MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

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?

Yes. Wittenberg, which defeated Calvin in the first round in '95, played Bald Wally, which defeated Hope that same night, in the second round. If the two MIAA teams had won, they would've been the squads that met in the second round instead of the two Ohio teams.

If it makes you Michiganders feel any better, nothing ever came of either Witt or Bald Wally that year. The Yellow Jackets beat the Tigers in that second-round game, but they then went on to lose to Illinois Wesleyan in the sectional semis the next weekend. Illinois Wesleyan lost the following evening to then-undefeated Manchester (coached by current Iowa mentor Steve Alford), and Manchester then went on to lose in the national championship game to UW-Platteville. So both Hope and Calvin were pretty far removed from the title winner in the chain of events that March.

[Gregory Sager]

Actually, Albion was the first MIAA team to ever advance to NCAA play, getting to the Final Four in either 78 or 79.

It was 1978. I'm compelled to point that out because the team that beat Albion in the national semifinal was eventual national champion North Park. 

[Gregory Sager]

oldknight - I think the style of Definace's play and the hurt Chad Kahle put on everyone in the MIAA created a mental block for a lot of us   

Considering the way that the Defiance student posters antagonized so many of you in this room, I'm surprised that you've forgotten them so quickly. 

[Gregory Sager]

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.)

A lot of people will tell you that the core that constituted the threepeat national champion North Park teams of 1978, 1979, and 1980 was the best D3 outfit of all time (it's certainly the best I've ever seen). But the Vikings played a whole pile of really close games on their way to garnering those three hunks of walnut and bronze. In 1978 (the year that the Vikings beat Albion in the national semis) they beat Minnesota-Morris by only three and then had to go to overtime to nip CSU-Humboldt by three out in northern California the next weekend. In the opening round of the '79 tournament North Park barely got by Beloit, 63-62 -- a last-second shot by one of the Buccaneers hung on the rim and then fell out. And they beat Potsdam State by only four in the national championship game. In 1980, in a game I witnessed for myself, North Park beat Longwood in the national semifinals, 57-55, when backup Vikings center Keith French came out of nowhere and swatted away what would've been the tying layup with a couple of ticks left on the clock.

North Park's 1985 national championship team won its last four games in the tourney by a grand total of ten points: They beat defending national champ UW-Whitewater by two in overtime, top-ranked Wittenberg by two, Nebraska Wesleyan by five, and then edged Potsdam State by one in the title game.

Sac and Q have got it exactly right. No matter how good your team happens to be, a trip to the Promised Land can still all come down to a single bounce of the ball.

[Civic Minded]

Pat Coleman says:
"And so, finally, Hope fans, there's your banner."

Ah Pat...as much as I fear looking ahead, the conclusion to your article made me misty...      Can't wait to see how things play out.  Isn't it time for a game yet??? 

[AndersDY]

Yes, for those that missed it, Pat gave us the www.d3hoops.com jinx going into the tourney. Please tell me that he has a history of rightness in such picks as opposed to an SI cover type effect.

Very cute with the final line though.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I sure hope the HOPE team is not reading d3hoops.com. I just think they are much better off thinking they can be beat after the Calvin loss and not having this high of expectations. Every time some third party says Hope can win I feel a jinx building.

[kcrest]

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. 

I might be caught dead cheering for Hope.  Probably not alive though.    

[devossed]

oldknight - I think the style of Definace's play and the hurt Chad Kahle put on everyone in the MIAA created a mental block for a lot of us   

Considering the way that the Defiance student posters antagonized so many of you in this room, I'm surprised that you've forgotten them so quickly. 

I think all the entertainment provided by He-who-must-not-be-named in his quest to rattle Travis Spaman provided us more than enough humor, wit and all-around happy feelings to negate any bad flavor left over from those ill-mannered crazies.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'm a little relaxed - finally - as I now have tickets in hand for tomorrow night.  Stood in line for 4 hours, and by the time the ticket office opened I would guess there were 250-300 season ticket holders in line.  Unfortunately, some of whom won't get tickets.  I guess getting up at 5:45 is worth it.

Best part was that they opened up the place at 7 so we could wait in the warmth.  Even had hot chocolate for us while we waited.  Just being in the building made me pumped for the games to get started.

Go HOPE

[veragrace]

I just got back from getting my tix at the DeVos.  There were only 480 available for season tix holders and when they're gone, they're all gone.  According to Tom Renner the 480 is part of the returned tix from the other teams.  So I'll be surprised if there are any left tomorrow for public sale.  He was pretty sure they would all be gone today.  There were around 200 people in line with people still arriving as I left.

[John Rusnak]

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. 

I don't think Hope would beat Wooster if they played today...of course, they have a week for me to change my mind, but I think this is the year Wooster goes all the way.

As for the VIP rooms, I must agree that the shrimp and crab legs are usually pretty good...just avoid the awards reception...what a snoozer!

It's almost always been nice in Salem in recent history.  I would advise a light coat or sweater for the evenings, but overall you should be ok.  One year it was ridiculously hot, but otherwise it's comfortable.

[albionbritfan]

Devossed-
Thanks for the Karma and congrats on hitting the milestone.

FDF-
If you hadn't worn the orange shorts, you may have been warmer.  Save those for game day.

Lastly, I have to say I always chuckle when Rose-Hulman gets mentioned because of their fearful team name, the Engineers.  It's like calling the Miami Heat the Miami Exothermic Reaction.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

FDF-
If you hadn't worn the orange shorts, you may have been warmer.  Save those for game day.

Now why didn't I think of that

[tniem]

I just got back from getting my tix at the DeVos.  There were only 480 available for season tix holders and when they're gone, they're all gone.  According to Tom Renner the 480 is part of the returned tix from the other teams.  So I'll be surprised if there are any left tomorrow for public sale.  He was pretty sure they would all be gone today.  There were around 200 people in line with people still arriving as I left.

So what ended up being the breakdown in ticket sales between the schools?  480 is only 14% of the stadium.  If it is true that Hope gets 50% plus returned tickets that seems to indicate the students bought up a lot of seats.  True?

And boy, while I was gone this first part of the week, you were all quite busy bees.  It helps to have Calvin competing.  This first part of the season, it was Hope fans, the couple Albion supporters, and a couple Calvin regulars like realist, oldknight, and goodknight.  Good to see that winning brings people out.  Even Kzoo had a number of posters on here by the end.  Here's to more discussion next year.