MBB: Midwest Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Even if Point/Whitewater loses tomorrow and St. Norbert wins out, I don't see the Green Knights jumping either. Their SOSs and vRRO are too significant and would trump St. Norbert's winning %, low SOS and 0-1 result vRRO.

If St. Norbert wins out, then you don't have to worry about Point/Whitewater because they would earn the AQ.

I'm pretty sure GKA was hoping for hosting.  If St. Norbert is not the AQ, it means they also lost a game and would definitely not jump anyone.

There was nothing that implied that. Anyway, the hope for St. Norbert hosting may lie in the women. The St. Thomas women and the Washington U women both could host. That would prwvent their respective men from hosting opening weekend.

[GreenKnightAlum]

Even if Point/Whitewater loses tomorrow and St. Norbert wins out, I don't see the Green Knights jumping either. Their SOSs and vRRO are too significant and would trump St. Norbert's winning %, low SOS and 0-1 result vRRO.

If St. Norbert wins out, then you don't have to worry about Point/Whitewater because they would earn the AQ.

I'm pretty sure GKA was hoping for hosting.  If St. Norbert is not the AQ, it means they also lost a game and would definitely not jump anyone.

There was nothing that implied that. Anyway, the hope for St. Norbert hosting may lie in the women. The St. Thomas women and the Washington U women both could host. That would prwvent their respective men from hosting opening weekend.

I was asking in terms of hosting, sorry it was not portrayed that way. I know the Knights have a pretty unique situation where if they lose against Ripon on Friday they may not make the Big Dance, but if they win the tournament and get a little help, they could potentially host (given they put in a bid, facility capabilities, geography). With the way this season has been going, it would not surprise me to see some upsets in some of the region's conference tournaments.

[Mr. Ypsi]

GKAlum, I think you can rest easy about making the tourney.  If they don't make the AQ (and I think they will), they should be reasonably safe for a C.

[GreenKnightAlum]

GKAlum, I think you can rest easy about making the tourney.  If they don't make the AQ (and I think they will), they should be reasonably safe for a C.

I don't think you can ever "rest easy" while playing in, arguably, one of the worst conferences in the nation. Over the past 4 years especially (Since the Travis Clark Lake Forest days), the conference has been in a slight decline in talent level, and it definitely shows this year. I don't have the exact statistics, but the non-conference record for the conference can't be too strong. With the MWC bordered by the CCIW and WIAC, I think it is harder for them to maintain the talent level when: 1.) The conference is very spread out and requires a lot of travel, and 2.) They have those 2 perennial powerhouse conferences to compete with for recruiting. 

[badgerwarhawk]

I don't have the exact statistics, but the non-conference record for the conference can't be too strong.

17-22

[jeffdc]

Just gotta ask: what happens if (heaven forbid) GC wins both of its tourney games? Does SNC go on, or out?

[Greek Tragedy]

I would say they're in. Even if Augie, Whitewater,  Stevens Point and Washington U are Pool C, all four arw coming off the board fairly fast. I think St. Norbert would be at the table with 8-10 chances to get a Pool C bid.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah... I really can't see a scenario where SNC isn't selected as an at-large... however, a loss would make the first round game potentially far more difficult ... or even the first weekend more difficult. It might be challenging in general, but winning could give the committee several options in terms of who they play and even the chance to host (i.e. St. Thomas situation).

[Greek Tragedy]

Geographically speaking, it's tough for St. Norbert.  There's always going to be a WIAC team in there, St. Thomas (St. Olaf is solid this year too), a CCIW team and sometimes Hope/Calvin. Sure, there is the NACC and IIAC champ, and even the SLIAC champ, but St. Norbert usually isn't "lucky" enough to draw one of them in the 1st round.

[AppletonRocks]

Just gotta ask: what happens if (heaven forbid) GC wins both of its tourney games? Does SNC go on, or out?

The Midwest Conference should be embarrassed if that happens.  Grinnell is a circus, not basketball.    

SNC still goes.

[gbpuckfan]

GRINNELL, Iowa – Ripon College's Ty Sabin and St. Norbert College's Andrew Schwoerer have been named Co-Midwest Conference Players of the Year, while Green Knight head coach Gary Grzesk has been named the league's Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.

