WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I am not surprised the sectional is at IWU. I think it was all but assured as soon as Calvin loss. Strangely, maybe with the geography issue, etc. Calvin's presence would have made it a bit more likely Hope could have hosted.

It's hard to argue against IWU hosting in most years but they fact they could win it all without ever leaving Blo-No sure won't sit right with any other team in D3. Not just those stuck at IWU this coming weekend.

[iwumichigander]

It will probably surprise some, but even as a Titan fan I was hoping for the Sectional to be in Holland - for the selfish reason that I would have been there!  No way can I justify going to Bloomington on consecutive weekends.

Since I won't be at the Sectional, I'll cross my fingers that I have a Titan FF in my future.

Good luck to Hope - but not too much of it, please!

I somewhat agree.  It certainly would have been less travel and an easy decision to be in Holland this weekend versus the current decision tree: go to Bloomington for the women's sectional, go to Steven's Point for the men's or stay home, save shiny pennies and watch both on the web?

[iwumichigander]

I am not surprised the sectional is at IWU. I think it was all but assured as soon as Calvin loss. Strangely, maybe with the geography issue, etc. Calvin's presence would have made it a bit more likely Hope could have hosted.

It's hard to argue against IWU hosting in most years but they fact they could win it all without ever leaving Blo-No sure won't sit right with any other team in D3. Not just those stuck at IWU this coming weekend.

I think I can write for Mr Ypsi, myself and most of the Titan Nation that we understand some, most or maybe all other teams won't be happy.  IWU did not pick itself as a Final Four location any more than Hope did the past two years.  Its an NCAA Division III, and with the input of its D3 committee, decision.

However, as I posted on the CCIW board (without going into the various factors), this year IWU would have been the sectional host in this given bracket regardless of the location of the Final Four.

[rorurap]

It appears that teams like Marymount  are an afterthought in all of this and a road trip to the Sectionals was going to happen anyway.   I will offer a comment that will give the IWU and Hope posters a moment to catch their breath.  Imagine being able to travel to 2 sectional sites ( Kean and Amherst)  and still have to travel further than Hope has to travel to IWU.  Now imagine you are not going to those closer sites and are heading 758 miles to IWU.  I hope the 50 or so Marymount fans who might make the trip are well received and appreciated.  ( Stevens Point's big fan base will not be as challenged to make the 300 mile trek).       

[iwumichigander]

It appears that teams like Marymount  are an afterthought in all of this and a road trip to the Sectionals was going to happen anyway.   I will offer a comment that will give the IWU and Hope posters a moment to catch their breath.  Imagine being able to travel to 2 sectional sites ( Kean and Amherst)  and still have to travel further than Hope has to travel to IWU.  Now imagine you are not going to those closer sites and are heading 758 miles to IWU.  I hope the 50 or so Marymount fans who might make the trip are well received and appreciated.  ( Stevens Point's big fan base will not be as challenged to make the 300 mile trek).       

rorurap - IWU and Hope, with their long tournament histories, have had the same experience that Marymount fans face in this sectional.  We don't have to imagine it, we've done it.

You will find IWU a good experienced host.  It is fair to also say that Hope, Steven's Point and IWU have strong fan bases both at home and on the road.  Both IWU and Steven's Point fans have tough choices to make Sectional weekend as the men will be in the Steven's Point Men's Sectional which may impact attendance in Bloomington this upcoming weekend.  And, IWU starts its Spring Break Friday, March 12

[Dutchfan]

I just don't like the treatment that Amherst Kean has gotten. Hope has ten top twenty-five team in their region. that includes Hope.
Amherst has four Top Twenty-five teams.
Kean has three Top Twenty-Five temas.
Amherst is in Massachusetts and Kean is i New Jersey. they could have easily dispursed someof these teams between the three regions at least somewhat better.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I just don't like the treatment that Amherst Kean has gotten. Hope has ten top twenty-five team in their region. that includes Hope.
Amherst has four Top Twenty-five teams.
Kean has three Top Twenty-Five temas.
Amherst is in Massachusetts and Kean is i New Jersey. they could have easily dispursed someof these teams between the three regions at least somewhat better.

Could they have? Yes

Will they ever do that? No.  The financial reality will keep the NCAA from balancing regions unless the top teams are conveniently spread out geographically.  Some years are better than others but at the D3 level year in and year out one or two regions tend to be far harder than the other regions.

[rorurap]

"rorurap - IWU and Hope, with their long tournament histories, have had the same experience that Marymount fans face in this sectional.  We don't have to imagine it, we've done it."

tell me the worse "same experience" so I can feel better about our 758 mile trek. 

Also I agree with everyone that this is the toughest Regional.......... 3 top ten teams and 4 top 25 teams in one Sectional. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I am not surprised the sectional is at IWU. I think it was all but assured as soon as Calvin loss. Strangely, maybe with the geography issue, etc. Calvin's presence would have made it a bit more likely Hope could have hosted.

