MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Potentially has one of the top NCAC schools. Also potentially has Aquinas twice.

I don't why you are so critical of Aquinas as an opponent.  They have a  competive team.  Last year they lost by 1 to Hope at DeVos.  Why spend 6 hours of travel time when you can play in your own backyard?

[Pat Coleman]

Because that's what the NCAA rewards. I can understand playing the local NAIA rival once a year but not twice. Calvin is spending too many games on those teams and not enough on what's been in the championships handbook since 1999.

[ziggy]

Calvin was rewarded just fine last year and this schedule looks to be potentially more favorable.  If you win your games you dont need to worry.

[almcguirejr]

I heard KVS is giving up the AD job because of the amount of time the job requires.

[Bob MacKenzie]

Because that's what the NCAA rewards. I can understand playing the local NAIA rival once a year but not twice. Calvin is spending too many games on those teams and not enough on what's been in the championships handbook since 1999.

I'd be glad to see the bank tourney end.  But other than that, I don't see much that could be improved.  And frankly, for reasons already suggested by others, I think Pat's all wet on this topic.  

[Pat Coleman]

Calvin was rewarded just fine last year and this schedule looks to be potentially more favorable.  If you win your games you dont need to worry.

Luckily, yes, Calvin was not on the bubble. Ask 2004 Hope what that's like, 21-5 and staying home because you played only one non-conference regional game.

Hope figured it out and changed its schedule. Don't get caught in that situation.

[KnightSlappy]

What other teams will be at the Wooster tournament?

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin was rewarded just fine last year and this schedule looks to be potentially more favorable.  If you win your games you dont need to worry.

Luckily, yes, Calvin was not on the bubble. Ask 2004 Hope what that's like, 21-5 and staying home because you played only one non-conference regional game.

Hope figured it out and changed its schedule. Don't get caught in that situation.

Hopefully the newly expanded field takes care of this

[Pat Coleman]

Calvin was rewarded just fine last year and this schedule looks to be potentially more favorable.  If you win your games you dont need to worry.

Luckily, yes, Calvin was not on the bubble. Ask 2004 Hope what that's like, 21-5 and staying home because you played only one non-conference regional game.

Hope figured it out and changed its schedule. Don't get caught in that situation.

Hopefully the newly expanded field takes care of this

It means the bar is at 19-7 or so instead of 21-5. Someone is always on the bubble, no matter how many teams are in the field, you know.

[Bob MacKenzie]

So riddle me this...

Scenario one:  Calvin schedules nothing but quality in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule and goes 6-4.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA, and 2-1 in the conference tourney (losing in the championship game) for a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 70%.

Scenario two:  Calvin plays no in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule, but goes 6-4 against the likes of Aquinas, C'stone, GVSU, Ferris, Carthage, Wheaton,  UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus etc.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA and 2-1 in the MIAA touney, again losing in the championship.  They have a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 76%

In which scenario will Calvin more likely be "rewarded" by the NCAA?

[ScotsFan]

What other teams will be at the Wooster tournament?

Wooster hasn't released their schedule yet. I hope it works out that Wooster and Calvin end up meeting up though.  Wooster hasn't had a shot a Calvin since that NCAA tournament debacle back in the '99-'00 season.    Wooster was ready for a rematch the following year in their Mose Hole Kiwanis Classic, but Chicago had to go and ruin it.

[Pat Coleman]

So riddle me this...

Scenario one:  Calvin schedules nothing but quality in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule and goes 6-4.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA, and 2-1 in the conference tourney (losing in the championship game) for a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 70%.

Scenario two:  Calvin plays no in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule, but goes 6-4 against the likes of Aquinas, C'stone, GVSU, Ferris, Carthage, Wheaton,  UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus etc.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA and 2-1 in the MIAA touney, again losing in the championship.  They have a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 76%

In which scenario will Calvin more likely be "rewarded" by the NCAA?

Those are scenarios, sure, but unfortunately, Calvin isn't playing under either this year. There are no UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus games on the schedule.

If Calvin goes 6-4 against quality in-region opponents then perhaps they don't deserve to go to the tournament. They should do better than that, no?

[Bob MacKenzie]

So riddle me this...

Scenario one:  Calvin schedules nothing but quality in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule and goes 6-4.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA, and 2-1 in the conference tourney (losing in the championship game) for a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 70%.

Scenario two:  Calvin plays no in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule, but goes 6-4 against the likes of Aquinas, C'stone, GVSU, Ferris, Carthage, Wheaton,  UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus etc.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA and 2-1 in the MIAA touney, again losing in the championship.  They have a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 76%

In which scenario will Calvin more likely be "rewarded" by the NCAA?

Those are scenarios, sure, but unfortunately, Calvin isn't playing under either this year. There are no UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus games on the schedule.

If Calvin goes 6-4 against quality in-region opponents then perhaps they don't deserve to go to the tournament. They should do better than that, no?

I don't think you answered my question.

In answer to yours...yes, they should. 

[Pat Coleman]

Well, you're throwing out hypotheticals that aren't applicable to the current situation. And the scenarios you threw out are rather vague. Who are the 10 regional opponents and the results? All we have is one of the many criteria, regional winning percentage.

[Dark Knight]

So riddle me this...

Scenario one:  Calvin schedules nothing but quality in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule and goes 6-4.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA, and 2-1 in the conference tourney (losing in the championship game) for a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 70%.

Scenario two:  Calvin plays no in-region DIII opponents in its pre-conference schedule, but goes 6-4 against the likes of Aquinas, C'stone, GVSU, Ferris, Carthage, Wheaton,  UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus etc.  They proceed to go 11-3 in the MIAA and 2-1 in the MIAA touney, again losing in the championship.  They have a regular season record of 19-8 and an in-region winning percentage of about 76%

In which scenario will Calvin more likely be "rewarded" by the NCAA?

Those are scenarios, sure, but unfortunately, Calvin isn't playing under either this year. There are no UWSP, Lawrence, Gustavus games on the schedule.

If Calvin goes 6-4 against quality in-region opponents then perhaps they don't deserve to go to the tournament. They should do better than that, no?

I don't think you answered my question.

In answer to yours...yes, they should. 

Yes, they should do better to get into the tournament, but borderline cases (the ones under consideration) are, well, borderline cases.

It seems to me that the 11-3 regional record (78.5%) will look better to the committee than the 70% record.

But perhaps you're missing the real force of the NCAA's rules. If Calvin wants to maximize chances of getting into the NCAAs by gaming the rules, rather than preparing the team and minimizing travel, they need to play not-such-high-quality regional teams with >.750 winning percentages. That can mean only one thing: lots of fall/Christmas trips down south!

Florida might be nice for Christmas break. How about Alabama over Thanksgiving break? Mississippi in mid-November? Puerto Rico in early December?