Midseason NSIC Awards

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

I'll take a last-minute crack at the women's side, too...

North POY: B. Olson - Duluth
South POY: A. Duffy - Augie
Defensive: J. Batt - Mankato
Freshman: E. Miller - Concordia
Coach: M. Pearson - Duluth

I feel very confident in both POYs & freshman picks. For Coach, I wouldn't be surprised by them giving it to Thiesse (Mankato).

And for All-Conference...

1st Team
B. Olson - Duluth
A. Duffy - Augie
J. Batt - Mankato
K. Theis - St Cloud
E. Miller - Crookston
B. Stoltzman - SMSU
P. Boom - MSUM
K. Oliverson - Northern
L. Haack - Upper Iowa
N. Bremer - Mankato
L. Sees - Augie
M. Zander - UMary

2nd Team
L. Zacharaias - Wayne
K. Head - Minot
M. McKeever - MSUM
D. Bursch - Mankato
L. Rogers - Northern
A. Gietzel - Concordia SP
T. Yoder - Bemidji
M. Jewett - Augie
J. Eggebrecht - St Cloud
S. Wall - SMSU
B. Fox - Crookston
N. Jens - MSUM

I feel less certain about these All-Conf picks than on the men's side. Like, what the hell do you do with Duluth, where Olson's usage rate is just so high? I think Zacharaias or Head could definitely crack the 1st Team if the voters want to spread the 1st Team love across more teams. And for the last 2nd Team spots, R. Fillipi (Northern) & J. Aadland (Augie) could easily be picked over Fox or Jens.

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

So, 3 teams have 3 players on your list, while 3 teams have 0. Seems weird. Ryan Miller might have been good to include.

It actually ended up being similar to last year. In 2021-22, the teams in 1st, 2nd, and 5th in the conf had 3 guys on All-Conf, with 3 teams having 0 guys. In my predictions, it ended up where the teams in 1st, 2nd, and tied-4th got 3 guys.

Miller is definitely deserving of one of those last spots, I wouldn't be surprised to see him there over Katona, Moore, or Broadway.

[vikingfaithful]

So, 3 teams have 3 players on your list, while 3 teams have 0. Seems weird. Ryan Miller might have been good to include.

[Peacock]

My final predictions for the All-Conference honors...

North POY: S. Masten - Northern
South POY: J. Janssen - Wayne
Defensive: C. McCray - SMSU
Newcomer: A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
Coach: S. Phillips - Northern

No change from my picks two weeks ago. Phillips I think has cemented COY with a strong regular season finish. Masten's a lock for North POY. And the margin is razor thin to me between Janssen & Hilmer for South POY. I ended up taking Janssen as I think the argument will be that he's had less "help" around him to get his team to the same record. Curious to hear others' thoughts.

And for All-Conference...

1st Team
S. Masten - Northern
J. Janssen - Wayne
J. Hilmer - Upper Iowa
M. Cartwright - Sioux Falls
J. Sutherland - Bemidji
M. Willingham - Mankato
D. Blair - Duluth
J. Beeninga - MSUM
L. Duax - Upper Iowa
J. Moni - Northern
D. Omot - SMSU
L. McGhee - MSUM

2nd Team
A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
M. Kone - Bemidji
N. Reid - Upper Iowa
G. Baumgartner - MSUM
I. Fink - Augie
D. Albrecht - Bemidji
C. Dillon - Winona
J. Belka - Northern
K. Broadway - Minot
J. Phipps - SMSU
T. Moore - Mankato
C. Katona - Duluth

No add/drops in my 1st Team, I feel pretty solid about those guys. If anything, I could see Omot or McGhee getting bumped for Kimmons if voters were tempted by his numbers.

For 2nd Team, I feel good about the top 8 guys getting in there. Broadway has really turned it on lately, so he jumped into my 2nd Team. Katona almost dropped out in favor of R. Miller (Augie), M. Willert (St. Cloud) or K. Willingham (Mankato), but I figured voters would want a 2nd Duluth guy in there.

