MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

TUAngola:

Thanks for the information.  That will be a great facility.  Quick question...is Trine planning on eventually having their men's ice hockey team compete at the NCAA Div III level or are the plans to have an NCAA team and keep the ACHA club collegiate team as well like Adrian does for their programs?  I would like to see Hope and Calvin eventually have their hockey teams become NCAA affiliated, however, they would need to compensate with some sport for the women with regard to the Title IX issues.  Unfortunately, I don't see that happening for a long time (if ever-I shouldn't say never because who knows what might happen in future years).

sac:
Thanks for the basketball info as well regarding the exhibition games.  It is interesting to see because some of those schools who are listed as exhibitions for the other MIAA schools are actually counted as regular non-conference games for Hope as they have been for years.  In that regard, do you know how the school's decide on if a game will be an exhibition or counted as a regular season game?  I realize that for the DI schools who have done this, sometimes those have counted as regular season games, other times not, which obviously depends on how they desire to fill the allowed number of total regular season contests for the year .  For example, in past recent years, the Hope/Western Michigan game and an Albion/Eastern Michigan game counted as full regular games instead of exhibitions (even a Wheaton/Northwestern game several years ago counted as I recall-one in which Wheaton almost upset the Wildcats as it went down to the buzzer as I recall; and many, many years ago before that, Adrian/U of Detroit). 

On the other hand, in recent years, most of the DI schools who schedule DIII or DII schools at the beginning of the season, have scheduled them as exhibitions only (i.e. Michigan State versus Northern Michigan, Grand Valley; the Franklin/Indiana game, Central Michigan/Manchester, etc., etc.).  I do not follow basketball as much compared to you and the others here, nonetheless, was curious as to what you know about this process.  Thanks (Pat probably knows information about this as well)

[shknowsbest]

I heard Calvin had between 35-40 trying out for basketball.  Any news about tryouts from the other miaa schools?

[ziggy]

TUAngola:

Thanks for the information.  That will be a great facility.  Quick question...is Trine planning on eventually having their men's ice hockey team compete at the NCAA Div III level or are the plans to have an NCAA team and keep the ACHA club collegiate team as well like Adrian does for their programs?  I would like to see Hope and Calvin eventually have their hockey teams become NCAA affiliated, however, they would need to compensate with some sport for the women with regard to the Title IX issues.  Unfortunately, I don't see that happening for a long time (if ever-I shouldn't say never because who knows what might happen in future years).

I would think the path would be clearer for Calvin given the lack of a football program. They currently have ten NCAA varsity teams for women and nine for men. However, I don't see one of Hope/Calvin moving forward with something like this without the other. Ultimately they may compete for players and resources, at least on some level, but I think they are always stronger together and I have a hard time seeing one going as a lone wolf.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Roster posted thus far:

Alma:     http://almascots.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Kalamazoo:     http://hornets.kzoo.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Olivet:   http://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Trine:     http://www.trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

[TUAngola]

TUAngola:

Thanks for the information.  That will be a great facility.  Quick question...is Trine planning on eventually having their men's ice hockey team compete at the NCAA Div III level or are the plans to have an NCAA team and keep the ACHA club collegiate team as well like Adrian does for their programs?  I would like to see Hope and Calvin eventually have their hockey teams become NCAA affiliated, however, they would need to compensate with some sport for the women with regard to the Title IX issues.  Unfortunately, I don't see that happening for a long time (if ever-I shouldn't say never because who knows what might happen in future years).

Trine plans on having both an ACHA team and a NCAA DIII team for the men so I believe it is patterned off of what Adrian does with their programs. 

[calvinite]

I heard Calvin had between 35-40 trying out for basketball.  Any news about tryouts from the other miaa schools?

What is the largest number of freshmen to make a Kevin VandeStreek Calvin College varsity team? I'm thinking he might come close to that this year or even match it.

[shknowsbest]

I heard 4 freshman made the varsity and will split time at jv/varsity.   

