Who plays great defense? Seattle? Ha!
The Minnesota Lynx, that's who! The Lynx raced out to a 48-31 half-time lead, holding the L.A. Sparks to, well, 41 percent shooting, which actually isn't terrible. But L.A. had just 1 offensive rebound and 9 turnovers, while the Lynx had 7 offensive boards and just 5 turnovers, and shot a red-hot 58 percent.
The 2 teams traded baskets in the 2nd half, which the Lynx could of course afford to do and L.A. could not. The final was still a 17 point difference, 94-77.
L.A. led 15-10 late in the 1st quarter when the Lynx went on their 1st tear, outscoring the Sparks 24-5 to put the game away. Seimone Augustus and Rebekah Brunson each scored 8 points in the run, and finished the, half with 12 and 10 points respectively.
In the 2nd half, it was Maya Moore stepping up with 17 points after scoring just 3 in the 1st. The Lynx' largest lead was 63-41, and the closest the Spakrs ever got was 10 points at 71-61 and 73-63 at 5:57.
How well did the Lynx execute MY game plan?
Inside D: Well, Candace Parker did some damage with 25 points and 11 boards. But everybody else struggled for L.A., especially Kristi Tolliver who had 2 1st half points and zero assists.
3-Ball: Minnesota 9-of-21 (Moore 4-for-6), L.A. 5-of-13. Bingo!
Lindsay: Finished with 12 points and just 2 assists, but just 1 turnover, and out-played the aforementioned Tolliver.
Moore: The Lynx pulled away in the 2nd quarter without a lot of production from Maya. Most of Maya's points came in the trading-baskets portion of the game. But, hey, that certainly helped keep L.A. from ever mounting a threat.
Blocking and tackling: The Lynx only out-shot L.A. 49 percent to 48, but out-rebounded 'em 37-25 including 13-4 on the offensive end. WNBA.com wrote in its pre-game analysis that rebounding could decide the game. I'd say that's pretty smart. Rebekah Brunson had 10, Seimone 6, Maya 5 and Amber Harris 4.
Bench: Our bench out-scored their bench 26-15.
So, anyway, wow. How a team could struggle so mightily vs. Seattle and then blow out L.A. is beyond me. It's all about match-ups, they say, and that, too, looks pretty smart. They'll probably match-up differently in game 2 in L.A., however. Game 2 is on Sunday. Game 3, if necessary, is on Wednesday.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Rebekah Dahlman says No to U of M + NEW EDIT
EDIT: I published something here about Rebakah Dahlman and Tyseanna Johnson. It was a rumor and, I am told, an untrue rumor. I want to apologize to Rebekah and Tyseanna for publishing it. It has been removed.
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The Pioneer Press reported today that Rebekah Dahlman called the U of M and Tennessee coaches to say they've been nixed from her list of candidates. That leaves Florida, Iowa State and Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile, as you know, Tyseanna Johnson of DeLaSalle announced just the other day that she is going to Iowa State.
The class of 2013 has been noted as one of Minnesota's best ever for several years now. Among the "might 2013," the Minnesota Gophers and coach Pam Borton have signed Joanna Hedstrom, who I have rated #9 in the class. The girls she has not signed include:
#1 Nia Coffey, whose dad played ball at the U, is going to Northwestern.
#2 Dahlman--Florida, Iowa State, Vandy
#3 T. Johnson--Iowa State
#4 Allina Starr, DeLaSalle--initially Georgetown but the coach left to go to Auburn, and Starr is said to be leaning toward Auburn
#5 Jessica January, Richfield--???
#6 Jade Martin, Kennedy--Georgetown, and no word of any change of heart
#7 Phyllis Webb, Osseo--Eastern Michigsn
#8 Savanna Trapp, Esko---UCLA
#9 Joanna Hedstrom, Minnetonka--Minnesota
#10 Mikaela Shackleford, Hopkin--Illinois. Tore an ACL last spring, hard to say if she'll be back during her senior season or sot.
Let's be honest, it's the top 5 to 7 players who make this "the mighty 2013," and the Gophers have basically whiffed. Exactly how many of her 9 lives Pam Borton has used up, and how many should be assigned to the failure to recruit the might 2013s in any coherent fashion, I don't know. But it's got to be several doesn't it???
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The Pioneer Press reported today that Rebekah Dahlman called the U of M and Tennessee coaches to say they've been nixed from her list of candidates. That leaves Florida, Iowa State and Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile, as you know, Tyseanna Johnson of DeLaSalle announced just the other day that she is going to Iowa State.
The class of 2013 has been noted as one of Minnesota's best ever for several years now. Among the "might 2013," the Minnesota Gophers and coach Pam Borton have signed Joanna Hedstrom, who I have rated #9 in the class. The girls she has not signed include:
#1 Nia Coffey, whose dad played ball at the U, is going to Northwestern.
#2 Dahlman--Florida, Iowa State, Vandy
#3 T. Johnson--Iowa State
#4 Allina Starr, DeLaSalle--initially Georgetown but the coach left to go to Auburn, and Starr is said to be leaning toward Auburn
#5 Jessica January, Richfield--???
#6 Jade Martin, Kennedy--Georgetown, and no word of any change of heart
#7 Phyllis Webb, Osseo--Eastern Michigsn
#8 Savanna Trapp, Esko---UCLA
#9 Joanna Hedstrom, Minnetonka--Minnesota
#10 Mikaela Shackleford, Hopkin--Illinois. Tore an ACL last spring, hard to say if she'll be back during her senior season or sot.
Let's be honest, it's the top 5 to 7 players who make this "the mighty 2013," and the Gophers have basically whiffed. Exactly how many of her 9 lives Pam Borton has used up, and how many should be assigned to the failure to recruit the might 2013s in any coherent fashion, I don't know. But it's got to be several doesn't it???
Lynx avoid upset to Seattle, but barely....
