Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Holidays killed some blogging!!!

Here are a few news and notes.

On the positive

Upsala's Aimee Pelzer went over 1000 points last night.

Braham's Tyler Vaughan went over 2000 points a week or so ago.

St. Cloud State's Andrew Bernstetter was named NSIC Player of the Week last week, after averaging 32ppg.

On the Negative

Pequot Lakes Jesse Fisher(Sr, SCSU) had to hang it up last week. Knee problems robbed him over much of his college career. When healthy, he is the most dominant big man I ever coached.

I ate too much over the holidays.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

5 up

Talking boys only right now, but wanted to give some recognition to teams playing well.

5 UP

5. Melrose- Didn't have a great night last night, but fairly young team(leading scorer is a soph), and have been good up until last night.

4. ROCORI- 3-1 lost a tough game to Zimmerman at home. They have 1 senior starter, and are very talented, they beat Sauk Rapids last night by almost 30.

3. Zimmerman- Really off to a good start, watching them live, anyone can bring it up, score it, shoot it, and for the most part they play unselfishly.

2. Minnewaska- Big win vs. Morris last night, Bosek had 28. Tight game throughout, they are doing well.

1. LPGE- Who'd of thought they'd have gotten off to such a strong start, huge win last night. I am telling you Cody Warner will blow up this yr,

HM- Albany, Maple Lake

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

West Central North Preview

I am going to preview the WCN and also the CLC,CMC this season. I thought i'd start it off with the WCN today.

Albany- Kyle Lieser is an excellent shooter, and athlete. He will be asked to do a lot more this yr. I think he's up to the challenge, and I like his teamate Tony Harlander, just really think they've lost a lot to graduation the past few years, and I expect them to finish near the bottom of the conference.

Could be good if: Stars align, Lieser becomes a big time scorer, and defensively they can hold teams down.

Bad sign if: they get off to a slow start. Remember 3/4 years ago Albany was winning 1-2 games total per year.

LPGE- I love Cody Warner. After watching him in fall league, he's the kind of kid who could get to a juco, flourish and be a D2 kid in two years. He has some toughness, a chip, and he can stroke it. I also love Cody Sprenger, I think he loves the game, and brings energy to practice everyday. That is something that cant be faked, and can't be duplicated. Add in both Kingston brothers, and you have the makings of a team primed to challenge for a WCN crown.

Could be Good sign if: Warner starts off hot, and dominating, they accept their roles, and pecking order. They get the "Big Stops" they need to win close games.

Bad sign if: Still seems like a team that when things start to go bad, they don't rally around each other, and instead point fingers.This team isn't used to winning, and isn't used to being more talented than the teams they are playing, let's see how they handle this new role.

Melrose- I think they have some great guards in Sawyer(s), they are really going to like what they have in the two sophomores(I Sawyer, S Stone). VanBeck is a warrior, but do they have the size to compete night in and night out in that league? With Cordes leaving, Dusha is in my opinion now the best coach in that league, and he will get the max out of his players, and scheme well to help them. I just worry about them on the glass. Might have best underclassmen in the league.

Good Sign if: They play a similiar style to last seasons SCT team and let their guards play free, and they score a lot.

Bad sign if: they've played a handful of games and are getting killed on the backboards, and they have no one available to help.

Milaca- 3rd year for coach Leom. He's got two pretty good players in Kiel and Moorlag. Kiel is a scoring 1st PG who can really shoot the ball. Look for some D2s to be on him shortly, and stay on him, as he can play. Moorlag is a 6'7 post with good touch, range, and feel for the game. He's a little soft, and if he loses that he could be a dominant player in this league. They have the 1 and the 5(the two most important spots) now they need the middle to step up this year.

Good Sign: Early success is always good for a team who only won 5 games last yr.

Bad Sign: Box Scores with Moorlag/Kiel for 50 plus. No one else above 4.

Foley- Coming off a great postseason run the Falcons only return 2 regulars from last seasons lineup. Luckily one of them is Aaron Zimmer. On varsity most of his HS career, Zimmer has the opportunity to be a prolific scorer/rebounder/assist man this year, as undoubtedly the Falcon offense will demand he touch it almost everytime down the floor. Wenneberg is a nice player, although to me he's more of a SG, than a true PG. They have some good athletes in Knapek,Scherbing, Nelson, Brenny, Werdlow. I think there down fall could be pressure, and if someone presses them, it could be a long night.

Good Sign: You see some balance in those early season box scores, teams choose to play Zimmer 1 on 1.

Bad Sign: Early season losses mount. With games at Zimmerman and home against Maple Lake early, they could be 0-2 in section before Christmas. Let's be honest they can't afford an injury to Zimmer, as he's the most important guy to any team in the league.

