MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

Two big dogs let their guard down today. Congrats to K and Alma. It could be an interesting tournament... I doubt it, but maybe...

It definitely could be.  I hate the expression of a late season loss being a good thing to focus a team; we'll see, but I think Calvin and Albion will come out strong next week.

[almcguirejr]

Who's responsible to provide passion and urgency to the team?  I think it's the coach.

Sometimes the coach can talk until he's blue in the face but players don't take him seriously.  The radio announcer said a few times today this was a meaningless game.  I disagreed with that.  If Calvin had won today and gone on to win the MIAA tournment next week they could have had 16-1 in region record.  Would that record have enabled them to host the 1st round of the NCAA tournament?  I don't know the answer to that but I think that is pretty much out the window now.  I think KVS would have made that very clear that if you keep winning you could give yourselves some opportunities. 

I also believe at halftime when Calvin was down 4 KVS went into the locker room with passion and urgency.  His team responded by giving up a 16-4 run to Kalamazoo in the first 4:43 of the second half.  That stretch included 3 turnovers, giving up 2 offensive rebounds and (according to the radio announcer) letting Henry McCain go in for an uncontested layup to begin the second half.  In the first half it seemed only Rodts and Veltema were playing to their ability level.  It sounded to me like Kalamzoo took it to them for 25-30 minutes and then Calvin decided that they finally had to play.  You have to give Kalamazoo credit, on Senior Day they got themselves a great win.

[NW Hope Fan]

Close but no cigar:

Everyone in the league had several games the were decided by 3 points or less, and everyone had at least one against a top 3 team. (number of games/number against top 3 team). Plus several OT games... (Record)

Adrian- 4/1 and an OT decided by more than 3 (Record for all these games: 2-3)
Albion-  4/1 (3-1)
Alma-    4/1 one of which was an OT game (2-2)
Calvin-  5/2 (3-2)
Hope-   5/3 (2-3)
K-         3/1 with two OT games both ending at more than a 3 point margin (2-3)
Olivet-  5/2 with two OT games, one in the 3 point range one not (5-2)
Trine-   5/3 (1-4)

Any number of different outcomes this year could have dramatically changed the rankings...

[sac]

The regular season really didn't do a whole lot to separate teams for me, I still hold the same opinion of pretty much all of them as I held going into the first round of MIAA games.  With some twists here or there.

Whats different now is the long term affects of not being able to play good defense consistently are less important and you only need to do as much to get by the opponent in front of you.  In short anyone can win this thing as much as ever.


First round pairing have as much intrigue as I can recall..........home teams are 51-6 in first round play.

Trine at Calvin
@Calvin 77 Trine 69
Calvin 82 @Trine 80

Alma at Hope
@Hope 81 Alma 64
Hope 55 @Alma 53

Adrian at Albion
Adrian 61 @Albion 58
Albion 84 @Adrian 70

Kalamazoo at Olivet
Olivet 72 @Kzoo 65 OT
Kzoo 70 @Olivet 65

5 of 8 previous matchups decided by 5 points or less, and two teams have already won a game on the hosts floor.  Four teams seasons are going to come to an end Wednesday and all four will be going into the games with a ton of belief they can win.

.......and the potential semi-finals matchups have just as much intrigue and many previously close games as well.

[sac]

Any number of different outcomes this year could have dramatically changed the rankings...

I'd have settled for just one shot. 

[sac]

****  Congrats to Jesse Reimink for finishing on top of the MIAA for scoring.  Jesse's the first Hope player to lead the league in scoring since Duane Bosma in 1996.  Its the 16th time a Hope player has led the way and the 12th different Hope player to do so.

Hope's MIAA scoring leaders.
1947 Russ De Vette  16.6
1948 Ed Van DeWege   15.8
1958 Paul Benes  21.6
1959 Paul Benes 18.9
1960 Warren VanderHill  26.1
1961 Jim VanderHill  21.8
1962 Jim VanderHill  24.3
1963 Jim VanderHill  22.7
1965 Clare VanWieren  21.3
1967 Floyd Brady  26.1
1968 Floyd Brady  31.9
1972 Dan Shinabarger  27.8
1973 Lee Brandsma  20.2
1990 Eric Elliott  21.0
1995 Duane Bosma  20.5
1996 Duane Bosma 18.3
2009 Jesse Reimink 21.1



***  Anyone know the league record for assists in a game?..........Deon Thompson, Trine had 12 tonight vs Hope, that deserves a wow.....so Wow!

***   This will be the 18th MIAA Tournament, Hope will have played 13 first round games.......TWELVE have come vs Alma.

[sac]

Kalamazoo's win over Calvin today was their first since 2003, Rob Passage's first year in charge of the Hornets.  I believe that was a streak of 12 games.