Sabin has led the Red Hawks to the fourth seed in this upcoming weekend's Midwest Conference Tournament.  The sophomore scores an average of 28.4 points per game and shoots 52.7 % from the field.  He has also been accurate from long distance this season, knocking down 64 threes and shooting 42.7% behind the arc.  Sabin was an honorable mention selection last season as a freshman.
Grzesk and Schwoerer have led the Green Knights to the first back-to-back MWC undefeated conference seasons since Beloit College accomplished the feat in 1950-51. With the win over Cornell College last Saturday, the Green Knights won their conference record 42nd straight MWC game.  Schwoerer leads St. Norbert in both points per game (16.7) and rebounds (7.2).

Joining Schwoerer and Sabin on the First Team are Austin Elliott of St. Norbert, Monmouth College's Andrew Mathison, and Grinnell College senior Jack Taylor.  Elliott leads St. Norbert with 95 assists this season and also averages 14.1 points per game.  Taylor, a Second Team All-MWC selection last season, is the nation's leading scorer at 29.2.  He also leads the country in three-point field goal attempts (274) and three-point field goals made (117), while also making the third-most free throws (162).

Mathison has led Monmouth to its first MWC Tournament appearance since 1999.  The junior leads the second-seeded Fighting Scots in both scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounds (7.4 rpg).

Ripon College's Kyle Loughrin has been named a Second Team All-MWC pick for the second consecutive season.  Joining him on the Second Team are Beloit College's Steven McAfee, Carroll University's Bryan Nagy, Jamie Nikitas of Lawrence University and Jim Schick of Lake Forest College.

Earning Honorable Mention selections were Nick Bobb of Cornell College, Steven Hofacker of St. Norbert, Monmouth freshman Will Jones, and Grinnell's Luke Yeager. 

2015 Award Winners

Co-Player of the Year   Ty Sabin   Ripon College
Co-Player of the Year   Andrew Schwoerer   St. Norbert College
Coach of the Year    Gary Grzesk   St. Norbert College

First Team
Austin Elliott   Sr.     St. Norbert College             
Andrew Mathison   Jr.      Monmouth College
Ty Sabin   So.     Ripon College
Andrew Schwoerer   Sr.      St. Norbert College
Jack Taylor   Sr.      Grinnell College

Second Team
Kyle Loughrin   Sr.   Ripon College
Steven McAfee   Jr.    Beloit College
Bryan Nagy   Jr.   Carroll University
Jamie Nikitas   Jr.   Lawrence University
Jim Schick   So.   Lake Forest College

Honorable Mention
Nick Bobb   Sr.   Cornell College
Steven Hofacker   Sr.    St. Norbert College     
Will Jones   Fr.   Monmouth College
Luke Yeager   Sr.   Grinnell College     

[GreenKnightAlum]

GRINNELL, Iowa – Ripon College's Ty Sabin and St. Norbert College's Andrew Schwoerer have been named Co-Midwest Conference Players of the Year, while Green Knight head coach Gary Grzesk has been named the league's Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.

Really can't argue with the Co-Player of the Year honors for either Saban or Schwoerer. I do think that adding Co- is just the easy way out of making a tough decision, but the real player of the year will be determined on the court tomorrow night I suppose when they face off. Hard to argue against Grzesk as well posting another undefeated conference slate, but I thought Coach Skrivseth down at Monmouth would/could have stolen some votes, going from 2nd to last in the league all the way up to 2nd. Quite the turnaround for a relatively young core of players.

All of the other awards went about as I would have predicted them, maybe DePouw from Lawrence or Nikitas or Madson from Lake Forest could have been added to the Honorable Mention team. I like how they kept to the 5 player/team though, with a pretty traditional 3 guard/2 forward lineup.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, you don't have to worry about Point hosting. 

[GreenKnightAlum]

I figured that the WIAC would need some help to get 2 hosts that are so geographically close. With UWSP losing tonight it appears that if UWW beats UWO, they will get the hosting bid and UWSP is most definitely a lock for a Pool C bid.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Keep in mind... St. Thomas probably can't host. Changes that equation a bit on who will host.