1958 Gustavus grad Bill "Shorty" Patterson was the first black basketball player in school history. He was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 10th round, making him one of six former Gusties to get drafted.

I got two complaints for this post in less than 24 hours. Did I overstate things after my two examples? Was I too callous with my delivery? Since something as controversial as race tends to be a little tricky to navigate — especially when it's hard to convey tone in text — let me try to lay out what I was referring to in a little more detail.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor once said that she became "truly aware of my Latina identity" when she attended Princeton, a predominantly white university. Michelle Obama's senior thesis conveyed the exact same thing in regards to her "blackness" at the Ivy League school. If you think those same ideas don't translate to Gustavus, you're kidding yourself.

My freshman floor had exactly one minority on it, and he may have been the only one in the entire building. That same person, Alaskan track star Jerry Washington, was then the only person of color on my floor as a sophomore — unless you count the life-sized cardboard cutout of himself he had propped up in his room. Talk about being on an island.

Jerry also happened to be my CF (or RA, as most schools call them). However, he lost his CF responsibilities when he attended a track meet without finding a sub to cover his floor one weekend late in the year. Campus housing held an emergency meeting to breathlessly inform us that Jerry's departure was not racially motivated. It was the most absurd thing I've ever been a part of — no one had even whispered such a idea — but the dynamics demanded the extra attention.

(For what it's worth, my floor was 100% WASPs as a junior...with one crazy Euro who made his own techno music.)

I can recall five minorities on campus during my four years at Gustavus — Washington (football/track), Ryan Hoag (football/track/celebrity), Stephen Stock (football/military), Fru Ngwa (soccer) and a Carlton something-or-other who got cut from the basketball team. That's it. Were there more? Absolutely...but these days you can match, or beat, what I remember just by meeting the basketball cheerleaders. That rise in minority numbers is a good thing, unequivocally, and it's a change the school seems to have actively pursued. Making standardized testing optional has only helped their cause in that respect.

The problems with courting a more diverse student population shouldn't be any big surprise: opportunity, money and ambition. It's no secret that many (all?) inner-city high schools present challenges different than their suburban, mostly-white counterparts. My sister and a former roommate have taught in such conditions; drugs, gang relations and pregnancies are more pressing concerns than the Pythagorean theorem or learning the capitol of all 50 states.

Like the Fresh Prince song, I grew up on the sketchy side of Rochester. The house was small, the nearby park was the hub of high school drug traffic and I wasn't allowed to cross the "busy" street in the other direction for many years. Yet we were the affluent member of the area to many.

In elementary school, I was the lone caucasian allowed to play in a schoolyard game of basketball with the Asian crew (shoutout to Chanou See and Eric Bountai!); hooping to a boombox blaring Naughty By Nature's "O.P.P." was interesting, to say the least. It was also during this time that I was introduced to Julius Young, Oeun Iem, Carlton Fogan and the Redd twins, Raymond and Richard. Since my dad always coached my basketball teams growing up, we often packed our van and learned their quirks on road trips. Julius was our loquacious Lil Penny, a distant relative of Anfernee Hardaway. Oeun would buy comic books before every road trip and sketch in silence the whole ride, until he got the giggles. The Redds were funny, passionate people...and Raymond was unstoppable in 1v1 on an 8-foot hoop.

One has since passed in a drunk driving accident (Julius), while another is happily married with a couple kids (Oeun). The other three have been in and out of jail for the past few years. Fogan has been brought up on numerous weapons charges in the last few years, including an incident where he was shot in the leg in 2008. Money was always tight for these guys and the family situation has been less than stable; I can recall being uneasy going to the Redd's front door, hearing their mom screaming at the boys through an open window. None of them were involved in athletics by their senior year of high school. The thought of them paying for a standardized test or scrounging up a cool 40k to attend a private college is especially ludicrous.

Then again, why would they want to? The thought of living in a bubble on a hill — which is essentially what Gustavus is — is not appealing to everyone. When that insulated setting includes only a handful of people who look like you, it becomes a rather curious decision. Yet many make it work, and the eye test tells me that number continues to rise. I applaud those students for their perseverance. I expect Bill "Shorty" Patterson, the first black basketball player in Gustavus history, would join me in that salute.

The iPhone pic is terrible...but this shows the Gustie campers applauding a Spanish boy who solved the Rubix Cube in 40 seconds. The Spanish Armada, as they dubbed themselves, are seen giving him a standing ovation in the back left.

In between good times on the water — tubing down the Cannon River and at the family cabin up north — I recently spent another interesting week at Gustavus. I celebrated the birthdays of four friends, including GAC women's basketball player Julia Schultz. My girls team, which was led by Ben Woodside's little sister, helped me bounce back with a title. It was enough to make me forget a winless week from my boys. Barely.

The highlight of the camp, however, was the performances of a pair of minorities.

The camp included 14 kids from Spain. One, in particular, stood out for a very non-basketball reason. The son of a pair of scientists, the middle school (or Spanish equivalent) boy performed one of the most impressive feats I've ever seen. After about 20 seconds of inspecting a Rubik's Cube, the boy (I didn't catch his name) solved it in around 40 seconds. One minor mistake cost him seven seconds, according to a friend. His personal-best time is an impossible 32 seconds.

A black boy named Cory provided another few moments worth of entertainment by showcasing his breakdancing ability in front of the camp. He was offered the chance to do so again during the final presentation and didn't disappoint — the parents loved the show.

The bigger question then becomes, could we be seeing these guys on campus in a couple of years? While I don't mean to perpetuate the notion that minorities aren't intelligent, the facts suggest Gustavus will continue to diversify its portfolio, so to speak.