I'll be the homer and say Hilmer POY, leading league in scoring at 22.0 and 3rd in assists at 4.9 along with 36.9 minutes a game. Accounted for a lot of points for UIU and undisputed leader of team. Also we lost two of the most prolific scorers in UIU history in Jareese and Smoldt, and the older Duax brother. We've never finished atop the South even with those guys playing seemingly forever. He picked up the scoring slack and propelled UIU to the top spot (shared obviously). He was also the pre-season POY voted by coaches and backed that up. That's my case! Agree on the list overall...just shows the depth of this league, crazy good!

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

My final predictions for the All-Conference honors...

North POY: S. Masten - Northern
South POY: J. Janssen - Wayne
Defensive: C. McCray - SMSU
Newcomer: A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
Coach: S. Phillips - Northern

No change from my picks two weeks ago. Phillips I think has cemented COY with a strong regular season finish. Masten's a lock for North POY. And the margin is razor thin to me between Janssen & Hilmer for South POY. I ended up taking Janssen as I think the argument will be that he's had less "help" around him to get his team to the same record. Curious to hear others' thoughts.

And for All-Conference...

1st Team
S. Masten - Northern
J. Janssen - Wayne
J. Hilmer - Upper Iowa
M. Cartwright - Sioux Falls
J. Sutherland - Bemidji
M. Willingham - Mankato
D. Blair - Duluth
J. Beeninga - MSUM
L. Duax - Upper Iowa
J. Moni - Northern
D. Omot - SMSU
L. McGhee - MSUM

2nd Team
A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
M. Kone - Bemidji
N. Reid - Upper Iowa
G. Baumgartner - MSUM
I. Fink - Augie
D. Albrecht - Bemidji
C. Dillon - Winona
J. Belka - Northern
K. Broadway - Minot
J. Phipps - SMSU
T. Moore - Mankato
C. Katona - Duluth

No add/drops in my 1st Team, I feel pretty solid about those guys. If anything, I could see Omot or McGhee getting bumped for Kimmons if voters were tempted by his numbers.

For 2nd Team, I feel good about the top 8 guys getting in there. Broadway has really turned it on lately, so he jumped into my 2nd Team. Katona almost dropped out in favor of R. Miller (Augie), M. Willert (St. Cloud) or K. Willingham (Mankato), but I figured voters would want a 2nd Duluth guy in there.

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

Would be fascinating to see a preseason Player of the Year not even make 2nd Team All-Conference. Not that I think he should. Just would be interesting.

Yeah, when I put together my list I was surprised at how little consideration I ended up giving him. That dude has just been a ghost for all but 3 conference games. If he makes the team, that'll be disappointing, because it will be based almost entirely on pre-season priors.

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

I'm with you across the board for most of these picks. One guy who isn't getting any love for Coach of the Year is Mike Boschee. Bemidji was 5-16 in NSIC play last year and this year they're 11-7 and will finish no worse than 4th in the North. Sutherland, Albrecht, and Kone are all better than last year while Brayden Williams has the makings of problem for years to come. Keep floating like a butterfly and stinging like a Boschee, Bemidji that's how you know he's a G.

Such good points. He would definitely be deserving!

[Augieholic]

Would be fascinating to see a preseason Player of the Year not even make 2nd Team All-Conference. Not that I think he should. Just would be interesting.

Austin Andrews is a fraud and everyone outside of Duluth knows it

[MrAugustana]

I'll also take a run at All-Conference picks with two weekends to go...

1st Team
S. Masten - Northern
J. Janssen - Wayne
M. Cartwright - Sioux Falls
J. Hilmer - Upper Iowa
J. Sutherland - Bemidji
M. Willingham - Mankato
D. Blair - Duluth
J. Beeninga - MSUM
D. Omot - SMSU
J. Moni - Northern
L. McGhee - MSUM
L. Duax - Upper Iowa

2nd Team
A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
C. Dillon - Winona
G. Baumgartner - MSUM
C. Katona - Duluth
N. Reid - Upper Iowa
M. Kone - Bemidji
D. Albrecht - Bemidji
J. Belka - Northern
K. Warrens - UMary
I. Fink - Augie
T. Moore - Mankato
J. Phipps - SMSU

I feel strongly that the first 9 guys should be 1st team. The last 3 of 1st-team and the first 3 of 2nd-team were all close enough I'm cool with them being on either side of it. The last 2 spots for 2nd-team was tough, and I gave those two the edge over J. Eagins (Wayne), N. Mohr (Wayne), and K. Willingham (Mankato).

