WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Roundball999]

Congrats to the Knights on finishing 5th in the D3hoops final poll!

http://d3hoops.com/top25/women/2011-12/final

Agreed, excellent season.  As a Hope fan, we were pulling for you to go all the way.  The game against the Tommies was oh so close....

With CV back along with some other fine players, looks like the Knights will reload.  I'm hoping the Dutch can give you a run for your money.  Kussmaul didn't get to play against Calvin this year due to her ACL injury, but she was off to a very strong start in the post during the first 10 games.  If she can come back strong, Kust and Baumann back, and Llorens builds on her fine freshman season, the Dutch will have some serious inside depth and talent coming back.  Add outstanding guard Ellis and everyone else except Burnett and Cerone back and it seems like the Dutch are poised to step it up a couple notches next year.

A final shout out to the Dutch women for a fine 22-5 season.  I understand the weird NCAA regional selection process but admit some disappointment about the final polls.  Ranked 18 and 20 at the end of the regular season and the only team in the top 30 not to get a tournament bid.  2-2 during the regular season against tournament teams (1-2 Calvin and 1-0 Ithaca) that made nice showings in the tournament.  Yet the Dutch drop completely out of the WBCA rankings, absolutely no votes received... and not even mentioned with the other teams that dropped out from the prior poll.  It's like they never existed.  Dropped way down in the D3hoops poll too but at least they were mentioned with a few votes there.  I guess I don't understand the logic for the big drop.  At least Massey still had them in the top 25.  Nevertheless it was fun following them this year and best wishes to graudating seniors Allie Cerone and Maddie Burnett.

[wiz]

Congratulations to Carissa Verkaik, D3 Player of the Year!
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/news/comments/carissa-verkaik-named-womens-diii-news-player-of-the-year/

Well deserved.

[oldtimer1937]

My congrats to Calvin also on a great year.  The heart break of not getting to final four should be duller now and the great season with a final number five ranking should remain in your memories.

I have been a long time Calvin fan and watched and enjoyed for years.  I have watched the good teams and the not so good teams all with joy and a love of Calvin basketball.

I believe that Calvin with CV and returning cast should be strong.  I do feel that the two senior starters that Calvin lost will be sorely missed, though.  They were the best that I have seen in a long while in perimeter defense, unselfish offensive play and leadership.  And fun to watch.

Hopefully someone steps up but they will be hard to replace.

I also think Hope will come back strong.  They will provide great competition next year and should not be taken lightly.  It will be nice to have them back in the mix.  As long as we still beat them.

Hats off to John Ross again, coaching not only a successful team but a group of mature, sincere, competitive bball players who Calvin should be proud to call their own.

[Calvinhoops]

Agreed, these seniors were unselfish offensively.  Not sure that can easily be taught to the younger players.  Point guard play will be crucial and the willingness to distribute the ball will be a key.  I think everyone gets a little better and Calvin makes another run.

[Roundball999]

Nice season wrap-up article in the Holland Sentinel about the Hope women....

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/sports_hope/x1631644954/Dan-DAddona-Hope-College-womens-basketball-team-had-strong-but-disappointing-season?zc_p=0

[sac]

Trine has a new coach

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/04/former-nba-player-to-coach-trine-women

[realist]

Trine has a new coach

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/04/former-nba-player-to-coach-trine-women

This will be interesting to watch.  Seems like a rather large horse to pull the Thunder wagon.

[sac]

Not D3 but Pat Summitt stepped down as head coach at Tennessee today.  What a magnificent career and a sporting icon.  Every women who's ever played college basketball probably owes a little gratitude to coach Summitt.

[bballfan13]

Calvin's 2012-2013 schedule update:

Nov. 16 - vs St. Thomas - (at Millikin) - #3 final poll
Nov. 17 - vs Stevens Point - (at Millikin) - #12 final poll

Nov. 23 - vs Centre (at Thomas More) - #13 final poll
Nov. 24 - at Thomas More - #24 final poll

All of these games will be against teams that finished in the top 25 d3hoops poll to finish the season last year.  The most interesting is the opening weekend for the Knights as they will begin their season with the team that knocked them out of the Elite Eight in overtime, St. Thomas.  And then come back the next night and play against Stevens Point who the Knights beat in the second round.  Centre knocked out Wash U this past year in the tournament and Thomas More was knocked out in the second round.  All tough opponents.  4 out of the first 5 games for the Knights look to be tough tests.  It is looking like the Knights are putting together a schedule similar to that of Illinois Wesleyan this year, meaning the first part of the season will be brutal and hopefully get them prepared for the tournament.

[sac]

Brian Morehouse was named the BCAM women's college coach of the year today.

pdf file
http://www.bcam.org/images/stories/AwardsDocuments/CollegeCOY/12collegecoy.pdf

[bballfan13]

Brian Morehouse was named the BCAM women's college coach of the year today.

pdf file
http://www.bcam.org/images/stories/AwardsDocuments/CollegeCOY/12collegecoy.pdf

Somewhat odd to have a "down year" and win coach of the year. 

[Roundball999]

Brian Morehouse was named the BCAM women's college coach of the year today.

pdf file
http://www.bcam.org/images/stories/AwardsDocuments/CollegeCOY/12collegecoy.pdf

Somewhat odd to have a "down year" and win coach of the year. 

Hope was in a rebuilding year, having lost a ton of talent to graduation.  Then they had season ending injuries to Kussmaul, who arguably started the year playing like the 2nd best post in the league, and two others from the rotation. I'm not sure 22-5, top 20 most of the year, is much of a down year but in any case I think you could argue Morehouse did one of his best coaching jobs this year.

[bballfan13]

Brian Morehouse was named the BCAM women's college coach of the year today.

pdf file
http://www.bcam.org/images/stories/AwardsDocuments/CollegeCOY/12collegecoy.pdf

Somewhat odd to have a "down year" and win coach of the year. 

Hope was in a rebuilding year, having lost a ton of talent to graduation.  Then they had season ending injuries to Kussmaul, who arguably started the year playing like the 2nd best post in the league, and two others from the rotation. I'm not sure 22-5, top 20 most of the year, is much of a down year but in any case I think you could argue Morehouse did one of his best coaching jobs this year.

Some good points, and it looks like the voters felt that way as well.

What I meant by down year was that it was a down year by Hope's standards from recent success.  Not a bad year though.

[sac]

A couple MIAA women made the BCAM academic team

Patricia Rewa, Albion
Carissa Verkaik, Calvin

http://www.bcam.org/awards/college-player/119-collegenacademicnteams

[sac]

Hope's 2012-13 schedule    http://www.hope.edu/athletics/wbb/


I count 3 men/women double headers.   Dec 29, Jan 23, Feb 9 (men play Calvin that afternoon)

2 in-region games for certain (OWU, Defiance), most likely will get one or two at Wilmington.  Then I have no idea who will be at Hope's two tournaments.