MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hoopdreams]

in regards to the conference MVP voting, there is somethings that blatantly stands out to me.  Granted, I'm going on the assumption that coaches are the sole voters for not only weekly honors but season ending honors as well.  That being said, MM has been honored as player of the week or co-player 5 out of the 13 weeks or almost 40% of the time.  Based on that alone, he's should be considered front runner because he already is in the coaches eyes.  

Of course a lot may and/or will change in the upcoming weeks and the hay is far from being in the barn, but Hope's recent surge to the top has been a collaboration of players as well.  You take Nelis out of the lineup and Hope has at least 4 fewer wins in my opinion (which means nothing).

[GoKnights68]

A little off-topic but Bob Knight explains help-side defense at the collegiate level.   I figure it's relevant to some of the defenses we see in MIAA.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4899744&categoryid=2378529

[Pat Coleman]

Often conference player of the week awards are chosen by the league office. Sometimes these selections are rotated through schools and not necessarily given to the absolute best player every week.

[Erm Schmigget]

I see Hope has caught the attention of some Top-25 pollsters, garnering 4 votes to re-enter the ranks of the "also receiving votes" for week 10 of the season.  This is their first apperance since week 6 (games through Jan 10).  Starting the season as the #23 pick, they dropped out after week 1 and gradually fell from consideration altogether.  The current 7-game win streak has done alot to convince me they can be contenders, at least for the a.q., if not further.  I guess I'm not alone in that respect.     We'll see if a couple wins this week can attract some more votes.  Go Hope!

[hoopdreams]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

[Gregory Sager]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

I would bet that OC SID can answer the question as to whether or not the award is rotated through the various teams in the league in the manner that Pat indicated.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

I would bet that OC SID can answer the question as to whether or not the award is rotated through the various teams in the league in the manner that Pat indicated.

I would be very surprised if the MIAA or any league had an official policy of rotating the award over the course of the year. I think it is more likely an unwritten rule that every team gets represented once a year or something like that.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

I would bet that OC SID can answer the question as to whether or not the award is rotated through the various teams in the league in the manner that Pat indicated.

I would be very surprised if the MIAA or any league had an official policy of rotating the award over the course of the year. I think it is more likely an unwritten rule that every team gets represented once a year or something like that.

If that's the case, we still need to work on Adrian and Albion for '09-'10.  Here's the tally so far:

McClary, Olivet 5
Bowser, Hope 2
Bunn, Hope 2
Redditt, Alma 1
Rogers, Trine 1
Jennings, Olivet 1
Evans, Olivet 1
Nelis, Hope 1
Mantel, Calvin 1
Prepolec, Kzoo 1
Clark, Kzoo 1

By school:

Olivet 7
Hope 5
Kalamazoo 2
Alma 1
Trine 1
Calvin 1
Adrian 0
Albion 0

[Knightmare]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

I would bet that OC SID can answer the question as to whether or not the award is rotated through the various teams in the league in the manner that Pat indicated.

I would be very surprised if the MIAA or any league had an official policy of rotating the award over the course of the year. I think it is more likely an unwritten rule that every team gets represented once a year or something like that.

If that's the case, we still need to work on Adrian and Albion for '09-'10.  Here's the tally so far:

McClary, Olivet 5
Bowser, Hope 2
Bunn, Hope 2
Redditt, Alma 1
Rogers, Trine 1
Jennings, Olivet 1
Evans, Olivet 1
Nelis, Hope 1
Mantel, Calvin 1
Prepolec, Kzoo 1
Clark, Kzoo 1

By school:

Olivet 7
Hope 5
Kalamazoo 2
Alma 1
Trine 1
Calvin 1
Adrian 0
Albion 0

Interesting on how little representation Calvin has on that list for a team tied for 1st place in the league.  A few potential reasons:  1)  Calvin is much more balanced and doesn't have a player that stands head and shoulders above his teammates and thus many players have "good" games but no players have "great" games.    2)  Does a schools athletic administration or coaching staff have to politic to get players this honor, if the case maybe Calvin doesn't emphasis and push for this as much as other schools.

Olivet and Kalamazoo are 3 and 4 games back of Calvin respectively and have 7 times and 2 times more player of the week awards respectively.  Very interesting.

[Pat Coleman]

I should say I am not speaking with any specific knowledge of the MIAA -- just talking about what I have observed in some other leagues.

