MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Albion is hosting the Mike Turner Classic after its games today featuring 4 high schools coached by Albion grads.    at 5:30 pm a really good match-up with Birmingham Brother Rice (Rick Palmer) against Grand Blanc (Michael Thomas) following that Concord (Marcus Gill) against Jackson (Milton Barnes)

[Gregory Sager]

Albion is hosting the Mike Turner Classic after its games today featuring 4 high schools coached by Albion grads.    at 5:30 pm a really good match-up with Birmingham Brother Rice (Rick Palmer) against Grand Blanc (Michael Thomas) following that Concord (Marcus Gill) against Jackson (Milton Barnes)

That's very cool.

[formerd3db]

sac,
Yes, that is a very neat doing.
Also check your PMs.

[almcguirejr]

What I've felt, and I could be mistaken, is that Hope seems to lack identity. Outside of Preston, it feels like nobody has well defined roles.

Hope had lost 4 significant game contributors by minutes since Christmas that's going to shift roles and minutes around. Gamm and Hackert were able to return, but practice time was limited.  Losing Jake Honor for the season was a big blow for defense and rebounding and another 20+ minutes to pile on top of the Lewis minutes.    Not to mention their whole practice routine and rhythm has been shuffled when you lose as many guys(five) has Hope did in a short window.  Its not far from starting over.  It certainly hasn't helped.

There is a dearth of talent right now at Hope.  I have watched 4 of their games since Christmas.  Their upside this year seems limited to me.

[Grutte Dirk]

Does anyone have a list of class of 2020 MIAA commits?
I know it's early, but I would think a few high schoolers have committed as much as can be done. The new social media rules allow for D3 schools to post commits before the old deadline of May 1.

[wiz]

OMG!  Perez is at Van Noord. 

[arena]

OMG!  Perez is at Van Noord.

Can he, assuming he of course, hit a free throw?

[almcguirejr]

Olivet game winning play, Noah Wiswary to Jared Long at the buzzer.

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/videos/IMG_0601

[KnightSlappy]

Olivet game winning play, Noah Wiswary to Jared Long at the buzzer.

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/videos/IMG_0601

Really poor defense by Alma there. Check out where the defenders are as Olivet crosses half court. They're guarding the volleyball lines, not the paint.

[almcguirejr]

Olivet game winning play, Noah Wiswary to Jared Long at the buzzer.

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/videos/IMG_0601

Really poor defense by Alma there. Check out where the defenders are as Olivet crosses half court. They're guarding the volleyball lines, not the paint.

Olivet game winning play, Noah Wiswary to Jared Long at the buzzer.

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/videos/IMG_0601

Really poor defense by Alma there. Check out where the defenders are as Olivet crosses half court. They're guarding the volleyball lines, not the paint.

It's always a 50-50 call on taking a time out vs letting it play out.  Hargraves let it go and that allowed Wiswary to push the ball past about 7 players.  Wiswary did a great job of forcing the action and Ward made a great cut to get open.  Players can get caught watching in those situations and it appears players from both teams did that.

[sac]

Albion 109 Kalamazoo 94  F

Fun game at Kresge, Kzoo hung tough in the first half and led at the break 45-44, but Albion opened up a nice cushion with an early explosion of points in the second half and sort of cruised to this win.  Kzoo never gave up though and stayed right with the Brits for the most part.   Jamezell Davis and MJ Barnes put on a 3-point show, both finishing with 8 makes on the afternoon.  A couple records fell, Davis took 14 3-point attempts which should be the new Albion record and MJ Barnes went 8-9 which should be the single game pct. leader.

Solid games from Ebeling, Armstrong and Garland as well, just to many bodies for Kzoo to account for.  Ebeling didn't quite have his usual bounce but was still terrific in the post.

Kzoo found a lot of open and makeable shots in this game, but boy did they have some wild misses.  Almost literally hit or miss badly.  Jarnard Smith and Thomas Cook had nice games off the bench.  Albion did a nice job containing Ben Reiter for the most part.  Kzoo's offense is tough to defend, kind of crazy they haven't found more wins after seeing them in person.

Albion:  Davis 31, Barnes 26, Ebeling 14, Garland 14, Armstrong 13
Kzoo:  Janard Smith 19, Blyly 14, Cook 14, Reiter 13, Jack Smith 13

This game featured my first personal witness to a  technical foul for diving, assessed late in the game to Albion and after several seconds of continuous play.

