MBB: Midwest Conference

[systemfan86]

Well, there's another voice...

Kroeger makes first team All-Region. Congrats, and there's some validation of POY vote.

Oh, and can we finally put the "the MWC doesn't get any respect" rant away for good? One out of every three players named on the All Region team were from the MWC. They are getting respect for the quality of their top players.

Congrats to Grotberg and Horton (2nd team) and to Ladwig and Gillespie (3rd team). Very impressive considering none of them are seniors. Should be quite a season next year!

[fcnews]

NABC All District teams have been announced:
Midwest Selections

1st Team
Kent Raymond - Wheaton (POY)
Nate Hanje - U of. C.
Anthony Pettaway - Defiance
Ryan Kroeger - Lawrence
Tie- Troy Ruths - Wash U.
       Larry Welton - Aurora

2nd Team
Brian Fogerty - Fontbonne
Jordan VanEss - Marion
Brett Wessels - Augustana
Brent Ruch - Elmhurst
Marty Young - Franklin

Coach of the Year - Jim Miller - Defiance

[The Roop]

Aurora without Welton next year will be like the Chicago Bulls without Jordan. They'll be good but unable to accomplish anything at higher levels. I saw him when he was a sophomore and my only reaction was WOW............ How did he fall to D3 ??

[The Roop]

Yeah, man, that Northeast is so weak nobody from there could ever win a national title. 

And they didn't, did they.............

Very disappointed with this years Final Four. None of the games were that close. Wash. U vs Hope was the title game as the other half of the bracket had nothing to offer. Sorry Pat but I was right on this one. 

[Greek Tragedy]

I'll have to disagree.  Although the Final was a disappointment for the Amherst fans and for the general public because it was close, you can't take away the fact that the two teams that were picked in the preseason were there at the end of the year.  Amherst had one of the best records in the nation and held the #1 spot several times.  The NESCAC got four teams in the dance and Amherst won that conference.  It was a disppointing end for the Lord Jeffs, but you can't say Washington U and Hope was the Final.  I'm definitely not an Amherst fan, as you know, but I don't have any problem having Amherst the 2nd best team in the nation, even over Hope.

[Titan Q]

Yeah, man, that Northeast is so weak nobody from there could ever win a national title. 

And they didn't, did they.............

Very disappointed with this years Final Four. None of the games were that close. Wash. U vs Hope was the title game as the other half of the bracket had nothing to offer. Sorry Pat but I was right on this one. 

The best two teams I saw this year were Wash U and Amherst.  What Wash U did in defeating Amherst by 22 yesterday was one of the best championship game performances I have ever seen. 

Amherst was outstanding.  They were one of the biggest D3 teams I've ever seen...

G Andrew Olsen (5-10/165, Sr)
G Brian Baskauskas (6/6/200, Jr)
F Brandon Jones (6-7/200, Sr)
F Fletcher Walters (6-8/215, Sr)
C Kevin Hopkins (6-10/215, Sr)

Those big guys weren't just big - they were all extremely talented.  And Andrew Olsen is the best pure point-guard I saw this year and very deserving of his 1st Team All-American selection. 

Having just come from Salem, I can tell you - despite the margin of the Wash U/Amherst game - you are wrong when you say, "the other side of the bracket had nothing to offer."  Every D3 head coach I talked to after Friday's games had Amherst pegged as the favorite Saturday, just as I did.  They were a terrific team.

[Greek Tragedy]

Congrats to St. Norbert on winning the National Championship, in men's hockey.  They've been the West's best rep the last 5 years or so, but they've always seemed to choke away their high ranking and dominance in the NCHA in recent years.  They were 0-2 prior to winning it (also while being #1) this year.  Ah, the days when Stevens Point was beating the Green Knights 21-1 are long gone! lol.

[larry_u]

Congrats to St. Norbert on winning the National Championship, in men's hockey.  They've been the West's best rep the last 5 years or so, but they've always seemed to choke away their high ranking and dominance in the NCHA in recent years.  They were 0-2 prior to winning it (also while being #1) this year.  Ah, the days when Stevens Point was beating the Green Knights 21-1 are long gone! lol.

Recruit more Canadians....thats what Norbert does....

USA! USA! USA!

[The Roop]

Recruiting Canadians can be problematic. If they played major juniors they are not eligible to play in the NCAA. UW ran into this a few years ago with a couple recruits.

[bucs r bust]

Titan,

I too was in Salem over the weekend and not knowing much about the teams outside the Midwest I had Amherst winning it as well.  However, that quickly changed as soon as I witnessed the Hope vs. Wash U. game on Friday night.  It just proves that teamwork, discipline and smarts can beat size and overall talent anyday.  Wash U. just flat out shot lights out and played more agressive than Amherst right from the start. 

This was my first Final Four experience and I may have to make it an annual trip.  Nice weather, nice views, and nice people everywhere! 

Lastly, after seeing the basketball played over the weekend the MWC has a long ways to go before we will see one of our teams in the finals.  Lawrence being the best overall team recently doesn't hold a candle to teams that were representing last weekend.  Nonetheless, I hope the MWC can represent sooner rather than later.

Well til next season!  Everyone have a great summer!  See you in October!

Bust

[Greek Tragedy]

I have no problem Norb's winning it.  It's about time.  They've been to the tourney 10 times and had 2 Finals appearances before winning.  Their coach was on Point's National Championship teams back in the day, so that helps me root for them (also, to keep it away from those East teams!).  Point finally got rid of Baldarroda after 10 years or whatever of being "OK".  Hopefully our recruiting will step up and we'll return to some respectability!  It's tough with the likes of River Falls and Superior and even, gup, Stout, having solid HOCKEY teams.  I'm still trying to get over the fact that Stout has hockey! lol...

[digs]

An interesting out of season battle between longtime rivals is being waged in the battle for the Wisconsin Supreme Court as Ripon alum, Micheal Gableman tries to take the seat of LU alum Loius Butler. 

In this case there is no doubt in my mind...

BETTER DEAD THAN RED!!!

[larry_u]

An interesting out of season battle between longtime rivals is being waged in the battle for the Wisconsin Supreme Court as Ripon alum, Micheal Gableman tries to take the seat of LU alum Loius Butler. 

In this case there is no doubt in my mind...

BETTER DEAD THAN RED!!!

They let people with a Ripon education go to Law School?? I knew Hamline's Law School standards were low, but not that low... 

[The Roop]

Lastly, after seeing the basketball played over the weekend the MWC has a long ways to go before we will see one of our teams in the finals. 

I think that there are only about a dozen teams (on average) at any level that can get to their respective Final Fours. When you go beyond that there is usually a noticeable fall off. Granted the MWC has never had a team make it but one good recruiting year may be enough to put one of the teams over the top in the near future.

Winning at the national level needs to be a priority for the MWC before it will actually happen. The way it is now seems to be "Win the conference" and everybody is happy.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Lastly, after seeing the basketball played over the weekend the MWC has a long ways to go before we will see one of our teams in the finals. 

I think that there are only about a dozen teams (on average) at any level that can get to their respective Final Fours. When you go beyond that there is usually a noticeable fall off. Granted the MWC has never had a team make it but one good recruiting year may be enough to put one of the teams over the top in the near future.

Winning at the national level needs to be a priority for the MWC before it will actually happen. The way it is now seems to be "Win the conference" and everybody is happy.

IMO the 2006 Larry team was a legitimate threat for the finals.  Unfortunately, they met up with IWU before then.