WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[PRF07]

I agree with Fruedenberg for mvp.  Katch did look good last night, but she wasn't able to put up 36ish points on the blazers like Fruedenberg did. 

It will be interesting if St. Thomas and St. Bens meet again in the playoffs.  That game last night was a classic except for the 1 for 20 3 pt showing by st. bens.  Does anyone know why St. Thomas has so many players that started last year coming off the bench now?  They definitely have a solid group of freshmen with #44 and #5 and have a very deep and experienced bench.

[Willy Wonka]

Katch's numbers have slid in part to reduced minutes. She's playing three less minutes a game, but she's also been much more efficient while on the court — her FG percentage is up from 39 to 43, her FT percentage is up from 66 to 79 and she's taken about 100 less shots.

I haven't seen Freudenberg play this year, but her stats put her right in the mix. The one thing Katch has going for her is the career achievement factor. According to the UST web site, she'll soon be the only MIAC woman to ever reach 1,200 points, 700 rebounds, 330 assists, 280 steals and 85 blocks. Seems like some random numbers, but you could argue that she's the most well-rounded player in league history. I'm not sure that means she deserves this particular MVP award, but it could be enough to sway a close race.

I've also got a blog up about the Ole struggles this year, if anyone's curious. I follow the men much closer, but those numbers were too ugly to ignore.

[gacbacker]

Gusties get the match-up they wanted against Bethel in the first round. Something tells me its not going to be a Concordia vs. St. Ben's match-up in the championship game. I think one of them will get knocked off in the semi's.

[LA RAMS]

Gackbacker,

I wish I could feel as confident as you do about the Gusties; especially after yet ANOTHER disheartening home loss - this time to regular season champ CSB.  Bethel is coming off a blowout win over Carleton and GAC simply has not shown me enough to think they could get past the 1st round - even at home.  I hope I'm wrong.

But you may be right about the impending MIAC Championship game.  Actually, I think the team that has the best shot of winning it is UST.  Despite the one point loss at CSB last week Wednesday night, this team is finding ways to win and may have finally put it all together after a roller coaster ride earlier in the year.  I still think Concordia is the best team in the league but they're not playing like it right now.

[D3BballRocks]

As I read Katch's stats it looks like she has reached those numbers that the MIAC website and the UST site tout. I think it is also important to note that although a couple of her numbers are down, (while others are up) there is, at the very least one more game to play. So those few numbers that Katch is slightly down at this point may be closer than they appear once the last game is played and the final stats posted.

I have to agree with Willy Wonka, from what I have seen, heard and read she certainly is the most well rounded player in the league history. She is one fun player to watch.

If you took her out of the UST equation, where would the women's UST b-ball team be?

[PRF07]

If you took her out of the UST equation, where would the women's UST b-ball team be?

They'd be at about the same place without Katch... between 3rd and 5th in the Miac having an underachieving season after they were picked to win the conference during the preseason.  Now take Fruedenberg from Concordia... and they might not make the playoffs. 

Both are deserving players, but as far as the arguement of who is more valuable to their team i think it is Fruedenberg.  I still believe that St. Thomas has the deepest team in the conference which works against Katch's value.  They have 3 or 4 players that had significant playing time last year are now role players coming off the bench. 

[gottaluvhoops]

How does everyone feel about the upcoming conference tournament?  Anyone going to be able to knock off St. Benedict?

[gacbacker]

Predictions for tonight:

Gustavus 62
Bethel 53

St. Thomas 64
Hamline 60

[Willy Wonka]

If you took her out of the UST equation, where would the women's UST b-ball team be?

They'd be at about the same place without Katch... between 3rd and 5th in the Miac having an underachieving season after they were picked to win the conference during the preseason.  Now take Fruedenberg from Concordia... and they might not make the playoffs.

That's being a little dramatic, don't you think? UST was picked to finish tied for first in the preseason polls. It finished third, one game out of second. While somewhat disappointing, is that really as clear cut of an "underachieving season" as you say?

