2023 MN Basketball Game of the Year Candidates

 Our Game of the Year is St. Michael-Albertville's 71-70 win over Hopkins in the girls Class AAAA final. We discuss this game a little more in a separate post. The other candidates for game of the year include:

Providence girls 87 Hopkins 81, the #1 seed and Class AA state champion beating the #1 seed and Class AAAA runner-up as freshman Maddyn Greenway scored 41 points! The 2 teams combined for a season won-lost record of 58-5.

UMD women 80 Minnesota State Mankato 74 in the NSIC playoff finals. UMD finished 31-3, Mankato State 26-5, so this was a 6-point game between 2 very good teams.

UMD women 77 Southern Nazarene 76 in the NCAA quarter-finals.

Wayzata boys 75 Park Center 71 (OT) in the boys Class AAAA final. Wayzata's 79-77 semi-final win over Lakeville North was also a very well-played, exciting game. The Park Center game is better only in the sense that it was the final.

2023 MN Basketball Coach of the Year Candidates

 Our Coach of the Year is Mandy Pearson, whom we discuss in a separate post. The other candidates for this year's honors include:

Jeff Buffetta, Mountain Iron-Buhl girls. Buffetta has gained fame for coaching both the MIB girls and the MIB boys. But, don't let that distract you from the remarkable record he's achieved just with the girls over the past decade-plus. This award is for the girls. But, first, a question. Have they been to the state tournament 12-of-13 years or 12-of-12? The point is that MIB has been to state every year since 2011 except 2020, when they lost to Cromwell in the section. But the state tournament was called off. So...

In any event, they made the finals in 2012 and 2017 but never got the big breakthrough win. Until now. But, now, in 2023 they hammered BOLD in the Class A final 52-21. 52-21! Finally, MIB gets a breakthrough, and that's a feel-good story. No disrespect to BOLD.

Ryan Kershaw, Carleton men. Led Knights to the MIAC regular and post-season titles at 17-3 and 24-4. Was named MIAC coach of the year.

Cory Schlagel, Albany boys. Albany surprised by winning the boys Class AA title and finished with the best record in the state, boys or girls, at 32-1.

Emilee Thiesse, Minnesota State Mankato women. The Mavs were 19-3 and 26-5 but couldn't quite get over the hump that was UMD this year.

Kim Wagers, Concordia (Moorhead) women. The Dragons had fallen on hard times but Wager led them back up to 2nd place in the MIAC at 18-4 and 22-5. She was named MIAC coach of the year.

2023 MN Basketball Player of the Year Candidates

 Our Player of the Year is UMD's Brooke Olson, the NCAA D2 national player of the year, who led the Bulldogs to 2nd place nationally. You can read more about Brooke elsewhere in this blog.

Our other candidates include:

Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves, 6-4, combo guard. With Karl Towns hurt for half the season, Rudy Gobert inconsistent, DeAngelo Russell inconsistent and then traded away, the Timberwolves had to rely mostly on Anthony Edwards this year. And it was a disappointing year, as the Wolves fell down into the play-in games. But Edwards was pretty good, scoring 25 ppg with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Maddyn Greenway, Providence, 5-9, freshman, combo guard. Yes, folks, she's a freshman. She scored 32 ppg in leading the Lions to the state Class AA title and a 30-2 record. Just to show that it was no fluke, she scored 41 against Class AAAA power Hopkins in an 87-81 Providence win. She scored 47, 35 and 31 points in the state tournament for a total of 113 points. And, yes, she's a freshman.

Tessa Johnson, St. Michael-Albertville, 6-0, senior, shooting guard. Johnson scored 24 ppg and led her team to the Class AAAA state title. She will be playing at South Carolina, #1 and unbeaten until that great NCAA semi-final game against Iowa, next year.

Nasir Whitlock, DeLaSalle, senior, point guard. Whitlock led the Islanders to 2nd place in Class AAA, scoring 27 ppg. He won more PoY awards than Lakeville North's Nolan Winter, though the 2 were pretty much neck-and-neck. We like Whitlock.

