MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Adrian at Hope 8pm

Last year Adrian played 11 guys in the game against Hope in Holland.  Only 3 players remain on the Adrian roster who played in that game.  Drew Torrey, Ben Rodak and Ricky Jackson. 

A couple things have really impacted Adrian's season.  Two key injuries to Adam Meier and Eric Lewis, and a roster that has undergone a tremendous amount of fluctuation.  Adrian has played 21 different players on their varsity squad, at the moment they have 12 listed on the varsity roster.

In league play, they've used this lineup

G  Wesley Reed    5-10  Sr.
G  Drew Torrey     5-8   Sr.
G  Ben Rodak        6-4   So.
F  Ricky Jackson   6-3  So.
F  Chris Tucker      6-4  So.
----------------------------------------
G  Curtis Gordan            5-11  Jr.
G  Amir Gaston-Rashid   5-10  Jr.
F  Dominique Stegall      6-6  So.
G  Jeffrey Robertson      6-1   So.
G  Earl Swift                   6-3  Fr.

Since returning from a year off from injury Wesley Reed has been Adrian's leading scorer,  Ben Rodak and Ricky Jackson have been their primary offensive threats most of the year.  Its been a struggle all season for Adrian to score with the team shooting under 40% from the floor.


All of Adrian's losses have been by double-digits except their OT defeat to Olivet.  As tough as its been they've only really been blown out once by Carnegie-Mellon.

[KnightSlappy]

Adrian at Hope 8pm

Last year Adrian played 11 guys in the game against Hope in Holland.  Only 3 players remain on the Adrian roster who played in that game.  Drew Torrey, Ben Rodak and Ricky Jackson. 

A couple things have really impacted Adrian's season.  Two key injuries to Adam Meier and Eric Lewis, and a roster that has undergone a tremendous amount of fluctuation.  Adrian has played 21 different players on their varsity squad, at the moment they have 12 listed on the varsity roster.

In league play, they've used this lineup

G  Wesley Reed    5-10  Sr.
G  Drew Torrey     5-8   Sr.
G  Ben Rodak        6-4   So.
F  Ricky Jackson   6-3  So.
F  Chris Tucker      6-4  So.
----------------------------------------
G  Curtis Gordan            5-11  Jr.
G  Amir Gaston-Rashid   5-10  Jr.
F  Dominique Stegall      6-6  So.
G  Jeffrey Robertson      6-1   So.
G  Earl Swift                   6-3  Fr.

Since returning from a year off from injury Wesley Reed has been Adrian's leading scorer,  Ben Rodak and Ricky Jackson have been their primary offensive threats most of the year.  Its been a struggle all season for Adrian to score with the team shooting under 40% from the floor.


All of Adrian's losses have been by double-digits except their OT defeat to Olivet.  As tough as its been they've only really been blown out once by Carnegie-Mellon.

The 24 point loss to Calvin was probably also a blowout. They play at a slower pace than just about anyone else in Division 3 (I have them sixth slowest), at about ten possessions per game below average. The slow pace can hold down total scoring, preventing larger point differentials.

[hoopdreams]

At the risk of possibly being repetitive by old posts, Adrian- once again and Coach White are laughingstocks. When he took over, I appreciated his approach...tough, defensive oriented, stay close until the last 3 minutes and anything can happen, etc...but this crap is embarrassing.

Either he is a horrible judge of talent, a horrible judge of character or a total a$&@/$e to play for, this weekly revolving roster has ruined any chance of becoming a relevant and successful program annually.  He is making GVW's last handful of years look like a picture of stability, and he, by all accounts, was a great judge of talent and character....and not a "naughty word" coach to play for.

How many kids have actually made it 4 years since he took over? Three? 

[realist]

On Jan 1 of 2013 week 5 top 25 D3 Hoops.com

"Through games of Jan. 1, 2013:

# School (1st votes) Rec Pts Prev.
1 North Central (Ill.) (12) 11-0 605 3
2 Middlebury              (9) 9-0 602 2
3 St. Thomas             (4) 9-0 591 4
4 Rochester                   10-0 537 7
5 Washington U.             9-1 484 9
6 Whitworth                  10-1 461 11
7 Adrian                        11-0 433 12

No other MIAA team even received an orv. 
I think you are being rather harsh about Adrian, and coach White.  I have never meet or spoken to the man, but I would bet there is no one on God's green earth that would like to see more stability in his program than he does. 
I doubt very many fans would agree that a team that can get itself ranked #7 in D3 hoops. com top 25 even once in 3 years deserves to be classified as a "laughingstock".

One of the teams that Adrian beat last year to go 11-0 was Wooster (at Wooster), and they ended up like #1 in the GL region at the end of the year.

Adrian has been one of the semi finalist each of the last 3 years in the MIAA tournament.  That makes this "laughingstock" equal to Hope and Calvin in that regard. 
In the 2012 MIAA tournament final I doubt many Hope fans were "laughing" at Adrian when it took Hope ot to beat Adrian 65-62 at Hope.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Anybody know when the Alma Olivet game (postponed from Jan 15) is going to be played?

Now scheduled for Feb 17 @ 7:30pm per the MIAA schedule

[calvinite]

At the risk of possibly being repetitive by old posts, Adrian- once again and Coach White are laughingstocks. When he took over, I appreciated his approach...tough, defensive oriented, stay close until the last 3 minutes and anything can happen, etc...but this crap is embarrassing.

