WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Willy Wonka · March 01, 2006, 12:42:02 PM

I agree with M&G. I'd have voted Rahman for COY. The Gusties lost two solid, unspectacular players while the Cobbers lost their heart and soul. To do what they did - including finishing ahead of the Gusties - would have earned my vote.

As for Heike for POY...I just wish they'd release the votes to the public. She's obviously a great candidate, but I'd be curious to see if any voters dropped Monahan and Hageman on the ballots due to their being underclassmen ala Adrian Peterson his freshman year.

With Vig making All Defensive Team - and the Bennies having a very real chance to be better next year without Heike - I might have picked a different senior for the award. Yes, that means I was suitably impressed by Tauer as well. Had voting taken place after the MIAC tourney, things might have been different.

Anyway, congrats to the winners.

Ghost of MIAC Past · March 01, 2006, 01:23:56 PM

The MIAC coaches are the sole voters for post-season awards, and they were not necessarily due before the start of the post-season. So, majority picked Heikenen, but I'm sure she's not the only one who got votes. I also know that many coaches pick seniors over underclassmen, but that was not true of all coaches this year. Looks like Heike got just enough votes to win.

I agree that Rahman should have got COY. She is flat out one of the best coaches in the country. She has a gold mind in keeping northern MN to herself too. Tough to kids away from there. Her only real competition in recruiting up there is the scholarship schools. BU was lucky to pull Thielke away from there. Although the entire family was pro BU and Northwestern. Still lucky though.

Willy Wonka · March 01, 2006, 02:22:24 PM

Quote from: east coast miac fan on March 01, 2006, 01:23:56 PM
Looks like Heike got just enough votes to win.

Are you speaking rhetorically or did you actual talk to someone/look somewhere to find this? I was told by Matt Ten Haken in the league office that the coaches simply told him how it worked out and he didn't even see the voting...

I'm not sure the entire Thielke family was pro-BU and NU. I know at least one who was pro-GAC.

Nites · March 01, 2006, 03:45:45 PM

Quote from: Willy Wonka on March 01, 2006, 02:22:24 PM

Are you speaking rhetorically or did you actual talk to someone/look somewhere to find this? I was told by Matt Ten Haken in the league office that the coaches simply told him how it worked out and he didn't even see the voting...

Painful to be scooped when someone has a better source?

Just a guess (and not to take anything away from Anna), but I bet Monahan would have won had she been a senior. In addition to her great year, Heikenan was probably being rewarded for an outstanding career at St. Ben's.

blazerball · March 01, 2006, 04:31:31 PM

CONGRATS to Anna Heikenen on a very well-deserved MIAC Player of the Year! Not only is she amazing on the court - she is an All-American off the court as well! Now, let's concentrate on Simpson and take care of some business down in Iowa.

Rahmen, in my opinion, was the clear coach of the year. But, I'm sure some hesitated since she got it last year. I actually think her coaching job this year was better than last year! But, congrats to Haller as she has done a nice job with the GACkers.

I think Cager might be right about Durbin -- his success is his downfall. 18 seasons with 20+ wins and never less than 17 wins in a season at CSB means it's probably difficult for others to vote for him. Maybe if CSB had a "down" year and only won 17 or 18 games he might be considered the following year if he bounced back to 20 wins. But, I am just fine without trying that experiment! I'm sure he's probably fine with it as well...

SOLID · March 01, 2006, 05:20:10 PM

I would also like to add my congrats to Anna H on her MIAC MVP. Where I am OK with the choice of her as MVP, I also would tend to agree with the thought that some underclassman lose votes because of thier years. They will have more chances to win the award. That said, take nothing away from Anna.

I also agree that Rahmen should have been the coach of they year. Maybe last season's COY award might have cost her some votes, but based on what was lost and what was gained in the end, she and her staff have done a better job this season. (Thank goodness the Cobbs have at least one decent basketball staff)

Finally about Durbin. Obviously the possibility exsists that his success has been his downfall in winning this years COY. However, in many other conferences at many other levels coaches that consistently win do still win many COY awards. In the NCC Roebuck should and probably will win the COY award, even though maybe St. Cloud St's coach has done more with less talent. At the DI men's level and coach of a number 1 or 2 seed will win the COY such as Coach K and others that have closets full of awards, but the coach that takes less talent to the 5-9 seed might have done a better job. It is this reason that I propose another possibility. Is it possible that some of the other coaches in the MIAC feel the same way about Durbin as many people outside of CSB feel about him? Afterall, every human has the ability to be blinded by dislike (outsider view) or jealousy (CSB view). Either way, maybe it comes down to reputation within your conference and you colleagues across said conference. I can't speak for any of the coaches nor would I try. Just a thought.

CONGO RATS to all athletes/coaches that recieved awards this year. Good Luck to both MIAC teams this weekend.......that is unless the COBBS and the bennies meet in round 2........in that case GO COBBS!!!!

LA RAMS · March 01, 2006, 05:22:15 PM

Kudos to all the MIAC season winners; particularly Anna Heikenen who was very deserving. Would have loved to see either Megan Vig or Bri Monahan get it but have no problem at all with it going to AH. I can only echo the sentiments of BB about Anna........

