MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Yes Mrs. Samsonite

[HopeConvert]

FWIW: in my opinion, Brink is the best player to wear a Calvin uniform in the last ten years, and this by a pretty good margin. I think he's a no-brainer MVP.

[monsoon]

Yes Mrs. Samsonite

+K

[HOPEful]

Is the MVP determined before or after the MIAA tournament?

Holmquist      231 pts   95 reb   14 ast   23 TO   17 st   18 bl
Brink            218 pts   70 reb   40 ast   24 TO   17 st   7 bl
Nikodemski   210 pts   40 reb   63 ast   41 TO   27 st   1 bl

If the additional assists trumps the 13 point difference, doesn't the same logic work for Scott? To my original question, if the answer is after, I'd probably say whoevers team wins/makes it deepest into the MIAA tourney... If Alma beats calvin and then Hope/Trine, I don't know how you don't give it to Nikodemski.

If the answer is before, then probably Brink for all the stated reasons that shouldn't matter when picking the "Most Valuable Player"

[sac]

Is the MVP determined before or after the MIAA tournament?

Holmquist      231 pts   95 reb   14 ast   23 TO   17 st   18 bl
Brink            218 pts   70 reb   40 ast   24 TO   17 st   7 bl
Nikodemski   210 pts   40 reb   63 ast   41 TO   27 st   1 bl

If the additional assists trumps the 13 point difference, doesn't the same logic work for Scott? To my original question, if the answer is after, I'd probably say whoevers team wins/makes it deepest into the MIAA tourney... If Alma beats calvin and then Hope/Trine, I don't know how you don't give it to Nikodemski.

If the answer is before, then probably Brink for all the stated reasons that shouldn't matter when picking the "Most Valuable Player"

The 3 less losses trumps it all.

[sac]

To answer the question about when they vote for all-league and MVP, the last answer I had was Monday after the tournament.

[knightvision]

The only others I can see a case for are Will Dixon and Jared Holmquist who had excellent seasons, and without whom Trine would not have been the team that they were, joining the league's upper echelon. But, they would probably split the "Trine vote" anyway.

I think the top four candidates are Brink, Holmquist, Harrison Blackledge, and Scott Nikodemski.

I think one could have a serious discussion about these four, but Brink will win it because Calvin won the league, he had a good season, and he was expected to win it all along.

Of the group, Blackledge was the most efficient scorer.
Nikodemski is tops in assists and steals.
Holmquist was the best rebounder.
Brink was very good at everything.

There wouldn't be any splitting of the vote if it still holds true that teams can only nominate one of their players to be MVP.  That was the case 3 decades ago (ugh!), because as a team captain I had to talk our coach out of nominating who he thought our team MVP was ( a fine player who simply didn't have the statistics to win it) and a guy who had a phenomenal year and who in fact ended up winning it. 

Blackledge is fine player and will be one of the preseason favorites for MVP next year, but as a Sophomore he has no chance this year--even if Hope had won the league title, your stats have to be off the charts better than a Sr like Brink who's had a career and season like he's had.  Same holds true for Nikodemski and Holmquist-- slightly better odds than Blackledge because they are juniors, and they have had fine years, but again there is just not that much separation statistically to warrant picking either one of them.  And lest anyone think I'm a homer and am just picking a  Calvin guy, I think Brink would probably win the MVP if he played for Hope or Trine despite the fact that they didn't win the conference. Maybe less likely if he played for Alma, but still would be hard to pick against.

Any thoughts on the 1st team all conference team?  My gut tells me that there won't be another Calvin guy, but seems like Blackledge, Holmquist, Nikodemski, and Dixon are probably locks...and in the running would be Benson, Jackson (Adrian), Daley, with long shots being Oakes & Kazen (Albion)?





   

[pointlem]

As a fellow Hope fan, I, too, cede this year's MVP award to Jordan Brink, for his amazing year.

And what a tribute to Harrison Blackledge's progress this year--going from a 10.6 minute per game sub last year to be talked about as an all-league player.  His emergence, and also that of Brock Benson, bode well for Hope's future . . . as does the return of virtually its whole team.

[northb]

The only others I can see a case for are Will Dixon and Jared Holmquist who had excellent seasons, and without whom Trine would not have been the team that they were, joining the league's upper echelon. But, they would probably split the "Trine vote" anyway.

I think the top four candidates are Brink, Holmquist, Harrison Blackledge, and Scott Nikodemski.

I think one could have a serious discussion about these four, but Brink will win it because Calvin won the league, he had a good season, and he was expected to win it all along.

Of the group, Blackledge was the most efficient scorer.
Nikodemski is tops in assists and steals.
Holmquist was the best rebounder.
Brink was very good at everything.

There wouldn't be any splitting of the vote if it still holds true that teams can only nominate one of their players to be MVP.  That was the case 3 decades ago (ugh!), because as a team captain I had to talk our coach out of nominating who he thought our team MVP was ( a fine player who simply didn't have the statistics to win it) and a guy who had a phenomenal year and who in fact ended up winning it. 

