MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HOPEful]

...I expect Olivet to full court pressure out of makes and dead balls to slow down Hope. It was pretty successful in the first matchup. If they can take dante or jason out of their game I like their chances of pulling off the upset  But if Hope can do what they have done in their last 4 games, it might not be as close as expected.

*All of these predictions are subject to poor officiating

I love this footnote

[Bulldog30]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game, but I watched the Play-by-Play on MIAA.org and sadly read the 3 point buzzer beater by Olivet to win 81 to 78.

Looking at the stats, it was pretty even except, unsurprisinglyand  unfortunately, with rebounding. Adrian had 34 and Olivet had 48, 18 of which were offensive. Adrian may have wanted to try and box out Jalen Adam's who had 7 of the offensive rebounds (17 total boards). With Adrian's style of defense, I feel that they could be better on the boards despite the height disadvantages. The matchup D style should always make sure someone is on someone to box out. Against the leading rebounder(Jalen Adams), you got to take him out. Whoever is on him doesn't even have to turn. Just prevent him from getting in the paint face up (rebounders hate this).

Adrian has struggled lately, but they can beat any team in the league, and unless they blow these last 2 games, they'll be 2 games away from winning an MIAA title 2 weeks from now. But, I think Adrian needs to consider some defensive alterations. I'm surprised we haven't seen any trapping/pressure in any way. I get the lack of depth, but for the playoffs, maybe we will see it.

[wiz]

...I expect Olivet to full court pressure out of makes and dead balls to slow down Hope. It was pretty successful in the first matchup. If they can take dante or jason out of their game I like their chances of pulling off the upset  But if Hope can do what they have done in their last 4 games, it might not be as close as expected.

*All of these predictions are subject to poor officiating

I love this footnote

The Hope win is subject to poor officiating.  So, if there is good officiating, I guess Olivet wins.

[Jameswys]

Looking at the stats, it was pretty even except, unsurprisinglyand  unfortunately, with rebounding. Adrian had 34 and Olivet had 48, 18 of which were offensive. Adrian may have wanted to try and box out Jalen Adam's who had 7 of the offensive rebounds (17 total boards). With Adrian's style of defense, I feel that they could be better on the boards despite the height disadvantages. The matchup D style should always make sure someone is on someone to box out. Against the leading rebounder(Jalen Adams), you got to take him out. Whoever is on him doesn't even have to turn. Just prevent him from getting in the paint face up (rebounders hate this).

I understand what you are trying to say but but you're talking about an exceptional athlete who is always around the hoop. On Saturday I literally watched him take a shot, miss really short, grab the ball and score. It looked like he passed himself the ball. (This happened in the last 5 min of regulation of OT)

[Bulldog30]

Looking at the stats, it was pretty even except, unsurprisinglyand  unfortunately, with rebounding. Adrian had 34 and Olivet had 48, 18 of which were offensive. Adrian may have wanted to try and box out Jalen Adam's who had 7 of the offensive rebounds (17 total boards). With Adrian's style of defense, I feel that they could be better on the boards despite the height disadvantages. The matchup D style should always make sure someone is on someone to box out. Against the leading rebounder(Jalen Adams), you got to take him out. Whoever is on him doesn't even have to turn. Just prevent him from getting in the paint face up (rebounders hate this).

I understand what you are trying to say but but you're talking about an exceptional athlete who is always around the hoop. On Saturday I literally watched him take a shot, miss really short, grab the ball and score. It looked like he passed himself the ball. (This happened in the last 5 min of regulation of OT)

And I understand what you are trying to say, but, 7 offensive rebounds is 4 above his (league leading) average and 17 is 7 above his (league leading) average. So despite his abilities, this is beyond what other teams are allowing vs. him. Adrian must do better.

Also, he's listed at 180 pounds. So getting physical with him should at least slow him down (as I am aware you won't stop him completely). And you can ask 1 or even 2 guys to key on him when the shot goes up. The 2nd best rebounder on Olivet (Tracy Edmond) averages only 4.3 rebounds per game.

The one thing that I don't know is his style of play. But since he's listed as a guard, I'm going to guess he doesn't do a whole lot of posting up (but some would make sense against smaller guards). My point here is that if he is not in the paint, and you can make contact early, you can prevent him from getting in there and jumping over your guys.

You can gameplan rebounding, and specifically, shutting out one main rebounder. I doubt Adrian did in this game.

[sac]

Looking at the stats, it was pretty even except, unsurprisinglyand  unfortunately, with rebounding. Adrian had 34 and Olivet had 48, 18 of which were offensive. Adrian may have wanted to try and box out Jalen Adam's who had 7 of the offensive rebounds (17 total boards). With Adrian's style of defense, I feel that they could be better on the boards despite the height disadvantages. The matchup D style should always make sure someone is on someone to box out. Against the leading rebounder(Jalen Adams), you got to take him out. Whoever is on him doesn't even have to turn. Just prevent him from getting in the paint face up (rebounders hate this).

