MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

There's 20 wins for Calvin. Somewhere realist takes one (quite small) step back from the ledge.

KS.     Sorry to disappoint you.  I was never anywhere near any ledge. 
I am enjoying the success of this years Calvin team.  It has been 7 seasons (2005-2006) since they managed to make the 20 win plateau so tonight is little reason for joy or celebration.  I still mourn for those lost years when Calvin did not reach it's potential.   

Mourn??  . It's time to put away the sack cloth and ashes. 

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin has wrapped up a home game in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. They'll clinch a share of the title with one more win -- clinch outright if that win comes this Saturday.

[oldknight]

13-2 run for the Knights to end the half. 46-27 is the score at the break. Powell has 14 and Snikkers has 10. Calvin owns the glass 25-13.

The livestats were a joke. Snik had 17 at half, not 10. I took a look at a printout of the halftime stat sheet and it gave seven points to Parks even though he never played. By my unofficial tally, Tom finished the game with 28--one of the quietest 28 you'll ever see because he did it all tonight, rebound, pass and defend. Maybe the best game I've ever seen the kid play. Here's what Alma's website says about the problem:

Due to technical issues with the statistical computer, the box score and remainder of the recap will be finished as soon as possible on Thursday.

The Scots Sports Information Department apologizes for any inconvenience this might cause and thank you for your patience.

[oldknight]

There's 20 wins for Calvin. Somewhere realist takes one (quite small) step back from the ledge.

One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.

[oldknight]

Playing a team like Alma can be scary because you know Calvin should win, but with the volume of triples Alma puts up, you can't be sure the Scots won't be just hot enough to make it a close game. The Knights were ready though and despite seeing and hearing a footstomp or two, they really dominated most of the game, forcing Alma to take and make tough shots both inside and out, and crushing the home team on the boards. If Snikkers didn't have a strong handle on the conference MVP award before tonight, he put a stranglehold on the trophy by the time Calvin exited Art Smith Arena. Powell was terrific again before going down with a figurative thud in the second half, causing the Calvin faithful hold their breath as he was carried off to the locker room. It was nice to finally be able to exhale when he walked back in (slowly) apparently sore from a shot to the hip that hopefully won't hinder him Saturday. Bryan's game has gotten increasingly impressive as his rangefinder and judgment has really taken a leap forward in recent weeks. When he plays well, Calvin is really tough to beat. I'm told that Jordan Brink passed all tests yesterday and was dressed for the game but didn't play because he apparently hasn't practiced since going down against Albion.

I'm a little surprised to see Calvin at the 4 spot in the regional ranking but the bottom line is if you win, seeding takes care of itself so don't whine about it. Sac recently opined that the Knights are an underrated team (nationally), and I agree with that. I'm alright with being underrated.

[AndersDY]

So this may be a futile attempt, but might anyone have 2 or 3 tickets for Saturday? I've had a busy winter and we haven't checked in for the faculty section enough times to get included for tickets. Before assuming I would have to watch on TV, I thought I should at least throw it out there.

[sac]

Hope 83 Kzoo 55
http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/1213/0206kzho.htm

Kzoo started this one out strong and led by 8 early, at 14-6 Hope went on a 21-1 run.  During this run all kinds of bad things happened to Kzoo, like missing about a dozen shots of different varieties in a row, including a couple that somehow rolled out.  They also missed all 5 of their FT attempts in this same time frame.  You had to kind of see it to believe it.

I have to give Kzoo a lot of credit for playing very hard in the second half, they were simply out gunned.  They had it down to about 12 for a few minutes and then another stretch of minutes with only a FG or two did them in and it was a 20+ point margin the rest of the way.  Also big kudos to the Kzoo students who stuck it out and seemed 'engaged' we'll call it, right to the end.

Hope's starting 5 played about 6 total minutes together by my quick recollection.  There isn't much here that's needs deep analysis, Hope won rather easily, Gardner and Eidson were terrific and several Dutchmen got well deserved game minutes.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

The livestats were a joke. Snik had 17 at half, not 10. I took a look at a printout of the halftime stat sheet and it gave seven points to Parks even though he never played. By my unofficial tally, Tom finished the game with 28--one of the quietest 28 you'll ever see because he did it all tonight, rebound, pass and defend. Maybe the best game I've ever seen the kid play. Here's what Alma's website says about the problem:

Due to technical issues with the statistical computer, the box score and remainder of the recap will be finished as soon as possible on Thursday.

The Scots Sports Information Department apologizes for any inconvenience this might cause and thank you for your patience.