It was a dreadful year in Minnesota Gopher basketball but Dawson Garcia for the men and Mara Braun for the women (and also new coach Dawn Plitzeweit) provide reason for hope. Garcia scored 15 ppg with 7 rebounds. Braun was 16 ppg, 3 rebounds, 3 assists.

2023 MN Basketball Team of the Year Candidates

 You may already have noticed that we liked the UMD Bulldogs women as our Team of the Year. They went all the way to the national D2 final before losing to unbeaten Ashland and to finish 31-3.

Our other finalists are:

Carleton men MIAC regular season and playoff champions at 17-3 and 24-4.

Gustavus Adolphus women Also MIAC regular season and playoff champion at 20-2, 26-3.

Hopkins girls Lost to St. Michael-Albertville 71-70 in the state final, but defeated SMA twice earlier and finished 28-3. SMA finished 29-3.

Providence Academy girls Won the Class AA title 74-60 over Albany, and also shocked Hopkins 87-81 in the regular season. They finished 30-2.

St. Michael-Albertville girls Avenged 2 earlier losses to Hopkins, beating the Royals 71-70 in the Class AAAA final.

Apologies to the Albany boys, Class AA champions with the state's best record (boys or girls) at 32-1. But, Providence, the girls AA champion, beat Hopkins. It's hard to see Albany beating Wayzata or Park Center. Still, for their level, they had one hell of a season.

2023 Minnesota Hoops Basketball Awards--The Year of UMD

 The UMD Bulldog women swept 3 of 4 categories in our annual MN Basketball Awards.

Team of the Year--In case you haven't heard, UMD took 2nd place in the NCAA D2 tournament recently, losing only to unbeaten Ashland in the finals 78-67. They went 21-1 in the Northern Sun, then swept 6 conference and NCAA playoff games before losing to Ashland to finish 31-3. UMD has now won 3 straight Northern Sun regular season titles and 4 of 5 NSIC playoff titles.

Player of the Year--UMD's success is very largely the work of NCAA D2 national player of the year Brooke Olson. Olson is a 4X all-conference player. This year she averaged 23 ppg and 7 reb through the regular season, and 27 ppg in the NCAA tournament.

Coach of the Year--And of course UMD's success is also the result of the remarkable work of coach Mandy Pearson. In addition to all those NSIC championships mentioned above, she now has an 8-year record of 155-67 (.698). Before that, she took over a faltering program at St. Mary's and led the Cards to teheir first MIAC title in 29 years. In her last 3 years in Winona, she was 64-18. She is arguably the most successful basketball coach in the state of Minnesota over the past decade, with apologies to Cheryl Reeve.

Game of the Year--OK, here we abandon the UMD Bulldogs in favor of St. Michael-Albertville's 71-70 win over Hopkins in the girls Class AAAA final. Hopkins had 2 regular wins over SMA and was heavily favored. But SMA ran out to a 42-25 halftime lead. But, hey, that was Hopkins they were playing, and the Royals roared back with a 45-29 2nd half margin. But that left them one point short. Tessa Johnson of SMA and Taylor Woodson of Hopkins starred.

Minnesota Players of the Year 1901-2023

Players of the Year 1901-2023

4 awards--Lindsay Whalen
3 awards each--George Tuck, Frank Lawler, Marty Rolek, Jim McIntyre, George Mikan, Kevin Garnett

2 awards each--William Deering, Harold Gillen, Dick Arney, Tony Jaros, Hal Haskins, Ron Johnson, Lou Hudson, Mark Olberding, Kevin McHale, Randy Breuer, Carlie Wagner, Rachel Banham, Maya Moore, Paige Bueckers

