MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

Just wanted to take the opportunity to say "thanks" to all of you Calvin fans who have been so gracious in the "Hope on the bubble" discussions.  To be honest, I expected to hear many more negative or celebratory responses -- shame on me I guess.

I think that pretty much every MIAA poster wants schools from our conference to get into and do well in NCAA tournament play. I certainly rooted for Albion last year up until the sectional final and I expect that Albion fans were glad to see an all-MIAA elite eight game at Kresge too. I don't know why we would wish otherwise. And even an oldknight wants Hope to get into and win NCAA tournament games (especially when it seems that the system works an unfairness to a team that really should not be a bubble team). But I've got to admit that on Friday night I'll probably be a Brit fan if, as we expect, those 2 teams face off in the semis. There is a reason for the name "The Rivalry" after all. Maybe sac will let me borrow his Albion sweatshirt.

[ziggy]

Just wanted to take the opportunity to say "thanks" to all of you Calvin fans who have been so gracious in the "Hope on the bubble" discussions.  To be honest, I expected to hear many more negative or celebratory responses -- shame on me I guess.

Good luck to all this week -- here's to what we've been waiting for all season!   

I have no problem recognizing Hope as a very good basketball team.  While at times I may root against them, that doesn't mean I don't want a deserving team to make it into the tournament.  No matter who your team is, we all have to struggle through this very flawed tournament selection process together!

[kcrest]

Hey all,

Just wanted to take the opportunity to say "thanks" to all of you Calvin fans who have been so gracious in the "Hope on the bubble" discussions.  To be honest, I expected to hear many more negative or celebratory responses -- shame on me I guess.

Appreciate the thanks.  I haven't weighed in yet on the "Hope on the bubble" discussion b/c it's hard for me to imagine they are on the bubble.  If they for some reason didn't get into the NCAAs I think the tournament would be missing a legitimate national championship contending team.  Frankly I thought Hope had what it took to make a run to Salem pre-DVS.  It's one of the most talented D3 teams I've seen in quite a while.  Matches up well in my opinion with the 2000 Calvin team.

[realist]

Dren;  I agree with you that the obvious answer for Calvin, and Hope (to a lesser degree) is they need to head south and east to Ohio.  Going west, while it makes for interesting matchups causes problems for Calvin geographically.  
The 5 schools that Greg mentions might not be overly excited about playing either Calvin or Hope.  The same can very possibly be said for the Ohio schools, but you have many more potential "in-region" teams,  A win is a win even against an Alma or Olivet.  Why not a MIAA/OAC or NCAC challenge?  Part of the problem corrects when Tri-state becomes kosher.  (Interestingly if Tri-state had been kosher this year it would have helped both Calvin and Hope, but definitely would have hurt Albion).
Calvin's position in the top 25 shouldn't concern anyone too much.  Just think back one year when all anyone had to do was keep winning.  At this point even Kalamzoo shouldn't be dismissed to quickly.

[sac]

All I can say about scheduling is that the NCAA shouldn't be in the business of dictating who you can or can't play.

Just count all D3  games its so simple.


......and by the way there's "legislation" out there to make "in-region" include all games within one of the NCAA's four geographic region.   This could potentially cut out the Illinois schools as an option..........but thankfully games against teams from Mississippi would be in-region.  


Oldknight -----the Albion sweatshirt can not be used for evil purposes.




Ya know discussing Hope's "problem" is funny........their "probelm" is they played two teams who played almost flawless basketball.  Neither has played better before or since.

[Briton Backer]

Further, Old Knight, we don't want you.   Please don't root for us.

[Civic Minded]

Further, Old Knight, we don't want you.   Please don't root for us.

Aw, now that's just cold.  Where's the love? 8)

[sac]

The biggest problem in the Great Lakes Region......well two biggest.

#1 its a relatively small region compared to others.......fewer schools avaiable to play.  Only one other Region I believe is smaller in Number Yet it stretches almost 500 miles from Marietta Ohio to Holland Mi.  The majority of the Ohio D3 schools are in the Eastern half of that State.

#2 its comprised of two large conferences of 10 teams, which means the larger part of those schools schedules is taken up with conference games.  Both the NCAC and OAC start conference games in December, usually weekends......ideal dates to bring in and MIAA team or travel to the Great Lakes State.

There are 25 games for D3 schools, OAC teams have 7 non-conf games to fill, NCAC have 9, MIAA have 11.

The in-region record issue won't be as much of a problem next year since those games against the invisible school in Indiana will count.

[Briton Backer]

Civic Minded-
I just don't want God to be confused as to who He is supposed to root for.  As all Christianity clearly revolves around the CRC/RCA, this has been a really hard week for Him and I don't want to add to it.

A random thought:  If Calvin played Notre Dame, who would He root for?

[sac]

Thankfully touchdown jesus will never have to worry since Calvin doesn't play football  8)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Thankfully touchdown jesus will never have to worry since Calvin doesn't play football  8)

Mucho Karma for that one

[sac]

First I'd like to personally thank everyone for voting.......but since I can't this will have to do.  Thank You.


2006 MIAA Fan Poll

MVP
BRANDON CRAWFORD, Sr. Albion

First Team

BRANDON CRAWFORD, Sr. Albion
CALEB VELDHOUSE, Fr. Calvin
ANDY PHILLIPS, Sr. Hope
KYLE TREWHELLA, Sr. Calvin
MARCUS VANDERHEIDE, So, Hope
STEPHEN CRAMER, Jr. Hope
GERALD DOZIE, Sr. Olivet
GREG IMMINK, Sr. Hope

Second Team

ZAK SILAS, Jr. Albion
ANDY DRAAYER, Sr. Calvin
MICHAEL BAILEY, Sr. Albion
MO BROOKINS, Jr. Tri-State
MIKE MURPHPY, So. Alma
ERIC VOISIN, Sr. Hope
KYLE KONWINKSI, Sr. Kalamazoo
JOSH MECKES, Jr. Calvin
JEFF NOKOVICH, Sr. Adrian

Coach of the Year
Kevin VandeStreek, Calvin

Freshman of the Year
Caleb Veldhouse, Calvin

Upset of the Year
Tri-State  77 Albion 72

Game of the Year
Calvin 60 Hope 59

Congrats to all our fine players on another great year.

[hope1]

thank you sac for doing this is great and hope wed night

[sac]

Just a few notes on our voting, 16 ballots this year.

For MVP --- Point totals with 1st place in ()
Crawford (13)-- 44
Veldhouse (2)--14
Phillips -- 11

First Team--Players listed by point total
Crawford and Veldhouse unanimous.  The only Hope players not left off at least one ballot were Phillips and Cramer.

Secont Team----Difference between Silas and Immink was 2 first team votes.  Nokovich and Meckes tied.

28 different players received votes, Mike Massey from Alma deserves on Honorable Mention.  There was a pretty good gap after him.

Freshman of the Year
Veldhouse, unanimous,  Benford a convincing 2nd, McCain a convincing 3rd.  7 players received consideration.

Coach of the Year
Passage received two votes

Upset of the Year was unanimous

Calvin over Hope easy winner, 2 others mentioned Albion over Hope, and Calvin over Albion @ Albion.

Thanks again.

[oldknight]

Thankfully touchdown jesus will never have to worry since Calvin doesn't play football  8)

Yeah, but we're working on it. We've got a running back (Dustin Smith, who doubles at DB), a tight end (Tim Katt), and we even go 2 deep at QB (Tyler Zoerhof and Micah Chappel). All of these guys were pretty good high school football players. It seems to me that Snoeyink played in high school too. If he didn't he should have. Would make a great pulling guard.