MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Didn't make it over to Olivet today but was pleased to see Hope win so comfortably.  Yet another good solid defensive effort.  The toughest nut to crack is a team that can defend well and is hard to defend.  Hope's becoming that kind of team.  Great to see Phillips break out of his mini-slump with a good shooting effort tonight.  He'd had 3 poor shooting games in a row.

Couple random thoughts

Alma made a nice statement today hanging with the Knights, playing without their two best players from a year ago Barnes and Jones.  The Scots seem to be a shoein for double-digit wins this year.

Kalamazoo beating Adrian was a bit of surprise to me considering what I saw in the Hornets Wed.

Wednesday's Hope/Albion game is pretty big obviously and should be a great matchup.

[BogeyMan]

OK!  OK!  OK!  You guys win!  I better be careful on who I disagree with because all those Pat C fans coming runing to his rescue.  Must like a high karma rating!

ScotsFan, I am not a Hopie, in fact I'm HopeLess!

My only point in disagreeing with the poll this week is after seeing both BW and Wooster play, I believe BW is as good as Wooster.  Even though BW lost to Wilmington yesterday, BW is as good as Wooster.  I saw Wilmington at ONU Wednesday and Wilmington is very good.  If you lose early in the season you can always work your way back to the top of poll.  After teams have proven themselves over several games a loss should not drop you as much in the polls that a early season loss!

[SBell]

http://www.mlive.com/preps/muchronicle/basketball/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/113647951185700.xml&coll=8

Here are the best likely MIAA prospects in the state:
1. Ryan Zwier  6-5  Kalamazoo Christian
2. Robbie Harman  5-11  Traverse City Central
3. Matt Veltema  6-5  Grandville Calvin Christian
4. Matt Kingshott  6-5  Zeeland West
5. Steve Kratz  6-6  Ludington
6. Andy Venema  6-6  Tri-Uity Christian
7. Dan Kunde  6-6  Bridgman
8. Dustin Miller  6-1  Marshall
9. John Lierman  6-2  Holt
10. Alex Wolf  5-11  Parchment
11. Jimmy Strunk  6-1  East Kentwood
12. Matt Wayne  6-6  Riverview
13. Devin Tarrant  6-6  Bath
14. Austin Randel  6-4  McBain
15. Jon Visser  6-1  Tri-Unity Christian
16. Brad Dugan  6-6  Oxford
17. Dan Perkins  6-9  Lansing Christian
18. Richard Blair  6-0  Pellston
19. Will Bruinsma  6-2  Western Michigan Christian
20. Corbin Donaldson  6-0  Petoskey
--    David Stasiak  5-9  Saline
--    Spencer Olson  6-0  Grand Rapids Northview
http://www.bankhoops.com

[SBell]

Forgot to write -- that link is to story on Steve Kratz from Ludington, likely future Hope player.

[MIdoubleA]

Cool post Sbell, now I have high school teams to follow up on other than my own 

So about Hope vs. Albion on wednesday, what do you think it wil take for each team to win?

Hope
* Shut down Crawford (obviously)
* Shut down the rest of the team if they can't stop Crawford
* Play some good defense (kinda goes along with the previous two)
* FREE-THROWS DOWN THE STRETCH

Albion
* Keep Crawford out of foul trouble
* Find out who the Dutchmen can't stop (Crawford, Silas, Way?)
* Out-rebound the Dutchmen
* Keep turnovers to a minimum (The last two are things the Dutchmen are quietly good at, and denying them doing so could be a big factor)

Let me know what you think, and feel free to add (or subtract  ) to my list.

[SBell]

Were I Hope, I wouldn't do anything special on him and let him get is 30 and concentrate on not getting beat by the long ball from Silas, Bailey and Gibbons, Gibbons being the easiest to stop of the three because he's not going to do much else.

[Flea]

After a few games into the new yesr I don't know if Calvin is going to be .500 in the MIAA.  Alma, with two academically ineligibles on the bench, almost takes one at the Knight's house ... ouch. 

[KnightSlappy]

The Knights may not have impressed anyone with their win over Alma, but as a I heard someone say "That game was inches away from a blowout."  Calvin outplayed Alma all game and several Three pointers were halfway down only to come out again.  Calvin does, however, need to learn how to finish strong down low in order to have a shot against Hope.

[flash96]

Calvin will be better than .500 in league play, actually I could easily see a three way tie for the league title, especially after next Saturday.  I think Calvin gathers a lot of energy from its fans at Knollcrest, and since it was still break that may have been part of the reason for the close game.

Alma could play the role of spoiler this year and steal one from Hope, Calvin, or Albion.  I think the Knights should beware of playing at Alma later this year.  Could be a good game. 

I thought I might see more out of Adrian this year, but that loss to the Hornets makes me think otherwise.  I plan on trying to catch them sometime later this year.

Kresge will be a battleground on Wednesday night!  Go Hope!

[Picket Fence]

SBell, the way Veltema's going this year, he may play his way right into a scholarship. He's only a junior, correct?

There will not be a three way tie for the league tite. I don't think Red Auerbach could coach the Knights and avoid at least 3 league losses this year.  Albion or Hope will not finish will 3 losses in the league.

[oldknight]

Picket Fence:

Veltema is a senior and is good enough to get the attention of scholarship schools. I would love to see him at Calvin and he has sent in his application to Calvin (among others). Both his parents went to Calvin and would support his decision to go there but money is an issue so if he does get a scholarship offer that might be a deal clincher. But I know Streek is putting on the full court press with Matt to try and convince him to come and is no doubt trying to find every dollar of academic aid the school can give him. Veltema has improved every year of high school ball and would be a fine D3 player.

[Roughrider]

Greetings to all MIAA fans.  Another "newbie" here.  Long-time MIAA and d3hoops fan, first-year poster.

MIdoubleA, thanks for your questions on Page 64.
Sac, Ypsi, and Pat, thanks for your answers.  Very helpful.

Another question, for Sac, FDF, or anyone that knows.
I have some data I would like to post in a table.  I see the table icon, but how do I fill in the data, and make sure I have enough rows and columns?  Thanks in advance for any help given.

Roughrider

[Stinger]

Very nice win for the Hornets yesterday. Thanks for the recap Hornet Fan... your cell must not have been working Saturday night.  Sounds like McCain had a very nice game, including a sweet alley oop. They need to take care of business against Alma. Let's get a some momentum into that Jan 18th game at Albion.

As for the Hope/Albion game on Saturday, I agree a bit with S Bell.  Silas can really hurt you, and Bailey has been stepping up. Gibbons is in a huge funk. He has not confidence, and you can see it in his numbers, less than .400 from the field and the line.  I would try and get Crawford into foul trouble. The Britons actually played about 5 minutes of 2-3 zone when both Crawford and Way picked up their 2nd fouls and sat on the bench. Tri-State rallied because Albion didnt have anyone to step up to score.

Also, neither team shoots well from the line.  It will be important to step up and make the freebies.  Im curiouis to see who the refs will be. 

Hornet Fan, there will be a pre-game "sting" so to speak for us neutral fans at Cascarellis Ill  talk with BP and get at you tomorrow.

[hope1]

the game is wed not sat

[SBell]

Matt Veltema has been shooting the heck out of the ball, but has become a pretty good all-around player

He would have had a better shot at a scholarship except he plays baseball and missed some of his team's spring tournaments, then don't think his team went to Vegas or any of the big tournaments in July. When he did play with them looked pretty good, playing off the penetration of David Thompson (Grandville/GVSU).