MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

I'll add that much of the talk about Hope/Salem is from non-Hope fans. 

F'instance  Knightslappy (Calvin) Shareef (Calvin)  MIDoubleA (unknown) kCrest (Calvin)...........all have made references to Hope in Salem, 3 of them wouldn't be caught dead cheering for the Dutchmen. 



Flash96  ie parquet (butter) floor.........I was never a big fan of parquet floors but I have to say the one in DeVos is beautiful.  The light color I think is what makes the difference.  Its also nice to play on a floor without a bunch of extra lines (ie Civic Center.......and every other MIAA venue).  Very clean look.

If I ever come into a lot of money I'm going to buy Hope some MIAA Championship banners to hang around the place.  The MIAA all-sports banners are nice but I think basketball banners would look good.  Maybe then it would look like the "Garden".

[sac]

A couple posters have made references to how things have to go perfect to make the Final Four........check out these games from MIAA reps on their way to the D3 Final Four

1978  Albion 78, Knoxville, Tenn. 77 (Quarters)
1990  Calvin 63, Wittenberg, Ohio 59 (Sectional Final)
1992  Calvin 91, Hope 88 (Second Round)
          Calvin 69, Gustavus-Adolphus, Minn. 68 (Sectional Semi Final)
1996   Hope 65, Kalamazoo 62 (First Round)
2000   Calvin 92, Franklin 90 (ot) (Second Round)
2005   Calvin 75, Wheaton, Ill. 74 (First Round)

If a bounce or two goes the other way in any of these games the trips to the Final Four don't happen.

Interesting that the only MIAA team to not have a tough win on the way to Salem was Hope 98........that team was on fire.  Five wins with a average margin of 17.4 pts untill the Platteville game.  wow.

[Dark Knight]

If Hope does make it out of the regionals, who's going to stop them from a national championship? We already had Diehardfan's thoughts on Amherst, the only team with a higher Massey power rating.

If you do make it to Salem, bring your hiking shoes. The Appalachian trail runs right past, and spring comes early.

Also, try to get one of those VIP passes. It's nice to be able to drop into the VIP room for fancy horse doovers whenever you please...and if you can get free lodging and free tickets, along with the VIP passes, well, so much the better.   

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the Salem VIP drawing. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Sac

parquet - butter - parquet - butter...

You are cracking me up man!!!

Karma for that one

[Civic Minded]

Flash96  ie parquet (butter) floor.........

Sac, you've gotta quit drinking and posting!     Negative karma for posting under the influence, but positive karma for multi-tasking!   

[knightmoves]

Any Team can bite you in the tornament if you don't bring your A-Game. I remember when Steve Honderd was a freshman & Wittenberg was unbeaten. The game was at Wittenberg & Calvin wasn't supposed to have a prayer against the mighty Tigers. In fact, Wittenberg was so confident that they bought up all the tickets to the championship game before Calvin-Wittenberg sectional semi-final was even played. Of course, Calvin pulled a David & beat Wittenberg. We then had to go back & buy the tickets for the championship game from Wittenberg. Even Wisconsin Lutheran could beat Hope. Do I think it will happen? Absolutely not. However, in answer to your question, I think any team in the tourney is capable of beating any other team.

[sac]

If Hope does make it out of the regionals, who's going to stop them from a national championship? We already had Diehardfan's thoughts on Amherst, the only team with a higher Massey power rating.

If you do make it to Salem, bring your hiking shoes. The Appalachian trail runs right past, and spring comes early.

Also, try to get one of those VIP passes. It's nice to be able to drop into the VIP room for fancy horse doovers whenever you please...and if you can get free lodging and free tickets, along with the VIP passes, well, so much the better.   

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the Salem VIP drawing. 

humph........well I'll be a VIP Friday night.

No hours doovors though.........unless I get a hotdog.  

.

[knightmoves]

Sac,

You are not exuding much confidence in your Dutchmen in saying you have to buy championship banners

[knightmoves]

Sac,

Sorry for the brain cramp! I initially read that you meant NCAA championship banners. Obviously Hope is the tourney champ, so I agre a banner for that accomplishment would be a great tradition to start.

[sac]

Any Team can bite you in the tornament if you don't bring your A-Game. I remember when Steve Honderd was a freshman & Wittenberg was unbeaten. The game was at Wittenberg & Calvin wasn't supposed to have a prayer against the mighty Tigers. In fact, Wittenberg was so confident that they bought up all the tickets to the championship game before Calvin-Wittenberg sectional semi-final was even played. Of course, Calvin pulled a David & beat Wittenberg. We then had to go back & buy the tickets for the championship game from Wittenberg. Even Wisconsin Lutheran could beat Hope. Do I think it will happen? Absolutely not. However, in answer to your question, I think any team in the tourney is capable of beating any other team.

Yeah.......the list of MIAA teams to lose in single digit and OT games is pretty long..........man the 80's were brutal for Hope and Calvin fans.

