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.

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.

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.

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.

Gustavus earned a win Monday that was as noteworthy as it was nondescript.

No Gustie reached double figures in the 59-53 victory over Carleton, which drops the Knights into fourth place in the standings. Gustavus moves into a tie for fifth place with Saint John's and puts Hamline's playoff hopes on death watch.

Six teams are still vying for playoff positioning, including five that could still earn a first-round bye in the MIAC playoffs.

Minnesota Wrap
• SJU coach Jim Smith may have to wait a little longer than expected to reach win 700 after suffering a broken femur.

The muddled MIAC playoff picture is slowly becoming clearer, though plenty of jockeying for position remains over the next two weeks of action. St. Thomas clinched the title with its 68-59 victory over Carleton in Northfield. The Knights played well early, but the Tommies took control with a 15-0 run in the middle of the first half.

Aaron Burtzel's big game carried the Johnnies to their fifth straight win, defeating Concordia 57-49. Burtzel posted 16 points, 12 boards and four assists.

The Gusties slipped in the standings when they were unable to defend their home court against Hamline. Gustavus shot 33 percent in a disappointing performance in front of numerous alumni. The Pipers have won five of six to remain in the postseason hunt, but still trail the Gusties by three games.

Bethel eliminated St. Olaf from the playoff picture with a 74-69 victory. The Royals claimed a 19-point lead in the first half, but were forced to scramble in the second half to get the win. Mike Moberg went off for 22 and 14, while Tim Madson — who was the only MIAC player named to the Academic All-District Team — added 17.

Augsburg topped winless Macalester to create a three-way tie for second in the standings. Junior guard Jon Cassens also hit the 1,000-point mark. The Auggies, Knights and Royals are all 11-5, one game up on the Johnnies and 1.5 up on Gustavus, which has lost four of its last six.

Carl Hipp's big game carried Hamline to an unlikely victory over Bethel. The sophomore posted 14 points and 14 boards, while his basket late in the second half helped put a halt to the Royals' rally. The Pipers have remained in the MIAC playoff picture by winning four of their last five, though they remain a longshot.

Carleton used a late surge to earn a harder-than-expected win in Winona. The Knights outscored St. Mary's 25-7 over the final 10 minutes to claim a 68-50 victory. Zach Johnson led the way with 23 points.

The Johnnies used a late spurt to defeat the Oles, effectively ending St. Olaf's playoff hopes. SJU used a 12-0 run in the second half to secure the win.

Nate Alm's double-double wasn't enough to prevent a disappointing overtime loss to the Cobbers. Augsburg falls into a tie for second with Bethel, half a game in front of the Gusties.

Gustavus bounced back from an ugly loss to the Auggies to put a spanking on winless Macalester. It shot 62.3% from the field, including 8 of 13 from beyond the arc.

West Region Rankings
1. UW-Stevens Point 17-2 16-2
2. St. Thomas 19-0 18-0
3. UW-Platteville 18-2 13-2
4. Puget Sound 17-2 14-0
5. UW-Whitewater 17-3 16-3
6. Buena Vista 18-2 15-2
7. Whitworth 15-4 13-4
8. Bethel 15-4 13-4

Augsburg roared back from a 16-1 deficit to claim an important win against the Gusties. The 65-58 victory gives the Auggies their first season sweep over Gustavus since the 1999-00 season. Augsburg post Nate Alm allowed Sam Paulson to score five quick points to start the game, but sparked the turnaround with 21 points and 14 boards. The Auggies pull even with idle Bethel for second in the league at 10-4, while the loss knocks Gustavus from the upper echelon of the league.

Carleton dropped the rival Oles behind a monster game from Zach Johnson, who dropped 36 and 7. Perhaps best of all, he didn't have a turnover. This game might also put the Fong for future MVP talks to rest for awhile. Carleton pulls into a three-way tie for second, while the Oles pull closer to the Gusties for the fifth seed.

St. Thomas rolled St. Mary's by 55 to remain undefeated. Joe Scott scored his 1,000th collegiate point while SMU star Will Wright was held to just two points.