Gustavus dropped standardized testing in the spring of 2006, which many institutions around the nation have done as a precursor to greater diversity on campus. Peter Haugen, the new football coach, comes from an inner-city high school where he was often forced to recruit his players from the classroom — which he did with great success. For better or for worse, I don't think it's a stretch to expect him to target those same players as a college coach.

Gustavus had a black population of just 4.5% when I enrolled in 2000. Given the current climate and the push to increase those numbers, I would expect those numbers have at least doubled in the nine years since I set foot on campus. And, if a recent e-mail from GAC president Jack Ohle is to be believed, that is exactly as planned.

"The incoming class is academically very strong, one of the most
diverse ever, and retention for next year looks good. In fact, we are on
track to meet our enrollment goals for 2009-2010," Ohle wrote.

Odd and Ends
• Hamline's Don Meyer will receive ESPN's prestigious Jimmy V Award. That picture says it all.
• Trevor Wittwer recently returned from a basketball showcase in Las Vegas. Let's hope it went a little better than a recent Howard Pulley game, when U of M recruit Rodney Williams yoked on him. Hard.

The week didn't go as planned.

My two teams of middle schoolers finished with one win in 18 games, dragging my career record at Gustie Camp down to a Koz-like 13-23. I also finished with one win in three games during old man ball (my first time playing in six months, mind you) and my golf team posted an embarrassing score of +7 during a scramble tournament Thursday afternoon — though I blame the Tommie grad in my group for the lackluster effort at the Gustie Hoops Open. Heck, I even blew a double-digit lead in late-night Blokus against my fellow camp counselors. At least it wasn't my kid who fell down the stairs and had to visit the hospital, I guess. Baby steps, right?

Needless to say, I didn't get a chance to visit with Peter Haugen, the new football coach at Gustavus. But that doesn't mean I left empty-handed. Here are some thoughts and feedback after a week immersed in the MIAC scene.

• Trevor Wittwer, a 2008 Gustavus grad, recently returned from playing basketball in Germany. He intends to return overseas next year, but remains unsigned for now. If a contract isn't signed soon he plans to participate in a showcase tournament in Las Vegas later this summer to gain further exposure in hopes of landing in one of the better leagues.
• Myself aside, the camp was filled with seasoned coaches. Tim Anderson (Maple River), Gary Holmseth (Blue Earth Area), Augsburg women's coach Jennifer Britz, a former Macalester men's assistant whose name slips my mind and handful of others made me feel especially green. Getting blasted by 20 every game didn't help either, though most of my kids still promised that they planned to return next summer. Since Hanson invited me back again in July, I must have been doing something right.
  
• The biggest group in Gustie Camp history — 350ish kids — on one of the hottest weeks in recent memory made for some interesting situations. A handful of coaches were required to pass a driving test to transport kids around town in large vans to avoid the heat. The extra planning and coordination cut into some drills, but I'm sure the kids appreciated being out of the heat. Now if only GAC assistant coach Josh Drinkall's air conditioner hadn't quit working after the first night...
• The basketball camp was only part of the ongoing fun last week at Gustavus. There were also tennis and soccer camps taking place, along with practices for the high school all-star football game that takes place tonight in St. Cloud. Two quick tidbits — Ryan Hoag was one of the tennis coaches and one unfortunate football player set an unofficial record by gaining 18 pounds (253 to 271) in one week while practicing at Gustavus a few years back. The basketball counselors got a good chuckle out of the former, while the cafeteria staff still enjoys talking about the latter.
• The new football stadium has helped with recruiting for Gustavus, but the transition between head coaches may prove a disaster. The Gusties recruited seven of the aforementioned all-stars last year. While they have 47 freshmen expected in camp this fall, not one is playing in the all-star series.
  

And now on to the juicier stuff...

• The Gustavus football staff made the conscious decision to present a united front behind former offensive coordinator Tom Brown prior to the interview process. This likely limited a few potential candidates — defensive coordinator Brian Bergstrom was one many grads expected to apply, for example — but was deemed the best move for the good of the program. Or so they thought.
• Brownie was informed at his interview that he wouldn't be allowed to stay on staff if someone else was hired. While logical, that seems like something that might have been worth mentioning earlier to a devoted 20-year man who works right down the hallway. That said, Brownie seems content with his new gig. We'll see if that holds true when he isn't a part of football for the first time in four decades this August.
• The new Gustavus offense will be a more traditional, pro-set style. That means there's a decent chance that the Gusties will be starting a freshman fullback and tight end, since those positions were essentially cut under Brownie's no-huddle system. It should play to senior quarterback Jordan Becker's strengths, but his backup — younger brother Logan Becker — would have been perfect for the spread. It will be interesting see how the Gusties try to use his athleticism for the 2010 season.
• The growing pains of learning a new offense figure to be highlighted by a young, inexperienced offensive coordinator. Ryan Galindo, whose full credentials have yet to be detailed on the GAC web site, is a 2003 University of St. Thomas grad who spent the last two years working as Haugen's offensive coordinator at Minneapolis Washburn. It doesn't appear that he has any other coaching background. The fact that no one else was apparently considered for the job causes me more than a little concern. It could be an interesting year. And by interesting, I mean bad.
• Mike Deschneau, a 2001 Gustie grad, will not return to his coaching duties this fall. He was in charge of the offensive line, in addition to working with the defensive line and linebackers. I'm not sure if his replacement has yet been found, but this will mark the third offensive line coach since I graduated in 2004. That uncertainty can't help when installing a new offense.

