The MIAC season comes to a crashing finish. Half the teams end their season on the Saturday closest to the middle of the month. 3 days later 2 men's and 2 women's quarter-finalists crash out, and 2 days later 2 more men's and 2 more women's semi-finalists are gone, unless one of them happens to sneak into the NCAA D3 tournament (which could happen this year). But, just that fast, you've got a conference final. Or, 2. And so it is for 2019.
Men's Final
The men's final is set for tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at #2 seed St. John's. The Johnnies were and are the defending (2018) MIAC champions and came into 2019 as the favorite. They stumbled a bit at midseason and lost 3 times including an OT loss at 1st place St. Thomas on January 21. Since then the Johnnies were 9-1 including a 94-75 thumping of the Tommies less than 2 weeks ago. The Tommies limped home at 1-3, losing their last 2 regular season games, still finishing at 18-2 and in 1st. But, then, Thursday night, they lost to red-hot Augsburg 84-81 at home. Actually Augsburg limped home, too, 4-4 in their last 8 games but they knew they could compete with the Tommies, have lost to them 112-105 in 3OT and 88-86.
Augsburg is led by the almost certain Player of the Year in the MIAC in senior forward Booker Coplin who led the conference in scoring (27 ppg) and rebounding (9). He shot an impressive 52/43/90 percent. The Johnnies have a more balanced attack led by David Stokman with 16 ppg on 50/47/87 percent shooting. Augsburg has a shot and they're motivated by the fact that they probably need the win to advance to the NCAA tournament. The Johnnies may be in regardless. The Tommies are probably hoping for a Johnnies win, which might result in the Tommies also advancing. An Auggies win probably means Augsburg and St. John's advance but, hey, St. Thomas is the regular season champ, so maybe even then its Augsburg and the Tommies. All 3 will not advance.
Women's Final
The women's final is just what we expected. Unbeaten St. Thomas at home tomorrow at 3 p.m.
This is the Tommies 10th straight MIAC final. They have won 8 of 9, losing only back in 2011. They finished 2nd in the regular season in 2013 and 2014 but won the playoff. They finished 5th in 2010 and won the playoff. They are 18-1 in playoff games the past 9 years + one win this year. They are 180-20 in the regular season for a total of 198-21 (.904) in 10 years with just tomorrow's game left.
Obviously, they're the favorite. Their opponent is in kind of an opposite situation. Augsburg finished 2nd in the regular season. It was their best finish ever. Previously their best finish in the MIAC had been 5th--make that a tie for 5th--back in 1985. Back in November we said, right here, that this would be the best Augsburg women's team ever, and it has more than lived up to that. They're 16-2 and the only losses are to St. Thomas, 49-34 in January and 83-68 in February. So, pick your poison. Slow it down, or speed it up?
The game matches 2 of the conference's leading scorer, 2 seniors--St. Thomas post Hannah Spaulding, #1 scorer with 17 ppg on 70 percent FG shooting; and Augsburg guard Tamira McLemore, #5 at 16 ppg on 42/42/76 percent shooting.
Here you'd have to think St. Thomas and Augsburg advance no matter what happens tomorrow.
Player of the Day--Tamira McLemore, Augsburg, 33 pts on 5-of-7 3s; Booker Coplin, Augsburg, 32 pts
Team of the Day--Augsburg men
Coach of the Day--Aaron Griess, Augsburg men
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