MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[AndersDY]

UW-Platteville won 4 titles during the 90's,

Platteville winning titles, no we hadn't heard about such things, or ya know, have to watch it first hand or anything... 

I hadn't realized LaCrosse was used to bringing up the rear in the WIAC. That could be looked at as an advantage for the Michigan teams who have seen the NCAAs before. But of course if UWL truly should be considered the underdog all weekend, they certainly must have experience playing from that role within their own conference. I would always be fine seeing Calvin lose in Holland, but wouldn't say I'm fully rooting for a UWL win since that could be a careful-what-you-wish-for situation instead of getting a fourth matchup with a team that we already know all about.

dew, if Hope (or tCOW for that matter) is present in Salem this year, I'll be down there to take you up on your offer.

[diehardfan]

Let's put a LONG run of wins together so we can get to Salem...I'm stuck on the EAST COAST...but I'm ready to have a Hope party ALL WEEKEND long if they can make it this year!!!! Drinks/food will be on me!

Hehe.... I know how that is... does't being out of the midwest suck during basketball season? Since I believe Hope WILL get to the final four this year, and I will be rooting for them all the way (barring just a few mixed emotions when they face Wooster, sorry David) I'd just like to say that I'll throw in dessert at the theoretical "dothedew" party! And the condiments. Can't forget those!

Long live the blue and orange! Go Whea..... I mean Hope!  8)

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure both teams are sick of seeing each other by now... besides, can this board survive a fourth Hope-Calvin game this year?

Answer: No! 

This board has been downright scary at times this year. It's always been one of my favorites to post on,  and I am a huge fan of both Calvin, and Hope, and their posters. But many times this year, I didn't want to dare to jump into the fray and have been a big mute. See? ------->    

Everyone play nice. See you Hope fans in Salem! 

[Gregory Sager]

The Eagles are a perennial bottom-feeder in the very tough WIAC, which gave D3 its champion (UW-Stevens Point) the last two seasons. UW-Platteville won 4 titles during the 90's, and Whitewater won a title in the 80's.

UW-Whitewater won two D3 titles in the 1980s, Brian: One in 1984 and the other in 1989.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'm kinda torn about whether I would want Calvin or LAX to win - I think I'll just Hope for a 3 overtime thriller - make 'em all nice and tired for Saturday.

In the mean time, Hope needs to focus on their montra this year - One game at a time

[Fun_Ron]

Sure is funny how Hope fans are already picking out what restaurants to eat at in Salem Va, before the tournament has even started.  I'm sure potential opponents love to hear all of the talk about getting to the 5th game of the tournament before they have even beat anyone.

[John Rusnak]

Sure is funny how Hope fans are already picking out what restaurants to eat at in Salem Va, before the tournament has even started.  I'm sure potential opponents love to hear all of the talk about getting to the 5th game of the tournament before they have even beat anyone.

It's very simple, there are really only one or two quality places to go in Salem.

However, I would use this opportunity to plug the Sonic restaurant on Main Street.  We've eaten there every year for the past five years and it never disappoints!

[AndersDY]

but I'm ready to have a Hope party all weekend long IF they can make it this year!!!! Drinks/food will be on me! 

Doesn't look like anyone has it scheduled in pen yet. I wouldn't be surprised if Witt, Wooster, or even BW fans are also talking about what they will do IF they see Salem. While it's dangerous for the actual players to get caught looking ahead, I don't think it's going to hurt anything if the fans are aiming high early.

[hopefan]

I usually say this AFTER the tourney, I'll say it before the tourney this year...  Hope's history of NCAA tourney disappointments scares me to death.   For years when I was very close to the team, it would be the long journey home, whether from the Civic, or from Witt, or from DePauw, or from Calvin - another shattering defeat and morose feelings for weeks.  Then after we moved away, it wouldn't hit as hard, but I KNEW how bad the fans from Holland felt in the last 20 years.....

BUT, I think, Maybe, possibly, if....     this could be the year....  oh please, here we go again

[AndersDY]

Just keep your expectations low and hope for the best this year. It would be a disappointment to not make the second weekend since we get to host the first weekend, but the sectional to get to Salem would be two games which, at best, would be even matchups for Hope. They sure have the talent that it's a forseeable possibility that they survive this sectional, but after these first two games, it would be hard to call it a disappointment if we lose to any of the teams we'll potentionally see from there on. Sure we would have a long, sad drive home from whatever that last loss might be, but if Hope gets knocked out, it will be because they are in a buzzsaw bracket, not because they have some lack of ability to historically get it done in March.