1901--George Tuck, Mpls. Central

1902--William Deering, Minnesota

1903--Deering

1904--Tuck, Minnesota

1905--Tuck

1906--Garfield Brown, Minnesota

1911--Frank Lawler, Minnesota

1912--Lawler, various senior teams

1913--Lawler, The Ineligibles

1914--Harold Gillen, Stillwater

1915--Al Rehder, Red Wing Company L

1916--Bill Conlin, Red Wing Company L

1917--Gillen, Minnesota

1918--Street, Carleton

1919--Erling Platou, Minnesota

1920--Martin Norton, Mpls. Central

1921--Arnold Oss, Minnesota

1922--Ozzie Cowles, Carleton

1923--Carl Nordly, Carleton

1924--Mally Nydahl, Mpls. South

1925--Black Rasey, Minnesota

1926--Bennie Lichtenegger, Gaylord

1927--Otto Rortvedt, Henning

1928--Cliff Halmrast, Moorhead

1929--Earl Moran, Moorhead

1930--Chuck Wagner, The Ascensions

1931--Ray Buffalo, DeLaSalle

1932--Dick Arney, Carleton

1933--Arney

1934--Marty Rolek, Mpls. Edison and the Dominiums

1935--Wally Zimmerman, Hamline

1936--Johnny Dick, Buhl

1937--Marty Rolek, Minnesota

1938--Rolek

1939--Clint Wager, St. Mary's

1940--Tony Jaros, Mpls. Edison

1941--Arnie Johnson, Bemidji State

1942--Johnny Norlander, Hamline

1943--Hal Haskins, Alexandria

1944--Jim McIntyre, Mpls. Patrick Henry

1945--McIntyre

1946--Jaros, Minnesota

1947--McIntyre, Minnesota

1948--George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers

1949--Vern Mikkelson, Hamline

1950--Haskins, Hamline

1951--Bill Simonovich, Gilbert

1952--Mikan

1953--Dave Tschimperle, Hopkins

1954--Mikan

1955--Dick Garmaker, Minnesota

1956--Ron Johnson, New Prague

1957--Jon Hagen, Belview

1958--Norm Grow, Foley

1959--Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers

1960--R. Johnson, Minnesota

1961--Terry Kunze, Duluth Central

1962--Eric Magdanz, Minnesota

1963--Dan Anderson, Augsburg

1964--Lou Hudson, Minnesota

1965--Hudson

1966--Archie Clark, Minnesota

1967--Jim Hill, St. Paul Central

1968--Bob Zender, Edina

1969--Tony Jenkins, Shattuck

1970--Tom Mulso, Sherburn

1971--Como Pontliana, Duluth Central

1972--Jim Brewer, Minnesota

1973--Mark Olberding, Melrose

1974--Olberding

1975--Frank Wachlarowicz, Little Falls

1976--Steve Lingenfelter, Bloomington Jefferson

1977--Mychal Thompson, Minnesota

1978--Janet Karvonen, New York Mills

1979--Randy Breuer, Lake City

1980--Kevin McHale, Minnesota

1981--Kelly Skalicky, Albany

1982--Darryl Mitchell and Trent Tucker, Minnesota

1983--Breuer, Minnesota

1984--Joe Regnier, White Bear Lake

1985--Laura Coenen, Minnesota

1986--McHale, Boston Celtics

1987--Kevin Lynch, Bloomington Jefferson

1988--Jessica Beachy, Concordia (Moorhead)

1989--Willie Burton, Minnesota

1990--Richard Coffey, Minnesota

1991--Joel McDonald, Chisholm

1992--Laurie Trow, St. Thomas

1993--Voshon Leonard, Minnesota

1994--Carol Ann Shudlick, Minnesota

1995--Coco and Kelly Miller, Rochester Mayo

1996--Khalid El-Amin, Mpls. North

1997--Bobby Jackson, Minnesota

1998--Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves

1999--Garnett

2000--Jake Sullivan, Tartan

2001--Rick Rickert, Duluth East

2002--Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota

2003--Whalen

2004--Garnett

2005--Janelle McCarville, Minnesota

2006--Isaiah Dahlman, Braham

2007--Angel Robinson, St. Paul Central

2008--John Smith, Winona State

2009--Tayler Hill, Mpls. South

2010--Rachel Banham and Cassie Rochel, Lakeville North

2011--Whalen, Minnesota Lynx

2012--Whalen
2013--Tyus Jones, Apple Valley
2014--Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
2015--Moore
2016--Banham, Minnesota Gophers
2017--Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
2018--Daniel Oturu, Cretin-Derham Hall
2019--Paige Bueckers, Hopkins
2020--Bueckers