It's hard to argue against IWU hosting in most years but they fact they could win it all without ever leaving Blo-No sure won't sit right with any other team in D3. Not just those stuck at IWU this coming weekend.

I think I can write for Mr Ypsi, myself and most of the Titan Nation that we understand some, most or maybe all other teams won't be happy.  IWU did not pick itself as a Final Four location any more than Hope did the past two years.  Its an NCAA Division III, and with the input of its D3 committee, decision.
However, as I posted on the CCIW board (without going into the various factors), this year IWU would have been the sectional host in this given bracket regardless of the location of the Final Four.

Just to be factually correct, both schools went through a lot of work (and probably expense) to bid for the opportunity to host.  To say they had nothing to do with it is - well, just false.   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

"rorurap - IWU and Hope, with their long tournament histories, have had the same experience that Marymount fans face in this sectional.  We don't have to imagine it, we've done it."

tell me the worse "same experience" so I can feel better about our 758 mile trek. 

Also I agree with everyone that this is the toughest Regional.......... 3 top ten teams and 4 top 25 teams in one Sectional. 

2008 the Hope women played their sectional in Dallas - that's over 1000 miles

It's only 678 from Marymount to Hope.   

[sac]

A little history lesson.....


Hope's first National Championship came in 1990.......the Dutch never left Holland, MI.

This was back when the Final Four site was chosen the week before the game.

[iwumichigander]

"rorurap - IWU and Hope, with their long tournament histories, have had the same experience that Marymount fans face in this sectional.  We don't have to imagine it, we've done it."

tell me the worse "same experience" so I can feel better about our 758 mile trek. 

Also I agree with everyone that this is the toughest Regional.......... 3 top ten teams and 4 top 25 teams in one Sectional. 

OK, here is mine:  2003 IWU sent to Randolph-Macon Sectional in Ashland, Va.  and our opponent Hampden-Sydney.  From Bloomington - 849 miles 13 hours 29 minutes - if you are lucky.  We were not!  We routed ourselves through Washington, D.C.; got caught in a traffic jam on the beltway, in rain, caused by an accident.  We should have gotten to Ashland 3 hours before game time.  We arrived at half time to find IWU down 36-22.  We lost 76-68, turned araound the next day and drove home.

[rorurap]

I am glad I asked the question........... I am feeling better.  A 1000 miles to Dallas.  UGH! I think that song title won a CMA.  That Beltway traffic can really ruin a trip!!  Tell me about it.  BTW, I know Hope is closer to Marymount than IWU .   Its still 758 to IWU and I want credit for every mile!!  Ain't commin round here no more. Thanks for info. Best Regards.

[gordonmann]

I just don't like the treatment that Amherst Kean has gotten. Hope has ten top twenty-five team in their region. that includes Hope.
Amherst has four Top Twenty-five teams.
Kean has three Top Twenty-Five temas.]I just don't like the treatment that Amherst Kean has gotten. Hope has ten top twenty-five team in their region. that includes Hope.
Amherst has four Top Twenty-five teams.
Kean has three Top Twenty-Five temas.

That's one way of looking at it.  I can see where you're unhappy with the distribution of the teams in the tournament if you judge it based on our Top 25.

But remember that Amherst played in a conference with four other teams who made the NCAA tournament and won at least one game.  Two of them - Bowdoin and Williams - are still going.  And if Williams gets eliminated, it'll be by Amherst.  Despite all that, Amherst went undefeated.  Hope is a great team - in fact I'd take them over Amherst head-to-head - but the MIAA is nowhere near as deep as the NESCAC.  

As for Kean, they have one loss and it's to Division I Rutgers.  Take a look at their margin of victory against Top 25 ranked Scranton and William Paterson (first meeting).  They played one ranked team in their regional, as did Hope, and beat them handily, as did Hope.

It's hard to argue against either Amherst or Kean geting to host this weekend.  Even if Hope (or DePauw, or possibily anyone else in Hope's region) was placed in the same region, the Flying Dutch would be travelling this weekend.

[Ralph Turner]

"rorurap - IWU and Hope, with their long tournament histories, have had the same experience that Marymount fans face in this sectional.  We don't have to imagine it, we've done it."

tell me the worse "same experience" so I can feel better about our 758 mile trek. 

Also I agree with everyone that this is the toughest Regional.......... 3 top ten teams and 4 top 25 teams in one Sectional. 

2008 the Hope women played their sectional in Dallas - that's over 1000 miles

It's only 678 from Marymount to Hope.   

Not Dallas, Brownwood, TX.  Hope had a charter flight into the Brownwood airport!

Brown County, TX is sacred soil! 

That Elite 8 game in the Brown County Mausoleum was a classic!

They put in a new floor, lighting and scoreboard to upgrade the facilities so HPU might have a chance to host.  They went undefeated that season, and got a perfect storm of the three teams needing fly to a sectional to make it possible.

I have no idea when/if Texas will get to host a sectional again.