MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[augie77]

Challenging news for Augustana, a possible round two opponent for Hope....

http://www.qconline.com/sports/college_sports/aching-vikings-hope-to-cure-ills-with-strong-tourney-run/article_b189f492-ae34-5967-aac2-500b6e224cb5.html#.VtnicbsUnc4.facebook

[realist]

Nice win for Alma over Denison 74-60.  Looked like a typical game for Alma with 5 guys in double figures, and they held Denison's big gun to 15 points.
Hope looks to be taking care of business at half time.  I am not buying what the writer Augie 77 quotes is trying to sell.

[oldknight]

Hope beats Mt. St. Joseph 98-87. Both teams shot well and the Flying Dutchmen gave up 54 second half points but their 22 point half time lead was too much to overcome. Super efficient game for Brock Benson who scored 31 on 13-15 from the floor while Blackledge added 17 going 6-10. Coach Mitchell really shortened his bench for this one as every starter logged at least 31 minutes. Hope used just 3 subs and only one of them (Eidson) played more than 8 minutes.

[sac]

MSJ was small even by MIAA standards.  They couldn't handle Hope on the interior at all.  Quickness and a really good day shooting kept them around.  Hope just looked so flat the entire 2nd half.    Win and advance!


They'll get Augustana Saturday unless the upset of the tournament occurs tonight against Westminster.  You would think it would be a different kind of game, not sure whats going on but Hope has not played very well on defense the last couple games.

[Gregory Sager]

MSJ was small even by MIAA standards.  They couldn't handle Hope on the interior at all.  Quickness and a really good day shooting kept them around.  Hope just looked so flat the entire 2nd half.    Win and advance!


They'll get Augustana Saturday unless the upset of the tournament all of D3 tournament history occurs tonight against Westminster.  You would think it would be a different kind of game, not sure whats going on but Hope has not played very well on defense the last couple games.

Fixed it for you.

[almcguirejr]

MSJ was small even by MIAA standards.  They couldn't handle Hope on the interior at all.  Quickness and a really good day shooting kept them around.  Hope just looked so flat the entire 2nd half.    Win and advance!


They'll get Augustana Saturday unless the upset of the tournament all of D3 tournament history occurs tonight against Westminster.  You would think it would be a different kind of game, not sure whats going on but Hope has not played very well on defense the last couple games.

Fixed it for you.

Doesn't appear to be an upset in the works tonight:

Augustana 59
Westminster 25

Halftime

(modified by GS for formatting)

[sac]

Westminster almost pulled it off losing 105-52

[sac]

Odd night to get this but Kalamazoo is getting guard Calvin Collins from Aurora Rangeview HS in Colorado for next season.

[almcguirejr]

Hope beats Mt. St. Joseph 98-87. Both teams shot well and the Flying Dutchmen gave up 54 second half points but their 22 point half time lead was too much to overcome. Super efficient game for Brock Benson who scored 31 on 13-15 from the floor while Blackledge added 17 going 6-10. Coach Mitchell really shortened his bench for this one as every starter logged at least 31 minutes. Hope used just 3 subs and only one of them (Eidson) played more than 8 minutes.

Augustana had only 1 player who played 21 minutes. Nobody else played more than 17.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

For anyone headed to Augie for the game tomorrow PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

Tickets will go on sale at 5 pm and all are general admission. Despite the defined NCAA requirements that the visiting team receive 1/3 of the tickets, Augie is selling all the tickets on a first come first served basis.  That's 5pm central time.

Tonight's game was a sellout/ oversell as there were many standing room only people there, including the teams from the first game who had no where to sit.

[pointlem]

For anyone headed to Augie for the game tomorrow PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

Tickets will go on sale at 5 pm and all are general admission. Despite the defined NCAA requirements that the visiting team receive 1/3 of the tickets, Augie is selling all the tickets on a first come first served basis.  That's 5pm central time.

Tonight's game was a sellout/ oversell as there were many standing room only people there, including the teams from the first game who had no where to sit.

Sounds like tired legs for underdog Hope (but not Augie) tonight? Hard to believe Augustana wouldn't reserve seating for the teams from the first game. Still, what a great first half last night and what great games from all the starters, esp. Brock.

[gohope]

For anyone headed to Augie for the game tomorrow PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

Tickets will go on sale at 5 pm and all are general admission. Despite the defined NCAA requirements that the visiting team receive 1/3 of the tickets, Augie is selling all the tickets on a first come first served basis.  That's 5pm central time.

Tonight's game was a sellout/ oversell as there were many standing room only people there, including the teams from the first game who had no where to sit.

So.... How can they host if they don't follow NCAA Guidelines?  Has the NCAA Rep been made aware of this?  That would be a shame if people drove that far and couldn't get in to see the game. But it sounds like that may have already happened last night.... ONLY IN DIVISION III.....   