The Johnnies used a 17-2 run to end the first half and claim an important road victory over the winless Scots of Macalester. The win moves SJU coach Jim Smith within five of 700 in his 45-year career.

Sunday afternoon
Hamline Carl Hipp ran circles around the Cobbers to keep the Pipers' playoff hopes alive.

Augburg junior Jon Cassens burst onto the MIAC scene as a freshman, leading the Auggies in scoring, assists and steals. His numbers jumped even higher as a sophomore, but they didn't lead to success as a team. With this season's turnaround in full swing, he points to last season's heartbreaking loss to Bethel at the buzzer — a basket that knocked the Auggies from the postseason race on the final day — as motivation.

Cassens, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 165 pounds, was named captain prior to the 2008-09 season and has excelled in that leadership role — Augsburg is enjoying its best season under fourth-year coach Aaron Griess and in position to make the postseason tournament for the first time since 2000-01. Perhaps more impressive, Cassens and the Auggies got their revenge against Bethel in an 81-76 win in Arden Hills. The rematch takes place Feb. 14 in a game that could decide who earns a first-round bye in the MIAC tournament.

Brett Boese: Augsburg was picked to finish eighth in the conference by the MIAC coaches. It's currently tied for third and in solid position to earn a first-round bye in the postseason tournament. What have been the keys to success? Have the team goals changed at all?

Jon Cassens: Our keys to success have been our scoring balance, depth and defense focus. With four players averaging around double figures, that really helps us because defenses around the league can't key on one element of our offense. The depth has been probably the biggest change I have seen since coming in as a freshman. The talent level from the first team to second team is much better than my last couple of years. Also, this team has the best "team" defense we have had since I arrived on campus — and the youth of our team has helped because guys have really bought into the principles that the coaches have given us.

The goal of our team from the beginning of the season has been to make the playoffs, something that this program hasn't done for a very long time. As the season has progressed, our goal is to continue this success and get a bye and a home playoff game.

BB: Bethel's Tim Madson drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the final game of the regular season last year to essentially knock you out of the playoffs. Augsburg missed the postseason by two games the year before. You're currently tied for third and in control of your own destiny. Can you talk about the learning process you and your teammates have gone through since you arriving on campus in 2006? How much motivation have you drawn from the Bethel loss?

JC: The loss at Bethel is one of the worst memories in my basketball career. Being so close to something that we worked so hard for and having our hopes dashed was a great motivation tool for me and fellow returners to finally taste the postseason.

The learning process that I have gone through since 2006 had to be quick because I was thrown into the fire since I stepped foot on campus — but I am glad that it was this way because it showed me what I had to do to get my body and mind ready for the rigors of the college season.

This year's team has also had to make a quick learning transition because of all the youth. I think that all of the guys have done a great job of working hard and speeding up the learning process.

BB: Your scoring is down more than three points from a year ago, while your assists numbers have also declined slightly. However, Augsburg is having its best season since coach Aaaron Griess took over in 2005. As the team's lone captain, how have you had to adjust your game this season? Did Griess, a former point guard himself, ask you to do anything differently or has it been a natural transition with the development of your posts, Nate Alm and Andy Grzesiak-Grimm?

JC: I don't think I have had to adjust my game at all. Coach has always told me to go play my game and do what I do. My scoring and shooting woes have been more of a mental battle for me. But I know that I am a scorer and I am putting in even more time to get through the current slump I have been in. But even though I may not be performing at my best, I will take wins and success over any individual accomplishments.

BB: You received Academic All-Conference honors last season. You still have a year left of classes, but what are your plans after graduating? What's been your favorite class so far? Why?

JC: As far as academics go, I plan on graduating with an Accounting and Finance major with a minor in MIS. After graduating, I believe most of my time and effort will be put into preparing and passing the CPA exam.

My favorite classes have been my accounting classes with a very good accounting professor, Professor Lafave. I try to take him for all of my major-based classes because I am the most comfortable with his teaching style and he makes every class interesting and fun.