The Lynx didn't beat Seattle, they survived. Lauren Jackson missed a short jumper with 1.2 seconds left, and so a 73-72 lead held up for Minnesota.
Karma seemed to be with the Storm. Jackson made a 3 at the buzzer in regulation in game 2, leading to a Seattle win in 2OT. And tonight Tanisha Wright made a 3 at the 1st halftime buzzer, getting Seattle within 36-35. Then Smith hit another 3 at the 3rd quarter buzzer to get Seattle within 56-55.
Seattle finally caught up at 60 and 62 but Rebekah Brunson scored 4 straight baskets, 3 off of the offensive boards, and 5 altogether in the 4th period. Then Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Taj McWilliams-Franklin each scored to get the Lynx to 73. It was just enough as Seattle ran out of magic at the end.
On September 1, I wrote that the Lynx would repeat as WNBA champion IF:
1. If they tightened up their inside defense. They did a decent job against 3-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson of Seattle overall though Jackson scored a couple of very very big buckets at crunch time. Candace Parker of L.A. and then 2012 league MVP Tina Charles (if the Lynx get to the finals) will be vastly tougher opponents so watch out! Inside Defense Grade (so far in the playoffs): C.
2. If they don't get torched at 3-ball. Seattle outscored the Lynx from 34-point land 66-33 (22 3s to 11). The Storm made 22-of-61 (365) while the Lynx made 11-of-35 (31%). And Seattle, of course, seemed to hit a big 3 every time it was really needed. 3-Ball Grade: C-.
3. If Lindsay Whalen picks it up. I noted that potential playoff opponents Becky Hammon, Kara Lawson and Kristi Tolliver had outplayed her. But she did pick it up during September.
But Seattle's Sue Bird showed why she and not Lindsay was the starting point guard for the U.S. Olympians in this sseries. Bird outscored Whalen by an average of 16-12 per game, out-assisted her 7-5 and had 2 steals per game to Lindsay's 1. Bird shot 44 percent from the field, Lindsay 27 percent.
In games 2 and 3 Bird scored 20 ppg to Lindsay's 8. In game 3 it was 19-6, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve played Lindsay just 25 minutes and reach down into her bench to give Candice Wiggins 12 minutes and even Erin Thorn 3, looking for some impact at the "1."
Granted, Bird is "the best point guard on the planet," according to Geno Auriemma, but Kristi Tolliver is a lot quicker and has given Lindsay fits during the regular season. Lindsay's Grade: C.
4. If Maya Moore picks it up. This is a matter of Maya asserting herself like she did in the Olympics, no longer deferring to Augustus. And she has, overtaking Seimone as the Lynx leading scorer, 16.6 ppg to 16.5. Against Seattle (3 games) Moore pretty much hit her average with 16 ppg on 40 percent shooting, plus 6 boards and 3 assists. Seimone really picked it up, scoring 20 ppg on 46 percent shooting, with 6 boards and 2 steals. Maya's Grade: B.
5. If they do the positive things they've done all year. That is, if they out-shoot their opponents 49-39 percent and out-rebound them 37-31. Against the Storm they got out-shot 41-40 percent but out-rebounded Seattle 37-34. Grade: B-.
Bottom line, they played B- ball against Seattle and managed to win. Against the L.A. Sparks, they've got to pick it up: 1) Inside D vs. Parker. 2) Lindsay is going to have to pick it up against Tolliver. 3) Out-shoot and out-rebound the Sparks. Do these things at least at a B+ level and the Lynx win. Continue at a B- level and the Lynx lose. It's that simple.
Karma seemed to be with the Storm. Jackson made a 3 at the buzzer in regulation in game 2, leading to a Seattle win in 2OT. And tonight Tanisha Wright made a 3 at the 1st halftime buzzer, getting Seattle within 36-35. Then Smith hit another 3 at the 3rd quarter buzzer to get Seattle within 56-55.
Seattle finally caught up at 60 and 62 but Rebekah Brunson scored 4 straight baskets, 3 off of the offensive boards, and 5 altogether in the 4th period. Then Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Taj McWilliams-Franklin each scored to get the Lynx to 73. It was just enough as Seattle ran out of magic at the end.
On September 1, I wrote that the Lynx would repeat as WNBA champion IF:
1. If they tightened up their inside defense. They did a decent job against 3-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson of Seattle overall though Jackson scored a couple of very very big buckets at crunch time. Candace Parker of L.A. and then 2012 league MVP Tina Charles (if the Lynx get to the finals) will be vastly tougher opponents so watch out! Inside Defense Grade (so far in the playoffs): C.
2. If they don't get torched at 3-ball. Seattle outscored the Lynx from 34-point land 66-33 (22 3s to 11). The Storm made 22-of-61 (365) while the Lynx made 11-of-35 (31%). And Seattle, of course, seemed to hit a big 3 every time it was really needed. 3-Ball Grade: C-.
3. If Lindsay Whalen picks it up. I noted that potential playoff opponents Becky Hammon, Kara Lawson and Kristi Tolliver had outplayed her. But she did pick it up during September.
But Seattle's Sue Bird showed why she and not Lindsay was the starting point guard for the U.S. Olympians in this sseries. Bird outscored Whalen by an average of 16-12 per game, out-assisted her 7-5 and had 2 steals per game to Lindsay's 1. Bird shot 44 percent from the field, Lindsay 27 percent.
In games 2 and 3 Bird scored 20 ppg to Lindsay's 8. In game 3 it was 19-6, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve played Lindsay just 25 minutes and reach down into her bench to give Candice Wiggins 12 minutes and even Erin Thorn 3, looking for some impact at the "1."
Granted, Bird is "the best point guard on the planet," according to Geno Auriemma, but Kristi Tolliver is a lot quicker and has given Lindsay fits during the regular season. Lindsay's Grade: C.