Blackledge is fine player and will be one of the preseason favorites for MVP next year, but as a Sophomore he has no chance this year--even if Hope had won the league title, your stats have to be off the charts better than a Sr like Brink who's had a career and season like he's had.  Same holds true for Nikodemski and Holmquist-- slightly better odds than Blackledge because they are juniors, and they have had fine years, but again there is just not that much separation statistically to warrant picking either one of them.  And lest anyone think I'm a homer and am just picking a  Calvin guy, Any thoughts on the 1st team all conference team?  My gut tells me that there won't be another Calvin guy, but seems like Blackledge, Holmquist, Nikodemski, and Dixon are probably locks...and in the running would be Benson, Jackson (Adrian), Daley, with I think Brink would probably win the MVP if he played for Hope or Trine despite the fact that they didn't win the conference. Maybe less likely if he played for Alma, but still would be hard to pick against.

If Brink played for Hope, Trine or Alma, that team would have won the conference.  That is why he is the MVP.

[KnightSlappy]

Will Dixon has had such a bad second half of the conference season offensively. His scoring efficiency has cratered to the point of hurting Trine. Not completely awful, but for the conference season he's turned shots into points at a lower than league average rate. His points per game average is high, but only because he takes so many shots.

[bballfan13]

To answer the question about when they vote for all-league and MVP, the last answer I had was Monday after the tournament.

Yes it is the Monday after the tournament championship. The coaches meet at the winning school.

[sac]

Seniors playing their last games today:

Adrian
Jamison Webster
Curtis Gordon
Spencer Dennison

Albion
Vince Hill
Zach Hurth
Carter Elliot
Seth Hubbard

Kalamazoo
Stephen Oliphant
Aaron Schoenfeldt
Carl Ghafari
Scott Wharam
Carter Goetz
Adam Peters

Olivet
Blake Krum
DeOndre Callahan
Jordan Union

[TUAngola]

Senior Day at Trine University as they host Olivet College at 1pm today on Community Day.

Trine will be graduating 3 seniors this year:

Tyler Good - wing - Swanton, OH  Tyler is having another good year for the Thunder.  Tyler is a guy who came in and didn't get much playing time his freshman and sophomore years, but with his hard work has developed into a very good basketball player.  As a junior last year Tyler did it all, was the best player on the floor for Trine and ended up first team MIAA.  This year Tyler has taken on a little less responsibility as a scorer with the development of Jared Holmquist and Will Dixon.  Probably the most athletic guy on the team and definitely one of the leaders this year.

Jake Bagley - wing - Van Wert, OH  Jake is another guy who didn't play a lot really until this year.  Jake has alternated in the starting 5 with Dustin Hall depending on game day matchups.  When he isn't starting Jake is always the first guy off the bench.  Terrific 3 point shooter, and has developed into a solid defender and rebounder despite guarding guys taller than he.  Wish we had him for another year as Jake is really playing his best basketball during the second half of the conference season.

Dustin Hall - guard/wing - Ft Wayne, IN  Dustin has had his minutes fluctuate widely over his 4 years here.  He is not a guy who looks to score, but does the dirty work.  Probably our best on ball defender.  This year has had to play more frontcourt and at 6'1 is guarding guys much bigger than he.  Such an unselfish player and has been a great asset to the team.

Good luck men in your future careers.

[goodknight]

Senior Day at Trine University as they host Olivet College at 1pm today on Community Day.

Trine will be graduating 3 seniors this year:

Tyler Good - wing - Swanton, OH  Tyler is having another good year for the Thunder.  Tyler is a guy who came in and didn't get much playing time his freshman and sophomore years, but with his hard work has developed into a very good basketball player.  As a junior last year Tyler did it all, was the best player on the floor for Trine and ended up first team MIAA.  This year Tyler has taken on a little less responsibility as a scorer with the development of Jared Holmquist and Will Dixon.  Probably the most athletic guy on the team and definitely one of the leaders this year.

Jake Bagley - wing - Van Wert, OH  Jake is another guy who didn't play a lot really until this year.  Jake has alternated in the starting 5 with Dustin Hall depending on game day matchups.  When he isn't starting Jake is always the first guy off the bench.  Terrific 3 point shooter, and has developed into a solid defender and rebounder despite guarding guys taller than he.  Wish we had him for another year as Jake is really playing his best basketball during the second half of the conference season.

Dustin Hall - guard/wing - Ft Wayne, IN  Dustin has had his minutes fluctuate widely over his 4 years here.  He is not a guy who looks to score, but does the dirty work.  Probably our best on ball defender.  This year has had to play more frontcourt and at 6'1 is guarding guys much bigger than he.  Such an unselfish player and has been a great asset to the team.

Good luck men in your future careers.

Thanks, TUAngola, for your contributions to the board this year. I've enjoyed your postings. Trine certainly has been a stronger force in the MIAA in recent years, a trend I expect to see continue.

As we approach next week's tourney, it seems any of the four qualifying teams could win the AQ.  Alma has been very good as the season has progressed, and Trine, Hope and Calvin are dangerous when they play tough defense.

[realist]

Trine 71-58 secures the home game next Wed.
Holmquist with 26 points.