WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Roundball999]

A question from a IWU fan who knows next to nothing about WBB in the MIAA (aside from some of the recent Hope and Calvin stars).  This is the first time in 25 years that a team not named Hope or Calvin has won an outright regular-season title.  Does Trine have an incredible group of seniors and this is a one-year 'blip', or has the Big Two become the Big Three for the foreseeable future?

Well, I'd say Hope and Calvin don't have their best teams this year but Trine is very solid.  Other than Hope and Calvin, Trine's schedule has been weak so it's tough to tell how they'll respond in the tournament.  They should be even better next year as basically everyone will be back.  They are anchored by 6'2" post Hayley Martin who is all-MIAA 1st team and league defensive POY, along with MIAA POY Brandi Dawson, a 5'10" guard.  Both average over 15 ppg and shoot over 50% on the season.

[TUAngola]

A question from a IWU fan who knows next to nothing about WBB in the MIAA (aside from some of the recent Hope and Calvin stars).  This is the first time in 25 years that a team not named Hope or Calvin has won an outright regular-season title.  Does Trine have an incredible group of seniors and this is a one-year 'blip', or has the Big Two become the Big Three for the foreseeable future?

Not a "one-year" blip.  When Coach Gould took over the Trine women's program 3 years ago the team has made steady improvement each year with him at the helm.  The big turnaround was the transfer of 2 local high school products, Junior Haley Martin out of DeKalb HS and Sophomore Brandi Dawson from Garrett HS to Trine last year.  This bumped up Trine's offensive skillset considerably and the team has a bevy of role players around these 2 all conference players.  There is actually only 1 senior on the team, starting point guard Taylor Cole.  The other 2 starters are Freshman Katie Steers and Sophomore Cassidy Williams who is a great defensive player.  As a team Trine will get after you on defense, that is their calling card.  This weekend when the offense sputtered it was the defense that won the tournament for them.  This is a tight knit group, they love their coaches, love each other, and love their university. 

However, other than 5 games against Hope and Calvin this year Trine hasn't played a particularly strong schedule. They did play at Wheaton in the 2nd game of the year and Trine lost that game by 15 or so if I recall.  The bottom of the MIAA was pretty weak this year which hurt their SOS.  Albion finished fourth and had a nice year and I project they may do even better next year as they have a nice young frontcourt returning.  I do see more parity in the MIAA in the future. Next year's Trine team should be one of the top teams in the country.  They are also building a new fieldhouse that is projected to be ready for the second half of next season.     

[Mr. Ypsi]

A question from a IWU fan who knows next to nothing about WBB in the MIAA (aside from some of the recent Hope and Calvin stars).  This is the first time in 25 years that a team not named Hope or Calvin has won an outright regular-season title.  Does Trine have an incredible group of seniors and this is a one-year 'blip', or has the Big Two become the Big Three for the foreseeable future?

Not a "one-year" blip.  When Coach Gould took over the Trine women's program 3 years ago the team has made steady improvement each year with him at the helm.  The big turnaround was the transfer of 2 local high school products, Junior Haley Martin out of DeKalb HS and Sophomore Brandi Dawson from Garrett HS to Trine last year.  This bumped up Trine's offensive skillset considerably and the team has a bevy of role players around these 2 all conference players.  There is actually only 1 senior on the team, starting point guard Taylor Cole.  The other 2 starters are Freshman Katie Steers and Sophomore Cassidy Williams who is a great defensive player.  As a team Trine will get after you on defense, that is their calling card.  This weekend when the offense sputtered it was the defense that won the tournament for them.  This is a tight knit group, they love their coaches, love each other, and love their university. 

However, other than 5 games against Hope and Calvin this year Trine hasn't played a particularly strong schedule. They did play at Wheaton in the 2nd game of the year and Trine lost that game by 15 or so if I recall.  The bottom of the MIAA was pretty weak this year which hurt their SOS.  Albion finished fourth and had a nice year and I project they may do even better next year as they have a nice young frontcourt returning.  I do see more parity in the MIAA in the future. Next year's Trine team should be one of the top teams in the country.  They are also building a new fieldhouse that is projected to be ready for the second half of next season.     

Thanks for the info (and also to the others who responded).  IWU also has no key seniors (the three top players are 2 Jrs and a Soph), so next year a battle might be EVEN better (if they were to meet)!  Very much looking forward to Trine/IWU on Friday.

Trine has by far the better record, but IWU is clearly more battle-tested - 5th highest SoS in the country.  May the better team win (sure hope that is the Titans )!  While we beat Wheaton in B'town, we lost to them twice this past week - we're tired of losing to teams called the Thunder!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Massey predictions for the three MIAA teams playing in NCAA first round games on Friday:

Calvin 48, UW Oshkosh 59 (CC 18%, UWO 82%)

Trine 66, Illinois Wesleyan 62 (TU 63%, IWU 37%)

Hope 68, UW Whitewater 66 (HC 53%, UWW 47%)

[TUAngola]

It will be interesting to see how Trine executes in their first ever NCAA tournament game as a D3 school.  Will they get that "deer in headlights" look or will they be up for more than just being glad to go to the dance.  IWU certainly has history on their side.  In reading the preview of the matchup it sounds like IWU full court presses the entire game and creates numerous turnovers.  They want a fast paced game whereas Trine wants to grind it out.  What style will win out?  Will they be able to weather some runs by IWU or will they panic?  Trine's been in a few battles with Hope and Calvin this year so that helps.  Still this is a relatively young team, start a senior, a junior, 2 sophs and a freshman.  I know the coaches will have them ready, but it's the unknown, the obstacles IWU presents that maybe Trine hasn't seen before that will be key to whether we figure it out and move on or go home.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