BB: Go easy on my Gusties tonight. It's not like it's a big game or anything.

We'll try to take it easy on your Gusties, but I can't make any promises.

*Photo courtesy of Don Stoner, Augsburg College Sports Information

The league was full of important games this weekend, though most of the intrigue centered around the final playoff spot. Saint John's took an important step at Winona, a place it has struggled at in recent years. Aaron Burtzel and Andy Burns paced the Johnnies with 19 and 17 points apiece, respectively.

While former Saint Mary's head coach and current Johnnie assistant Mike Trewick had to be smiling after the big win, the Oles' playoff hopes suffered a blow against the Auggies. Augsburg senior Nate Alm posted 18 points and fellow post Andy Grzesiak-Grimm had 12, including a monster alley-oop dunk late in the game. The Oles, who are two games behind SJU for the final playoff spot, have lost three straight heading into Monday's showdown with Carleton, their crosstown rival.

Bethel's Mike Moberg, who is coming off MIAC Athlete of the Week honors, led the Royals to their fifth straight win. He scored 17 points and grabbed 19 boards in the 67-59 win over Concordia. The Royals maintain their slim lead over Carleton and Augsburg in the race for the No. 2 seed in the league playoffs.

Reserve Seth Jonker sparked Carleton to a road win over Hamline with a career-high 17 points. Teammate Bryan Rosett was close to a triple-double with 12 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.

St. Thomas pounded Macalester to remain undefeated.

Minnesota Wrap
• Cobber coach Rich Glas gets some love from the Strib. I can understand the appeal — a long-time coach returns to his roots at the "purest" level of play — but is this really the best story the MIAC has to offer? He ran his best player off before the season started and has underachieved, according to the preseason MIAC coaches' poll (picked 5th, currently tied for 8th). I'm also surprised Reusse used the kid gloves when discussing his stint at UND — that seems like something he usually tackles with gusto. At least it wasn't the annual Tommie update, I guess.

*Photo courtesy of SMU sports information department

Mark Hanson's presence on the sidelines has been a steady, calming influence on the Gustavus basketball program since he took over 19 years ago. Really, his .720 winning percentage speaks for itself — which is a good thing, since he's the opposite of loquacious. But there's a certain comfort level that comes with his standard pre-game speech: Play hard, play together and let's have some fun. It took me four seasons and a summer of coaching at Gustie Camp to learn these facts, so consider them carefully:

He's an avid outdoorsman, somehow lucking into teaching those survival skills at his alma mater. His children are home-schooled, Lego-building geniuses who swear by MythBusters. He's the leading scorer (1,774) and second-leading rebounder (824) in school history. He's rebuffed potential job offers at more prominent locations to remain true to his small-town roots in Saint Peter. His parents still attend almost every game, but his brother's son, a freshman, decided against trying out for the Gustie basketball team this winter.

Despite his typically stoic demeanor, Hanson is funny. When told I'd be going under the knife and out of commission for the next 1-2 months, he offered to push back the 100th anniversary celebration from Feb. 7 so I could attend. That brought a good chuckle from us both, but he's not always so easy to read. For example, the media struggled to understand his dry sense of humor when the Gusties played for the national title in the 2002-03 season.

With a full day of reminiscing expected at next weekend's festivities — and my inability to attend, when hundreds of former players could show up — I figured I might detail some of my memories from my years on the hill. Below is a quick preview.