The 2003 game made 3 consecutive wins by Kzoo over Calvin at the Anderson Athletic Center.

[Gregory Sager]

Curious how the steroid era would've affected inductions into the supersweetness HOF?

Steroids probably enhance one's supersweetness in the eyes of Ashabi. I think he'd tell us that all of those red dots in his posts were a salute to the red dots that adorn a 'roided player's torso.

[Stinger]

It was a very exciting game at the Rolla Dome yesterday afternoon.  Congratulations to Ben  Jerome, Nate  Orozco and Henry McCain.   They wouldn't let their team fold as Calvin made their run like everyone knew they would.   When Calvin finally came back to take the lead, Nate responded with a strong drive to the basket for a score and a foul to put the Hornets back on top.   All 3 seniors scored in double digits, McCain leading the way with 16, including the winning bucket with 4 seconds left.  With a look to the future, frosh Joe Prepolec had 10 points and made his presence known in the post. I thought he played great defense against Mantel and really took him out of the game. The kid has only been playing organized basketball for 2 years. He certainly has an exciting future for Hornets.

The win means a return trip to the Cutler Center.  Olivet will certainly have a little revenge on their minds.  K has been playing solid basketball in the 2nd half of the season.   I like their chances to make it to the weekend.   

[hope1]

what a good game yesterday for hope vs trine  jesse no points at  half and 25  in the 2nd half every one played goood  jesse deserves mvp now lead the leauge in scoring now to alma wed night home it schould be a good game they will slow the game down  also i would not be surprised if trine beats calvin or gives them a tough game they improved so much  and saw a lot of cars in the ditches last night now the way home only going 50 all the way home what a late night

[almcguirejr]

As an Adrian fan, I couldnt be more excited about the matchup the Bulldogs drew.
I think the Adrian/Albion rivaly is a heated one, and Adrian has had success this year winning on the Brits floor (with Yancey playing)

I think if Adrian can play consistent D and boxes out, this is a game they can definitely win.

Just a question for anyone at the Albion/Alma game...

It appeared from the boxscore that Cruse and Stasiak didnt play.  Are they hurt?? Discipline??

Can anyone out there shed some light!!


Go DAWGS!!!

Stasiak injured his ankle (at least that's what it appeared to be) in Wed. game against Calvin.

[Civic Minded]

Interesting day around the league yesterday.  Still don't understand how Trine is in last place; they are a team to be reckoned with.  Glad to leave Angola with a W.

Hats off to Reimink for his 100th win with Coach Van Wieren.  Last player to make it to 100 in their Hope career was Joel Holstege, finishing with 105. 

No real breathing easy for anyone next week.  Looks like it will be the most interesting tournament in a number of years.  Have fun everyone!

[ACHOOPS-00]

As an Adrian fan, I couldnt be more excited about the matchup the Bulldogs drew.
I think the Adrian/Albion rivaly is a heated one, and Adrian has had success this year winning on the Brits floor (with Yancey playing)

I think if Adrian can play consistent D and boxes out, this is a game they can definitely win.

Just a question for anyone at the Albion/Alma game...

It appeared from the boxscore that Cruse and Stasiak didnt play.  Are they hurt?? Discipline??

Can anyone out there shed some light!!


Go DAWGS!!!

Maybe Coach Sklar and coach Sovis should worry about the Brits instead of posting on this website. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Who's responsible to provide passion and urgency to the team?  I think it's the coach.

Sometimes the coach can talk until he's blue in the face but players don't take him seriously.  The radio announcer said a few times today this was a meaningless game.  I disagreed with that.  If Calvin had won today and gone on to win the MIAA tournment next week they could have had 16-1 in region record.  Would that record have enabled them to host the 1st round of the NCAA tournament?  I don't know the answer to that but I think that is pretty much out the window now.  I think KVS would have made that very clear that if you keep winning you could give yourselves some opportunities. 

To his credit, KVS did comment that he failed to prepare the team and get across to his guys the importance of the game at K.  Not only did the loss yesterday cost them a chance at hosting should they win the MIAA tournament, but may have cost them a Pool C if the fail to win the MIAA tournament.

I agree with a number of other posters, that this MIAA tournament looks to be the most competitive ever.

[sac]

As an Adrian fan, I couldnt be more excited about the matchup the Bulldogs drew.
I think the Adrian/Albion rivaly is a heated one, and Adrian has had success this year winning on the Brits floor (with Yancey playing)

I think if Adrian can play consistent D and boxes out, this is a game they can definitely win.

Just a question for anyone at the Albion/Alma game...

It appeared from the boxscore that Cruse and Stasiak didnt play.  Are they hurt?? Discipline??

Can anyone out there shed some light!!


Go DAWGS!!!

Maybe Coach Sklar and coach Sovis should worry about the Brits instead of posting on this website. 

yeah, good time to point out there is a posts history......