Congrats to Scott Gillispie in being named the POY in the conference. This was an interesting year with the fact there weren't many tremendous scorers, but good teams took over.

I am not quite sure how Travis Clark made first team. That is politics at its finest, as a few of the other guys had better seasons. I guess if you make the team the year before you get it again. I thought two of the players on the second team had by far better seasons, and their teams finished the same, or better.

With the season winding down. Who do you all think will get first team all conference. This year is exceptionally tough with all these teams finishing with nearly the same record. Here is my first team:

Wyp: norbs, best scorer on the best team
Tucker: IC (The pg there is a stud, but Tucker is the SR and a highlight waiting to happen)
Borreson: LU Leading rebounder and top 10 in scoring
Gillispie: Rip, Clearly a first teamer, leads league in assists, as well as top 3 in scoring.

The other spot in my opinion should go to Taylor from Norberts. He makes that team go. If not him then Wurtz, but Wurtz only scores, and doesnt defend. Travis Clark was ok this year, but shouldnt be first team just because he was last year.

Opinions?

I might have gotten bad Karma, but I spoke the truth. St. Norberts had everyone back with the exception of a back up post player. They completely dominated the conference and im not sure if they had a loss, but i know it wasnt nearly like it was this year. This year they should be blowing out teams each night in our league. Our league is very average this year as you can tell by the number of .500 teams in the league. Heck Lawrence is 11-10 overall, but is currently tied for 2nd if they win because our conference is average. Norberts had the talent last year to go far in the tournament, and they got some recruits who were studs. I am not sure if trying to get them minutes, along with the returners did it, or if they played out of their minds last year, or if everyone else got THAT much better. But If you ranked the freshman classes, im not sure Norberts wouldnt have come in 1st. So when you add they had EVERYONE back, throw in a terrific recruiting class, why did they do worse in conference play this year?

Now I am not saying they cant make a run, or wont in the tournament, but I would have guessed they would have gotten at at large bid before the season. Now, if Grinnell/IC/Ripon or whoever is in the conference tourny and they upset them I am not so sure.

So yes, I know you all can jump on me for stating my case, but I feel as if they have underachieved. Coach of the year should go to Grinnell's coach for their turnaround, or lawrence if they happen to make the tourny as they were picked second to last. Ic's coach can make a case, but no way shape or form does Coach G deserve it this year.

Congrats to underachieving St norberts. You had everyone back, and yet managed to do worse than last year. I will be surprised if they get out of the conference tournament.

Jeff... just because the beat Ripon and Norberts at home does not mean they changed their defense. Grinnell alwayssss plays better at home, and opposing teams hate playing there. The reffing is not the same in Grinnell as it is at Carroll/Norberts/Beloit/Ripon/Lake Forest, etc etc

My predictions:

Norbs
Ripon
Carroll
Lake Forest.

Also, just want to throw this question out there. Will Bob Gillispie retire when his son is done? Or does he have a ton of years ahead of him?

Why would anyone want to go to Beloit..? I mean Norbs/Lawrence/Ripon/Carrol/Grinnel have been good recently at times, I wasnt sure if Beloit still had a team?

Ripon got a good W last night, we shall see how they stack up today....

Who does everyone think will be the surprise team in the league? Norbs had an "OK" showing against a poor Marian team, and Lawrence had an up and down matchup against the #1 team in the country. Ripon has everyone back, so besides Ripon/Norbs, who can be the surprise team. I believe either Grinnell, Lawrence and carroll are the 3 teams that could surprise.

My thoughts, after making the trip to Appleton, Stevens point has a ton of talent. Krull does everything for them defensively, Hoelzel cleans up the glass, Harris handles the ball, and last night the Tillemas/Hurd were agressive and scored all the crucial buckets. The game was closer than the final score indicated, and I thought Point was going to get after them after halftime and it would be over by the 15 minute mark. And a final comment on the "cheap" acts of tillema, he didnt seem overal cheap the entire game, I was sitting baseline, after he got blocked a couple times, then got striped and got into the LU player and completed flopped for like 20 feet. Refs missed that one. Overal the refs were not terrible, besides a few calls here and there which depending on where you are sitting can be good or bad.

LU I think will be better than expected. They showed something in the second half, when nearly the entire gym thought they would get dismantled. It pains me to say that, but I have to go with my gut feeling.