• Former assistant coach Mike Boschee had us do a simple drill of 3v3 with the goal of getting three straight stops. The first five groups finished within five possessions. I went last with two JV players who had been pulled up for the day. We got yelled at for the first five minutes of futility. We suffered through stony silence for the next five minutes as our teammates ran circles around us. After an embarrassing break to catch our collective breath, Boschee softened to the point of encouraging us until we finally achieved what seemed impossible. My drillmates offered apologies as we slurped water afterward. Outside of the way my football career ended, this might be the low point of my athletic career.
• Former Wayzata standout Seth Midura spent his senior season in the Black and Gold with hair nearly down to his shoulders. Hanson, who has little room to criticize after playing in a bushy beard 25 years ago, complained about it for weeks until a film session showed Midura wiping it from his eyes on the court. That was the final straw. "Do something to get that hair out of your eyes," Hanson said. Midura, a white kid from an affluent suburban family, came back the next day with cornrows — a 'do he kept through March.
• Arguably the best game the Gusties played during my four-year career resulted in a loss, but no one was exactly upset afterwards. We fell 80-79 in the final seconds to NAIA Division II power Concordia (CA) in Hawaii during Christmas break of my senior season, but enjoyed the next seven days in the sun. Many liked snorkeling at Hanauma Bay most, but the history nerd in me favored the trip to the USS Arizona Memorial. Believe it or not, I had missed the previous team trip to Sweden two years earlier after having surgery on my feet. Weird.
  

Stay tuned over the next week as I continue to take a closer look at the rich tradition of the Gustavus men's basketball program. I'm hoping to track down the story of the first African-American hooper in Gustie history. I hear there was plenty of racial tension during road trips with Bill "Shorty" Patterson, who was drafted in the 10th round of the 1958 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers.

Minnesota Wrap
• SJU's Burtzel settles in as a "center-point guard."
• A defensive-minded role player on a great team who is better at a different sport? I can respect that.
• Tommiesports.com receives 10,000 hits a day for interesting, irrelevent information like this.

The MIAC race is effectively over with seven games remaining. Top-ranked St. Thomas pounded second-place Augsburg tonight by 30 to improve to 18-0 overall and 13-0 in the league. The Auggies fall to 14-4 and 9-4, dropping into a three-way tie for third.

Bethel moves into second with an easy win over Mac. Tim Madson continued his string of solid performances, scoring 20+ for the third time in five games. The Royals have now won four straight.

The Gusties nailed their free throws in crunch time to fend off a game Saint Mary's team. They hit six straight in the final minute to keep an eye on a first-round bye in the league's postseason tournament.

Carleton drilled the Cobbers after the break to defend its home court. Zach Johnson added momentum to his MVP push by going off for 23 points, 10 boards, five assists and two steals.

The Pipers held off the Oles to add intrigue to the playoff race. Idle Saint John's remains locked into the sixth spot at 6-6, but the Oles, Pipers, and Cardinals are within 2.5 games of the final spot after Wednesday's results.

The Tommies recently moved to the top of the polls at D3hoops.com for the first time in school history. They also become the highest ranked team in league history, bumping out my Gustavus teams who finished second in the final poll in 2002-03 and began the 2003-04 season in the same spot.

With Wednesday's game against second place Augsburg looming, I wanted to know more about what has made this season special. Having only seen them play once this year, I tracked down long-time St. Thomas sports information director Gene McGivern in search of some feedback.

Brett Boese: You're in the middle of your 15th year serving as the primary media contact for the athletic department at the University of St. Thomas, but you only recently joined the blogging world. Do you find yourself missing the simpler times or have you come to embrace the Age of the Internet?

Gene McGivern: I moved to Minnesota after eight years in the daily newspaper world in Nebraska and Iowa. I started as Augsburg’s SID in November 1988 with a half-time job for a salary of $10,000. I worked a day job as a proofreader in downtown Minneapolis, then worked nights and weekends for the Auggies. (After about two years I joined Augsburg full-time and actually coached track and cross country there for several seasons).

My first office was an interior closet with an electric typewriter (no computer). There was no copier – we typed up football and basketball stats using carbons and duplicated them on an ink rolloff machine. We worked home football and basketball games, keeping stats by hand, then typed the final totals onto the carbons. We “dicatated” that is we read the basketball stats to part-time workers at the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. All other sports for game days we just phoned a score into the newspapers.

