Player of the Year Candidates
Paige Bueckers, Hopkins girls, is our 2019 Player of the Year. Not only did she lead the Hopkins girls to an undefeated state championship, but she also led the U.S. national team (in her age group) to a gold medal for the 3rd time. She would be the obvious favorite.
Booker Coplin, Augsburg men, was the one other player I considered seriously for last year's PoY. He was the national NCAA D3 Player of the Year and, like Bueckers, he should be even better.
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota Gopher men, has been the big bright spot for a team that otherwise has struggled. Oturu is big and strong and plays really hard. So far, he has done everything and more than people might have expected for him coming out of high school.
Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha boys, is the obvious favorite for Mr. Basketball and has made the RedHawks, who by enrollment are just a AA team (they have moved up to AAA) Minnesota's best team.
Karl Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are a pleasant surprise so far this year. Much of the credit goes to Towns, who is simply doing what he has done the past couple of years previously, which is score 25-26-27 ppg with a dozen rebounds and 3-4 assists. But, what has really transformed the Wolves is the transformation in Andrew Wiggins. Widely derided for a relatively ineffective mid-range game, Wiggins is now going to the rim with abandon, and most NBA teams have a hard time stopping him from doing it.
Team of the Year
Hopkins girls. Another 32-0 season seems not only possible but likely. So far they are beating teams by 40-50-60 points, and they are not playing bad teams. If they do that, their 64 consecutive wins will have them within a few more wins of an all-time girls state record.
Mankato State men. The favorites in the Northern Sun.
Minnesota Gopher women. The Gopher men are not going to make this list, so it is up to Lindsay Whalen's women to carry the maroon and gold this winter. The best thing about the Gophers so far has been the play of freshmen guards Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia in support of 2 solid seniors and 2 solid junior starters.
Minnesota Timberwolves. If they stay above .500 and get into the playoffs, well, that would be a bigger surprise than the Gopher football team starting 9-0.
Park Center boys. I already said that Jalen Suggs might make Minnehaha the best boys team, but it's also true that Park Center might be the best boys team. It is pretty rare that the AAAA champion is not regarded as the best team.
St. Thomas women. Coach Ruth Sinn's Tommies are again the favorite to win the MIAC championship. As always, the big question is how far they can go in the NCAA tournament.
Coach of the Year
Scott Bergman, Sauk Centre girls. Has led his team to 7 of the past 9 state tournaments, the 2018 state title and the #1 pre-season ranking in Class AA this year. (Of course, they then lost their opener to Minnehaha 79-76 in 3 OT.)
Matt Marganthaler, Mankato State men. Again, the favorites in the NSIC where Marganthaler has been running a highly successful program longer than most.
Mandy Pearson, UMD women. Pearson and Karla Nelson, Moorhead State, are 2 of the best among a whole lot of great coaches in the Northern Sun.
Ryan Saunders, Minnesota Timberwolves. If the Wolves finish over .500 and in the playoffs, Saunders probably wins this award.
Ruth Sinn, St. Thomas women. As always, a national championship is the goal.
Lindsey Whalen, Minnesota Gopher women. The Gophers are probably going to continue to struggle at least from time to time, but it seems that they're headed in the right direction.
If I had to pick right now, I'd say Paige Bueckers, the Hopkins girls and Ryan Saunders are the front-runners for the 2020 Minnesota Hoops Awards.
If I had to pick right now, I'd say Paige Bueckers, the Hopkins girls and Ryan Saunders are the front-runners for the 2020 Minnesota Hoops Awards.
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