MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Trine loses 58-53 to Alma. Calvin in sole possession of first place.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin has clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament. They can clinch a semifinal home game with a win over Trine on Saturday. They can clinch the #1 seed* if that's coupled with a Hope loss at Alma.

*I think.

[sac]

Calvin has clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament. They can clinch a semifinal home game with a win over Trine on Saturday. They can clinch the #1 seed* if that's coupled with a Hope loss at Alma.

*I think.

Correct.  Hope can't win any tie-breakers with Trine or Calvin.

[oldknight]

Big question: Does Calvin have a large enough lead to hold on this time?

Fueled by Jordan Daley's flawless first half (20 points on 8-8 from the floor) the Knights took a 49-32 lead to the locker room causing at least one nameless observer to ask himself the same uncomfortable question. But immediately after the break the other Jordan played the best four minutes of basketball you can possibly play to squelch any thought of a letdown, scoring 11 points, assisting on the two baskets he didn't score, grabbing two boards and one steal. Brink was simply phenomenal, staked his team to an insurmountable 64-37 lead and the game was over. It was probably the most well-rounded 40 minutes of play I've seen from Calvin this season as they maintained even keeled intensity throughout and pretty much dominated every statistical category. Other game notes:

--Kalamazoo big man, Jason Hugen, is a very impressive freshman. Tough to stop when he gets the ball in the blocks and not the least bit intimidated by physical play. Definitely first team All-Conference material down the road.

--A six o'clock start didn't seem to do much to help student attendance. Every time I've been to a game at the Roller Dome the home team gets the support of at least 50-75 boisterous students who make it their mission to gain the ear of the officials and visiting team. I don't know that there were more than 10 students tonight and they were far from boisterous.

--A very strange sight the second half as an increasing number of Hope fans—awaiting the start of the women's game to follow—sat down to watch a Calvin vs Kalamazoo contest. At one point I looked around and noticed that there were more Hope fans at the men's game than Kalamazoo fans. Weird.

--Brad Visser was inserted for the first rotation of the game, went up for a shot and came down awkwardly obviously injuring his already gimpy ankle, the same one that caused him to sit for a couple of games in December. The injury didn't look good at all and I'll be amazed if he plays Saturday. I wouldn't be at all shocked if his season is over.

--Nick Kronemeyer came in to take over the minutes that otherwise would have gone to Visser and Nick did a very nice job running the team and being active around the ball, grabbing 5 rebounds in 18 minutes. He's a nice kid, but still a tough kid who plays good defense, can do some dribble penetration and won't hurt the Knights if he is required to play a significant off-the-bench role.

[HopeConvert]

The best part of the Hope game tonight is the sense that maybe Eidson turned it around and got a much needed boost of confidence. His shot looked good tonight, and he even threw down a two-handed slam. I didn't know he had that in him.

[goodknight]

The best part of the Hope game tonight is the sense that maybe Eidson turned it around and got a much needed boost of confidence. His shot looked good tonight, and he even threw down a two-handed slam. I didn't know he had that in him.

Perhaps he's been inspired by the Bryan Powell highlight-reel windmill dunk against the Dutchmen a couple of seasons ago? 

[Happy Calvin Guy]

In contrast to the student attendance decline noted for Hope and Kzoo (as much as I hate to admit it, I miss the Dew Crew), it seems like some excitement is brewing at Alma. One couldn't quite tell since the camera angle is shot from behind the student section, but on the game video last night it seemed that the students were well represented, and were standing and making quite a bit of noise down the stretch of their victory over Trine. It should be noted that Alma is undefeated in conference play at home (5-0) and hasn't lost at the Art Smith Arena since their December 13 matchup vs Wheaton. Here's hoping that they are out in force again to share some love with the Dutchmen this Valentine's night.

[kzoo99]

Big question: Does Calvin have a large enough lead to hold on this time?