Would be fascinating to see a preseason Player of the Year not even make 2nd Team All-Conference. Not that I think he should. Just would be interesting.

[Augieholic]

Coach of the Year is most difficult for me to predict right now. My vote would be for Bergstraser; even with inheriting a talented team & the continuity of his promotion, leading a team to a 14-4 record in your first year as a HC is impressive. But if Northern stays on top, I think the voters give it to Phillips for re-forming a conference-winning team 2 years after an exodus of immense talent.

I'm with you across the board for most of these picks. One guy who isn't getting any love for Coach of the Year is Mike Boschee. Bemidji was 5-16 in NSIC play last year and this year they're 11-7 and will finish no worse than 4th in the North. Sutherland, Albrecht, and Kone are all better than last year while Brayden Williams has the makings of problem for years to come. Keep floating like a butterfly and stinging like a Boschee, Bemidji that's how you know he's a G.

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

I'll also take a run at All-Conference picks with two weekends to go...

1st Team
S. Masten - Northern
J. Janssen - Wayne
M. Cartwright - Sioux Falls
J. Hilmer - Upper Iowa
J. Sutherland - Bemidji
M. Willingham - Mankato
D. Blair - Duluth
J. Beeninga - MSUM
D. Omot - SMSU
J. Moni - Northern
L. McGhee - MSUM
L. Duax - Upper Iowa

2nd Team
A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
C. Dillon - Winona
G. Baumgartner - MSUM
C. Katona - Duluth
N. Reid - Upper Iowa
M. Kone - Bemidji
D. Albrecht - Bemidji
J. Belka - Northern
K. Warrens - UMary
I. Fink - Augie
T. Moore - Mankato
J. Phipps - SMSU

I feel strongly that the first 9 guys should be 1st team. The last 3 of 1st-team and the first 3 of 2nd-team were all close enough I'm cool with them being on either side of it. The last 2 spots for 2nd-team was tough, and I gave those two the edge over J. Eagins (Wayne), N. Mohr (Wayne), and K. Willingham (Mankato).

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

My award predictions as of now with two weekends left to go:

North POY: S. Masten - Northern
South POY: J. Janssen - Wayne
Defensive: C. McCray - SMSU
Newcomer: A. Kimmons - Concordia SP
Coach: S. Phillips - Northern

Masten's the runaway favorite in the north. For the South, Janssen's been the most consistent stud player. Cartwright & Hilmer are close, and with 4 games left if one of USF/Wayne/Upper Iowa separates from the rest of the pack, I think the voters could give them the edge.

The defensive pick goes to the best defender on the best defensive team by a wide margin.

Giving Newcomer to a guy on a 6-12 team feels weird, but there were less Newcomer options than I was anticipating. Kimmons is running that entire offense, and his case is helped with Concordia SP's 4 game streak lately.

Coach of the Year is most difficult for me to predict right now. My vote would be for Bergstraser; even with inheriting a talented team & the continuity of his promotion, leading a team to a 14-4 record in your first year as a HC is impressive. But if Northern stays on top, I think the voters give it to Phillips for re-forming a conference-winning team 2 years after an exodus of immense talent.

[Moorhead123]

Boring. Or you could just draw names out of a hat.

I was kidding. I think that would be bad idea.

[mosofan1]

I think it would just be best if whatever team wins the championship is coach of year. Whomever, has highest scoring average is player of year. Then there will be no debate. :)

Boring. Or you could just draw names out of a hat.

[mosofan1]

When I think about the MIAA words like hillbillies and rednecks enter my mind. Descendants of Appalachian stock. Have vacationed in southern MO. Y'all are kind decent folk (;

That describes us pretty well. Lol! Several areas haven't left the 1950s. A great way of life! I only have internet since I'm one of those big city folk who lives near the metropolis of Joplin.