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I previewed the MIAC women but not the men. This from the MIAC Web site.
“MIAC Men's Basketball
2005-06 MIAC co-champion St. Thomas earned the top spot in the preseason poll this year. The Tommies received eight first place votes and beat out Saint John's, and Carleton for first place in the poll. Men's Basketball non-conference action begins Friday, November 17 with MIAC conference games beginning Wednesday, November 29.
1. St. Thomas (8)
2. Saint John's (1)
3. Carleton (2)
4. Gustavus
5. Hamline
6. Bethel
7. Concordia
8. St. Olaf
9. Saint Mary's
10. Macalester
11. Augsburg”
Also: DH3 Hoops rates the Tommies #9 in the nation in DIII. Gustavus also received some votes but that is clearly based on history more than on the prospects for 2007, unless I (and the MIAC coaches) are wrong.
Then, if you’re wondering why the Tommies rate so highly, wonder no more:
“ St. Thomas center Isaac Rosefelt (SR-St. Paul/St. Thomas Academy) is one of five honorees named to the d3hoops.com Division III Preseason All-America first team announced today. The 6-foot-9 Rosefelt was a consensus All-American as a junior. He was just the fifth MIAC player named to the elite NABC first team in the 30-year history of the award. The only other conference first-teamer was Carleton's Gerrick Monroe (1993). MIAC second-team picks have been Bethel's Dale Turnquist (1989 and 1990), Augsburg's Devean George (1998 and 1999) and Gustavus' Doug Espenson 2005).
Rosefelt, who had 16 double-doubles last season, led the MIAC in scoring (19.4 ppg), rebounds (10.3), and blocks (2.1 bpg) and was second in FG% (63%). He was one of a handful of D-III players to rank in the top 50 nationally in all four categories. Rosefelt has led St. Thomas to a 40-15 record in his two seasons, including a 23-6 mark in 2005-06 as he led the Tommies to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Rosefelt played his first season at Division I Bowling Green and transferred to St. Thomas in 2004.
Then there’s this:
“ The Tommies have won 22 MIAC conference titles, including 11 since 1981, when Steve Fritz began his head coaching tenure. Fritz’ career record is 464-228, and in January 2004 he became the school's all-time leader in basketball wins among coaches. He ranks third all-time among MIAC coaches in victories.
Under Fritz, St. Thomas has been the most consistent team in the MIAC with just one losing seasons in 26 years. Since the 1985 creation of the postseason conference tournament, St. Thomas has qualified a MIAC-leading 19 times in 22 years, winning six championships. The 1994-95 Tommies are the lone team in MIAC history to finish 20-0 in the conference race. That team started the season had a conference-record 27-game win streak and finished 27-1.”
St. John’s has 4 starters back: junior Ryan Lieser (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori), seniors Matt Ohme (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson), Tyler Westman (Mankato, Minn./Loyola) and twins Craig and Scott Schafer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka).
Carleton has 3 starters back: Zach Johnson from Eastview, Tommy Drake from Eden Prairie, and Jake Phillips from Brainerd.
Gustavus has just 2 of its top 6 players back. Hamline and St. Mary’s, deep also-rans over the past 20 years, each had their best teams in a long long time last year. Hamline is picked at #5 while St. Mary’s is expected to drop back into the pack. Hamline’s 2 best players—Jon DeRock and Tony Thrasher—are back along with 2 other starters, so 5th might not be high enough. After making an early run, St. Mary’s sank back to 7-13 in the conference but has all 5 starters back.
Still, St. Thomas should dominate and if there’s an opportunity for an MIAC team to go deep into the post-season, the Tommies are it.
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