[wiz]

Sam has the Scots fired up.  Alma is now undefeated in NCAA tournament play.
http://www.themorningsun.com/sports/20160305/one-and-not-done-alma-college-ousts-denison-in-schools-first-ncaa-tournament-game

[Flying Dutch Fan]

For anyone headed to Augie for the game tomorrow PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

Tickets will go on sale at 5 pm and all are general admission. Despite the defined NCAA requirements that the visiting team receive 1/3 of the tickets, Augie is selling all the tickets on a first come first served basis.  That's 5pm central time.

Tonight's game was a sellout/ oversell as there were many standing room only people there, including the teams from the first game who had no where to sit.

So.... How can they host if they don't follow NCAA Guidelines?  Has the NCAA Rep been made aware of this?  That would be a shame if people drove that far and couldn't get in to see the game. But it sounds like that may have already happened last night.... ONLY IN DIVISION III.....   

Rep is aware.  Not to worry though, I have complete confidence in all us fabulous Hope fans - we will just get there early and get our seats.

As far as the game itself, no doubt Augie is a significant favorite, but the pressure is all on them. Hope certainly has the ability to pull off the upset. Hope plays, Hope wins.

[gohope]

Borrowed from Titan Q (Good Stuff Titan Q, that's why I had to share!!)

#1-Augustana (27-1, 13-1 CCIW)
G - Hunter Hill, 5-9/165 Sr.   (13.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg)  1st Team all-CCIW/M.O.P.
G - Jawan Straughter, 6-0/186 Sr.  (6.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg)  3rd Team all-CCIW
G - Griffin Pils, 6-4/216 Sr.  (7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
F - Tayvian Johnson  (8.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
F - Ben Ryan, 6-5/216 Sr.  (14.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg)  1st Team all-CCIW

F - Brandon Motzel, 6-7/210 Sr.  (8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg)   2nd Team all-CCIW  *broken finger/did not play last night*
G - Dylan Sortillo, 6-3/175 So.  (6.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
G - Chrishawn Orange, 6-2/178 Fr.  (4.9 ppg)
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-4/207 Fr.  (4.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
F - Michael Hoekstra, 6-7/204 Jr.  (2.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

#9-Hope (24-3, 13-1 MIAA)
G - Chad Carlson, 5-7/155, Jr.  (6.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)
G - Dante Hawkins, 5-10/160 So.  (7.8 ppg, 3.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
G - Ben Gardner, 6-0/165 Sr.  (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg)  1st Team all-MIAA/Co-MIAADefensive Player of the Year
F - Harrison Blackledge, 6-6/210 Jr.  (12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
C - Brock Benson, 6-8/230 Sr.  (12.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, .583 FG)  2nd Team all-MIAA

F - Sam Otto, 6-3/190 Sr.  (8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
G - Alex Eidson, 6-2/190 Sr.  (6.0 ppg)
F - Cody Stuive, 6-7/185 Jr.  (4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg)


An intriguing matchup tonight in Rock Island.  A few thoughts...

* Hope is a very talented and skilled team.  My biggest question related to Hope's ability to compete tonight is whether or not they are physical enough.  The Dutchmen have not played anyone this season as tough and physical as Augustana, and I am not quite sure how they are going to deal with it.

* Hope spreads the floor out really well and has a lot of versatile players who can do a lot of good things.  The Dutchmen offense will create problems for Augie's defense. 

* Playing without starting center Brandon Motzel certainly didn't hurt Augustana against a SLIAC team, but if he is out again tonight it will hurt Augie.  Hope has a great starting 5-man in 6-8 senior Brock Benson (better than his stats indicate).  Benson is a load down low with his back to the basket.  If 6-5 Ben Ryan - who is a 4 and not a 5 - has to guard him, that's a big challenge for the Vikings.

* Keeping Benson out of foul trouble is very important for Hope. And I think that might be tough - Ben Ryan is an active, crafty guy down low and I can see Benson picking up some fouls defending him.  The Dutchmen are very thin in the post - they only bring one post off the bench, and as far as I recall, 6-7 Cody Stuive is more 4 than 5.  I think Benson has to be on the floor about 32 minutes tonight for Hope to compete. 

* Hope has to take care of the basketball (can't turn it over a bunch of times like IWU recently did) and somehow keep Augie's rebound edge within 4 or so.  If the Dutchmen turn it over 15+ times and get clobbered on the boards, Augie will have several more FGA and it's just too hard to win with that formula.

* Hope also has to shoot it well, like IWU did in the CCIW semi-final. 


If Hope plays the way they are capable of, they can give Augustana a great game and even pull off the upset.  If the Dutchmen can't handle Augie's toughness and physical play, Hope will get run out of the gym.