Another Trip To The Postseason?

MIAC men's basketball preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

Click here for the complete MIAC men's basketball preview

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The 2015-16 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) men's basketball season is about to tip off and, while the conference typically features strong teams at the top and remarkable depth throughout, this season certainly could be one of the most competitive and memorable to date.

A year ago, the University of St. Thomas (24-4, 17-3 MIAC) continued its decade-long reign atop the MIAC standings, as Head Coach John Tauer and the Tommies won their 10th-straight MIAC title. The championship was also the 30th overall for UST, which is 11 more than any other conference program. This year, St. Thomas will try for title No. 11 and they enter ranked No. 4 in the nation by D3hoops.com, but the field of contenders aiming for their spot at the top is both deep and dangerous.

St. Olaf (23-6, 16-4 MIAC) brings back a ton of talent from its team that made a memorable run to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen a year ago after challenging the Tommies for the MIAC title into the season's final week. The Oles are also ranked at No. 15 in the nation, as the team aims for a third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Bethel (19-9, 13-7 MIAC) also returns with ideas of contending after reaching the MIAC Playoff championship game, where it saw a last-second game-tying shot rim out at the buzzer as St. Thomas added the Playoff title to its regular-season crown. The Royals are receiving votes in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.

Saint John's (16-10, 14-6 MIAC) enters a new era, as Head Coach Jim Smith retired after 51 seasons on the Johnnies' bench, but new Head Coach Pat McKenzie has plenty to build on with most of SJU's talent back in Collegeville and contention for the conference championship firmly in their sights. Gustavus (16-11, 11-9 MIAC) and Concordia (15-11, 11-9 MIAC) shared fifth place last season and each team also brings back plenty of talent to have them eyeing a return to the MIAC Playoffs or more.  

A trio of teams - Augsburg (11-14, 8-12 MIAC), Carleton (11-14, 8-12 MIAC), and Hamline (11-14, 8-12 MIAC) - shared seventh place in the conference standings and just missed out on a trip to the MIAC postseason tournament, and all three have high hopes of earning a Playoff bid in 2015-16. Meanwhile Macalester (6-19, 3-17 MIAC) and Saint Mary's (4-21, 1-19 MIAC) enter the new season with high hopes to continue their improvement and ascend upward in the conference standings.

This season is certainly shaping up as one to remember in the MIAC. The Tommies' quest for an 11th-straight title is littered with veteran, proven contenders. There are 10 All-Conference players all back to give the MIAC some serious star power. Also, if last year's MIAC Playoffs were any indication, games could routinely come down to the final buzzer, as the semifinals and championship included one overtime game, two that came down to the final shot, and all three were decided by eight points or less. If that's going to be the case again in 2015-16, tip off can't come soon enough.

TOMMIES TOP COACHES' POLL
The MIAC head coaches all predict that the Tommies' quest for title No. 11 in a row will be successful, as the team was a unanimous choice atop the 2015-16 MIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. St. Thomas received 10 first-place votes and 100 points in a system where coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.

However, the coaches' votes definitely reveal both the parity at the top, and the top contenders to end UST's streak. Saint John's received 84 points to finish second in the poll, while St. Olaf was just two points behind the Johnnies in third with 82 points and the other first-place vote. The fourth- and fifth-place teams were also neck-and-neck, as Bethel received 73 points to finish fourth, with Gustavus close behind in fifth place.

Concordia received 51 points to finish sixth in the poll, which would put the Cobbers into the final MIAC Playoff bid. However, the coaches also expect Augsburg (44) and Carleton (42) to challenge for a postseason spot as well. Hamline (26) edged Macalester (22) for ninth place with Saint Mary's (10) rounding out the final spot in the preseason predictions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Thomas' quest for another MIAC title is bolstered by the return of three talented upper-classmen who are ready to lead another typically-balanced Tommie team. Senior forward Ryan Saarela and senior guard Taylor Montero were both All-MIAC selections a year ago, and junior guard Grant Shaeffer is allso back after earning Honorable Mention honors.