Also, a big congrats to Mickey Haller on being named COY. A very well-deserved honor bestowed on her. Yes, you can make a very strong argument for Rahman at Concordia although I think she had a little more to work with even with the departure of Mandy.

OK Corn and Bennies, go down to my home state of Iowa and represent...........

Cager · March 01, 2006, 06:47:18 PM

Solid; good points on the Durbin thing. Can't (And won't) comment either on the fellow coaches sentiment issue. Outside biases are meaningless other than they make for good posts. Seems the turnarounds get more attention/recognition than the dynasties.

Have to take issue with the Cobber coaching staff comment. I hear that the men lost 4 of 5 starters and had to play the string with underclassmen. Tough in any game.

SOLID · March 01, 2006, 07:09:20 PM

Quote from: Cager on March 01, 2006, 06:47:18 PM
Have to take issue with the Cobber coaching staff comment. I hear that the men lost 4 of 5 starters and had to play the string with underclassmen. Tough in any game.

Has nothing to do with this years performace. It's a decade long frustration with lack of recruiting along with the lack of positive feedback from current and former players about the staff. This year was a rough year for injuries but the issues are much deeper than those injuries.

blazerguy · March 01, 2006, 08:20:31 PM

Quote from: SOLID on March 01, 2006, 05:20:10 PM

Finally about Durbin. Obviously the possibility exsists that his success has been his downfall in winning this years COY. However, in many other conferences at many other levels coaches that consistently win do still win many COY awards. In the NCC Roebuck should and probably will win the COY award, even though maybe St. Cloud St's coach has done more with less talent. At the DI men's level and coach of a number 1 or 2 seed will win the COY such as Coach K and others that have closets full of awards, but the coach that takes less talent to the 5-9 seed might have done a better job. It is this reason that I propose another possibility. Is it possible that some of the other coaches in the MIAC feel the same way about Durbin as many people outside of CSB feel about him? Afterall, every human has the ability to be blinded by dislike (outsider view) or jealousy (CSB view). Either way, maybe it comes down to reputation within your conference and you colleagues across said conference. I can't speak for any of the coaches nor would I try. Just a thought.

Yea you're maybe right, he is hard to like, he only wins 20 games almost every year, his players love him, the CSB fans think the world of him, he is a great family man, is active in the community, treats everyone around him with respect, talks to anybody and everybody, has a great relationship with former players, is always accessable to fans and media, always talks positive about opposing players, coaches and teams... but yea that jealousy thing is hard to overcome!!

randle · March 01, 2006, 09:18:32 PM

I think Durbin really admires the DIII Coach of the year awards. Plus I think with 3 they give you get egg rolls.

scorekeeper · March 01, 2006, 10:33:48 PM

Way to go Anna! In addition to being the MIAC MVP, Anna will be the MVP for St. Ben's for the third consecutive year. She has done so much since she "saw the light" and left Winona St. for CSB. I'm just glad we have at least one more game (and hopefullly more) to watch her shine.

As for Coach of the Year, I think it was highway robbery not to give it to Rahman. There was some doubt in my mind that the Cobber team I saw at CSB in December would even make the top 6 in the MIAC let alone win the tourney and go to the NCAA Tournament. That was one heck of a job she did up in Moorhead. I think if the votes went to the posters on this site, it is clear that she would have been the winner.

I also think that Durbin will have to go undefeated in order to get a nod for coach of the year again. He does such a bang up job of recruiting the everyone just assumes he can roll the balls out on the court and kick back in an easy chair. Durbin has 14 NCAA tournament appearances, 2 Final Fours, 9 MIAC Titles and has won 20 plus games in 18 of his 20 seasons as head coach at CSB. I think he does just fine without the Coach of the Year certificate.

Cager · March 02, 2006, 02:03:54 AM

Solid; Don't have enough data to refute your position. Do have respect for the coaching leadership and therefore think better times to come.

We'll see.

The big question for Durbin: "Does COY mean more than the prestige of a program rich in regular and post-seaon success?" Ego vs. the program. Although were I in his position, I'd appreciate the validation of my peers.

Maroon&Gold · March 02, 2006, 09:51:06 AM

Cella is again with the Cobber team and is chronicling the trip with an on-line journal. He did this with the football team earlier whe nthey went off to Linfield. I think its a pretty entertaining and interesting read.

http://www.cord.edu/dept/sports/winter/wbb/roadtotheplayoffs.php

Maroon&Gold · March 02, 2006, 09:53:55 AM

Quote from: blazerguy link=topic=4152.msg498680#msg498680 date=1141262431
quote]

Yea you're maybe right, he is hard to like, he only wins 20 games almost every year, his players love him, the CSB fans think the world of him, he is a great family man, is active in the community, treats everyone around him with respect, talks to anybody and everybody, has a great relationship with former players, is always accessable to fans and media, always talks positive about opposing players, coaches and teams... but yea that jealousy thing is hard to overcome!!

Quote

Blazerguy: Coach Durbin very well be all of those things, but you have to admit that he has also built up a number of people that are turned off by him. Now this may be jealousy, or it may be a clashing wiht his personality, but don't pretend that that sentiment is not out there. Now is it felt inside the MIAC coaching fraternity?? I have no idea, and I wouldn't care to wager a guess.