MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Jameswys]

Olivet's expansion projects, interesting reading.
https://www.olivetcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Public-Phase-OC_ADV-Case-Statement-PERFECT-0118.pdf


I'm willing to get a kick starter going for $25,000 so we can name it the Steve Ernst Officials' Locker Room.

I'd donate!

[formerd3db]

Personally I'd rather have McKay be the varsity gym, as opposed to Upton. McKay is an Old School gym. The "bench" are is very tight to the sides and the fans are 12ish feet above the floor screaming down to the floor. I'd wager large amounts in Olivet's favor on McKay. It would be highly intimidating (during my pledging I had to play basketball on this court, it wasn't very intimidating for us, but it was for the teams after us as their alumni where more involved). The atmosphere would be the most intense in the country.

A story from my time as a player on Calvin's JV team in another century, supports Jameswys' assessment of McKay's advantages for the Comets. The court was surrounded by the large wall, where even first row patrons---typically screaming invectives at the visiting team--were several feet above the hardwood. As a visiting player, it was enough to help me appreciate the intimidation factor the condemned felt when left to fend for themselves on the ancient Colosseum floor, awaiting the gladiator's dreaded entrance. I don't even need to embellish this story to make my point. McKay's playing surface left barely enough room for any out-of-bounds space. One end was reserved for Olivet students who may or may not have arrived at McKay before attending a local pub. I vividly recall seeing a huge loogie pass over my right shoulder just as I was inbounding the ball along the baseline. After reaching the other end of the court, I asked the ref what could be done with the rowdies who nearly expectorated on me. I have never forgotten the official's pithy recommendation: "Next time, inbound the ball quicker."

LOL!

I join Gregory in his comment! That story is hilarious and a classic!😮😁

Regarding McKay, I agree with jameswys in that I'd love to see that made back into the main basketball arena for Olivet. Admittedly, I love the old, historic buildings on campus there, although I am also partial to their more modern design student center as my late father designed it!

McKay, indeed, had that intimidation factor, very similar to what Hope's old football stadium Riverview Park was back in my playing days,  in which the visitors stands that ran the entire length of the field was about 12 feet behind the visiting team. Similarly to your McKay story, most Hope students sat on that side ( the roof covered home stands were reserved seating, always filled by parents, alumni) and the visiting teams were always subjected to some very colorful "cheers" and such!

McKay would have to undergo some significant revisions as I recall the floor is not to NCAA regulations (similar to Hope's former home court at the now renovated Holland Civic Center, which was about two feet too short in length.) However, that is unlikely to happen as it is my understanding that McKay is going to be torn down for construction of a new building/addition and renovation to the Upton Center. That will be sad if it occurs as I'd like to see it at least structurally saved and renovated for some other use.

Anyway, thanks for the great story! I wonder how that ref really felt about that loogie!😮😳🤐🤫😬😁🙂

That's really interesting that your father designed the Kirk Center. I have spent many hours in that building, as I've worked there most of my adult life. It's seen a few remodels but is still a great place to be for a day, as it's all windows and you can always see natural light.

And yes you are correct, McKay should be gone by the Fall of 2021. They are aggressively pushing to replace it with a new student center, with study spaces, meeting places and commons. It should be a nice addition and while I'd like to see McKay kept, years of neglect (I'd guess probably in the 70s and 80s) have led to the building not really being salvageable, in my inexpert opinion.

Let me guess ... it's being held together with spit and baling wire.

It's in usable shape, in fact the gym is used for intramural sports, but it's not in 'worth the money to save it and repurpose it" shape.  Again this is my inexpert opinion.

You are probably right, Gregory!😬🙂 However, at least it looks good from the outside!

In all seriousness, though, while I would like to see it renovated, O understand the need for the new student center and that area is the appropriate site for it. Similar to our Hope's Carnegie-Schroten Grmnasium, that would have been nice to save and renovated for the art center like Alma College did. Yet, financially ,, not the best option. At least Olivet's design for the new student center has a simar front facade like McKa.

And yes, jameswys, the Kirk Center has been a good time tested design. Have always been proud of that by my dad. Even though he usually preferred matching new design to old, his modern architectural designs akwTways fit in nicely regardless of the project. He also was one of the architects who designed the St.Louis Arch under famed NY architect Ero Serinan. Guess it was all that great training dad received at U of Michigan's architectural school!!🙂

Thanks sac  and jameswys for the info and link.

[maroonandgold]

Albion came from behind in the last minutes again to beat Case Western Reserve 74-69.  Coming from behind has been a pattern for them this year.  Alma beat Finlandia by about 12, but they were behind at halftime to a team that has not won all year long.

[sac]

Albion is going to have an ok Pool C resume, but they're going to be on the low end of the SOS calculations and probably 0-2 vs ranked opponents.   Would probably need to go 2 losses maybe 3 the rest of the way to make it in as an at-large.  With losses to Marietta and Mt. Union they aren't going to get much of a ranking higher than about 4th in the Great Lakes.

