MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2017/augustana-senior-leader

In the article above, Grey Giovanni, Augustana coach, talks about taking a bus to Salem.  Anyone know why they wouldn't fly?

[Gregory Sager]

Augie didn't fly two years ago, either. This article strikes me as incorrect, though, in that it claims that Augie took a one-day bus ride two years ago. The team actually stopped over in Indianapolis to practice at Hinkle Fieldhouse (which, of course, is a shrine of considerable importance to midwestern hoops fans). I suppose that Augie could've done that and then got on the bus again and finished the trip to Salem without stopping, but it doesn't seem likely.

I don't pretend to have any insight into the mind of Grey Giovanine, but I can think of a few possibilities as to why Augustana's bused for both of its Salem trips:

1) Team bonding;
2) Isolate the team from the outside world;
3) Educational experience (e.g., the Hinkle tour and practice);
4) Coach is a control freak (a coach can boss around the busdriver; he can't boss around the pilot ); and
5) Less opportunity for lost luggage, an important consideration since there's no direct flights between Quad Cities International Airport and Roanoke Regional Airport.

[Mr. Ypsi]

http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2017/augustana-senior-leader

In the article above, Grey Giovanni, Augustana coach, talks about taking a bus to Salem.  Anyone know why they wouldn't fly?

The NCAA would certainly spring for a flight.  But GG likes to stop and have a practice at historic gyms on the way - in 2015 [?] they stopped at Butler's Hinkle Gym (site of the title game in Hoosiers).  Kind of a cool idea, and with luxury coaches these days, long bus rides are not that bad.  (Don't know whether or not all the players agree! )

EDIT: I see Greg beat me to the reply, but I'll post this anyway.

[Smitty Oom]

Augie didn't fly two years ago, either. This article strikes me as incorrect, though, in that it claims that Augie took a one-day bus ride two years ago. The team actually stopped over in Indianapolis to practice at Hinkle Fieldhouse (which, of course, is a shrine of considerable importance to midwestern hoops fans). I suppose that Augie could've done that and then got on the bus again and finished the trip to Salem without stopping, but it doesn't seem likely.

I don't pretend to have any insight into the mind of Grey Giovanine, but I can think of a few possibilities as to why Augustana's bused for both of its Salem trips:

1) Team bonding;
2) Isolate the team from the outside world;
3) Educational experience (e.g., the Hinkle tour and practice);
4) Coach is a control freak (a coach can boss around the busdriver; he can't boss around the pilot ); and
5) Less opportunity for lost luggage, an important consideration since there's no direct flights between Quad Cities International Airport and Roanoke Regional Airport.

I think that when the Augie kids look back on this final four experience they will remember the bus rides as the most enjoyable/memorable part of the whole trip to Salem (Of course if they win the whole dang thing, holding the Walnut and Bronze with teammates and family members may trump the bus ride). Spending quality time with their teammates for the last time of the season, and for Johnston last time of his career. The excitement/anxiousness/nerves are all off the chart in those two days prior to Salem. Unfortunately I am not speaking from experience but I bet the players will look back and thank Coach G for the bus ride and Hinkle Gym tour.

[sac]

I seem to recall some discussion a couple years ago about the NCAA travel office not being able to get Augustana to Salem on the same flights or even airports.

For instance, there are no direct flights from Quad Cities Airport to Roanoke obviously and only 3 flights from O'Hare with departure and arrival times spread over a 14 hour period.  Taking a bus may just be simplifying things.

[sac]

Interesting stat dished out during the Michigan game about Duncan Robinson and 70% of the shots he takes are 3-pointers.

Out of curiosity.
Hope's Chad Carlson finished his career attempting 459 3's and 553 shots total.  83% of the shots Carlson put up for Hope were 3-pointers.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - NCAA was going to spring for a flight (duh)... but Augustana the last two occasions hasn't liked the options presented to them (stopping points or maybe where they would finish and have to bus from... so they have bussed from Rock Island both times. Both times they have also stopped at Hinckel to practice. I don't know where they stopped last time, but they continued on to Charleston, WV the first day (10:30 am CT departure; 11:00 pm ET arrival).

[sac]

Jaylen Ross  6-1 PG   Chippewa Valley will attend Albion

[big_fella]

Truman Hillis, 6'4" forward from Caledonia, commits to Calvin

[oldknight]

I got talked into going to see tonight's quarterfinal game between Covenant Christian and Kalamazoo Christian (won by Covenant). I was mostly interested in watching Covenant's 6'5" junior, Carson Meulenberg, whose father played for Hope 20 years ago along with Joel Holstege. I'm pretty confident Carson will be a player at the D3 level and he has been quoted on mlive as saying he is looking at both Calvin and Hope. The folks on the East Beltline need to take a long look at this kid because he's already a pretty skilled player and demonstrated good hops when he went high to thunder dunk an ally-oop pass early in the game. That's not something seen very often in a Class C game. I think he's a winnable recruit for the Knights. It doesn't hurt that Carson's cousin already plays for Calvin.

[Gregory Sager]

Is this a thing, OK? Is there a documented precedent of a father playing for one Rivalry school and the son playing for the other?

The mind reels.

[oldknight]

Is this a thing, OK? Is there a documented precedent of a father playing for one Rivalry school and the son playing for the other?

The mind reels.

I'm thinking it has happened but I admit I can't come up with an example right now. I don't think there has ever been a case of a high profile player at one school having a son play for their rivalry opponent. David Meulenberg was a pretty talented player who was All-Conference as a junior but saw his senior season in Holland cut short by injury. I believe Carson is starter material, either at Calvin or Hope. In the link below the young man is labeled a "diamond in the rough" but based on one game, I saw more diamond than rough.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-8039254735476096299/covenant-christians-carson-meulenberg-a-diamond-in-the-rough-despite-breaking-foot-twice/

[sac]

Mike Phelps -- Calvin
Kyle Phelps -- Hope  (eventually)

[sac]

Caleb Hoekstra  6-1  G  East Lansing  will attend Hope


I had a chance to see East Lansing about a half dozen times over this year and last.  EL had two really fine basketball teams losing just once last year and this both in the state tournament.   Caleb was a starter on this years team and having a pretty good year until a foot injury sidelined him for the last two months of the season.

Caleb is a shooter, he'd play the 2 or small 3 at Hope but not until he improves on the defensive side of the ball probably.

[sac]

Final D3hoops.com poll  http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2016-17/final

Pretty fair I think.