MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Shareef23]

Well, well, well. After a long weekend absense the man is back in the building. I wasn't ducking anyone or anything just a busy day at the church. Anyway, great weekend of basketball at the K'crest. Congrats, to Hope and validating at least one of those Roman numerals on the back of their tees. The only thing I could think of all game was "how in the heck did we beat them?" Hope is much better with Reimink on the floor as opposed to Phillips. That's just my opinion, but he adds that toughnest that Andy seems to lack. Also, DVS makes Hope a better team only if he plays 10 min. Dew Crew as much as I respect your efforts you really need to know you stuff. "Seasons over" That is pretty weak and it would be pretty ironic if they ate their words this weekend. Calvin got off to a terrible start that basically cost them the game. They couldn't toss it in the ocean in the first half and just don't have the team that can come back from 20 or so down against the talented Dutch. Hope really step it up on the defensive end of the floor and when Calvin got good looks they seemed almost surprise at it. The missed putbacks hurt as well. Oh, one more thing! WWKVSD? He'd wait until Roenoke to cut the net down!

[sac]

Those left coast teams are easy to forget Greg. .........ask the '96 members of the Kzoo hoops team how they feel about first round conference matchups.

Personally I'm not grumbling, I'm looking forward to the possible matchup.  I think its great I'll get to see both MIAA reps play in the NCAA on the same night again this year (Calvin, Albion in sectional last year)

[NW Hope Fan]

I will be interested to see  Hope's cheerleading squad perform again on Sat. I think they are sweet!!!

Ziggy,

Thanks again for your closet interest.

[oldknight]

Now I know this will probably cost me karma and get me flamed - but I honestly think Calvin will lose their game on Friday - unless there is a turnaround in their play. 

Despite going 2-1 last week, they struggled mightily from the floor in all 3 games.  A different bounce of the ball in either the Olivet or Kalamazoo game and they don't win.  It just seems that they've been out of sync.  Somehow they need to right the ship and get the flow back in their game.  UW-LAX is a good team and should not be taken lightly.

No flaming from me because you're right--Calvin has to play better to win. Ever since the second Albion game when the Knights appeared to be at their peak, their play on offense has been spotty. Their primary problem has been offensive inconsistency fueled by poor shooting. Sometimes that is the direct result of great defense, as we saw Saturday night, but even against great defense 5-25 is pretty miserable shooting (actually Calvin was 5-28 after missing their first 3 shots of the second half). The Knights still play good defense and rebound well but if they don't shoot better it will be an early exit. But I will say this, when they have executed well on offense this year they are a pretty tough team to beat. They just have too many young and inexperienced players this year to be expected to make a long run. It would be nice to see them play at least 2 postseason games this year because it would be a valuable experience for their returning players.

[Gregory Sager]

Also true, but neither of which has a realistic shot of advancing past the 3rd round, maybe not even the 2nd...

Oh, I don't think anyone disputes that. Even the SCIAC people are (mostly) pragmatic regarding their chances of getting one of their teams deep into the tourney. But the complaints registered here by MIAA fans appear to be more about a lack of fairness on the part of the selection committee than a lack of respect for the prowess of the conference's two reps.

[sac]

Speaking of valuable experience, how about the Lady Knights 7 Freshman and 4? Sophs. and a surprising (maybe to me?) bid to the NCAA's.

All year long you guys called the men's squad the baby Knights............the woman must have been the Pre-mee Knights.


I agree with Oldknight, Calvin has to shoot better........but the beauty of the first round matchup for Calvin is........LaCrosse hasn't faced Calvin's offense 3 times this year.  Lax will have to make some adjustments quickly.

[realist]

NWHope:  Calvin had cheeleaders years ago, and has done quite nicely without them.
Sac:  You complain about a comment or two from Calvin posters, but look right past some of the crap your loyalists are posting.  We expect more from our leader!
FDF:  Good smack down on Almcq!
Lets see Calvin 4 wins over Hope in the NCAA tourney versus 4 Hope wins in the MIAA tourney.  I repeat myself.  Losing last Sat. won't seem so bad if we win the next one (should it come to pass).
I really expect Calvin will be more focused, and will play much better next weekend.  Wlax won't be an easy game, and as mentioned before they seem to matchup quite well.  From previous WI schools it seems they all play a very physical style of b-ball.