I understand what you are trying to say but but you're talking about an exceptional athlete who is always around the hoop. On Saturday I literally watched him take a shot, miss really short, grab the ball and score. It looked like he passed himself the ball. (This happened in the last 5 min of regulation of OT)

And I understand what you are trying to say, but, 7 offensive rebounds is 4 above his (league leading) average and 17 is 7 above his (league leading) average. So despite his abilities, this is beyond what other teams are allowing vs. him. Adrian must do better.

Also, he's listed at 180 pounds. So getting physical with him should at least slow him down (as I am aware you won't stop him completely). And you can ask 1 or even 2 guys to key on him when the shot goes up. The 2nd best rebounder on Olivet (Tracy Edmond) averages only 4.3 rebounds per game.

The one thing that I don't know is his style of play. But since he's listed as a guard, I'm going to guess he doesn't do a whole lot of posting up (but some would make sense against smaller guards). My point here is that if he is not in the paint, and you can make contact early, you can prevent him from getting in there and jumping over your guys.

You can gameplan rebounding, and specifically, shutting out one main rebounder. I doubt Adrian did in this game.

He's listed as a guard but he plays more like a wing to me.  Any posting up he does is like you said on smaller guards or he gets the ball outside the lane and tries to turn and shoot that sweet fade-away of his over the defender.

He's a terrific rebounder because for 6-5 I think he has long arms and can out jump most anybody.  A good eye for the ball doesn't hurt.

As I recall in Angola Trine tried to double him almost every touch and had Coleman and Hunter to try and block him off the boards which worked to a certain degree.  That's the closest I've seen anyone to containing him.  But the price of doing that was leaving a 3-point shooter open or letting Edmond have his way down the lane. 

[sac]

Olivet vs Hope ticket information

http://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20180212p475hu

...and good luck.

[pointlem]

I wonder if MIAA men's jv coaches and players are feeling frustrated to have games cancelled--and to be left with a diminished schedule.

The Hope jv team, for example, ended up with games cancelled last Wednesday against Adrian, and this Wednesday against Olivet--both of which were able to field teams earlier this year . . . but apparently have had recent attrition?

But then the Hope women's jv team has it worse, with only 13 scheduled games this whole season--three against Calvin.

Are such problems with schools fielding jv teams longstanding or recent?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I wonder if MIAA men's jv coaches and players are feeling frustrated to have games cancelled--and to be left with a diminished schedule.

The Hope jv team, for example, ended up with games cancelled last Wednesday against Adrian, and this Wednesday against Olivet--both of which were able to field teams earlier this year . . . but apparently have had recent attrition?

But then the Hope women's jv team has it worse, with only 13 scheduled games this whole season--three against Calvin.

Are such problems with schools fielding jv teams longstanding or recent?

So this is the 2nd year in a row that Adrian had a JV team for only part of the year, and that may have occurred further back as well.  Olivet had a team but when they played at Hope earlier in the season it was with 6 guys (one from the varsity) - Adrian's squad was similar maybe 6-7 guys.  All it takes is an injury or two or other factors and suddenly you can no longer play.  It's a shame, because I'm a firm believer in the great things a good JV program can do to prepare players for the college varsity game. 

[Bulldog30]

I wonder if MIAA men's jv coaches and players are feeling frustrated to have games cancelled--and to be left with a diminished schedule.

The Hope jv team, for example, ended up with games cancelled last Wednesday against Adrian, and this Wednesday against Olivet--both of which were able to field teams earlier this year . . . but apparently have had recent attrition?

But then the Hope women's jv team has it worse, with only 13 scheduled games this whole season--three against Calvin.

Are such problems with schools fielding jv teams longstanding or recent?

So this is the 2nd year in a row that Adrian had a JV team for only part of the year, and that may have occurred further back as well.  Olivet had a team but when they played at Hope earlier in the season it was with 6 guys (one from the varsity) - Adrian's squad was similar maybe 6-7 guys.  All it takes is an injury or two or other factors and suddenly you can no longer play.  It's a shame, because I'm a firm believer in the great things a good JV program can do to prepare players for the college varsity game.

I feel like it's unsurprising that a Hope fan (or Calvin fan) would find the significance in JV basketball. And I don't think it is without merit, but perhaps smaller schools have a different view.

In my time at Adrian, very few participants from our JV teams made an impact on the Varsity. A couple (2 or 3?) made it into a few games, but not many minutes. When Adrian was struggling from 2006 to 2010, a couple JV players I knew had more important roles, but the struggling team could be a reason. I should note that I do not know if JV players made bigger impacts before my time there.

