MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Have there been nights similar to last night when all MIAA teams playing lost during the same time?  Is does not appear the league will be real strong this year with almost every team rebuilding, using many freshmen, and still trying to figure who can really play.  First impression looks as if Triine and Olivet have played the best so far, but more games will tell as we see various team comparisons against the same opponents.  Injuries may play a big role, too, especially with Hope losing such a key player.  The good news is that the league will likely be very competitive.

It's a weird year. I have a long memory and I can't ever remember the league having an entire slate of teams that isn't remotely ready for prime time. I hope that's not the new normal in the MIAA.

I think its going to be rough in the non-conference.  Our "good" teams are playing tough schedules and no one is really projecting any of them to be much on the national stage.    I'm pretty sure we have a record number of Freshmen playing across the league as well.  Zero home games last night and only one today doesn't help.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Have there been nights similar to last night when all MIAA teams playing lost during the same time?  Is does not appear the league will be real strong this year with almost every team rebuilding, using many freshmen, and still trying to figure who can really play.  First impression looks as if Triine and Olivet have played the best so far, but more games will tell as we see various team comparisons against the same opponents.  Injuries may play a big role, too, especially with Hope losing such a key player.  The good news is that the league will likely be very competitive.

It's a weird year. I have a long memory and I can't ever remember the league having an entire slate of teams that isn't remotely ready for prime time. I hope that's not the new normal in the MIAA.

I think its going to be rough in the non-conference.  Our "good" teams are playing tough schedules and no one is really projecting any of them to be much on the national stage.    I'm pretty sure we have a record number of Freshmen playing across the league as well.  Zero home games last night and only one today doesn't help.

I thought Hope looked very good until the injury.  There's no way to know how that effects the team mentally - and then to just get slammed while they were recovering.  I'm sure they're better than what we saw last night.  I'm looking forward to the matchup today.

[sac]

Hope 97  St. John Fisher 86

SJF led 57-49 at halftime I can offer very little in observations as I didn't watch enough of it.  Couple of welcome break-out games from Riley Lewis and Fr. Preston Granger.  Dante Hawkins did not play.

Lewis 26, Granger 18, J. Beckman 18

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Heard the Hawkins injury is not as bad as initially feared - certainly doesn't look to be season ending at this point.  I do think his absence gave room for some of the younger guys to step up today.  Despite the halftime deficit, Hope was still shooting 60% in that first half - they continued at the same pace and SJF came back to earth a bit.  Lots of good stuff for both teams.

[maroonandgold]

Have there been nights similar to last night when all MIAA teams playing lost during the same time?  Is does not appear the league will be real strong this year with almost every team rebuilding, using many freshmen, and still trying to figure who can really play.  First impression looks as if Triine and Olivet have played the best so far, but more games will tell as we see various team comparisons against the same opponents.  Injuries may play a big role, too, especially with Hope losing such a key player.  The good news is that the league will likely be very competitive.

It's a weird year. I have a long memory and I can't ever remember the league having an entire slate of teams that isn't remotely ready for prime time. I hope that's not the new normal in the MIAA.

I think its going to be rough in the non-conference.  Our "good" teams are playing tough schedules and no one is really projecting any of them to be much on the national stage.    I'm pretty sure we have a record number of Freshmen playing across the league as well.  Zero home games last night and only one today doesn't help.

With Alma's very respectable, hard fought loss to Augustana, the league teams at least won 3 games on this date.  Since the teams played varied so much in ability, its still hard to know how they compare with the other MIAA teams, but Alma impressed with the way they fought a highly rated team. 

[pointlem]

What a difference a day can make. Last night the league went 0 for 7. And it looked like Hope had lost a very exciting player and floor leader.

Today, Calvin and Alma show their potential, by playing competitively with two of the nation's best teams on their home floors. Dante's injury looks temporary. And even without him, Hope comes from behind to defeat a good team . . . led by the coming out of Riley Lewis, who showed his potential not just to score but also to move and distribute the ball (5 assists). What a boost today must have been for his confidence, and his coaches' confidence in him.

[sac]

Olivet  96  Defiance 64

Olivet's got some guys who can play, they should be right in the thick of the MIAA race.  They'll rely heavily on Jalen Adams and Tracy Edmond.  Adams is probably the best player in the league and Edmond is probably the best PG.  Not sure they're as deep as I thought they might be.

Adams 28, Mason 21, Edmond 20...........Edmond and Adams both had double-doubles and Edmond missed a triple double by 2 assists.


Didn't realize it at first but Defiance started 3 Freshmen so they were pretty young, they hung around for awhile but eventually the Comets put too much distance between them and coasted to the win.  Defiance was picked to finish 7th in the HCAC behind weekend MIAA opponents Manchester and Anderson.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Had a pretty good trip to Marietta and enjoyed 5 of the 8 games. Obviously the downside of the weekend was Dante’s injury. Praying the word from the hand doc in Holland is good with a relatively short recovery time. Certainly not as serious as it appeared on Friday night. And kudos to Dante and the leadership he offered to his team on Saturday!

