WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[KnightSlappy]

It's looking pretty far down the road to speculate on this (since I'm not a coach or player I can do that) but if both Calvin and Hope survive the first two games, how likely is it that the sectional would be hosted right here in West Michigan? It certainly would reduce travel for the participating teams, and result in a large and loud D3 hoops environment if both advanced to play one another in a national quarterfinal.

I would say it would require Thomas More to lose in round 1 or 2.

It looks like Calvin is the "2" seed and Hope is the "3".

[Dark Knight]

It's looking pretty far down the road to speculate on this (since I'm not a coach or player I can do that) but if both Calvin and Hope survive the first two games, how likely is it that the sectional would be hosted right here in West Michigan? It certainly would reduce travel for the participating teams, and result in a large and loud D3 hoops environment if both advanced to play one another in a national quarterfinal.

I would say it would require Thomas More to lose in round 1 or 2.

It looks like Calvin is the "2" seed and Hope is the "3".

Massey thinks Thomas More will lose to Whitewater in round 2.

[fannie]

Shocker!!!!!!!!!   Joy - get to see the Dutch gals at home one more time!

I assume you really want to see the Dutch gals at home two more times.

That would be CORRECT oldknight!  :-)

[David Collinge]

Kind of a weird footnote to the pod in Holland.

Denison and DePauw both played and lost to Hope in Holland in last years 1st and 2nd rounds.

Washington U played at DeVos as part of the women's final four just 2 years ago.


If that weren't enough WashU and Hope have played twice in the last 12 months, and WashU played DePauw earlier this season.



You might be hard pressed to find a pod of 4 teams that will be so familiar with each other as these 4.

And of course Denison and DePauw are about to become a lot more familiar with one another.

[Dutchfan]

Why is Wash U. playing in Michigan against Great Lakes Region opponents? Why aren't they playing against fellow Central Region opponents?

[Wydown Blvd.]

Ralph Turner answered this in the NCAA tournament thread

Does anyone know why the NCAA puts such an emphasis on 'region play' if they aren't going to keep games in region like this?  I understand there are going to be some regional crossover games, but it seems to me that the NCAA didn't even attempt to align the bracket by region.

I think that they want to give the tournament a more national feel.

By spreading out the representatives from a region, you can get some different matchups, rather than facing the same old teams in the first two rounds again and again.

Regional play in the regular season is meant: to:

1) not to encourage expensive road trips on D3 budgets.
2) not to encourage missed class time.
3) comply with the general philosophy of D3 athletics.

[Dutchfan]

Ralph Turner answered this in the NCAA tournament thread

Does anyone know why the NCAA puts such an emphasis on 'region play' if they aren't going to keep games in region like this?  I understand there are going to be some regional crossover games, but it seems to me that the NCAA didn't even attempt to align the bracket by region.

I think that they want to give the tournament a more national feel.

By spreading out the representatives from a region, you can get some different matchups, rather than facing the same old teams in the first two rounds again and again.

Regional play in the regular season is meant: to:

1) not to encourage expensive road trips on D3 budgets.
2) not to encourage missed class time.
3) comply with the general philosophy of D3 athletics.

He did to a certain degree, but he said it was to face teams that weren't the "same old teams" but all four teams in 'The Pod of Death' have a lot of recent history together. On top of that it's not right to reward an undefeated team with a trip to face anothre top team at their home court. What I thought the NCAA should of done is swtch out Calvin and La Roche for Wash U. and Denison. Let Denison Host and now the brackets is at least a little more balanced with Wash U. being rewarded with a shorter travel and Denison hosting. For La Roche (who is from Pittsburgh) it won;t matter if they go to Grand Rapids or Holland since the cities are less thatn thirty minutes apart.