4. If Maya Moore picks it up. This is a matter of Maya asserting herself like she did in the Olympics, no longer deferring to Augustus. And she has, overtaking Seimone as the Lynx leading scorer, 16.6 ppg to 16.5. Against Seattle (3 games) Moore pretty much hit her average with 16 ppg on 40 percent shooting, plus 6 boards and 3 assists. Seimone really picked it up, scoring 20 ppg on 46 percent shooting, with 6 boards and 2 steals. Maya's Grade: B.
5. If they do the positive things they've done all year. That is, if they out-shoot their opponents 49-39 percent and out-rebound them 37-31. Against the Storm they got out-shot 41-40 percent but out-rebounded Seattle 37-34. Grade: B-.
Bottom line, they played B- ball against Seattle and managed to win. Against the L.A. Sparks, they've got to pick it up: 1) Inside D vs. Parker. 2) Lindsay is going to have to pick it up against Tolliver. 3) Out-shoot and out-rebound the Sparks. Do these things at least at a B+ level and the Lynx win. Continue at a B- level and the Lynx lose. It's that simple.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Conferences--the once-mighty Big Nine
Watch for a series of posts about Minnesota's high school basketball conferences. A little history lesson, you might say.
I'll start with the conference that occupies my old stomping grounds--the once but no longer mighty Big Nine. Nothing could exemplify the hard times that have befallen the Big Nine like Austin's (recently reversed) 23-game losing streak in football. Once upon a time, Austin beat everybody in everything. The Packers were a regular participant in the baseball and basketball state tournaments in the 1940s and 1950s. Their 26 basketball tournaments remains #2 all-time, their 19 baseball tournaments remains tied for 1st. Their 17 golf tournaments is #6. They won basketball titles in 1935, 1946 and 1958, baseball titles in 1954 and 1964, a pair of swimming titles in 1945 and 1946,wrestling in 1945, cross-country and golf in 1967, and tennis in 1969.
And yet, Red Wing, with 4 state basketball titles, Rochester with 2, and Albert Lea with 1, not to mention Mankato, always gave Austin all it could handle. Well, except that losing to Austin finally compelled the one-time powerhouse Red Wing to finally leave the Big Nine in the 1970s. I mean, Packers, indeed. It seemed that whenever a great athlete emerged at one of the small towns in southeastern Minnesota, his father would mysteriously end up with a job at the Hormel Meat-Packing plant and the son would be an Austin Packer.
No more. No more Austin Packers dynasty, no more Big Nine dynasty.
In the multi-class era, among the boys, there have been just 3 state titles in more than 40 years--Owatonna in 1989 and 1990 and Mankato East in 2006. Austin in 1972 and 1981 made it to the finals, as did Red Wing (no longer, again, a Big Nine member) in 2002.
Among the girls, Coco and Kelly Miller carried Rochester Mayo to 4 tournament appearances and titles in 1995 and 1997. Otherwise only Mankato East in 1987 managed to win a girls title. Mayo, East and Owatonna have lost in the finals.
The Teams
Putting together a conference consisting of "large" Greater MN schools is tough. Your county seats vary widely in population and school enrollments. In the Big Nine, the variance is from Mankato East at 784 and Albert Lea at 796 all the way up to almost twice as much at Rochester Mayo with 1,506 and Owatonna with 1,442. There just aren't a lot of "big" schools in Greater MN.
No wonder the Albert Lea boys have struggled with 51 wins and 159 losses over the past 7 years, and just 1 tournament appearance in almost 80 years (in 2005). Among the girls, Faribault is the yardstick for futility at 51-155. But the Mankato East boys have competed well enough at 119-93 and 6 tournament appearances since the Mankato split into East and West 30 years ago.
The Big Nine today:
AAAA in basketball
Rochester Mayo enrollment 1,506 boys 101-114 girls 110-105
Owatonna 1,442 boys 160-63 girls 127-75
Rochester John Marshall 1,391 boys 66-127 girls 104-108
Rochester Century 1,275 boys 95-122 girls 110-100
AAA in basketball
Mankato West 1,007 boys 158-65 girls 98-101
Winona 997 boys 135-79 girls 70-122
Austin 979 boys 95-110 girls 90-115
Faribault 946 boys 69-148 girls 51-155
Albert Lea 796 boys 51-159 girls 68-115
Mankato East 784 boys 119-93 girls 86-127
Total boys 1,045-1,180 girls 914-1,123
Average enrollment is a little over 1,100
Considering these teams would be a cumulative .500 in the conference, I figure the boys were about 320-450 in non-conference play, the girls more like an execrable 200-400.
Among the boys, both Mankatos and Winona are ahead of the larger Rochester schools. Among the girls, the pecking order is pretty much the same as the enrollment numbers.
But cumulatively, this is a pretty bad collection of basketball teams, more the girls than the boys, but the boys, too.
So the question is this. Tradition be damned. Are there better rivalries that the Big Nine schools, especially the smaller ones, might consider going forward? Who would be the candidates?
Former members
Two obvious candidates are the former Big Nine members Northfield and Red Wing, who left to join the Missota in the 1970s. There they now face Chanhassan, Chaska, Farmington, Holy Angels, New Prague and Shakopee. Average enrollment is 1,250, a little bigger than the Big Nine, with a range from 741 (Holy Angels) to over 1,700 (Shakopee), pretty much the same as the Big Nine (except just a tiny bit smaller on the small end and a bit bigger on the big end).
Northfield (AAAA) 1,173 boys 82-123 girls 106-104
Red Wing (AAA) 809 boys 94-121 girls 129-91
Other Southeastern/South Central Minnesota cities
AAAA in basketball
Farmington (Missota) 1,565 boys 82-133 girls 93-120
Hastings (Suburban East Conference) 1,452 boys 72-146 girls 45-179
Shakopee (Missota) 1,736 boys 168-58 girls 94-121
Prior Lake (South Suburban) 2,154 boys 96-119 girls 107-104
AAA in basketball
Kasson-Mantorville 568 boys 87-115 girls 103-108
New Prague (Missota) 1,111 boys 138-84 girls 169-58
Waseca (South Central) 522 boys 70-126 girls 104-96
New Ulm (South Central) 589 boys 48-150 girls 59-129
Marshall (Southwest) 699 boys 151-71 girls 153-75
Marshall is, of course, not an option (too far away) but is included to show just how big a net you have to cast to find possible AAAA and AAA opponents for these southeastern teams. Unless, of course, you go into the metro area. But then the competition just gets tougher, not easier.
