MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Not sure if he played basketball at Hope, but former Hope College pitcher Jim Kaat, a first team All-MIAA pitcher in 1957, was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame today!

Is he the first MIAA athlete to be named to his sports Pro Hall of Fame?

[Gregory Sager]

In addition to keeping any possible total depravity in check, Bill set a solid example for his players, and the team responded by just playing the game as it was presented, not as they wished it to be.

It's sentences like these that make me wish that oldknight posts weren't so infrequent nowadays.

If it can be kept in check, then it's not really total, is it?

Also great to have HopeConvert return. In years past, the commentary and the repartee between Old Knight and HopeConvert, by itself, warranted visiting this Board. 

Yep, and yep.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Meant to post this over the weekend, but I was VERY impressed with the grit of the Hope team on Saturday.  After "laying an egg" for the final 35 minutes of Friday's game (lost to St Thomas 84-61), the Dutchmen came out on Saturday and gutted out a nice OT win 75-71 over Hendrix.  With several key players ill and not available (Thomas and Dykhouse), the rest of the team did what was needed, and rebounded from their disappointing effort on Friday. 

Great effort on D, crashing the boards (12 OF reb led to 19 2nd chance points), and 27 points off the bench.  Lots of guys getting a lot more minutes than they have in the past, and they all stepped up and performed.  Had to be some pretty tired legs on the bus ride home, but the win certainly made that easier.   

[oldknight]

In addition to keeping any possible total depravity in check, Bill set a solid example for his players, and the team responded by just playing the game as it was presented, not as they wished it to be.

It's sentences like these that make me wish that oldknight posts weren't so infrequent nowadays.

If it can be kept in check, then it's not really total, is it?

Both HopeConvert and I were exposed at an early age to the TULIP acronym, one well-known from the 1618-19 Synod of Dordrecht (And no, neither one of us were delegates, so don't ask). That august body took head-on the heretical and reprehensible theology advocated by Jacobus Arminius. At least one of us seems to misapprehend the total depravity portion of that synod's reply to the five parts of the Arminian Remonstrance of 1610. The prior century, John Calvin amplified on the Augustinian version of total depravity, pointing out that this belief does not mean we are as bad as we can possibly be; the term merely notes that sin affects the entire person, pervading every area of life and human existence. Sadly this even includes D3 basketball. To be clear, while Calvinists believe in total depravity, they do not believe in utter depravity, thus essentially allowing for varying degrees of fallenness. This status is true of everyone, including those who have left the Calvinist camp, for whom the use of the alternate designation — radical corruption — might be a more finely descriptive and easily understood choice. But that would turn the delightful, Dutch-quality TULIP acronym, into the far more pedestrian RULIP -- a selection that wouldn't work well, now would it? In any case, it is my sad duty to make out a report and overture the appropriate theological authorities for a final decision, in order to settle the debate. 

[sac]

[Gregory Sager]

Both HopeConvert and I were exposed at an early age to the TULIP acronym, one well-known from the 1618-19 Synod of Dordrecht (And no, neither one of us were delegates, so don't ask). That august body took head-on the heretical and reprehensible theology advocated by Jacobus Arminius.

I'll bet all of the sweets in the Museum voor het Kruideniersbedrijf in Utrecht that I'm the only person logged on to d3boards.com who actually giggled at this.

Yes, I know ... I need help.

[goodknight]

Both HopeConvert and I were exposed at an early age to the TULIP acronym, one well-known from the 1618-19 Synod of Dordrecht (And no, neither one of us were delegates, so don't ask). That august body took head-on the heretical and reprehensible theology advocated by Jacobus Arminius.

I'll bet all of the sweets in the Museum voor het Kruideniersbedrijf in Utrecht that I'm the only person logged on to d3boards.com who actually giggled at this.

Yes, I know ... I need help.

I snorted and then guffawed.