Mora- Ulseth is a top 5 PG in the league, and there is always a sneaky Oslin on the floor somewhere. I like Kolberg/Nystadt, I think they make for a good tandem. That being said, they don't have a superstar or go to guy. I think that will hurt them, along with the fact that they play some pretty poor teams NC so their record is always a tad inflated. They are well coached, and have a nice home court advantage.

Good Sign: They open up late, and with Foley at home, if they can get that one the rest of their pre christmas schedule is pretty easy. They could get off to a hot start.

Bad sign: An early loss at Sauk Centre and it could be signs of a long yr for the Mustangs.

New London Spicer- Defending State title with only 2 regulars from arguably the best group of athletes every to come out of NLS(apologies to 1996) is going to be tough. I loved what they did in football rallying to a section title game, and "over achieving" Moten is the catalyst, he's the engine. If he plays up to his potential, NLS will have a shot to win the title again. Zylstra is an athletic freak, and Their sophs are really good.

Good Sign: New London also has balance in the scoring column with Moten and Zylstra not doing it all by themselves.

Bad Sign: a few close losses early, teams not used to handling adversity, having to handle it early, and under a new regime??? that's what could derail this tm.

Sauk Centre- Isaac Winters, and a couple of other bigs, but what else do they have? I really feel like lack of ball handling, and lack of post feeders make this a tough spot for Sauk. I think Winters is one of the best players in the league, and most coaches will try and take him away early and often.

Good Sign: They get off to a good start. defend their home court well, and rally to .500.

Bad sign: lose their 1st 5. Just not sure what they have to build around.

Cathedral- Best starting 5 in the league, well coached, usually SCC kids lack some toughness, Joe Burt doesn't. He will impose his will on his teamates, and force them to "play tough" I think with Burt/Bjorklund(a fearless athlete) in the back court, not only do they have the conferences best back court, they will have it again next yr. Rucks is their x factor. Keep him healthy he's a top 5 kid in the league, he will need his touches, and you worry that there won't be enough basketball to go around. I think SCC will be best with Burt playing some 1, but also playing without the ball in his hands, and running the floor and scoring in transition. Kid is a beast, He and Moten are 1 and 1a in the league. Can he get his teamates going early, and then takeover at the appropriate times? I wouldn't bet against him.

Good Sign: Rucks, Reisdorf, Bjorklund consistently hit 8-14 points. Joe stays in the low 20s.

Bad Sign: OVERCONFIDENCE. Hurt them last yr when they were upset in the playoffs. I know coach Miller is focused on not letting his boys "Believe the hype."



Predicted order of finish

1. SCC 13-3
2. NLS 12-4
3. LPGE 10-6
4. Foley 9-7
5. Melrose 8-8
6. Milaca 7-9
7. Mora 7-9
8. Albany 5-11
9. Sauk Centre 1-15


PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE

1st team

Burt
Moten
Zimmer
Warner
Winters

2nd tm

Kiel
C Sawyer
J Kingston
Lieser
Rucks

3rd tm

Ulseth
Vanbeck
Zylstra
Reisdorf
Moorlag

HM

Kolberg
Wenneberg
Bjorklund
B Sawyer
M Kingston
Harlander
Sprenger

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

This is something I posted on Minnesotapreps.com in response to a thread started about possible BREAKOUT/SUPRISING players in the senior class.
Here are 10 guys I think will make a big impression this season. Some are Comets some are not. I'm not including Rollo since he was already mentioned, but I would agree he's right up there.

10. Shane Bosek 6'5 Minnewaska Area. Who's coming out of 6AA now that NLS lost 4 of 5 Starters, Staples all 5, Morris 4/5 and Albany 4/5? My guess is Minnewaska, and if they do, it'll be because SHane Bosek took "the Leap."
9. Joe Carpenter 6'5 STMA. Joe is the best unrecruited prospect in the state. Ryan James always tells me that as a quote. He is a HM athlete, and has a nice scoring touch. STMA is very well coached, and if Joe is playing well, they will be a tough out.
8. Kurt Moody 6'4 Pequot Lakes. Maybe he's less of a suprise, but in 8AA look for PL to be very tough and Kurt to be a big reason why. Leading scorer last yr in his conference, a conference that included Staples and Jordan Riewer.
7. Michael Idso 6'8 Rochester Mayo Size, some skill, equal a pretty nice season. Some D2 interest, will it be more with a good season? Of course!!!
6. Shane Hennen 6'2 Minneota. Minneota will contend in their section, and probably just fall short, losing to MACCRAY. Hennen will be a big reason why. Kid is solid, and can stroke it.
5. Adam Hjelter 6'1 Hutchinson MN. Was great at UA net gain Showcase, showed his ability to shoot the ball, easily winning the three pt contest against some solid shooters(Dearing, Watson, Marshall, Tyus, etc...)and can really make plays for others. Look for Hutch to possibly repeat as section champs, and Adam will be big reason why.
4. Bryan Sprang 6'3 Irondale. Not sure he counts, as a suprise, but I expect Sprang to have a huge year AGAIN!!!
3. Levi Abercrombie 6'1 Armstrong. How good was this kid this AAU season? His stock will rise, especially while Curtis remains unsigned. He's an NSIC kid easy to me.
2. Aaron Zimmer 6'6 Foley HS. You will never hear about him again, Foley won't probably get to .500 this season, but this kid can flat out score the basketball. He's got range, he can post you, and hes adept at going either way. Very Skilled. Sat the whole summer with a back injury, but he had 31 and 28 in two games against state champ NLS last season.
1. Kevin Kueffler 6'4 BBE. best 1A team no one knows about is BBE. Best player on BBE is Kueffler. Scoring power wing reminds me a lot of a kid I coached named Tyler Wruck who went on to play at Bemidji, not as physical as Tyler, but similiar skill set.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Recruiting tidbits