Either he is a horrible judge of talent, a horrible judge of character or a total a$&@/$e to play for, this weekly revolving roster has ruined any chance of becoming a relevant and successful program annually.  He is making GVW's last handful of years look like a picture of stability, and he, by all accounts, was a great judge of talent and character....and not a "naughty word" coach to play for.

How many kids have actually made it 4 years since he took over? Three?

I'll second Realists response and add that By my count, 10 seniors were listed on White's Adrian rosters (5 seasons). Don't know how many graduated, etc. I don't think you can judge a coach by just one season. There's no question this year has been a bad year for Adrian –due in large part to the change in personnel and injuries of Adrian's players (not unlike, I might add, Calvin's season of two years ago).

Looking over his tenure at Adrain (and I realize the main point was directed at his year), Adrian has done astonishingly well considering it is half the size of Calvin or Hope. The combined league record was 23-19. More importantly, except for Hope and Calvin, Adrian has twice as many league victories (or more) over Hope/Calvin than all other MIAA schools (Kazoo 1, Trine 2, Albion 2, Olivet 2, Adrian 4). His 18 wins last year was the most by an Adrian team since 1954, and his 9 MIAA wins the year before was the best for Adrian since 1978. In the ten years prior to White's arrival, Adrian had mostly losing seasons including a 3-11 (MIAA) season in 2005-2006.

I too, wonder, why more player haven't stayed longer at Adrian, but I don't this is the result of a horrible judge of talent (he's had success) or a poor judge of character (haven't heard anything to indicate players are leaving Adrian for character reasons), or his being a difficult coach.

[sac]

Kalamazoo 82  Alma 62

K really doiminated the second half.  K was missing Dykema and Baysdell.


Trine 61  Olivet 57

Trine needed a layup from Jared Holmquist and some ft's in the final minute to hold off the Comets.

[sac]

Hope 82  Adrian 56

Convincing win all-around.  10-19 from 3

Eidson 16, McMahon 14

[almcguirejr]

Jody May is out of control.

Calvin 68
Albion 49
Final

[hoopdreams]

1. How many left prior to their senior season, either on their own or were dismissed? I cannot imagine all of these kids showed up and realized that Adrian was so lame/boring, academically tough, etc...and left.  Coach White is the only constant....why?

2. Let's not lose sight that the MIAA is traditionally a very top heavy league.  Being in the top 4 is not an accomplishment.

3.  Of course "laughingstock" was an exaggeration but it generated some conversation....mission accomplished.

The only question is- " why do so many players leave the program?" they will never be anything other than top 4 team, in an average at best conference after Hope and Calvin, as well as an occasional surprise.  Would someone please repost the overall non conference record of the MIAA?

As stated, I was quite impressed initially but not so much now.  Some would say that the injuries were a fluke or unavoidable, I disagree to an extent.  There is such a thing as working too hard, too long, too often. The human body can only handle so much before breaking down, especially tendons and ligaments.  Possibly his intense style of play was too much for kids to handle on a daily basis- physically and emotionally?  They have had numerous injuries

[oldknight]

Pretty nice win for Calvin tonight at Albion with a final of 68-49 over the Britons. The Knights didn't shoot all that well but still seemed to be control of the game on the boards and with solid defense. The Brits seemed to lose some composure and imploded with under 10 minutes left when Ridgell was called for a flagrent and then a technical giving Calvin four free throws and the ball. Jody May added a T in the final minute for good measure.

Tyler Kruis with a double/double getting 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Brink scored 22 and hit back to back threes to put Calvin in control.

[calvinite]

Jody May is out of control.

Calvin 68
Albion 49
Final

Calvin's 19 point win tonight is one more than the total points Albion has lost by in their 6 losses this season. Brad Visser seems to be breaking into the rotation, and Tyler Kruis had a monster 2nd half ending the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds  (both Calvin Christian grads!).

[Mr. Ypsi]

This is based on no data, just my impressions, but I wonder if Adrian student's families are coming from less 'wealth' than is typical in D3 (and MIAA).  Is having to drop out due to finances a viable explanation for the turnover at Adrian?

[calvinite]

As I mentioned, I'm curious too. Finances could be a factor, but so could academics, injuries, personalty conflicts, 'character flaws (ie not committed to the team, trouble with the law, whatever), and don't forget NEPOTISM -- that's definitely a very significant factor even though G.S. will certainly deny it -- at least in the case of Carthage and the other colleges which I can't remember).

Who knows? Mark White is likely to have pretty limited control over most of these issues. Calvin College has lost some pretty good players over the last couple years, too (not just role players). VanHarn from GRCH, and the very good post-up player from Covenant (sorry, can't remember his name), and others. There's no doubt Adrian has lost more than average.... but I, for one, am not convinced it's White's fault.

[Gregory Sager]

As I mentioned, I'm curious too. Finances could be a factor, but so could academics, injuries, personalty conflicts, 'character flaws (ie not committed to the team, trouble with the law, whatever), and don't forget NEPOTISM -- that's definitely a very significant factor even though G.S. will certainly deny it -- at least in the case of Carthage and the other colleges which I can't remember).