[sflzman]

Alma's roster is posted. Nothing surprising.

http://almascots.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Trine's is up as well. Shae Somers is the only freshman on their roster I've seen play. Very skilled and athletic guard. Very small though. No way he's actually 6-0.

http://trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Kalamazoo's features three freshmen. Don't know anything about any of them personally either.

http://hornets.kzoo.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

[sac]

Hope's rosters

Varsity:  http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

JV:   http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/jvroster

[TUAngola]

Alma's roster is posted. Nothing surprising.

http://almascots.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Trine's is up as well. Shae Somers is the only freshman on their roster I've seen play. Very skilled and athletic guard. Very small though. No way he's actually 6-0.

http://trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Kalamazoo's features three freshmen. Don't know anything about any of them personally either.

http://hornets.kzoo.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Very guard heavy at Trine for 2016-17, but that's the norm.  Lots of newcomers of which McClain, Herrington and Johnson should get into the rotation at Guard or Wing.  Copeland is a transfer from Siena Heights who should see time as well, hoping he can rebound as we need it.    One name I am not seeing on the roster this year that disappoints me is Austin Woolett.  I thought he would develop into a pretty good big for Trine from what I saw of him as a Freshman last year.  Also, Joel Zwiers is not back either, he had an injury plagued Sophomore season and never really got into the rotation at all.

My predicted starting 5:  Dixon, Kreglow, and Dodson at G and Cummings at C.  A newcomer at F, possibly Copeland.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin's roster has been posted as well:

http://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

As oldknight mentioned in the offseason, Austin Bykerk has transferred from Dordt. He played in 31 games last year and started 18.

Gone from the roster are Nick Goeglein, Seth Van Engen, and Jacob Ray. I thought I spotted Ray working out with the JV squad last night as I happened by the gym, which would be strange.

16 players on the varsity again for Calvin which was a new thing last year. Probably means the freshmen are indeed splitting time with the JV and not expected to make an immediate impact.

[maroonandgold]

Calvin's roster has been posted as well:

http://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

As oldknight mentioned in the offseason, Austin Bykerk has transferred from Dordt. He played in 31 games last year and started 18.

Gone from the roster are Nick Goeglein and Jacob Ray.

I like the balance of players at the various positions, and heights and between the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes.  Although there are only 2 seniors, the number of underclassmen looks good for the future.  But it is especially good to see a number of hopefully skilled players and experience at every position because there have been recent years in which the strength was all settled in the forward and center positions and the team had to struggle, often using natural forwards at shooting guard and then, more recently were stronger at the guard positions and had to use natural guards to fill the shooting forward position.  This balance definitely appears better. 

It is interesting that in recent years there appears to be a much better amount of height around the league.  At one time is seemed to me that only Hope and Calvin seemed to be acquiring taller players.  In this years team list, I think there are other teams that have as much or even more height.

[KnightSlappy]

Ok, JV roster is posted now. I must've caught a live update!

http://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/files/JVMBB17.pdf

Jacob Ray is indeed on the JV roster. None of the Varsity freshmen are listed, they're often added after a month or so once KVS has worked out his rotation.

[oldknight]

Calvin's roster has been posted as well:

http://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

As oldknight mentioned in the offseason, Austin Bykerk has transferred from Dordt. He played in 31 games last year and started 18.

Gone from the roster are Nick Goeglein, Seth Van Engen, and Jacob Ray. I thought I spotted Ray working out with the JV squad last night as I happened by the gym, which would be strange.

16 players on the varsity again for Calvin which was a new thing last year. Probably means the freshmen are indeed splitting time with the JV and not expected to make an immediate impact.

Ok, JV roster is posted now. I must've caught a live update!

http://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/files/JVMBB17.pdf

Jacob Ray is indeed on the JV roster. None of the Varsity freshmen are listed, they're often added after a month or so once KVS has worked out his rotation.

I believe Bykerk will have an immediate impact and wouldn't be surprised if he starts from day 1. I was interested to see Alex Bos on the JV roster. I saw him play for GR Christian two seasons ago but he first went to Davenport to play football. He's a talented athlete and a hardworking kid who has potential as a varsity player down the road. Sadly, Mitch Takens (Unity Christian) chose not to go out. A pity as he had the perfect game for D3 basketball.

[HOPEful]

Hope's rosters
Varsity:  http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster
JV:   http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/jvroster

Freshman Riley Lewis and Sophomores Pete Smith and Teddy Ray... I think all three will get a shot to play, and I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them is starting by the end of the season.

Sophomore Robert McGivney made the team... What do we expect from him? Is he still a work in progress but fills a dire depth need being 6'6" and 210?

I'm excited to see Teddy Ray play. The potential to stretch the floor with him and Cody could be fun to watch. With also having some guards who can take it to the hoop, it would be nice to dish it to Harrison and Keith naturally  instead of having to force it so much.