WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[sac]

Doesn't hosting the Final Four kinda make up for the 'snubs'?

Just make sure you get there!

Not really Mr.Y,  Hope isn't hosting the Final Four so they can play it at home, their hosting independant of what the team is doing.

...........the tournament committee won't say it, but I'm sure it was factored in that Hope was hosting the final four.

They had a chance to put Hope at home this past weekend per their own guidelines and didn't, instead sent them to presumably the #4 ranked Great Lakes Region team.  All while being unbeaten and ranked #3 behind a team with a loss in the previous poll.

[Pat Coleman]

Those guidelines also say the following, however:

"The committees prefer that institutions not host both men's and women's events in the same round of the championships."

[Ralph Turner]

This HPU looks that strongest of any team that we have seen in the ASC this decade.

It has more depth than the Kendra Anderson 2003 team that lost in the Sectional to National Champ Trinity or the early 2000 teams coached by Julie Goodenough, formerly of Okie State and now of Charleston Southern in the Big South.

Maybe a bit stronger post play than the 2006 McMurry team that lost to Cinderella HSU team that went to the Final Four.

Finally has the tournament maturity (to wit, the first round loss to Trinity in 2005, the loss to HSU in the first round in 2006, the Sweet 16 loss in Decorah IA in 2007)  that it takes to get this far.

Nice addition in Katy Sarem at Guard.  She worked her way into the starting lineup by Christmas. 

The front court has five solid players...Blalock, Hoffman, Hobbs, Hohertz and Jockers.  I think that Jockers has made the biggest improvement this year.  They can play a very physical style of ball that you usually don't see in the South.  They do not lose anything when Coach Kielsmeir goes to his bench in the standard rotation.

HPU has shot the free throws very well.  Blalock, Daniels and Hoffman all hit > 80%.

The All-American (point) guard is Meia Daniels from Ft Worth.  She is as quick as anyone you have seen this year.  ASC POTY (in a conference that has Tarra Richardson).  When McMurry closed to 6 with 4:30 left, Daniels drained 3 consecutive 3FG's to put the game out of reach.  Daniels can drive the basket hard, too.

This team has the right combination of speed and physical size to advance far in the tourney.

ASC-West basketball is very good quality.  #5 Concordia-Austin, coached by former WNBA head coach Linda Sharp could win 10 D-III conferences. #4 UMHB could win 15 conferences.  #3 HSU could win 20 conferences; McM at least 25 to 30.  HPU is a well-coached battle-hardened team and the Brownwood Coliseum will be loud.

[HopeCSO]

I found some travel options:  ($479.00 PP including all taxes,fees and midsize rental car)  Leaving on Thursday, March 13, 2008  Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) to Dallas, TX (DFW)  1 Stop Jet Aircraft  Anytime between 5am-2am (next day) (airline will choose flight times)  Includes Mid Size Car 
Returning Flight  Monday, March 17, 2008  Dallas, TX (DFW) to Grand Rapids, MI (Grand Rapids - Kent County Intl Grand Rapids, MI   1 Stop  Jet Aircraft  Anytime between 6am-10pm (airline will choose flight times) 

($551.00 PP including all taxes, fees, and midsize rental car) Departing Flight Thursday, March 13, 2008  Grand Rapids, MI (GRR)  to Dallas, TX (Dallas Fort Worth Intl Dallas, TX 1 Stop Jet Aircraft  Anytime between
5am-2am (next day) (airline will choose flight times)  Includes Mid Size Car   
Returning Flight Sunday, March 16, 2008  Dallas, TX (DFW) to Grand Rapids, MI (GRR)  1 Stop Jet Aircraft  Anytime between 6am-10pm (airline will choose flight times) 

Hotels run from $50.00 to $99.00 per night within Brownwood, TX.  Hope this helps those heading south.  You can email me from the link on the left if you have questions or need help.

[JACKET84]

Wow, Sac, that is some facility . . . seats 4500 for a school of 1019 students?  And they had 2600+ there last night (and have had 2000+ for some other women's games this season)? 

I can see that, despite their hard-to-get-to location, they've made the case they can make for ever hosting a sectional tournament game.  The Hope women will never have faced an unfriendly crowd such as this . . . but at least they're back a ways from the court (I prefer Hope's more intimate courtside architecture).

