WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Roundball999]

Newest regional rankings are out:

1   Ohio Northern   23-0   24-1
2   DePauw   19-0   25-0
3   Hope 21-1   24-1
4   Calvin   18-1   22-2
5   Thomas More   24-1   24-1
6   La Roche   21-2   22-2
7   Otterbein   19-5   20-5
8   Franklin   19-4   21-4

I couldn't disagree more with how they put Hope above Calvin.  Yes Hope did just win last weekend but the numbers do not add up.  Calvin's SOS is .511 and Hope's is .494.  Calvin is 2-1 vs regionally ranked opponents while Hope is 1-1.  I think the committee got it wrong here.

But the good thing is all of this will be taken care of if Calvin and Hope meet on Saturday.  I see the winner getting the #3 spot in the final rankings, unless Ohion Northern or DePauw lose (which is not likely).  This will be big as I don't see the NCAA giving anyone below a #3 in the regional rankings the chance to host.  It seems to be rare that they even give a #3 the chance to host, but they did 2 years ago with Hope.

I agree that the Hope/Calvin winner will likely end up #3 in region unless ON or DePauw are upset.  You mentioned SOS and record vs RRO which are two primary criteria and both favor Calvin.  But Hope has a better in-region winning percent, by way of having played 3 more in-region games, and Hope arguably won the head to head.  These are also both primary criteria.  When everything else seems pretty even, I think it's pretty sensible to give the head to head the most weight to break the tie.

But we are fortunate that if things go according to form, the issue will be decided by the girls on the court.  Except for that darn coin toss.  But that's another can of worms for another day.... 

[bballfan13]

I'd like to understand what the committee looks at when it looks at head to head.  Maybe someone with more knowledge could speak to it, such as Pat or Dave.  Do they look at the W and L or do they look at scores?  If they are strictly looking at the W and L then Calvin and Hope would be split as they each won at home.  If they look at the scores than obviously Hope has the advantage here.  I think looking just at the scores brings up different questions, good and bad.  But I'm interested to see what they look at here.

Also, I thought that when the committee couldn't decide between 2 teams with the primary criteria they go to secondary criteria.  I haven't played out what that would look like for Calvin and Hope, but might do so later.  If we really go by what they say as all of the primary criteria is weighted the same then they would not weigh the head to head more in this case, they would go to the secondary criteria.

Not trying to stir anything up, just was a little surprised I guess.  Really it seems as though I may just be splitting hairs, but I am curious 

And thank you Rball for pointing out I only did mention the criteria that favored Calvin, you are correct, my apologies 

[Pat Coleman]

It's a great question and I'm not sure if there is an answer, because every committee member could weigh things differently. I'd like to think a home-road aspect comes into it but for a home-and-home series, that's generally going to be a wash when teams split.

[bballfan13]

Thanks for chiming in Pat, I appreciate it 

[neilrocks]

Trine starts 0-15 from the floor against Calvin.  Ouch!!!!!

Updated, finally 1-17

With 6 minutes to go in 1st half, 1-24

With 146 to go, 3-30, Sydney spragg, 1-10

Halftime, 3-32, down 40-11

[neilrocks]

Former Hope PG Brad Duistermars, one of the refs doing the Hope women's semi-final game.

Former Hope student-assistant, JR Schoon, one of the refs doing the Calvin women's semi- final game

[sac]

Everyone will be shocked to learn both Hope and Calvin won......um, comfortably

3pm Saturday at VanNoord, women's finals

[wwjjdd]

Hope's Meredith Kussmaul left the game in the 2nd half after going down hard.  The trainers were working on her right ankle/foot.  No information as to what she injured specifically, and the severity of any injury.  I am crossing my fingers and any other extremity I can cross that she is ok. 

[jspiii]

Hope's Meredith Kussmaul left the game in the 2nd half after going down hard.  The trainers were working on her right ankle/foot.  No information as to what she injured specifically, and the severity of any injury.  I am crossing my fingers and any other extremity I can cross that she is ok.

Judging by the amount of tape the trainers had to take off the ankle to treat it, looks like it might have been a lingering injury. I wish i could read something into the short convo Coach Mo had with her near the end of the game, with Kussmaul nodding her head and responding with a high 5.

[Roundball999]

Hope's Meredith Kussmaul left the game in the 2nd half after going down hard.  The trainers were working on her right ankle/foot.  No information as to what she injured specifically, and the severity of any injury.  I am crossing my fingers and any other extremity I can cross that she is ok. 

It's definitely an ankle, intial thinking is that she may be ready for Saturday, but too early to tell.

[gohope]

Congratulations Liz!   


http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1037514590/Liz-Ellis-scores-1-000th-career-point-in-MIAA-Tournament-win

[monsoon]

Newest regional rankings are out:

1   Ohio Northern   23-0   24-1
2   DePauw   19-0   25-0
3   Hope 21-1   24-1
4   Calvin   18-1   22-2
5   Thomas More   24-1   24-1
6   La Roche   21-2   22-2
7   Otterbein   19-5   20-5
8   Franklin   19-4   21-4

These top 5 appear to be so even that any means of figuring out an order is going to get down to splitting hairs; not very often a team is ranked #7 in the nation and only #5 in region as is the case for Thomas More.  Let's just hope the national committee finds a way to separate them in the brackets.

[Calvinhoops]

Thomas More is really good too.....just ask Calvin!

[bballfan13]

Great video on the Verkaik girls:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/sports/ncaa_bball/3-sisters-make-calvin-team-a-family

[Roundball999]

Hope over Calvin 62-59.  Both teams should be proud of playing a hard fought, back and forth game that was absolutely fitting for the Rivalry.  Carissa Verkaik had a monster game with 24 pts and 13 rebs and it was only an equally monsterous game from Courtney Kust (career high 29 pts and 6 rebs) that put Hope in a position to sneak a win at Van Noord.  As a Flying Dutch fan, it's my sincere wish that we don't see the Knights again this year unless both teams are fortunate enough to make it to the national championship game at DeVos.  Wouldn't that be something?