MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

Is it certain Manuel sticks around now that Ernst has resigned?

[Hope1993]

That is a very good question. My guess would be that it is highly unlikely. Just a educated guess after talking to a few people at the Olivet Calvin game a few weeks ago.

[HOPEful]

That is a very good question. My guess would be that it is highly unlikely. Just a educated guess after talking to a few people at the Olivet Calvin game a few weeks ago.

From what I saw at the Olivet @ Hope game and rumors I've heard coming out of Olivet, I'd be shocked if we saw him play again for the Comets.

[Jameswys]

That is a very good question. My guess would be that it is highly unlikely. Just a educated guess after talking to a few people at the Olivet Calvin game a few weeks ago.

From what I saw at the Olivet @ Hope game and rumors I've heard coming out of Olivet, I'd be shocked if we saw him play again for the Comets.

I don't like to comment on rumors I hear around campus, especially if I hear them from my friends, but in this case I'll just say I would personally be surprised to see him on campus in the fall.

[HoopsCoach]

New here and getting more tied into the MIAA. Agree that Albion will likely be the favorite. Calvin returns key guys BUT loses all of its appreciable post size with Bykerk moving on and a very good shot blocker in Walter also graduating. Don't underestimate the player that Amoros-Gutierrez was for them either. No doubt Muelenberg gets thrust in the spotlight. Also no doubt this team changes style with no true, experienced post presence on the roster.

Olivet turns over everyone who contributed meaningfully. No way Manuel comes back - strong suspicion based on talk that he's not been too engaged with class much this semester. I wonder if he looks at someplace like Ferris? Either way, Comets will take a very big step back.

Trine loses some meaningful contributors but had some nice juniors. Will be interesting to see how they shake out.

Kzoo came on strong and was young last year, and will be in the mix for top six for sure.

Alma is interesting. Rake developed nicely and former Hope big Rob McGivney looks to join them next year. I see them taking a step forward next year as well unless a coaching change upsets the apple cart.

Adrian was young too and finished strong. If they can add some depth, they too stand to move up.

As for Hope... No doubt A LOT of production lost with the departure of Beckman, Ray, Towns, and Goral. This group contributed 49% of ppg, 48.8% of rpg, 55.1% of apg, 61.1% of spg, 50% of bpg, and 49.3% of minutes per game. All character guys too who both starred AND understood strengths and roles.

Lewis and Granger bring back a nice chunk of production. Only question is, as the primary options (arguably they were 2 and 3 behind Beckman last year) can they increase their production by say 10%? These two contributed 38.8% of ppg, 26.2% of rpg, 27.2% of apg, 24.1% of spg, 15% of bpg, and 29% of minutes per game.

Hackert, Danny Beckman, Gamm, Vree, and Honer all saw appreciable time, though Gamm missed half the season due to injury. Zandstra hasn't gotten much run but maybe with one last summer push, he could dent the rotation? The three freshmen will all improve and showed glimpses (Dietz, Davis, George).

The Dutchmen will be a bigger team. Vree is a nice rim protector at 6-9 and cleans up well on the O glass. He made nice improvements this year. Gamm is a high IQ player. Does a bit of everything and based on his HS trajectory has shown he can step from bit player to role player to a primary scoring option. Can he stretch his game outside too? If so, he and Granger can be a killer one-two post punch.

Hackert and Beckman are intriguing. Both are excellent passers, both had explosive offensive games in 2019, and Beckman is a very good defender. Honer is a toughness guy. With work on his game he can possibly be more of a threat on O. Dietz, Davis, and George are all a bit bigger than the other guards. Over 6 feet and longer. Each has game, gained some experience through the ups and downs as college freshmen and are poised to pick up some of that slack, perhaps more collectively than any one of them individually.

I think Hope will fly under the radar all summer and fall but be right there in the mix when the ball is tipped.

The question is, is this level of parody, which seems truly unparalleled, preferred over the Hope-Calvin domination over the last several decades? I think it's good for the conference myself...

[ziggy]

The question is, is this level of parody, which seems truly unparalleled, preferred over the Hope-Calvin domination over the last several decades? I think it's good for the conference myself...

More league parity would be preferred if it was a result of greater strength from non-Hope/Calvin teams but the fact is Hope/Calvin being less than their usual selves has more to do with it. The league is more competitive overall if you want to live in an MIAA bubble but the truth is the league is down overall. Pre-conference records show that to be true.

[HoopsCoach]

While I agree that Hope and Calvin have perhaps been down slightly, the talent that Trine and Albion have (we will consider Olivet an anomaly based on their roster makeup) is up. And non conference is too hard and all over the place to be the only sign of parity (my bad on the wrong word, though maybe the shift is a parody too?! Lol) vs. mediocrity.

[ziggy]

While I agree that Hope and Calvin have perhaps been down slightly, the talent that Trine and Albion have (we will consider Olivet an anomaly based on their roster makeup) is up. And non conference is too hard and all over the place to be the only sign of parity (my bad on the wrong word, though maybe the shift is a parody too?! Lol) vs. mediocrity.

I still would not put them on par with the Albion teams of the aughts. There have been non-Hope/Calvin teams at or better than the level of non-Hope/Calvin teams right now.

[devossed]

Parity is very good for the league, in my humble opinion.

I don't see any reason why Albion and Trine will not continue this trend in years ahead also: both are well-coached, with seemingly good dudes at the helm. They will continue to attract and develop talent.

Calvin will be better, because I think Meulenberg can develop into that all-league type of talent that can shift momentum in tight games. He'll need to get much stronger, but I think he can get there.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hope with 1 (or even 2?) incoming FR thrust into major roles early on. Depending on who else they yet end up with in this next class, it could significantly impact the outlook for the Dutchmen.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Maybe I've got my definitions wrong, but you don't really want parity within a conference if you're looking national.  Parity typically means everybody is hovering around the mean.  You want competition.  You want 3-4 good, nationally competitive programs to help everyone improve.  The MAC Commonwealth has about the best parity I've seen in Division III, but they don't really produce nationally competitive squads.  The MIAA was down overall, even if more teams were competitive.  You want to keep this level of competition, while also boosting talent across the conference.  It's definitely good to be more than just Calvin and Hope, but you'd like for those challengers to be at a level historically only Calvin and Hope have been able to achieve. That's the next step.

[HoopsCoach]

Good points. I was thinking high level parity - as in teams rise up to the level of Hope & Calvin. No reason the MIAA can't be like the CCIW, who sent, what, three teams to the dance this year?

[Knight2Day]

Good points. I was thinking high level parity - as in teams rise up to the level of Hope & Calvin. No reason the MIAA can't be like the CCIW, who sent, what, three teams to the dance this year?

TVD, is that you!?

[DrDutchman]

Does anyone have an updated recruiting list for the MIAA teams? I know it's somewhat early but I haven't seen much activity on social media so far

[Jameswys]

Does anyone have an updated recruiting list for the MIAA teams? I know it's somewhat early but I haven't seen much activity on social media so far

A quarter of the league is looking for a head coach, so recruiting could be a bit slow for some teams.

[almcguirejr]

Does anyone have an updated recruiting list for the MIAA teams? I know it's somewhat early but I haven't seen much activity on social media so far

Mitchell IMHO is potentially having his best recruiting  year.