Too bad the NCAA didn't place Hope and HPU in different sectionals.  (It's not that they're geographically linked.)

I'm not sure how they came up with 2,635.  The coliseum was approx. 90% + full.  I was estimating 3,800-3,900.  IF Hope and HPU make it to the Saturday game, I know there will be more than 4,000 in attendance.

[mjfasteenwolf]

Howard Payne hosting sectionals.

Anybody know if Hope will sponsor any kind of group travel?

There has been some talk of chartering a flight for everyone who wants to go down to TX, could save a couple hundred per person on the flight.

[sac]

Air Hope.

[NW Hope Fan]

Or a nice 20 hr road trip. 
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=49423&daddr=brownwood+tx&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.767874,94.658203&ie=UTF8&z=5

Leave after work on Thursday, check in and take a nap before the game... no problem!

[NW Hope Fan]

Anyone know if the Alumni office tries to rally the troops in Texas? In the last Alumni directory I count almost 400 Hope alum living in TX...

[Hwbb]

Howard Payne hosting sectionals.

Howard Payne was higher seeded this year. Sac has a pretty good take above on previous years.

Well, yes, obviously Howard Payne was a higher seed. So they host. Okay, fine. What I was trying to ascertain were answers to the broader questions, one I perhaps asked poorly: for example, how does the NCAA preach regional commpetition all year and then create a sectional that stretches to the geographical extremes of the USA; why did the NCAA match up two of the three undefeateds before the final four; and if the answer to the second question is that they think Hope is only the seventh or eighth best team, then why the huge disparity between the NCAA and d3hoops. Are we watching different teams? I've missed the logic of the NCAA this year. Something stinks.

[golfniz1]

Hwbb I agree with you 100% I could not believe they had Hope and HPU in the same bracket it is mind boggling!

[monsoon]

...how does the NCAA preach regional commpetition all year and then create a sectional that stretches to the geographical extremes of the USA; why did the NCAA match up two of the three undefeateds before the final four;

Yet, if they had set up the bracket regionally, we would have had Hope and Thomas More in the same bracket, likely meeting even sooner than Hope and HPU could potentially meet.  And just for the fun of it, we could have played those games in Greencastle.      And it's not as if Howard Payne doesn't deserve to host in their own right - they do.  Would I rather be playing in DeVos than in the Mausoleum?  Of course, but HPU is certainly worthy of hosting.

Over the last few years, it has been very clear that the Women's Committee moves teams around more in putting the bracket together than does the Men's Committee - most of the "resident sages" of d3hoops (the long-time, well-respected posters) and many others applaud this work by the Women's Committee and wish the Men's Committee would do the same.

[twoblindrefs]

Can anyone share suggestions for some nice places to eat around Hope College? I'm sure many folks will be going to the Final FDOur and some of the local posters from that area might be good resources! Thanks, Dan

[HopeConvert]

Within walking distance from campus:

New Holland Brewing Company: sandwiches, pizzas, big salads. The G-Love burger is excellent. Very fine crafted brews. Meals under $10.

84 East: italian, reasonably priced.

8th Street Grille: sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. Beer on tap. Reasonably priced.

Via Maria: italian, more expensive. Good food and drink.

Russ': american food, extensive menu. LOVE the twinburger. Very reasonably priced.

Long John Silver.

The Curraugh: moderately priced ($10-15). Irish pub, good beer selection. Food is decent enough.

Subs-n'more: pizza and subs. Also a Quiznos across the street.

Various ice cream and coffee shops also right by campus. New Holland is my favorite place downtown, and I have a special weakness for Russ', which is a great family place.

[Erm Schmigget]

Don't forget:

Froggy's: hotdogs, burgers, and hand-dipped ice cream

Gregordog: hotdogs

Kozak's: Gyros, chicago-style hotdogs, and homemade baklava

...for the hotdog crowd.  All are better than the hotdogs at DeVos.     Did I just say that?   

To be fair, the DeVos concession stands offer more than just hotdogs.


If you want something you're familiar with, there are plenty of national chain family-style restaurants along US31 (Appleby's, Ruby Tuesday's, Ihop, etc.).