Maybe someday one of Rochester's bedrooms (Kasson-Mantorville? Byron? St. Charles?) will become large enough to join the Big Nine but none of them is there right now.
The Missota
When Northfield and Red Wing left the Big Nine, the Missota is where they decided to go. Also members of the Missota are Farmington, New Prague and Shakopee, listed above, plus Chaska, Chanhassan and Holy Angels, who are presumed not to be a fit with Big Nine teams. Chaska has recently split into Chaska and Chanhassan and so both are smaller than Chaska used to be, but they are growing communities and once the housing market returns to a more normal status, they will grow and grow and grow too big for the Big Nine. Holy Angels is too metro, and not a small town team, so I don't see them fitting. Shakopee is too big, and too good.
And by the way, break up the Wright County Conference
I mean, of the 11 basketball members, only 2.5 are actually located in Wright County--Annandale, Delano and Cokato (but not Dassel of Dassel-Cokato). Among the rest, Litchfield and New London-Spicer are located in a more northerly direction, while Glencoe and Hutchinson are more southerly, and Mound, Orono, Waconia and Holy Family Catholic (located in Victoria) are in the metro area. South of Wright County is southern Minnesota, where maybe you could scrounge up another Big Nine candidate.
Hutchinson (Wright County) 762 boys 96-119 girls 108-104 Probably too far away
Waconia (Wright) 996 boys 175-49 girls A stretch geographically but not as much as Hutch
Glencoe (Wright) 513 boys 112-101 girls 86-124 Too small
What to Do?
Well, there just aren't many natural rivals, based on enrollment and location, that the Big Nine schools could gravitate toward. But let's just say that, in light of the terrible struggles of the smaller (AAA) schools, we wanted to realign conference relationships. What could we do?
AAAA
You've got Owatonna and the 3 Rochesters. You could add Northfield, a former Big Nine member who is struggling in the Missota. You could add Farmington, which is struggling in the Missota. Hastings, which is struggling big time in the Suburban East.
AAA
Here you've got Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Mankato East, Mankato West and Winona. To make a full conference you could add former member Red Wing. You could add New Prague, which has thrived in the Missota and would thrive in the Big Nine. But then what to do with Albert Lea, who has struggled so desperately in the Big Nine. If they left to join the South Central, you could add Waconia, though they're pretty much at the edge geographically and will probably get bigger in time. Hutchinson would be a stretch, both geographically and competitively.
So here's where I end up.
Big Division (1,000+ enrollment)
Owatonna
Rochester Century
Rochester John Marshall
Rochester Mayo
Mankato West
Northfield
Farmington
Hastings
Nine Division (less than 1,000 enrollment)
Albert Lea
Austin
Faribault
Mankato East
Winona
Red Wing
Waconia
New Prague
The Big Division would be a terrific conference, giving Northfield, Farmington and Hastings a chance to be more competitive than they are in their current affiliation, and giving Owatonna a better, more competitive environment than the current Big Nine.
The smaller group is a bit problematic, mainly in that Waconia is a stretch geographically and has no tradition of playing any of the other teams in the division. Still, this grouping is more Waconia's size than the Wright County, which ranges down to as small as 500 enrollment, about half Waconia's size. Waconia-New Prague at least would be a great rivalry. Waconia-Mankato could be a great rivalry. And speaking of New Prague, they would become the dominant team in the new Big Nine overnight. New Prague and Faribault is a natural rivalry.
I suppose people would object to splitting Mankato East and Mankato West. You would devise a scheduling scheme that would allow them to play every year. Maybe (in football) they play 8 games, 7 within the division and 1 cross-over.
Cross-Over Rivalries
Mankato East vs. Mankato West
Rochester John Marshall vs. Austin
Rochester Mayo vs. Winona
Rochester Century vs. Albert Lea
Owatonna vs. Faribault
Northfield vs. New Prague
Waconia vs. Farmington
Hastings vs. Red Wing
Conclusion
Yeah, it will never happen. The Big Nine would have to admit how stale and boring they've become. Schools from outside would have to want to join, and why would they? The Big Nine is not attractive, and some of them are a stretch geographically. But in basketball, at least, almost every one of the 16 schools in "the new Big Nine" would benefit competitively, with a better competitive set based on enrollment. Some would get some great new rivalries. A nice fantasy.
I'll start with the conference that occupies my old stomping grounds--the once but no longer mighty Big Nine. Nothing could exemplify the hard times that have befallen the Big Nine like Austin's (recently reversed) 23-game losing streak in football. Once upon a time, Austin beat everybody in everything. The Packers were a regular participant in the baseball and basketball state tournaments in the 1940s and 1950s. Their 26 basketball tournaments remains #2 all-time, their 19 baseball tournaments remains tied for 1st. Their 17 golf tournaments is #6. They won basketball titles in 1935, 1946 and 1958, baseball titles in 1954 and 1964, a pair of swimming titles in 1945 and 1946,wrestling in 1945, cross-country and golf in 1967, and tennis in 1969.
And yet, Red Wing, with 4 state basketball titles, Rochester with 2, and Albert Lea with 1, not to mention Mankato, always gave Austin all it could handle. Well, except that losing to Austin finally compelled the one-time powerhouse Red Wing to finally leave the Big Nine in the 1970s. I mean, Packers, indeed. It seemed that whenever a great athlete emerged at one of the small towns in southeastern Minnesota, his father would mysteriously end up with a job at the Hormel Meat-Packing plant and the son would be an Austin Packer.
