MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HopeConvert]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

[HOPEful]

Ahh yes, the ole "root for your rival" conversation again. Not a chance, unless it's in hopes of sharing the league title... I was a HUGE calvin fan when they faced Olivet.

I do get the rooting for your conference thing... I said before the Hope/Olivet game that I would actually like to see what Olivet could do in the NCAA's. Their talent and athleticism could have been fun to watch. Just like Alma's run a few years ago! I was absolutely rooting for them! I'm hoping Jason B. can bring a little of that elite eight experience with him this weekend and maybe... just maybe beyond!

I will never root for calvin. Just saying. I look forward to seeing this conversation come up next year...

Well now. That didn't take long.

Oldknight, why do you have to bring logic into this!?

For me, it's closer to the old rivalry addage...

"My favorite team is __(HOPE)__, my second favorite team is whoever is playing __(calvin)___"

The only time I'd ever root for calvin is when said win directly helps Hope (like beating Olivet).  It's a rivalry. I would expect the same from a knight. Is the conference better when both teams are strong? Yes. Do I smile knowing calvin didn't make the MIAA tournament this year?

[HOPEful]

And Waaaa hooo!!! I almost missed hitting the milestone 200 negative k!!!! (I wish there was a way of telling how many of those 200 came from calvin fans...)

HOPEfully all of them.

I'm sure not all, but I would wager a bet that at least half of them came from a relatively small number of calvin fans. There's not a way to see where your karma comes from is there?

Nope - and honestly who cares really.

Well, I'd like to figure out who's going to help me get to 300!

[Young Knight 14]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

One of the funniest comments I've read in awhile, and i'm not a Michigan fan.

[knightvision]

My oh my, such narrow (basketball) world views! Sure, I'd much prefer that my team gets in because they automatically qualified, but if given a choice between a powerhouse conference with multiple excellent teams that gives all of my conferences teams any real or perceived edge in making the tourney (plus just much better basketball to enjoy all year) vs. weak conference/poor rep/always beat my rival, I will pick the former all day.  May lose to my rival a bit more often, but at the end of the day if everyone is better/does better, especially in the tournament, net result over time for me far outweighs the alternative(s).  And it has happened more than once in multiple sports at all levels where one regular season rival dominates their nemesis during the regular season, only to get eliminated by said rival during the conference or national tournament.  The sweetness of that scenario tastes all that much better because, lest you think I am any less passionate than anyone else, I know how bitter that tastes for my rival.    

[Bulldog30]

(Remember last week when Hope played Adrian???)

I sadly didn't get to see the Hope/Adrian game, but the result was a sign of Hope's rise through the conference season with Adrian's fall. A 16 point loss sadly makes sense, although I was shocked to see Adrian had a 14 point lead early.

I said that Adrian needed to have either domination from Webster, but more importantly, needed strong offense from their guards. Sam Colbert delivered going 5 of 8 from 3, but besides that, Adrian shot 2 of 16 from 3.

Of course, Adrian got dominated on the boards which has seem to be a killer for them lately. 43 to 27. 11 offensive boards while also shooting 47% is a recipe for disaster.

Hope also shot 20 of 26 (mostly shot by Hope's guards by the way) from the FT line to Adrian's 8 of 15.

Once again, Adrian and Hope only had 2 fastbreak points each. Adrian's team (at least with their top 7) seems well suited to play a more aggressive style that could fast break, but they've been a half court team for years now, and I feel like that's strange to me. I'm not a college coach, so perhaps I'm off here, but I feel like Adrian could add some pressure and pushing to their planning next season. And I think that makes even more sense without the large presence in the middle next season.

I was slightly cheering for Olivet in the title game, but now that Hope has won, hopefully they represent the MIAA well in the playoffs. Good luck.

[Bulldog30]

One last note about Adrian...

I worry about them for next year. Justin Webster is a first teamer, and it obviously hurts, but I think it especially hurts because Adrian already lacked size and rebounding.