Peter Haugen is, by all accounts, a great guy. One of my college roommates is his personal friend and swears by him. But is he the right man to lead the Gustavus Adolphus football program? Since he was hired after a secret, controversial process in the winter, that's been the question on many people's minds. A group of alumni my age ('04) fired off hundreds of e-mails the day the announcement was made. The tone was skeptical, to say the least.

Before we dive into the details, let's review what is common knowledge:

• Haugen was a three-sport standout at Bethel in the early '90s.
• He's spent the last 15 years coaching at Minneapolis Washburn.
• His claim to coaching fame essentially revolves around three things: coaching Ryan Hoag, increasing player participation from 35 to 110 and reaching the first round of the 2007 state tournament.

As best as I can tell, Haugen's resume is solid but not spectacular. He won 11 conference championships in a poor league and rarely made noise in the postseason. For all the success his career record would indicate - 111-44 - he owned just an 0-1 record in the state tournament. The fact that his first official hire - a former St. Thomas football player - reportedly showed up on campus for his first day of work looking like this and swearing like a drunken sailor during noonball doesn't inspire a ton of confidence.

Is Haugen qualified to lead the Gusties? I would have liked to see someone a little more familiar with the collegiate process (ie recruiting, scouting, game planning), but you can't really say he's unqualified. I'm doing my best to give him the benefit of the doubt until we see his product, but recent news from The Hill has raised my level of concern.

For those who haven't heard, Gustavus President Jack Ohle has drawn less-than-friendly fire from many faculty members. Four high-profile resignations have already been laid at Ohle's feet, with one specifically citing "lack of presidential support." Details can be found here, here and here. It's interesting to note that Wartburg, where Ohle came from, documented similar problems as recently as 2005.

What's this all got to do with Haugen? Everything, actually.

A former assistant to the recently retired Jay Schoenebeck claims Ohle gave the Gustie legend the ol' "shape up or ship out" talk early in the year. Schoenebeck, who was 20-30 in the previous five years, responded by turning in his resignation by the end of the week. That led to an...interesting...job search after the program's best season in nearly a decade.

(Gustavus, where a mediocre 6-4 record is to be celebrated while watching highlights of the last conference championship...in 1987)

Ohle led the two-man search committee. Gustavus athletic director Al Molde was given the other voice. No one else was apprised of the applicants or who was chosen for interviews, though word leaked out that Carleton's Kurt Ramler was one of the secret candidates. I had him pegged for the gig until he withdrew his name after a rumored pay raise from the Knights.

That left Haugen, longtime GAC assistant Tom Brown and an unidentified coaching candidate. Coach X and Ramler were eliminated from consideration, at which time Mankato Free Press sports reporter Chad Courrier shocked his newsroom by opining that Brownie wasn't a shoo-in for the job. Turns out his intuition was correct.

To recap, the timeline looks something like this:

• Gustavus hires Ohle as president after initial search failed; vetting process questioned
• Ohle puts Schoenebeck on notice
• Schoenebeck resigns, effective at the end of the season, then has Gusties in MIAC title hunt
  
• Ohle presides over secret coaching search
• Ohle and Molde select a Bethel alum with very little/no college coaching experience
• Ohle tries to mend a burned bridge with Brownie by creating an assistant athletic director position
• Four prominent GAC faculty members suddenly resign in protect of Ohle's actions/decisions; others get liability insurance in case they are fired for critical remarks
  
• Entire campus is walking on eggshells as potential lawsuits are discussed

Does this sound like a healthy situation in which to make a hire? I can't help but feel a little bit bad for Haugen, who works right down the hall from the man he beat out for the job. But I put that at Ohle's feet - if you knew you had at least one candidate you liked better than Brownie, why keep him involved in the process? Have that conversation right away. To string him along like that is embarrassing for everyone involved. I would have skipped three days of work afterward, too. While I haven't talked to Brownie yet, I've got to believe it's an extremely awkward situation for both guys.

Which makes it a perfect time for me to visit campus! I'll be over there for the next five days working basketball camp and hope to meet Haugen. If he doesn't have time for an actual interview - or I'm too sweaty to take notes - I'll at least plan some feedback for next weekend.

I've been covering high school sports for four years. If it rains — or looks like it might — I wear my old Gustavus football coat. If it's chilly, I throw on the same windbreaker. Heck, if it's hot out and I might pit out I'll throw on ol' faithful. It remains in surprisingly good shape, which is great since my connection to the football program took a significant hit with the recent hiring of a Bethel grad.

(I'm still trying to collect my thoughts on this. A post is coming soon, I promise.)

It's not really an act of devotion. It began as my only form of protection from the elements. It remains the only piece of clothing that stays in my car 24/7. After a Cannon Falls parent recently accused me of wearing it 25 days a month, I may have to rethink my wardrobe.

Athletic attire was at the forefront of Thursday's Class AA state golf tournament. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with me. Instead, Red Wing's Mark Giorgi shunned the school colors of purple and white to don a blood red polo in his pursuit of the state title. The decision brought a smile to the face of Bob Alpers, the head golf coach at St. John's University who was named the 2008-09 MIAC Coach of the Year.

Giorgi became the first state champion in the history of Red Wing boys golf, claiming a one-stroke victory over Orono's Patrick Johnson. He had a scoring average of just over 73 this season and probably could have gone Division I. Instead, he decided to become a Johnnie.

