MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HupHolland]

Ticket info from Hope:

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190218k6brhe

Looks like you can order over the phone or online

[sac]

Ticket info from Hope:

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190218k6brhe

Looks like you can order over the phone or online

Could use a time when the doors open if anyone knows.

[sac]

I really struggled to put together an all-miaa team.  Like the teams, alot of pretty even play.   Tried to keep to just this year and ignore some guys reputations but that was difficult.

First Team
Trevor Manuel, Olivet
Tracy Edmond, Olivet
Jason Beckman, Hope
Derrick DeVries, Calvin
Myles Copeland, Trine
Ryan Stevens, Alma

Second Team
Caden Ebeling, Albion
Pete Smith, Trine
Riley Lewis, Hope
Langston Johnson, Trine
Jeremy Kalonji, Adrian
Colin Jones, Olivet

MVP--Trevor Manuel, Olivet  -- he was just so far ahead of anyone statistically it was an easy choice for me. 

Couldn't find room for Ben Reiter, Kzoo or Jordan Harris, Adrian.  Dennis Towns, Hope had a great conference season I think.  Tough picks overall.



I'll mention a few guys I just liked watching play.

1.  Marcus Winters, Trine  -- nothing flashy, almost never tries to do to much, just plays smart basketball.  Great roll player.  Every now and then that tremendous athletic ability would show up and you'd go wow.

2.  Colin Jones, Olivet  --  what a wonder, some rough spots that made you cringe but worth it every time to see him play.  Half dozen plays every game that just didn't seem possible from someone that large.

3.  Carlos Amorous-Gutierrez, Calvin --just kept getting better every time I saw him.  His game Saturday at Olivet was beautiful.  A lot like Winters but with some offensive punch.

4.  Ryan Stevens, Alma --unfortunately I didn't get to see Alma but one time in person but Ryan is a pleasure to watch every time I've seen him.  Plus he took a charge on Colin Jones and I was there to see him survive it.



I think this is the number of times I saw each team play MIAA games.  Missed two Saturdays early for diff. reasons.
Hope     9
Olivet    6
Albion   5
Trine     4
Calvin   3
Adrian  1
Alma     1
Kzoo     1

[wiz]

Carlos Amorous-Gutierrez, Calvin --just kept getting better every time I saw him.  His game Saturday at Olivet was beautiful.  A lot like Winters but with some offensive punch.

I also think Carlos is good but referring to him as amorous is really over the top!

[calvin_grad]

Could use a time when the doors open if anyone knows.

Tickets are available at the door starting at 5:30.  Assuming that's when the doors open??

[HupHolland]

Pete Smith is your MIAA MVP

[sac]

All-MIAA team.  Like I said, it was hard.
https://www.miaa.org/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/AllMIAA2019

[alexj35]

Pete Smith is your MIAA MVP

That's... weird....

[sac]

Good luck Alma.

[Jameswys]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful to Pete Smith, but I'm not really sure why he is MVP. I watched Trine twice this year and I didn't even think that he was the second best player on Trine. I have been much more impressed by Myles Copeland and Maurice Hunter. Was Smith just bad against Olivet and MVP caliber against everyone else? He wasn't even really on my radar as a conference 'star' so I was very surprised by that choice.

[TUAngola]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful to Pete Smith, but I'm not really sure why he is MVP. I watched Trine twice this year and I didn't even think that he was the second best player on Trine. I have been much more impressed by Myles Copeland and Maurice Hunter. Was Smith just bad against Olivet and MVP caliber against everyone else? He wasn't even really on my radar as a conference 'star' so I was very surprised by that choice.

No disrespect taken Jameswys, even I was surprised to see Pete named MVP of the league.  Like you said I would have put him about 3rd most valuable on our team after Myles Copeland and Langston Johnson.  Pete's assets are he is probably the most vocal leader on the team, he is an underrated defensive player, and leads the teams in steals and doesn't turn the ball over much.  But offensively he is pretty much one dimensional.  A streaky shooter who can really light it up when he's feeling it, but I've also seen him go 1-12 too.  I am more surprised Myles wasn't on first team.  I would have selected him MVP over Pete as to me he was the guy we could not afford to be without in the lineup.  I do think Langston should have been considered for 2nd team.  He had a terrific year, has a great all around game, probably the best mid range shooter on our team.

I am happy that Marcus Winters was recognized by the MIAA as defensive player of the year.  He is such a good team guy, and is probably the best rebounding guard in the league.  For his size he is very good defender.  As many of you know, basketball is not his main sport.  He's been MIAA football defensive POY and 1st team all conference for 2 straight years at his cornerback position.  I think that defensive mentality is something he does naturally in basketball too.  I wonder if any conference athlete has been named Defensive POY in both football and basketball in the same year?  It will be interesting to see if he plays next year.  He was a senior in football, but listed as junior in basketball. 

[Dutchfan]

Can anyone make the case, team record aside, why Jason Beckman was 2nd team while Pete Smith is MVP? I'm not saying that Beckman should be MVP, but it still seems backwards to me.

[wiz]

Can anyone make the case, team record aside, why Jason Beckman was 2nd team while Pete Smith is MVP? I'm not saying that Beckman should be MVP, but it still seems backwards to me.

The answer is in your question.  You can't put the team record aside.  He helped lead his team to a league championship and that often does the trick for most leagues.  Glad to see it wasn't based solely on scoring but also considered other aspects of the game.  A good choice.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Can anyone make the case, team record aside, why Jason Beckman was 2nd team while Pete Smith is MVP? I'm not saying that Beckman should be MVP, but it still seems backwards to me.

The answer is in your question.  You can't put the team record aside.  He helped lead his team to a league championship and that often does the trick for most leagues.  Glad to see it wasn't based solely on scoring but also considered other aspects of the game.  A good choice.

Yeah, uh no. I agree that a Trine player was the MVP, but it certainly wasn't Pete Smith from what I saw. Myles Copeland would have been my choice. Pete was maybe a 2nd teamer at best.

[Hope1993]

Posting for first time in many years. Had to actually get a new account. I don't agree with some of the 1st and second team selections. I also do not agree with the mvp but Pete Smith is a good young man and he plays hard.
On another subject I really feel the MIAA has to start to make sure games are kept from getting out of control and not let teams essentially play football out there. The officials need to be better as well. I am not a referee of any sort and I respect. But sometimes it is very hard to with the way they make or don't make calls or they officiate in a manner of what seems to be like the have a issue with certain players or coaches. Now we will see what happens to my karma to start things off. Good luck to all the teams in the conference tournament.
Hope plays Hope wins.