2011 Final Four

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 19, 2011, 05:05:15 PM

A minute to go. St. Thomas by 22.

Ralph Turner · March 19, 2011, 05:12:07 PM

Congratulations, Tommies.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 19, 2011, 05:14:08 PM

Nicolai wins MOP.

Gregory Sager · March 19, 2011, 05:18:49 PM

Congrats to the Tommies. That was an absolutely dominating performance. Except for that opening 11-2 run by Wooster, the Tommies played about as well as a team can play today.

Bucket · March 19, 2011, 05:54:46 PM

Congrats to the Tommies. As a Middlebury diehard, I tip my hat to you.

magicman · March 19, 2011, 07:33:28 PM

Congratulations to St. Thomas for a heck of a run to the championship. They beat the #3 Pointers, then #7 Augustana, #2 Middlebury, and # 5 Wooster. All 4 teams were ranked above the #8 Tommies in the most recent D3Hoops poll. I don't think any other team had a harder path to the title. Well earned and deserved. Special thanks to Tyler Nicolai who almost scored more points (153) that anyone else in our NCAA Fantasy League.(And I had him on my team

) Justin Hallowell from Wooster led the league with 159 points. The best part is that Tyler wasn't a top 10 pick or a top 20. He was the 38th player chosen out of 42 drafted players.

I think that might be a fantasy league record.

David Collinge · March 19, 2011, 11:40:46 PM

My congratulations too to the Tommies, and especially to Steve Fritz on his long-overdue first championship. It was a dominating performance, and a well-deserved title. One day we'll find a sport we can beat you guys in!

Now it's time to regroup and find a way to get Steve Moore his long-overdue first championship!

nescac1 · March 20, 2011, 03:29:14 AM

Congrats to St. Thomas. That was indeed a brutal path to the title. A true team in every sense of the word, while they did have one clear star, many different guys stepped up at key moments during the run, it seems like. For example I was very impressed with a kid in the Midd game, built like a football player, one of the better pure athletes I've seen in D-3, tremendous energy guy, all over the court on defense, great role player. Everyone seemed to know their role and they played tremendous team defense all through the run. I was pulling for Wooster as I wanted the team to beat Williams to win it all, plus my s.o. is a Hamline alum and wasn't too psyched about St. Thomas winning the first MIAC crown (although she is pleased at the MIAC recognition, at least). But I don't think anyone can say that, at the end of the year, the best team in the country came out on top.

DoubleO · March 20, 2011, 08:40:32 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 20, 2011, 03:29:14 AM
But I don't think anyone can say that, at the end of the year, the best team in the country came out on top.

Why exactly can it not be said that the best team in the country came out on top? Because it wasn't your beloved Williams squad? Clearly, St. Thomas was playing the best basketball at the right time of the year. What is your guide to determining the best team in the country? Please don't tell me rankings. Determining the best team is resolved out on the court and gauging by who they had to get through to win the championship, I'd say it's pretty clear St. Thomas is in fact THE BEST. Make no mistake about it.

Ralph Turner · March 20, 2011, 09:45:07 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 20, 2011, 03:29:14 AM
But I don't think anyone can say that, at the end of the year, the best team in the country came out on top.

Good morning.

In the finest traditions of D3boards.com discussion and debate, may I ask you to dissect and defend the arguments for the best team in the country that hosuld have come out on top?

Please consider the opponents, home court advantage, the brackets themselves and any other factor that needs to brought to the attention of our fans. I will encourage you, and any other fan to offer a response, and then I will give mine later this evening. Thank you.

nescac1 · March 20, 2011, 09:49:34 AM

I was missing a word!!!! I meant to say that no one can say the best team DIDN'T come out on top, if that wasn't clear from context, apologies, but that was what I meant to convey. Obviously St. Thomas was the best, and that is what I meant to say, just a typo.

ScotsFan · March 20, 2011, 10:36:36 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 20, 2011, 09:49:34 AM
I was missing a word!!!! I meant to say that no one can say the best team DIDN'T come out on top, if that wasn't clear from context, apologies, but that was what I meant to convey. Obviously St. Thomas was the best, and that is what I meant to say, just a typo.

Thanks for the clarification nescac. That's a pretty big word to leave out there.

Greek Tragedy · March 20, 2011, 01:00:07 PM

It wasn't clear from context because you are a Williams fan pulling for Wooster who has an s.o. who is a Hamline alum. So, forgetting "DIDN'T" made it sound like you had sour grapes. Glad you realized your typo before everyone jumped on your case! LOL

nescac1 · March 20, 2011, 05:13:39 PM

Fair enough

!

Greek Tragedy · March 22, 2011, 03:35:37 AM

Amazing how well St. Thomas did on the road to the championship. A lot has been talked about their sectional final wins over defending champ Stevens Point and host Augustana, both ranked higher than the Tommies. Of course, playing a barnburner vs. Middlebury in the semis and an unbelievable final against Wooster.

But just think...they were down big in the opening round of the tourney vs. Northwestern and could've lost that game at home!