Alpers and Alex Wallerich, Giorgi's friend and a current freshman at SJU, watched his whole round at Day 2 of the state tournament in Jordan, Minn. When Giorgi closed his round with a birdie, Alpers greeted him with an assessment of his outfit — the red shirt and black shorts are exactly what the Johnnies wear on the final day of tournaments, apparently. The pair remained inseparable over the next hour, preventing any concern that another school would sweep in with a scholarship offer to steal Giorgi away.

It's the latest example of the rich getting richer. The Johnnies have won two of the last three Division III national titles and have qualified for 10 straight national tournaments. They took eighth this season, though they lose their top four golfers to graduation.

Giorgi, whose scoring average is nearly identical to that of three-time MIAC Player of the Year Joe Schoolmeesters, plans to take some time away from the links before diving into his next challenge in the fall.

"We have some big shoes to fill," he said.

Take a deep and exhale. Now relax and realize Kevin McHale isn't in danger of ruining whatever cap flexibility his last few trades have created for the Timberwolves.

Need a few more seconds? Fine. Breath, exhale. In, out. Spin that new Ben Harper disc if you have to. Now excuse me while I turn down Kevin Harlan's voice and wipe the drool from McHale's chin before continuing.

In case you haven't noticed, the NBA playoffs are in full swing. Some games have been blowouts, while many have brought fans to their feet in shock, awe and anger. That's fairly standard. What's a little less standard are the prominent players involved. While none are truly game-breakers, this year's crop of pivotal players has been surprisingly pale in complexion.

Ok, put the pen down, Kevin. You don't have the authority to sign anyone. Heck, most of them aren't even free agents after this year. And no, it wouldn't be smart to sign them to an under-the-table contract.

*Sigh*

Let's take a look at the players who have McHale dreaming of whitewashing the league for the 2009-10 season.

Bulls vs. Celtics

With Game 7 on tap tonight, this has the very real potential of being the best series in playoff history. Everyone knows about the stars — Pierce, Jesus, Gordon, Rose — but think about the subplots that have unfolded.

Brad Miller has been involved in a number of physical plays, initiating some and getting initiated in others. If the Bulls lose the series, his hazy look at the end of Game 5 will be the indelible image of the historic battle. But I doubt McHale would like him. Remember, he dished out clotheslines in his day. How could he respect a whiner who got floored by a tiny guard?

And how about Kirk Hinrich? Chicago may be allowing a triple-double to Rajon Rondo, but he's not about to go down quietly. Their scrap in Game 6 was like Jo Jo English/Derek Harper Lite.

But my favorite in the series is barrel-chested ginger Brian Scalabrine. Just think, the Celtics went from KG to Powe to Scalabrine. That's depressing...but Scalabrine has proven surprisingly serviceable. In very, very small spurts, anyway. If he were five years younger, I'm sure McHale would have already traded a few future first rounders for him.

I'm sure his desire to help the Celtics wouldn't even cross his mind before signing on the dotted line.

New Orleans vs. Denver

James Posey has been the poster boy for role players over the last few years, winning titles with Miami and Boston. You know what? I bet McHale hates him. Based on the way this particular series played out, perhaps that's justified.

Birdman was better off the bench than any New Orleans post, starter or reserve. His production was augmented by fellow caucasian Linas Kleiza, who provides versatility and instant offense off the bench.

Sadly, the Hornets appear headed down the KG road with CP3. They've surrounded him with too many niche players and not enough guys who can make a real impact. I actually felt sorry for CP3 watching this series.

Utah vs. LA Lakers

Matt Harping has always been a favorite of mine. He's heady and very physical, yet still possesses the ability to hit an open shot. He does all the little things that don't show up in the box score, endearing himself to overachievers everywhere.

I hate the Lakers. I hate their fans. I hate Kobe. But I love Luke Walton's game enough to overlook his annoying dad. Phil Jackson troubling habit of yanking him in and out of the lineup is frustrating, but he's an extremely versatile option whose skills shine in the triangle. Plus, he's a former Wildcat who played for Augsburg grad, Lute Olson.

Houston vs. Portland

Portland's bench is, perhaps, the most intriguing in the leegue to the original Big Fundamental. Rudy Fernandez? Sergio Rodriguez? McHale is/was probably licking his chops at the thought. Unfortunately, he'd probable hold out for Raef LaFrentz and Shavlik Randolph to complete his ghost of a dynasty.

The Rockets offer a different option. Namely, a legit NBA difference maker. Luis Scola is an underappreciated big man willing to do the dirty work. Crafty is a McHale favorite, but he's vastly underpaid. I'm sure a sign-and-overpaid deal could be worked out to make it more paletable.

What exactly would it take to make McHale bite on a trade? A three-way that also nets Marko Jaric would seem ideal.

Dallas vs. San Antonio

I've got to believe McHale would jump at the chance to pair Scalabrine with Matt Bonner. Really, who wouldn't? Anyone can use two reliable drinking buddies for a game of poker.

Detroit vs. Cleveland

McHale's already experimented with Wally, so that might be the one pasty guy he doesn't covet. But Sasha Pavlovic? I'd love to see the cell phone records of Danny Ferry when the rumor first came out that McHale was losing GM responsibilities. If you don't believe he was frantically trying to make something work, you're crazy.

Everyone remembers when Walter Hermann became a fantasy stud a few years back. Sounds like the foundation for a real life title contender, right? Shhh, it's best to just let McHale dream.

Miami vs. Atlanta

I'll be honest, this series doesn't interest me very much. I haven't watched a game yet. I'll have to get back to you after Game 7. McHale might make a desperate call to check on Zaza Pachulia's availability if everything else falls through, but I'd guess he'll rely on his Hibbing charm to make something else work.

Intrigued by this experiment yet? It's like being a fly on the wall in his own personal war room. Let's complete the fantasy with a look at his dream roster.

