Interesting Thoughts......

Some may argue that instead of the bottom of the league "being the worst in years" that this year might be the best the league has been from top to bottom in some years.

While not having Gutierrez and Salvino's experience - the sure numbers of freshman Mac is playing cannot survive the skill level and physicalness of the league this year (not to mention the new "system" ).

Could say the same about the Redbirds.  No Cave, Gleason or Meitz all season - plus being lead in many categories by 3 freshmen and a sophomore is a recipe for a long year.   

Would also think this argument holds water to why the Pipers who made the playoffs last year and returned everyone would have to run the table and still have help to make the playoffs this year - NOT TO MENTION - why the untouchable Tommies are sitting with FIVE conferences losses and a need to play very well down the stretch to make the conference playoffs...

Wonder how many lifetimes it has been since that has happened??? 

I'll hang up and listen. 

Quote from: Just Bill on November 21, 2012, 10:58:06 AM
Who put together this early season schedule for Platteville? Game number four before we actually get to a D-III opponent? Grinnell's coach called to express his disappointment in scheduling so many cupcakes. Yikes.

I am going to guess that the UWP schedule has to do with hosting their two tournaments. 

Looking at their online media guide from last year - the home court advantage is pretty impressive - IMO.  If you include their overall home record of 10-3 last year - it looks like they have lost only 50 total games at home since 1987 - 30+ years!! 

If I am looking to get important wins to start my season - as a coach - why would I play there? (Other than money...) 
On the flip - for the same reason - if I am Platteville why go on the road??

We have come along way in basketball circles when a WIAC DIII team loses by 7 to a Mid Major DI and we can call it a cupcake schedule.   

Hate to change the direction of all the wonderful transfer talk - but when will Superior announce the coach?? 

I may have been sleeping and missed it.

Seems like interviews were weeks ago and this time of year coaches are entering the second big week of summer evaluations among other things - I would think this is a tough time not to have a HC in place... 

Who knows - there may be more transfer talk once the coach is named.

Surprised that there is not much talk of the coaching carousel in the IIAC... 

With Coe loosing Juckem to UW-Oshkosh and with Central possibly loosing their HC now that the Bemidji State job is down to two candidates - (with the SDSU Assistant withdrawing early in the process and the UIC coach being offered the job last week and turning it down) - it would seem that Boschee would be the logical next choice..

How does that shape the conference landscape and who fills those jobs at such a late date?

Thoughts???

Was just surfing and found the UWEC Basketball candidate videos.

Here is the link for the UWEC Basketball Coach Search & Screen Media Interviews - the videos can be found in middle of the page under the Videos section.

http://www.leadertelegram.com/sports/

Interesting - maybe this will get the board buzzing for the week.  Any thoughts??

Quote from: hoopsof80 on November 04, 2011, 01:55:16 PM
Whitmore and his yes-man Hopkins have to travel accross the country to try and get "student" athletes because the legit local ones now know what those 2 are all about and why would they want to play in a program like that when there are so many better local ones to turn to for the quality student athletes in this area.  Best of luck PIPERS.

Minnesota Nice coming through loud and clear!  Trying to crash the "USS Piper' into the rocks is getting old.  IMHO - It brings more "street creed" if you would also mention "Westy" and his non-effective recruiting classes and their rapid fall from Glory, or "Toddy" for bring in only 2 recruits in 3 years (not to mention loosing Palmer) and even "Greisy" adding new kids the last three year at 2nd Semester. 

It seems to me that "talking" material would have been if Hipp would have left or there were other defectors - other than those that didn't start....  I am sorry for all the dad's that live through their kids and family members that will never see the big picture - but looking at past HU rosters many of those kids got a shot to play in the MIAC because it was Hamline... ie - Pratt won't average 12 minutes in Northfield.

The wise ones like "Drake" and "Local" even though they will not always write it - do appreciate the fact that the current "gestapo" on Snelling & Hewitt has done more in the last 5 years for Piper Basketball that any of the HU coaches since Hutton (and we loved "Barry" and his minor league stories).   

However - many of us would rather thank he "admiral" and his yes man boy wonder "Hoppy" for helping us move the MIAC to a more balanced and competitive conference.  I am glad that at least some of the coaches have realized that St. Thomas is St. Thomas and St. John's is St. John's is St. John's and you can never compete with that in the Twin Cities - unless you are a D1 or D2 with the same money on the table. 

So good for them - good for us, they found a way to get good players to "enjoy" the great MN weather during the season while making the MIAC better from top to bottom.

Here's to looking forward to another crazy MIAC season.  With the defending national champs embarking on a new era and Auggie Tech beating a D1 in Houston Baptist- who knows what is in stored...

