MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

big_yellow_hat,
It was a toss up on my second team between Snoeyink and Meckes.  Both are deserving of honors but I had to go with Meckes to recognize his defensive effort (Mr. Crawford would have to agree).  Snoeyink has come on strong but Meckes is the heart of that defense.  Remember, Snoeyink did not play in the pivotal game at Albion after turning his ankle in the first minute.

mjfasteewolf,
It seems you disagree with any dutchmen not on the list.  Immink has been important for Hope but Adrian desperately needed Nokovich this year.  If I was picking sides I'd probably take Immink for myself but I wanted to acknowledge at least one player from each team.  Its not like I tried to shortchange any Hope players.  With 3 teams head and shoulders above the rest I felt like my first team should reflect that.  Players on other teams also had great seasons and its impossible to get everyone on the list, thats what coaches honorable mentions are for.

[mjfasteenwolf]

mjfasteewolf,
It seems you disagree with any dutchmen not on the list.  Immink has been important for Hope but Adrian desperately needed Nokovich this year.  If I was picking sides I'd probably take Immink for myself but I wanted to acknowledge at least one player from each team. 

I'm not trying to be biased by supporting my Dutchmen, but I feel that all conference teams should be the best players. Not even necesarily the most valuable, or anything like that the all MIAA team should be the best possible team you can put together with the players from that conference. Therefore I feel Immink should be on instead of Nokovich, I know Nokovich was important to the little that the Bulldogs accomplished this year, but still Greg shouldn't be punished for being on a team with a lot of other good players.

[sac]

Two career achievements to mention

Brandon Crawfords 3 year total conference FG shooting % of .656 on 240-366 ranks him #2 all-time in the MIAA.

FIELD GOAL SHOOTING
(Minimum 180 made) Att.    Made    Pct.     
1. Steve Honderd, Calvin, 89-93 523 347  .663
2. Brandon Crawford, Albion, 03-06 366 240 .656
3. Wade Gugino, Hope, 88-92 423 276  .652
4. Dave Beckman, Hope, 82-85 300 188  .627
5. Chip Henry, Hope, 81-85 384 238  .620
6. Tim Czarnecki, Albion, 96-00 382 233 .610
7. Mark Veenstra, Calvin, 73-77    877 525 .599
8. Bill Sall, Calvin, 85-90 582 341  .586
9. Travis DePree, Albion, 01-05 330 190  .576
10. Ray Van Tiflin, Alma, 80-84 329 187  .568
11. Matt Neil, Hope, 78-82 370 210  .568


Adrian's Jeff Nokovich finishes his MIAA career with 200 assists, as best I can tell thats 2nd all-time.  His per-game average puts him in a tie for #5

ASSISTS (Since 1988-89)
(Minimum 36 games played) GP     No.    Avg.
1. Joel Holstege, Hope, 94-98    48 237 4.9
2. Matt Harrison, Calvin, 88-92 36 168 4.7
3. Jeremy Cole, Kalamazoo, 92-96 48 194 4.0
4. Ryan Klingler, Hope, 98-01 40 155 3.9
5. Colly Carlson, Hope, 88-92 47 179 3.8
5. Jeff Nokovich, Adrian, 02-06 52 200 3.8


The MIAA keeps 3pt shooting as a percentage, but I think in total number of 3pt shots made  I have to beleive Andy Draayers 95 is probably among the all-time leaders.  D'Andre Pruitt had 75, Kyle Konwinski had 72.


Great accomplishments fellas.

[ziggy]

Its not a punishment.  I'm guessing no two ballots will have the same 16 players on it.  To be honest, I didnt even take position into account.  I picked who I saw as the top 8 as the first team and the rest as the second team.  Don't take it personally or as a slight against Immink.  He's a fine player, I just didnt have him on my list.

[sac]

I think if you asked most Hope fans, deep down I think we know Greg Immink is the team MVP.  Greg Sager on this site once called him the engine that makes Hope go, and I have a hard time disagreeing with that assesment.

I think all you have to do is look at Hope's last 5 years.  It shouldn't be a shock that the 05 team struggled without Immink.  Sure that team had many injuries and off-court problems, but the season's fate was sealed in mid-November when Immink went down.  Greg is a member of a small fraternity of Hope players to have played on four 20 win teams.  Only a couple Sr's from the 98 would have played on four 20 win teams.

Past Records
2006 23-2 (12-2)
    2005 15-12 (10-4)
2004 21-5 (10-2)
2003 23-5 (10-2)
2002 21-9 (8-4)


I think you could make a good argument for any of Hope's starting 5 to make all-miaa but not all of them at once.  Its a tough task for sure.  

 There are some good MIAA players on other squads but very few had outstanding years individually.  But I think you could find at least 1 from each team that could qualify.

[bulldogalum]

I think you have to put Nokovich on the first team.  I don't think there is any player in the league that wants Nok guarding him.  I don't think there's a more intense player in the league, and as Sac mentioned, he's in the top 5 all time in the MIAA in assists.  These awards are not entirely about the success of the team, they're about the quality of the player.  Ultimately, team success has something to do with where these players get ranked, but in my admittedly biased opinion, I would not take any other point guard in the league over Nokovich.

[oldknight]

To me the most amazing stat from sac's MIAA career field goal shooting list is Mark Veenstra's who made more career field goals than anyone else on that list took with the exception of Bill Sall. Veenstra went 525 for 877 and Sall took 582 (making 341).

[MIdoubleA]

Send your ballots to MIAAFanpoll@aol.com, I'll take them right up to the Monday before the MIAA tournament begins.

Just in case you guys forgot already...

[ziggy]

I think you have to put Nokovich on the first team.  I don't think there is any player in the league that wants Nok guarding him.  I don't think there's a more intense player in the league, and as Sac mentioned, he's in the top 5 all time in the MIAA in assists.  These awards are not entirely about the success of the team, they're about the quality of the player.  Ultimately, team success has something to do with where these players get ranked, but in my admittedly biased opinion, I would not take any other point guard in the league over Nokovich.

Somehow I dont feel like the ONLY player in the MIAA to turn the ball over 100 times should be a first teamer

[big_yellow_hat]

Ziggy you should show some love to Brokovich, you did only see him play in 1 game and I'm sure he did have a pretty good year (second team if you don't already have him there).

[ziggy]

Ziggy you should show some love to Brokovich, you did only see him play in 1 game and I'm sure he did have a pretty good year (second team if you don't already have him there).

I had him second team although some Hope fans want to crucify me for having him there and not Immink

[sac]

Ziggy you should show some love to Brokovich, you did only see him play in 1 game and I'm sure he did have a pretty good year (second team if you don't already have him there).

I had him second team although some Hope fans want to crucify me for having him there and not Immink

You mean the one poster who disagreed?

[ziggy]

And someone who said that any Hope fan would agree Immink is the team MVP

[sac]

And someone who said that any Hope fan would agree Immink is the team MVP

Please point out in my post where I disagreed with you.

[ziggy]

And someone who said that any Hope fan would agree Immink is the team MVP

Please point out in my post where I disagreed with you.

It doesnt matter.  My reply wasn't necessary.  You obviously are a much more astute fan than mjfasteenwolf and Immink is a player to be appreciated but Hope and Calvin are hard teams to pick out players for individual recognition.  Thats it, over and done with.