Starters
PG: Ricky Rubio (draft)
SG: Rudy Fernandez (trade)
SF: Mike Miller
PF: Kevin Love
C: Al Jefferson

Bench
Sergio Rodriguez (trade)
Matt Bonner (trade)
Brian Scalabrine (trade)
Brian Cardinal
J.J. Barea (trade)
Raef LaFrentz (trade)
Mark Madson (captain)

Not realistic, you say? McHale, with an assist from KG, has taught the Minnesota faithful that anything is possible. Besides, if everything else fails, I'm sure McHale's still got Paul Grant on speed dial.

A dream season came to an end exactly seven days ago when Wash U stormed back to throttle the previously undefeated Tommies in the Elite 8. The Bears are currently on the verge of their second straight national title.

Is this news late? Absolutely, but that was a little by design. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to write. I didn't want to gloat about the collapse and run the risk of turning into the D3 equivalent of Mercury Morris — Don't call me when you're in my neighborhood, call me when you're on my block — while cracking a Mountain Dew in celebration. But I didn't want to rush to pat the Tommies on their collective backs, either. The Minnesota media had done enough of that for my taste. So I abstained...until now.

As I tried to collect my thoughts over the previous week, I ran into a couple coaches who offered their own opinions.

1. Mark Hanson asked how our runner-up Gustie squad would fare against these Tommies. As I hemmed and hawed, he spoke the obvious — we wouldn't have had trouble with their press. Wash U might be the only team UST played this year that can make that statement, if only for a half. We all saw how that turned out.
2. A Division II coach of some reknown also shared this quip: I don't care what anyone says, there's no way in hell this Tommie team is better than that Gustie team that played for the title.

So what's the truth? I'm of the opinion that my 02-03 Gusties would win roughly 60 percent of the games in this fantasy matchup. I could accept arguments as high as 70 and as low as 50. As I've stated before, I think the teams are extremely comparable in their styles and personnel. I simply like GAC's post combo of Newell/Nelson and Espo's presence off the bench as the deciding factors.

Some might point to the Bracket of Death as the reason why UST fell short, but GAC survived a comparable path. Nothing is ever easy. The six teams the Gusties played in their postseason run had a combined record of 131-17 (.885).

So what's the final verdict? Both teams are left with the frustrating feeling of "What if?" after blowing solid leads against great teams. In that sense, I feel their pain. Unfortunately, that feeling returns every March.

Minnesota Wrap
• D3hoops corrected the MIAC coaches with its postseason awards. I wonder if Zach Johnson feels vindicated?
• The Gustavus men's hockey team is playing for the Division III national title this afternoon. I hope the Strib has that back page reserved again!
• SJU football coach John Gagliardi will give the keynote address at the April 19 College Football Hall of Fame banquet. It will be held at St. Thomas and include such figures as Randall McDaniel, John Randle and former Concordia football coach Jim Christopherson.

Both Puget Sound and St. Thomas ran the table in their respective conferences, but only one emerged unscathed in Friday's Sweet 16 showdown. The Tommies shot 54 percent in their 86-69 victory. It's apparently the first road victory in St. Thomas history, a fact I find stunning.

The top-ranked Tommies advance to Saturday's game against No. 2 Washington University, the defending national champion.

I don't have any details since I was "stuck" doing my day job, but St. Thomas Vice President Doug Hennes went all newspaper guy on his recap. SID Gene McGivern was busy updating his blog and doing an in-game blog.

What's next? The Tommies are three wins from the greatest basketball season in MIAC history, and one of the most impressive seasons in the history of college basketball. If you believe the rankings, Saturday's game is the de-facto national championship game. Too bad the crowd will likely be small and quiet compared to what it deserves.

Naturally, I'll be working again and miss all the fireworks. Perhaps even worse, I'll be watching a stud headed to St. Thomas next year tear apart "my" team. The rich get richer, I guess.

What was Tubby Smith doing five hours after coaching his way out of the NCAA tournament? He was giving pre-game speeches to both St. Thomas and Steven's Point, apparently.

I didn't make an official sighting, but the stats can't be mere coincidence. How else do you explain the horrendous perimeter shooting (22.5 percent), rash of missed layups and general offensive malaise on display? The Tommies scored 26 points less than their average and shot almost 20 percent below their season average. The Pointers finished 24 points below their average and shot 14 percent worse than normal.

Plain and simple, it was Tubby Time in the final game ever played at The Shoe. It made for an ugly display of basketball between two of the best teams in the nation, though the Tommies survived and that's all that matters in March. They travel to Wheaton next weekend to play Puget Sound, who finished the #7 in the final D3Hoops.com poll.

Joking aside, was the slow start by design? Tommie assistant coach Johnny Tauer had asked Gustavus coach Mark Hanson for advice in beating the Pointers earlier in the week. The response was classic Hans.

"Let them get ahead by 10 early so they don't take you seriously. Being up at halftime certainly didn't work for us."

The Tommies tried to follow that advice. Here's a glance at their possessions over the first eight minutes of the game: turnover, miss, miss, miss, MAKE, turnover, turnover, miss, turnover, miss, turnover, miss. The Pointers were equally as inept, leaving the score at a very Gophers-like 6-5 with 11:52 remaining. It never really got much better. Somewhere Tubby had to be smiling.

Even on crutches, I'm pretty sure I could have played a more aesthetically pleasing game of 1v1 with former Macalester scrapper Adam Denny. Assuming no fouls would get called, anyway. We were hackers.