Fueled by Jordan Daley's flawless first half (20 points on 8-8 from the floor) the Knights took a 49-32 lead to the locker room causing at least one nameless observer to ask himself the same uncomfortable question. But immediately after the break the other Jordan played the best four minutes of basketball you can possibly play to squelch any thought of a letdown, scoring 11 points, assisting on the two baskets he didn't score, grabbing two boards and one steal. Brink was simply phenomenal, staked his team to an insurmountable 64-37 lead and the game was over. It was probably the most well-rounded 40 minutes of play I've seen from Calvin this season as they maintained even keeled intensity throughout and pretty much dominated every statistical category. Other game notes:

--Kalamazoo big man, Jason Hugen, is a very impressive freshman. Tough to stop when he gets the ball in the blocks and not the least bit intimidated by physical play. Definitely first team All-Conference material down the road.

--A six o'clock start didn't seem to do much to help student attendance. Every time I've been to a game at the Roller Dome the home team gets the support of at least 50-75 boisterous students who make it their mission to gain the ear of the officials and visiting team. I don't know that there were more than 10 students tonight and they were far from boisterous.

--A very strange sight the second half as an increasing number of Hope fans—awaiting the start of the women's game to follow—sat down to watch a Calvin vs Kalamazoo contest. At one point I looked around and noticed that there were more Hope fans at the men's game than Kalamazoo fans. Weird.

--Brad Visser was inserted for the first rotation of the game, went up for a shot and came down awkwardly obviously injuring his already gimpy ankle, the same one that caused him to sit for a couple of games in December. The injury didn't look good at all and I'll be amazed if he plays Saturday. I wouldn't be at all shocked if his season is over.

--Nick Kronemeyer came in to take over the minutes that otherwise would have gone to Visser and Nick did a very nice job running the team and being active around the ball, grabbing 5 rebounds in 18 minutes. He's a nice kid, but still a tough kid who plays good defense, can do some dribble penetration and won't hurt the Knights if he is required to play a significant off-the-bench role.

I always appreciate the thorough posts that many contribute to the board.  This is the first year that I have followed the MIAA (my screen name is a bit of a misnomer - I didnt graduate from Kzoo and the year makes me look younger than I am ).  The information here has helped a lot while watching the games.  From a Kalamazoo perspective, their academic calendar works against them at times.  Their semester ends in mid march and this week is one of the harder weeks for the student with mid-terms, etc.  Also - the six week break they have between Thanksgiving and the new year make attendance non existant prior to the conference schedule.   A team that has lost several games in a row does not help attendance either.   The attendance for the Alumni game last week was pretty good.  I hope that as the team improves this will be more the norm.

I do have some optimism about the next few years for the team.  My lack of experience with this conference may show me that my optimism is misplaced but Coach Dougal is leaning more on the younger players and I think they have a core group of Freshmen and Sophomores that are playing better as the season progresses. 

As a few have commented, their bigs (Josh Miller - So and Jason Hugan - Fr) are more than just solid.  They have shoot guards and some size at the three.  What they really need is a point guard and perimeter defense.  Hopefully these can be addressed moving forward. 

[sac]

+1 or road win, -1 for home loss
Calvin   9-2    +3
Hope     8-3    +3
Trine     8-3    +2
Alma     6-5    +1
Adrian   5-6    -1
Albion   4-7    -1
Olivet    2-9    -3
Kzoo     2-9    -4

Remaining games:
Adrian:     Kzoo, @Alma, @Hope
Albion:     @Olivet, Trine, Calvin
Alma:       Hope, Adrian, @Kzoo
Calvin:     Trine, @Olivet, @Albion
Hope:      @Alma, Kzoo, Adrian
Kzoo:       @Adrian, @Hope, Alma
Olivet:      Calvin, @Albion, @Trine
Trine:        @Calvin, @Albion, Olivet

Saturday:
Albion at Olivet 3pm
Kzoo at Adrian 3pm
Trine at Calvin 3pm
Hope at Alma 8pm

Last night's results (Alma and Albion winning) made the tie-breakers very complicated for the 4th seed and are dependent on future results.  Basically unless Alma wins Saturday vs Hope and next Wed vs Adrian, or Albion loses Sat or Wed,  the 4th seed will likely be decided on the last game day.  Albion is eliminated with its next loss

Alma can still get the 3rd seed believe it or not, if they win out and tie with Trine I think we would need a coin toss, unless Trine's 5th loss came to Olivet, then Alma would win that tie-break.

