MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Taking sac's look at the remainder of the year a step farther, and in the spirit of March madness (mostly because I'm already sick of February and ready for spring!) I was thinking ahead to end-of-year scenarios.  With Hope in the conference driver's seat, I'm assuming (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that the only way Calvin (or anyone else besides Hope) makes the big dance is if they win the conference tourney. 

Let's assume Hope wins out the rest of the year, but loses in the conference tournament final.  In that scenario, Hope would finish with a 20-7 record with a very good strength of schedule and would likely have a pretty strong regional ranking.  I've paid attention to previous discussions like this enough to know that it would probably depend on what happened not only with other teams in region but also on if there are other "surprises" with conference tourney winners in other regions--but on balance (whatever that means), do you think that Hope receives an at-large bid if they don't win the conference tourney?       

For tournament purposes, Cornerstone and Aquinas games don't count.  Hope's record to the committee would be 20-6 under your scenario.  They would only look at those games deep into secondary criteria.

20-6 with Hope's other criteria probably gets them in, though in this region, who knows.
19-7 is a lot more dicey.

I recommend Hope not leave it up to a committee math.

[wiz]

I recommend Hope not leave it up to a committee math.

Agree completely.  Having watched this league closely for many years, the only sure way into the NCAA tournament is to win the league tournament.  Barring something really weird, Hope will host and have the clear advantage.

[Roundball999]

I recommend Hope not leave it up to a committee math.

Agree completely.  Having watched this league closely for many years, the only sure way into the NCAA tournament is to win the league tournament.  Barring something really weird, Hope will host and have the clear advantage.

I second that sentiment.  Remembering the women's side a couple years ago; Calvin got the AQ and was top five nationally going into the tournament, but Hope's 22-5 wasn't enough to get the Dutch in.

[sflzman]

Isiah Law's eight 3-pointers last night broke an Alma College record. Incredible night shooting for him, going 8-10 from downtown.

Out of curiosity who held the old record.

My two guesses.  Seth Stapleton or Jeremy Trent

Anthony Jones, Bill Johnson, Pat Hoag, Andy Mangin and Tom VanSumeren all had 7 3's.

On another note, it'd be nice to keep this 6-8 sophomore home in Alma http://instagram.com/p/kKm3FDFzoJ/

[KnightSlappy]

I recommend Hope not leave it up to a committee math.

Agree completely.  Having watched this league closely for many years, the only sure way into the NCAA tournament is to win the league tournament.  Barring something really weird, Hope will host and have the clear advantage.

I second that sentiment.  Remembering the women's side a couple years ago; Calvin got the AQ and was top five nationally going into the tournament, but Hope's 22-5 wasn't enough to get the Dutch in.

19-5 was their in-region record. 0.792 is a decent percentage, but teams get left out all the time in that range when they don't have an outstanding strength of schedule. (And especially in a region where five teams sported winning percentages above .900 and another four were above .800.)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Grant Neil named to the Allstate/NABC Good Works Team (one of 10 players from all levels of college basketball).  Colton Overway received this same award last year.  Congrats Grant!!

http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140211umh33p

[gobrits]

Isiah Law's eight 3-pointers last night broke an Alma College record. Incredible night shooting for him, going 8-10 from downtown.

8 out of 10 on three-pointers was great shooting by Isiah Law. He torched Albion the first time around, too. But the Britons have given up 34 threes in their last three games, all losses. I've gotta suspect there's something going on — or not going on — with their defense. Alma was 4 for 22 on threes in its next game, a loss to Olivet.

[Hopester]

Ergh. The NCAA drives me crazy.

[HopeConvert]

Ergh. The NCAA drives me crazy.

?

[HopeConvert]

May I assume it's in reference to the regional rankings, and Hope being 6th?

[sac]

Hope at Olivet tonight, the Dutchmen's last few trips to rural Eaton County have been adventures with only 1 double digit win.

2008  Hope 80  Olivet 71
2009  Hope 79  Olivet 70
2010  Hope 71  Olivet 69
2011  Hope 77  Olivet 71  trailed by 10
2012  Hope 75  Olivet 60
2013  Olivet 68  Hope 65

[almcguirejr]

Adrian trailed Albion at the half 34-13.
Hope is ahead of Olivet 91-50 with over 7 minutes to play.

[monsoon]

Hope at Olivet tonight, the Dutchmen's last few trips to rural Eaton County have been adventures with only 1 double digit win.

A little less of an adventure tonight.

Hope wins, 108-57.

[wiz]

All nail-biters tonight!

[oldknight]

Calvin wins comfortably 86-59. With no Mark Ghafari tonight (no Carl either) Kalamazoo's slim chances for an upset became only slimmer. The Hornets competed hard but simply don't have the type of players needed to  control Tyler Kruis who ate up K's interior defense, scoring 16 in only 20 minutes. Parks added 13 and both Van Loo and Visser came off the  bench for 13 and 12. I'm told Ghafari has a meniscus issue but hopes to get back on the floor before the season ends and I hope he does.

Adam Dykema got out of the doghouse, making his first appearance for the Hornets in several games and he made it count. The young man from Forest Hills Central poured in a game high 19, scoring in a variety of ways. Once the freshmen plays just enough defense to justify 32 minutes a game, I expect he will be an MIAA scoring champion because he is one of the most creative offensive players to come into the conference in some time. He can spot up, put the ball on the floor and take it to the basket, or put up a runner in the lane, all quite effortlessly. He's simply a natural scorer.