For the first time in awhile, I've got no major beef with the way things were officiated. The fouls and free throws were almost exactly even and there were no egregious mistakes. But that doesn't really tell the whole story, judging by the reactions from the UWSP coach and the various MIAC coaches sitting in my section.

Every game is filled with 50/50 calls, some of which are called and some that aren't. As a largely unbiased observer, I'd say the Tommies owned the 50/50 calls by a count of at least 80/20. I'm not sure that it changed the outcome, but it certainly was a factor — the Pointer big men battled foul trouble all night. You could literally see the Steven's Point coach begin to boil as every close call went against him, particularly down the stretch.

So what's the bottom line? The Tommies claimed an ugly, impressive win over one of the best programs in Division III. In many ways, it finally legitimized the product St. Thomas has been putting on the court all year.

As I reflected on the performance while crutching down the stairs, Hanson disappeared for a few minutes. I've got to imagine he either spotted Tubby or wanted to help pull the playoff gorilla off Fritz's back.

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?

Is this the worst performance in Gustavus history? If so, it might also be the most embarrassing.

A drunken fan kicked out during warmups? Check.
Ridiculous chants at the opposing team during a blowout loss? Check.
Coach Hanson telling the athletic trainer to make the GAC students stop swearing? Check.
A coaching technical for arguing a call down 30 late in the second half? Check.
The most lopsided loss in school history? Check, I think. I don't have the patience to check the entire web site right now.

With the season now over, I can't wait to put this all behind me as quickly as possible. However, the Tommie dominance again raises the question about how good St. Thomas might be. As the stats show, these Tommies are far and away the best team in the MIAC. Most agree that the league is waaaaaaaaaaaay down this year, so take that with a grain of salt.

St. Thomas has played just five teams with winning records this year. The only team you might consider even remotely strong is Bethel, which beat up on six nonconference patsies to pad its deceivingly strong 20-6 record. The Tommies' own nonconference schedule consists of Pomona-Pitzer (13-12), Occidental (11-15), UW-River Falls (11-15), UW-La Crosse (10-15) and Division II Concordia-St. Paul (12-14). Hardly a worthy measuring stick for such a strong team.

Does that mean the Tommies don't have the potential to win it all? Of course not. They simply remain a talented, unchallenged, question mark heading into the postseason. Have they learned from their early flameouts in the past three national tournaments? Are they ready to take the next step on their rise to prominence? Can they certify their top-ranked stature? I'm excited to see them try.

For now, the next step means taking down Bethel, which topped Augsburg, for the third time.

MIAC Title Game
#2 Bethel (20-6) at #1 St. Thomas (26-0), 7:30 p.m. Saturday

The 2009 playoffs opened Monday night in impressive fashion. Gustavus rallied past St. John's and Augsburg survived a furious charge by Carleton to advance to the semifinals of the MIAC playoffs. The road only gets more difficult from here.

#6 Gustavus (11-9, 13-13) at #1 St. Thomas (20-0, 25-0)

The sixth-seeded Gusties are rewarded with Wednesday's trip to face top-ranked, undefeated St. Thomas. It will be the underdog's third road trip in five days and fourth game in the last eight days, all against the top three teams in the conference. The Tommies controlled the first two matchups with relative ease. Could the third time be the charm? It would be a historic upset.

#4 Augsburg (12-8, 15-11) at #2 Bethel (14-6, 19-6)

The Augsburg/Bethel showdown offers a unique opportunity for the Auggies. Royals senior Tim Madson drilled a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer of the final regular season game last year to knock Augsburg out of the playoffs. The teams split the regular season series in 2008-09, with each winning on the road. Bethel has been rolling, but the Auggies should have plenty of motivation.

Minnesota Wrap
• Macalester coach Curt Kietzer resigned Monday after the first winless season in MIAC history.
• Carleton senior Zach Johnson became the 18th player in MIAC history to reach 2,000 points in his career last weekend.

Photo by Dawid Chabowski, Saint John's University

Does Jan Gangelhoff know chemistry? St. John's senior Cole Isetts could use the help. Instead of relaxing in front of the boob tube before what might be his last collegiate game, the senior wing is spending the night locked away with his books like a normal college student.

Division III athletics at its finest, right?

That work ethic is nothing new for the the Red Wing native, who has been a bit player for the Johnnies over the first three years of his collegiate career. Even as a senior, Isetts' minutes have often been sporadic. Do you think his pair of MVP awards on the SJU junior varsity team provided any solace as he rode the pine when the bright lights were shining?

But he kept plugging away, spending countless hours to improve his game. Trust me, I've seen him toiling away in an otherwise empty gym at the YMCA every summer for the past four years. I may have laughed as he pushed through some defensive slide drills, but he's getting the last laugh now. Finally.

While his time answering my questions below was limited — double majoring in Chemistry and Management keeps him busy, apparently — I almost feel compelled to wish him good luck against my Gusties. It's hard not to appreciate someone sticking things out like he's done...and finally being rewarded for that dedication.

Brett Boese: You've played in 21 of 25 games this year, including starting 12 times. After waiting so long to see the court, how satisfying has this season been for you?

Cole Isetts: This season has had its ups and downs, but it feels good to be playing good D and playing with a lot of heart as a team. As a senior, it feels good to be leading a team that has a lot of potential and are really a good group of guys.

BB: You joined the starting lineup after St. John's had lost six of seven games to fall to 7-9 overall and 5-6 in the MIAC. With you seeing extended minutes, SJU closed the season by winning seven of nine to finish third in the league. How did you change your approach with the move? Has anything else changed that a casual fan might not have noticed?