During the 8-to-5 day, we helped compile season stats and mailed weekly reports to the NCAA and conference statistics coordinators. We also mailed out a weekly 2-4 page summary of scores and brief highlights. The SID world has changed so dramatically in those 20 years with the arrival of computers, desktop publishing, voice messaging, statistics programs, faxes, the internet, digital photography and video. All these tools have made it easier to promote your teams, yet at the same time, made our jobs so much more demanding. Now we staff all home soccer, hockey, volleyball, softball and baseball games as well as we always did in football and basketball.

The only thing I think that’s been lost in those two decades is that today we probably rely too much on technology. I used to pick up the phone and make story pitches, or I would occasionally go to lunch with a Star Tribune or Pioneer Press beat writer. It was more personal. Those beat writers are long gone. Today you also have to make en effort to escape all the demands at your computer and regularly visit with your coaches and student-athletes. You need to get to know them as people, not as bios or as athletes. That’s an on-going challenge.

As for blogging, last August I started a blog (it’s really a features/opinion column). Ten years after the internet was introduced, I think colleges at all levels are just now figuring out how to best use their websites to tell their athletic department’s story. In a metropolitan area like the Twin Cities, where there’s no St. Cloud Times or Fargo Forum that comes calling, the days of simply sending out story ideas are over. If the story is good enough, write it yourself.


BB: D3hoops.com has helped raise the profile of small college athletics since it was created in 1995. It elevated the Tommie men's basketball team to No. 1 in the polls this week, marking the first time an MIAC school has reached that lofty status on its site. I'm sure UST coach Steve Fritz would downplay the significance of that achievement, but what's the pulse of the players? Is that something they're excited about?

GM: I think one thing that makes the 2008-09 Tommie squad unique is that it doesn’t have a superstar but is led by four seniors who hate losing, are unselfish, and have had to work hard to get where they are. Last year’s team, with its many impressive wins, didn’t have that senior leadership on the court.

Even Lonnie Robinson, who made All-America in baseball as a senior, has had to constantly work hard in both basketball and baseball to get where he is now. Al McCoy and B.J. Viau played a year of JV and sat one year on the pine while waiting their shot. Brett Tuma has played the last three years with confidence and always seems to spark the team. It’s a cliché but a big part of why this team is 17-0 is that they do focus on one game at a time with the first goal to outwork the other team.

As for a No. 1 ranking, I suspect it’s something they will look back on with pride and appreciate more a few years down the road, but won’t spend too much time this week talking about it or reveling in it. With the MIAC schedule so condensed, they won’t have time to celebrate with an improved Augsburg team up Wednesday on the road. As for now, I think their two main goals are to win the fourth consecutive conference title, and to play their best basketball in the postseason, wherever that takes them.

BB: Perhaps more importantly, are you a reader of Posting Up? Do you have a favorite poster? I hear that Willy Wonka character is pretty cool.

GM: I read d3hoops’ basketball chat room a fair amount but have never posted. The site seems a little more civil than when they first started a few years ago. Chat rooms and blogs, with all their warts, are here to stay, so people just need to accept them as an outlet for fans. I dislike posters using anonymous names, especially if they don’t do their homework or just rip players and coaches for the joy of it. On the plus side, the posters tend to be some of the MIAC’s most ardent fans and we need all the spectators and advocates we can get.

I seem to recall that the Wonka guy is quite knowledgeable, but is he the same guy who sometimes obsesses on players’ individual stats in the box score? Like dogging a recent Tommie 3-point shooter who played 20 feet from the basket for not getting enough rebounds? Or riding a current Tommie guard who doesn’t get a lot of assists (even though in this offense, that’s not his primary role)? Oh, well, we all have our opinions.

BB: The Tommies are currently 17-0 overall — the last undefeated Division III team in the nation — and 12-0 in conference play. They own a 3.5 game lead over a surprising Augsburg team and their average margin of victory is nearly 20 in a typically rugged league. How surprised are you by their dominance? Has any one player in particular raised his level of play this season?

GM: Among the surprises, at least to those who don’t watch practice every day, is the consistent play of Al McCoy at center. I think the bench is even more productive this season with Tuma, newcomer Brady Ervin and lately with centers Josh Peltier and Sam Eicher stepping up. Lonnie Robinson has been a beast and has shown no signs of senioritis. Tyler Nicolai continues to improve and has hit some big shots.

