MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[GreatScot!?]

Quick synapsis of Trine MBB with one nonconference game to go before MIAA play begins

Record: 4-6, about where I thought we'd be.  With graduations and transfers last year, only a couple returners who were in the regular rotation on the squad, Copeland and Langston.  Everyone else is new, either transferred in or freshman or were injured, or football player (more on that later).  I've seen 5 of the 8 home games, some decent play at times, but a lot of trouble on defense, especially with teams with guards who can get to the rim, we aren't the quickest team.  We've rebounded ok, foul shooting and turnovers, a Trine staple in the past, has been average at best. 

Players:  Coach will probably play 8-9 guys heading into conference play, 3 who typically start will be Copeland, Smith and Paul.  2 out of these 3 should also start; Hunter, Johnston and Klune, depending on opposing team matchups.  2-3 others in rotation will probably be Corcoran, Brown, and Winters.  Marcus Winters is a neat story, 2nd semester addition after finishing his junior year on the football team as MIAA defensive player of the year and 2nd team All American.  Once he gets comfortable with the plays I think you'll see him get more playing time as the year goes on.

MIAA prediction:  I am guessing we'll be no better than 5-9 in the league.  I think the race is wide open for the 4 team post season tournament.  Besides Trine I've only seen Adrian play in person so far this year, they are much improved over last year and could sneak into the top 4.  Alma, Calvin, Hope and Olivet should be right up there too.     

Only 10 days until the WBB teams open up play at the brand new MTI Center.  Showdown with Hope.  Then the men home opener a week later against Adrian on the 10th, which will be the official grand opening of the arena.  Another "sneak peak" inside MTI, this time of the video board being installed. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

.
I can't imagine how bad a team would have to be to finish 9th.

I think 5-9 was the projected record, not the range of placements.

If any team was going to try for 9th place it would have been the 2002 and 2003 Alma squads that combined to go 0-24 in conference play. But even those teams both finished 7th!

Low blow... Oops, should've realized that it was a projected record

[calvinite]

Who's the Knight who twisted an ankle?

[wiz]

Who's the Knight who twisted an ankle?

Luke Morrison

[oldknight]

Puget Sound leads Calvin 52-50 at half in what appears to be a very physical, fast-paced 20 minutes, loaded with line changes by both teams. Puget Sound used 15 players and Calvin 11. The Knights committed 17 turnovers the first half. That's not a typo. Puget Sound presses relentlessly, in a style reminiscent of McMurry when they played Calvin at the Fieldhouse the year of the Knights' national championship. When Calvin takes care of the ball they get a lot of layups but the longer the half lasted the poorer they took care of the ball. Some of that seemed due to the fact Calvin appeared forced to use players we wouldn't normally see, as it looked to me that Luke Morrison might be out for the game. He took a shot from a Puget Sound player while taking (and making) a 3 point basket and hasn't returned to the game. Michael Wilks did play but only off the bench and only got 7 minutes. Calvin will need to take care of the ball better the second half, and a tighter whistle by the officials would help their cause I think.

[oldknight]

Calvin commits 29 turnovers but survives over the Loggers of Puget Sound, 93-84. Derrick DeVries with a monster game--36 points and 10 boards. Bykerk scored 14 and Walter added 10 points. Calvin's ability to control the ball down the stretch (only 3 turnovers the last 9 minutes of the game) put the Knights over the top. 59-42 on the boards helped too.

Two other matters of note:

--Luke Morrison never returned to the game after going down the first half.

--Freshmen Emmett Warners started the second half and played a total of 22 minutes.

[CK150408]

Really good to see them hold the lead down the stretch.
On another note, hope to see Luke back tomorrow. Hopefully he was just held out for precautionary measures in the 2nd half

[KnightSlappy]

Really good to see them hold the lead down the stretch.
On another note, hope to see Luke back tomorrow. Hopefully he was just held out for precautionary measures in the 2nd half

Hopefully the injury is mild. He stayed down for a bit and pounded his fist on the floor in apparent frustration but eventually limped off on his own. No idea the extent.

[maroonandgold]

Calvin commits 29 turnovers but survives over the Loggers of Puget Sound, 93-84. Derrick DeVries with a monster game--36 points and 10 boards. Bykerk scored 14 and Walter added 10 points. Calvin's ability to control the ball down the stretch (only 3 turnovers the last 9 minutes of the game) put the Knights over the top. 59-42 on the boards helped too.

Two other matters of note:

--Luke Morrison never returned to the game after going down the first half.

--Freshmen Emmett Warners started the second half and played a total of 22 minutes.

Another item I find particularly interesting is that Calvin has one of best shooting teams they have fielded for years.  They had a higher overall shooting percentage, a higher 3 point shooting percentage, and a higher free throw percentage than the Loggers.  Unlike so many recent years, they have frequently shot a high percentage of threes in most of their games.  It really helps that they have 2 forwards that can really hit threes, and at least one shooting guard if he is able to return soon from the injury.  Bykerk has really improved his game since about the 3rd game of the year, has scored in double figures almost every game, and has rebounded much more aggressively including coming up with 10 rebounds last night. The shooting certainly will help in a very tight league chase.

[shknowsbest]

I just watched part of the mt. union/olivet game.  Olivet is playing very good, but mt. union doesn't look too good, they seen out of sorts.  Looking forward to the hope-john carroll game.

[shknowsbest]

olivet hangs on to win by 6.  Edmonds goes 20-25 from the ft line.  Mount Union only shoots 26 ft for the whole game. 

[Jameswys]

Olivet played 3 guys for 40 min and 1 for 39 in today's win. It looks like second half defense is a major problem for Olivet. Mt. Union put up 68, John Caroll put up 60 and IPFW dropped 55 in the second half.

[KnightSlappy]

I just watched part of the mt. union/olivet game.  Olivet is playing very good, but mt. union doesn't look too good, they seen out of sorts.  Looking forward to the hope-john carroll game.

Mt. Union is quite good. I have them as a borderline Top 25 team and Massey had them at No. 37 before yesterday's Hope game.

https://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/p/division-iii-mens-basketball-efficiency.html

[oldknight]

Hope beats John Carroll 104-94. Nice win. Jason Beckman with 26 and Dante Hawkins 24 to lead the Dutchmen. I think that's going to be the ticket to success Hope will try to punch all season long. I watched the last few minutes of the game and saw Dante on the bench the entire time, with his warmup jersey on. He didn't foul out so I'm assuming he suffered some sort of injury.

[shknowsbest]

Hope played very well, they won it at the ft line, 41 fts to 20 fts.   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope beats John Carroll 104-94. Nice win. Jason Beckman with 26 and Dante Hawkins 24 to lead the Dutchmen. I think that's going to be the ticket to success Hope will try to punch all season long. I watched the last few minutes of the game and saw Dante on the bench the entire time, with his warmup jersey on. He didn't foul out so I'm assuming he suffered some sort of injury.

Dante injured his ankle in the 2nd half and did not return. I think it’s more of a nagging injury then something more serious.

Overall a pretty good game by the Dutchmen against a really good JC team. This team has certainly improved greatly over their first 11 games.  Nice weekend to build some momentum headed into league play.  Guys are finding their roles and the team is gelling pretty well.

I also watched Olivet twice in two days and I think they will certainly be in the mix to make the MIAA tourney.