MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

dren · February 27, 2006, 10:15:41 AM

The more I think about Calvins draw the better it is for them. Instead of traveling to Witt and playing with the likes of BUU/CM/Witt they get to play at the Devos. I'm sure there will be a strong Calvin backing from the Hope contingent.

I wonder if they will sell the two friday games as two venues, emptying the gym inbetween games... otherwise it will be one of the most sought after tickets in years. Glad I already have my tickets

almcguirejr · February 27, 2006, 10:17:48 AM

Looking at UW-Lacrosse's roster it appears as though Calvin will match up pretty well with them. Their leading scorer is 6'7" and averages 14.5 per game. He also fouls a lot. Their other starters are all 6'4" or less. Only 1 other player in double figures. This should be a good game with Calvin being a slight favorite.

Looking at Hope's matchup with WL, it looks like a Hope intrasquad scrimmage
would be a better game. I'll take Hope by 31.

realist · February 27, 2006, 10:19:21 AM

It doesn't really surprise me that the MIAA teams are meeting this soon. That assumes that Calvin gets by it's first game, and that is not a given. One has to project that based on the bracket Hope has the upper hand, but it's going to be a fight in the second game either way.

dren · February 27, 2006, 10:23:07 AM

I can fell the negative karma coming soon... so i need some help... start boosting me now before I'm tainted!!! anyways...

Talk about spoiled... some witt fans... or I should say a certain witt fan thinks they have been slighted by having to HOST BUU and Carnegie Mellon... he deleted the post already but I can pretty much some it up...
"Looks like Wittenberg should have lost to Wooster in the NCAC finals, to get a more favorable bracket.
What a joke."

meanwhile...

Quote from: Kramerica on February 27, 2006, 09:56:12 AM
Wittenberg should be traveling to BW to play those 1st and 2nd round games. BW wins the league outright and the OAC tourney and has to travel? Wittenberg finished 2 games out of first and wins the one-game NCAC tourney and gets to host. Thats crap.

albionbritfan · February 27, 2006, 10:24:25 AM

Wooster has been granted a pass to coast to the quarter finals, IMHO. The highest-ranked team is Mississippi College and having seen them play against Calvin last year, I felt MC had some good athletes but could be broken down with good team offense/defense. I would like to think Albion could reach the quarters in that bracket, given the opportunity.

The other half of this bracket is ridiculously stacked, and unfortunately unlike last year, the MIAA won't be able to show its strength because of the second-round matchup.

I was a little surprised that Catholic has to face York in round 2, with some of the teams out East.

The West Bracket is also very good with the three CCIW schools, Lawrence & Carroll and the two WIAC schools.

dren · February 27, 2006, 10:25:43 AM

Quote from: realist on February 27, 2006, 10:19:21 AM
It doesn't really surprise me that the MIAA teams are meeting this soon. That assumes that Calvin gets by it's first game, and that is not a given. One has to project that based on the bracket Hope has the upper hand, but it's going to be a fight in the second game either way.

congrats on post #200... you have the POWER!

realist · February 27, 2006, 10:28:45 AM

Dren: Thanks for the post. I will try to use some restraint in the use of this new power.

oldknight · February 27, 2006, 10:35:11 AM

From the looks of the pairings it appears to me that the only things that Saturday's conference final decided were the seedings of Calvin/Hope, which led the NCAA to give Hope the matchup against Wisconsin Lutheran along with the right to host. If Calvin had won the Knights would be hosting and Hope would be playing Wis-LaCrosse.

albionbritfan · February 27, 2006, 10:35:54 AM

Albion at #11 and Ohio Northern at #22 suffer the unfortunate distinction of being the only d3hoops.com top 25 teams left out of the tournament. But I bet it happens every year to someone.

Funny enough, had Albion not lost its first game to U of M-Dearborn then ONU and Albion would have faced off against each other in the second game of the 4-team tournament. Perhaps that W for either team would have gotten them over the hump. Just shows that every game counts. Also ironic is that the fourth team in that tournament was dancing 15-12 DePauw, which both ONU and Albion beat.

ChicagoHopeGirl · February 27, 2006, 10:40:20 AM

Quote from: dren on February 27, 2006, 10:15:41 AM
I wonder if they will sell the two friday games as two venues, emptying the gym inbetween games... otherwise it will be one of the most sought after tickets in years. Glad I already have my tickets

Happy Birthday, Dren! How do you know and how can I get that gurantee?

albionfan · February 27, 2006, 10:43:17 AM

Wow what a weekend. Congratulations to the Hopers for winning the MIAA tourney and getting to play WI-Lutheran.

Calvin should squeek by Lacrosse to get to Hope Sat.

Interesting as usual what the committee was thinking. I realize that this match up will bring the best publicity for the NCAA but come on, whoever wins that game is going to the final four.

Lastly, too bad the brits didnt get in it would have been nice to see Brandon Crawford humiliate some peeps from an Ohio school. Looks like Ole' Turner will be back again for another year.

Happy postings-see you all FRI and SAT.
Maybe I should wear a t-shirt simply saying KARMA.

realist · February 27, 2006, 10:47:02 AM

ABFan: I understand your frsutration. The NCAA sems to feel that by keeping the world small (regions) they don't have to sepnd any time, effort or money factoring the issue of national rankings. Missing from their formula is a means to rank region versus region. I see the strenght of awarding the AQ's to conferences, but after that it gets very fuzzy. Not sure I agree that once past the games this weekend the road to the final 4 doesn't have some potential pitfalls.

wally_wabash · February 27, 2006, 10:50:33 AM

Quote from: albionbritfan on February 27, 2006, 10:35:54 AM
Also ironic is that the fourth team in that tournament was dancing 15-12 DePauw, which both ONU and Albion beat.

Depauw in at 15-12 (12-12 in the regular season!) and a team like Albion out is why I loathe conference tournaments...or at least the practice of giving your conference's auto-bid to the winner of the conference tournament. 3 good days is more important than 3 good months....that isn't right.

devossed · February 27, 2006, 10:51:10 AM

Quote from: dren on February 27, 2006, 10:25:43 AM
Quote from: realist on February 27, 2006, 10:19:21 AM
It doesn't really surprise me that the MIAA teams are meeting this soon. That assumes that Calvin gets by it's first game, and that is not a given. One has to project that based on the bracket Hope has the upper hand, but it's going to be a fight in the second game either way.

congrats on post #200... you have the POWER!

Don't use it for evil, but do use it to quiet some of those Ohio-type whiners...

devossed · February 27, 2006, 10:54:43 AM

Quote from: albionbritfan on February 27, 2006, 10:35:54 AM
Albion at #11 and Ohio Northern at #22 suffer the unfortunate distinction of being the only d3hoops.com top 25 teams left out of the tournament. But I bet it happens every year to someone.

Funny enough, had Albion not lost its first game to U of M-Dearborn then ONU and Albion would have faced off against each other in the second game of the 4-team tournament. Perhaps that W for either team would have gotten them over the hump. Just shows that every game counts. Also ironic is that the fourth team in that tournament was dancing 15-12 DePauw, which both ONU and Albion beat.

Ugh! The inhumanity of it all. I would dare say that not only would Albion be able to advance pretty far in the current "stacked" bracket, they would win the Amherst bracket and have a great shot in the Virginia Wesleyan bracket to get to Salem. Unfortuante that even with *expansion* some 20-win teams are left out!