MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Bradfield was good for over 2 blocks per game, 4th best rebounder on a mostly weak rebounding team and a 6-8 stretch player that you had to account for around the 3pt arc.  Felt like he was close to making a big leap in his game last Spring, very tough loss for the Scots.

[GreatScot!?]

Some sad news from the land of the Scots. Doug Bradfield will miss the season after getting his MRI results back and having serious knee damage. Praying for his recovery that he'll take this in stride and bounce back next year. On the bright side, Kevin Gamble is only out for the next few weeks with a knee injury also, there was some talk of him missing substantial time as well. Obviously this is going to hurt Alma's depth, but it will help to have one playing instead of them both out. Out of the top 8 rotation players from last year the Scots are down to 4 returning. If you look at the top 11 from last year that number is at 4 also. Will be interesting to see how the Scots respond to this, but I have only seen positive things from the new guys so far.

Ouch. That's a really bad break for him and the Scots. About the only thing I hate about competitive sports is the injuries. Sam Hargraves now has an enormous task ahead of him: How do you replace 47 of last season's 80 point per game, and who now fills the over 50% of last season's now missing minutes? The four departed players from last season were--in my estimation--the four best, most important ones on Alma's very excellent 2015-16 squad. Quite frankly, it's impossible for Alma to replace them, and while I think Hope is the conference favorite, Calvin is very much in the mix of teams for the second spot.

It will be very hard, but I think that we will see bigger roles for Fairchild, Edwards and Gernaat plus there are going to be a few contributing freshmen on this years squad. There will be another opportunity tonight for the Scots to showcase their new team with a scrimmage against Aquinas tonight at 7, and I find it funny that you still somehow found a way to mention Calvin...

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Going to watching my second Hope scrimmage/exhibition tonight.  Last week at IU was a great experience, but looking forward tonight to seeing them play against a more evenly matched opponent - U of Chicago.

[KnightSlappy]

MIAA Preseason Poll is out:

http://www.miaa.org/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/2016PreseasonPoll

1. Hope
2. Alma
3. Trine
4. Albion
5. Calvin
6. Kalamazoo
7. Adrian
8. Olivet

[oldknight]

MIAA Preseason Poll is out:

http://www.miaa.org/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/2016PreseasonPoll

1. Hope
2. Alma
3. Trine
4. Albion
5. Calvin
6. Kalamazoo
7. Adrian
8. Olivet

A couple of quick thoughts on this poll:

1) At this point I don't see any meaningful difference between the teams slotted 2-5. You could roll the dice with their order I think.
2) Besides Greg Mitchell (who had to vote for someone other than Hope) who the Sam Hill gave a first place vote to Alma? The Scots finished in second place last season with a far more talented and experienced squad.

[shknowsbest]

Sorry to hear about almas injuries, look like they had a tough one versus aquinas, on a positive note, the freshman pg looks very good.  Anybody go to the Hope game?  any reports.

[sac]

First session:   Hope 50  Chicago 27  ---Hope's starting 5 was exceptionally good,  Hawkins, Blackledge reached double-digits, Carlson and Brushwyler were close.  Chicago shoots a lot of 3's and they missed a bunch, score probably a little wonky because of that.

Second seession:  Chicago 47  Hope 41  --Hope mixed its lineups around with 2 or 3 starters on the floor most of the time, but never the full 5 (Blackledge, Stuive, Ray, Hawkins, Carlson).   UC played much better this session and led 12-2, Hope came right back to tie at 14.   Hope had it within 2 or 3 late, Chicago shot a lot of Ft's

Third session:  Hope 25, Chicago 24  --running clock, composed of the end of both teams benches.  Nothing significant of note.


They tracked team fouls but not individual, I think Hope would have had a couple guys in foul trouble had they done so as would Chicago.   Didn't see anything to change my thinking that Hope goes as far as their bench develops.  Really inexperienced once you get to #7, 8 and 9 off the bench but all those guys can play, its just getting them game time.   

1. Hope

This is probably fair but not a slam dunk by any means.

[HOPEful]

MIAA Preseason Poll is out:
2. Alma
3. Trine
4. Albion
5. Calvin
6. Kalamazoo

1) At this point I don't see any meaningful difference between the teams slotted 2-5. You could roll the dice with their order I think....

This may true for Alma without Bradfield. Still, freshman Ryan Stevens scored 15 against Aquinas...  If he can keep that kind of play up, I still think the trio of Gernaat, Stevens, and Fairchild is scarier than any other I can think of in the MIAA outside of Holland.

I'd also stick Kalamazoo in that bunch and make it 2-6. Returning vitually everyone, including Baysdell. At this point, I don't know if I'd take  Baysdell, Miller, Dickerson, Cerven, and Dykema or Wilks, Denney, Bykerk, Trewhella, and Canonie. The two teams split last season, and the loss of Daley hurts more than the loss of Schwartz and Oravetz.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

MIAA Preseason Poll is out:
2. Alma
3. Trine
4. Albion
5. Calvin
6. Kalamazoo

1) At this point I don't see any meaningful difference between the teams slotted 2-5. You could roll the dice with their order I think....

This may true for Alma without Bradfield. Still, freshman Ryan Stevens scored 15 against Aquinas...  If he can keep that kind of play up, I still think the trio of Gernaat, Stevens, and Fairchild is scarier than any other I can think of in the MIAA outside of Holland.