[sac]

Olivet 91  Alma 89 F

Another fun one at Upton Gym.  Olivet opened up this one with a 13-4 lead and the Comets kept the Scots at that length for most of the first half, led by 7 at the break.      Sam Hargraves imo did a masterful job managing his lineup the second half and working around foul trouble to Chris Martin and Eddie Thigpen  (the Comets were also without Colin Carter and Keyon Rainey).   Hargraves inserted little used Ryan Franklin as a post defender a couple times late and the young man got a critical stop late in the game that may have made the extra possession difference.

Wiswary was critical for Olivet's roster management, played 16 second half minutes and was pretty good.  The final play was a great individual move to get himself open and great instinctual pass to Long under the bucket.  Alma got caught maybe looking for the 3 there.

Alma just had one of those nights where their great shooters were just a little off, both Kleiver and Woodruff failed to really get going from behind the arc with any momentum and even Ryan Stevens missed some shots he'll usually make as well.   Zach Sinke played a very composed game in the post, easily the best I've seen him play.  Even so I thought Alma was on the cusp of taking control of the game after fighting back from a slow start to take the lead but it just never happened for them.

Olivet:  Pardee 26, Angell 17, Thigpen 17, Wiswary 10
Alma:  Sinke 28, Kleiver 24, Stevens 16, Woodruff 11


btw, the game winner was by Jared Long, you might remember Long played for Hargraves at Alma for a couple of years before finding the basketball desert.  Playing at Olivet has given him new life, what a moment for him.

[sac]

Might as well crack open the plus/minus standings.

+1 for road win/ -1 for home loss

1.  Albion 4-0  +2
2.  Trine 4-0 +2
3.  Calvin 2-2  -1
4.  Hope 2-2 -1
5.  Kalamazoo 1-3 E
5.  Olivet 1-3  E
5.  Adrian 1-3  -1
5.  Alma 1-3  -1

Home teams are 12-4 all 4 losses to Albion and Trine.  Albion/Trine with effective 3 game leads already.

I think we might see a lot of variation in play based on games at home vs away.  I've seen 6 of the 8 now and there isn't much difference in anyone, but Albion is just playing great basketball right now.

[HoopsCoach]

What I've felt, and I could be mistaken, is that Hope seems to lack identity. Outside of Preston, it feels like nobody has well defined roles.

There is a dearth of talent right now at Hope.  I have watched 4 of their games since Christmas.  Their upside this year seems limited to me.

Not sure I agree with that. Dykhouse and Thomas are very good freshmen but are freshmen. Along with that comes ups and downs. But Thomas is arguably a D2 level talent.

The sophomore class took a hit with Dietz and Davis leaving but George can get hot as seen vs Adrian and is a high IQ player. Bikus could be interesting as a stretch four but is still finding his way.

Granger is among the best in the league. Hackert is a cerebral player. Gamm is the team's best defender and has drawn DeVries and Kalonji the past two games and held them both well in check during his minutes. Needs to stay healthy and provide Dennis Towns like 7-8 pts per game to get his full potential. Honer and Beckman are good defenders and role players and will be back next year. Vree has his ups and downs but when focused can score with some ease given not many match up to his 6-9 height. Wilkins gives nice minutes off the bench.

Plenty of talent and the right role players. Just need some uninterrupted cohesion to finish the season.

Only two seniors depart. As someone said this team has had to almost hit reset mid season with injuries and departures. Might not be a top two this year but can be the third best team and bring back all of that next season.


***EDIT fixed quote box

[HOPEful]

Not sure I agree with that. Dykhouse and Thomas are very good freshmen but are freshmen. Along with that comes ups and downs. But Thomas is arguably a D2 level talent.

The sophomore class took a hit with Dietz and Davis leaving but George can get hot as seen vs Adrian and is a high IQ player. Bikus could be interesting as a stretch four but is still finding his way.

Granger is among the best in the league. Hackert is a cerebral player. Gamm is the team's best defender and has drawn DeVries and Kalonji the past two games and held them both well in check during his minutes. Needs to stay healthy and provide Dennis Towns like 7-8 pts per game to get his full potential. Honer and Beckman are good defenders and role players and will be back next year. Vree has his ups and downs but when focused can score with some ease given not many match up to his 6-9 height. Wilkins gives nice minutes off the bench.

Plenty of talent and the right role players. Just need some uninterrupted cohesion to finish the season.

Only two seniors depart. As someone said this team has had to almost hit reset mid season with injuries and departures. Might not be a top two this year but can be the third best team and bring back all of that next season.

I think this is a pretty good assessment of Hope this season. I would say your assessment of Preston is a little lofty.

I am extremely excited for the continued development of George, Thomas, and Dykhouse. That is a very solid all underclassman back court to be excited about going into next season and beyond. Wilkins, Honer, Hackert, Grainger, and Gamm all return next season.

I think this team is a player or two away from being very good, and I'm not sure that/those player(s) aren't already on the team.