As far as the MIAC race, I’m sort of a “Law of Averages” guy, so I expected that this would be a tricky season for St. Thomas coming in as such a huge target, trying to win a fourth MIAC title in a row. I expected January to be tough with the four-game stretch at Bethel, home Carleton, at SJU and home Gustavus, then five in a row on the road. I think St. Thomas and Augsburg have been the conference teams who have played most consistently and closest to their ability. Jeremy Sutherland’s injury has probably cost Carleton in a couple of close defeats. Bethel has some talented seniors and still is capable of making a February push. If UST keeps focusing on its next game and working hard in practice, it has a chance at a good postseason.

BB: A recent four-game stretch against the other title hopefuls — Gustavus, Bethel, Carleton and St. John's — saw UST win all four by double digits. With eight games left in the regular season, how confident are you that the Tommies will run the table? Has that ever happened before? Which remaining games make you most nervous?

GM: A few teams went 16-0 or 18-0 in the 1960s and 1970s, but only one men’s team has gone 20-0 since the league expanded to 11 teams in the 1980s. St. Thomas went 20-0 in 1994-95 with a team that played just seven guys. This season’s UST team has fresh legs, depth and balance, so, sure, eight more wins could happen. But the odds are stacked against it, and I’ll be surprised if the Tommies go 20-0.

Augsburg will be a good test Wednesday since the Auggies, coming off a bye, have often played UST close in recent seasons. UST easily won the first meeting with Augsburg at home, but Nate Alm was in early foul trouble and sat most of that game, and he’s been huge lately. Bethel has lost 10 in a row to UST, so it may be due. And there are road games at Carleton and Gustavus. When you play a team a second or third time, they look at the film and sometimes change strategy, too.

BB: When I played against the Tommies earlier this decade, coach Fritz seemed to ride his starters into the ground. For example, the 2001-02 season saw four starters play at least 35 minutes a game. He seems to have gone to the other extreme this year, with 10 players averaging between 10 and 28 minutes. Is that a product of the numerous blowouts, a change in coaching philosophy or do the Tommies simply possess a more reliable bench this year? I will say that they didn't seem to lose much when the starters sat down against Gustavus — but I'd appreciate if you could avoid breaking down that particular game in any great detail.

GM: Some recent Gustavus teams had very deep benches, and a couple of Johnnie teams in the last dozen years also brought some good players off the pine, but this Tommie team might have as good of an overall bench the MIAC has seen in the last 25 years – not just in scoring but in guys who can play defense, apply a full-court press, rebound, and shoot from outside.

Last year’s UST bench was pretty good, and you add in Brady Ervin and have some sophomores playing with more confidence. I would say it’s more of a case of Coach Fritz having better athletes on his last two teams, and the fact that if you want to press and run, you need to use more guys and keep players fresh.

BB: The Tommies have won at least 19 games seven times in the last nine years, won the MIAC title the last three years and consistently reached the NCAA Tournament. However, they haven't won two straight games in the national tournament in a decade. That includes two disappointing losses at home in the last two years. What factors have played a role in the lack of postseason success?

GM: In the last decade, few men’s or women’s teams from the MIAC have gone far in the NCAA playoffs. Is some of that due to the 20-game (22 for women) conference schedule, that limits opportunities to play more good region and outside teams? I don’t think it helps. You have to be good and catch some breaks to make a deep postseason run.

First of all, the West region is one of the better ones, so you don’t get any easy games. Since the 1993-94 Toms reached the Final Four, St. Thomas had six more NCAA playoff berths in the next 15 seasons. None of those NCAA exits could be considered chokes, and only one was a double-digit loss.

