MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

Great playing by the Knights tonight, they beat the same team 3 times this year.

Yes, that seemed to be the burning question all day.  How difficult is it to beat a team three times in one season?  Well, Calvin made it look easy.  What was so remarkable is that this is the same team that took Hope to the wire on Saturday.

Is there really anyone so buffaloed by that tired cliche' that they think the 0-2 team is favored in the third game?!  If so, I'll pay your way to Vegas, just so I can bet opposite any bet you make!

Thank you, Sancho Panza.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Great playing by the Knights tonight, they beat the same team 3 times this year.

Yes, that seemed to be the burning question all day.  How difficult is it to beat a team three times in one season?  Well, Calvin made it look easy.  What was so remarkable is that this is the same team that took Hope to the wire on Saturday.

Is there really anyone so buffaloed by that tired cliche' that they think the 0-2 team is favored in the third game?!  If so, I'll pay your way to Vegas, just so I can bet opposite any bet you make!

Thank you, Sancho Panza.

While I don't think Hope should be favored over Calvin in case of a third game I also don't think Calvin is a real favorite. Based on the first two games and the general intensity of the rivalry this game would be a toss up.

[KnightSlappy]

While I don't think Hope should be favored over Calvin in case of a third game I also don't think Calvin is a real favorite. Based on the first two games and the general intensity of the rivalry this game would be a toss up.

Right, it has been a 50/50 toss-up all season.  Before the season starts you would say Calvin has a 12.5% chance of winning all three (0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5) but now they have a 50% chance (or there about) of winning all three.

It is hard to beat the same team 3 times at the beginning of the year, but it's probably not any more difficult to win one game at the end of the year.

[Gregory Sager]

While I don't think Hope should be favored over Calvin in case of a third game I also don't think Calvin is a real favorite. Based on the first two games and the general intensity of the rivalry this game would be a toss up.

Yes, but the cliche in question isn't the reason behind that. The old saw "it's tough to beat a team three times" doesn't have anything to do with why Calvin vs. Hope, Round Three is likely to be a close game if they meet on Saturday. As you've implied, the reasons for that likelihood are that: a) the first two games were close (Calvin by two, Calvin by one); b) the general consensus of both Calvin and Hope fans is that there isn't much daylight between the two teams in terms of talent, execution, preparation, coaching, etc.; and c) it's The Rivalry, so you can -- to invoke another, more accurate cliche -- throw out the records, because anything can happen.

It is hard to beat the same team 3 times at the beginning of the year, but it's probably not any more difficult to win one game at the end of the year.

That's true in strict mathematical terms, but not in the real time and space of a basketball season. If you knew beforehand that Calvin was going to play Alma three times in a given season, you'd have to think that the Knights had a pretty good chance to win all three before the two teams had even taken the floor for the first game.

[ziggy]

Right, it has been a 50/50 toss-up all season.  Before the season starts you would say Calvin has a 12.5% chance of winning all three (0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5) but now they have a 50% chance (or there about) of winning all three.

Variable Chance.  Jeff Ma and the MIT Blackjack team would be very proud.

[KnightSlappy]

Right, it has been a 50/50 toss-up all season.  Before the season starts you would say Calvin has a 12.5% chance of winning all three (0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5) but now they have a 50% chance (or there about) of winning all three.

Variable Chance.  Jeff Ma and the MIT Blackjack team would be very proud.

I live to make Jeff Ma proud.

[KnightSlappy]

It is hard to beat the same team 3 times at the beginning of the year, but it's probably not any more difficult to win one game at the end of the year.

That's true in strict mathematical terms, but not in the real time and space of a basketball season. If you knew beforehand that Calvin was going to play Alma three times in a given season, you'd have to think that the Knights had a pretty good chance to win all three before the two teams had even taken the floor for the first game.

I was talking more about a Calvin-Hope matchup than a Calvin-Alma matchup.  It's still more difficult to beat Alma three times than it is to beat them once. (maybe 72% chance as compared to 90% chance in this example)

[hope1]

there schould be 2 good games friday  night to watch what time are the doors going to open

[Gregory Sager]

It is hard to beat the same team 3 times at the beginning of the year, but it's probably not any more difficult to win one game at the end of the year.

That's true in strict mathematical terms, but not in the real time and space of a basketball season. If you knew beforehand that Calvin was going to play Alma three times in a given season, you'd have to think that the Knights had a pretty good chance to win all three before the two teams had even taken the floor for the first game.

I was talking more about a Calvin-Hope matchup than a Calvin-Alma matchup.  It's still more difficult to beat Alma three times than it is to beat them once. (maybe 72% chance as compared to 90% chance in this example)

That's pretty obvious. But the point I'm trying to make is that the cliche "it's tough to beat a team three times" is not true. Even if you were to give Alma a 28% chance of beating Calvin once in three tries in any given season -- and, given Alma's track record against Calvin, I think you're being more than generous to the Scots -- it still doesn't strike me as "tough" to achieve something that has a 72% probability of occurring.

[KnightSlappy]

it still doesn't strike me as "tough" to achieve something that has a 72% probability of occurring.

That's why I haven't disagreed with you on this topic.  Pre-season games are another issue though...

[Gregory Sager]

it still doesn't strike me as "tough" to achieve something that has a 72% probability of occurring.

That's why I haven't disagreed with you on this topic.  Pre-season games are another issue though...

You can only push one button at a time.

[dumezrules]

sure am glad Hope and Albion split...if Hope would have won both games, they would have no chance tomorrow night!   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

it still doesn't strike me as "tough" to achieve something that has a 72% probability of occurring.

That's why I haven't disagreed with you on this topic.  Pre-season games are another issue though...

You can only push one button at a time.

The key to GS - he is completely binary    

[dumezrules]

Great playing by the Knights tonight, they beat the same team 3 times this year.

Yes, that seemed to be the burning question all day.  How difficult is it to beat a team three times in one season?  Well, Calvin made it look easy.  What was so remarkable is that this is the same team that took Hope to the wire on Saturday.

Its also hard to believe the team that BEAT Calvin on Saturday is out already....

[hope1]

maybe olivet can beat calvin for the 2nd time in calvin gym man that would be nice or at least tire them out and be rough with calvin