MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ChicagoHopeNut]

For what its worth my feeling is up 3 you always foul immediately before the team can get a shot off. That forces them to make the first free throw and then miss intentionally and get the board and back up. Almost never happens.

In Calvin's situation I agree with the decision not to foul when up 2. Calvin fans wish the defense had done more and maybe there is more that could have been done but credit to Albion for a perfectly executed 5 seconds as well.

We are going to hit 1000 pages this weekend!

[HopeConvert]

Count me as part of the "no foul" crowd. I'll take my chances with the shooter. We all remember the shots that go in at the buzzer because they are so dramatic, but we forget the ones that miss (for example, we remember Veldhouse beating Hope at the buzzer as a freshman, but forget the fact that he missed two buzzer-beaters a couple of weeks ago as a junior). I tried to find some data on the percentage of buzzer-beaters that are made, but was unable to uncover anything. Maybe some other poster has that information. I'd be surprised, however, if a shooter's percentage was any higher at the end of a game then it is during a game. I'd hypothesize it's likely to be lower. So, like Hopester said, I'll take my chance with a 39% shooter hoisting up a prayer under duress rather than putting an 82% shooter on the line, and perhaps forcing an OT.

I'm also willing to bet that, over the course of his career, Michael Jordan missed more game winning shots than he made, even if I couldn't get a Cavs or a Jazz (or a Hoyas) fan to think such a thought.

[Erm Schmigget]

I posted this on the women's board, too, but it has ramifications for you if you plan on going to Hope's men's game tomorrow:

This weekend is a men's/women's double-header.  With this being the last home game for the women, I would expect it to be parents' day, possibly also for the men.  Either way, if you have general admission seats, you may want to get there early.

Women's JV:         1pm
Women's Varsity: 3pm
Men's JV:              5:15pm
Men'sVarsity:        7:30pm

In the past these have been a one ticket for all games affair.  No reason for me to think otherwise this time around.  Also, the women will be observing the WCBA's Think Pink program to raise awareness about breast cancer, so wear pink if ya got it!

[Stinger]

Just want to send out a quick note to salute K'37 Grad and former MIAA Commissioner Al Deal.  I've never personally met Mr. Deal but I have heard nothing but great things.   He served 20 years as MIAA commissioner.  He is in the Athletic HOF's of both Kalamazoo and Albion and of course has an Award in his honor for Scholar-Athletes.

Cheers Mr. Deal!

[KnightSlappy]

I am also in the "no foul" camp but for heaven's sake GUARD THE INBOUND PASS.  Have we learned nothing from Grant Hill and Christian Laettner and every other time the passer has had an open look?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I posted this on the women's board, too, but it has ramifications for you if you plan on going to Hope's men's game tomorrow:

This weekend is a men's/women's double-header.  With this being the last home game for the women, I would expect it to be parents' day, possibly also for the men.  Either way, if you have general admission seats, you may want to get there early.

Women's JV:         1pm
Women's Varsity: 3pm
Men's JV:              5:15pm
Men'sVarsity:        7:30pm

In the past these have been a one ticket for all games affair.  No reason for me to think otherwise this time around.  Also, the women will be observing the WCBA's Think Pink program to raise awareness about breast cancer, so wear pink if ya got it!

One ticket is correct, and it will be Senior day for the men as well.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

I am also in the "no foul" camp but for heaven's sake GUARD THE INBOUND PASS.  Have we learned nothing from Grant Hill and Christian Laettner and every other time the passer has had an open look?

Why not take your tallest longest limbed player e.g. Schuster and put him on the inbounder?  It took a pinpoint inbounds pass to make this play work for Albion and there's no way he could do that with a 6'10" guy in front of him.  This is a specialized situation and calls for specialized personnel usage e.g. the Patriots using Randy Moss to play defense on a Hail Mary.  As it was, the two tallest players on the roster were on the bench on the final play.

[veragrace]

Just found this blurb on the Sentinel website:

Flying Dutchmen lead nation in margin of victory

The Hope College men's basketball team is winning on average by more points than anyone in NCAA Division III.

The Flying Dutchmen, who play Alma College Saturday night at DeVos Fieldhouse, credit their defense and their versatility for how successful they're being.

Read more Saturday in The Sentinel, online and in print.