2021--Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy

2022--Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2023--Brooke Olson, UMD women

Winners of the Minnesota Hoops Readers Poll

2011--Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
2012--Taylor Young, St. Thomas
2013--Anders Broman, Lakeview Christian
2014--Carlie Wagner, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva

Team of the Year 1895-2023

Minnesota Hoops Team of the Year 1895-2023

Multiple Awards--Minnesota Gophers 22 Minnesota Lynx 6 The Ascensions 5 Carleton 3 Rock Spring Sparklers 3 Mpls. Patrick Henry 3 Hamline 3 Minnesota Aggies 2 Mpls. Central 2 Moorhead 2 Minneapolis Lakers 2 Hopkins 2 Hopkins girls 2 Mpls. Roosevelt 2 Austin 2 DeLaSalle 2 Edina 2 Duluth Central 2 St. Thomas women 2 Bloomington Jefferson girls 2 Winona State 2 Minnesota Lynx 2

1895--Minnesota Aggies (U of M Ag School), Twin City League champs

1896--Minneapolis YMCA, TC champions

1897--Minnesota Aggies, TC champions

1898--Red Wing Company G

1899--Macalester

1900--Minnesota Gophers 10-3

1901--Minnesota Gophers 11-1

1902--Minnesota Gophers 15-0, Helms national champion

1903--Minnesota Gophers 13-0, Premo national champion

1904--Minnesota Gophers 10-2

1905--Minnesota Lady Gophers 45-6 over 8 years

1906--Red Wing Red Men 33-6

1907--Minnesota Gophers 10-2, Big Ten co-champions

1908--Minnesota Gophers 12-7

1909--The Ascensions

1910--The Ascensions

1911--Madison high school, mythical state champions

1912--The Ascensions

1913--Fosston 14-1, state champions

1914--Stillwater 14-2, state champions

1915--Chaska senior men

1916--Red Wing Company L 20-0

1917--Minnesota Gophers 17-2, Big Ten co-champions

1918--Minnesota Gophers 13-3

1919--Minnesota Gophers 13-0, Helms national champions

1920--Mpls. Central

1921--Mpls. Central 13-1, state champions

1922--Red Wing 15-2, state champions

1923--Carleton, MIAC champions

1924--Carleton 14-0, Midwest Conference champions

1925--St. Paul Mechanic Arts 17-1, state champions

1926--Gaylord 20-3, state champions

1927--Henning school, state Class B champions

1928--Moorhead 19-3, state champions

1929--Moorhead 24-3, state champions

1930--The Ascensions, state AAU champions

1931--DeLaSalle, national Catholic champions

1932--Carleton, Midwest Conference champions

1933--The Ascensions, state AAU champions

1934--The Dominions, state AAU champions

1935--Rock Spring Sparklers, state AAU champions

1936--Rock Spring Sparklers, state AAU champions

1937--Minnesota Gophers 14-6, Big Ten co-champions

1938--Minnesota Gophers 16-4

1939--Minnesota Gophers 14-6

1940--St. Mary's College, MIAC champions

1941--Bemidji State, NTC champions

1942--Hamline, NAIA national champion

1943--Rock Spring Sparklers

1944--Mpls. Patrick Henry 24-1, state champions

1945--Mpls. Patrick Henry 24-1, state champions

1946--Austin 22-3, state champions

1947--Mankato State 18-4, NTC champions

1948--Minneapolis Lakers 51-19, NBL and World Professional champions

1949--Hamline 31-3, NAIA national champion

1950--Minneapolis Lakers 62-19, NBA champions

1951--Hamline, NAIA national champion

1952--Hopkins 25-1, state champions

1953--Hopkins 23-0, state champions

1954--Gustavus Adolphus, MIAC champions

