MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[bulldogalum]

Great to see the Bulldogs make a good run here.  I was surprised to find out that they are the first MIAA team to make it to the championship series, hopefully we can represent the rest of the conference well.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Great to see the Bulldogs make a good run here.  I was surprised to find out that they are the first MIAA team to make it to the championship series, hopefully we can represent the rest of the conference well.

You already have!!  Now keep on winning!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Great to see the Bulldogs make a good run here.  I was surprised to find out that they are the first MIAA team to make it to the championship series, hopefully we can represent the rest of the conference well.

You already have!!  Now keep on winning!

Adrian's first opponent is #5 ranked Johns Hopkins.  But as long as it is baseball, not lacrosse, you can do it - Go Bulldogs!

[Gregory Sager]

Adrian's first opponent is #5 ranked Johns Hopkins.  But as long as it is baseball, not lacrosse, you can do it

Or brain surgery.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Adrian's first opponent is #5 ranked Johns Hopkins.  But as long as it is baseball, not lacrosse, you can do it

Or brain surgery.

I'm reasonably sure that Johns Hopkins undergrads are not allowed to perform brain surgery.  Of course, d3 rules do allow eligibility if a student continues grad school at the same institution - any JH bball players now doing residency?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Back to basketball (although still not directly MIAA).

Davenport continues to upgrade their program with the hiring of a new coach, Burt Paddock - head assistant at GVSU for the last four years.

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/051508aai.html

[HopeConvert]

Having experience with both schools leads me to the conclusion that the emphasis on athletics is roughly equal, though I suspect the interest in basketball in particular is slightly higher at Hope (consult attendance figures for evidence). Outside of basketball things are pretty low key in Holland. If there is a distinct difference between the two schools, it might be the fact that President Bultmann has a keen interest and long-standing involvement in Hope athletics, while President Byker does not have that history at Calvin. My sources at Knollcrest tell me his interest in Calvin athletics does not match Bultmann's interest in Hope's. It is, perhaps, a distinction without a difference, especially given the fact that both Presidents have engaged in massive upgrades of their athletic facilities during their tenure. The reasons for this are not difficult to fathom. While not at the level described in Murray Sperber's Beer and Circus, even DIII schools have been subject to changing expectations about the college experience. It is tough for schools to compete for students when they have facilities with not as much gleam and polish as other schools have.

Greg: given my Frisian heritage, I like to think the McCoysmas reside in Holland. It really is all rather fabulous, isn't it?

[hoopdreams]

Another WHAC big man "throw away" is available. Aquinas 6'7 frosh, Brian Snider has been relieved from his duties, as well as 2 other frosh for refusing to take a red shirt next season.  Hammer gave the ultimatum, and the post, snider, wing and pg ( the one who made DVS look foolish in the 1st game of the season) all exited. AJ schmidt from kenowa hills remained to fill in minutes until the second semester when Tellman plays his last available semester.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Another WHAC big man "throw away" is available. Aquinas 6'7 frosh, Brian Snider has been relieved from his duties, as well as 2 other frosh for refusing to take a red shirt next season.  Hammer gave the ultimatum, and the post, snider, wing and pg ( the one who made DVS look foolish in the 1st game of the season) all exited. AJ schmidt from kenowa hills remained to fill in minutes until the second semester when Tellman plays his last available semester.

That's sad if true - and I have no reason to doubt you.  I sure am glad that DIII got rid of red-shirting (other than for medical reasons)

[hoopdreams]

Former Corerstone big man Andy Vennema is going to Hope next fall.  Saw him playing today at the Devos with Tanis, Bosch, Snikkers, jungling, and Nellis.  He is already living in Holland with some of the boys. Hopefully things work out because if this kid can stay focused, he will be a HUGE pickup, literally. FWIW, I pop in a couple of times per week to check things out, and Brandon and Ty are always there.

[sac]

Another WHAC big man "throw away" is available. Aquinas 6'7 frosh, Brian Snider has been relieved from his duties, as well as 2 other frosh for refusing to take a red shirt next season.  Hammer gave the ultimatum, and the post, snider, wing and pg ( the one who made DVS look foolish in the 1st game of the season) all exited. AJ schmidt from kenowa hills remained to fill in minutes until the second semester when Tellman plays his last available semester.