So jump in, sit down and buckle up - this ride looks to be a crazy one. 

Guess this fits into all the Hamline talk since he is an Alum...

Mark Miller
@WisBBYearbook Mark Miller:

Kyle Green of Northern Iowa named new coach at UW-Eau Claire today.

10 minutes ago via web.


Thoughts???

Mark Miller
@WisBBYearbook Mark Miller:

Kyle Green of Northern Iowa named new coach at UW-Eau Claire today.

10 minutes ago via web.

Wow.....

Trying to help out - hoopsup - (and catching up on some reading)  - Per Shooter last Wednesday... 

"Jamison Rusthoven has left Hamline University as men's basketball assistant to become assistant coach at Wisconsin-Platteville".

Looks like the Pipes may look kinda different on the court as well as off... 

Drake - HU..

I know that you GET it and I appreciate the conversation.

If you have not figured by now, I am a realist - and know EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS.

I get bothered by those that try to put blame on things that have none - especially in the world of basketball.  I believe personality has a lot of influence on perception as well.

Griess' midwest laid back personality keeps him of the board - but the Admirals "New York state of mind" keeps him on the board.

Here is an example:

Coach Cal, Sutton and Hugs who were mentioned earlier - are percieved as a couple of slimy ones BUT If you talk to those who REALLY know the true behind the scenes (not just from the books) you would know that....

The most famous and respected coach of all - John Wooden, had a player payroll that revivaled any NBA team of that day.  

THE beloved Coach K - hires coaches and support staff ONLY from with in the Duke program for a reason (and its not only for the knowledge of the tradition)  

And while the Clem Haskins scandle rocked the Minnesota ivory tower, those that KNOW realize papers and easy classes happen all the time in this world million dollar pay days and in that line of thinking - it was nothing compared to what coaches like Dave Bliss did.  

Now all those that are going to cast the first stone, I am not saying it is right - I am just saying it AS IT IS and if Westy, Nellie, Guy, Koz, Fritz, or even Tubby and Bo can do something that does not break the rules to gain an advantage - they will.

If you don't look at college basketball as a business (and yes the MIAC)- then you will ALWAYS be offended and misguided.

and HU - why do you think Johnny Tauer does those SUMMER recruting visits around the quad and the chapel...  (Hell - anyone who has driven down Cleveland Avenue on a 85 and sunny day knows what the hell I am talking about..)  

A friend of mind has always said (while making a triangle jesture with his hands) the only undefeated team in the history of competition...  

I will leave you with that thought as many of you are shelling out dinner, roses and other stuff - just to get some tonight...

Happy Valentines Day.

HU -

Personally - I Don't care about the admiral or am I trying to defend him.  

My point was - that there is tons of turn over in any college basketball program.  

Instead of putting the turn-over rates in a paragraph that involves only Hamline - take all the MIAC rosters compare them and look at turn-over rate from from top to bottom.  I picked only those two programs because I know the coaches from both programs.  

However - I still don't see why everybody gets to pile on the out of town coaches and leave the rest alone.  

Is it because the rest of the MIAC fits into the "one of us" category and they get a free pass.  I Suppose it was blind luck with John Nance, Joe Scott, Noah Kaiser, Ike Roosenfelt, and Mike Keating.....  And NOBODY says anything...

But now look at the talk about Ray Brown and Hamline...  

Just for those that are not aware - With the need for exposure and the mind set of college presidents, today's college athletics (especially football and basketball) live in the GREY area at EVERY LEVEL...  

Especially the people we call "one of us" - but how dare anyone challenge them and the ivory tower known as the MIAC.

I like your thoughts on Ray, but come on, "a mentor's hand up"? I don't mind the philosophies that Whitmore uses on the court, but he has shown that he is far from a mentor/role model to these kids. In the last 2 years under Whitmore, it looks like 16  at HU (many of whom played significant minutes the season before they left). That doesn't indicate to me that he has the trust or allegiance of the players (and visa-versa). The retention rate of the freshman at HU over the last two years has been 27% (3/11)--hopefully this years group will boost that significantly as they are by far the most promising class they have had in a while.

Whether or not Whitmore and his staff are "mentoring" Brown is yet to be determined. Let's see how much they are involved in his progress if he doesn't get this pending year of eligibility back.


Rules are in place to protect the players, the universities, the teams, and maybe most importantly the integrity of the game.

As far as your comments on Whitmore being a mentor or coach that cares about his players, I would tend to agree with your take on the situation. I obviously didn't play for him so I can't speak from experience, but I did have a cousin on the team that felt probably more like the 16 underclassmen that left the program because of how Whitmore coached and treated his players.


HU - I will pass your note on to Coach Smith and Coach Cal that maybe they should spend more time mentoring their players as well since they have experienced some turn over as well...

