2022 Hoops Awards--Team and Coach of the Year Candidates

So who are the winners going to be come March, April, May? I don't have a clue. These are the teams that are doing well now.

Teams

UMD men--8-0 in the conference, 15-0 overall. It doesn't get much better than that. You may have noted that UMD's Drew Blair and Austin Andrews are among our Player of the Year candidates, and why not? They play for the best team.

Minnesota Gopher men--10-4. Seriously, you didn't give the Gophers a chance in a million to win 10 games this year. Now, the going is getting a lot tougher with a Big 10 only schedule from here on out. They are now 1-4 in the Big 10 and they probably will be the favorite in no more than 3 or 4, maybe 5 of their remaining 15 Big 10 games. That would make 'em 14-15. Well, they were one game below .500 a year ago with a lot more talent that just didn't happen to be as committed to their team or their program. Getting more wins is one sign of progress and the Gophers might still get that. But getting more per capita out of the talent that you've got might be a more sustainable sign of progress. Ski-U-Mah!

Hopkins girls--10-0. State titles 2004, 2006, 2011-12-13, 2015, 2019, runners-up 2016, 2017, 2018, 3rd place 2021. Only Hopkins could possibly be disappointed with this record. They're still hungry. Look out.

St. Cloud State women--9-1, 11-2, currently the top team in the NSIC, runners-up to UMD last year.

Augsburg men

Augsburg women--both are unbeaten in the MIAC, the men are 11-2, the women 9-3. 

St. John's men--matching Augsburg at 8-0 and 11-2.

Minnesota Timberwolves--other NBA teams have leapfrogged the Wolves but, hey, the Wolves are showing improvement. Now, if they can add just one more piece, maybe this slow pace of improvement can continue. I'd settle for that. Playoffs this year. A playoff series win next year? Hey, hope springs eternal.

Minnesota Lynx--we won't know much about this year's edition for awhile, but they've got a shot.

Mountain Iron-Buhl--after I think 11 state tournament appearances in 12 years, this might be the Rangers year. They don't look like much somehow, but then look at the scoreboard! They are killing people. 

Honorable Mention--Shakopee boys, St. Thomas men, St. Thomas women, Morris Area boys, Southwest MN State women

Coaches

Never say never, but this race might be over. The job Ben Johnson has done with the Gopher men is nothing short of miraculous. 10-4. Who seriously thought they would win 10 all year long. Lots of people thought 5 would be a stretch. 

Justin Wieck, UMD men (see above).

Jeff Buffetta, Mountain Iron-Buhl girls. Oh, yeah, and did I mention he also coaches their boys?! But it's his girls who never cease to amaze.

Chris Finch, Timberwolves. Yeah, it's a small step for a man but, you know, it's the Timberwolves, which makes it more of a giant leap. 

Cheryl Reeve, Lynx. Just on general principles, she's gotta be in the mix.

Lori Fish, St. Cloud State women. 9-1, 11-2, best team in the NSIC right now.

Aaron Greiss and Ted Riverso, Augsburg men and women. 17-0 in the MIAC between them right now, that's gotta be worth something.

Tom Webb, SW State women. Coaching out there is Marshall, a million miles from anywhere, how does he get kids to come and play for him. Well, they're improving year by year. 

Alex Focke, Hamline women. Been down so long...but now it looks like Hamline is up, 7-2 and 9-3. Big leap forward.

Honorable Mention--Mandy Pearson, UMD women; Dan Smith, St. John's men; Mark Torgerson, Morris Area boys; Laurie Kelly, Gustavus women; Ruth Sinn, St. Thomas women; John Tauer, St. Thomas men

If your team and your coach isn't on one of these lists, hang in there. Things are going to change. Nobody knows how exactly, but they're going to change by March or thereabouts.