[KnightSlappy]

I will be interested to see if Hope's cheerleading squad will conform to the rules set forth in the Division III Men's Basketball Championship Handbook.  This document clearly states that cheerleading stunts are no more than two persons high.  Current routines would be in clear violation.

Ziggy, You've been a bit of a novice pest all year, and obviously could care less for Hope cheerleaders. I find it amusing that you went to the trouble of finding (or know from some closeted reasons) the NCAA guidelines on cheerleaders.

So now Hope fans admit that Calvin fans are more knowledgeable about the sport of basketball.

[sac]

Sac:  You complain about a comment or two from Calvin posters, but look right past some of the crap your loyalists are posting.  We expect more from our leader!

I don't remember applying for this position.....was I elected.

Points taken I'll try more harder.

........and I fully expect Calvin to play well this week, I think their "struggles" the last 3 or 4 games can be attributed to losing thier focus or purpose after putting so much into winning the MIAA.  Underdogs often feel a sense of accomplishment and quickly lose their edge when they finish off a season long goal, hence the struggle last week.

The descriptions of their pre-game vs Olivet is classic resting on their laurels..........Calvin now has a new goal, they'll be more focused and ready particularly since they have a few who went on the ride last year.

[devossed]

Also true, but neither of which has a realistic shot of advancing past the 3rd round, maybe not even the 2nd...

Oh, I don't think anyone disputes that. Even the SCIAC people are (mostly) pragmatic regarding their chances of getting one of their teams deep into the tourney. But the complaints registered here by MIAA fans appear to be more about a lack of fairness on the part of the selection committee than a lack of respect for the prowess of the conference's two reps.

OK, fair enough--but what exactly did the MIAA do to warrant such a lack of fairness (and the SLIAC for that matter?) Was it all $-based for minimal travel costs?

[Gregory Sager]

I don't remember applying for this position.....was I elected.

Some men are born to greatness. Others have greatness thrust upon them.

OK, fair enough--but what exactly did the MIAA do to warrant such a lack of fairness (and the SLIAC for that matter?) Was it all $-based for minimal travel costs?

If I knew all the answers as to why the committee puts this team here and that team there when they assemble the bracket, I would've done much better in my bracket prediction this morning on the Daily Dose. 

Seriously, though, I can at least answer the question with regard to the two SCIAC teams, 'cause that one's a no-brainer. There are no other schools within a thousand miles of Occidental and CMS in this year's tournament. The only way that the NCAA can get out of opening-round plane fare for one or both of them is to have them play each other. That's why there's a clause on page 17 of the handbook that allows for first-round matchups between two teams from the same conference for geographical reasons.

[NW Hope Fan]

I will be interested to see Hope's cheerleading squad perform again on Sat. I love them!!!

What a guy!

So now Hope fans admit that Calvin fans are more knowledgeable about the sport of basketball.

And how is that? How is anything he wrote have to do with basketball. Just some nerd reading through the finer points of NCAA rules. Rules that only obnoxious NCAA officials care about.

[Shareef23]

Agreed, but I think alot of people care about cheerleading rules, when it obviously has something to do with the safety of those involved in the "sport". I kind of doubt he was being serious with the post however.

[John Rusnak]

I hate to say it, but I agree with the posts that Calvin is going to lose to UW Lax in the first round.

For whatever reason the last three games for Calvin have been absolutely horrible.  You can tell me that Kzoo elevated their play at the end of the year and Hope is good, etc, but Calvin's performance in those games was not up to par.

When you invest with the stock market people say not to get in the way of momentum.  Calvin's is heading straight into the ground, so I'll run with the bulls (or bears, in this case) and say that UW Lax get them.

And just to make at least one point as to why, I've gotta believe that Lax has greater depth and that Calvin will wear out.  As I said the other night, Smith and Prins can't handle the guard positions and Trew is still playing young.

[Shareef23]

I noticed al jr has passed me for the lead for ticking off Hope fans ie negative Karma. Does anyone else think some people should get some thicker skin. The only people on here with negative Karma are Calvin fans. hmmmmm