WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[HopeCSO]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuK5iGIyYc8

A great example of the heart at Hope. We are proud of our girls and coaching staff...Thank you for an amazing 2009-2010 season!

[Hope Dutch]

In the previous year losses to Howard Payne and George Fox, I think the cold shooting could be attributed to incredibly intense defense from the opponents.  I don't think that was the case yesterday.  Hope had a number of good looks from the outside that just plain didn't fall.  I don't think it was a poor game plan, just one of those nights.  I agree that the officials let Wash U get away with a little too much in defending Carrie, including having arms literally wrapped around her on multiple occasions.  But we still had opportunities to overcome the officiating and it just didn't happen.

I did read something interesting regarding Jamie McFarlin.  The GR Press said she is a graduate student.  Having a graduate school gives players a opportunity to use a final year of eligibility that will exist at very few D3 schools.  Players at most other D3 schools complete their education and move on to the next phase of life.  With Wash U, they can move on toward a graduate degree and continue participating in D3 undergraduate sports.  Wow, talk about an advantage!

[hope1]

that was really nice  news clip   what a great  year   32-2    and what great seniors they were  i think hope will be back next year

[md241]

The facts PROVE he cannot win the big games on the NATIONAL stage. His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3. It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that. It's like building a beautiful mansion with balsa wood-nice to look at, but really flimsy! The purpose is to WIN the championship, not just get there. 32-1, 32-2 seasons  are great and beating Calvin is awesome, but if you keep losing in the big games, it's like polishing a turd.

[hopefan]

Hope Dutch.....   Any NCAA athlete has 5 years to complete 4 years of eligibility..... Jaimie McFarlane, just like Sean Wallis on the men's side, missed playing a year of undergrad due to injury, and played their fourth year by staying in school at the graduate level.  A student who misses a year due to injury could also simply extend their undergrad education by holding off on graduation or electing to go to school for a 5th year to get a second undergrad degree.  If there is any advantage at Wash U it is only the availability of many outstanding graduate programs.   As your post suggests, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY to students at schools with graduate programs.

and to md241, VERY disappointing posts.....

[Hope Dutch]

The facts PROVE he cannot win the big games on the NATIONAL stage. His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3. It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that. It's like building a beautiful mansion with balsa wood-nice to look at, but really flimsy! The purpose is to WIN the championship, not just get there. 32-1, 32-2 seasons  are great and beating Calvin is awesome, but if you keep losing in the big games, it's like polishing a turd.

I am hoping these comments are meant to stir the pot a little as opposed to representing your true opinions.  I can't imagine any human realistically expecting national championships each and every year.  Do you have any concept of what it takes to beat the nations best every time?  It takes a great team and a little luck.  Everything has to go well.  

I am sure you remember Kaitlyn Kopke's ACL injury 2 years ago.  How many teams could overcome losing one of your best defenders / ball handlers and still win even one NCAA game.  And last year Jenny Cowen had an ankle injury that prevented her from playing anywhere close to 100%.  Were these Brian's fault?  I am sure you will find a way to blame him...And this year Liz Ellis has the foot injury.  Although she didn't get anywhere near the recognition she deserved, she has been a huge factor in the team's success.  She has had the play the entire tournament without being able to change directions the way she wants or push off for her shots.  She was still incredible, but would have been even better if healthy.  I am guessing a healthy foot would have helped her knock down some additional shots and come up with a few more steals (assuming she doesn't get another underved foul called).  Have you factored any of these situations into your expectations?

There is no other D3 coach in the country that can match Brian's success, either in the regular season or the tournament.  We are so blessed to have him.  Maybe you could talk Geno Auriemma or Pat Summitt into coming to Hope??  And to tell you the truth, I wouldn't even want them to be a part of the program.  As Philly said in her post game interview, Hope basketball is about a lot more than just a trophy.  Brian has built an incredible tradition of success while also building relationships, values, etc.  As a Hope alum, I can't imagine and couldn't want any more from a program.

Congratulations to all of the Hope players and coaches.  You have all made the Hope nation (except for md241) extremely proud!!!

[sac]

Wonderful day in Bloomington Saturday......Hope brought an awesome group of fans to cheer on their Dutch.

