MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[bishopsfan]

Maybe I am completely out of the loop but what are you talking about?  Adrian has been a solid team for the past couple of years.  I personally think that the coach is not the problem.  Maybe Adrian should consider improving some of its facilities to try and attract recruits.

[pointlem]

From watching several Hope games, and three halves of Calvin games, I can understand why Calvin fans are feeling somewhat more encouraged by their young team.  If Meckes and Draayer can stay healthy, and with the emergence of their talented new point guard, I don't see them getting blown out of any MIAA games.

I can also see why Hope fans are delighted with what they've seen so far.  All four of the incoming transfers look like excellent contributors who should help form the core of Hope's strength next year and who add to the depth this year.  Hope's second five could, I think, beat some of its starting five's of years past.

I'm especially impressed by the intensity and coordination of the defense, which effectively switches picks without mixups and helps teammates when someone breaks for the basket.  Is it just me, or do Eric Voison and Steve Cramer both seem noticeably more effective on defense this year?  Voison already has 14 blocks and has altered a number of other plays.  And Steve Cramer was assigned to the top-scoring Wheaton and Carthage players, both of whom were virtually scoreless when he was in the game.  (Even if a quick smaller player beats him by a half step, his leap and reach compensates.)

Hopefully, we can see a Hope vs. Aquinas rematch next Saturday, and see whether Hope shows progress in their game.

[Picket Fence]

Vanderheide's biggest asset is the head on his shoulders. If you watch him on and off the ball, he makes the best choices possible every time. The scariest thing is that he is a sophmore.

Please do not drink adult soda pops before posting on this message board. I will go completely the other way on VanderHeide. I think he is being effective without a good head on his shoulders.  This is a kid who was the best athlete on the floor in just about every high school game he played and it shows. He is undisciplined, has no idea how to guard the perimeter, and seems to disappear for long stretches, which is completely a mental thing.

I think he brings a lot to the table, he is an excellent scorer and bullies people around in a positive way.  The one thing you are right about is that it's scary he's only a sophomore.  He should learn a lot in the next 2 years and will probably be All MIAA his junior and senior years.

[Stinger]

SAC, i wouldn't doubt you would take them, they've been pretty good to the Dutch over the years. 

The Hornets really let one get away yesterday. They played about 35 minutes of great basketball, and built a 50-38 lead. That's when playing in a road tourney against the host school really caught up with them. Aquinas got a few breaks and the refs fouled out all three of K's big men (Aquinas was 25-30 from the FT line, all in the 2nd half.). Kzoo turned the ball over down the stretch.  With the game tied, it took a 28 footer from Jeff Jayson with 15 seconds left  to beat the Hornets.

I think this weekend showed the Hornets they can compete. Now they have Elmhurst in the AAC home opener on Wednesday. Elmhurst is going to be hungry.  Kzoo came back from 20 at the half to win last year at their place.

[kdoggy]

About Adrian Basketball.  I don't want to boast that I know all about the Bulldogs, but since I've been following them since 1992, I got some history.

When I first became a Bulldog fan, Adrian was bad, bad, bad.  How bad?  Well Adrian finished regularly in sixth, seventh and eighth place.  No joke.  In that time, they might've had the greatest player I've seen play at AC in Hollis Edwards.  That dude could play.

That was the 90's...now for the 2000's!

Since 2000, Adrian has finished fifth three times, and fourth two times.  The fourth place finishes the last last two years.

So you say fourth, right?  Big deal, right?

Fourth in this conference in basketball is like finishing third or fourth in football in the OAC.  I don't know if you follow football, but Capital, OAC's second place team just lost to Mount Union yesterday in the great eight.  Last year our second place team defeated our first place team in the great eight.  So do you see my point.

I think Adrian defeated three NCAA playoff teams last season.

Yeah this year might be average, but when you lose the likes of Crazy legs Novak and Brian Schaefer, you should hurt.  Then you just get back Nokovich and Lewis. 

Time will tell, but I'll tell you this. 

Adrian will compete.  This ain't the 90's and I've never seen an Adrian team in the 2000's make a fool our themselves.

AC should beat up on Oberlin Monday, but will really see how tough they are on Thursday against Siena.  They also host North Central on Saturday.

Bluffton beat up AC with their 6-7 big man.   AC will have to get better in the post, and get better quickly. 

Also the Merillat Center is one of the nicest and newest courts in the MIAA.  Albion has the historic Kresge, Calvin's got the fieldhouse, Olivet (you know), Kalamazoo (older) Tri-State.  Adrian's was built in 1990 and it is the second newest facility, with DeVos being the newest.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  There is nothing wrong with the Merillat, except the lack of support the Adrian College students give.  The students at AC get outplayed by all the students MIAA wide.  That's a fact.

Out

[bulldogalum]

The students at AC get outplayed by all the students MIAA wide.  That's a fact.

Kdoggy:  Hate to say it, but it's true.  I haven't been around as long as you, but I absolutely agree.  Students at Adrian, for whatever reason, seem to lack school spirit, intensity, and pride.  There have been a few of us over the years who have cared a great deal about the program.  I know that when I was there, I didn't miss many games, home or away, and I did everything I could to try to get students to come to games.  But the fact remains, there is only one game every year where Adrian gets the student support it deserves:  the Siena Heights game. 

I have high hopes that the new administration will make great strides in getting students involved in athletics on campus.  It will take time, but I think President Docking has some good ideas for increasing enthusiasm.   

The Bulldogs will compete.  They will work hard on the defensive end, especially now that Nokovich is there to provide the spark.  Make no mistake, they will continue to miss Schaefer and Novak.  Those guys are irreplaceable.  But this team will continue to get better as the season progresses.  They will be competitive in the conference, and surprise a few teams along the way.

