MBB: Midwest Conference

[systemfan86]

Jeffp, Systemfan 86,  how about GC players? Any candidates there for POY?

Candidates? Yes. But neither of them significantly better than the two seniors I mentioned. And because of that, I think the coaches go with the senior(s) over the underclassmen.

Just my opinion.

[Greek Tragedy]

Last year to this year (conference)

Grinnell: 3rd to 1st, 10-6 to 13-3 (+3 wins)
Carroll:  2nd to 2nd, 14-2 to 12-4 (-2)
Ripon:  6th to 3rd, 6-10 to 11-5 (+5)
Lake Forest:  7th to 4th, 5-11 to 10-6 (+5)
Lawrence:  1st to 5th, 16-0 to 9-7 (-7)
St. Norbert:  8th to 6th, 5-11 to 8-8 (+3)
Monmouth:  9th to 7th, 4-12 to 7-9 (+3)
Beloit:  5th to 8th, 7-9 to 4-12 (-3)
Knox:  4th to 9th, 9-7 to 3-13 (-6)
Illinois College:  10th to 10th, 4-12 to 3-13 (-1)

I'm sure everyone has noticed during the year that Lawrence dropped big time, but Knox's free fall surprises me.  I guess I didn't think about that as much.

Coaches Poll

Lawrence
Carroll
Ripon
Grinnell
St. Norbert
Beloit
Knox and Lake Forest
Monmouth
Illinois Colelge

Long week before the semis on Friday.

[titan2000]

COY

Schultz
Conger
Gillespie
Gresz
Tharp
Arsenault

POY

Drury
Schmitting
Grotberg

[Greek Tragedy]

COY

Schultz
Conger
Gillespie
Gresz
Tharp
Arsenault

This amuses me.  Why in the world would Tharp even be considered, especially ahead of Arsenault?  Though I have to take into account who posted it! lol 

POY

Drury
Schmitting
Grotberg

This actually makes sense.

[scoo8b]

What a year for Grinnell. I have been up here in Minneapolis and haven't seen a single game. I am going to be home late Friday night though and will still be there on Saturday. So assuming Grinnell wins on Friday, how likely is it that I can get into New Darby on Saturday for the championship? Are they just going to let people in until it's full? I'd love to see them...

[systemfan86]

COY

Schultz
Conger
Gillespie
Gresz
Tharp
Arsenault

This amuses me.  Why in the world would Tharp even be considered, especially ahead of Arsenault?  Though I have to take into account who posted it! lol 

POY

Drury
Schmitting
Grotberg

This actually makes sense.

What's funny is that he listed six coaches. Yeah, let's discuss six coaches for COY. Man, those other four suck.

Any coincidence that Coach A was #6? 

[systemfan86]

Don't worry t2k, we're laughing at you, not with you. 

[The Roop]

Maybe we could all pitch in and get him a dead horse 

[systemfan86]

Maybe we could all pitch in and get him a dead horse 

Why? Are the ones he has showing signs of wear?

[jeffdc]

I think you at least have to consider Dave Jr. for POY. Leading in assists, nominated for the Cousy award, a significant factor in GC's MWC championship... don't you think? After all, he is Mr. Consistency.

[Sea of Red]

I agree with Jeffdc.  I think that despite the gaudy scoring numbers, the national recognition of an unbiased award panel would have more weight and put Davey into the mix.  I don't think it overcomes the accomplishments of the seniors, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him ahead of Grotberg.

[lake forest]

So is Schmitting and Drury and it has nothing to do with them being seniors.  they are the best players on their team.  the coaches have a tough decision on both awards and the POY will probably not go to davey jr for a number of reasons, like the coach's son debate or the fact that he may not be the best player on his team... and the COY will/should be davey sr.  the trends in years past have been in favor of the conference champion being garnering the COY.  any thoughts on the tournament outcome? 

[scottie]

The next time you see one of those "I'm a PC, I'm a MAC" commercials, check out the guy who is the PC.  He reminds me a lot of a certain MWC coach.  Can you guess which one?

[hjmphelp]

Tharp would NEVER wear PJ's to a game!!!!




Or spectacles either!

[systemfan86]

So is Schmitting and Drury and it has nothing to do with them being seniors.  they are the best players on their team.  the coaches have a tough decision on both awards and the POY will probably not go to davey jr for a number of reasons, like the coach's son debate or the fact that he may not be the best player on his team... and the COY will/should be davey sr.  the trends in years past have been in favor of the conference champion being garnering the COY.  any thoughts on the tournament outcome? 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Davey jr ahead of Grotberg in the voting either. A number of weeks back, I posted that I wouldn't be completely suprised to see Grotberg slip to 2nd team.

Drury and Schmitting do merit consideration because of their play regardless of their class year. When I said that I thought one of them would get it because they were seniors was only making the point that an underclassman getting the award normally only happens when the performance of the underclassman is a clear step up from other players. I don't think there is one player in the league that is a clear step ahead of all other players.

I like Grinnell's chances. They have a lot of confidence, and they have shown that they can adjust to whatever style of play will work best on the day - within system parameters, of course. I also like that they've essentially performed as a team this year. It is very telling that only one GC player received recognition as POW in the MWC during the conference season - and Grotberg shared it with Drury the week he won. For any given game, you had someone different step up and make important contributions. Sometimes it was Long. Sometimes it was Ticus. Sometimes it was Schmidt. Chamberlain. Langenhan. If Grinnell can get consistent play from Davey Jr and Grotberg, and then a good contribution from another player, they'll be hard to beat.

If not GC, my money would be on CC. My gut says Carroll tops RC on Friday and gets the shot at the tournament berth against GC. Ripon could be a wildcard if I'm wrong about the outcome of CC-RC. Grinnell hasn't played them in over a month, so I don't think the confidence level would be as high; they have solid wins against CC and LFC in the last 2.5 weeks.