MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[tartanpride2016]

Alma 73
Bluffton 59

The Scots were behind at halftime, 36-32, but they really brought it in the second half to start 2021-22 with a victory.
Brandon Rake looked phenomenal down low with 23 points and 15 boards. Efficient too at 10/17 shooting.
Cole Kleiver was only 5/9 from the field, but 8/8 from the charity stripe got him up to 21 points.

46.2% from deep as a team was encouraging, but 69% from the stripe isn't so nice...

Scots back in action against Oberlin this weekend.

[Dark Knight]

Good rebounding again and had fewer turnovers than Grace Christian.

At 6'5", the (aptly named) Katje isn't huge for a forward, but he's averaging 13 boards per game so far.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

MIAA Coaches poll has been announced:

Rank  Team           Points   First-Place Votes

1.    Trine          49   7
2.    Albion          40   0
3.    Calvin          39   1
4.    Hope          31   0
5.    Adrian          22   0
6.    Olivet          21   0
7.    Alma          13   0
8.    Kalamazoo   9   0

Link to full story:  https://www.miaa.org/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/PreseasonPoll

[HOPEful]

Based off the votes, I interpret this to say...

The coaches all feel like Trine is clearly the team to beat, Brooks is most scared of Calvin and the players they added (and IMO rightfully so) while everyone else is slightly more scared of Albion, at least on paper. Hope is the only other team that the coaches think might compete, but are clearly not up there with the top three teams at this point.

MIAA Coaches poll has been announced:

Rank  Team           Points   First-Place Votes

1.    Trine          49   7
2.    Albion          40   0
3.    Calvin          39   1
4.    Hope          31   0
5.    Adrian          22   0
6.    Olivet          21   0
7.    Alma          13   0
8.    Kalamazoo   9   0

Link to full story:  https://www.miaa.org/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/PreseasonPoll

[wiz]

I didn't see a player with his number on the bench. Maybe he was one of those wearing a warmup jacket covering his number, or maybe he was the one in street clothes, or maybe he wasn't there at all, I don't know.

I believe Fruin was in street clothes sitting near the coaches. Hard to tell when you're trying to identify a newcomer while watching the stream from home. Sall also mentioned some injuries during his postgame comments so I'm guessing that includes Fruin. Not sure who else that mjght be, unless he wasn't being literal when pluralizing the word injuries - or more minor things that are being played through.

I asked about Froin and was told that he is injured, but he did not appear to hurting too much.  So maybe we will see him playing soon.  Another big win, but the competition did not seem real strong.  Morrison caught fire and scored 29.  Good rebounding again and had fewer turnovers than Grace Christian.

I am told Alec will be ready for the next game and likely starting or getting starter-like minutes.  If only his NMU roommate could suit up.

[pointlem]

WMU 76, Hope 58. After a 39 to 20 halftime start, Hope won the 2nd half by a point. Even in the first half, I thought Hope *played* WMU pretty evenly, but was undone by 1 out of 16 3-point shooting, many on open looks.

For the game, Hope had fewer turnovers (13 vs. 17 for WMU) and got off more shots (68 vs. 60) . . . . so they weren't embarrassed by floor play.  Replace 4 for 29 on 3-point shots for the game with decent shooting and this could have been a close finish. Hope can hope for better this weekend against top-flight DIII competition.

[HOPEful]

WMU 76, Hope 58. After a 39 to 20 halftime start, Hope won the 2nd half by a point. Even in the first half, I thought Hope *played* WMU pretty evenly, but was undone by 1 out of 16 3-point shooting, many on open looks.

For the game, Hope had fewer turnovers (13 vs. 17 for WMU) and got off more shots (68 vs. 60) . . . . so they weren't embarrassed by floor play.  Replace 4 for 29 on 3-point shots for the game with decent shooting and this could have been a close finish. Hope can hope for better this weekend against top-flight DIII competition.

I watched the game on the ESPN feed. I was shocked at how well Hope's defense played against a D1 opponent. Lamar Norman Jr. looks like a Big 10 player.

Hope's offense however... woof. Off the ball movement is just as bad as a year ago. I'm a little concerned that the anemic offense was just as much a product of playing a quicker D1 defense as it was running an ineffective 1 and 4 defense without the players to hit those outside shots. Hopefully, the off ball movement and inside game improves against D3 teams. 

[sac]

D1 v D3 is always very difficult to gage how things are going.  I think WMU played a lot of bench which you'd expect, and 32 minutes of WMU's Lamar Norman vs 24 might have meant a 30+ point loss instead of 18.  Broncos have 9 new faces to to fit into some kind of rotation so clearly experimenting a bit.    But, and I say this with the hugest grain of salt you've ever seen Hope did hold a D1 program on its own floor to 1.0 points per possession, that is almost remarkable.  Encouraging I think, considering they also looked improved defensively against Chicago.