Columbia will be in to see Jayme Moten of NLS on Election day. Look for them to stop by SCC and check out a Joe Burt workout too.

U of M Crookston has begun recruiting former Comet target Shane Bosek. I know Coach Hanson has really pushed his recruitment with the local D2s. Shane is 6'5 and can fly. He has a chance.

Kurt Moody/Trevor Morlock continue to travel on visits, be it to Moorhead, Jamestown, Valley City, Crookston, Bemidji, Minot St. or wherever.

Look out for Wisconsin Stout in a central MN gym this winter. With targets like Bosek, Alex Erickson, Tony Saavedra, Aaron Zimmer, Derek Steve, Ben Thiry, etc. They will spend plenty of time traveling the WCN/CLC/CMC circuit.

Every year some central MN kids slide to being late signees, from Tim Bergstrasser(St. Cloud), to Zach Noreen(Bemidji), to Danny Kornbaum(UMD). Helps to have some size, but kids who belong in the NSIC, end up in the NSIC. If they are willing to accept a little less money, and a chance to work for more, if you belong in the NSIC, you will end up in the NSIC.

10 Central/North Central MN Kids I see making their way onto an NSIC roster include:(No particular order)

1. Alex Erickson- Morris
2. Kurt Moody- Pequot Lakes
3. Shane Bosek- Minnewaska
4. Trevor Morlock-Rogers
5. Aaron Zimmer-Foley
6. Kevin Kueffler-BBE
7. Mike Stephens- Big Lake
8. Jordan Reed-Wadena
9. Adam Hjelter- Hutchinson
10. Ian Nelson- Duluth East

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Under Armour Net Gain Showcase!!!

All in all 60 kids took the courts at the UA NGS at Minnetonka HS last Saturday. Top 50 2013 National kids like Riley Dearing, and Bronson Koenig some of the highlights along with 2011 Illinois Commit Mychael Henry, and CJ Watson who has offers from many mid major plus schools(UAB/Tulsa/etc.). Lot's of talented kids from the Milwaukee area as well.

There were probably 20 D1 kids in the gym, and anytime you get to work with such highly talented individuals, you feel excited, and lucky to be a coach. The day flew by, and suddenly we were down to an optional game at the end, which turned into a WI/MN all Star game. "The MIL" guys were on their game early, Koenig who has a North Carolina offer and is totally worth the price of any HS game(Lacrosse Aquinas, HS) set the tone early, but Marcus Marshall(2012 Johnson), and Riley Dearing kept the game close enough, MN Down 10 at the half.. MN Was a little short handed as many of their top players had chosen to go home, but got a quiet but great contribution from Payton Dutcher (2012 Mayer Lutheran) with some rebounds and a stick back. 6 Minutes to go MN Goes with Dearing, Marshall, Former MN Comet Adam Hjelter(2011 Hutchinson), Ater Mynyang(2012 Roch Mayo) and Nate Kratch(2012 Watertown Mayer). These 5 play great team ball and cut a 13 point lead to 3 with under a minute to go, but can't close it out. Fun to watch the game, and a game I'm sure will be "REMATCHED" next yr at Showcase!!!

Great job by UA and Marquise Watts in putting this event on. I had a ton of fun just being part of the staff.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

GIRLS SHOWCASE IS GOING DOWN!!!

We are expecting a big turnout Sunday October 10th at the Whitney Center, both in womens college coaches, and in girls ready and exciited to kick off their basketball season with our Comets Girls Fall Exposure.

Registration can be found online at www.mncomets.com