The MIAC season is finished, with the playoffs being as exciting as I can recall. Hamline pulling the upset over #1 seed St. John's on a last second shot by Buzzer Beater Brad Cimperman, Gustavus outlasting Carleton in double OT, and then surviving a furious second half comeback by Hamline, winning by one after Cimperman's attempt at a buzzer beater redux fell awry. As was the case last year, I believe this year the MIAC is issuing the following awards: 16 player all-conference team, Offensive, Defensive, Rookie, and Coach of the Year. These awards categories are terrible, and I would love for the MIAC to admit it and return to their old awards. Alas...to recap from last year:
Offensive Player of the Year: Raheem Anthony, Saint Mary's
Defensive Player of the Year: Badou Ba, Macalester
Rookie of the Year: Kobe Kirk, Saint Olaf
Coach of the Year: Ryan Kershaw, Carleton
My picks for this year:
First Team All-Conference (8 players)
I refuse to not pick a first team all-conference team.
Luke Harris, Jr., CAR: 18.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 37 steals, 128 FTM. Took over as the leading man and kept Carleton a contender.
Spencer Swanson, Jr., GAC: 18.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 46% 3FG, 24 steals. Best player on the NCAA tourney representative, tough matchup with his versatility.
Austin Holt, Jr., HAM: 15.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 27 steals, 56% FGM. Does it all for the Pipers, including being a dominant defensive force.
Kobe Kirk, So., STO: 19.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 26 steals, 91 FTM. Pure scorer, 44 against Carleton being a highlight.
Blake Berg, Sr., SJU: 12.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 64% FGM, 14 steals, 12 blocks. Some will have Thissen here, but Berg was more dynamic this season. Outstanding defender.
Zach Doely, Sr., BET: 16.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 65% FGM, 17 steals, 23 blocks. Has been a force in the paint for three straight years.
Matt Johnson, Sr., CORD: 15.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 38% 3FG, 88% FT, 17 steals. Outstanding shooter who gave defenses fits all season.
Caleb Williams, Sr., MAC: 18.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 19 steals. Did not quite match his previous season, but the 51 point outburst at Concordia showed how dangerous he can be.
Other All-Conference Players
Ryan Thissen, Sr., SJU
Payton Thomsen, So., BET
Bradley Cimperman, Jr., HAM
Matt Banovetz, Sr., CAR
Wyatt Olson, Sr., GAC
Brady Kienitz, Jr., GAC
Rowan Nelson, Jr., CORD
Connor Martin, Sr., STO
Coby Gold, Sr., MAC
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Kooper Vaughn, Jr., SJU
Evan Wieker, Sr., GAC
Cameron Mallory, Jr., SMU
Breyton Buysman, Jr., SMU
Joey Kidder, Sr., BET
Spencer Goetz, Jr., CAR
Offensive Player of the Year
Luke Harris, Jr., CAR
Such a unique player, a small guard that really does not shoot threes (only 14 makes on the season). His ability to get in the paint, finish, or draw contact gives him this award.
Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Holt, Jr., HAM
Holt deserved this award last year, so I will give it to him this year. He can slow posts or point guards, with incredibly nimble footwork and elite hand strength allowing him to move on the perimeter and snatch rebounds at a high clip.
Rookie of the Year
Sam Koelling, Fr., CAR: 10.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 16 blocks, 49% 3FG
Other Notable Freshmen
Trent Gomez, AUG: 8.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 26 steals
Elias Batala, AUG: 7.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 20 steals
Emmanuel Schmitter, BET: 6.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 15 steals
Raoul Vaidya, HAM: 6.6 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 55% 3FG
Kaiden Holbrook, MAC: 8.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 33 3FGM
Tanner Thomson, SCH: 8.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 19 steals
Coach of the Year
Justin DeGrood, GAC
DeGrood wins the award over Jim Hayes, HAM by virtue of their two wins over the Pipers in the last week, with the last one clinching the conference championship. Both have risen the level of their programs in the last couple of years.
Player of the Year
Spencer Swanson, GAC
I will candidly say that I have no idea who would win this not-an-award award, and there is not really one candidate that stood out. However, I really wish it were still an award (have I mentioned how much I hate the new award structure?) so we could find out who the conference coaches thought was the best of the best this year. Any of Swanson, Harris, Holt, or Kirk has an argument. Swanson was clearly the best player on the conference champion, Harris the most dynamic offensive player, Holt finished in the top 15 in points, rebounds, assists, and steals and was my defensive player of the year, and Kirk led the league in scoring. All in all, I would not have a problem with any of Swanson, Holt, or Harris winning it. Kirk was great, but his team did not make the playoffs. While St. John's dominated the regular season, they did not have one clear standout. Thissen was solid, but his numbers were down across the board this year. Berg was, in my opinion, their best player this year, and Kooper Vaughn led the team in scoring. None of them were league player of the year. I will give it to Swanson, who after an 3 game losing streak in January led the Gusties to a 10-2 record to close the season, winning the conference tournament.
