MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Civic Minded]

And if you had held your breath for just 8 minutes and 50 seconds longer, it could have been exactly 24 hours!

Killjoy!

I know, I know...too impatient.    

[sac]

Olivet comes into tonight's game with Hope on a 4 game winning streak, Hope on a 9 game winning streak.  Scoring in Olivet's last 4 games has been noticeably down from previous games.  I think the Comets have slowed the pace down a little, or they've been caught playing teams who play at a slower pace (such as Adrian).  Either way, the benefit has been 4 gritty victories that have pulled them out of 'very disappointing' season category to on the verge of finishing second.

A win tonight would give Olivet a really good chance of finishing out the season with 4 league wins, that should be enough for the #2 spot.  A loss and its back in the blender with every one else.

The first time these two hooked up, Olivet played well and led Hope by 10 with 14 minutes to play before Hope rallied to win.  It was a 1 point game with 2 minutes to go, and Hope ending up winning it at the FT line.   The biggest difference between the two teams was 3 point shooting, and it won the game for Hope.  At that point of the season I think things were still being sorted out in Holland and it wasn't readily apparent Hope could win the MIAA.  That win was a pretty big confidence boost, a confidence they've been playing with ever since.

http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/1011/0115olho.htm


It would be nice to do a better job on Michael McClary this time, I don't expect that but I think Hope needs to make the other guys try and beat them.  But then I'm sure every team says that when playing Olivet and nearly every team fails miserably at doing so.


Saturday's performance vs Alma wasn't Hope's best so I'm sure they'll be trying to prove a little something tonight.  Hope has a lot of incentive to play well tonight, a chance to clinch at least of a share of the MIAA Championship should be motivation enough.

[oldknight]

It would be nice to do a better job on Michael McClary this time, I don't expect that but I think Hope needs to make the other guys try and beat them.  But then I'm sure every team says that when playing Olivet and nearly every team fails miserably at doing so.

McClary is going to score--that's just the way it is. The key seems to be how efficient Michael is at scoring. When Calvin played Olivet at Van Noord in January, McClary went 10-25 from the floor, 1-4 from the stripe, and Calvin won by four. Last Saturday he went 13-27 from the floor, 3-4 from the stripe, and Calvin lost by two. You can do the math. The differences are slight but significant in the final results of those two games.

[KnightSlappy]

Also, the number of disgusting banked-in three point shots that Joe Post makes will change the outcome of the game.

The one he made right before the half on Saturday was just awful.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

The one he made right before the half on Saturday was just awful.

I'm guessing the awfulness of it was a matter of perspective.

[Civic Minded]

Also, the number of disgusting banked-in three point shots that Joe Post makes will change the outcome of the game.

The one he made right before the half on Saturday was just awful.

Seems I remember a couple of those from the game w/ Hope...nothing to do but groan.   

[Pat Coleman]

Newest men's regional rankings are up. Pass it on:

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/09/ncaas-2011-regional-rankings-week-2/

[hoopdreams]

No one else thinks Trine's upset victory Saturday over K-zoo will bring new life, and optimism to the Thunder? Follow the updated scouting report on Cruse, combined with an off shooting night by Hutton and who knows?  Balanced scoring (can you hear me Rogers, Veach and ?) would be nice too!

[Gregory Sager]

I have one thought


1) I don't like it

Rarely do I disagree with Sac, but I applaud the MIAA's following the lead of other conferences such as the CCIW and moving to a four-team playoff. 

The MIAA didn't really follow the CCIW's lead. The CCIW went from having no conference tournaments at all to having four-team conference tournaments in its various team sports. The MIAA is moving in the opposite direction to the same destination, going from eight-team conference tournaments to having four-team conference tournaments. If it's emulating anybody, it's emulating the WIAC, which made this move a year and a half ago.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope vs Olivet will be starting a bit late as for the 2nd week in a row the Hope JV wins in overtime.

[ziggy]

Adrian fun facts from the first half: 3 pt FG% > 2 pt FG% > FT%

Oh, and memo to Calvin: It will take more than seven field goals per half to win.

[NW Hope Fan]

Couple of interesting first half scores tonight...

[sac]

Hope 29 Olivet 27

largest lead for either team 3, 12 ties


Albion and Calvin both in trouble

[NW Hope Fan]

Albion clawed back, but Calvin still down 9. Watching their video, and live stats of the other games at the same time. For some reason i can't get the audio of the Hope game...

[NW Hope Fan]

Calvin playing with a little spirit in the last 2 minutes...