In 1995, a 27-0 Tommie team which went just seven deep probably ran out of gas when it lost 94-74 in the second round at home to a very good Nebraska Wesleyan team. In 2000, playing without MIAC career 3-point leader Kip Sparby, UST lost in round two at Buena Vista, 69-66. In 2002, in Mark Buri’s final game, they lost at home in overtime in the second round to UW-Oshkosh, 88-85, on a night where Oshkosh I think made 22-of-23 free throws. In 2006 UST lost in the second round on the road to No. 1-ranked Lawrence (Wis.), 63-59 after cutting a 15-point deficit to one point in the final 30 seconds. In 2007 they lost in the second round at home 86-80 to a very athletic Carroll (Wis.) team; and in 2008 they lost in the first round at home 72-70 to a deep and athletic Buena Vista (Iowa) team that later lost in overtime to eventual NCAA champion Wash. U.

I think the Nebraska Wesleyan, Carroll and 2008 Buena Vista losses weren’t ideal matchups. But the best teams overcome all obstacles, and UST’s postseason record since 2002 is what it is — 10-3 MIAC playoffs, 1-4 NCAA.

BB: Every significant contributor returns from a year ago for UST and the results have been impressive. It certainly looks like the Tommies could reach Salem without ever visiting a place like the Road Star Inn in Stevens Point (Thanks for splurging, Myles Brand). While expectations have certainly been raised for those diehard UST students, what concerns might you have as the end of another season looms? Do you see any small issues that could become big problems down the road?

GM: I don’t think anyone associated with the UST team is even aware that Salem is where the Final Four is played. Since none of the current players have ever reached the Sweet 16, they aren’t looking very far (if at all) into the postseason.

As far as UST students with J-term ending next week, many students who were on study abroad or home working will return. I would expect good crowds for St. Mary’s, Bethel, St. John’s and Hamline games in February.

One thing that concerns me is potential foul trouble, even with UST’s depth. In the Tommies’ last two defeats, last season at Concordia-Moorhead and at home to Buena Vista, they were badly outscored at the foul line.

Brett Boese played for the Gustavus Adolphus football team from 2000-2002 and was a part of the basketball program from 2000-2004. He missed his senior season in shoulder pads with plantar fasciitis in both feet, but is still eighth is school history in touchdown receptions. He was a two-year starter on the hoops team, helping the Gusties to Salem in the 2002-03 season and making his best Gene Wilder impersonation part of Gustie lore.

Those are hardly his only ties to the MIAC, however. His sister, Erin, was a two-time member of the MIAC all-defensive team on solid Gustavus women's teams and his parents both played for the Cobbers.

Doug Boese played for legendary basketball coach Sonny Gulsvig and graduated the year before Concordia won the national title on the gridiron. Doug was inducted into the Cobbers' athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 in a ceremony Brett was deemed too young to attend. Plus, Brett didn't — and still doesn't — want to dress up in fancy clothes.

Cindy Boese, his mom, played on the women's basketball team and was known for her sharp elbows.

The black sheep of the family, Kristi, snubbed the MIAC to play at the University of North Dakota. Brett's sister was a two-time First Team All-America selection and is among the leaders in scoring and rebounding in school history. She's currently debating a return to the Fighting Sioux to join the coaching staff.

Brett has spent the last four years covering high school sports for a daily newspaper and is making his initial foray into the blogging world.

St. Thomas ran its start to 17-0 Saturday against the Oles and and figures to assume the top spot in the national polls after No. 1 Wheaton lost for the second time in a week. The Tommies have a 3.5 game lead over idle Augsburg, who they'll face Wednesday.

Men's Basketball
Gustavus falls 69-68 at Concordia

Tommies top Oles, eyes #1

Johnnies sweep series with Carleton

Pipers stop reeling Scots

Bethel downs Cardinals

Concordia and St. Ben's both won to remain tied at 11-2 atop the conference. Hamline stretched its winning streak to seven games — its longest streak since the 1084-85 season — as it slides into third.

Women's Basketball
Cobbers beat the Gusties 71-58

St. Thomas beats St. Olaf 61-51

Bennies beat Knights

Hamline wins 7th straight

SMU tops Royals in 2OT

St. Catherine 74, Augsburg 71