No more. No more Austin Packers dynasty, no more Big Nine dynasty.
In the multi-class era, among the boys, there have been just 3 state titles in more than 40 years--Owatonna in 1989 and 1990 and Mankato East in 2006. Austin in 1972 and 1981 made it to the finals, as did Red Wing (no longer, again, a Big Nine member) in 2002.
Among the girls, Coco and Kelly Miller carried Rochester Mayo to 4 tournament appearances and titles in 1995 and 1997. Otherwise only Mankato East in 1987 managed to win a girls title. Mayo, East and Owatonna have lost in the finals.
The Teams
Putting together a conference consisting of "large" Greater MN schools is tough. Your county seats vary widely in population and school enrollments. In the Big Nine, the variance is from Mankato East at 784 and Albert Lea at 796 all the way up to almost twice as much at Rochester Mayo with 1,506 and Owatonna with 1,442. There just aren't a lot of "big" schools in Greater MN.
No wonder the Albert Lea boys have struggled with 51 wins and 159 losses over the past 7 years, and just 1 tournament appearance in almost 80 years (in 2005). Among the girls, Faribault is the yardstick for futility at 51-155. But the Mankato East boys have competed well enough at 119-93 and 6 tournament appearances since the Mankato split into East and West 30 years ago.
The Big Nine today:
AAAA in basketball
Rochester Mayo enrollment 1,506 boys 101-114 girls 110-105
Owatonna 1,442 boys 160-63 girls 127-75
Rochester John Marshall 1,391 boys 66-127 girls 104-108
Rochester Century 1,275 boys 95-122 girls 110-100
AAA in basketball
Mankato West 1,007 boys 158-65 girls 98-101
Winona 997 boys 135-79 girls 70-122
Austin 979 boys 95-110 girls 90-115
Faribault 946 boys 69-148 girls 51-155
Albert Lea 796 boys 51-159 girls 68-115
Mankato East 784 boys 119-93 girls 86-127
Total boys 1,045-1,180 girls 914-1,123
Average enrollment is a little over 1,100
Considering these teams would be a cumulative .500 in the conference, I figure the boys were about 320-450 in non-conference play, the girls more like an execrable 200-400.
Among the boys, both Mankatos and Winona are ahead of the larger Rochester schools. Among the girls, the pecking order is pretty much the same as the enrollment numbers.
But cumulatively, this is a pretty bad collection of basketball teams, more the girls than the boys, but the boys, too.
So the question is this. Tradition be damned. Are there better rivalries that the Big Nine schools, especially the smaller ones, might consider going forward? Who would be the candidates?
Former members
Two obvious candidates are the former Big Nine members Northfield and Red Wing, who left to join the Missota in the 1970s. There they now face Chanhassan, Chaska, Farmington, Holy Angels, New Prague and Shakopee. Average enrollment is 1,250, a little bigger than the Big Nine, with a range from 741 (Holy Angels) to over 1,700 (Shakopee), pretty much the same as the Big Nine (except just a tiny bit smaller on the small end and a bit bigger on the big end).
Northfield (AAAA) 1,173 boys 82-123 girls 106-104
Red Wing (AAA) 809 boys 94-121 girls 129-91
Other Southeastern/South Central Minnesota cities
AAAA in basketball
Farmington (Missota) 1,565 boys 82-133 girls 93-120
Hastings (Suburban East Conference) 1,452 boys 72-146 girls 45-179
Shakopee (Missota) 1,736 boys 168-58 girls 94-121
Prior Lake (South Suburban) 2,154 boys 96-119 girls 107-104
AAA in basketball
Kasson-Mantorville 568 boys 87-115 girls 103-108
New Prague (Missota) 1,111 boys 138-84 girls 169-58
Waseca (South Central) 522 boys 70-126 girls 104-96
New Ulm (South Central) 589 boys 48-150 girls 59-129
Marshall (Southwest) 699 boys 151-71 girls 153-75
Marshall is, of course, not an option (too far away) but is included to show just how big a net you have to cast to find possible AAAA and AAA opponents for these southeastern teams. Unless, of course, you go into the metro area. But then the competition just gets tougher, not easier.
Maybe someday one of Rochester's bedrooms (Kasson-Mantorville? Byron? St. Charles?) will become large enough to join the Big Nine but none of them is there right now.
The Missota
When Northfield and Red Wing left the Big Nine, the Missota is where they decided to go. Also members of the Missota are Farmington, New Prague and Shakopee, listed above, plus Chaska, Chanhassan and Holy Angels, who are presumed not to be a fit with Big Nine teams. Chaska has recently split into Chaska and Chanhassan and so both are smaller than Chaska used to be, but they are growing communities and once the housing market returns to a more normal status, they will grow and grow and grow too big for the Big Nine. Holy Angels is too metro, and not a small town team, so I don't see them fitting. Shakopee is too big, and too good.
And by the way, break up the Wright County Conference
I mean, of the 11 basketball members, only 2.5 are actually located in Wright County--Annandale, Delano and Cokato (but not Dassel of Dassel-Cokato). Among the rest, Litchfield and New London-Spicer are located in a more northerly direction, while Glencoe and Hutchinson are more southerly, and Mound, Orono, Waconia and Holy Family Catholic (located in Victoria) are in the metro area. South of Wright County is southern Minnesota, where maybe you could scrounge up another Big Nine candidate.
Hutchinson (Wright County) 762 boys 96-119 girls 108-104 Probably too far away
Waconia (Wright) 996 boys 175-49 girls A stretch geographically but not as much as Hutch
Glencoe (Wright) 513 boys 112-101 girls 86-124 Too small
What to Do?
Well, there just aren't many natural rivals, based on enrollment and location, that the Big Nine schools could gravitate toward. But let's just say that, in light of the terrible struggles of the smaller (AAA) schools, we wanted to realign conference relationships. What could we do?
