WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

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?

It'll be Hope.  Eau Claire can drive there, so only two flights.

[scottiedawg]

Scranton can drive to NYU. You think Hope is above NYU "seeding-wise" ? Basically even WP and NYU has better SOS and RRO record.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

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?

Two flights no matter who hosts. 

Scranton to NYU is 124 miles
UWEC to Hope is 471 miles

All the others are over 600 miles and require flights.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Scranton can drive to NYU. You think Hope is above NYU "seeding-wise" ? Basically even WP and NYU has better SOS and RRO record.

I think if you're on the top line, you're the top seed.

[pointlem]

Knocking on wood . . . it's interesting that this season's 4th Hope v. Trine game ( ) is scheduled for Thursday, March 17th (i.e., the tournament semi on Thursday, two days before the Saturday championship) . . . meaning another day for student-athletes to be away from classes, and surely fewer fans willing to commit the extra day of travel with a dead day in between. Not a wise NCAA decision?

[TUAngola]

Stuck at work today so wasn't able to get to the bracket until I got home.  YEA FOR TRINE!! I'm glad the NCAA committee found a way for them to host.  I studied the draw...it looks to be quite fair.  Except for DePauw who was really penalized for losing to Wittenberg, the Tigers not only lost the chance to host, now they have to go to UW Whitewater in a possible round of 32 game, poor Tigers.  I know Hope and Trine are on the same side so we would meet in the national semifinals IF they both get there.    Trine with a stiff second round opponent in John Caroll if both teams win their first-round game.  JCU is very talented and is experienced with mostly seniors and graduate students in their rotation along with a couple juniors.  Olivia Nagy in the middle is a game changer.  Their talented wing player Nicole Heffington didn't play in the OAC championship game against Baldwin Wallace as per their website she was in a walking boot.  It could be just precautionary knowing win or lose they were shoo-ins to make the NCAA tournament.  I expect she'll be playing this weekend.  They don't appear to go as deep as Trine, but if the girls are used to the minutes then it probably won't matter.  JCU did play Albion early in the season and won by 9.  There are also common opponents in Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Northern.

I do like Hope's draw too.  Appears they are the #3 overall seed so would more than likely host the Sweet 16 too if they win this weekend.  Both Trine and Hope are on the opposite side of Christopher Newport and Simpson who I think are 2 of the best teams.  But you just have to focus one game at a time to get to the next game.

Good luck to both Trine and Hope.  I'll be rooting for both, except when they play each other in the Final Four. 

[HOPEful]

Every MIAA fan has to be excited by this bracket. Hope and Trine are not only hosting, but are on the opposite side of the bracket from Simpson, Whitewater, Amherst, and CNU.

Trine v Hope in the Final Four feels like a very real possibility.

[AlwaysHope]

I am trying to plan my weekend around another event.  Assuming the women win on Friday, what time is the game on Sat. at the DeVos?

[hope81]

The scorers' table has been told 7pm Saturday.  I assume that is correct.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Was reviewing the last regional rankings released last night.  Here is how Region 7 stacked up:

1   Hope   24-1   26-1
2   Trine   24-3   24-3
3   DePauw   23-3   23-3
4   John Carroll   22-4   22-4
5   Baldwin Wallace   21-4   21-4
6   Marietta   21-5   21-5
7   Calvin   19-8   19-8
8   Ohio Wesleyan   21-7   21-7
9   Otterbein   18-7   18-7
10   Washington & Jefferson   23-4   23-4

To me the biggest surprise was realizing that Calvin was "at the table" to be selected as a pool C as soon as Marietta was chosen. 

[scottiedawg]

I really expected OWU to be ahead of Calvin with the way the committee leans on WP. Calvin's resume looks so much worse because of that loss total--and the fact that the RACs have no criteria for "good losses."  Both Calvin and OWU played tremendously all year, but both just got bludgeoned by Hope/Trine & JCU/BW.

I'm VERY glad they dropped DePauw from 1 to 3. i think that's the right move.

I get why, but I was also surprised to see JCU stay ahead of BW. I figured they were close in the 2nd regional rankings, and then BW beat JCU in the conference tournament. Looks like there was quite the gap between them in the 2nd regional rankings.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I really expected OWU to be ahead of Calvin with the way the committee leans on WP. Calvin's resume looks so much worse because of that loss total--and the fact that the RACs have no criteria for "good losses."  Both Calvin and OWU played tremendously all year, but both just got bludgeoned by Hope/Trine & JCU/BW.

I'm VERY glad they dropped DePauw from 1 to 3. i think that's the right move.

I get why, but I was also surprised to see JCU stay ahead of BW. I figured they were close in the 2nd regional rankings, and then BW beat JCU in the conference tournament. Looks like there was quite the gap between them in the 2nd regional rankings.

Calvin certainly suffered from Hope/Trine games this year. 

Full Season record:

W/L: 19-8  .704
vRRO: 2-7  .222

Without Hope/Trine (I realize the committee isn't likely to do this, but the quality of the teams you lose to is significant IMHO)

W/L: 19-3  .864
vRRO  2-2  .500

[scottiedawg]

......but the quality of the teams you lose to is significant IMHO

I completely agree.

I get why you have to draw the line somewhere--otherwise the committee has to deliberate for 50 hours. (can't get into margin of victory, missing key players, etc, etc)

But Trine losing to RRO Hope should be treated a lot differently than DePauw losing to RRO Piedmont, for example.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope v La Roche team stats comparison:

Offense	% 2pt	% 3pt	% FT
Hope	51.7	37.9	67.7
La Roche	47.7	30.3	58.1
------
Defense	% 2pt	% 3pt
Hope	33.1	24.7
La Roche	40.6	22.3
------
Rebounding	Team	Opp	Margin
Hope	44.7	34	10.7
La Roche	40.3	39.4	0.9
------
Scoring	Team	Opp	Margin
Hope	86.5	45.9	40.6
La Roche	73.2	57.8	15.4
------
3 point shooting	Made/game
Hope	8.2
La Roche	5.7
------
Ball Control	Stl/game	TO/Game	OppTO/Game
Hope	17.8	15.1	26.6
La Roche	12.6	14.5	20.2
------
Ball Control	Asst/game	A/TO	Blks/game
Hope	16.7	1.11	5
La Roche	15.8	1.09	3.1
------
	vRRO	In-Div SOS	Massey Predicts
Hope	6-1	0.540	89
La Roche	1-2	0.496	46

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Trine v Immaculata team stats comparison:

Offense	% 2pt	% 3pt	% FT
Trine	48.7	35.6	70.4
Immaculata	42.1	26.4	68.6
------
Defense	% 2pt	% 3pt
Trine	37.5	23.2
Immaculata	39.7	25.1
------
Rebounding	Team	Opp	Margin
Trine	40.1	34	6.1
Immaculata	44.4	38.8	5.6
------
Scoring	Team	Opp	Margin
Trine	74.4	47.4	27
Immaculata	67.7	55.8	11.9
------
3 point shooting	Made/game
Trine	7.9
Immaculata	5.7
------
Ball Control	Stl/game	TO/Game	OppTO/Game
Trine	9.9	12.9	19.9
Immaculata	10.2	15.7	19.8
------
Ball Control	Asst/game	A/TO	Blks/game
Trine	16.6	1.29	3.7
Immaculata	16.1	1.03	1.7
------
	vRRO	In-Div SOS	Massey Predicts
Trine	5-3	0.55	76
Immaculata	1-1	0.481	41