I am glad to see the Hamline staff is keeping good company with players leaving these programs with eligibility left...

Minnesota (07-08 to 09-10):
Royce White
Travis Busch
Kevin Payton
Brandon Smith
Bryce Webser
Limar Wilson

Kentucky (08-09 to 09-10)
Adam Delph
Kevin Galloway
Mark Halsell
Dwight Perry
Matt Pilgrim
Michael Porter
Matt Scherbenske
Landon Slone
AJ Stewart
Donald Williams

I also think it funny that nobody address the number of kids that quit the programs from St. Johns, St. Thomas and the others...  I believe the reason people can't talk about it is because all these "underclassmen that have quit/left the program" are hidden down at the JV level - many never even get listed on the varsity roster.

I have mentored many and regardless of conversations you can't make decisions for the players - it's called "Free Will".

1) Anybody who has read the NCAA handbook will chuckle at any notion "that Rules are in place to protect the players, the universities, the teams, and maybe most importantly the integrity of the game".

2) "Left the program because of how Whitmore coached and treated his players.
HIS PLAYERS - Means he recruited them.  Do the math - how many years has he been here and how many seasons has he had to spend the FULL senior year recruiting these kids.

Look at the Coach Cal turn over in ONE YEAR...  He MADE sure he had HIS guys...  Even if he stole them from Memphis..  (Ooops - My BAD; there are rules in place so he did not steal them....)

Please compare apples to apples...

IMHO - The biggest suprise was the Gustavus loss to Koz's Krew...  WOW...
I would of never seen this coming.  Would of bet on this game (GAC WIN) - but we all know how my last bet came out...

HOWEVER I am not suprised by the HU loss. (Point margin yes - loss no..) With all the "Downtown" & "The Beast" talk - many forget that we are talking about a team that is made up of 90% Freshman and Sophomores.

For many it was the First time to Winona as well as the first time for the program being in a position to hold sole posession of 2nd place with 2 games left to play in MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS!!!!

It can also be said that while Ray-Ray is very talented - that this is also HIS first go around as a TRUE contributor as a college basketball player, in more than just being a good athlete. 

And then add Ruesse and the Scarlet letter to the mix....  Well - we saw the outcome.

HU has at least 3 games left and the have already assured themselves of the first winning record since 93-94 and the first playoff bith since 2006. 

The rest is gravey...   

My question for discussion to finish the year - is.....

If Ray-Ray does get a second year, if Taylor Hall is healthy, if Nicoli is finally a senior (he seems to be on the Keating/Sweeney path of feeling like he has been there forever!), if SJU returns all thier players (& parents;D)....  and Given what the MIAC has done this year and with what everybody returns..

(Granted there are MANY if's)  Who is the Conference favorite??

As Arsenio Hall used to say - "Things that make you go Hmmmm..." 

PI -

Please accept my humble apologies for ever doubting your intentions or loyalty to the HU Bandwagon.  I would see how it would be hard to get overly excited for another season when you have lost 4 super bowls and lost on last second field goals in 2 championship games... 

I think your loyalty will be rewarded for not retiring.. 

The second part of my TMZ report that I forgot is that the class for your 2010 pipers has a great start.  That was Josh Pratt from St. Anthony HS (the 6'5" athletic wing who scores 18 plus a game) sporting that Maroon & Grey with Hamline Pipers printed all over. 

From what I have heard - he committed two weeks ago.  He was heavily recruited by most of the MIAC schools & on the list of a couple of D2's.   From what I also heard - he was seen in person (several times) by the head coaches from the Gusties, Johnnies, Knights, Ollies & Royals as well as a late and hard push by the Tommies..

With that start - the HU basketball Staff may follow up the top class with another top class!!! 

Looks like Christmas all over for PI and the HU Bandwagon... 

Bueller? - Bueller?; Anyone? - Anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ1V-2dpm5o

I always love when they say that one.... 

Hello? - Is everyone in South Beach this weekend to root for the Vikings??

Crazy Weekend in the MIAC and no posts....

Pipes over GAC by 3
Auggie Tech over Mac by 3
Cobbers over the Johnnies by 3
Tommies over the "Eastsiders" of Northfield by 3..

THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmKRyLdBho

I always love when they sing that one.... 


My TMZ Report for the day: 

Fun crowd at Hutton - have not seen the building that full since Hopkins played St. Thomas Academy for the Joe Hutton Holiday Tourney Championship a few years back;  NBA Hall of Famer (and HU Alum) - Vern Mickelson in the house;  the University President up dancing in the stands and Patrick Reusse taking in the game as well...

Anxious to hear the rest...  two weeks left and only one team has clinched a playoff spot so far... 

I will hang up and listen....