The Undefeated and the Winless

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I can't believe someone started keeping track of this before January.

I am not going to even look at the standing to determine winless and undefeated vs d3 until then.

[sac]

Winless Kalamazoo plays at D2 Northwood

Both winless teams playing 'up', likely to stay perfect.

If they play this game tonight (weather), I wouldn't sell Kzoo short, Northwood isn't a world beater, they beat an equal or lesser Olivet squad by 10 and lost to NAIA  Spring Arbor by 28.  Kzoo may break our hearts tonight, besides, after this the schedule lightens up, the Hornets should disappoint by Jan 1.

[hopefan]

Sac if you're still around, does Alma have a shot (at completing the season with a 0)?   Oops I see they have Oberlin and Marygrove next - I would assume each would at least present opportunity for a win.

One of the teams that is easy to point to as a candidate for an "imperfect" season is Maine Presque Isle - an old favorite of this board, - but circle Jan 27 on your calander - they  play Unity on that day - Unity is a non D3 team,  is currently 0-13 and losing games by an average of 38.8 points  -  there is hope for UMPI.

[David Collinge]

Sac if you're still around, does Alma have a shot (at completing the season with a 0)?   Oops I see they have Oberlin and Marygrove next - I would assume each would at least present opportunity for a win.

As of this moment, Alma is the 9-2 choice of the NCAC Pick'em contestants to defeat Oberlin Friday.  And Oberlin is already off the schneid, having defeated Earlham (who topped Lake Erie, who beat Wooster, who knocked off St. Thomas, who won at Winona St., presently the #5 ranked team in D2.)

[hopefan]

Which has to make Alma the favorite to win the MIAA  -  at least!!!!

[sac]

As of this moment, Alma is the 9-2 choice of the NCAC Pick'em contestants to defeat Oberlin Friday. 

I really don't know why,

Alma (0-5)
11/16/07  at Case Western.......  69-88  L
11/17/07  vs Lake Erie..........  44-74  L
11/21/07  FERRIS................  43-47  L
11/27/07  AQUINAS...............  49-72  L
12/4/07   at Madonna............  66-76  L

If they're basing it on a 4 point loss to a D2...........they should know that D2 is 3-4 with wins over Grace Bible, Alma and Saginaw Valley State.  Ferris will be battling SVSU for the right to be called the worst D2 in Michigan this year.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Alma is far more likely to get its win against Marygrove who just lost to Hope by 48.

[David Collinge]

As of this moment, Alma is the 9-2 choice of the NCAC Pick'em contestants to defeat Oberlin Friday. 

I really don't know why,

Alma (0-5)
11/16/07  at Case Western.......  69-88  L
11/17/07  vs Lake Erie..........  44-74  L
11/21/07  FERRIS................  43-47  L
11/27/07  AQUINAS...............  49-72  L
12/4/07   at Madonna............  66-76  L

If they're basing it on a 4 point loss to a D2...........they should know that D2 is 3-4 with wins over Grace Bible, Alma and Saginaw Valley State.  Ferris will be battling SVSU for the right to be called the worst D2 in Michigan this year.

Those are nailbiters compared to the Yeomen:

Oberlin (1-7)
11/16/07 at Swarthmore......62-81  L
11/17/07 at Haverford..........35-58  L
11/21/07 THOMAS MORE.......45-83  L
11/25/07 WILMINGTON.........50-78  L
11/27/07 at Case Western...51-88  L
12/01/07 ADRIAN..................54-85  L
12/05/07 WOOSTER..............54-94  L
12/08/07 at Earlham.............68-59  W

This game has Stinker-of-the-Year potential.  I think NCAC Pick'em contestants prefer Alma because they're familiar with Oberlin.  MIAA Pick'em contestants may be solidly behind the Yeomen.

[Mr. Ypsi]

David, you beat me to it (again!)  Pickers are often more down on the 'dog' they know than on someone else's 'dog'!

But 'Stinker-of-the-Year'?   Head up to New England for UMPI-Unity!

[sac]

Clearly Alma's reputation has been damaged by sandwiching respectable seasons of 10-16 and 10-15 around true disasters.

Alma
08...0-5
07...3-22
06...10-16
05...10-15
04...3-23
03...1-23
02...3-22

Total record 30-126 for .192

Oberlin
08...1-7
07...5-20
06...2-22
05...3-22
04...7-18
03...3-22
02...9-16*

Total record 30-127 for .191

But Alma holds a solid ace of spades in the hand with only 16 wins vs D3 competition (12 coming in 2 seasons), while Oberlin holds 29 wins vs D3.

..... but maybe Oberlin comes over the top with all 9 wins of 02 being declared forfeits (at least I think).

Well either way, this is truely a clash of Great Lakes titans.

[David Collinge]

Yeah, we can ignore the 01-02 season, when Oberlin cheated its way to nine wins.  Since then, the Yeo have won 21 times, vs. 27 for Alma.  Alma's wins may not be the most stellar, but can they claim to have more than half of them against the Murderer's Row that is Hiram (3), Earlham (3), Denison (2), and Kenyon (3)?  And needing overtime for three of those wins?  And having a losing record against each of these traditional powers (2-8 vs. Denison, 3-8 vs. Earlham, and 3-7 vs. the others)?  The bottom half of the NCAC commonly is among the worst Gangs of Five in the nation, and Oberlin serves as the Gang's doormat year in and year out. 

In other words, we need for Oberlin and Alma to play every year, preferably with Preque Isle as the visitors in a Caltech Holiday Tournament. 

[sac]

Alma can claim victories over Finlandia(2), Grace Bible (3), Marygrove (2), Trinity International, St. Mary's (not the MIAA women's version either) and a grand total of 11 MIAA league wins (8 over 2 seasons).  They can also claim a loss to Finlandia and one of their wins over Grace Bible came in OT.

Against the NCAC the Scots are 1-4, with losses to Witt, Allegheny, Denison, Wabash

As far as the Murderer's row of the NCAC, Alma can claim a 0-1 record with a loss to Denison........however we need to probably add Oberlin to the murderers row, in which case Alma's record balloon's to .500 vs said teams with a 68-52 win over Oberlin 11-17-2001.....in front of 75 friends and family.


Whats curious is how many times the Scots pummel themselves by scheduleing D2 teams.  9 times with a 1-8 record,  its even more curious that they beat one.

[David Collinge]

We need some sort of wager on this game, like the politicians do--except they usually bet for their own teams!  Like, say, if Oberlin wins, then they have to install a Michigan Man as their new President  (oops!  too late!), or something.  Any ideas? 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I've got it - how about the winner (loser?) has to adopt the other team's name?  The MIAA could really use some 'Yeomen', or it would be about time the NCAC had some decent 'Scots'!

[sac]

Like, say, if Oberlin wins, then they have to install a Michigan Man as their new President  (oops!  too late!), or something.  Any ideas? 

Too bad Oberlin couldn't find anyone with advanced education? 


Maybe the bet should be the loser has to endure watching the losing team in a game they have no rooting interest in?