I'll be there for the Siena Heights game this Thursday, my first game this season.  Frankly, I can't wait to see those guys out on the floor, working like crazy to earn that Jug back.  Go Bulldogs!

[midline]

Stinger, a late addition to the Hornets schedule has them traveling to IL for a game v. Benedictine tonight. Don't know much about Benedictine this year, but I hear they are a pretty athletic squad. This is a very important week for K....Benedictine tonight, Elmhurst on Wed. and then @ Chicago on Sat. before a LONG holiday break. Their next games will not be until the 29th-30th in Tampa.

Saturday's game against Aquinas proved that K can play with the best in the league...but can they BEAT the best in the league? Time will tell but I am glad to see Tyler Worst healthy and playing again. He adds a lot to their roster.

[hornet fan]

Stinger and Midline summed it up.  The Hornets were up about 10 with 6 min to go and could not close the deal.  Listened on the radio and was shocked with the Jayson 30-footer.

Hope to see you guys prior to Wed's game for a few cold ones...

[Bob MacKenzie]

Another tidbit from just slightly west...

In the Sioux Falls Sunday rag, the Calvin men's score and both the Calvin and Hope women's scores were listed, but no mention of Hope men over Carthage.

My final thoughts regarding my initial question on Hope's reporting of scores to D3Hoops - I see most other scores, and certainly most scores of the prime programs across the country on a timely basis, why not Hope's?  Perhaps the best answer is simply that Tom does such a good job on the Hope and MIAA site that D3hoops must be pushed to later consideration.  Still..... ahh well, issue closed.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Interesting tidbit - score from last week Thursday (helps put some "big" wins in perspective)

Hope JV  - 78  Andrews (Varsity) - 59

[sac]

Hope JV  - 78  Andrews (Varsity) - 59

I think we all saw that one coming FDF.




My random thought for the day relates to Calvin.  After what I saw this weekend the overcast gloom and doom state of the Calvin program has been vastly overstated.

Calvin has what they've always had, guys who can flat out shoot and a coach who makes sure his guys get the ball where they're most comfortable.  They'll be a tough win to get at Calvin, they may not win the league but I don't know many who want to see the Knights on the other bench come tournament time.

They may be thin inside but if any year is a good year to thin inside in the MIAA this might be it.

[kcrest]

Probably the game got to the AP wire too late to make the Sioux Falls paper.  The women's games were both afternoon games.  depending on when the Sioux Falls paper goes to bed a later game might not make the next day's agate.  I can say with certainty that Calvin SID Jeff Febus and Hope SID Tom Renner both do a great job getting their schools' scores to the media.

Another tidbit from just slightly west...

In the Sioux Falls Sunday rag, the Calvin men's score and both the Calvin and Hope women's scores were listed, but no mention of Hope men over Carthage.

My final thoughts regarding my initial question on Hope's reporting of scores to D3Hoops - I see most other scores, and certainly most scores of the prime programs across the country on a timely basis, why not Hope's?  Perhaps the best answer is simply that Tom does such a good job on the Hope and MIAA site that D3hoops must be pushed to later consideration.  Still..... ahh well, issue closed.

[kcrest]

I concur SAC.  Come February they could be really, really dangerous.  Depth on the frontline is still a concern.  Sans Meckes the Knights lose a little of their snarl.  But, they play hard and Streek is getting the most out of a team that is still finding itself.  Hard not to ponder what might have been with Roelofs and Hoekstra though ...

Hope JV  - 78  Andrews (Varsity) - 59

I think we all saw that one coming FDF.




My random thought for the day relates to Calvin.  After what I saw this weekend the overcast gloom and doom state of the Calvin program has been vastly overstated.

Calvin has what they've always had, guys who can flat out shoot and a coach who makes sure his guys get the ball where they're most comfortable.  They'll be a tough win to get at Calvin, they may not win the league but I don't know many who want to see the Knights on the other bench come tournament time.

They may be thin inside but if any year is a good year to thin inside in the MIAA this might be it.

[kdoggy]

Bulldogalum:

Glad you agree.  Some of these people or students need to wake up and come support.  Right or wrong, win or lose that is what you do.  Drink some pops, walk over to the Merillat and go like hell.  Your with the group from the last couple years....hats off to you guys...you guys got it and did represent.  To the others...come out and represent.

Adrian beat an athletic Oberlin team tonight, 61-51.  Good win and it makes the trip back from Cleveland easier.  Collins led the crew with 22, while I did notice no Lewis on the statsheet?  What is up with that?  Also heard from fans that made the trip, that Siena Heights sent an assistant to watch.  Wow!  That only means that Siena must be nervous about AC, I mean Cleveland, two and half hours....I love it.  Siena hates to lose to Adrian and if they do Thursday....wow!  Big game Thursday!  Should be a packed house.  Can't wait.  Your right...Thursday night the joint will be rocking with 2,000 plus.  Always a great scene.

Out.

[Gregory Sager]

Adrian beat an athletic Oberlin team tonight, 61-51.  Good win and it makes the trip back from Cleveland easier.

Uh, is this the same "athletic Oberlin" that's now 0-8 after tonight's loss and has lost those eight games by an average of 21.5 points -- all to fellow D3 teams? In fact, the ten-point margin by which Adrian beat Oberlin tonight is as close a final score as the Yeoman have managed to post this season. Oberlin only has eight players left on the team, which makes me wonder how they manage to get anything done in practice. Do they go four-on-four? Do the coaches suit up and practice with them?

From where I'm sitting, Oberlin appears to be one of the worst teams in all of D3. You must have a pretty generous nature to give Adrian a "good win" for this one, kdoggy.