CI: Since I've been in the starting lineup, I haven't changed much except for really continuing to keep our guys on the same page and fired up the entire game. We have really concentrated on our defense since the change.

BB: Monday you'll be facing the Gusties for the second time in three days. Saturday's game ended with your point guard getting tossed. Gustavus had its best player tossed in the playoffs at SJU two years ago. The rivalry has clearly been heating up for awhile now. How testy do you expect the rematch to be?

CI: Hopefully the same outcome as Saturday but as far as the rivalry heating up, I have felt that for sure over the last few years. Both teams play hard and the Gusties have some big guys which makes the game overall a little more physical.

BB: SJU coach Jim Smith is one win away from becoming the second coach in Division III history to reach 700. With the postseason starting, this is your last chance to make it happen this season. How important is that to the team? As one of two seniors on the roster, does it hold any extra significance for you?

CI: Absolutely. I have been a student of Smith for four years and nothing would make me happier then to get him that 700th win.

BB: You were playing on my team over Christmas break when I broke my foot. How big of a pansy did I look like when high school JV players were schooling me as I hobbled around? Be honest, I can handle it.

CI: You looked like a medium to large sized pansy over xmas break. But I know you can still run with the best of them.

Minnesota Wrap
• The Concordia wrestling team is on the rise.
• Former Gustavus basketball and golf coach Whitey Skoog had his jersey retired Sunday night by the University of Minnesota. He is generally credited with inventing the jump shot, and described it to the crowd at halftime. Below is a loose paraphrase of his story:

We were down at Drake and I went full-tilt to the hoop, and their center stepped right in front of me. So I jumped as high as I could and took the ball above my head, hoping to see my center going to the hoop. But he was no where to be found, so I shot the ball at the hoop and it went in. As I was running down the court I thought to myself "Man, what was that?"

The next practice here at ol' Williams, I grabbed a ball and decided to practice that again. And I did it the whole practice.

Hamline had one last chance to earn a victory against St. Thomas at Schoenecker Arena, but the Pipers couldn't stop destiny. The Tommies breezed to an easy victory, capping just the second 20-0 march through the MIAC season. Hamline finished 0-30 at Schoenecker Arena, which is being torn down this summer to make way for a new 52 million dollar facility.

The Johnnies rolled to a 71-60 win over the Gusties to secure the No. 3 seed in the MIAC playoffs. St. John's led 35-22 at halftime and was never truly threatened by Gustavus, despite big games from Jesse Van Sickle (20 points) and Sam Paulson (17 and 13). The Johnnies had five in double figures, led by Aaron Burtzel's 15.

Tim Madson moved into fourth on Bethel's all-time scoring list in the 64-51 victory over Carleton. He scored 20, while Mike Moberg posted 16 points and 11 boards. Zach Johnson scored 23 for the Knights, who have lost four of their last five games.

The Cobbers went to overtime to drop the Oles. Darren Olmscheid paced Concordia with 18 points. St. Olaf's Mark Torell hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force an extra session.

St. Mary's shocked Augsburg to end first-year coach Todd Landrum's debut on a positive note. Will Wright and Lukas Holland combined for 45 points in the win.

Playoff Seedings
1. St. Thomas (20-0)
2. Bethel (14-6)
3. St. John's (12-8)
4. Augsburg (12-8)
5. Carleton (12-8)
6. Gustavus (11-9)

Monday's Games
#6 Gustavus at #3 St. John's
Split regular season series. Gustavus has lost three straight and four of its last five games at SJU. The Johnnies won seven of their last nine to nab the third seed.

#5 Carleton at #4 Augsburg
Split regular season series. The Auggies won the last meeting by 16 at Si Melby Hall, but both teams struggled to close the year. Carleton has lost four of five and Augsburg had dropped four of its last six, including a disappointing loss at St. Mary's to end the year.

UST rips rival SJU before a standing-room-only crowd to move within a game of perfection. Joe Scott scored 18 points in the win, while Aaron Burtzel had 10 for the Johnnies.

Augsburg freshman Ben Flavin poured in a career-high 22 points to key a surprisingly easy 70-54 victory over Carleton. Zach Johnson led the Knights with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Tim Madson ripped the net for 28 points to pace the Royals in their 87-72 victory over Gustavus. It's the first home win over the Gusties in 16 years.

St. Olaf defeated Macalester as the Scots finish the year winless for the first time in school history. Reserve Alfred Jaryan led the Oles with 17 points, five assists and five steals.

John Fraase dominated the paint to the tune of 31 points in a 77-64 win over Saint Mary's.

With just one game remaining in the regular season — except for Macalester, which is done — the fight for playoff positioning remains fierce. Bethel is in perfect position to claim second and the first-round bye, but the other four spots will come down to Saturday's finish.

Disclaimer: The last two links are PG-13. Funny, but not appropriate for everyone. View at your own risk.

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
• SMU grad Maddy Loftus is discussed by former teammates in a neat CNN.com article.
• National free throw record held by Concordia's Jamie Visness is broken.

2006 Saint Mary's grad Madeline Linn Loftus died Thursday in the New York plane crash that claimed all 44 passengers. The 24-year-old was a part of the SMU women's hockey team from 2004-06.

The news was met by a silent campus Friday, as SMU went on break starting today. Students return to class Feb. 23. A memorial is currently being planned, though specifics aren't yet decided.

The Winona Daily News is promoting a story planned for Saturday. I expect it to be a pretty emotional piece.

I lost two of my best friends from elementary/high school to a drunk driving incident during the fall of my junior year at Gustavus. I drove back to the funeral with two classmates in a silent car. How do you begin to deal with such a loss? We spent nearly 45 minutes in silence before finally beginning to share our favorite stories and memories.