The Tommies took a LONG time to pick a starting lineup, finally settling on two freshman, a sophomore and a junior to go with their MVP candidate. That was obviously a factor in the early offensive struggles (ie the returning upperclassmen were awful)...but couldn't you make a strong case that the senior leader kept the team in contention through the tough times? The Tommies closed the year by winning 10 of 11. The lone loss was a 47-46 defeat at St. Bens, which is hardly something to hang your head about.

To further that point, UST had 12 different girls get at least one start this year. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that's the most in the conference. The Cobbers appeared to have four regulars and one spot rotating between two players. That makes a huge difference in terms of cohesion and chemistry that each star had to work with.

I have no horse in this race, and I've never seen Freudenberg play, but that seems like a pretty flimsy argument against Katch, PRF07. If you want to point to anything, Katch's 0-2 record against the Cobbers would seem to have more substance. However, even that pokes holes in your one-person team theory...since Freudenberg shot 6-23 and didn't exactly bring much else to the table in the two wins.

Thus, the only conclusion I can logically draw is...Thursday's game between the two should be fun to watch

Personally, if I had a say, Katch would get my vote. She's probably the best defensive player in the league and I tend to appreciate that more than most. If I had to bet on who will win, Freudenberg is my choice. Coaches like the scoring and will likely reward her for the team's surprising second-place finish.

Willy Wonka
Katch's Senior Press Secretary

PS — While postseason clearly doesn't factor into the MVP equation, Katch went for 18-7-9 with two steals and two blocks tonight. She also hit the go-ahead basket in the final minute. I don't care who you are, that's an amazing performance.

[LA RAMS]

Yet ANOTHER disappointing home loss for the Gusties as Bethel cruises to a 75-59 win in St. Peter.  I didn't expect big things from GAC this year but the way they went out is truly disappointing as they simply had no answers for Bethel's 2-3 zone "D".  Give due credit to Bethel, though, as Autumn Beasley was a thorn in the Gusties side all night long.  I think they have an exciting future ahead of them with not only Beasley but also with Grejtak, Sheley, and Kristen Wolters all returning next season.   Can they knock off CSB Thursday night?  We'll see.

I haven't weighed in on the MVP talk yet but I think Katch is the clear-cut favorite here.  She has simply willed UST to some clutch wins lately; particularly the last two games (Saturday in the regular season finale with Hamline and the playoff rematch last night).  Freudenberg of Concordia certainly has to be in the mix and I also think Annegret Nautsch of Bethel and Jessica Heinen of Hamline deserve consideration as well.

[PRF07]

Should be a good matchup tomorrow in St. Joseph...

Beasley seems to be playing strong down the stretch.  Key to the game will be Frank, Tauer, and Guillind and how they can handle the Bethel zone.  Last time the two teams played those 3 were able to get the high low working to perfection which really put a lot of stress on the Bethel 2-3 zone.  Looking forward to a good matchup.

[LA RAMS]

Should be a good matchup tomorrow in St. Joseph...

Beasley seems to be playing strong down the stretch.  Key to the game will be Frank, Tauer, and Guillind and how they can handle the Bethel zone.  Last time the two teams played those 3 were able to get the high low working to perfection which really put a lot of stress on the Bethel 2-3 zone.  Looking forward to a good matchup.

Part of that I think is how incredibly well CSB passes the ball; they're by far and away the best passing team I've seen.  That ball really moves around when they have the rock. 

Hopefully the impending snow we're supposed to be getting later on today won't disrupt anything.

[PRF07]

Blazers beat concordia last nightfor 3rd time this year... Average victory was by 12+points.  I don't think there is much doubt that CSB is well above the rest in the conference this year.

Hopefully CSB  gets to host and can win a game or two and get the MIAC off the slide they've been on lately. 

[buf]

D3 hoops is projecting that Moorhead gets in.  I don't see it, but they do.....and they know more than me.  They say both MIAC teams and Simpson would be sent to UWEC for a pod.

[Pat Coleman]

Now to Stevens Point -- we had an error in logic originally.