All in all, a really fun MIAC season. Would love to hear others' thoughts on these awards - good luck to the Gusties in the NCAA tournament!
Offensive Player of the Year: Raheem Anthony, Saint Mary's
Defensive Player of the Year: Badou Ba, Macalester
Rookie of the Year: Kobe Kirk, Saint Olaf
Coach of the Year: Ryan Kershaw, Carleton
My picks for this year:
First Team All-Conference (8 players)
I refuse to not pick a first team all-conference team.
Luke Harris, Jr., CAR: 18.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 37 steals, 128 FTM. Took over as the leading man and kept Carleton a contender.
Spencer Swanson, Jr., GAC: 18.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 46% 3FG, 24 steals. Best player on the NCAA tourney representative, tough matchup with his versatility.
Austin Holt, Jr., HAM: 15.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 27 steals, 56% FGM. Does it all for the Pipers, including being a dominant defensive force.
Kobe Kirk, So., STO: 19.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 26 steals, 91 FTM. Pure scorer, 44 against Carleton being a highlight.
Blake Berg, Sr., SJU: 12.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 64% FGM, 14 steals, 12 blocks. Some will have Thissen here, but Berg was more dynamic this season. Outstanding defender.
Zach Doely, Sr., BET: 16.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 65% FGM, 17 steals, 23 blocks. Has been a force in the paint for three straight years.
Matt Johnson, Sr., CORD: 15.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 38% 3FG, 88% FT, 17 steals. Outstanding shooter who gave defenses fits all season.
Caleb Williams, Sr., MAC: 18.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 19 steals. Did not quite match his previous season, but the 51 point outburst at Concordia showed how dangerous he can be.
Other All-Conference Players
Ryan Thissen, Sr., SJU
Payton Thomsen, So., BET
Bradley Cimperman, Jr., HAM
Matt Banovetz, Sr., CAR
Wyatt Olson, Sr., GAC
Brady Kienitz, Jr., GAC
Rowan Nelson, Jr., CORD
Connor Martin, Sr., STO
Coby Gold, Sr., MAC
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Kooper Vaughn, Jr., SJU
Evan Wieker, Sr., GAC
Cameron Mallory, Jr., SMU
Breyton Buysman, Jr., SMU
Joey Kidder, Sr., BET
Spencer Goetz, Jr., CAR
Offensive Player of the Year
Luke Harris, Jr., CAR
Such a unique player, a small guard that really does not shoot threes (only 14 makes on the season). His ability to get in the paint, finish, or draw contact gives him this award.
Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Holt, Jr., HAM
Holt deserved this award last year, so I will give it to him this year. He can slow posts or point guards, with incredibly nimble footwork and elite hand strength allowing him to move on the perimeter and snatch rebounds at a high clip.
Rookie of the Year
Sam Koelling, Fr., CAR: 10.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 16 blocks, 49% 3FG
Other Notable Freshmen
Trent Gomez, AUG: 8.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 26 steals
Elias Batala, AUG: 7.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 20 steals
Emmanuel Schmitter, BET: 6.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 15 steals
Raoul Vaidya, HAM: 6.6 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 55% 3FG
Kaiden Holbrook, MAC: 8.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 33 3FGM
Tanner Thomson, SCH: 8.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 19 steals
Coach of the Year
Justin DeGrood, GAC
DeGrood wins the award over Jim Hayes, HAM by virtue of their two wins over the Pipers in the last week, with the last one clinching the conference championship. Both have risen the level of their programs in the last couple of years.
Player of the Year
Spencer Swanson, GAC
I will candidly say that I have no idea who would win this not-an-award award, and there is not really one candidate that stood out. However, I really wish it were still an award (have I mentioned how much I hate the new award structure?) so we could find out who the conference coaches thought was the best of the best this year. Any of Swanson, Harris, Holt, or Kirk has an argument. Swanson was clearly the best player on the conference champion, Harris the most dynamic offensive player, Holt finished in the top 15 in points, rebounds, assists, and steals and was my defensive player of the year, and Kirk led the league in scoring. All in all, I would not have a problem with any of Swanson, Holt, or Harris winning it. Kirk was great, but his team did not make the playoffs. While St. John's dominated the regular season, they did not have one clear standout. Thissen was solid, but his numbers were down across the board this year. Berg was, in my opinion, their best player this year, and Kooper Vaughn led the team in scoring. None of them were league player of the year. I will give it to Swanson, who after an 3 game losing streak in January led the Gusties to a 10-2 record to close the season, winning the conference tournament.
All in all, a really fun MIAC season. Would love to hear others' thoughts on these awards - good luck to the Gusties in the NCAA tournament!