MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[pointlem]

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

Agree, FDF . . . Olivet edged Mt. Union very similarly to how Hope did. And they played John Carroll close, until Coach Ernst sat his first team for the last 15 minutes or so of the game.  Carroll went on a 28 to 2 run after Olivet seemingly threw in the towel. Not sure what was behind that (the benched Olivet players continued to cheer on their teammates, but the coach must have intended some sort of statement).

Dante Hawkins and Tracy Edmond will be a great matchup . . . same size and similarly dynamic style of play.

Although Hope's points this year are coming mostly from its guards--with Danny Beckman seeming to gain confidence and playing time--the post players are playing with heart and getting more rebounds of late . . . all steps forward for the young Hopesters.

[oldknight]

Puget Sound--Calvin's opponent of last night--beats UW-Stout 94-86, forcing 23 more turnovers. My upset at Calvin's 29 miscues last night was tempered a bit after I looked at the Loggers' game-by-game box scores which revealed that in their first 10 games, they have forced anywhere from a low of 20 to a mindboggling 41 turnovers in their games. So the Knights' 29 from last night's game looks pretty normal in the middle of that.

Looking at Calvin's season stats, it's pretty clear now that this season's team is better offensively than last year's version of Knights basketball. They score more, shoot better, and take more shots this year, and by a pretty wide margin. They give up more points so they don't seem as good defensively, but part of that is due to the fact that this year Calvin seems to have more possessions, and partly due to a tougher pre-conference schedule. I leave it to KnightSlappy to crunch defensive efficiency numbers. Gotta give the guy something to do. It's the only main reason we keep him around.

[KnightSlappy]

Carlos Amoros is in the starting lineup tonight in place of Luke Morrison. No big surprise there. Calvin is wearing the alternate/throwback gold uniforms.

[KnightSlappy]

I leave it to KnightSlappy to crunch defensive efficiency numbers. Gotta give the guy something to do. It's the only main reason we keep him around.

I have Calvin's opponent-adjusted offensive efficiency at 13th best in the country and defensive efficiency at 309th 'best'.

[oldknight]

After a nice start (17-9 lead), Calvin settled for a one-point halftime lead. The Knights have shot and played poorly the second frame. Whitworth opens the second half on a 31-10 start. Put a fork in it. Amoros started in place of Luke Morrison whose absence is sorely missed. Wilks didn't start but has played quite a bit. It hasn't gone well for him as thus far he's gone 1-7 from the floor, has 3 turnovers, and generally looks lost. A 1-1 Washington road trip is about the best one can expect but it doesn't get easier. After a long flight home Calvin starts the conference season with 3 tough road games--Adrian, Alma, Hope. Hopefully they don't come up empty there but an 0-3 start to the conference season is a possibility.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth wins 88-58. 1st half Calvin and 2nd half Calvin were very different teams. Whitworth still without their best player but Roach stepped up and played a great game. As a team Calvin shot terribly. The Whitworth Fieldhouse's airplane hangar like atmosphere doesn't help visiting teams, but the Pirates have played well defensively this season outside of the Wheaton game. The Knights being without what looks like their best scoring threat certainly helped the Pirates cause. DeVries found ways to score and was the most impressive Calvin player suited up tonight. Would be cool for Whitworth to get a game in Van Noord, not over winter break, in the future.

[sac]

With Trine's loss this afternoon to Illinois Tech, the MIAA completes its non-conference schedule at 39-49 or .443

MIAA non-Conference records
2005    46-38    0.548
2006    52-34    0.605
2007    27-51    0.346
2008    34-44    0.386
2009    35-46    0.432
2010    38-50    0.432
2011    43-43    0.500
2012    44-43    0.506
2013    48-39    0.552
2014    39-49    0.443
2015    39-49    0.443
2016    46-42    0.523
2017    38-49    0.437 

2018    39-49    0.443

Pretty much right on the same number for 4 of the last five years. 
32-42 vs D3,  16-19 vs the Great Lakes Region

Adrian enters MIAA play with the best record vs D3 for the 2nd year in a row at 7-2

A small bit of optimism as the league is a not so bad 31-29 after the Thanksgiving weekend.

[Gregory Sager]

A small bit of optimism as the league is a not so bad 31-29 after the Thanksgiving weekend.

The obvious solution to the problem is for the league to rename itself the Canada Intercollegiate Athletic Association, thereby celebrating Thanksgiving a month earlier.

[GreatScot!?]

Anybody willing to make predictions on how the MIAA is going to shake out in conference play?

[sac]

Anybody willing to make predictions on how the MIAA is going to shake out in conference play?

<cricket noises>

[devossed]

Anybody willing to make predictions on how the MIAA is going to shake out in conference play?

<cricket noises>

Ok I'll break the seal. I think the preseason coaches poll might well end up being a realistic barometer after all, save for maybe trading Adrian up a slot or two?

[maroonandgold]

Anybody willing to make predictions on how the MIAA is going to shake out in conference play?

<cricket noises>

Ok I'll break the seal. I think the preseason coaches poll might well end up being a realistic barometer after all, save for maybe trading Adrian up a slot or two?

Both Adrian and Olivet have looked better at times than I expected.  I will predict Olivet for third and Adrian for 4th will Alma falling to 5th.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

If you are in to prognosticating, come join the MIAA Pick Em' contest.  We've got 13 players so far...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5915.3345

[maroonandgold]

I noticed that the game at Adrian tomorrow evening shows no video or live stats.  Is that a mistake that needs an update?

[oldknight]

Anybody willing to make predictions on how the MIAA is going to shake out in conference play?

I'll make what I think is a bold one: Adrian--which at 9-2 is the team with easily the best record entering into conference play--won't finish in the top half of the conference when the final results are in. Several MIAA teams with poorer records, led by Hope, Olivet, Calvin, and Alma have had exceptionally strong strength of schedule this year. Hope's SOS is ranked #2, Olivet 5, Calvin 6, Alma 15, and Albion 36 by Massey. I can't ever remember the Knights entering conference play with such a strong SOS. Pretty much every year that I've checked (going back about 10 years) Calvin's SOS is generally around 100 going into January play. Even years when they have advanced through the conference tournament and won a game or two in the NCAA's (which always improves SOS), Calvin rarely breaks into the top 40 for SOS after the season is concluded. By contrast, Adrian enters conference play with the weakest SOS in the MIAA at 235. The only team the Bulldogs have played that has an above .500 record is Anderson, who Adrian beat the first game of the year. Anderson did beat Calvin later in November.