[almcguirejr]

Carissa VerKaik - MVP

1st Team

Patty Rewa- Albion
Cariissa VerKaik- Calvin
Ally Wolfiss- Calvin
Carrie Snikkers- Hope
Erika Bruinsma- Hope
Kelly Murphy- St. Mary's

2nd Team
Melissa Shaw- Albion
Sydney Beckwith- Alma
Liz Ellis - Hope- Defensive Player of the Year
Maggie Ronan- St. Mary's
Liz Wade- St. Mary's
Danielle Seif-Trine

Official site here:  http://www.miaa.org/

[hopefan]

Ralph Turner answered this in the NCAA tournament thread

Does anyone know why the NCAA puts such an emphasis on 'region play' if they aren't going to keep games in region like this?  I understand there are going to be some regional crossover games, but it seems to me that the NCAA didn't even attempt to align the bracket by region.

I think that they want to give the tournament a more national feel.

By spreading out the representatives from a region, you can get some different matchups, rather than facing the same old teams in the first two rounds again and again.

Regional play in the regular season is meant: to:

1) not to encourage expensive road trips on D3 budgets.
2) not to encourage missed class time.
3) comply with the general philosophy of D3 athletics.

He did to a certain degree, but he said it was to face teams that weren't the "same old teams" but all four teams in 'The Pod of Death' have a lot of recent history together. On top of that it's not right to reward an undefeated team with a trip to face anothre top team at their home court. What I thought the NCAA should of done is swtch out Calvin and La Roche for Wash U. and Denison. Let Denison Host and now the brackets is at least a little more balanced with Wash U. being rewarded with a shorter travel and Denison hosting. For La Roche (who is from Pittsburgh) it won;t matter if they go to Grand Rapids or Holland since the cities are less thatn thirty minutes apart.

Here's a thought I had... as a fan of both St Louis area schools and Hope... if a St Louis school had to go to Hope, why didn't they send Webster.... Webster is going to be a clearcut 4 seed at IWU or at Hope... that way the IWU pod would look forward to a IWU - Wash U final and that pod would still not be overburdened, while the Hope pod would lighten up but still have a Hope vs Depauw or Denison final to look forward to..... makes sense to me....

[HopeCSO]

I am elated to have these 4 deserving teams play in Holland this weekend and for W. Michigan to host 8 great teams playing 6 exciting games.   There should be a lot of community support at both sites but from past experience, Holland will have the largest attendance.  I pray for safe travels for the teams and injury free weekend.

[KnightSlappy]

From the bracket, is it fair to guess that the hidden GL regional ranking go like this?

Thomas More
Calvin
Hope
Denison
Hanover
DePauw

[KNIGHTRHOPE]

does anyone recall Calvin girls getting crushed at Devos a few weeks back?  I still believe Hope to be the far superior team.  They have a chance. 

[realist]

Congrats to Ms. VerKaik being MVP for the second year in a row.  Watching and comparing the stats all season long she seemed the odds on favorite.
After her performance last week in the tournament there shouldn't have been any doubt in anyone's mind.
She is going to own the MIAA recordbook by the time her career is done. 

Khope.  I will settle for Calvin's 2 out of 3 wins anytime.  I don't think anyone said anything negative aout Hope or any of the Hope players.  They are very talented, and have a record others can only dream about.

[oldknight]

Congrats to Ms. VerKaik being MVP for the second year in a row.  Watching and comparing the stats all season long she seemed the odds on favorite.
After her performance last week in the tournament there shouldn't have been any doubt in anyone's mind.

Apparently Brian Van Ochten doesn't agree:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/02/ferris_state_men_finally_get_s.html

I thought his article was somewhat foolish. I wouldn't have had a problem if Carrie had won and, if I was the lone decider, I would have had these two ladies share the crown, but an honest observer can't say Carissa doesn't deserve her award.

[sac]

From the bracket, is it fair to guess that the hidden GL regional ranking go like this?

Thomas More
Calvin
Hope
Denison
Hanover
DePauw

Seems so,  it could be argued the pod in Holland is about geography and 'fiscal resposibility'.