1955--Minnesota Gophers 15-7

1956--Mpls. Roosevelt 20-3, state champions

1957--Mpls. Roosevelt 27-0, state champions

1958--Austin 20-3, state champions

1959--DeLaSalle, state Catholic champions

1960--Edgerton 27-0, state champions

1961--Duluth Central 27-0, state champions

1962--St. Cloud State 23-4, NIC champions

1963--Marshall 25-1, state champions

1964--Luverne 20-5, state champions

1965--Minnesota Gophers 19-5

1966--St. Thomas 24-4, MIAC champions

1967--Edina 27-0, state champions

1968--Edina 26-1, state champions

1969--Shattuck, state independent champions

1970--Sherburn 26-0, state champions

1971--Duluth Central 23-1, state champions

1972--Minnesota Gophers 18-7, Bit Ten champions

1973--Minnesota Gophers 21-5

1974--Melrose 27-0, state champions

1975--Little Falls 26-1, state champions

1976--Mpls. Marshall-University 28-0, state A champions

1977--Minnesota Gophers 24-3

1978--Bloomington Jefferson girls 24-0, state AA champions

1979--New York Mills girls 25-1, state A champions

1980--Albany girls 26-0, state A champions

1981--Minnesota Gopher women 28-7, Big Ten tournament champions

1982--Minnesota Gopher men 23-6, Big Ten champions

1983--Woodbury boys 24-0, state AA champions

1984--White Bear Lake boys 26-0, state AA champions

1985--White Bear Lake boys 26-0, state AA champions

1986--Mankato State women 25-4, NCC champions

1987--Bloomington Jefferson boys 26-0, state AA champions

1988--Concordia (Moorhead) women 31-1, NCAA D3 champions

1989--Minnesota Gopher men 19-12

1990--Minnesota Gopher men 23-9

1991--St. Thomas women 29-2, NCAA D3 champions

1992--St. Thomas women 27-1, MIAC champions

1993--St. Benedict's women 28-2, MIAC champions

1994--Bloomington Jefferson girls 26-2, state AA champions

1995--North Tartan 15 & Under girls, national AAU champions

1996--Mpls. North boys 29-1, state champions

1997--Minnesota Gopher men 31-4, Big Ten champions

1998--Mpls. North girls 29-0, state AAA champions

1999--St. Benedict's women 28-2, MIAC champions

2000--Mpls. Patrick Henry boys 28-1, state AAA champions

2001--Osseo boys 30-1, state AAAA champions

2002--Minnesota Gopher women 22-8

2003--Minnesota Gopher women 25-6

2004--Minnesota Gopher women 25-9

2005--Braham boys 33-0, state AA champions

2006--Winona State men 32-4, NCAA D2 champions

2007--St. Paul Central girls 32-0, state AAAA champions

2008--Winona State men 38-1, NCAA D2 champions

2009--Mankato State women 32-2, NCAA D2 champions

2010 (tie)--Lakeville North girls 32-0, state AAAA champions, and St. Paul Johnson boys 32-0, state AAA champions

2011--Minnesota Lynx 34-8, WNBA champions
2012--Minnesota Lynx 32-11, WNBA runners-up
2013--Minnesota Lynx 33-8, WNBA champions
2014--Minnesota Lynx 28-11
2015--Minnesota Lynx 29-15, WNBA champions
2016--St. Thomas men 30-3, NCAA D3 champions 2nd time in 6 years
2017--Minnesota Lynx 33-9, WNBA champions for the 4th time
2018 (tie)--Eastview girls 32-0, state AAAA champions, and Sauk Centre girls 33-0, state AA champion
2019--Hopkins girls 32-0, state AAAA champions

2020 (tie)--Eden Prairie boys 29-0, Hopkins girls 30-0, state tournament cancelled due to coronavirus

2021--Chaska girls 18-0

2022--Hopkins girls 26-1

2023--Minnnesota-Duluth women 31-3