AAAA
You've got Owatonna and the 3 Rochesters. You could add Northfield, a former Big Nine member who is struggling in the Missota. You could add Farmington, which is struggling in the Missota. Hastings, which is struggling big time in the Suburban East.
AAA
Here you've got Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Mankato East, Mankato West and Winona. To make a full conference you could add former member Red Wing. You could add New Prague, which has thrived in the Missota and would thrive in the Big Nine. But then what to do with Albert Lea, who has struggled so desperately in the Big Nine. If they left to join the South Central, you could add Waconia, though they're pretty much at the edge geographically and will probably get bigger in time. Hutchinson would be a stretch, both geographically and competitively.
So here's where I end up.
Big Division (1,000+ enrollment)
Owatonna
Rochester Century
Rochester John Marshall
Rochester Mayo
Mankato West
Northfield
Farmington
Hastings
Nine Division (less than 1,000 enrollment)
Albert Lea
Austin
Faribault
Mankato East
Winona
Red Wing
Waconia
New Prague
The Big Division would be a terrific conference, giving Northfield, Farmington and Hastings a chance to be more competitive than they are in their current affiliation, and giving Owatonna a better, more competitive environment than the current Big Nine.
The smaller group is a bit problematic, mainly in that Waconia is a stretch geographically and has no tradition of playing any of the other teams in the division. Still, this grouping is more Waconia's size than the Wright County, which ranges down to as small as 500 enrollment, about half Waconia's size. Waconia-New Prague at least would be a great rivalry. Waconia-Mankato could be a great rivalry. And speaking of New Prague, they would become the dominant team in the new Big Nine overnight. New Prague and Faribault is a natural rivalry.
I suppose people would object to splitting Mankato East and Mankato West. You would devise a scheduling scheme that would allow them to play every year. Maybe (in football) they play 8 games, 7 within the division and 1 cross-over.
Cross-Over Rivalries
Mankato East vs. Mankato West
Rochester John Marshall vs. Austin
Rochester Mayo vs. Winona
Rochester Century vs. Albert Lea
Owatonna vs. Faribault
Northfield vs. New Prague
Waconia vs. Farmington
Hastings vs. Red Wing
Conclusion
Yeah, it will never happen. The Big Nine would have to admit how stale and boring they've become. Schools from outside would have to want to join, and why would they? The Big Nine is not attractive, and some of them are a stretch geographically. But in basketball, at least, almost every one of the 16 schools in "the new Big Nine" would benefit competitively, with a better competitive set based on enrollment. Some would get some great new rivalries. A nice fantasy.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Tyseanna Johnson, Allina Starr make college choices
Tyseanna Johnson and Allina Starr, DeLaSalle teammates, will be playing at Iowa State and Auburn, respectively.
Johnson had a Minnesota Gophers scholarship offer but decided to take her talents out of state. And they are substantial talents. She will be all-Big 8 before her career is done. Rebecca Dahlman has Iowa State on her list, too, so who knows if this affects Dahlman's plans at all one way or the other.
Starr had verballed Georgetown last year, but then coach Terri Williams-Flournoy moved to Auburn, as did Starr. Starr will be a contributor at Auburn for sure. DeLaSalle coach Faith Johnson-Patterson is quoted as saying Starr was coach Williams-Flournoy's top recruit.
Johnson had a Minnesota Gophers scholarship offer but decided to take her talents out of state. And they are substantial talents. She will be all-Big 8 before her career is done. Rebecca Dahlman has Iowa State on her list, too, so who knows if this affects Dahlman's plans at all one way or the other.
Starr had verballed Georgetown last year, but then coach Terri Williams-Flournoy moved to Auburn, as did Starr. Starr will be a contributor at Auburn for sure. DeLaSalle coach Faith Johnson-Patterson is quoted as saying Starr was coach Williams-Flournoy's top recruit.
Killer Instinct, and the Lack Thereof
This is a basketball site, but I can't resist whining about one of the greatest collapses in sporting history--by the U.S. Ryder Cup team yesterday (well, and Saturday, when the collapse began).
The U.S., after all, led Europe 10-4 late Saturday afternoon. By the end of the festivities on Saturday, Europe had wrestled a vapor of hope out of the U.S., winning the last 2 matches to get within 10-6. Then on Sunday, as you know, the U.S. booted 8 of 11 matches while another was halved. Europe demolished the self-satisfied Americans 10.5-3.5 down the stretch to hang on to the Ryder Cup for another 2 years.
It's not just that the Americans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, it's how they did it.
First, Saturday afternoon. Up 8-4 after the Saturday morning foursomes, the afternoon started well enough as Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson routed Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose 5-and-4, and Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar edged Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie 1-up. Meanwhile Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson took an early 2-up lead over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.
The only fly in the ointment was an early 3-up lead by Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia over a struggling Steve Stricker-Tiger Woods team for the Americans. Early on the TV announcers, including Johnny Miller, said, hey, how about a team of Keegan Bradley and Tiger Woods. Stricker, let's be honest, had been terrible as he and his partner, Tiger, were the only Americans who hadn't yet won a point. He hadn't won a single hole in Friday's four ball and today Tiger would get 7 birdies and Strick a pair.
Bradley, meanwhile, had teamed with Phil Mikkelson to go 3-0 in the 1st 3 rounds. But captain Davis Love had said all along that he would rest everybody, and he even rested Tiger (and Stricker) on Saturday morning. But, as Miller said, if they win in the morning, they should play in the afternoon. OK, maybe you rest the 42-year-old Mikkelson but the 23-year-old Bradley, He can be tired next week, Miller said.
So Stricker and Woods predictably fall 3-down. But, wait, they come back within 1 (on a Woods birdie) on 16. Colsaerts matches another Woods birdie in 17. But on 18 the U.S. can still win the hole and halve the match. But no, Stricker lips out a short putt and the U.S. loses the point.
To make matters worse, Dufner and Johnson don't win a single hole after number 7 and Europe birdies everything from 13 on (McIlroy 13, Poulter 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) and Europe wins that point, too.