At the top
Also dependent on future results esp. Trine at Calvin.  All that is certain is Hope can't win any tie-break with Calvin, Trine or Alma.

Just to point out how crazy this all is yet, its still possible for Hope to have to play a semi-final game at Alma or for Hope to miss the tournament entirely and still possible for Hope to win the league outright.  Its also still possible for Alma to win a share of the league.


If the tournament were today
Hope at Trine
Alma at Calvin

[KnightSlappy]

Last night's results (Alma and Albion winning) made the tie-breakers very complicated for the 4th seed and are dependent on future results.  Basically unless Alma wins Saturday vs Hope and next Wed vs Adrian, or Albion loses Sat or Wed,  the 4th seed will likely be decided on the last game day.  Albion is eliminated with its next loss

Actually, aren't the tiebreakers for the fourth seed simply:

1. Head-to-head
2. Play-in game

I thought when they went to the four-team tournament that they didn't want a team to be eliminated based on results vs. common opponents. So two teams who finish tied for fourth (who also split the season series) would play a tiebreak game.

I do remember that there was some potential weirdness if three teams ended up tied for 4th.

[sac]

Last night's results (Alma and Albion winning) made the tie-breakers very complicated for the 4th seed and are dependent on future results.  Basically unless Alma wins Saturday vs Hope and next Wed vs Adrian, or Albion loses Sat or Wed,  the 4th seed will likely be decided on the last game day.  Albion is eliminated with its next loss

Actually, aren't the tiebreakers for the fourth seed simply:

1. Head-to-head
2. Play-in game

I thought when they went to the four-team tournament that they didn't want a team to be eliminated based on results vs. common opponents. So two teams who finish tied for fourth (who also split the season series) would play a tiebreak game.

I do remember that there was some potential weirdness if three teams ended up tied for 4th.

I believe the play-in game is correct, but with Albion still hanging around future results would determine how a 3 way tie is broken into 2 teams.

If Alma beats Adrian---all even so I assume this gets broken using head-to-heads top down, which would require the Adrian at Hope result and Calvin at Albion result.
Alma would be 2-2
Adrian would be 2-2
Albion would be 2-2

If Adrian beat Alma
Alma would be 1-3
Adrian would 3-1
Albion would be 2-2

Its even still possible for Hope to be part of a 3 way 4th place tie I think.

There are many other scenarios, it will be easier after this weekend probably.

[maroonandgold]

Calvin has clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament. They can clinch a semifinal home game with a win over Trine on Saturday. They can clinch the #1 seed* if that's coupled with a Hope loss at Alma.

*I think.

Correct.  Hope can't win any tie-breakers with Trine or Calvin.

While would Hope be unable to win any tie-breakers with Trine when the two teams split their games against each other?  Is that somehow related to Hope's 2 losses to Calvin?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Most conferences start with the head-to-head and then go to the results versus other teams starting at the top most team available. If that is the case in the MIAA, then Hope losing twice to Calvin will do them in (assuming Calvin is the next team up or the only one that has a difference for Hope and Trine).

[sac]

The MIAA record for team FT% in a league season is 80.2% set by Kalamazoo in 1990-91.


With 3 games to go........

FREE THROW PERCENTAGES
# Team                  G    FTM   FTA   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1.Trine University.... 11    190   221  .860
2.Hope College........ 11    200   249 .803



For a league season career at the line...
The MIAA record for FT% is 89.8% by Hope's Eric Elliot from 87-91

With 3 games to play Jordan Brink is 149-162 for 92%   

[arena]

What are the chances of Satuday's Calvin/Trine game being postponed due to the weather?