So, who steps in? The 6th and 7th man (Kenyon Rainey and Cortez Buckner) are both guards. The next forward to get time was Ke'Shaun Wyatt-Morris who averaged 7.7 minutes per game with 0.7 points per game...ouch! Could he be starting next year???

Now Adrian did have a huge (and surprising) turnaround this year that not many people expected this year, so maybe they can get some solid recruits and improve themselves. But if they are a guard heavy team (and even Jeremy Kalonji plays like a guard with his shooting and the fact he is the 5th place rebounder on the team), they need to gameplan like a guard heavy team.

[Jameswys]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

When I can give Karma, I will come back and +1 this.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

When I can give Karma, I will come back and +1 this.

I don't know, unless you're talking about football.  To me, the fact that smack talk exists between Michigan and OSU basketball teams is just testament to the depths to which Michigan basketball has fallen.

[HOPEful]

One last note about Adrian...

I worry about them for next year. Justin Webster is a first teamer, and it obviously hurts, but I think it especially hurts because Adrian already lacked size and rebounding.

You're probably right to be concerned, although I do think Kalonji, Harris, and Colbert is a pretty decent nucleus to build off. However, the other MIAA tournament teams all look to only get stronger next season. Hope loses Dante Hawkins, which is a big blow, but returns every other starter including first team all MIAA Jason Beckman. Plus they're deep enough at guard that the transition shouldn't be as anywhere near as clunky as last year's loss of Harrison Blackledge.  And I'm really excited to see the development of Preston Granger's game between a very strong freshman season and next year. Hope's inside game got better and better as this season progressed, and there's no reason to believe that trend should stop anytime soon. Olivet loses Adams and Mason, but have a slew of talented players coming in next season, including former top 100 Trevor Manuel. And Trine returns EVERYONE (I don't believe they had a senior on the roster this season).

[sac]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

When I can give Karma, I will come back and +1 this.

I don't know, unless you're talking about football.  To me, the fact that smack talk exists between Michigan and OSU basketball teams is just testament to the depths to which Michigan basketball has fallen.

Michigan is the defending Big Ten Tournament Champion, Ohio State was runner-up in this years regular season.

http://www.bigten.org/library/stats/mbb-confsked.html

[KnightSlappy]

It occurs to me upon reflection that "Satan and his Legions of Hell" against OSU would be an intrasquad scrimmage.

When I can give Karma, I will come back and +1 this.

I don't know, unless you're talking about football.  To me, the fact that smack talk exists between Michigan and OSU basketball teams is just testament to the depths to which Michigan basketball has fallen.

Michigan is the defending Big Ten Tournament Champion, Ohio State was runner-up in this years regular season.

http://www.bigten.org/library/stats/mbb-confsked.html

Also, Michigan was the top finisher in the 2013 NCAA (D1) Tournament!

[sac]

obligatory

[wiz]

And Waaaa hooo!!! I almost missed hitting the milestone 200 negative k!!!! (I wish there was a way of telling how many of those 200 came from calvin fans...)

HOPEfully all of them.

I'm sure not all, but I would wager a bet that at least half of them came from a relatively small number of calvin fans. There's not a way to see where your karma comes from is there?

I take credit for #202.  Sorry I missed the milestone opportunity.

[Dutchfan]

I'm sorry, but as a Christian I can not condone hating my rivals or wishing them I'll will. Sure, I hope Calvin loses at times because it helps Hope, but I still cheer them on in the national tournaments. As a proud member of the Spartan nation I bleed green and white when I'm not bleeding orange and blue, and I don't enjoy seeing the Wolverines and Buckeyes getting all these four and five star football recruits because it hurts MSU, but I still cheer for OSU in the college football playoffs (and I'll cheer for U of M if they ever get that good again). I just don't understand how people can claim to devoutly believe in the word of God and then go out and wish I'll will upon somebody simply because they go to "that" school. What ever happened to Christian love? When did rivals become enemies? And when did it become okay to judge others simply for the school they chose to attend?