10-6 and all the momentum has shifted to Europe.
Sunday
So on Sunday Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who has been the village idiot previously, throws his best golfers out there early, hoping to capture some momentum. And wouldn't you know it, they win the 1st 5 matches by a cumulative 12-up and (in stroke terms) 24 below par. The U.S. is 7 under par for 5 guys.
Actually Dustin Johnson has closed out Colsaerts by the time the 5th match ends, so now it's tied at 11-11. The biggest matches are the Poulter-Simpson and Rose-Mikkelson match-ups. Simpson is 1-up after 16 and both golfers are even par. Poulter birdies 17 and 18. Match over. Similarly, Mikkelson leads Rose 1-up after 16, though in this case Rose is -5 and Mikkelson -3. Well, sure enough, Rose birdies 17 and 18, 17 with a 40-footer. Match over. U.S. pretty much dead.
From there it was just a question of the inevitable working its way out.
To wit, Jim Furyk leads Sergio Garcia 1-up after 16. Garcia wins both as Furyk finishes bogey-bogey. Match over. U.S. more dead.
Then with the U.S. needing 1.5 of the final 2 points, guess who's on the hook. Stricker (0-3) and Woods (0-3). Stricker is even after 16, but loses 17. Woods trails Molinari pretty much the whole way but becomes the only American to win 17 all day to go 1-up. But by the time they approach 18, it's all over, it doesn't matter.
But the fact is that both Stricker and Woods shot 1-over. They were only in their matches because Kamer and Molinary were also +1. Overall Europe is -27, America -9 on a course that was set up to optimize America's strengths and which also gave them the home ice advantage. 12 guys, -9. The best American, Mikkelson at -3, was bested by 4 Europeans--Rose at -7, Lawrie -6, McIlroy -5, Donald -4--and matched up another, Lee Westwood.
And the 17th hole was won by Europe 5 times, America 1, and halved 3.
18: Europe 4, America 1, halved 1.
17 and 18: Europe 9, America 2. Can you spell C-H-O-K-E?
Not only that but McIlroy beat Bradley by winning 14 and 15. Lawrie beat Snedecker by winning 11, 12, 13 and 15. Westwood beat Kuchar by winning 12, 13 and 15.
On the back nine Europe won 33 holes, the U.S. 26. But the ones that Europe won, won matches. The ones the U.S. won only prolonged the agony.
All in all, a total collapse, and indicative of a total lack of killer instinct from captain Davis Love on down.
The U.S., after all, led Europe 10-4 late Saturday afternoon. By the end of the festivities on Saturday, Europe had wrestled a vapor of hope out of the U.S., winning the last 2 matches to get within 10-6. Then on Sunday, as you know, the U.S. booted 8 of 11 matches while another was halved. Europe demolished the self-satisfied Americans 10.5-3.5 down the stretch to hang on to the Ryder Cup for another 2 years.
It's not just that the Americans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, it's how they did it.
First, Saturday afternoon. Up 8-4 after the Saturday morning foursomes, the afternoon started well enough as Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson routed Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose 5-and-4, and Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar edged Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie 1-up. Meanwhile Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson took an early 2-up lead over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.
The only fly in the ointment was an early 3-up lead by Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia over a struggling Steve Stricker-Tiger Woods team for the Americans. Early on the TV announcers, including Johnny Miller, said, hey, how about a team of Keegan Bradley and Tiger Woods. Stricker, let's be honest, had been terrible as he and his partner, Tiger, were the only Americans who hadn't yet won a point. He hadn't won a single hole in Friday's four ball and today Tiger would get 7 birdies and Strick a pair.
Bradley, meanwhile, had teamed with Phil Mikkelson to go 3-0 in the 1st 3 rounds. But captain Davis Love had said all along that he would rest everybody, and he even rested Tiger (and Stricker) on Saturday morning. But, as Miller said, if they win in the morning, they should play in the afternoon. OK, maybe you rest the 42-year-old Mikkelson but the 23-year-old Bradley, He can be tired next week, Miller said.
So Stricker and Woods predictably fall 3-down. But, wait, they come back within 1 (on a Woods birdie) on 16. Colsaerts matches another Woods birdie in 17. But on 18 the U.S. can still win the hole and halve the match. But no, Stricker lips out a short putt and the U.S. loses the point.
To make matters worse, Dufner and Johnson don't win a single hole after number 7 and Europe birdies everything from 13 on (McIlroy 13, Poulter 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) and Europe wins that point, too.
10-6 and all the momentum has shifted to Europe.
Sunday
So on Sunday Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who has been the village idiot previously, throws his best golfers out there early, hoping to capture some momentum. And wouldn't you know it, they win the 1st 5 matches by a cumulative 12-up and (in stroke terms) 24 below par. The U.S. is 7 under par for 5 guys.
Actually Dustin Johnson has closed out Colsaerts by the time the 5th match ends, so now it's tied at 11-11. The biggest matches are the Poulter-Simpson and Rose-Mikkelson match-ups. Simpson is 1-up after 16 and both golfers are even par. Poulter birdies 17 and 18. Match over. Similarly, Mikkelson leads Rose 1-up after 16, though in this case Rose is -5 and Mikkelson -3. Well, sure enough, Rose birdies 17 and 18, 17 with a 40-footer. Match over. U.S. pretty much dead.
From there it was just a question of the inevitable working its way out.
To wit, Jim Furyk leads Sergio Garcia 1-up after 16. Garcia wins both as Furyk finishes bogey-bogey. Match over. U.S. more dead.
Then with the U.S. needing 1.5 of the final 2 points, guess who's on the hook. Stricker (0-3) and Woods (0-3). Stricker is even after 16, but loses 17. Woods trails Molinari pretty much the whole way but becomes the only American to win 17 all day to go 1-up. But by the time they approach 18, it's all over, it doesn't matter.
