MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Update on our Pick Em contest:

I'm going forward with us using confidence points, and it is up to you as the "picker" to use them as you see fit.  If a game is played at a later date, that's when whatever points you put on that game might be won or lost.  If a game is ultimately cancelled and never played, then you lose whatever points you had on it (potentiall creates even more strategery I think).

Two things to be very clear:

1. Picks must be made prior to the tip off of each game.
2. If you ever want to change a pick - please DO NOT edit your picks as previously posted, but create a new post with the new/updated pick(s).

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Two updates for the scheduled games for tonight:

Trine @ Hope is now scheduled for 7pm on Monday, Jan 10

Kalamazoo @ Alma is now postponed due to the weather

[sac]

Albion says both games are on.

[oldknight]

Albion erases a 3-point half-time deficit to beat Calvin at Kresge, 70-62. When Calvin struggles to score, as they did tonight, it's because their two best scorers--Morrison and Shymanski--aren't getting the job done. Tonight that duo went 7-22 from the floor. Combining that with a 10-20 performance at the charity stripe, and losing the battle of the boards, 44-31, and the Knights aren't going to win. Sure would help to get Fruin back in the lineup.

[ziggy]

Albion erases a 3-point half-time deficit to beat Calvin at Kresge, 70-62. When Calvin struggles to score, as they did tonight, it's because their two best scorers--Morrison and Shymanski--aren't getting the job done. Tonight that duo went 7-22 from the floor. Combining that with a 10-20 performance at the charity stripe, and losing the battle of the boards, 44-31, and the Knights aren't going to win. Sure would help to get Fruin back in the lineup.

Going 10-20 on free throws looks bad enough but it was actually even worse than that as they missed the front end of at least four one-and-ones. It was effectively 10-24 from the free throw line.

The box score doesn't look so bad but Calvin needs a more even veteran performance from Emmett Warners. Too much losing the ball in the lane and not finishing at the rim tonight.

Calvin occasionally shows some full court pressure and I wish they would do it more consistently. I feel like some of their best ball has been in that look, causing a little chaos and turning the pressure into some offense. Only three fastbreak points tonight for the Knights. They just don't look as good when things are bogged down in the halfcourt all the time. Sometimes your opponent forces you into that and sometimes you let yourself settle into that. Too often it feels like Calvin allows themselves to settle into it.

[sac]

We avoided the Grand Rapids snowmaggeden in this part of the State so I made my way down to Albion on dry highways last night.  Some thoughts.


--Calvin had trouble stopping Albion inside.  Holmes, Thomas and McAbee combined to go 19-30 with 40 points despite only 6 trips combined to the FT line, most of those buckets were layups or 5 ft tosses.  Calvin didn't challenge them enough maybe?, maybe they couldn't with depth?

--Albion played without Cortez Garland and MJ Barnes was slowed by first half foul trouble, yet somehow Albion found a way to stay close and eventually win.  Game really turned on Chase Crittenden hitting back-to-back 3's that took a 1 point lead to 7 the largest for either to that point I think.  I don't think Calvin ever lead again though they got it down to 1 a couple times.

--Free-throw shooting was horrible for both teams, Albion finished under 50%, but Calvin really hurt themselves the most with those 1-1 misses real killers in game situation.

--Egekeze stopped two easy fast break buckets by himself, very impressive. 

---I'm not sure Albion is a great team to pressure, to many good guards and not afraid to run anymore.  I was surprised at the slowish pace of the game, Albion seemed really committed to half court D and just sort of forced Calvin into running more offense.

--I really felt at halftime Calvin had the better ideas and better players and that Albion was sort of limited and figured Calvin would shut them down and pull away and it just never happened.  Calvin let a chance to win at Kresge slip away, its not a fatal blow at all, but its a blow.  Reinforced in my head how tough its going to be to win on the road.

-----

--Olivet patched together another lineup minus a couple starters and 3 other regulars to win at Adrian.  I don't know what Olivet is bringing to your gym and I'm not sure they do either.

--Hope vs Trine rescheduled for Monday night, to me that's encouraging that Olivet at Hope will take place Saturday.

[ziggy]

We avoided the Grand Rapids snowmaggeden in this part of the State so I made my way down to Albion on dry highways last night.  Some thoughts.