[TUAngola]

2 big non-conference home games this week for Trine: vs Heidelberg tomorrow night and vs UW La Crosse on Saturday afternoon.  These 2 games will really show if Trine is still in the conversation of whether they belong in the national rankings or whether they were just resting on their laurels from last year.  Heidelberg with 2 very impressive wins over Baldwin Wallace and Mount Union last week, neither game being that close.  By comparison Trine lost by 10 to Mount Union and won by 2 over BW.  UW La Crosse is ranked 14th and their only 2 losses have been to fellow WIAC powerhouses UW Platteville and and UW Oshkosh.  I think a split with these 2 games would be terrific.  I just want to see us play to our potential.  2 losses wouldn't be devestating unless we are blown out in each game.  Coach Miller's only concern is improving as we inch closer to conference season, so I am glad our non-conference schedule has included a lot of very good teams.  In the MIAA I think Calvin so far has had the most impressive non conference showing and are probably the favorite right now.  Hope is a dark horse, they have the talent but so far haven't put it all together consistently this season.  Albion has been struggling a bit, but don't count them out either.

[Dr. Acula]

2 big non-conference home games this week for Trine: vs Heidelberg tomorrow night and vs UW La Crosse on Saturday afternoon.  These 2 games will really show if Trine is still in the conversation of whether they belong in the national rankings or whether they were just resting on their laurels from last year.  Heidelberg with 2 very impressive wins over Baldwin Wallace and Mount Union last week, neither game being that close.  By comparison Trine lost by 10 to Mount Union and won by 2 over BW.  UW La Crosse is ranked 14th and their only 2 losses have been to fellow WIAC powerhouses UW Platteville and and UW Oshkosh.  I think a split with these 2 games would be terrific.  I just want to see us play to our potential.  2 losses wouldn't be devestating unless we are blown out in each game.  Coach Miller's only concern is improving as we inch closer to conference season, so I am glad our non-conference schedule has included a lot of very good teams.  In the MIAA I think Calvin so far has had the most impressive non conference showing and are probably the favorite right now.  Hope is a dark horse, they have the talent but so far haven't put it all together consistently this season.  Albion has been struggling a bit, but don't count them out either.

BW, Mount, Berg and UW-L?  That's a helluva non-conference slate!  Berg blew out BW (30+) and handled Mount fairly easily in the 2nd half never really letting their lead get to single digits and winning by 19.  I was impressed with their guard play.  Both OAC wins were on the road too so they'll be a good test.  Trine is definitely going to be battle tested going into conference play.

[TUAngola]

Heidelberg 72 Trine 67

Opportunity lost.  We were perfect from the free throw line well into the second half, but then missed 6 crucial free throws down the stretch when the game hung in the balance.  Some sloppy turnovers too, Berg finished better and that was the difference.  Berg is a terrific basketball team.  Trine played its best 1st half of the young season, led by 9 at the break.  You knew Berg was going to make some runs in the second half, and they did.  They have a very nice stable of guards, they all can either take you off the dribble and finish at the rim, or if you sag any or give them any space at all they can shoot the 3 as well.  Whereas Trine really struggled with shooting behind the arc, only 2-12 for the game.  Defensively I thought we played really well.  But Berg can play pressure defense too, they are very quick with good hands.  Was hoping for Cox to break out of his slump tonight, but no such luck.  He needs to get his confidence back as it puts too much pressure on our guards to create if he can't do the work for us inside or hit the open 3.  Also we need Williams to find his sweet stroke from behind the arc.  He shot 45% from 3 last year but is not finding the same success so far this year.  Cox, Williams, and Hayden Jones are our best outside shooters and if they're not hitting then we will struggle with our offense as we can't continually put the ball in Bowman's hands to create a shot every possession.   

Berg: Young 13, Woods 11, Perdue 10, 2 others with 9
Trine:  Bowman 26, Geller 12, Warzecha 9

[Greek Tragedy]

La Crosse is stinging from two home conference losses. It'll be interesting to see how the Eagles respond.

[maroonandgold]

Have we lost our usual contributor from Albion?  I expected to hear some comments about the team's outstanding effort at  the Division II Davenport University.  They led almost the entire game, including a large lead at halftime, and then were finally just squeezed out in the last few minutes.  For a team from our league, I would think that was quite an achievement and was to surprised to see no comments at all.  Is Albion playing better than in earlier games?