Probably for the first time this year Hope played a team that could defend as well as they could, and were almost as deep as they were.  Combine that with a tough night shooting and it was mostly an up hill battle all day for Hope.  Sometimes its just not your day.  (Cowen's in and out 3 point shot late was the perfect example of that, that shot was a potential game changer)

Washington had 2 or 3 players that Hope had great difficulty stopping them from getting to the basket, and when Hope did defend well enough to force jump shots, the Bears knocked them down.  I came away very impressed with the poise of both of these teams........Hope fought all day and Washington continued to execute at key moments of the game.



I don't think anyone will ever understand the amount of intense pressure this group of Hope women have faced for the last 3 years.  All anyone has talked about at Hope games, men and women, for the 2 previous years was getting a chance to host and play in the final four.  And this season, despite the added pressure of the possibility of hosting the final four being gone........the expectation was still that anything short of making it to Bloomington would be a disappointment.  Yet they responded in every way possible, made it to Bloomington and gave it their best shot......you simply can't ask for anything more than that.

Hope had well over 1000 in attendance Saturday and I can tell you 99.9% loved every minute of watching this group of young ladies represent themselves and the school most of us love with all the heart and determination they could muster.


Hope has lost 5 women's basketball games in the last 3 seasons, 3 of those came to teams who won the National Champioship.

Brian Morehouse has built Hope into a division III Women's power, one that has earned the respect of many other coaches, players and fans across the country.  At this current place in Hope's athletic history, the Hope women's program has become its shining star.

[almcguirejr]

The facts PROVE he cannot win the big games on the NATIONAL stage. His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3. It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that. It's like building a beautiful mansion with balsa wood-nice to look at, but really flimsy! The purpose is to WIN the championship, not just get there. 32-1, 32-2 seasons  are great and beating Calvin is awesome, but if you keep losing in the big games, it's like polishing a turd.

Tom Izzo has the same problem can't ever win the big game.  He like Morehouse has only one national championship.  He gets to the final four and can't win it regularly.  Maybe Hope and MSU should  be looking for new coaches.

[Ralph Turner]

The facts PROVE he cannot win the big games on the NATIONAL stage. His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3.

It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.

Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that. It's like building a beautiful mansion with balsa wood-nice to look at, but really flimsy! The purpose is to WIN the championship, not just get there. 32-1, 32-2 seasons  are great and beating Calvin is awesome, but if you keep losing in the big games, it's like polishing a t*rd.

His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3.  Correction.  His post-season record in the last three seasons for the Final Four and Elite 8 games is 2-3.

It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.  I'm certain that Wash U Coach Nancy Fahey is glad that you aren't her boss.  She had not won a national championship since the four in a row that she won from 1998-2001.

Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that.  In the last five  years, we have had five different champions.  Here are the five year records.  I have not found a better record in the country that Coach Morehouse.  He appears to be the most successful coach in the last 5 years.

Championship Year	Team	5-Year Record	Hope's season
2006	Hope	146-10	Champion; Beat DPU in the "16". WashU in the "8"
2007	DePauw	136-19	DPU beat Pool C Calvin in the Elite 8. Pool A Hope lost to Denison in the first round.
2008	HPU	130-19	Lost at HPU in the Elite 8
2009	George Fox	122-21	Lost at Thomas More in the Elite 8
2010	Wash U	133-21	Lost in the Championship Game

[Hwbb]

In the light of a new day, seven impressions from the Final Four:

1. I think every school uniquely appreciates their players, but if there are two classier people than Hope outgoing seniors Jenny Cowen and Philly Greene, we'd all be better people if we could meet them.  Those two deserve our highest commendation.
2. I think many, not all, schools also appreciate their head coach. We have at Hope this rare combination of great game-planner, teacher, and role model all wrapped up in Brian Morehouse. We are privileged.
3. I think it's harder to win a championship playing the second Friday semifinal game than the first, given the early Saturday start time. Not impossible—goodness no. But harder, one extra hurdle, both from the standpoint of rest and the good look the first-game winning coach gets of the second-game teams.
4. I think there's a benefit to the team that's had at least one of the officials ref at least one of their games already that season. Not because officials are biased—goodness no. But because great coaches (like Nancy Fahey) can game plan around the observed tendencies of the officials—and I suspect she did.
5. I think a really good pep band adds appreciably to the atmosphere of the game. IWU has a great band, and I wish Hope would get a great band for the DeVos.
6. I think it's amazing a thousand people came to support Hope in Bloomington. And I'd like to see more Hope students (yes, Dew Crew—you!) also support the team.
7. I think in the end you gotta make shots to win games.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

The facts PROVE he cannot win the big games on the NATIONAL stage. His postseason record in the Elite Eight and Final Four in the last 3 years is 1-3. It's great he gets them there, but that championship in 2006 is 5 years ago.Face it, it's a "what have you done for me lately" society, and he's failed in that. It's like building a beautiful mansion with balsa wood-nice to look at, but really flimsy! The purpose is to WIN the championship, not just get there. 32-1, 32-2 seasons  are great and beating Calvin is awesome, but if you keep losing in the big games, it's like polishing a turd.