I think it is more likely an unwritten rule that every team gets represented once a year or something like that.

Oh no doubt, clearly not something written down.

[Civic Minded]

It is my understanding that, in the MIAA at least, POW recognition is carefully given by a weights-and-balances comparison of performances for the week, not rotated through teams or given because a particular player "should have it."  This comparison is often done "blind"  (comparing stats w/o names attached for instance) to eliminate any potential person biases. 

[ChicagoHopeNut]

The new regional rankings are out.

Great Lakes Region    In-Region Record    Overall Record
1. Wooster                  17-3                         17-4
2. Hope                          10-2                         15-6
3. John Carroll                  13-5                         15-5
4. Thomas More          16-5                         16-5
5. Wilmington (Ohio)       14-5                         15-6
6. Calvin                          9-3                         13-8

Hope moves up a spot and Calvin falls to #6. Plenty of time for Calvin to move up again though.  Clearly, the committee looks at the total number of wins.

[realist]

While I would like to think that there is a plan in place that treats each of the players on each of the teams fairly and objectively I doubt it exists.  I doubt there is even a "gentlemans agreement" on the basic criteria.   I have watched these selections for too long a time now not to realize there have to be some "political correctness" and other non-performance type issues involved.  
Which stats are more heavily weighted?  Points scored, rebounds, blocked shots?  What happens to the obvious stat leader whose team loses?

Week one of this MIAA season Mantel and Joe P share the honors.

Mantel in games versus Hope and Olivet 34 points, and 21 rebounds.
Joe P. in games versus Alma and Adrian  31 points, and 22 rebounds.
M M  in games versus Albion and Calvin   31 points, and 22 rebounds.
Looks like MM did reasonably well compared to the guys that shared POW.

Week Two:

MM wins POW with 45 points and 23 rebounds versus Hope and Trine.
Joe P  Had 51 points and 23 rebounds. (Hope and Albion)  Better stats, but no cigar.

Week Five:

Bunn wins POW with 41 points, and 5 rebounds versus Alma and Olivet.
MM Had 52 points and 21 rebounds versus Hope and Calvin, and once again a guy with better stats (against tougher competion) is ignored.  

Can anyone explain how this supposedly well thought out "weights, and balances comparison of performances" thing really works?

I used only 3 weeks, and 4 total players to do my brief comparison.  What am I missing?

[Happy Calvin Guy]

What am I missing?

Grit, hustle, and a team-first attitude

[Knightmare]

Thank you for the insight Pat.  If the award isn't given to "the best" player on a weekly basis, what's the point?  I realize that's it's often hard to separate 1 or 2 players but if your explanation gives the same vibe as the people who give ribbons to all participants just for participating so no one gets their feelings hurt.

I would bet that OC SID can answer the question as to whether or not the award is rotated through the various teams in the league in the manner that Pat indicated.

I would be very surprised if the MIAA or any league had an official policy of rotating the award over the course of the year. I think it is more likely an unwritten rule that every team gets represented once a year or something like that.

If that's the case, we still need to work on Adrian and Albion for '09-'10.  Here's the tally so far:

McClary, Olivet 5
Bowser, Hope 2
Bunn, Hope 2
Redditt, Alma 1
Rogers, Trine 1
Jennings, Olivet 1
Evans, Olivet 1
Nelis, Hope 1
Mantel, Calvin 1
Prepolec, Kzoo 1
Clark, Kzoo 1

By school:

Olivet 7
Hope 5
Kalamazoo 2
Alma 1
Trine 1
Calvin 1
Adrian 0
Albion 0

Interesting on how little representation Calvin has on that list for a team tied for 1st place in the league.  A few potential reasons:  1)  Calvin is much more balanced and doesn't have a player that stands head and shoulders above his teammates and thus many players have "good" games but no players have "great" games.    2)  Does a schools athletic administration or coaching staff have to politic to get players this honor, if the case maybe Calvin doesn't emphasis and push for this as much as other schools.

Olivet and Kalamazoo are 3 and 4 games back of Calvin respectively and have 7 times and 2 times more player of the week awards respectively.  Very interesting.

+K to OC_SID if I could for answering the above question for me in a message. a players coach must nominate them for the POW award and also there are some coaches that are more consistent with sending in weekly nominations than other coaches which would have some affect on weekly award winners, though there are clearly some players and teams that deserve multiple awards as well.