[Civic Minded]

While it is a rare moment when I can bring myself to cheer on Calvin (and I doubt it will be such a moment this weekend), I do have certain friends who would love to see that match-up on Saturday (you know who you are  ).

(For the record, I do understand the "good for the MIAA" train of thought, but haven't been able to buy into it yet.)

I'm with FDF and the team mantra -- one game at a time. 

As always, GO HOPE! 

[dothedew]

Thanks andersdy for pointing out that I put the big IF into my statement....of course I am for a ONE GAME AT A TIME approach....but for someone out East the big thing we have going for us is that Salem isn't so far away.
IF IF IF IF IF we can only make it....I'll be making my first trip to Salem bc my family never made the trip when I was younger...

ONE AT A TIME....LET'S GO HOPE!!!

[John Rusnak]

I usually say this AFTER the tourney, I'll say it before the tourney this year...  Hope's history of NCAA tourney disappointments scares me to death.   For years when I was very close to the team, it would be the long journey home, whether from the Civic, or from Witt, or from DePauw, or from Calvin - another shattering defeat and morose feelings for weeks.  Then after we moved away, it wouldn't hit as hard, but I KNEW how bad the fans from Holland felt in the last 20 years.....

BUT, I think, Maybe, possibly, if....     this could be the year....  oh please, here we go again

How far would Hope have to make it for it not to be a true "disappointment?"  From what I've seen of Hope this year, I don't know that they have the components to really be a Final Four team.  Sure I'd like to see it, but compared to what's out there, they just don't have all of the pieces.

For Hope to get to Salem everything will have to go just right.  They don't have the room for error that other teams might have.

With that said, anything is possible so maybe this year will be different.

[SBell]

Hopefan's post re. Hope's horribly disappointing tournament history got me thinking, to whcih NCAA loss hurt the most.

I'll go back to when I was a youngster and my two favorite players were Matt Neil and James Worthy. The latter won the championship that year, '82, while the other saw his team get spanked by Wabash.

[AndersDY]

Like that's even a question. The shock of Baldwin Wallace '95 is unmatched. I'm sure each of the Calvin losses would be right up there, perhaps the last two being in OT (AND after we had a bye) in '91 and with perhaps our best national contender in '92 would be the worst. I don't know that I would look at Hope as being particularly cursed in the NCAAs. There is the fact that we haven't gotten past Calvin when in the tourney, but outside of the rivalry, we generally haven't drastically underperformed outside '95. (Someone can help me with history prior to 1990 though as I don't know which years were disappointments.)

We've lost early, but genenerally in cases where it wasn't shocking and we probably weren't Final Four caliber. We've made Salem twice in the last decade and in the year between, our loss was in the second weekend on the road. We've been knocked out early thus far in this century, but I don't recall those teams having Salem-type hype. This team is a Salem contender, but I would still say that we shouldn't call the tourney run underperforming as long as Hope makes the sectional. It would be disappointing to not make the Final Four, but when that requires getting past Witt/BW and then Wooster/Trans etc., you can't look at getting through that as a highly probable outcome. Just have to HOPE for the best and enjoy the ride.

Interesting note I discovered while reviewing past games on MIAA.org: Hope and Calvin have had 4 NCAA matchups thus far, but the very first one in '87 was meaningless. Each had lost to an Ohio team in the first round and back in the 80s, the consolation game was played as if each weekend were like one of those four team holiday tournaments so an extra Hope-Calvin game was played essentially just for the heck of it in a game which they wouldn't bother playing today.

Another curiousity question: Calvin also lost their first game the same day that Hope had the BW debacle in '95. Were those two setup for yet another possible 2nd round game that year had they both advanced?

[realist]

No doubt about it the one game at a time approach is the only viable path for any team at tourney time.  However, it is easier for some teams to go along with this than others.  Calvin won't have any problem because they have seen WIAC teams before, and know any win against that conference is going to be tough.  Hope might have more of a problem focusing on a team they should beat by almost any logical reasoning.  
Frankly the best/most talented team does not win every tournament or game.    After Calvin got defeated in the 90 tournament I recall several fans from the other schools saying they felt Calvin was the best team there.
Should Hope win both games on this weekend they will need to be prepared for 2 wars next week, but the task is possible.