How the Tommies stack up historically

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Gustavus coach Mark Hanson seemed satisfied in his team's performance on the radio after Saturday's 13-point loss to top-ranked St. Thomas. While is may sound weird coming from a coach who rarely loses on its home court, it's also a telling statement about what the current Tommies have done to expectations around the league.

With two games remaining — which UST will be heavily favored in both — they are on the cusp of becoming the second MIAC team to ever run the table at 20-0. How have they done it? In a word, defense. Barring an implosion, the Tommies are about the join elite company — in the last 20 years, five St. Thomas teams have held opponents to under 60 PPG. The other 10 teams in the conference have combined for the same number during that span (2 Gustavus, 2 St. Olaf, 1 Carleton).

The Gusties fell just short of 60 in the 72-59 loss. They shot well below their season average and almost everyone I've talked to marveled at how St. Thomas was able to dictate the flow of the game. It made me wonder how this Tommie defense stacks up in a historical sense. As a starter on *the* best defensive team in MIAC history, I feel uniquely qualified to offer an assessment.

First, let's compare some numbers.

GAC 2003-04
(League rank listed first)
1st 54.0 PPG
1st +14.6 margin
1st 38.3% Opp FG
1st 30.2% Opp 3 pt
1st +2.9 rebounding
3rd 3.35 blocks
6th 8.40 steals
5th +1.30 turnover margin

UST 2008-09
1st 58.1 PPG
1st +21.7 margin
5th 43.1% Opp FG
7th 34.8% Opp 3pt
3rd +3.8 rebounding
10th 1.94 blocks
1st 12.06 steals
1st +8.5 turnover margin

Clearly, both teams provide quality in numbers. Each team benefitted familiarity from years of playing together. But it's also readily apparently that we went about it different ways.

My Gusties were a boa constrictor, slowly choking opponents out with a reliable half-court defense. While we had pressed extensively in the previous three seasons, it was basically ignored this season. We relied heavily on the perimeter duo of Eric Nelson and Chris TeBrake, while bringing all-everything Doug Espenson off the bench. Each was named to at least one All-Defensive team in his career.

The Tommies take a more aggressive approach to their defense. They employ a devastating press and have waves of quality reserves to keep everyone fresh. Their opportunistic defense has often created a layup drill setting against the best of the rest. The only comparison that makes sense is a boxer trying to stay upright against Mike Tyson in his prime...or a reporter standing unfazed by his interviews. B.J. Viau and Lonnie Robinson made the All-Defensive team a year ago and figure to return.

However, both teams had/have problems inside. My Gustavus teams started no one taller than 6-foot-4 and it cost us in a couple big games. We lost at Buena Vista early in the year and in the second round of the national tournament to Stevens Point, who went on to win two straight titles. The Tommies start a 6-foot-3 center and the bench behind him has been unreliable.

Could the same shortcomings that held us back also cost St. Thomas? They might, but I fully expect the Tommies to run the table against MIAC opponents and take their place among the great teams in league history. In fact, I wouldn't surprise me to see a few comments here from conference rivals before everything is said and done.

Minnesota Wrap
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• National free throw record held by Concordia's Jamie Visness is broken.