Not much to say about the Friday game that hasn’t already been shared. Game in which you are overmatched especially in experience, and then the mental part of losing Dante. Hope’s defense was a real struggle for sure.

Saturday the first half felt like a replay of Friday, at least on the defensive side. From my perspective the Hope defenders are not helping (weak side) and in my opinion it’s pretty typical of a bunch of guys that haven’t played together much and haven’t built the trust needed to be successful. In other words, we all need to be patient. The second half Hope switched to a pressing zone defense which obviously worked well. The guys were committed to it, played with energy and trusted each other.   Doesn’t hurt when you get 55 points if of your bench either.  Riley Lewis looked like the player I watched in high school, and Preston Granger was impressive. Jason Beckman is a solid player as we all know and while also new to the team is an obvious leader.

Going 1-1 for the weekend was huge. Lots of things to work on and correct, but also some great effort and execution to build on.

[oldknight]

Seems like Hope is getting good news regarding Dante Hawkins, and maybe Calvin will too on Tony DeWitte. Sat next to Tony's neighbor yesterday at a wedding reception and it's possible the sophomore from Calvin Christian HS could make an appearance during the MIAA regular season. Tony had a pin put in his foot and the prognosis is for the former Squire to be on the shelf 6-8 weeks. Depending on how well the rehab process goes Tony might be able to start playing as early as mid-January which, if true, would be a very welcome addition to the second half of the conference season. In the meantime, freshman Luke Morrison is making his presence a very pleasant surprise as he has filled DeWitte's spot very nicely. Tom's younger brother is leading the Knights in scoring at 15 ppg, while shooting 56% from the floor, and is second on the team in minutes played. Admittedly two games is an awfully small sample size but it has come against top-flight competition.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Had a pretty good trip to Marietta and enjoyed 5 of the 8 games. Obviously the downside of the weekend was Dante's injury. Praying the word from the hand doc in Holland is good with a relatively short recovery time. Certainly not as serious as it appeared on Friday night. And kudos to Dante and the leadership he offered to his team on Saturday!

Not much to say about the Friday game that hasn't already been shared. Game in which you are overmatched especially in experience, and then the mental part of losing Dante. Hope's defense was a real struggle for sure.

Saturday the first half felt like a replay of Friday, at least on the defensive side. From my perspective the Hope defenders are not helping (weak side) and in my opinion it's pretty typical of a bunch of guys that haven't played together much and haven't built the trust needed to be successful. In other words, we all need to be patient. The second half Hope switched to a pressing zone defense which obviously worked well. The guys were committed to it, played with energy and trusted each other.   Doesn't hurt when you get 55 points if of your bench either.  Riley Lewis looked like the player I watched in high school, and Preston Granger was impressive. Jason Beckman is a solid player as we all know and while also new to the team is an obvious leader.

Going 1-1 for the weekend was huge. Lots of things to work on and correct, but also some great effort and execution to build on.

I wish I'd known you were there - we should've at least had a conversation.  Maybe next time.

[Grutte Dirk]

Less than two months before we move in to the M.T.I. Center.

Here's hoping the Trine players bowl a few frames and spilt a few Sharkey's pies with the visiting team after a game.

[iwumichigander]

In the meantime, freshman Luke Morrison is making his presence a very pleasant surprise as he has filled DeWitte's spot very nicely. Tom's younger brother is leading the Knights in scoring at 15 ppg, while shooting 56% from the floor, and is second on the team in minutes played. Admittedly two games is an awfully small sample size but it has come against top-flight competition.

Luke Morrison got my attention in the IWU contest.  He does not play like a freshman. Deceptively quick, has a "second gear" and for the most part made good decisions with and without the ball. He plays both end of the court also.  I think Calvin is going toe joy four years of Luke - opponents, not so much 😄

[shknowsbest]

Olivet is beating ferris st at half by one.  This game is at ferris.

[oldknight]

Olivet is beating ferris st at half by one.  This game is at ferris.

Stranger things have been known to happen. Last night, the Grace Bible Tigers, a team Calvin defeated by a rather comfortable 16 points last week, nearly upset D2 Davenport. Grace led by 5 with less than three minutes left, and only a late three pointer by the Panthers allowed them to escape with an 80-78 win.

[shknowsbest]

Olivet is beating ferris st at half by one.  This game is at ferris.

Stranger things have been known to happen. Last night, the Grace Bible Tigers, a team Calvin defeated by a rather comfortable 16 points last week, nearly upset D2 Davenport. Grace led by 5 with less than three minutes left, and only a late three pointer by the Panthers allowed them to escape with an 80-78 win.
[/quoteOlivet lost by15, adams and edmonds scored majority of points.]