The Tommies officially kick off their postseason run tonight when Aurora comes to town. No disrespect to the squad from Ilinois, but the top-ranked, undefeated home team should win handily. Still, some are preaching caution in an apparent attempt to lower expectations and relieve the pressure.

It's a fair point, but not something I entirely agree with. For better or for worse — make no mistake, it's been the latter the last few years — St. Thomas carries the standard for the entire league. It's been voted the best team in the nation for months and now has the chance to back it up after so many lopsided victories. An early upset would simply add to the recent embarrassments. However, a loss to Steven's Point or Cornell in the second round would be nothing to hang your head about. Disappointing to be sure, but hardly shocking. A loss to Aurora would be both disappointing and shocking.

Here's a quick breakdown of the teams playing at the Shoe this weekend.

The Division I comparison I've used for these Tommies is that of St. Joseph's and Memphis — neither played a difficult schedule during their magical regular seasons and one was exposed early in the Big Dance. The other went to the title game.

Are these Tommies more like Jameer Nelson or Derrick Rose? It's a debate that could go on all day. Thankfully, we have a very quantitative measurement called the NCAA Tournament to answer that question. When the final buzzer sounds, only one can walk off the court victorious.

Not everything is so cut and dried. Take the recently announced postseason awards, for example. There are some very compelling cases to be made for those who got "snubbed."

MVP Race
Joe Scott vs. Zach Johnson vs. Tim Madson

To most observers, this was a two-man race all year. Johnson or Madson? Madson or Johnson? Supporters of either player could make a very strong case. Johnson led the league in scoring and was 12th nationally at 22.4 a game. He also became Carleton's all-time leading scorer and the 18th MIAC player to score 2,000 points in his career. Madson put up 19 PPG and led Bethel to a second-place finish in the league.

Scott averaged just 13 PPG — the lowest ever for a MIAC MVP, I believe — but also led the league in steals at 1.75 and 3-pointers made (44). However, he isn't a big rebounder and doesn't register in the assists department. In fact, you have to go back 10 years to find numbers even remotely similar to Scott's.

Augsburg's Jeoffrey Reed split the MVP award with St. John's Troy Bigalke in the 1999-2000 season. He still averaged more points, more rebounds, more assists, more steals and shot better than Scott did in almost exactly the same amount of minutes. The eight recipient's between Scott and Reed averaged a cool 18.97 PPG.

If you're primary skill is scoring and you aren't among the top scorers in the league, how does this system work? Is the vote perhaps a nod to the Tommies' undefeated season? I guess four on the All-MIAC team and three on the All-Defensive team weren't historic enough. As best as I can tell, neither of these feats has ever happened before — even during UST's undefeated run in 1994-95 and in the multiple times the defensive team has included seven players.

Can I pull a Franken and demand a recount?

The Last All-Conference spot
McCoy vs. Robinson vs. Van Sickle vs. Hipp vs. Fong

This is highway robbery at its finest. How does Hipp not earn a spot? He was eighth in scoring (13.1), fifth in rebounding (9.1), sixth in FG percentage (57%) and first in blocks by a wide margin (2.6). Are you really telling me he isn't one of the best 16 players in the league? If so, I'm calling you a liar.

It's not like the current list is extraordinary. St. Thomas seniors Al McCoy and Lonnie Robinson, along with Gustie junior Jesse Van Sickle are all very marginal candidates. McCoy is an undersized post who isn't among the Top 30 in scoring, Top 15 in rebounding or Top 15 in blocks — but he did lead in the league is layup conversions at 69 percent and make the All-Defensive team.

Robinson is the best defender in the league, but not much of a factor on the offensive end. He averaged just 7.6 PPG, while sitting sixth in assists (2.85) and third in assist/turnover ratio.

Van Sickle is, essentially, a one-trick pony. He's an amazing shooter, as evidenced by his league-leading 48.6 perent shooting from deep. However, he often struggles to create his own shot and isn't really a factor anywhere else on the court.

