MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[gacbacker]

If I'm a Gusties fan, I'd be sick.

Sizing up Wednesday night:

GAC-Ham...Ham gave the Johnnies a real battle on Saturday, the Gusties will try to bounce back from the type of loss that creates tailspins...

Geese, unless I'm getting the wrong impression by reading Drake's and VOJ's posts, I'd say the two of you are overreacting a bit to the Gusties' loss in Northfield on Saturday. Drake thinks we should be sick and VOJ is predicting a possible tailspin.

You have to remember that Gustavus had nothing to play for on Saturday, where St. Olaf was fighting for their playoff lives on their home court. Going into the game the Gusties knew they could do no worse than the #2 seed and no better than the #2 seed.

On another subject, Drake I don't think you should be so quick to write off Joe Scott for MVP. Because there is no clear front-runner I think a lot of coaches could decide to defer to the top scorer of the league's best team.

[VOJ]

Gacbacker...all I am saying is that sometimes touch losses can carry over to the next game and if things start to go wrong it feeds on itself...

I am sure that the Gusties will roll on Wednesday night...I just wish they could have rolled on Satuday, would have simplified this whole playoff process...

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Force out at 3rd, turn at 2nd base...

With the league race going down to the last week of the season, & the final league standings still very much up in the air, I also see this as a make or break week for the league MVP.  I did some research & in the past 10 years here's what I've found:

*The league MVP has been awarded to a player on the first place team seven times.

* Every 3-4 years or so, the award has gone to a player on a team that had a top 4 finish.

* No player has every won the award if his team finished lower than 4th.

*Only one year was there a co-MVP awarded.


Year  Player                              School            Team Standing

1998     Devean George             Augsburg   1st
1999     Devean George            Augsburg   1st

2000 Co-MVP
             Troy Bigalke                 St. John's  3rd
             Jeoffrey Reed              Augsburg  2nd

2001   Troy Bigalke                  St. Johns'     1st
2002   Mark Buri                      St. Thomas  1st

2003    Andy Gilbert                Bethel   4th
2004    Ben Van Thorre          Macalester   2nd

2005    Doug Espenson         Gustavus 1st
2006    Isaac Rosefelt            St. Thomas   1st (tie)

2007    Isaac Rosefelt           St. Thomas   1st

So how does this historical information reflect on this year's' MVP race?  Well, IMO, unless Joe Scott for St. Thomas goes on an absolute tear this week, I don't see how he or anyone else from St. Thomas could get the league MVP nod.  From a team perspective, the Tommies' strength this year has been their balanced scoring & collective team effort, so it's difficult to single out one individual from that team.  So that leaves us with the following short list of MVP candidates.  If the season ended today here is my rank order of most deserving candidates:

1) Zach Johnson: Carleton – Has consistently lead his injury plagued team all season.

2) Trevor Wittwer: Gustavus – A talented enigma. 

3) Luke Linz: Concordia – This could be the feel-good story of the year

4) Brady Brink: St. Johns – If the season ended in December he would have been the runaway winner

Dark Horses

Tim Madsen: Bethel – The team's fall from grace, might be too much to overcome.

Femi Solaja: Augsburg – Team has to end up in at least a tie for 4th place.

The biggest factor is going to be where these players' respective teams end up in the standings – 4th place or higher.  If the final standings are as twisted & tied we think they might be, it gives a chance for a player such as Madsen or Solaja to slip into the mix.  If the Cobbs manage to end up in a tie for 4th, I would leapfrog Linz over Wittwer because he's had less talent to work with, & he's consistently been the leader of this very young Cobber team.

Thoughts from others?

My 2 cents worth...
Id say the MVP race is a 3 man contest (Brink, Linz & Wittwer in alphabetical order) and any of the three is most deserving. As has been said, no one player has differentiated himself from the pack, like Ike, Espensen and Buri had in their day.

Brink & Wittwer are the only 2 players to rank in the top ten in the league in virtually every offensive stat. Both are talented, and have used their talent and their personality to lead their team to the playoffs (assuming SJU gets in, which is not a 100% lock at this point, but for them not to make it so many things would have to happen, it would be about as unlikely of a scenario as me cheering for a WIAC school).

Both play with a far more talented/experienced core of players than Linz, who has carried the team more so than the others. He does it all—scores, rebounds, defends, heck, he even brings the ball up...THAT'S how much the Cobbers depend on him.