Calvin is scheduled to play an exhibition home game against William Woods University tonight, but it is not listed on the MIAA schedule.  I'm guessing that is because it is an exhibition game and does not count on the record.  Does anyone know anything about the William Woods team?  I looked up their 5-7 record, but I am not familiar with any of the teams they played.  They appear to larger than the typical MIAA colleges and universities, and their team list taller and bigger players (7' 1" center, 6' 11" forward, and a 6' 5" 225 pound guard).  Since exhibition games usually mean a team from a more difficult division or from a much less difficult division, I'm guessing a higher level than usual for the opponent. 

[ziggy]

Calvin is scheduled to play an exhibition home game against William Woods University tonight, but it is not listed on the MIAA schedule.  I'm guessing that is because it is an exhibition game and does not count on the record.  Does anyone know anything about the William Woods team?  I looked up their 5-7 record, but I am not familiar with any of the teams they played.  They appear to larger than the typical MIAA colleges and universities, and their team list taller and bigger players (7' 1" center, 6' 11" forward, and a 6' 5" 225 pound guard).  Since exhibition games usually mean a team from a more difficult division or from a much less difficult division, I'm guessing a higher level than usual for the opponent.

I am not familiar with the particulars of their team or roster but it is not as random of a game as a mid-season exhibition against an NAIA opponent might appear. William Woods is coached by Charles Belt, who came to the school after being an assistant under Bill Sall at Northern Michigan. They will take on Aquinas on Saturday. As a point of reference, Massey ranks William Woods 132nd in NAIA; Aquinas is 86th.

Belt was an early guest on Bob Quillman's "Q-cast" and I highly recommend checking out their discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeajEah5_Q0
I initially gave it a listen just because I knew of the connection to Sall but came away really rooting for the success of Belt and his program. It was a really good discussion between the two of them about basketball and so much more.

Bob has done a great job with his Q-cast and the discussions he is able to have with his guests takes on such an easy style but still provides a ton of substance. Just don't tell him I said that - I don't want him to think I'm not just an annoying Calvin fan.

BTW, the Calvin-Woods game will be played in the Hoogenboom. Surely due to the installation of new center court hung video screens in Van Noord Arena: https://twitter.com/CalvinMensBball/status/1469040613811183620

[maroonandgold]

Calvin is scheduled to play an exhibition home game against William Woods University tonight, but it is not listed on the MIAA schedule.  I'm guessing that is because it is an exhibition game and does not count on the record.  Does anyone know anything about the William Woods team?  I looked up their 5-7 record, but I am not familiar with any of the teams they played.  They appear to larger than the typical MIAA colleges and universities, and their team list taller and bigger players (7' 1" center, 6' 11" forward, and a 6' 5" 225 pound guard).  Since exhibition games usually mean a team from a more difficult division or from a much less difficult division, I'm guessing a higher level than usual for the opponent.

I am not familiar with the particulars of their team or roster but it is not as random of a game as a mid-season exhibition against an NAIA opponent might appear. William Woods is coached by Charles Belt, who came to the school after being an assistant under Bill Sall at Northern Michigan. They will take on Aquinas on Saturday. As a point of reference, Massey ranks William Woods 132nd in NAIA; Aquinas is 86th.

Belt was an early guest on Bob Quillman's "Q-cast" and I highly recommend checking out their discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeajEah5_Q0
I initially gave it a listen just because I knew of the connection to Sall but came away really rooting for the success of Belt and his program. It was a really good discussion between the two of them about basketball and so much more.

Bob has done a great job with his Q-cast and the discussions he is able to have with his guests takes on such an easy style but still provides a ton of substance. Just don't tell him I said that - I don't want him to think I'm not just an annoying Calvin fan.

BTW, the Calvin-Woods game will be played in the Hoogenboom. Surely due to the installation of new center court hung video screens in Van Noord Arena: https://twitter.com/CalvinMensBball/status/1469040613811183620

Delighted to hear about the new scoreboard.  So many of us have been missing the names of the players in the game, points scored, and fouls.  That info always helped us keep up on what was happening in the game.  Those details have been missing for a couple of years now.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Wondering if anyone is interested in me resurecting the MIAA Pick 'Em contest (for league games).  Happy to do so if there enough interested players