MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

Anyone remember Olivet's old coach from the mid-2000's, Kurt Soderberg?    Now there was a guy that would turn a different color when yelling at the refs.

After he left Olivet he took the head coaching job at Merrill HS in Wisconsin, but he left under a cloud three years ago after getting into some sort of an altercation with a parent.

[sflzman]

Anyone remember Olivet's old coach from the mid-2000's, Kurt Soderberg?    Now there was a guy that would turn a different color when yelling at the refs.

Gene Gifford was pretty edgy in games as well. I'm beginning to thing that's in the job description at Olivet

[MaroonKnighty]

Olivet was really impressive last night.  They have size, speed, defense, shooting, and shot blocking ability that were all outstanding for the MIAA.  Calvin really played a strong second half and made a game of it with good shooting and strong defense, but Olivet is really strong.  In the first half Calvin seemed totally frustrated and intimidated by the defense.  The only weakness that I could see is the surly attitude mentioned earlier toward the refs.  It starts with the coach and spreads to the players from him.  Three technicals is not good for the team or league.  It really was a factor in making a close game of one that appeared quite one-sided in the first half.

To me it appears to be nearly a 100% coach thing, but that probably does trickle down to the players (and fans) after a while. At one point, around the second technical foul, a fan behind the Olivet yelled to "call it both ways". Perhaps he meant to call technical both ways, but fouls at the time were something like 17-13 in Olivet's favor at the time (the 13 included the two techs that weren't part of the flow of the game).

Ernst's strategy of constant complaint is to grind down the officials and make it seem like they're getting screwed all game in the hopes that they get an extra call or two down the stretch.

Neat moment after the game, a sort of #whyd3 thing for me, the Olivet team celebrated their win and then the entire team and staff went into the locker room except Tracy Edmond who went back to the bench alone and scooped up all of his teammate's warmups and carried them to the locker room (presumably so someone else wouldn't have to). He had just scored a game-high 27 points.

I am in agreement with maroonandgold and KnightSlappy about Coach Ernest (sorry Jameswys).  I've seen him on the sidelines perhaps 3x against Trine and the constant screaming at the officials is tiresome, almost embarrassing.  I understand that there are some really awful calls that need to be pointed out, but not every...single...time...the...call...is...not...for...Olivet.  I am an old guy with old school in his blood, to me Coaches should be focused on the game, their players, Xs and Os, encouragement, not the guys and gals in Stripes.  His strategy does seem to work for him and his team however.  I just don't like it in DIII sports and the MIAA.   

Agree - and it's really hard to see that when at the beginning of every game we here about what kind of conduct is expected by the MIAA - only to have him completely ignore that the first time the whistle is blown against the Comets.  What kind of message does that send to everyone in attendance?

*hear

[wiz]

Olivet was really impressive last night.  They have size, speed, defense, shooting, and shot blocking ability that were all outstanding for the MIAA.  Calvin really played a strong second half and made a game of it with good shooting and strong defense, but Olivet is really strong.  In the first half Calvin seemed totally frustrated and intimidated by the defense.  The only weakness that I could see is the surly attitude mentioned earlier toward the refs.  It starts with the coach and spreads to the players from him.  Three technicals is not good for the team or league.  It really was a factor in making a close game of one that appeared quite one-sided in the first half.

To me it appears to be nearly a 100% coach thing, but that probably does trickle down to the players (and fans) after a while. At one point, around the second technical foul, a fan behind the Olivet yelled to "call it both ways". Perhaps he meant to call technical both ways, but fouls at the time were something like 17-13 in Olivet's favor at the time (the 13 included the two techs that weren't part of the flow of the game).

Ernst's strategy of constant complaint is to grind down the officials and make it seem like they're getting screwed all game in the hopes that they get an extra call or two down the stretch.

Neat moment after the game, a sort of #whyd3 thing for me, the Olivet team celebrated their win and then the entire team and staff went into the locker room except Tracy Edmond who went back to the bench alone and scooped up all of his teammate's warmups and carried them to the locker room (presumably so someone else wouldn't have to). He had just scored a game-high 27 points.

I am in agreement with maroonandgold and KnightSlappy about Coach Ernest (sorry Jameswys).  I've seen him on the sidelines perhaps 3x against Trine and the constant screaming at the officials is tiresome, almost embarrassing.  I understand that there are some really awful calls that need to be pointed out, but not every...single...time...the...call...is...not...for...Olivet.  I am an old guy with old school in his blood, to me Coaches should be focused on the game, their players, Xs and Os, encouragement, not the guys and gals in Stripes.  His strategy does seem to work for him and his team however.  I just don't like it in DIII sports and the MIAA.   

Agree - and it's really hard to see that when at the beginning of every game we here about what kind of conduct is expected by the MIAA - only to have him completely ignore that the first time the whistle is blown against the Comets.  What kind of message does that send to everyone in attendance?

*hear

I miss coach Hacklin.

[pointlem]

Speaking of coaches, I was impressed with the demeanor of Trine's coach today. He was focused on coaching, not whining to the refs.

And he seemed positively supportive of his players, even after one made an ill-advised play that cost them the ball. It's little to go on, so I have little basis for saying anything (maybe I caught him on a good day), but my impression is that he's someone who (like Greg Mitchell) I'd welcome my kids playing for . . . except that, having inherited my athletic ability, there was never any chance of that.

[sac]

Trine 73  Hope 69  F

Hope came pretty close to making this a great day in the MIAA race.  However far too many costly turnovers were to much to overcome against a very good Trine squad.  Hope ended up with a shot to tie and potentially send the game to overtime but Riley Lewis's three was long. 