To give an idea of how balanced the choice between these three is, in the time it took me to type this, I've changed my mind 5 times as to which one is more deserving. I'd say that the coaches will award it to Linz, in recognition of the job he has done carrying the team—not just this year but last year, too. Myself, I'd probably give Wittwer the slightest edge over the other two. Depending on what happens Weds & Sat, this could change.

Of the other possibilities mentioned, I feel Solaja deserves some consideration, especially with the run the Auggies have made. If they had started their run sooner, he'd be a tempting pick.

Johnson has been "the go-to man" for Carleton, overshadowing Drake and the rest of a solid lineup. He will be the leading candidate next year. But has he lifted the Knights to a higher finish than they would have achieved without him?  Doubtful. 

By that logic, Scott is a strong potential, as even I picked UST 6-7th back in the fall. But there is so much talent and depth there, I doubt a Tommie will win the MVP before this year's frosh graduate.

Madson—the best and most consistent player on a truly enigmatic team... BU needs a miracle to make the playoffs, after being favored by everyone except maybe the pope to win the league handily. As the Dodger fans used to say...."wait till next year!"

[Drake Palmer]

Alright, a couple of things.

My bad VOJ – I got carried away with all the various playoff possibilities & it was a typo.  I meant to say IF the Oles lost on Wednesday night, making them 10-10 on the season.

GB - a little sensitive eh? (Having a little fun at the Gusties' expense.)  Ok, I realize the Gusties have locked up a playoff spot.  Good, but you haven't necessarily locked in a top two finish & home court advantage until the championship game.  Plus, if the Gusties are not in the top 2, they would have to play the opening round game of the playoffs.  Certainly not the end of the world, but not the type of momentum I think a team wants going into the playoffs.

And let's revisit this "Scott for MVP question" next week.  If he has two exceptional performances this week, then I think he might get some serious consideration.  I like Scott, but otherwise, I think there are 3-4 seniors that would get the nod over him.

[sumander]

Madson—the best and most consistent player on a truly enigmatic team... BU needs a miracle to make the playoffs, after being favored by everyone except maybe the pope to win the league handily. As the Dodger fans used to say...."wait till next year!"

Maniac, are you telling me we now have to stop calling him "word" and start calling him POPE???

TH4L - Every single poster predicted Bethel would win the title. Except Wonka. Nuff said.

[sju4life]

Drake I would have to say your post is very accurate but I would like to argue the fact Linz is playing with this one statement

"Both play with a far more talented/experienced core of players than Linz, who has carried the team more so than the others. He does it all—scores, rebounds, defends, heck, he even brings the ball up...THAT'S how much the Cobbers depend on him."

The other starting 4 for SJU just are not that good.  Ryan Lieser is just not playing good. 2nd on team in turnovers behind only the PG, shooting a not good percentage and is getting his points Allen Iverson style with more shot attempts equals more points. The worst part is he really is the teams only other scoring option.  People can argue the freshman shwartz is a scorer but if coaches realized all he does is shoot threes ( over half his total attempts this year are three pointers) he would almost never score.  He does not drive to the line or anything.  The rest of the startes and bench are non-factors offensively so my arguement would be without brink SJU would have maybe half the wins they do now if not less.  Linz has the same arguement so it will be fun to see who gets MVP.

ps..  Anybody going to the tommies johnnies game?  I will be there!!

[BBTommie]

New poster here and new to the UST campus area.  But long time BB fanatic.  Have seen UST play STO, Carleton, Gustavous, SJU and Mac so far.  Very impressed with the defense, depth, 3 pt shooting and improvement as the year has progressed.  What am I missing?  How does any other MIAC team stop them in the post-season?

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Madson—the best and most consistent player on a truly enigmatic team... BU needs a miracle to make the playoffs, after being favored by everyone except maybe the pope to win the league handily. As the Dodger fans used to say...."wait till next year!"

Maniac, are you telling me we now have to stop calling him "word" and start calling him POPE???

TH4L - Every single poster predicted Bethel would win the title. Except Wonka. Nuff said.

only if he takes the vow of celibacy, Sum 

[miacsuperfan]

New poster here and new to the UST campus area.  But long time BB fanatic.  Have seen UST play STO, Carleton, Gustavous, SJU and Mac so far.  Very impressed with the defense, depth, 3 pt shooting and improvement as the year has progressed.  What am I missing?  How does any other MIAC team stop them in the post-season?

bb tommie    catch some officials that night that officiate both on and off the ball, and catch joe scott on a cold night, for starters.   beyond that---good luck!   

