MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[goodknight]

Interesting story about the DIII Player of the Decade (the 90's), and his upset of former Fab Fiver, Chris Webber. Tip of the cap to goodknight for noting this for me:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2017/11/05/steve-hondered-calvin-college-fab-five-chris-webber-after-the-magic/827671001/

The piece was written by Jeff Seidel, longtime Free Presser who began his journalistic career in the Lakeshore Bureau of the Grand Rapids Press, primarily covering sports.

[calvin_grad]

Playing the role of a good guest, Calvin managed to make a rather middlin' Trinity Christian team look good. In the only other good news of the afternoon, Michael Wilks can still score, finishing the night with 23.

Calvin lost the game in the first half, and was honestly lucky to only be down 13 at the break. After a decent opening 5 minutes of the game, the Knights looked truly horrific the balance of the half, committing a mindboggling 13 turnovers the first 20 minutes. The majority of the miscues occurred the last 5+ minutes when Calvin looked like a team that had not yet started practice. I don't think anyone other than Wilks scored a point for Calvin the last 12 minutes of the first half. Tony DeWitte had a miserable game and was benched for Amoros the second frame, even though Carlos had done nothing to distinguish himself. The second 20 minutes, Wilks finally found a second player to help score, as Derrick DeVries--held scoreless the first half--put up 10 points in the second, hitting a couple of big baskets to help close the gap. Calvin tied the game a couple of times in the closing minutes but never led. If Wilks could have managed to drop his wide-open, step-in three pointer when the game was tied at 60, the final minutes would likely have played out very differently. But alas, it just wouldn't go down. Other game notes:

--Calvin's miserable shooting from the arc continues, as they hit only 6-27 in Palos Heights. After two games, the Knights are 10-55 on threes. Yikes!

--After a poor shooting first half, DeVries managed to finish the game with a double-double, getting 10 points and 13 boards.

--Interesting to see that of the two Morrison brothers, the freshman (Luke) got more minutes than his older brother (Tom) for the second straight game. While Luke didn't shoot all that well (1-5) he definitely didn't look lost out there and I'm thinking he might wind up in the first rotation all season.

--I had been told that Austin Bykerk had bulked up in the off-season and that is most definitely true. He looks 15-20 pounds heavier than last year.

--I was surprised to see Wilks get pulled with just over a minute left and Morrison making two free throws to cut the Trinity lead one point. Seemed like a strange time to pull the man who is easily your best scorer so I'm wondering if he got injured.

--Calvin isn't a very good defensive team.

Fixed it for you.

[sac]

Anyone know anything about Alma's exhibition with Northern Michigan last night.  I'm curious about how it went.

With wicked head winds across the UP we don't expect the dogsled teams to reach St. Ignace before midnight tonight.  Any news should make it South by morning light.


Also it was just a scrimmage and Northern Michigan put out a press release with this extremely offensive misspelling...

"The Alma Scotts are an NCAA Division III school from Alma, Michigan. " 
http://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171030o6bml9

[sac]

Western Michigan 87  Kalamazoo 61
http://www.wmubroncos.com/boxscore.aspx?id=7863&path=mbball

Purely by memory thats the closest the Hornets have been to the Broncos in this series. Several Freshmen logged double digits in minutes.

[GreatScot!?]

Anyone know anything about Alma's exhibition with Northern Michigan last night.  I'm curious about how it went.

With wicked head winds across the UP we don't expect the dogsled teams to reach St. Ignace before midnight tonight.  Any news should make it South by morning light.


Also it was just a scrimmage and Northern Michigan put out a press release with this extremely offensive misspelling...

"The Alma Scotts are an NCAA Division III school from Alma, Michigan. " 
http://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171030o6bml9

The Scots lost by 12, I think the final score was 85-73 if I can remember correctly.

[ziggy]

Interesting story about the DIII Player of the Decade (the 90's), and his upset of former Fab Fiver, Chris Webber. Tip of the cap to goodknight for noting this for me:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2017/11/05/steve-hondered-calvin-college-fab-five-chris-webber-after-the-magic/827671001/

Round 2 is live: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2017/11/05/round-2-vote-michigans-top-college-hoops-player-since-79/823110001/

[pointlem]

Interesting story about the DIII Player of the Decade (the 90's), and his upset of former Fab Fiver, Chris Webber. Tip of the cap to goodknight for noting this for me:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2017/11/05/steve-hondered-calvin-college-fab-five-chris-webber-after-the-magic/827671001/

Round 2 is live: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2017/11/05/round-2-vote-michigans-top-college-hoops-player-since-79/823110001/

this Hope fan just voted for Steve H. . . . a great talent, and classy person. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congratulations to Dante Hawkins for being on the DIII News pre-season All American list (24 total players)

[sac]

Expecting the MIAA pre-season poll to be released sometime Thursday.

[Fifth and Putnam]

Expecting the MIAA pre-season poll to be released sometime Thursday.

With all the question marks surrounding the league this year, I assumed they were going to wait to release the poll until mid-December.

[sac]

Exhibitions:

Calvin's game with Grace Bible is now on Nov 13

Nov. 9  Alma at Cornerstone 7pm
Nov. 9  Adrian at Concordia  7:30pm
Nov. 10  Trine at Capital  7:30pm
Nov. 13  Grace Bible at Calvin  7:30pm
Nov. 14  Olivet at Grand Valley St  7pm
Nov. 15  Olivet at Saginaw Valley St.  7pm



Adrian slid an exhibition game at Heidelberg in on Tuesday night winning 76-72 in OT.  Adrian was out shot 43-33%, and out rebounded 56-40.  They won it at the FT line where they enjoyed a 19 point advantage while shooting just 61%.

[ziggy]

2017-18 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Hope (4 1st place votes) - 45 points
2. Alma (2 1st place votes) - 40 points
3. Calvin (2 1st place votes) - 39 points
4. Olivet - 29 points
T5. Trine - 24 points
T5. Albion - 24 points
7. Kalamazoo - 16 points
8. Adrian - 7 points

First reaction: I thought Albion would be the solid five and I though Olivet would be voted closer to the top three pack.

[devossed]

The loss of 4 transfers (and pre-anointed league MVP) before you even practice with them may well have baked that cookie?

[sac]

There may also be a question about what the roster looks like after Christmas.  Coaches would know that.

[sac]

Trine was roughed up by Capital last night 67-49 in their exhibition in Bexley, Oh.
http://athletics.capital.edu/sports/mbkb/2017-18/boxscores/20171110_wdww.xml?view=boxscore

Without Pete Smith's 20 point and overall excellent performance this would have been worse.  Cap's picked 5th(I think) in what should be a very good and competitive OAC.