It likely has to do with the fact that Austin Parks wears #30 for the JV team, but also suits up for varsity.  I appreciate the Alma SID's commitment to getting things right. 

Powell was terrific again before going down with a figurative thud in the second half

I'm pretty sure that the thud in question was quite literal.

[goodknight]

I'm expecting a heart-pounding, barn-burning contest on Saturday afternoon in Holland.  Hope's been playing very well, and seems to have adjusted to the absence of Overway without really missing a beat.  The Knights will need to rachet up the intensity, and get Brink back into the lineup, especially if Powell is hampered in any way by the hip injury.  It should be another classic.   

[sac]

I'm expecting a heart-pounding, barn-burning contest on Saturday afternoon in Holland.  Hope's been playing very well, and seems to have adjusted to the absence of Overway without really missing a beat.  The Knights will need to rachet up the intensity, and get Brink back into the lineup, especially if Powell is hampered in any way by the hip injury.  It should be another classic.

For some of us the last one was barn-pounding, heart-burning.

[sac]

standings with +/-........+1 for road wins/-1 for home losses

Calvin          11-0        +6      Clinched tournament spot and home court
Hope           9-2        +4        Clinched tournament spot
Trine           7-4         +1
Olivet          5-6         -1
Adrian          5-6         -1
Alma           3-8        -3
Kzoo           2-9         -3
Albion         2-9         -3

Home teams now 31-13

Saturday, February 9
Calvin at Hope, 3 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Albion, 3 p.m.
Trine at Olivet, 3 p.m.
Adrian at Alma, 5 p.m.


What's left

Adrian:    @Alma, @Kzoo, ALBION
Albion:    KZOO, ALMA, @Adrian
Alma:       ADRIAN, @Albion, @Kzoo
Calvin:    @Hope, TRINE, OLIVET
Hope:     CALVIN, OLIVET, @Trine
Kzoo:     @Albion, ADRIAN, ALMA
Olivet:    TRINE, @Hope, @Calvin
Trine:     @Olivet, @Calvin, HOPE

Calvin and Hope both clinched tournament spots.  .

Trine's loss last night was very damaging to their 3rd seed hopes though not fatal.  They need to win at Olivet, which would assure them of no worse than a tie with Adrian and Trine would hold the tie-breaker with two wins over Olivet, assuming Olivet finishes ahead of Alma/Albion/Kzoo. Otherwise capturing the 3rd seed would require beating Calvin or Hope.

Adrian needs to keep winning, they do not hold the tie-breaker over Olivet.

Olivet needs to keep winning, at the moment hold the tie-breaker over everyone

Technically I suppose Alma/Albion/Kzoo are still alive for the last spot, only if Olivet and Adrian both lose out.  No clue how those tie-breakers would work, nor is it worth looking into at this point

Saturday's Kzoo at Albion game is effectively an elimination game.  Both are eliminated with a win by Olivet and/or Adrian. 

Alma would be eliminated with a loss and a win by either Adrian or Olivet.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Calvin          11-0        +6      Clinched tournament spot and home court
Hope           9-2        +4        Clinched tournament spot

I don't believe that Calvin has clinched home court yet.  It is highly probable, but not clinched.

[sac]

Calvin          11-0        +6      Clinched tournament spot and home court
Hope           9-2        +4        Clinched tournament spot

I don't believe that Calvin has clinched home court yet.  It is highly probable, but not clinched.

4 up on 3rd place with 3 to play is clinched home court.  Remember the semi-finals are played at both the #1 and #2 seeds instead of one location.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin          11-0        +6      Clinched tournament spot and home court
Hope           9-2        +4        Clinched tournament spot

I don't believe that Calvin has clinched home court yet.  It is highly probable, but not clinched.

First round home court has been clinched, I think that was the meaning.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Calvin          11-0        +6      Clinched tournament spot and home court
Hope           9-2        +4        Clinched tournament spot

I don't believe that Calvin has clinched home court yet.  It is highly probable, but not clinched.

4 up on 3rd place with 3 to play is clinched home court.  Remember the semi-finals are played at both the #1 and #2 seeds instead of one location.

Got it, thanks for the clarification.  Would love to also clinch home court throughout on Saturday! 

FYI Massey projects the game nearly as close as they possibly could.  The median simulation is Calvin 70.34 points to Hope's 70.25 points.  I suppose these exact numbers will change ever so slightly once official results from the Calvin-Alma game are posted, but it shouldn't have a big impact.