MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[dren]

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?

Thanks! And wouldn't you know all I wanted for by Bday was for the Dutchmen to host?  What a great surprise!

[AndersDY]

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.

I sure hope that a win in The Game IV will send Hope the rest of the way to Salem, but the second weekend will theoretically be a game against Baldwin Wallace/Wittenberg followed by a sectional final which could be against Wooster. The sectionals will not be a cakewalk for Hope/Calvin.

That second weekend could be hosted just about anywhere too. If still around, I could imagine any of Hope, Witt, Woo, Calvin, or BW (anyone know their gym size?) hosting depending on who is still alive.

[RastaRob]

Not a big fan of Friday games. I think it is too early to play Friday night games on account of high school basketball. There are a lot of great fans and former players that coach on Friday nights. Pretty ridiculous in my mind to have the first round of teh tourny on Friday night.

One voice quietly complaining for selfish reasons.

[devossed]

Not a big fan of Friday games. I think it is too early to play Friday night games on account of high school basketball. There are a lot of great fans and former players that coach on Friday nights. Pretty ridiculous in my mind to have the first round of teh tourny on Friday night.

One voice quietly complaining for selfish reasons.

Sorry Rob--I trust you'll have the cell phone connection working again! Or pray for a snow day???

[John Rusnak]

G-d d*amn this $#*& #*#$# *#&*&#$ committee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[formerd3db]

realist, ABBrit, albionbritfan, et al:

I know what you mean and am not sure what the better solutions are, if any.  One of the problems lies within the current system that is in place for most of the conferences at all division levels, and that is the conference tournament.  While it is a rare occurance, a team that is medicore can "luck out" and win their conference tourney and get the AQ.  The regular season champion and some better teams (like Albion) are then at the mercy of the selection committee.  While it is great in one sense to have teams have one last chance on getting to the playoff rounds, an argument can be made for going back to the conference regular season champion getting the AQ, like in fb.  In that scenario, at least the regular season champion is rewarded for their accomplishment.  Yet, on the other hand, with either system, teams with very good records (again with the situation like Albion this year and last) are still left at a chance at-large selection.  In addition, there are those people who argue (and legitimately so), that the best teams should be selected anyway, to ensure the best possible playoff competition.  But, conversely, that does not provide an equal opportunity for all teams to have a shot at a playoff spot, which the fb system does - and for DIII, some would argue (understandably so) that that is the way it should (is supposed) to be.

Obviously, there is no perfect system; but it still is disappointing when some deserving teams get left out.  That still happens in the football system, although not as much.

Finally, although Calvin has certainly had good success in the NCAA tourney, it still is a difficult task to get to the Final Four let alone the championship game.  The regional playoffs are always tough, and even though Hope and Calvin are very capable of making it to the Final Four (obviously I am hoping HOPE makes it and finally wins the BIG ONE for once!), it is not going to be an easy walk for either team.  Again, too bad Albion didn't get in; I think they should have, yet, the NCAA may have not wanted 3 MIAA teams for some some unfounded reason.

[dren]

Here is the skinny on Wisc Lutheran from what I could gather on their website.

Wisc Lutheran
------------------
--14-14, 8-6 in the LMC, 4-5 on the road
-- Seven game win streak since losing to eventual regular season champ Milwaukee School of Engineering in overtime on 1/28
-- A Loss on 1/6 to Elms College dropped the Wisc Luth Warriors to 3-10
-- Since above loss they are 11-4

--Common opponents
Lakeland College 1-1 split home and away
W 76-68; L 60-71

--OT Games 2-2
Grace Bible College  81-85 L
CONCORDIA (WIS.)  95-94 W
Milwaukee School of Engineering 94-95 L
Edgewater 82-78 W

Team Leaders
Lewis Jiles 5-9 G -- 14.8ppg -- 2.4asts
Brian Hagel 6-8 F -- 13.1ppg -- 7.1reb -- 54-161 from 3pt
Micah Biesterfeld 5-11 G -- 9.4ppg -- 40-97 from 3pt
Danny Behm  6-2 G  -- 9.1ppg -- 36-113 from 3pt
Nate Sorum 6-7 F -- 7.3ppg
Stefan Spath 6-0 G -- 8.3 ppg -- 3.6ast

TEAM STATISTICS                    WLC          OPP         Hope       OPP
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCORING..................         2219         2180             2168         1687
   Points per game........         79.2         77.9            77.4         60.2
   Scoring margin.........         +1.4            -                +17.2
FIELD GOALS-ATT..........     760-1702     741-1622   790-1704     608-1563
   Field goal pct.........         .447         .457                 .464         .389
3 POINT FG-ATT...........      226-650      170-534       179-489      164-492
   3-point FG pct.........         .348         .318                .366         .333
   3-pt FG made per game..          8.1          6.1           6.4          5.9
FREE THROWS-ATT..........      473-669      528-737    409-592      307-462
   Free throw pct.........         .707         .716                 .691         .665
REBOUNDS.................          993         1038              1114          922
   Rebounds per game......         35.5         37.1         39.8         32.9
   Rebounding margin......         -1.6            -             +6.9            -
ASSISTS..................          415          410                  365          283
   Assists per game.......         14.8         14.6              13.0         10.1
TURNOVERS................          487          505               362          462
   Turnovers per game.....         17.4         18.0            12.9         16.5
   Turnover margin........         +0.6            -                +3.6            -
   Assist/turnover ratio..          0.9          0.8                1.0          0.6
STEALS...................          271          257                  254          192
   Steals per game........          9.7          9.2              9.1          6.9
BLOCKS...................           69           68                   106           74
   Blocks per game........          2.5          2.4              3.8          2.6