St. Olaf freshman Bobby Fong is another player some feel might have been snubbed. He led the Oles in scoring at 11.8 and pulled down 3.1 rebounds a night. However, he was invisible defensively, shot 38 percent on a bad team and missed time to end the year. That's not a very glowing resume.

Buena Vista gets a turd sandwich

The Beavers, who returned everyone from a team who upset the Tommies last year, finished this season 23-3 and ranked No. 14 in the last D3hoops.com poll. But they are still home crying right now. The BVU coach doesn't like it — and I don't blame him — but they'd be better off looking in the mirror than pointing fingers.

You lost on your home court to a decidedly average Wartburg team in the conference semifinals. You knew the West region was stacked and this was possible. If you're truly as good as your record indicates, just win. Any excuses ring hollow otherwise.

But I feel a little bad that the Beavers got beat out for local coverage by a chunky kid who just made state.

St. Thomas has the worst fans in the MIAC. It's the worst kept secret in Minnesota. The Tommies have the largest enrollment, the most local graduates and the only undefeated Division III team in the nation...but the fans don't seem to care. At least Friday's game against Aurora is almost sold out.

Really? What else does this team have to do to earn a devoted following? St. Thomas has won four straight conference titles, including a record-setting performance this season. It's cheap entertainment and they play the game the right way. But are the Tommies winning in spite of the lazy crowd? Consider the following numbers.

Overall record from 2005-09
97-15

Home record from 2005-09
50-5

Home record in national tournament from 2005-09
1-2

The competition level is always raised in the postseason and the crowd participation needs to follow suit. I recall a Sweet 16 game back in 2001-02 where our crowd started the classic "This is our house" chant on the road. From the hallway. In the final 30 seconds of a tight game before ours even started. How did the other team's fans respond? They'd printed off a couple hundred sketchy mug shot of a teammate and chanted "Stalker" at him every time he touched the ball. March Madness, right?

(Full disclosure: We lost the game and the bus ride home in a blizzard was the worst thing ever...but the atmosphere at the gym was unreal.)

Is this the year the Tommies finally emerge as a serious title contender? Can they finally clear that hurdle? Perhaps more importantly, will the stands be packed with those who actually want to be there? While they deserve a true home court advantage, it's not hard to imagine things remaining status quo.

The front row across from the visitor's bench will be filled by good-looking coeds in extremely short jean skirts, apparently convinced that Minnesota's winter is over. They'll be wearing ridiculous boots with the fur, playing with their hair and paying more attention to their phones than anything that takes place right in front of them on the court.

To their immediate left will be a group of fellas who do their best to make up for the rest of the crowd. Sure, they fake bake more than the grandma in There's Something About Mary and they may or may not be on ARod's workout regiment...but they bring the noise. Shirts are also optional, though Brady Ervin is bound to create an inferiority complex any time he's in the area.

Behind the Tommie bench is a group of, well, let's say St. Thomas veterans. They've religiously said their Hail Marys for decades, but complain when "Hail Mary" comes on during warmups. Fritz and his team have never done anything wrong in their eyes — and woe be to the ref who disagrees. They'll speak their minds, even if it means yelling at opposing players or coaches.

The section across from the St. Thomas bench is a study in diversity. With four African-Americans in the rotation — the most in the MIAC — the appeal is obvious. They watch the game intently, waiting for the chance to start woofing at opponents. With Al McCoy as the fan favorite, it makes for good theatre.

The rest of the crowd is typically filled with frosted tips, popped collars and trendy ripped jeans. As a devoted wearer of t-shirts and sweatpants, the scene tends to make me more than a little sick.

But some important changes could be on tap this year. With Schoenecker's swan song imminent, perhaps the fans will finally show they care. Perhaps they'll create signs, do a little dance and storm the court. Perhaps the Tommies will even defend their home court all the way to Salem.

It's a pleasent fantasy, right?