MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

A lot of head to head matchups here though, which are secondary criteria, among other things.

SJU 2 - UST 1
UST 1 - NWU 0
NWU 1 - SJU 0

No, it's not. Head-to-head is a primary criterion, not a secondary criterion.

[bball1122]

So quiet in here on Selection Monday!

At first glance, looks like a brutal draw for the Tommies.  Traveling to UW-Platteville, playing a very solid St. Norbert team in the first round.   I have to imagine the loss to the Johnnies in the title game took away their chance to host.

The Johnnies get to stay home and play Ripon in the first round.   I'm guessing they were happy not to see Bethany Lutheran.   Second round could bring a matchup with Whitman - former Macalester guard Michael Gutierrez is a senior reserve for the Blues.   

[Smitty Oom]

Well I'm kind of surprised but SJU gets to host and UST will not. I think they made the right move choosing Johns over Toms given flight restrictions. With that said, it's a shame they both can't host but the strength of central and top heavy west made things complicated.

Tommies will play at UW-Platteville with one of the toughest second round matchups of the tourny, if they both can take of business.  Tommies have lost to SNC before in the first round, and SNC has a very good team with some solid wins, not to be taken lightly by Tauer and Co.

SJU has a much easier pod, with Ripon (MWC AQ) in the first round and then taking on the winner of UW-Eau Claire and Whitman. Funny enough although SNC has a better Pool C resume, ripon actually beat the green knights 2 of 3 times thus year.  Both teams in the other game are good but neither in the class of platteville.

Lastly, UMAC winner Bethany Lutheran goes down to Lincoln to play WashU. That's nice they didn't have to pair a umac champ against a miac team this year, since that always seems to be the bracket we get.

[AO]

Lastly, UMAC winner Bethany Lutheran goes down to Lincoln to play WashU. That's nice they didn't have to pair a umac champ against a miac team this year, since that always seems to be the bracket we get.

In the first round we've played the Tommies twice, Johnnies twice, Whitewater 3 times, Stevens Point once and St. Norbert once.

I actually think is a very reasonable bracket for the Tommies and Johnnies.  Of the 3 WIAC teams that could be in your 16 team bracket, you'd probably want to avoid Oshkosh right now considering they're the defending champs and have started to turn it on at the end of the season.  Then if you want to think past the 16, I'm more worried about Nebraska Wesleyan and Mount Union than I am Swarthmore.

[Smitty Oom]

Lastly, UMAC winner Bethany Lutheran goes down to Lincoln to play WashU. That's nice they didn't have to pair a umac champ against a miac team this year, since that always seems to be the bracket we get.

In the first round we've played the Tommies twice, Johnnies twice, Whitewater 3 times, Stevens Point once and St. Norbert once.

I actually think is a very reasonable bracket for the Tommies and Johnnies.  Of the 3 WIAC teams that could be in your 16 team bracket, you'd probably want to avoid Oshkosh right now considering they're the defending champs and have started to turn it on at the end of the season.  Then if you want to think past the 16, I'm more worried about Nebraska Wesleyan and Mount Union than I am Swarthmore.

I guess I didn't follow the brackets that closely before 2016 so the recent Johnnies UMAC games stood out more to me than some from earlier in the decade. Thanks for the info!

In terms of your second paragraph.. I tend to disagree about Mount Union and NWU being in a completely different tier, especially if Schimonitz is not able to play or limited. Swarthmore returned a TON from the national runner up last year and just had an undefeated regular season. I don't quite get why everyone seems to be down on them. I agree Oshkosh, UMU and NWU being very scary teams in March, but putting them in a tier above the Garnet is something I can't get behind.

[AO]

Lastly, UMAC winner Bethany Lutheran goes down to Lincoln to play WashU. That's nice they didn't have to pair a umac champ against a miac team this year, since that always seems to be the bracket we get.

In the first round we've played the Tommies twice, Johnnies twice, Whitewater 3 times, Stevens Point once and St. Norbert once.

I actually think is a very reasonable bracket for the Tommies and Johnnies.  Of the 3 WIAC teams that could be in your 16 team bracket, you'd probably want to avoid Oshkosh right now considering they're the defending champs and have started to turn it on at the end of the season.  Then if you want to think past the 16, I'm more worried about Nebraska Wesleyan and Mount Union than I am Swarthmore.

I guess I didn't follow the brackets that closely before 2016 so the recent Johnnies UMAC games stood out more to me than some from earlier in the decade. Thanks for the info!

In terms of your second paragraph.. I tend to disagree about Mount Union and NWU being in a completely different tier, especially if Schimonitz is not able to play or limited. Swarthmore returned a TON from the national runner up last year and just had an undefeated regular season. I don't quite get why everyone seems to be down on them. I agree Oshkosh, UMU and NWU being very scary teams in March, but putting them in a tier above the Garnet is something I can't get behind.

I did not know about Schimonitz, that could certainly change things.  I think Swarthmore is pretty good, but there won't be any "easy" options left when you get to the final four.   Putting a lot of the Central powers over on the opposite side of the bracket is a nice bonus.

[Greek Tragedy]

Schimonitz looked like he pulled a hammy coming down awkwardly on his leg right at the end (last minute) of their semifinal game. He didn't play in the Final, an easy win for NWU nonetheless.

Swarthmore probably isn't pretty in most people's eyes, but they play great defense and are very efficient. 