Also, 2 questions: 1. Does school size make the big difference in JV? And connected, 2. Do Hope, Calvin, and Trine dominate JV MIAA basketball? Hope, Calvin, and Trine all have over 3,000 students. Adrian has around 1700, I think. And because I'm an Adrian alum, I know basketball is competing with a lot of strong sports there as well (Hockey, Bass Fishing, Baseball and more). Perhaps bigger schools have a better time finding diamonds in the rough in a bigger pool of athletes.

[KnightSlappy]

It seems like Calvin typically has at least one starter and another rotation player or two that came up through the JV team. I think 8 of the 16 players on Calvin's roster this year played some form of JV ball (seems like a higher number than normal but I've never really counted). Many times these players begin the year on the varsity roster (at the end of the bench) but end up playing on JV as well to gain experience, but some very good players have come through the program who played exclusively on JV as freshmen.

[HOPEful]

...I know basketball is competing with a lot of strong sports there as well (Hockey, Bass Fishing, Baseball and more)...

Was this sincere or in jest? Collegiate bass fishing is something I'm very unfamiliar with. But I think it's awesome if it is actually a strong sport at Adrian.

[calvin_grad]

...I know basketball is competing with a lot of strong sports there as well (Hockey, Bass Fishing, Baseball and more)...

Was this sincere or in jest? Collegiate bass fishing is something I'm very unfamiliar with. But I think it's awesome if it is actually a strong sport at Adrian.

http://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/fishing/2017-18/releases/20180117s3aef1

[sflzman]

I wonder if MIAA men's jv coaches and players are feeling frustrated to have games cancelled--and to be left with a diminished schedule.

The Hope jv team, for example, ended up with games cancelled last Wednesday against Adrian, and this Wednesday against Olivet--both of which were able to field teams earlier this year . . . but apparently have had recent attrition?

But then the Hope women's jv team has it worse, with only 13 scheduled games this whole season--three against Calvin.

Are such problems with schools fielding jv teams longstanding or recent?

So this is the 2nd year in a row that Adrian had a JV team for only part of the year, and that may have occurred further back as well.  Olivet had a team but when they played at Hope earlier in the season it was with 6 guys (one from the varsity) - Adrian's squad was similar maybe 6-7 guys.  All it takes is an injury or two or other factors and suddenly you can no longer play.  It's a shame, because I'm a firm believer in the great things a good JV program can do to prepare players for the college varsity game.

I feel like it's unsurprising that a Hope fan (or Calvin fan) would find the significance in JV basketball. And I don't think it is without merit, but perhaps smaller schools have a different view.

I think theres a perfect example of a “smaller school” JV kid this year at Alma.

Kevin Scheibert was a JV kid, he’s given a reliable and consistent  12.2/6.9/1.9 this year playing about 30 minutes a game. Those are the kids you maybe lose if they aren’t playing close to full jv schedules for two years.

Even worse, what if that’s a kid you don’t even recruit because you don’t think he’s going to contribute anything for his first two years?

I think even if you can get a kid or two each year like that it makes your JV program 100% worth it even at the “smaller” schools.

[GreatScot!?]

I wonder if MIAA men's jv coaches and players are feeling frustrated to have games cancelled--and to be left with a diminished schedule.

The Hope jv team, for example, ended up with games cancelled last Wednesday against Adrian, and this Wednesday against Olivet--both of which were able to field teams earlier this year . . . but apparently have had recent attrition?

But then the Hope women's jv team has it worse, with only 13 scheduled games this whole season--three against Calvin.

Are such problems with schools fielding jv teams longstanding or recent?

So this is the 2nd year in a row that Adrian had a JV team for only part of the year, and that may have occurred further back as well.  Olivet had a team but when they played at Hope earlier in the season it was with 6 guys (one from the varsity) - Adrian's squad was similar maybe 6-7 guys.  All it takes is an injury or two or other factors and suddenly you can no longer play.  It's a shame, because I'm a firm believer in the great things a good JV program can do to prepare players for the college varsity game.

I feel like it's unsurprising that a Hope fan (or Calvin fan) would find the significance in JV basketball. And I don't think it is without merit, but perhaps smaller schools have a different view.

I think theres a perfect example of a "smaller school" JV kid this year at Alma.

Kevin Scheibert was a JV kid, he's given a reliable and consistent  12.2/6.9/1.9 this year playing about 30 minutes a game. Those are the kids you maybe lose if they aren't playing close to full job schedules for two years.

Even worse, what if that's a kid you don't even recruit because you don't think he's going to contribute anything for his first two years?

I think even if you can get a kid or two each year like that it makes your JV program 100% worth it even at the "smaller" schools.

Rob Holmes was also a one year JV player and Scott Maki was on the JV team for two years as well.