Can't stress enough what a great test this weekend will be down in Bloomington, IL at IWU.  Friday night they'll play what looks like a top 10 and CCIW favorite Illinois Wesleyan and win or lose they're going to get Oshkosh or St. John's on Saturday both with designs on deep NCAA tournament runs.   I think Hope is clearly the 4th best there so any kind of win would be great but I'd be happy to see Hope competitive on either night.  Minus Platteville I'm not sure Hope will face 2 better teams all year that count.


Seems sort of impossible that Hope/IWU last met 8 years ago, all 3 matchups have been pretty good.

13-14  IWU 91  Hope 83
12-13  IWU 68  Hope 67
11-12  IWU 108  Hope 101 2OT

[HOPEful]

Seems sort of impossible that Hope/IWU last met 8 years ago, all 3 matchups have been pretty good.

13-14  IWU 91  Hope 83
12-13  IWU 68  Hope 67
11-12  IWU 108  Hope 101 2OT

And 9 years later, mentioning that double OT loss still stings...

[Dark Knight]

Huge first game for Hope today against Massey's #11 Illinois Wesleyan. This game will no doubt have many implications throughout the season--for example, Calvin plays the same opponent in a week.

Here is Titan Q's game information: http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4592.msg2020198#msg2020198

Sadly, there is too much going on tonight, with NCAA tournament games in volleyball and in men's and women's soccer for Calvin and Hope--and my mother's birthday party as she enters her 10th decade!

[Dutchman17]

One problem that may be growing for Hope is how much their forward/center group has been decimated by injuries.  Cheaney, Halbert, Nocek, and Hawkins were all out against Western.  That means the only backup options behind Bikus and Wiegerink are two true freshmen in Wagar and Quillan - two guys who were probably going to get mainly JV minutes this year.  Not ideal going into this non-conference gauntlet

[pointlem]

Hope v IWU felt like a replication of Hope v WMU: Didn't lose on the floor (fewer turnovers, more shots attempted) but rather with very cold first half shooting followed by a competitive second half.

Credit IWU for not allowing Hope many easy looks in that first half. When the offensive flow isn't creating open looks, Clayton Dykhouse seems capable of creating his own, as can Evan Thomas, whose shots, however, weren't falling last night.

With the graduation of Preston Granger and fewer points in the paint (34 v. 50 last night) will this year's games be decided more by 3-point shooting (24% last night)?

With the return of injured players, plus T. J. McKenzie from football, this team has the potential to beat some good teams. At least, with the tough fall schedule, there will be opportunities.

[HOPEful]

By the lack of anyone commenting on it, it appears I wasn't the only one with other priorities during the game between Hope and St. John's. Very happy (dare I say surprised) to see Hope came out victorious.

Thissen, Codute, and Vaughn combining for 2-19 from 3 feels awfully similar to Hope's performances against WMU and IWU.

Benedictine plays two MIAA opponents in Trine and Hope this week after almost pulling off the upset against Wheaton. 

[Titan Q]

Hope v IWU felt like a replication of Hope v WMU: Didn't lose on the floor (fewer turnovers, more shots attempted) but rather with very cold first half shooting followed by a competitive second half.

Credit IWU for not allowing Hope many easy looks in that first half. When the offensive flow isn't creating open looks, Clayton Dykhouse seems capable of creating his own, as can Evan Thomas, whose shots, however, weren't falling last night.

With the graduation of Preston Granger and fewer points in the paint (34 v. 50 last night) will this year's games be decided more by 3-point shooting (24% last night)?

With the return of injured players, plus T. J. McKenzie from football, this team has the potential to beat some good teams. At least, with the tough fall schedule, there will be opportunities.

I was at the Shirk Center for the IWU/Hope game. 

5-11 JR G Clayton Dykhouse has a chance to be a pretty special player.  He has to be in like the upper 1% of all D3 players in terms of quickness with the ball in his hands.  IWU has some outstanding perimeter defenders, and none of them could stay with him...and all of them racked up fouls after he blew by and they got caught reaching, contesting late, etc.

Dykhouse gives the Dutchmen a really tough matchup for every opponent on their schedule.

I thought IWU physically dominated the game with Hope.  Hope won the rebuilding battle by 1, but that seems pretty misleading to me.  IWU was bigger and stronger at most positions and I thought just made it physically hard for Hope to get into any flow.

[Titan Q]

I think the St. John's win will end up being a valuable one for Hope.  A very good team was going to leave the Jack Sikma Invitational 0-2, and that ended up being the Johnnies.

I think St. John's is going to win the MIAC and have a great record.  Good W to have in the pocket.