pomona-Pitzer game online and the Tommies looked like a team playing their first game, a bit sluggish and the shots weren't falling. They used spurts to stay in it and twice had the chance to take a lead in the second half. Alipate led UST in its first win.

Seems like a team that could have a different leading scorer every night depending on the match-up.
#8
Based on what I'm told, my guess is Coleman has at least had a conversation with Tauer about coming to St. Thomas. It wouldn't be the first time the Tommies got a Division I transfer. Mike Keating and Sean Sweeney both tried that route, granted at smaller schools, before coming back to UST.

That said, I would be very surprised if he ended up at St. Thomas. If he's willing to sit out a year, where he should lock himself in a gym and shoot thousands of jumpers, i can see him at a place like Iowa State or a smaller D-I. If he wants to play immediately and be one of his team's best players, then St. Thomas or a Division-II school like Winona or Mankato could be in the mix.

He has enough interest from D-I schools though that I'm guessing he sits out a year. It would do him a lot of good.
#9
St. Thomas picked up another sharp-shooter last night. Apple Valley guard Dustin Fronk announced he is headed to St. Paul to play for Tauer and the Tommies. He was one of the top 3-point shooters in the state as a senior. Should be a solid get for the Tommies.
#10
Maniac,

I'm told Westlund is out at Bethel. It happened Monday and the team was informed late last week. I'm also told coaches were informed at their conference meeting and most were "shocked." Given the fact they've been a competitive program lately and a playoff team it's somewhat surprising. No reasoning or explanation yet, but it should be interesting to hear what comes of it.
#11
Definitely a tough loss for the Tommies, who all looked stunned when the clock hit zero and the season was over Saturday night. Generally when a team has a 14-point lead in the second half and ends up losing the game, you would think they melted down or blew it somehow, but I'll give credit to Mary Hardin-Baylor. Like others have said, they never looked panicked down the stretch and suddenly just started making everything, including free throws. The four-point play late may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

After turning it over to give MHB late free throws, Noah Kaiser actually got a pretty good look at what could have been a game-tying 3, but it rimmed off. Remember, he hit the 3 against Calvin that turned out to be the game-winner.

While playing for the national championship may not have been an expectation, it was certainly a goal this year. St. Thomas was ranked No. 1 for several weeks and in the top five most of the season, and it get that close to Atlanta and come up short is tough. When they went through the first half of the MIAC season and were beating teams by 20-30 points, it was clear that this year's group could accomplish something special.

It's bittersweet to finish 30-2 but come up short of playing for all the marbles, shows just how hard it is to win a national title. UST is the favorite in the MIAC until someone knocks them off. Congrats to the Tommies on great season. They'll be hungry for more, that's for sure.
#12
I agree with Maniac, the Tommies showed great poise in the second half after not playing much defense early on. To Williams credit, they came out on fire and made a bunch of shots.

UST's guard play and a few adjustments in the second half defensively were the difference. Michael Mayer played great inside, but I thought the play he fouled out on was a terrible call by the officials. Looked like he was standing still on a back pick, might have gotten his elbows up a bit but it looked like a questionable call at best. St. Thomas will take it though.

UST trailed by as much as 14 early and cut it to 9 by half. Perimeter shooting allowed them to come back. They are seeming to find ways to win games that only championship-caliber teams do, and that's exciting for St. Thomas fans. MHB should be interesting. I'm betting UST fans hope the result is a lot like the football playoff game. Tommies should have the advantage with their depth, like they have all season. It should be a good one.
#13
What a gutsy shot by Noah Kaiser to give the Tommies a 63-62 win over Calvin, and the reward is a date with Williams Friday. I'll be curious to see the matchups as Williams has a very good post player averaging basically a double-double and as Tauer said one of the top perimeter shooters in the country.

This one could be a lot tougher for UST since it's on a neutral court, but last weekend was proof that they can throw a punch back when a team makes a run on them.

MIAC fans should remember Williams well, they beat Gustavus in the 2003 national title game and was in the 2011 final four with a 17 point lead before Wooster (I think) came back to beat them. Should be great game, UST wins it with defensive pressure and getting out and running like they have all season. That, and make your FTs (9-22 last game) and clean up the offense (15 turnovers against Calvin).

I expect it to go right down to the wire. Thanks to webcasting, I didn't fork over $800 for a plane trip and a hotel room with the Big Dance this week.
#14
What a great finish to a great game Saturday night at Schoenecker. It truly is a shame that one of the teams had to lose that game. Bryan Powell was absolutely on fire and couldn't miss regardless of the defense. Thankfully one of his few misses was on Calvin's last possession. I forget who was guarding him, but the pressure was enough to force him into a tough shot.

Another very physical game between two very good teams. St. Thomas led by 15 in the second half before Powell caught fire and single-handedly willed Calvin back into the game.

Of all the players to hit a big 3 in a clutch spot, Noah Kaiser wouldn't have been my first pick but what a shot by the senior that turns out to be the game-winner.

That might have been the best defensive team St. Thomas has faced all year. Calvin had very quick defenders with quick hands who jumped frequently into passing lanes. It caused a lot of issues on plays the Tommies usually execute with ease, so they'll need to clean that up this week.

Great to see UST win a game where they were tested until the very end, it hasn't happened a lot this year. It should be an interesting weekend in Salem.
#15
I was able to watch the first half of UST/Wheaton online but for some reason the webcast by MSBN went black for almost the entire second half. Regardless, nice to see the Tommies hold off a tough and physical Wheaton squad. 51 fouls called in the game, and they key on the stat sheet was outscoring Wheaton 28-11 at the FT line.

Wheaton was a scrappy and at times chippy team, even drawing a technical foul on Riedeman (I think). St. Thomas played most of the first half at its pace and led 37-21 before Wheaton cut it to 12 at half. Couldn't watch the second half because of technical problems, but Wheaton cut it down to 59-53 before UST pulled away with FTs. It's a game where it shows the Tommies don't have to rely on their transition game to win.

Tommy Hannon is stepping up and being a leader when his team needs him most, unlike a certain other team in the Twin Cities. He had 18 and 10. While this team has a TON of talent, they're at their best when Hannon and DeBerg play well.

Everyone was waiting for a UST/Steven's Point rematch when the bracket came out, but Calvin crashed the party. Should be an interesting week of preparation. I expect UST to have one of its best games of the year in front of the home crowd for the final time this season.