Two years in a row our NAIA neighbors play shenaningans with the scholarships.......its not worth the paper you sign boys.

Former Corerstone big man Andy Vennema is going to Hope next fall.  Saw him playing today at the Devos with Tanis, Bosch, Snikkers, jungling, and Nellis.  He is already living in Holland with some of the boys. Hopefully things work out because if this kid can stay focused, he will be a HUGE pickup, literally. FWIW, I pop in a couple of times per week to check things out, and Brandon and Ty are always there.

I would consider Venema a project for Hope, he played all of 16 games (1/2 season basically) for Cornerstone in 2007 and very sparingly,  before excusing himself from the Cornerstone mess of last summer.  I don't know how true it is, but I was told he hadn't touched a basketball in 8 months.    But at 6-7 I believe he'll be the tallest player in the Hope camp next October.  He was a heck of player for Class D Tri-Unity leading them to the 2006 State Championship and made the Class D all-state team his Sr. year right next to Michael McClary from Olivet.  He has the ability, just needs to get the fire back. 

Here's his bio from Cornerstone about his high school exploits.  C'stone listed him as 6-7 225 lbs.

Led Tri-Unity to Class D state championship in 2006
Averaged 19.4 PPG, and 11.3 RPG as a senior
AP First -Team All-State
Detroit Free Press First-Team All-State
Detroit News Second Team All-State
Advance First Team All-Area
Grand Rapids Press Second Team All-Area
BCAM First Team All-State
Career-highs of 33 points,  22 rebounds and 8 blocks
Had 26 points in 2006 State championship game
Holds school record for career rebounds with 751
Fifth all-time in career scoring at Tri-Unity with 1,016 points
First Team All-Conference.

If Hope can get him back to the point he was coming out of high school, he could be a really good player in the MIAA.

[realist]

HC:  Thanks for your input.  It is good to hear that from someone knowledgeable about both programs.  I have meet grads from both schools that never attended an athletic event at either school, and look at you with a blank stare if you mention the "rivalry" game.  Forming an opinion based solely on the postings on this board would indeed be silly.
Sac.  If memory serves correctly all the "shenaningans" last year at CU related to an incident in which student athletes violated U policy.  I do agree that any young person that gets offered an athletic scholarship from anywhere would be well advised to read the fine print, and really understand who controls your destiny.
In some ways I think it is good that Hope is willing to give these youngsters that have made mistakes a second chance.   However, part of me thinks doing so has the potential to create it's own set of problems by sending the wrong message to student athletes.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

However, part of me thinks doing so has the potential to create it's own set of problems by sending the wrong message to student athletes.

That would be true if they were allowed to enter Hope as if nothing happened, and with a clean slate.  The fact is that any suspensions or discipline handed down from their previous school is applied fully at Hope (for example - Snikkers serving a 1 year suspension last year while attending Hope).  As long as Hope continues with this policy, then I have no problem accepting any of these kids, in fact I would wholeheartedly encourage it.  It's a great example of actions that match beliefs.

Nothing like living up to your name - HOPE


Disclaimer - please do not assume that this is meant to say anything about any other school - I'm simply pointing out where I think Hope has done a great job of living its doctrine.

[sac]

I'm having trouble remembering but I don't think Venema was part of the Cornerstone "issues" last summer and left school on his own and presumebly on good terms.  Didn't he leave mid season?   I didn't get the whole Cornerstone story, just enough that it raised an eyebrow.

Its nice to pat Hope on the back FDF for upholding C'stone disciplinary sanctions, but I believe thats an NCAA rule and one everyone has to follow.  Otherwise every kid  on scholarship would transfer immediately the moment a suspension were handed down.




Funny, but it seems the degree to which the small print on the bottom of the scholarship is enforced seems to correlate with the talent level of the incoming freshman class vs the current roster, number of scholarships available and unsigned talent still available.  Funny how that works....... Just sayin'

[hope1]

i think that would be pretty good if he came to hope  i have to watch him play in the summer league that starts  pretty soon