MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[KnightSlappy]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

[devossed]

We had 5 freshman play heavy minutes and ended up 4th, not sure how high school seniors would do better...

I guess the difference would be that those kids are at Alma, where as most of these high school players will go D1 or D2. 

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I was able to watch this team play a few times this year when Calvin or Hope were not playing (have a good friend whose son is on the team). Really, they only have 2 players of said legit D1 caliber, which should disqualify the premise immediately (rather than "most" of their team), but I'll bite and play along in this game.

Now both of these young men happened to strike me as a bit "disinterested" in competing with intensity the times I did watch, not to mention not really appearing to pay too close of attention to coach instructions during timeouts. This lack of focus might not even get them past the quarterfinals next week, IF they even make it past a once-in-a-generation Holland West Ottawa squad in regionals, one with a more clear understanding of the "team" concept - and albeit one with maybe 4 "lesser" GLIAC-WHAC-MIAA caliber players.

Now catch them engaged on the right night (like the near quadruple double early in the season) or with the right matchups (like NOT a Kalamazoo Hornets squad with big beef that will draw them into early and often foul trouble), and hypothetically I'd buy winning 2-3 games in the bottom tier, over the course of a full 14-game slate.

But they would be no match for the Calvins, Trines, Almas, or Hopes of the world - with their superior depth and guard play (not to mention better free throw shooters).

Yes - ludicrous indeed!!

[knight4life]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

I would tend to agree with you YK14. In the weak MIAA this year, I think they are pushing for that 4th spot. Keep in mind that they won a lot of their games by 30+ points and hence could make the kids on the team more disinterested when they played them the second time. They have two legitimate Power 5 level kids on their team and two that are MAC players.

I would be very interested to see how they would compete in the MIAA.

[realist]

Very nice to see a MIAA player win the men's Jostens award for the first time.  Mr. Blackledge did have a nice career at Hope, and seems like he will do quite well in the future.

[sac]

Congratulations Harrison Blackledge what a great honor

http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/2017/releases/031417-jostens-winners?preview=true
http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314iv1c5z

[GoKnights68]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

Have you seen them play this year at all?    I disagree with some of Devossed's  assessments , especially the one jab about lack of "team" concept if I am reading that post right.  I would say that is a huge strength of the team in they play selfless basketball on a consistent basis. 

...to make this more on topic, I think Emmett Warners from GRC could be a very nice 4 year varsity player at Calvin.  Seems to have the size and all the tools to be a successful player at Calvin.



On another side note, I do realize we're getting off-topic here ...too bad mlive didn't pull all their forums from their site. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congratulations Harrison Blackledge what a great honor

http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/2017/releases/031417-jostens-winners?preview=true
http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314iv1c5z

Great honor and well deserved indeed!!!

[almcguirejr]

NAIA Championship game:

Union(KY) 72 - Cornerstone 69

[Smitty Oom]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I have wondered this many times. I feel like if the HS team has a very good D1 recruit or multiple D2/D1 players it could very well compete in a d3 league. For example, in the past Hopkins HS in MN has had some VERY good athletes play basketball and I believe some teams would win the MIAC. Bball is a game about stars, and if the HS team has the best player anything is possible.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I have wondered this many times. I feel like if the HS team has a very good D1 recruit or multiple D2/D1 players it could very well compete in a d3 league. For example, in the past Hopkins HS in MN has had some VERY good athletes play basketball and I believe some teams would win the MIAC. Bball is a game about stars, and if the HS team has the best player anything is possible.

You gotta be deep, though.  One great player won't really help, especially if they're high school guys.  Not many 17 year olds can compete with 22 year olds regularly.  You'd need several guys who were better than d3 level, plus some, at least d3 guys, out to maybe 8th or 9th place on the roster.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I have wondered this many times. I feel like if the HS team has a very good D1 recruit or multiple D2/D1 players it could very well compete in a d3 league. For example, in the past Hopkins HS in MN has had some VERY good athletes play basketball and I believe some teams would win the MIAC. Bball is a game about stars, and if the HS team has the best player anything is possible.

To an extent.  Even Jordan couldn't win a title until he got Pippin and an adequate supporting cast.  It may be about stars, but is still a TEAM game.  In football, I doubt even a D1-recruit dominated HS team could beat a good D3 team (too much 'men against boys'), but in basketball, maybe.

[bballfan13]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I have wondered this many times. I feel like if the HS team has a very good D1 recruit or multiple D2/D1 players it could very well compete in a d3 league. For example, in the past Hopkins HS in MN has had some VERY good athletes play basketball and I believe some teams would win the MIAC. Bball is a game about stars, and if the HS team has the best player anything is possible.

To an extent.  Even Jordan couldn't win a title until he got Pippin and an adequate supporting cast.  It may be about stars, but is still a TEAM game.  In football, I doubt even a D1-recruit dominated HS team could beat a good D3 team (too much 'men against boys'), but in basketball, maybe.

We should just ask LaVar Ball if he would suit up with his 3 sons and play a man down.  I'm thinking he would say they would win the D3 title shorthanded    I mean, if he can beat Jordan 1 on 1....

Not trying to take away from his sons - they are quite good.

[Smitty Oom]

I am just going to throw this out there, I think Grand Rapids Christian HS could win at least 10 games in the MIAA this season, maybe even win it.  Feel free to laugh at this and call it insane or impossible, but I don't think it is as crazy as it sounds.

This is indeed insane. 

I have wondered this many times. I feel like if the HS team has a very good D1 recruit or multiple D2/D1 players it could very well compete in a d3 league. For example, in the past Hopkins HS in MN has had some VERY good athletes play basketball and I believe some teams would win the MIAC. Bball is a game about stars, and if the HS team has the best player anything is possible.

You gotta be deep, though.  One great player won't really help, especially if they're high school guys.  Not many 17 year olds can compete with 22 year olds regularly.  You'd need several guys who were better than d3 level, plus some, at least d3 guys, out to maybe 8th or 9th place on the roster.

I am not saying all HS teams with a D1 guy will beat a good d3 team, just to be clear. But, if you have a one-and-done type of player on a team he may be able to dominate, but yes you would need more help. I can think of a couple MN HS teams that have had 3-5 collegiate bball players in the same class, always wondered how they would stack up. I think that the HS team definitely COULD win, but a lot can happen in a game. Probably side with the D3 team in majority of those matchups.

Along the same lines, my teammates and I used to talk about what the lowest level NBA player could take a middle of the pack D3 team to Salem. For example, to make this applicable, could kentavious caldwell pope lead Olivet to Salem this year?

[Pat Coleman]

One thing to remember is that it's a 40-minute game up here.

[sac]

One thing to remember is that it's a 40-minute game up here.

Conditioning is certainly one of many things Freshmen in college struggle with, longer season, more physical and in most cases quicker even at this level.