I always love a good debate and welcome everyone to post their toughts, but in your case...


You are a troll - GO AWAY AND DO NOT COME BACK!!!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

In the light of a new day, seven impressions from the Final Four:

1. I think every school uniquely appreciates their players, but if there are two classier people than Hope outgoing seniors Jenny Cowen and Philly Greene, we’d all be better people if we could meet them.  Those two deserve our highest commendation.
2. I think many, not all, schools also appreciate their head coach. We have at Hope this rare combination of great game-planner, teacher, and role model all wrapped up in Brian Morehouse. We are privileged.
3. I think it’s harder to win a championship playing the second Friday semifinal game than the first, given the early Saturday start time. Not impossible—goodness no. But harder, one extra hurdle, both from the standpoint of rest and the good look the first-game winning coach gets of the second-game teams.
4. I think there’s a benefit to the team that’s had at least one of the officials ref at least one of their games already that season. Not because officials are biased—goodness no. But because great coaches (like Nancy Fahey) can game plan around the observed tendencies of the officials—and I suspect she did.
5. I think a really good pep band adds appreciably to the atmosphere of the game. IWU has a great band, and I wish Hope would get a great band for the DeVos.
6. I think it’s amazing a thousand people came to support Hope in Bloomington. And I’d like to see more Hope students (yes, Dew Crew—you!) also support the team.
7. I think in the end you gotta make shots to win games.

Completely agree with point 3.  Nearly every Hope miss yesterday was short.  That typically happens when you "have no legs".  Not only did Hope have the second game on Friday, it was later than expected, with the first game going into OT, and then the extra delay while the lights went out.  WashU had a 3 more hours rest between games, which is significant.  Not blaming the loss on it, just stating the facts.

If your point 4 is true, that would violate NCAA rules - since I believe the officials must have not officiated any game with the competing teams this year.

[Hwbb]

4. I think there's a benefit to the team that's had at least one of the officials ref at least one of their games already that season. Not because officials are biased—goodness no. But because great coaches (like Nancy Fahey) can game plan around the observed tendencies of the officials—and I suspect she did.

If your point 4 is true, that would violate NCAA rules - since I believe the officials must have not officiated any game with the competing teams this year.

FDF, I don't have a clue if that's the rule or not. But a quick check of box scores shows a Leslie Boucher officiated the WashU-Brandeis game on February 12 and a Leslie Boucher officiated yesterday. So whether it's against the rules or not, it did happen.

[pointlem]

4. I think there's a benefit to the team that's had at least one of the officials ref at least one of their games already that season. Not because officials are biased—goodness no. But because great coaches (like Nancy Fahey) can game plan around the observed tendencies of the officials—and I suspect she did.

Completely agree with point 3.  Nearly every Hope miss yesterday was short.  That typically happens when you "have no legs".  Not only did Hope have the second game on Friday, it was later than expected, with the first game going into OT, and then the extra delay while the lights went out.  WashU had a 3 more hours rest between games, which is significant.  Not blaming the loss on it, just stating the facts.

I wondered the same Friday night, given the combination of the time zone change, the delayed game start because of the OT and all the official time outs, and then the 19 minute light failure.  It meant the second game ended late, making sleep, soon after, more difficult for some fans if not for players!

If FDF and Hwbb are right about this, then Rochester should also have shown the effect.  And they sure seemed to.  They shot noticeably worse on Saturday--18 percent for the game.  They weren't close to the same team that Hope faced.  In hindsight, I wish Hope could have faced Wash U. the first night . . . but such was the luck of the time draw.  

[sac]

Most of Hope's misses came up short, thats a sure sign of tired legs.  But even still I think Hope had their chances and its not as if Hope has never played late on Friday and come back for a mid-day game the next day before.


I'd rather see both the men's and women's title game contested in the evening, but television dictates the starting times.