It will be interesting to see how Trine executes in their first ever NCAA tournament game as a D3 school.  Will they get that "deer in headlights" look or will they be up for more than just being glad to go to the dance.  IWU certainly has history on their side.  In reading the preview of the matchup it sounds like IWU full court presses the entire game and creates numerous turnovers.  They want a fast paced game whereas Trine wants to grind it out.  What style will win out?  Will they be able to weather some runs by IWU or will they panic?  Trine's been in a few battles with Hope and Calvin this year so that helps.  Still this is a relatively young team, start a senior, a junior, 2 sophs and a freshman.  I know the coaches will have them ready, but it's the unknown, the obstacles IWU presents that maybe Trine hasn't seen before that will be key to whether we figure it out and move on or go home.   

You summed up perfectly how I view the game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Congratulations to Trine.  You did not see IWU at anywhere near their best (though you may have had something to do with that ).  Shooting 33.3% from the field and 14.3% from downtown and getting outrebounded 37-21 is NOT Titan b'ball.  If it weren't for aggressive defense creating 21 TOs and shooting 19-21 from the line, we woulda been slaughtered.

Assuming ONU wins this evening, go give 'em their first loss of the season tomorrow!

[TUAngola]

Congratulations to Trine.  You did not see IWU at anywhere near their best (though you may have had something to do with that ).  Shooting 33.3% from the field and 14.3% from downtown and getting outrebounded 37-21 is NOT Titan b'ball.  If it weren't for aggressive defense creating 21 TOs and shooting 19-21 from the line, we woulda been slaughtered.

Assuming ONU wins this evening, go give 'em their first loss of the season tomorrow!

I was able to watch video of the 2nd half, both teams played hard, it really came down to Trine making a few more plays than IWU.  In my earlier post I questioned who's style would win out.  It was definitely a "Trine grinder".  This is what the team has been doing all year...play defense and get big games from their 2 stars, Brandi Dawson and Hayley Martin.  I was really worried about the IWU press going into the game and it did create a lot of turnovers, but fortunately IWU didn't kill Trine by all that much at converting the turnovers into points.  That was key.  And Cassidy Williams turned in another stellar defensive performance.  She always gets the other teams best guard or wing, and this time it was McGraw who she shut down.

Coach Gould said in an interview leading up to the game that the girls weren't nervous at all for being the first Trine team ever in the NCAA tournament.  They just have that positive mindset.  Play their game, try to stop the other teams strengths and exploit their weaknesses.  We had a little height advantage and needed to outrebound IWU, and the did.  Trine hit a good field goal and free throw percentage.  3pt shooting...meh...that has been their weakness all year.  But overall it was a good win against a quality team. 

I should be able to make the drive to Ada tomorrow.  Missed today because of work.  Will be a great atmosphere playing ONU, assuming they'll win, on their home court.   

[TUAngola]

...oh and congrats to Hope for winning against UW Whitewater.  Good luck to Calvin in their game against UW Oshkosh later tonight. Go MIAA!

[sac]

Congratulations to Trine.  You did not see IWU at anywhere near their best (though you may have had something to do with that ).  Shooting 33.3% from the field and 14.3% from downtown and getting outrebounded 37-21 is NOT Titan b'ball.  If it weren't for aggressive defense creating 21 TOs and shooting 19-21 from the line, we woulda been slaughtered.

Assuming ONU wins this evening, go give 'em their first loss of the season tomorrow!

Fun fact.  Trine held its opponents to 33.3% shooting on the season.

[TUAngola]

...oh and congrats to Hope for winning against UW Whitewater.  Good luck to Calvin in their game against UW Oshkosh later tonight. Go MIAA!

Calvin loses to UW Oshkosh.  Looks like Anna Timmer got into early foul trouble and that was all she wrote.  She is such a good player and important part of their offense that if she doesn't play almost 40 minutes it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team to step up.  I wonder if the fouls were legit against her or if the game was called tight?  Also I didn't see Goldthorpe in the box score, did she get hurt leading up to the game?  Hope a Calvin fan who saw the game can give us a recap.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well, Hope gave Thomas More their first loss of the season.  Can Trine do the same to ONU?  They are tied at 40 in the 4th quarter.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well, Hope gave Thomas More their first loss of the season.  Can Trine do the same to ONU?  They are tied at 40 in the 4th quarter.

Alas, no.  ONU pulls away late for a 55-48 win.

[Dutchfan]

A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices!

[TUAngola]

Back at the hotel in Lima after traveling to Ada for the Trine-ONU game tonight.  Tough loss.  We were right there.  ONU with a couple huge 3 ptrs with clock running down in the 4th were back breakers.  Our defense was outstanding again, however their center was really good, outplayed Haley tonight.  Keys were unforced turnovers, Brandi and Haley were blanketed by collapsing ONU defense and couldn't get many looks, and free throws, ONU got to the line way more than Trine and shot around 90% I think.  Some of the fouls was rotten officiating (I maybe biased, but we sure didn't get any love from the refs), however ONU got to the rim more than us tonight.  Montana Martin and Tashayla Sutorious were both very good off the bench.  Wish coach would give Tashayla more minutes, she is another offensive weapon when she's in the game.

This has been such a fun ride.  So many memorable games, hated to see it end.  Should give the girls extra motivation in the offseason to put in the work.  Our 3pt shooting has got to improve if teams are going to double Haley and Brandi each time they touch it.  Ball handling needs to improve too.  Let's get to work girls!