You are not exuding much confidence in your Dutchmen in saying you have to buy championship banners

MIAA Championship banners.........I think its odd there are none hanging from the ceiling.  I mean Albion has their MIAA Championship banners, why not Hope.


.......and if you want to see an ugly parquet floor, check out Texas A&M........its like they ran out of stain.

[oldknight]

I don't hear any "talking big" -- and we can be a pretty boastful bunch!   

And all the congregation said . . . .  Thanks for the assist CM, you put that one right in the oldknight wheelhouse. 

I'll add that much of the talk about Hope/Salem is from non-Hope fans.  

F'instance  Knightslappy (Calvin) Shareef (Calvin)  MIDoubleA (unknown) kCrest (Calvin)...........all have made references to Hope in Salem, 3 of them wouldn't be caught dead cheering for the Dutchmen.  

And what about me? I've been beating the tom toms for Hope too sac, and you won't give me credit? (or blame)  

Actually, I've found its a heck of lot easier to be optimistic about a team's chances when I don't exactly follow them with fawning anticipation. But I've followed D3 hoops long enough to know when a team has the raw talent to make it to Salem--and Hope easily fits in that category.  They still have to do it on the court though and that's what creates the caution among the Dutch faithful. IMHO Calvin did the Hope team a real favor when they beat the Dutch by 1 at the Fieldhouse. It was a wakeup call to a team that may have been assuming that by simply having their talent walk on the court they would convince teams that they had no chance against the Dutch. The first Hope defeat to Albion didn't seem to do that because, as an 18 point loss, it seemed to be such an aberation. But Veldhouse and the Knights seemed to wake up the Hope crew to the fact that it would take a combination of their talent along with a recommitment to team play in order to make a run at Salem. Hope seems more focused now than ever, playing excellent basketball at the time of the year you want to be peaking.

[Titan Q]

A couple posters have made references to how things have to go perfect to make the Final Four........check out these games from MIAA reps on their way to the D3 Final Four

1978  Albion 78, Knoxville, Tenn. 77 (Quarters)
1990  Calvin 63, Wittenberg, Ohio 59 (Sectional Final)
1992  Calvin 91, Hope 88 (Second Round)
          Calvin 69, Gustavus-Adolphus, Minn. 68 (Sectional Semi Final)
1996   Hope 65, Kalamazoo 62 (First Round)
2000   Calvin 92, Franklin 90 (ot) (Second Round)
2005   Calvin 75, Wheaton, Ill. 74 (First Round)

If a bounce or two goes the other way in any of these games the trips to the Final Four don't happen.

Interesting that the only MIAA team to not have a tough win on the way to Salem was Hope 98........that team was on fire.  Five wins with a average margin of 17.4 pts untill the Platteville game.  wow.

Round 2, 1997 -- Illinois Wesleyan defeated Rose-Hulman 54-53 at home on a 15 foot baseline jumpshot by Bryan Crabtree, who by all accounts of the people sitting down there was behind the backboard when he shot it.  IWU went on to win the national title.

Without question it can come down one play.  If Crabtree misses that shot, it's a heartbreaker and a disappointment (see IWU 2005 vs Hanover, Round 2).  Instead, IWU gets a break a cashes in.

(I was at the Wheaton/Calvin tournament game last year.  If Wheaton gets a defensive rebound, Calvin never gets to Salem.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

If Hope does make it out of the regionals, who's going to stop them from a national championship? We already had Diehardfan's thoughts on Amherst, the only team with a higher Massey power rating.

I assume you meant sectionals, since after regionals Hope would still have two of Wittenberg, Baldwin Wallace, Wooster, Mississippi College, etc., just to reach the final four.  At which point you have Amherst (or Tufts, St. John Fisher, etc.) to reach the title game.  At which point you have unanimous #1 Lawrence, or former unanimous #1 IWU, or CCIW champ Augustana, or WIAC top-dogs Whitewater or Stout, or Virginia Wesleyan, or...

Making it out of the regional is a start, but I don't think it gives you the walnut and bronze!

[MIdoubleA]

MIDoubleA (unknown)

I don't know whether to be offended or tickled... 



I bleed orange and blue 

[diehardfan]

(I was at the Wheaton/Calvin tournament game last year.  If Wheaton gets a defensive rebound, Calvin never gets to Salem.)

Argh! (sticks fingers in ears) Lalalalalala! 

Sometimes I almost forget it happened... and then the nightmares come back.

And what about me? I've been beating the tom toms for Hope too sac, and you won't give me credit? (or blame)  

What about me? Gosh. No one appreciates MY hyperbole either...

If I ever come into a lot of money I'm going to buy Hope some MIAA Championship banners to hang around the place.

Maybe if they switch to generic ketchup and mustard they could afford them?

Seriously though, with the amount they spent on the gym, don't you think that some Hope alum would be able to afford some felt? 

"If you build it, you can hang your banner"  

.......needs a little work doesn't it?

How about, "If you build it, the banner will come."  You can't change it, or it ruins that true Field of Dreams ring to it.