Oshkosh is playing great after their early season struggles, which included an opening season win over then #3 NCC at their place and at Augustana, who was highly ranked too at the time. Little did we know their "bad" loss to Elmhurst wasn't too bad...though losses to Carthage, Adrian and SNC were head scratchers at the time. But, they've righted the ship. Lost two close games to Platteville and a two-point loss to Eau Claire, later avenged in the conference final. They are in a tough bracket, opening with Transy, but then a potential rematch with NCC and then a possible Sweet 16 date with NWU.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

MIAC awards are out:  https://www.miacathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200228ilrbnr

Before any Johnnie starts carping that "SJ2 was 2-1 vs UST"--- the awards are for regular season only so the co-champs split 1-1. Also, if a coach got robbed, it was Coach Fano for the incredible turnaround at SMU. I would thought Fano would be unanimous "no-brainer" choice

Nice to see the coaches recognize the defensive play of Ryan Lindberg.  I was surprised to see Raheem Anthony not get at lest Honorable mention All-MIAC. I think the co-POY winners was a judicious decision-- impossible to rank one of them above the other IMO. 

[Smitty Oom]

Also agree that the PotY being shared is probably correct. Jubie had a great career and an amazing season. It will be the first of a couple awards for him this season. I know it is a regular season award, but his MIAC championship game was the epitome of efficient scoring Jubie.

Lastly, Tauer is a great coach, he could win it every year. McKenzie is also a great coach and has been on a great run these past 3 or so years. With that said, not having Fano as coach of the year is pretty disappointing in my eyes. They had a wonderful year and I hope they can build on it for next year! Good call, miacmaniac SUMMIT!?

Excited to see some playoff hoops this weekend, good luck to all MIAC teams, we need to show our best stuff in March this year!

[faunch]

MIAC awards are out:  https://www.miacathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200228ilrbnr

Before any Johnnie starts carping that "SJ2 was 2-1 vs UST"--- the awards are for regular season only so the co-champs split 1-1. Also, if a coach got robbed, it was Coach Fano for the incredible turnaround at SMU. I would thought Fano would be unanimous "no-brainer" choice

Nice to see the coaches recognize the defensive play of Ryan Lindberg.  I was surprised to see Raheem Anthony not get at lest Honorable mention All-MIAC. I think the co-POY winners was a judicious decision-- impossible to rank one of them above the other IMO.

Who votes for these awards? Do they have axe to grind w the St. Mary's coach? 

[Smitty Oom]

MIAC awards are out:  https://www.miacathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200228ilrbnr

Before any Johnnie starts carping that "SJ2 was 2-1 vs UST"--- the awards are for regular season only so the co-champs split 1-1. Also, if a coach got robbed, it was Coach Fano for the incredible turnaround at SMU. I would thought Fano would be unanimous "no-brainer" choice

Nice to see the coaches recognize the defensive play of Ryan Lindberg.  I was surprised to see Raheem Anthony not get at lest Honorable mention All-MIAC. I think the co-POY winners was a judicious decision-- impossible to rank one of them above the other IMO.

Who votes for these awards? Do they have axe to grind w the St. Mary's coach?

Coaches vote for it.. From what I know he is well liked in the league.

[Smitty Oom]

Congrats to Kent Hanson on a great career and wonderful senior season, as we was recognized as a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. Back to Back years for Carleton as Kevin Grow was nominated last year as well.

2 from the UMAC were recognized, 2 from the ARC and 1 from NWC to make a total of 6 (from 10 total) from the West Region! That is awesome.

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2020/03/jostens-finalists-announced

[Miacman4040]

MIAC awards are out:  https://www.miacathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200228ilrbnr

Before any Johnnie starts carping that "SJ2 was 2-1 vs UST"--- the awards are for regular season only so the co-champs split 1-1. Also, if a coach got robbed, it was Coach Fano for the incredible turnaround at SMU. I would thought Fano would be unanimous "no-brainer" choice

Nice to see the coaches recognize the defensive play of Ryan Lindberg.  I was surprised to see Raheem Anthony not get at lest Honorable mention All-MIAC. I think the co-POY winners was a judicious decision-- impossible to rank one of them above the other IMO.

Who votes for these awards? Do they have axe to grind w the St. Mary's coach? 

Unpopular opinion - I enjoy St Marys being competitive as much as anyone, but coach of the year? I like Coach Fano and what he has done but they were 10-10 in the conference 14-13 overall. I feel it would be patronizing to award someone just because their historically bad program was .500 this year. This has been one of Tauers best coaching years by far.

[Smitty Oom]

Two wins in the first round by the two programs with the largest following and no chatter??

We are two wins away from another Tommie Johnnie game.. would be awesome to have that on a national stage, plus getting to that point means a sweep of the WIAC, which is a nice bonus in it if itself. That being said, Platt and Eau Claire will be tough outs today. Would love a recap from someone that was able to watch.

[faunch]

Two wins in the first round by the two programs with the largest following and no chatter??

We are two wins away from another Tommie Johnnie game.. would be awesome to have that on a national stage, plus getting to that point means a sweep of the WIAC, which is a nice bonus in it if itself. That being said, Platt and Eau Claire will be tough outs today. Would love a recap from someone that was able to watch.

I watched SJU online. You wouldn't believe by the final score that score that they were up 30 in the second half. Rip on closed to within 9 in late in the second half. Johnnies shot lights out most of the game and Walford seemed to get his legs under him in the second half. SJU seemed to lose focus and intensity when they got the big lead. Made some dumb passes and didn't handle full court pressure. When they attacked the press they got dunks and layups.
If the jays can hit some threes and dominate the boards they'll be tough to beat. Last night they out rebounded the redhawks 40-23. Shot 64% (9-14) from 3 in first half but only 16% (2-12) in second half. They also gotta be better from the charity stripe 64% (18-28).