WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[scottiedawg]

Though I think Hope has played themselves into about the #6 overall "seed", and Trine maybe overall #8-9? Not sure the committee cares much about putting teams outside the top 4 or so on separate sides of the bracket. Too many other logisitical factors in play.

Frankly I wouldn't be shocked if Hope/Trine end up in the same quadrant.

[pointlem]

Hope fans will definitely be rooting for much-respected Trine . . . 'till we meet again (and, yes, why not atop opposite brackets?).

And kudos to Trine Athletics and their excellent TV production team for extending the online broadcast through the Hope net cutting. A class and generous act.

[TUAngola]

Another in a series of hotly contested games between Hope and Trine goes to Hope tonight 54-50.  If there are any better defensive teams in the country than Hope or Trine I'd like to know.  It was just tough sledding for either offense, but especially for Trine.  Hope held us to 30% shooting for the game and you're not going to win the big games with that low of a number.  Hope got off to a great start behind the efforts of Ella McKinney.  She was fantastic at getting to the rim but also hit some big 3 pointers too.  When Trine put the clamps down on Hope in the 2nd quarter she put the team on her back and led them at the half with 13 big points.  Hope leads 31-25 at half.  Trine came out really strong in the 3rd quarter, especially defensively limiting Hope to 6 points.  Other than a couple early 3s by Tara and one by Makayla we went stagnant offensively the second part of the 3rd quarter.  Way too many empty possessions.  But we made it a 1 point game going into the 4th quarter, 37-36.  Now for some reason in the 4th the officials decided they were going to change the way they were calling the game up to that point.  The fouls seemed few and far between in the first 3 quarters with neither team reaching the bonus.  But in the 4th instead of letting the girls play like they had been the first 3 quarters it was a foul fest in the 4th.  Really questionable fouls on both sides.  Fortunately Hope missed enough free throws to let Trine hang around.  It was still anyone's game until someone for Hope who had been real quiet up to this point sank a couple daggers from deep...Kasey DeSmit.  With Trine up 45-44 Ella McKinney fought off a double team and found a wide open DeSmit who buried the shot to put Hope up 47-45.  Then she hit another one a little over a minute later to put Hope up 52-46.  We got a hoop and a couple free throws to cut the lead to 2 with 37 seconds to play.  Then on Hope's possession we made a bad foul when I know for certain Coach Rang wanted us to play D for 30 seconds.  Muller hit both FTs and then Voskuil swatted away a 3 pt attempt by Makayla...and that was the game.

It was a fun game to watch, glad the students showed out and got into it.  These are the types of games you're going to have in the NCAA tournament so was a little taste of what's to come.  I am hoping that the NCAA will reward Trine with first round games at home, they deserve it, but I am not holding my breath.  We'll play wherever they put us and take each one game by game.     

[scottiedawg]

Massey has the best defenses as:
1. Trine
2. Amherst
3. Oshkosh
4. Hope

and while I haven't watched enough Oshkosh to confirm, the other three certainly are elite defensively.

[TUAngola]

Wagner has committed 11 turnovers in 39 minutes against Hope this year.

...yeah...but she's a Freshman who had to play more minutes than anticipated with the early season injury to Kaylee Argyle.  Honestly I think she's played tremendous.  If the MIAA gave out 'Freshman of the Year' award she would have won it hands down.

Fun fact, basketball isn't Sidney's first love, it's motocross.  You know a girl's gotta be tough to ride a dirt bike.  She is an accomplished racer who has given up motocross...for now anyway...to focus on college and basketball.

[scottiedawg]

For sure. I brought her up because I've been impressed by her—Hope just ate her up this year.  There are other ball handlers around the MIAA who put up 6-8 TOS a game against Hope—but they were clearly outclassed. Wagner is a good example of how Hope can break down a good ball handler.

[scottiedawg]

I think Trine ends up below DePauw in the final regional rankings, which means DePauw gets to the table first. That won't matter for Pool C purposes, but could matter for hosting purposes.

I do think there's a scenario where BW is 3rd in the region and Trine is 4th. Not really sure which way the committee goes there.

I don't see a way Hope isn't 1st in Region 7.

[scottiedawg]

Hope has been given a pretty soft opening pod. La Roche, Marietta, Wittenberg.

[scottiedawg]

Trine is not hosting. Headed to John Carroll. Bummed for Trine.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Trine is not hosting. Headed to John Carroll. Bummed for Trine.

Trine is hosting - you saw that incorrectly.  First team listed is not necessarily the host (on the live show it's the * that indicates the host)

And Hope & Trine are in separate quandrants.  I'm very pleased for both teams.   Would appear that Hope and Trine went 1-2 in the final regional rankings

[Roundball999]

Trine is not hosting. Headed to John Carroll. Bummed for Trine.

That's really unfortunate, they're such a strong team I think they deserve it.  However I kind of figured the MIAA championship game might also be for a hosting slot.

[scottiedawg]

Trine is not hosting. Headed to John Carroll. Bummed for Trine.

Trine is hosting - you saw that incorrectly.  First team listed is not necessarily the host (on the live show it's the * that indicates the host)

And Hope & Trine are in separate quandrants.  I'm very pleased for both teams

ah, i totally assumed first team was the host. My bad.

[Roundball999]

Trine is not hosting. Headed to John Carroll. Bummed for Trine.

Trine is hosting - you saw that incorrectly.  First team listed is not necessarily the host (on the live show it's the * that indicates the host)

And Hope & Trine are in separate quandrants.  I'm very pleased for both teams

ah, i totally assumed first team was the host. My bad.

Great news!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I think both teams got favorable draws, and of course have the home court advanatage this weekend.  Looks to me like Hope is setup to host both weekends if they keep winning, while the Trine quadrant top team is likely Transylvania??

[scottiedawg]

As was pointed out to me, Hope's quadrant is kinda weird. Who hosts if chalk holds serve and Hope, EC, NYU, Scranton make it through? Regardless of host there's a flight there right?