Unless Seth Anderson decides to make a late run at the GOP nomination for President of the United States – and judging by how the Gustavus network alone mobilized during the Vote For Seth campaign, he would have a pretty good shot – this should be one of last articles written on the senior guard this year…hypothetically.
It’s only fitting then that Seth Anderson caps his senior year not only with a trip to Reese’s Division III College All-Star game, but by also a spot on two All-America Teams. Anderson earns a spot on both the 2012 National Association of Basketball Coaches’ (NABC) Division III and D3hoops.com All-America Teams. Anderson earns second team honors on both squads, becoming the first player in Gustavus men’s basketball history to accomplish this feat.
“It’s very humbling and exiting to be considered an All-American. To earn recognition on a national scale like this is surreal. It says a lot about how successful the Gustavus men’s basketball program is under the direction of coach Hanson,” said Seth Anderson.
“I certainly would not have gotten to this level without great people around me. The coaches, teammates, fans, managers and all those with ties to Gustie basketball have certainly made this ride a once in a lifetime experience.”
Seth Anderson’s season began with one of the best games ever played by a player in a Gustavus uniform. On Nov. 15th, 2011 in Gustavus’ season-opener against Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa, Anderson proceeded to go 18-for-28 from the field, 8-for-10 at the free throw line, and 1-for-2 from three point range to score a Gustavus single-game record 45 points. The previous single-game record of 41 points set by D.L. Smith against UM-Duluth stood for an amazing 54 years before Anderson’s outburst in Storm Lake.
Anderson’s 45-point showing proved not to a fluke through the remainder of the season, as the senior scored over 30 points six times while reaching the 20-point plateau on 15 occasions. Starting in all 28 games and averaging 29.5 minutes per game, Anderson finished the season with a 21.5 points per game scoring average (21st/NCAA).
The Gustavus men’s basketball team returned to the bright lights of the national stage after its most successful season since the 2004-05 year. The Gustavus men’s basketball team finished 20-8 overall and 16-4 in the MIAC, winning its seventh title under the direction of Head Coach Mark Hanson. Despite falling to St. Thomas 66-62 in their 14th appearance in the MIAC Playoff Championship game on Feb. 26th, the Gusties earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time (13th total) since 2005. Gustavus’ run in the dance came to an end in River Falls, Wis. after suffering 68-60 loss to Wheaton College in the first round.
Gustavus’ banner year coincided with a banner year from its senior captain. Anderson scored a league-high 601 points and shot .537 (240-447) from the field, falling just three points shy of Gustavus’ single-season scoring record of 604 points held by Luke Schmidt in the 1997-98 season. The most standout stat for Anderson this season was not his point total, but the process by which he reached that total. Taking away his 116 free throws and only five three pointers, Seth scored a striking 78-percent of his points on two-point field goals (the majority coming from mid-range jump shots).
At the conclusion of the season, the accolades began streaming in. Following the MIAC Playoff Championship, Anderson received the MIAC’s Joe Hutton Player-of-the-Year Award on a spot on the All-Conference team for the second consecutive season. He is just the fourth Gustavus men’s basketball player to earn the league’s MVP honor, joining the ranks of Jay Klagge (1991-92), Scott Lauinger (1995-96), and Doug Espenson (2004-05).
From there, Seth took home a pair of first team honors within the west region. The MIAC MVP was named to the NABC Division III All-District West First Team and D3hoops.com All-West Region First Team. Amongst the players in the West selected to either of the two teams, Anderson’s scoring average ranked second only to UW-Whitewater’s Chris Davis’ 22.2 points per game average. Seth and Doug Espenson `05 are the only two Gustie basketball players to earn first team honors from both the NABC and D3hoops.com.
Over the course of his four-year career, Anderson played in a total of 95 games, scoring a total of 1,197 points (19th in Gustavus history) and shooting a career .524 (486-927) from the field. Seth will graduate this spring with a degree in elementary education, hoping someday to follow in the footsteps his father and become a teacher and a high school basketball coach.
“As a player, Seth is a guy who brings his hard-hat every day. There is never a practice or game that you question his effort or intent, something that has led to a number of well-deserved honors,” said senior teammate Tyler Grey. “As a person, he is a guy you want around you. Not only is he hilarious, he is also someone who cares deeply about his friends, family and his teammates.”
Seth is the second player in program history to earn a spot on the NABC All-America Team. Doug Espenson also received second team honors in the 2004-05 season.
“It is a great statement about Seth and the year he had that he was recognized as an All-American. He played with great passion and it is a testament to his work ethic and his teammates that he accomplished so much this season,” said Head Coach Mark Hanson.
Anderson will play one more game as a collegiate basketball player Saturday, March 17th at the Reese’s Division III College All-Star game being held prior to the NCAA Division III championship game, which begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va.