I've got to imagine that SMU's loss will be even harder to deal with, but the quiet campus could be beneficial. It will provide a buffer period — similar to my 45 minutes of silence in the car — before having to face the loss with classmates, teachers and coaches. The sting doesn't ever go away, but I extend my thoughts and prayers to those currently in mourning.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Coleman, D3sports.com

St. Thomas has lost just thrice in its last 39 games, but one of those losses came last season at Gus Young Court. While the Tommies have owned the league of late, breezing to three straight conference titles, the Gusties have actually won five of the last six home games between the two squads. Three of those wins have come as heavy underdogs. Each time the Tommies left the court hearing the familiar Gustie battle cry of "This is our house!"

Does that mean the Black and Gold has any right to be cocky heading into Saturday's important showdown? Confident maybe, but not cocky. Tyler Kaus, who hit the game-winning layup last year (shown above) and is now helping coach the JV team, declined to guaranSheed me a victory Thursday night. As much as it pains me to admit it, it was a smart decision on his part.

The Tommies brought their C- game (or worse) in the previous meeting this year, yet still won by 21. They've won 20 straight MIAC games and are currently the top-ranked team in the nation. Despite being undefeated, UST still has plenty to play for — the top seed in the West region and the second perfect 20-0 record in league history are currently hanging in the balance.

The Gusties have turned things around after a particularly ugly stretch that culminated in an 11-point loss at home to Hamline last weekend. That uneven play has lowered expectations, but another upset remains possible, if unlikely.

Here are three keys to making that happen:

1. Solve the press

This is THE key to the game. The Tommies forced 29 turnovers with their mundane we're-more-athletic-than-you press last time, including 17 in a brutal first half to watch. The Gustie guards consistently were hung out to dry when traps came and rarely had an easy pass to beat the pressure. The bigs failed to serve as outlets for the pressure, turning everything into chaos. "They're just athletic as hell," Carleton coach Guy Kalland recently told The Carletonian.

UST scored 27 points off turnovers, with most of that coming on transition layups. I can't recall a single time the Gusties beat the pressure for an easy hoop. Gustavus doesn't want to turn the game into a track meet, but it needs to take advantage of its opportunities for easy baskets. It can't allow the press to be without consequences.

2. Defensive pressure

St. Thomas is a very athletic team that thrives in transition. Anders Halvorson was the only Tommie who really excelled in the halfcourt in the first game. If you take away the 10 easy layups off turnovers (guesstimating), Gustavus held the Tommies to under 40 percent shooting. Though St. Thomas is shooting a robust 55 percent from the floor and averaging 80 PPG — both good for the league lead — I don't see UST as a particularly polished offensive team.

That's a ridiculous way of finding a positive in a blowout, but it may hold some merit. Gustavus held the Tommies to 5-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc, which is about in line with its league-leading defensive percentage. GAC held its own on the boards, despite constantly being on its heels. The Gusties need to rely on teamwork, communication and fundamentals if they hope to stick with the top-ranked team in the country. The defensive intensity needs to be a constant, because the offense is likely to ebb and flow.

3. Finding an offensive groove

The guards looked lost. The posts looked confused. The wings looked hesitant. Honestly, I'm not sure how Gustavus could have played any worse in the previous meeting — but that doesn't mean things HAVE to change in the rematch. Have DesLauriers and Schmidtknecht figured things out at PG? Can Paulson own the paint against the undersized Tommies? Can movement and crisp passing overcome physical limitations against a great defensive team? These are important issues that will decide the outcome on Saturday.

Gustavus doubled its turnover average in the first meeting and dug itself a quick hole. Can the Gusties get off to a better start and hang around for an exciting finish? That's exactly what happened last year, when Kaus capped a dramatic rally with a layup at the buzzer.

Am I predicting an upset? If the Gusties can cut their turnovers in half, I see this being a close game...but I'm not sure that's possible. Would I accept the same bet as last time, taking the Gusties with 15 points? Absolutely!

Player To Watch: Dan Schmidtknecht
Since the first UST game, he's worked his way into a time-share situation at PG. DLo was completely ineffective against the Tommies last time, so the ball-handling duties may fall entirely on his shoulders. That's a daunting task.

Prediction
Tommies 68, Gusties 60


Minnesota Wrap
• The Tommies getting some more love from the media with a D3hoops.com story.
• UST has posted a list of 25 random things about Tomme athletics.
• Cobber women's coach "Thinks Pink" and former men's coach Sonny Gulsvig was recently honored.
• Zach Johnson will soon become Carleton's all-time leading scorer. Rumor has it he also set the school record for flops early in his sophomore year.

Is this the worst, most exciting MIAC race ever?

The parity in the league has created a five-way tie for second with three games to play. Three different teams have been alone in second in the last two weeks, but been unable to maintain their position. Only St. Thomas has its spot secured, though it needed to rally from 14 down to defeat Bethel Wednesday night.

Saint John's tipped Augsburg and Gustavus drilled the Oles to move up in the standings. Bobby Fong's absence was keenly felt by St. Olaf, who managed just 16 points in the first half. The wins secure playoff spots and knock Hamline out of contention.

The Pipers blew their own chance with an 84-74 loss to Saint Mary's.

Cobber freshman Johnathon Molina posted career highs in points (11), rebounds (6) and assists (6) in his fourth career start to help Concordia defeat Macalester. The win moves Cobber coach Rich Glas to 499 career victories, while the Scots are now three games from a perfectly rotten season. They are now 0-23.