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Thought I would throw together a quick statistical comparison for Friday's match-ups (Hope/WLC to follow)

Team Stats	Calvin	UW-Lax
SCORING..................	2060	1905
Points per game........	73.6	70.6
Scoring margin.........	5.6	7
FIELD GOALS-ATT..........	711-1660	721-1546
Field goal pct.........	0.428	0.466
3 POINT FG-ATT...........	190-496	173-450
3-point FG pct.........	0.383	0.384
3-pt FG made per game..	6.8	6.4
FREE THROWS-ATT..........	448-621	290-414
Free throw pct.........	0.721	0.7
REBOUNDS.................	1036	890
Rebounds per game......	37	33
Rebounding margin......	1.1	1.4
ASSISTS..................	388	407
Assists per game.......	13.9	15.1
TURNOVERS................	359	336
Turnovers per game.....	12.8	12.4
Turnover margin........	2.3	2
Assist/turnover ratio..	1.1	1.2
STEALS...................	219	218
Steals per game........	7.8	8.1
BLOCKS...................	107	63
Blocks per game........	3.8	2.3
WINNING STREAK...........	0	0
Home win streak........	0	0
ATTENDANCE...............	29252	7390
Home games-Avg/Game....	14-2089	12-616

[Flying Dutch Fan]

And here is Hope / WLC

Team Stats	WLC	Hope
SCORING..................	2219	2168
Points per game........	79.2	77.4
Scoring margin.........	1.4	17.2
FIELD GOALS-ATT..........	760-1702	790-1704
Field goal pct.........	0.447	0.464
3 POINT FG-ATT...........	226-650	179-489
3-point FG pct.........	0.348	0.366
3-pt FG made per game..	8.1	6.4
FREE THROWS-ATT..........	473-669	409-592
Free throw pct.........	0.707	0.691
REBOUNDS.................	993	1114
Rebounds per game......	35.5	39.8
Rebounding margin......	-1.6	6.9
ASSISTS..................	415	365
Assists per game.......	14.8	13
TURNOVERS................	487	362
Turnovers per game.....	17.4	12.9
Turnover margin........	0.6	3.6
Assist/turnover ratio..	0.9	1
STEALS...................	271	254
Steals per game........	9.7	9.1
BLOCKS...................	69	106
Blocks per game........	2.5	3.8
WINNING STREAK...........	7	6
Home win streak........	4	16
ATTENDANCE...............	4056	45851
Home games-Avg/Game....	14-290	16-2866

[gohope]

I just love John Rusnak's spirit!!!   


But... We're Dancin'!!!

[dothedew]

Will someone please explain how that just happened to the Women's team at Hope??? I guess it has to do with DePauw being the #1 seed overall and getting a bye. How much did the men's team possibly playing host all the way through play into this decision??? If that was the case then instead the women should be able to either share the DEVOS with the men or get to host the games in their "other" gym in the DOW???!!!???

I know that this is the men's site/blog but there isn't any dialoge going on and I'm really excited about the basketball coming up in the next couple weeks but I think it is WRONG that this has happened...and they have to travel down to Columbus for the game.

Someone please advise me!

THANKS....and GO HOPE!

[albionfan]

I want to choke somebody-preferably somone on the committee. I feel your pain John.

[almcguirejr]

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

What about Glenn Van Whiner?  From the opening tip Sat. nite he was complaining about every call.  He was stomping his feet up and down like a child a couple of times. I thought he was emotionally out of control.  I said to my brother before GVW got the T, that GVW looked like an "emotional wreck"

GVW getting T'd up for touching a player tells me he was out of control.  The only coach that I can recall ever touching a player, in the field of play, is Woody Hayes.  I'm
not saying what GVW did equals Woody's actions but,  a line was crossed that should never have been crossed.

[albionbritfan]

Again, too bad Albion didn't get in; I think they should have, yet, the NCAA may have not wanted 3 MIAA teams for some some unfounded reason.

I don't think that factored in at all.  It simply came down to QOWI, and Albion's was too low because of the four losses to Calvin/Hope and lack of good in-region records by the rest of the MIAA.  The problem is comparing QOWIs from different regions is apples to oranges.  But since this isn't going away, Albion is forced to suffer from the inequity or to game the system and schedule games with the second-tiers of the OAC or NCAC or any other in-region team that isn't great themselves but plays alot of really bad in-region opponents.  In other words, avoid Wooster and Witt but go for the team that is runner up to them.  You get the same credit for playing Ohio Wesleyan as you would if you played Wooster or Witt since the cut-off is a .667 in-region winning percentage.  I'm not saying OWU is a bad team, but I like the risk-reward profile of playing OWU over Witt or Woo.  But this is the same old complaints of the system, so I will quit.

[oldknight]

The only stats between Calvin and LaCrosse that stand out (besides the attendance figures) are free throws shot and blocked shots. Calvin has made 34 more free throws than LaCrosse has taken and Calvin has almost twice as many blocked shots. Does this mean Calvin is better at drawing the foul or do WIAC refs just call fewer of them?