[sac]

Flying Dutchmen lead nation in margin of victory

1. Hope---------------17.2
2. Wooster------------16.8
3. Maryville, TN--------16.5
4. UW Whitewater-----16.5
5. Amherst-------------15.7

[wiz]

I am also in the "no foul" camp but for heaven's sake GUARD THE INBOUND PASS.  Have we learned nothing from Grant Hill and Christian Laettner and every other time the passer has had an open look?

Why not take your tallest longest limbed player e.g. Schuster and put him on the inbounder?  It took a pinpoint inbounds pass to make this play work for Albion and there's no way he could do that with a 6'10" guy in front of him.  This is a specialized situation and calls for specialized personnel usage e.g. the Patriots using Randy Moss to play defense on a Hail Mary.  As it was, the two tallest players on the roster were on the bench on the final play.

Maybe sac is right.  Maybe we shouldn't comment on games we didn't attend.  Had KnightSlappy attended the game he would have seen that Schuster didn't make the trip so it would have been really difficult to get him to the gym, sutied up, and inserted in time for this crucial situation.

In reality, Calvin played it well, Albion played it well, and this time the luck went to Albion.  Like any game, there were mistakes on both sides, but the ending was actually played well by both teams.  Someone wins, someone loses.  It happens.  End of story.

[sac]

Hope is  also #9 in steals per game at 12.2..............

Hope, Albion are in the top 100 in several categories.   Calvin and surprisingly Olivet also make their appearances in a fiew categories.

[sac]

Flying Dutchmen lead nation in margin of victory

1. Hope---------------17.2
2. Wooster------------16.8
3. Maryville, TN--------16.5
4. UW Whitewater-----16.5
5. Amherst-------------15.7

Its a slow year for scoring margin in the NCAA.  Hope's 17.2 average would be the lowest to lead Division III since (ironically) 1982 when Hope led DIII with a average margin of 13.8.

The last 5
2003--Williams 20.7
2004--Amherst 20.8
2005--Wittenberg 18.6
2006--Wooster 21.5
2007--Amherst 20.6

The record is an amazing 31.1 in 1976 by Husson.

[Civic Minded]

A friend of mine is looking for one extra ticket for the Hope/Calvin game -- anyone have any leads?  PM or e-mail if you have info.  Thanks! 

[Pat Coleman]

Flying Dutchmen lead nation in margin of victory

1. Hope---------------17.2
2. Wooster------------16.8
3. Maryville, TN--------16.5
4. UW Whitewater-----16.5
5. Amherst-------------15.7

Its a slow year for scoring margin in the NCAA.  Hope's 17.2 average would be the lowest to lead Division III since (ironically) 1982 when Hope led DIII with a average margin of 13.8.

The last 5
2003--Williams 20.7
2004--Amherst 20.8
2005--Wittenberg 18.6
2006--Wooster 21.5
2007--Amherst 20.6

The record is an amazing 31.1 in 1976 by Husson.

Interesting -- I wonder if this is a sign of parity?

[KnightSlappy]

I am also in the "no foul" camp but for heaven's sake GUARD THE INBOUND PASS.  Have we learned nothing from Grant Hill and Christian Laettner and every other time the passer has had an open look?

Why not take your tallest longest limbed player e.g. Schuster and put him on the inbounder?  It took a pinpoint inbounds pass to make this play work for Albion and there's no way he could do that with a 6'10" guy in front of him.  This is a specialized situation and calls for specialized personnel usage e.g. the Patriots using Randy Moss to play defense on a Hail Mary.  As it was, the two tallest players on the roster were on the bench on the final play.

Maybe sac is right.  Maybe we shouldn't comment on games we didn't attend.  Had KnightSlappy attended the game he would have seen that Schuster didn't make the trip so it would have been really difficult to get him to the gym, sutied up, and inserted in time for this crucial situation.

In reality, Calvin played it well, Albion played it well, and this time the luck went to Albion.  Like any game, there were mistakes on both sides, but the ending was actually played well by both teams.  Someone wins, someone loses.  It happens.  End of story.

You are correct, had I been at the game I would have seen that Schuster did not make the trip but I don't think that would have prevented Happy Calvin Guy from mentioning Schuster in HIS post.

But seriously, I dont think that HCG's point was that Schuster had to be the guy he just meant a tall guy should stand and prevent the passer from having a good look at the floor.