But the fact is that both Stricker and Woods shot 1-over. They were only in their matches because Kamer and Molinary were also +1. Overall Europe is -27, America -9 on a course that was set up to optimize America's strengths and which also gave them the home ice advantage. 12 guys, -9. The best American, Mikkelson at -3, was bested by 4 Europeans--Rose at -7, Lawrie -6, McIlroy -5, Donald -4--and matched up another, Lee Westwood.
And the 17th hole was won by Europe 5 times, America 1, and halved 3.
18: Europe 4, America 1, halved 1.
17 and 18: Europe 9, America 2. Can you spell C-H-O-K-E?
Not only that but McIlroy beat Bradley by winning 14 and 15. Lawrie beat Snedecker by winning 11, 12, 13 and 15. Westwood beat Kuchar by winning 12, 13 and 15.
On the back nine Europe won 33 holes, the U.S. 26. But the ones that Europe won, won matches. The ones the U.S. won only prolonged the agony.
All in all, a total collapse, and indicative of a total lack of killer instinct from captain Davis Love on down.
Seattle 86 Lynx 79 2OT. Go On to Game 3.
The Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm will return to the Target Center for game 3 of their 1st round WNBA playoff series after the Storm outlasted the Lynx 86-79 in 2OT in game 2. The 2 teams will meet on Tuesday night October 2,
The Lynx led most of the way but just as in game 1, every Lynx lead precipitated the Seattle rally. It was 27-18 at the quarter break, for example, and 31-18 early in the 2nd period as Minnesota bridged the 1st and 2nd quarters with a 16-0 run. Maya Moore scored 7 of those 16 points while Monica Wright added 4.
Seattle roared back with a 15-3 run to get within 1 at halftime.
The Lynx then opened the 3rd with a quick 7-points. Seimone Augustus scored 9 quick points in the 3rd, and Minnesota led by as much as 10 (57-47). But again Seattle roared back to tie at 63. Still the Lynx led 69-65 with just 17 ticks left on the clock, and 70-67 when Taj Franklin-McWilliams missed a probable game and series-clinchng FT at 11 seconds. Lauren Jackson followed with a 3 with 1.1 seconds remaining to force OT.
The Lynx never trailed in the 1st OT but another 3, this one by Tanisha Wright at 24 seconds, forced the 2nd OT. This time it was Seattle that scored 1st to take the lead for only the 2nd time since 18-15. The Lynx never caught up, making just 2-of-7 shots in the 2nd OT while Seattle made 4-of-8. A Rebekah Brunson bucket at 2:06 got Minnesota within 81-79, but the Lynx never scored again.
Once again, it was not 3-time league MVP Jackson, just back from an injury, who was Seattle's secret weapon, it was their defense. The Lynx shot just 32.5 percent from the field (25 buckets out of 77 attempts) while Seattle shot 40 percent (31-of-77). The possession game was a wash as each team got 12 offensive boards, while Minnesota had 15 turnovers and the Storm 16.
After takiong its largest lead of the 2nd half at 57-47, Minnesota made just 3-of-16 FG the rest of the way, and all 3 were Brunson put-backs off the offensive glass. There were a remarkable zero baskets off the initial offense over the final 12:18 of regulation.
Jackson had 9 points, 14 boards, no assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Not a bad night's work. But the Lynx-killers were guards Sue Bird and Wright with 40 points on 13-of-23 shooting, plus 14 assists and 6 steals.
Brunson and Augustus led Minnesota with 22 and 20 points. Brunson added 15 boards. But the Lynx perimeter starters of Augustus, Moore and Lindsay Whalen made just 13-of-48 shots. Whalen was 2-for-15. The Lynx bench was out-scored 18-9.
The Lynx led most of the way but just as in game 1, every Lynx lead precipitated the Seattle rally. It was 27-18 at the quarter break, for example, and 31-18 early in the 2nd period as Minnesota bridged the 1st and 2nd quarters with a 16-0 run. Maya Moore scored 7 of those 16 points while Monica Wright added 4.
Seattle roared back with a 15-3 run to get within 1 at halftime.
The Lynx then opened the 3rd with a quick 7-points. Seimone Augustus scored 9 quick points in the 3rd, and Minnesota led by as much as 10 (57-47). But again Seattle roared back to tie at 63. Still the Lynx led 69-65 with just 17 ticks left on the clock, and 70-67 when Taj Franklin-McWilliams missed a probable game and series-clinchng FT at 11 seconds. Lauren Jackson followed with a 3 with 1.1 seconds remaining to force OT.
The Lynx never trailed in the 1st OT but another 3, this one by Tanisha Wright at 24 seconds, forced the 2nd OT. This time it was Seattle that scored 1st to take the lead for only the 2nd time since 18-15. The Lynx never caught up, making just 2-of-7 shots in the 2nd OT while Seattle made 4-of-8. A Rebekah Brunson bucket at 2:06 got Minnesota within 81-79, but the Lynx never scored again.
Once again, it was not 3-time league MVP Jackson, just back from an injury, who was Seattle's secret weapon, it was their defense. The Lynx shot just 32.5 percent from the field (25 buckets out of 77 attempts) while Seattle shot 40 percent (31-of-77). The possession game was a wash as each team got 12 offensive boards, while Minnesota had 15 turnovers and the Storm 16.
After takiong its largest lead of the 2nd half at 57-47, Minnesota made just 3-of-16 FG the rest of the way, and all 3 were Brunson put-backs off the offensive glass. There were a remarkable zero baskets off the initial offense over the final 12:18 of regulation.
Jackson had 9 points, 14 boards, no assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Not a bad night's work. But the Lynx-killers were guards Sue Bird and Wright with 40 points on 13-of-23 shooting, plus 14 assists and 6 steals.
Brunson and Augustus led Minnesota with 22 and 20 points. Brunson added 15 boards. But the Lynx perimeter starters of Augustus, Moore and Lindsay Whalen made just 13-of-48 shots. Whalen was 2-for-15. The Lynx bench was out-scored 18-9.
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