McKenzie's transition to head coach will certain be eased by the stars that Saint John's welcomes back in the backcourt. Seniors Mitchell Kuck and Alex Schmitt both earned All-MIAC honors last season while both averaging more than 15 points per game, and fellow senior Joe Risinger was an Honorable Mention pick who also scored in double figures to give SJU a strong, veteran-laden team this season.

St. Olaf brings back most of its key players from last year's Sweet 16 run minus All-MIAC guard Sterling Nielsen. However, All-MIAC center Ben Figini and his 16.9 points per game return to give the Oles a dominant presence inside, and seniors Justin Pahl (All-MIAC) and Riley Aeikens (All-Defensive Team) will certainly help ease the loss of Nielsen in the backcourt as St. Olaf aims for a MIAC title and more postseason success.

Bethel likely has the biggest hole to fill following the graduation of MIAC Player-of-the-Year Kyle Zimmerman, but Head Coach Doug Novak's team hast all its other key pieces back after last year's run to the MIAC Playoff title game. Two-time All-MIAC guard Brycen Wojta and fellow All-Conference guard Bridgeport Tusler give the Royals one of the MIAC's best guard tandems, and forward Kyle von Schmidt-Pauli also returns to help fill in some of Zimmerman's numbers up front.

Gustavus nearly had a spot in the MIAC Playoff title game as well a year ago, falling to St. Thomas in overtime after the Tommies tied the game with a buzzer beater to end regulation. The good news is the postseason experience should benefit a Gustie team that brings back a strong, balanced roster. Guard Gary Cooper and post Brody Ziegler were both All-MIAC Honorable Mention picks a year ago and appear to be headed for big senior seasons, and fellow senior Sergio Najera gives the team another talented player in the paint.

Concordia hopes for another trip to the postseason and expectations are high in Moorhead behind a talented senior trio. Two-time All-MIAC Jordan Bolger is back for his final season, and teammates Tom Fraase and Brady Syverson also return to lead the Cobbers. Augsburg has some questions in the backcourt after the graduation of Parker Hines, but the Auggies have a solid front line behind the forward trio of Collin Olmscheid, Brett Rasmussen and Joe Zangel.

Carleton graduated All-MIAC and All-Defensive Team pick Shane McSparron from the backcourt, but the Knights have a young core they're excited to build around. Forward Kevin Grow is back after earning West Region Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and he's joined by juniors Tianen Chen and Mitchell Biewen. Hamline also has big shoes to fill after the graduation of All-MIAC forward Dior Ford, but a backcourt tandem of sophomores Zach Smith and Quinton Garvis and junior Dylan See-Rockers have the Hutton Arena faithful about the Pipers' progress.

Macalester hopes to continue improving, with that hope fueled by a strong returning duo. Center Kareem Ismail earned All-MIAC honors a season ago, and he'll team up with guard Dylan Kilgour to lead the Scots again this season. Saint Mary's also has its sights set on upward movement in 2015-16 with all of its key players back, led by a strong front line of forwards that includes Will Swiggum, Wylie Ferron and Mark Schumacher.

CIRCLE THESE DATES
The good news for fans is that tip off for the 2015-16 MIAC men's basketball season isn't far off. The season officially tips off on Friday, Nov. 13, with three teams - Saint Mary's, St. Olaf and Macalester - all in action. Gustavus, St. Thomas, Bethel and Concordia all open their season the following day, with the rest of the MIAC's teams to follow over the course of the next week.

Teams will all open with nonconference action throughout November, with MIAC play set to start on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Most teams will play four MIAC games over December's first two weeks, before the conference season hits pause for the semester and Holiday break. MIAC play will be back to start the new year on Friday, Jan. 2, and will run through the final day of the regular season, Saturday, Feb. 20. The MIAC Playoffs will follow for the top six teams on Feb. 24, 26, and 28, and the winner will receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2015-16 MIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (10 for first, nine for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.