I'd also stick Kalamazoo in that bunch and make it 2-6. Returning vitually everyone, including Baysdell. At this point, I don't know if I'd take  Baysdell, Miller, Dickerson, Cerven, and Dykema or Wilks, Denney, Bykerk, Trewhella, and Canonie. The two teams split last season, and the loss of Daley hurts more than the loss of Schwartz and Oravetz.

Yes, but from a team that went 3-22 for the season and 2-12 in the MIAA.  Having experienced players is a definite plus, but expecting that team to be in the mix of qualifying for the MIAA tournament is a real stretch in my opinion.  Now maybe the Hornets will prove me wrong.

[sac]

Kalamazoo took Alma to overtime, pushed them the 2nd time, pushed Hope to the brink and beat Calvin.  There's something to work with there and Jay Smith is a definite upgrade in coaching experience and probably acumen (no offense to Dougal intended)

I said as much last Spring its not totally inconceivable Kzoo is challenging for one of the tournament spots.  It is a big jump though

[HOPEful]

Yes, but from a team that went 3-22 for the season and 2-12 in the MIAA.  Having experienced players is a definite plus, but expecting that team to be in the mix of qualifying for the MIAA tournament is a real stretch in my opinion.  Now maybe the Hornets will prove me wrong.

With so many unknowns, I think the best way to assess the MIAA today would be asking "what do i know?" With that in mind, my vote would go...

1. Hope - I know that consistent production will come from the starting 5. Depth after that is an uncertainty, but if they can get consistent minutes from Towns/McGivney, they may actually prove to be deeper than last years team.

2. Trine - I think right now I trust Dixon, Dodson, and Cummings more than Gernaat, Fairchild, and Gamble. Alma's probably the deeper team, but Will Dixon is too good and I've watched him torch too many defenses for too many years now...

3. Alma - The loss of Nikodemski, both Beckmans, and now Bradford. I think we may be understating how important Nikodemski was to this offense last season.

4. Albion - Jaylin Fordham will be a special player and freshman Aquavius Burks could be as well. Burks is coming off a State Championship at Flint Beecher, where he led the team in minutes and dropped a game high 22 points in the semis against Detroit Loyola. They're both still very young though to put any higher than 4.

5. Kalamazoo - I think the choice here between calvin and Kzoo is a toss up. And right now today, isn't Baysdell the best player on either team?

6. Calvin - Could they be 2 or even 1 when it's all said and done? Sure. but it would require multiple guards stepping up and taking a big leap in their progression as players, much more consistency from Denney, and the combination of Bykerk, Welch and Wilks becoming a dominant force inside...

7. Adrian

8. Olivet - sincerely questioning if Olivet will win a single conference game this season.

[sac]

Adrian roster:    http://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2016-17/roster

Most important name on that roster is DaVonte Harris, someone no one in the MIAA faced last year.  Two notable things, 5 players who were not on last years team and at least at this point no Freshmen.

Adrian plays at Detroit tonight.



Upcoming Exhibition Games:

Nov 11  Adrian at Detroit  7pm

Nov 12  Lawrence Tech at Calvin 3pm

[KnightSlappy]

2. Trine - I think right now I trust Dixon, Dodson, and Cummings more than Gernaat, Fairchild, and Gamble. Alma's probably the deeper team, but Will Dixon is too good and I've watched him torch too many defenses for too many years now...

Will Dixon shot the ball 15 times per game last year. I'd like to see him try to get that above 20 this year.

[HOPEful]

2. Trine - I think right now I trust Dixon, Dodson, and Cummings more than Gernaat, Fairchild, and Gamble. Alma's probably the deeper team, but Will Dixon is too good and I've watched him torch too many defenses for too many years now...

Will Dixon shot the ball 15 times per game last year. I'd like to see him try to get that above 20 this year.

I think you can expect as much without Holmquist...

[TUAngola]

2. Trine - I think right now I trust Dixon, Dodson, and Cummings more than Gernaat, Fairchild, and Gamble. Alma's probably the deeper team, but Will Dixon is too good and I've watched him torch too many defenses for too many years now...

Will Dixon shot the ball 15 times per game last year. I'd like to see him try to get that above 20 this year.

I think you can expect as much without Holmquist...

I think 2nd or 3rd is a little high for Trine in the conference this year, although we do have 2 guys that can really fill it up in Dixon and Dodson.  However, only 4 guys return who saw significant action last year, in addition to Dixon and Dodson you have Kreglow who will most likely start at the point and Cummings at center.  The bench this year is filled with either guys who only saw mop up duty last year or newcomers.  This will be the least experienced team at Trine in some time.  I am hoping Ciszewski can help, he played some early, but once MIAA play started he was buried on the bench.  Copeland, the transfer from Siena Heights, has to help immediately.  Dishop has the size we need but was injured most of last year.  A couple of the freshmen are going to have to jump in and help out from the get go. Coach Miller never plays a ton of guys.  I think pre-MIAA will be a learning curve of who can help us out this year and who can't.  By the time conference play begins you know Coach will be probably be down to an 8 guy rotation at best. 

It will be weird not having Jared on the floor this year after watching him develop over the past 4 years, guys like him come along very infrequently.  It is a HUGE void to fill.  Trine gets going next Tuesday night at Hershey Hall against Defiance who is the defending HCAC conference champions.  It will be interesting to see how the team adapts to not having the big guy on the court anymore.