Hope:  Granger 18, Lewis 18, Beckman 12, Towns 10
Trine:  Cummings 19, Copeland 18, Johnson 15, Smith 10

This most likely resigns Hope to playing for nothing more than a good MIAA tournament seed, far too much has to happen ahead of them they can't control but, teams get better, upsets happen, you never know.  Certainly can't lose anymore games for anything like that to happen.  Hope will need to be on their toes Wednesday night for a Kzoo squad capable of beating them.



Albion 70  Olivet 67

Great game at Cutler tonight, a real boxing match type game.  Albion ends up winning coming back from 6 down with 5 minutes to play.   Albion was strong enough defensively at key moments down the stretch.  Foul trouble ended up costing the Comets as Colin Jones played a lengthy stretch with 4 fouls and just had to let his man go a few times.  Manuel joined him with 4 later after playing the entire 2nd half with 3, then picked up #5 in forced to foul time.


Albion:  Ebeling 25, Parker 15, Davis 10
Olivet:  Manuel 24, Jones 20

That's two big wins for Albion over Olivet.



Calvin 79  Adrian 53
Kzoo 92  Alma 82 OT

[sac]

Standings with +/-    (+1 for road win, -1 for home loss) w/remaining games

Trine      7-1      +3   (@Oli, ADR, @Cal, ALB, @Kzo, ALM)
Olivet     6-2      +2   (TRN, KZO @Alm, @Adr, @Hpe, CAL)
Albion    6-2      +2    (ADR, ALM, @Kzo, @Trn, @Cal, HPE)
Hope      4-4        0    (@Kzo, CAL, @Adr, ALM, OLI, @Alb)
Calvin    4-4       -1    (@Alm, @Hpe, TRN, @Kzo, ALB, @Oli)
Alma      3-5       -1    (CAL, @Alb, OLI, @Hpe, ADR, @Trn)
Kzoo      2-6       -1     (HPE, @Oli, ALB, CAL, TRN, @Adr)
Adrian    0-8      -4     (@Alb, @Trn, HPE, OLI, @Alm,  KZO)

Everyone has at least one home loss now and the advantage has now flipped to Trine.  Big game Wed at Olivet for both teams.  Figure Albion's win tonight will keep them right in the thick of things up to that game @ Trine in 2 weeks.


The template of Win remaining Home games and games w/Kzoo/Adrian.

Trine     11-3
Albion   10-4
Olivet   10-4
Hope      9-5
Calvin    7-7
Alma     6-8

Its flipped to Trine, and Trine plays at Olivet Wed where they would just about in theory put one hand on the trophy with a win.  A win for Olivet doesn't flip it back in their favor entirely.  Albion's two wins over Olivet mean that Olivet has to beat Trine and get that tie-breaker and finish ahead of Albion to host the MIAA tournament.

Alma's loss mean Wed's game with Calvin is probably a must win to avoid the 6th seed.  Kzoo still fells like a longish shot to make the tournament but a win over Hope would pull them into things.   They'd have to beat one or two of Calvin, Olivet, Trine, Albion to really have a chance even after beating Hope.  However its not necessarily a guaranteed thing Alma gets to 6 wins. 

Next Saturday's Calvin @ Hope game probably ends up deciding the 4th and 5th seed and the host for whats looking like a first round game between the two.

[Grutte Dirk]

Anyone remember Olivet's old coach from the mid-2000's, Kurt Soderberg?    Now there was a guy that would turn a different color when yelling at the refs.

Gene Gifford was pretty edgy in games as well. I'm beginning to thing that's in the job description at Olivet

One can only hire from the applicant pool.

[TUAngola]

Speaking of coaches, I was impressed with the demeanor of Trine's coach today. He was focused on coaching, not whining to the refs.

And he seemed positively supportive of his players, even after one made an ill-advised play that cost them the ball. It's little to go on, so I have little basis for saying anything (maybe I caught him on a good day), but my impression is that he's someone who (like Greg Mitchell) I'd welcome my kids playing for . . . except that, having inherited my athletic ability, there was never any chance of that.

Appreciate the positive remarks about Brooks Miller, pointlem.  We are really fortunate to have Coach Miller at Trine.  I watched a lot of Trine basketball and I don't think I've ever seen him get T'd up.  He'll certainly question a bad call every now and then, but not to the point of constant harassment.  He is very respectful of his players, assistant coaches, opposing players and coaches, AND the referees. 

[sac]

Anyone remember Olivet's old coach from the mid-2000's, Kurt Soderberg?    Now there was a guy that would turn a different color when yelling at the refs.

Gene Gifford was pretty edgy in games as well. I'm beginning to thing that's in the job description at Olivet

One can only hire from the applicant pool.

Remembering that time Olivet announced their 4 final choices, then hired someone else. 

[sac]

In games involving  Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Olivet and Trine the average margin of victory has been 7.3 points.

Last year using the top 6  Adrian, Albion, Calvin, Hope, Olivet and Trine the avg margin through the same point in the schedule was 10.2

[HopeConvert]

Hope's classes are canceled for tomorrow. I assume that means the Kalamazoo game will be canceled as well.

[calvin_grad]

Calvin cancelled as well.

[TUAngola]

Trine classes cancelled...but games are still on...for now anyway...see below update from Trine athletics page:

ANGOLA, IND. -- Despite the close of Trine University main campus, athletic events will go on as scheduled, the athletic department announced today.
Home events scheduled during the closure are as follows:
Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. -- Women's Basketball vs. Olivet College
Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. -- Wrestling vs. Alma
Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. -- Men's ACHA D2 Hockey vs. Adrian
The Trine University men's basketball team remains scheduled to travel to face Olivet College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

[TUAngola]

MIAA website shows both the Hope/Kalamazoo and Calvin/Alma MBB games rescheduled to Thursday 1/31 @ 7:30pm.