--Calvin had trouble stopping Albion inside.  Holmes, Thomas and McAbee combined to go 19-30 with 40 points despite only 6 trips combined to the FT line, most of those buckets were layups or 5 ft tosses.  Calvin didn't challenge them enough maybe?, maybe they couldn't with depth?

I've said it before and it was apparent again last night that Calvin is really hurt by their lack of size inside. They just don't have the kind of defensive presence they need. Jordan Katje does a more than admirable job guarding down low and an undersized five but it really isn't fair to expect him to do that for 30+ minutes a night. Unfortunately there isn't an alternative and it's just the reality of the situation with the current roster.

That being said, Albion did have a few nice conversions in close that I would describe as being "in traffic" - the kind of conversions Calvin couldn't seem to find for much of the night.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope College has update thier policy for on-campus athletic events (link to the policy below).  The major change from the previous policy is bolded:

Indoor venues (DeVos Fieldhouse): All home volleyball matches and basketball games will require fans to wear a properly fitting face-covering over their nose and mouth at all times regardless of vaccination status. At this time, there will be no concession sales and no food or drink will be allowed inside of DeVos Fieldhouse.

Prior to this update, concessions and food were allowed, and fans could remove their masks while eating or drinking.  With this update, there will be no acceptable reason for anyone to remove their mask (my words, but I think that is the gist of it all). 

The men's game on Saturday is still on, but the Hope Women's team is "put on pause" with their Sat game vs Olivet, and rescheduled Mon game (originally to be played last night) at Alma both now postponed.

https://athletics.hope.edu/general/2021-22/releases/20210823jtdtwz

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Pick 'Em players - reminder to get your picks in for tomorrow

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5915.4140

[sac]

K College has updated its spectator policy.
https://hornets.kzoo.edu/information/spectators

After tomorrow they require visiting fans to be on a pre-approved list by the visiting school and also require proof of vaccination.  No walk-up attendance from outside the Kalamazoo College community.

[calvin_grad]

Indoor venues (DeVos Fieldhouse): All home volleyball matches and basketball games will require fans to wear a properly fitting face-covering over their nose and mouth at all times regardless of vaccination status. At this time, there will be no concession sales and no food or drink will be allowed inside of DeVos Fieldhouse.

Calvin is doing the same thing through at least January 31.

[sac]

Does anyone know what Trine is requiring or not requiring?

[FyteOnne]

As of about a year ago, GoBrits is watching all games in the great Kresge in the sky--he was an Albion alum, a huge Brits fan, and a faithful reader of Let's Talk MIAA.  He enjoyed playing the MIAA pick 'em until it became too difficult for him to navigate the technology.

On a serious note, I'm sorry to hear that too.

On a slightly less serious note, but only slightly... as a Hope fan, I REALLY hope that the Dutchmen play better at the Kresge in the sky than they tend to at the Kresge down here.

Thank you all for the kind words.  Over a decade ago, someone on here called Kresge a "house of horrors," a nickname we (proudly) still repeat in our family fairly often.   

We went to a couple non-conference games in November, but it was great to be back to viewing MIAA play in the house of horrors on Wednesday.  I'm planning to head to Trine today--and looking forward to this competitive season!

[TUAngola]

Does anyone know what Trine is requiring or not requiring?

As far as I know there has been no updated spectator policy for Trine athletic home events.  At the basketball games I have been to masks were not required and concession stand(s) were open.  They were only utilizing one concession stand recently but that could be due to lack of staffing to run concessions after the students left for winter break.  At the Concordia-Chicago basketball game on Dec 30 the Trine coaches (football, baseball, hockey, etc) were running the conession stand. 

Will let you know after today's game with Albion whether the spectator policy has been changed. 

[oldknight]

Calvin with an exceptionally easy 88-52 win over an Alma team that just didn't look good at all this afternoon. The game was basically over when the Knights scored the last 15 points of the first half, to take a 48-24 lead into the locker room. The lead grew to as large as 42 mid-way through the second frame, and Bill Sall emptied his bench from there.

Shymanski with 19, Morrison 12, and Egekeze and Warners 11, for Calvin. Bargesser led the Scots with 15, while Williamson and Rake added 11 and 10.