[maroonandgold]

Calvin defeated Grace 100-90 in a hard fought game that had 15 lead changes.  De Vries just took over the game when it was tied with 4:22 left in the game.  Bos was outstanding in scoring 30 points for a career high.  He was 5 out of 6 on threes.  As a team, Calvin was 14 out of 30 on threes.  When they shoot that well they are tough.  They also again out rebounded a taller team, though just by 1 rebound.  For a shorter team their rebounding has really held up well all year.  this was a game that could have easily gone either way, but Calvin really came through  when it counted.  There was more subbing the first half, and that might have helped the strong finish.

[KnightSlappy]

At the end of the Calvin game it was announced that next Saruday's game vs. Olivet is being moved to Van Noord Arena. I'm guessing they're flip-flopping the schedule to give Olivet more time to find an alternative venue.

[Jameswys]

At the end of the Calvin game it was announced that next Saruday's game vs. Olivet is being moved to Van Noord Arena. I'm guessing they're flip-flopping the schedule to give Olivet more time to find an alternative venue.

Yes I think that's the case. More time for Olivet to Upton or Cutler ready for basketball.

[sac]

Non-conference play is completed. 


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
2019    37-51    0.421
2020    46-42    0.523 



42-37 vs D3
3-4 vs NAIA
1-1 vs NCCAA

Vs Conference
4-3 vs NCAC
7-6 vs HCAC
8-8 vs OAC
2-0 vs PAC

4-8 vs CCIW
3-5 vs WIAC
14-7 vs other

[Flying Dutch Fan]

MIAA Pick 'Em Contest is up for the 2020 season.  Rules are posted, and we are ready to roll.

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5915.3855

[sac]

Olivet has changed the starting time of a couple home Saturday games.

Jan 18  Alma at Olivet 7pm
Feb 1  Hope at Olivet 5:30pm

Along with all home game being played at Upton Gymnasium

[sac]

Albion 93  Calvin 62  F

I was in Kresge tonight, and if I hadn't seen a game there in December it was exactly like the last time I was in Kresge, only it was Hope taking the pounding last February.  Albion was great, Calvin was not and you get this romp.

Sequence of the night, watch Caden Ebling post up Alex Bos, and 34 minutes into the game Bos gets tired of getting leaned on by Caden so he has Ebling take a seat with a savy veteran move.  The whole play ends up with an Ebling dunk and a terrible, terrible technical foul.
https://youtu.be/XpOqrwSFpSA?t=5984

Should mention Albion did a nice job on DeVries and everyone with any hopes of stopping him should watch the video.


Albion's very tough when they get it going.  Calvin had no answers on the interior for Ebling/Armstrong and their guards were just more athletic and quicker than anyone Calvin could put out there.  Ultimately its about making shots and Calvin couldn't make any when they mattered.   But when you have guys like Justin McAbee going 2-2 from 3 and little used Alex Warman knocking down four straight nifty lefty tosses from 10 in garbage time, its just not your night.


Albion has now won 5 straight over the Knights in Kresge, and have a 6 game winning streak against Hope and Calvin in their own gym and the last wins over both by 31 points.

[sac]

This sequence caught my eye last night.  Hard to tell if Calvin just misses switches here on screens or is so caught up on defending Jamezell Davis they put themselves in serious defensive conflict.  Caden Ebling ends up sealing two guys low and Justin McAbee slips out for the most wide open shot of the night.   Calvin ends up caught so deep no one even flinches to run at McAbee. 

https://youtu.be/XpOqrwSFpSA?t=1900

[Fifth and Putnam]

Albion 93  Calvin 62  F

I was in Kresge tonight, and if I hadn't seen a game there in December it was exactly like the last time I was in Kresge, only it was Hope taking the pounding last February.  Albion was great, Calvin was not and you get this romp.

Sequence of the night, watch Caden Ebling post up Alex Bos, and 34 minutes into the game Bos gets tired of getting leaned on by Caden so he has Ebling take a seat with a savy veteran move.  The whole play ends up with an Ebling dunk and a terrible, terrible technical foul.
https://youtu.be/XpOqrwSFpSA?t=5984

Should mention Albion did a nice job on DeVries and everyone with any hopes of stopping him should watch the video.


Albion's very tough when they get it going.  Calvin had no answers on the interior for Ebling/Armstrong and their guards were just more athletic and quicker than anyone Calvin could put out there.  Ultimately its about making shots and Calvin couldn't make any when they mattered.   But when you have guys like Justin McAbee going 2-2 from 3 and little used Alex Warman knocking down four straight nifty lefty tosses from 10 in garbage time, its just not your night.


Albion has now won 5 straight over the Knights in Kresge, and have a 6 game winning streak against Hope and Calvin in their own gym and the last wins over both by 31 points.

An asinine technical foul. You have to allow for the players momentum swing to stop before he can let go of the rim safely.

[wiz]

Going to be a long season for the Knights if they don't start playing defense ASAP.

[sac]

Trine and Alma have already moved both men's and women's games to Sunday afternoon at 3pm.