[Drake Palmer]

I must be running about an hour or so behind everyone today - I just finished reading CSN.     So, hypothetically, let's say Gustavus loses both of their games this week, Carleton wins both of their games & each finishes with an identical record of 13-7.  Due to some tiebreaker Gustavus would have the advantage over Carleton & secure 2nd place?  Would someone explain this to me?

EDIT:  Ok, I think I can answer my own question. In the event of a tie, GAC  would hold the edge since they split the season series with UST, while Carleton lost both games to the Tommies.

Still, at this point in the season, giving up a 10 point lead halftime lead is cause for concern.

[Willy Wonka]

Drake - On the flip side, if GAC wins both games to finish 15-5 it would have the same conference record as when it should have won the national title in 2002-03. There's even the ugly loss in Northfield parallel in there

[kel_varnsen]

Let's not forget that the '02-'03 Gusties lost on Gus Young Court to a Macalester squad that finished in 10th place. And missed free throws nearly cost them the game against Concordia last week.

MVP? Since the first game, I've been hoping to proclaim Gustie role-playing reserve forward Ryan McPartland the conference MVP but he hasn't had quite the impact that another Gustie to wear #32 had. I still have high hopes for his future.

Over three years ago, when most saw him as a gangly and awkward first year who was overwhelmed by the tenacity of MIAC hoops, I confidently proclaimed Trevor Wittwer to be the 2008 MIAC MVP. I stand by this assertion. Sure, he's a bit of an "enigma." But once he enters his Hulk-mad mode, he dominates as much as anybody I've seen in this league. The supporting cast is something of a chicken egg issue. Great players, pretty much by definition, improve their teammates.

Ultimately, I've never much cared for the MVP debate. It always seems to reduce to, "Your team is better, but at least my team has the MVP. So there." I'll take the W's over the PPG any day.

[miacwatchmen]

Let's not forget that the '02-'03 Gusties lost on Gus Young Court to a Macalester squad that finished in 10th place. And missed free throws nearly cost them the game against Concordia last week.

MVP? Since the first game, I've been hoping to proclaim Gustie role-playing reserve forward Ryan McPartland the conference MVP but he hasn't had quite the impact that another Gustie to wear #32 had. I still have high hopes for his future.

Over three years ago, when most saw him as a gangly and awkward first year who was overwhelmed by the tenacity of MIAC hoops, I confidently proclaimed Trevor Wittwer to be the 2008 MIAC MVP. I stand by this assertion. Sure, he's a bit of an "enigma." But once he enters his Hulk-mad mode, he dominates as much as anybody I've seen in this league. The supporting cast is something of a chicken egg issue. Great players, pretty much by definition, improve their teammates.

Ultimately, I've never much cared for the MVP debate. It always seems to reduce to, "Your team is better, but at least my team has the MVP. So there." I'll take the W's over the PPG any day.

You mean this #32 ??      No harm intended Wonka. 

[abominable_snowman]

So here are the numbers..... First, if each player was in the top ten for a category, where did he place.

Second how many categories was he a top 10 contender, and finally, what was his average rank.

The winner by numbers is Brady Brink

A few games to go though.

If you find another player that would do well, feel free to provide their position.  I have nobody from Bethel on here.

	team	Pts	Reb	FG%	A	FT%	Steals	3pt%	3's made	Blocks	a/to	O-Reb	D-Reb
Zach Johnson	CAR	3	9		6		2				10		5
Bobby Hunter	STO	5		6		6							9
Luke Linz	CON	6	10	8						4		10	6
Brady Brink	SJU	7	4				9			3		7	3
Trevor Wittwer	GAC		6	4						5		6	10
Joe Scott	UST	9		10				6	1

	# of top 10s	ave rank
Zach Johnson	6	5.83
Bobby Hunter	4	6.5
Luke Linz	6	7.33
Brady Brink	6	5.5
Trevor Wittwer	5	6.2

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[abominable_snowman]

Playoff Pickem News

Pay a visit to the Pickem board in later tonight to sign up.

It will go like this:

Each night pick 3 players: a guard, a forward, and one of either.  I will provide a list of G/F once the playoff teams have been established.

Once you have picked a player, you cannot pick that player for the rest of the tourney.

You get points according to the following formula:
PTS+REB+BLK+STL+AST-FTmissed-TO

BONUS PTS are available.
5-Guessing High Scorer of the night (can be one of your players, and repeats OK)
4-Picking a game and guessing total points scored within 5.
3-Getting 100% on normal pickem (not available on championship game)
2-Getting 0% on normal pickem (not available on championship)
1-If you have the lowest score of the night