MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[TUAngola]

D3Hoops put out a MBB and WBB poll yesterday, poll limited to 10 teams since there are a vast number of D3 teams not playing winter sports.

For the men Trine checks in at #6 and Albion #8 (before last nights defeat to Hope).  It's nice to get some recognition for the men, but honestly Trine is not a legit top 10 team.  Hope visits Angola to take on Trine tomorrow night.  I just don't see us matching up very well, especially inside with Hope's bigs, and then with Thomas really playing well, he's a matchup problem too.  With Granger in the lineup Hope is as tough as most anyone around and could very well be a ranked team this year.  You can see how much Granger means to Hope, losing to Alma without him in the lineup is telling.  It will be interesting to see how Hope's legs are, this will be their 4th game in 6 days. 

For the women Hope is #1 and Trine #5.  Right where we left off last winter.  Trine visits Holland to take on Hope tomorrow night.  Hope WBB probably the most talented and deepest team in the nation.  Trine is deep too, but not as talented offensively as Hope.  Trine's success is easily from their defense, we need to make it an ugly game to have a shot.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

DIII Championships are official canceled: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2021/02/committee-decides-championships-fate

[sac]

Trine 91 Hope 52 F

Trine was excellent all night long, suffocating defense at times.  Hope was simply not up to the task, and frankly quite poor for several long moments of this game.  27 turnovers to 6, outscored 40-2 on turnovers.

Hope:  Thomas 12, Granger 9
Trine:  Bowman 23, Cox 13, Williams 11

[sac]

Albion 81 Adrian 70 F
Alma 84  Olivet 81 F 

[RuleBritannia]

Albion 81, Adrian 70, F

Kind of a ho-hum game down at Adrian tonight. Adrian's performance was certainly improved compared to the bludgeoning they received last week by Albion. Adrian did a much better job defensively at contesting Briton shooters, and allowed the Brits just 3 makes on 11 outside attempts beyond the arc. Offensively Adrian struggled to maintain consistency, exchanging good plays with ill-advised shots and careless turnovers with near equal frequency.

Albion came out in this game with 2 clear directives from Coach May, defend with more intensity, and get the ball into Caden Ebeling. Ebeling went off for 32 points (26 in the first half, including 7-12 on FGs and a perfect 12-12 on FTs). Adrian adjusted, but reserve guard Mark Tocco had a nice second half scoring 8 points (10 for the game) amidst balanced scoring for the Brits after the break.

Whether the Brits defensive improved is hard to judge, and very opponent dependent. While it seemed like they played with more intensity and better communication defensively, they still allowed more than 70 points to a team that shot a respectable but hardly scorching 5-16 on threes, and only outscored Adrian 38-32 in the paint, despite getting 34 from Ebeling.

Trine's margin over Hope ought to raise some eyebrows around the league. sac mentioned he thought it would be pretty close at the top. I agree that Calvin, Hope, Albion, and perhaps even a surprisingly game Alma squad seem fairly evenly matched, but I'm not sure Trine isn't just going to run away with it. They seem to have reloaded despite significant departures from last year, and have yet to face a really competitive game from an MIAA opponent during this conference/nonconference part of the schedule. Albion will have the opportunity to give them just that this Saturday.

[maroonandgold]

Albion 81, Adrian 70, F

Kind of a ho-hum game down at Adrian tonight. Adrian's performance was certainly improved compared to the bludgeoning they received last week by Albion. Adrian did a much better job defensively at contesting Briton shooters, and allowed the Brits just 3 makes on 11 outside attempts beyond the arc. Offensively Adrian struggled to maintain consistency, exchanging good plays with ill-advised shots and careless turnovers with near equal frequency.

Albion came out in this game with 2 clear directives from Coach May, defend with more intensity, and get the ball into Caden Ebeling. Ebeling went off for 32 points (26 in the first half, including 7-12 on FGs and a perfect 12-12 on FTs). Adrian adjusted, but reserve guard Mark Tocco had a nice second half scoring 8 points (10 for the game) amidst balanced scoring for the Brits after the break.

Whether the Brits defensive improved is hard to judge, and very opponent dependent. While it seemed like they played with more intensity and better communication defensively, they still allowed more than 70 points to a team that shot a respectable but hardly scorching 5-16 on threes, and only outscored Adrian 38-32 in the paint, despite getting 34 from Ebeling.

Trine's margin over Hope ought to raise some eyebrows around the league. sac mentioned he thought it would be pretty close at the top. I agree that Calvin, Hope, Albion, and perhaps even a surprisingly game Alma squad seem fairly evenly matched, but I'm not sure Trine isn't just going to run away with it. They seem to have reloaded despite significant departures from last year, and have yet to face a really competitive game from an MIAA opponent during this conference/nonconference part of the schedule. Albion will have the opportunity to give them just that this Saturday.

I definitely agree with the idea that so far Trine appears to be the top team.  Their defense has been especially dominant with their ability to steal the ball.  Albion so far appears to be less dominant than expected other than Ebeling.  The two games I've seen against weaker teams turned out to be far more of struggle than I would have expected.  Calvin really needs Warners back to be competitive.  It appears to me that the biggest problem is the size of the backups in the forward  positions.  Hope could be tough, but they appear to run hot and cold.  I question whether Alma can compete with the top four since they have been beaten rather soundly in at  least two games, but they have the size and shooting.  So maybe they just need more games under their belt.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Looking at the 4 game gauntlet in 6 days that Hope just completed, I think a 2-2 record is a pretty good start honestly, not that I didn't want or expect Hope to win all 4.  Considering guys in the COVID protocol and playing your first games in 300+ days all bunched together like that is impressive.  Add that they had 3 in row on the road (if that still matters) against the other top 3 teams in the league and 2-1 in those games is really good work.  Honestly I thought that last night was the first time it looked like some tired legs out there - not to discredit Trines great defense. 

[almcguirejr]

Governor Whitmer's decision to allow HS winter sports today to begin in Michigan is overdue.  It appears she is is going to allow 2 spectators per player and coach.  I would like to see the MIAA adopt a similar plan.  Allowing 50-75 parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends of players to attend games would be a reasonable step forward.  It's unlikely to jeopardize anyone's safety.

[Pat Coleman]

Governor Whitmer's decision to allow HS winter sports today to begin in Michigan is overdue.  It appears she is is going to allow 2 spectators per player and coach.  I would like to see the MIAA adopt a similar plan.  Allowing 50-75 parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends of players to attend games would be a reasonable step forward.  It would not jeopardize anyone's safety.

I would say "it is unlikely to" rather than "it would not" because you can't guarantee anything.

However, anything the conference might request is subject to ratification by individual schools. Each school can control its own campus as it wishes.

[hope81]

Hope vs. Kalamazoo game is cancelled for tomorrow due to Covid protocols.  Game may perhaps be rescheduled for a later date but not known at this time.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope vs. Kalamazoo game is cancelled for tomorrow due to Covid protocols.  Game may perhaps be rescheduled for a later date but not known at this time.

Just curious- which team is in the protocol?

[hope81]

Kalamazoo I believe.

[sac]

Governor Whitmer's decision to allow HS winter sports today to begin in Michigan is overdue.  It appears she is is going to allow 2 spectators per player and coach.  I would like to see the MIAA adopt a similar plan.  Allowing 50-75 parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends of players to attend games would be a reasonable step forward.  It would not jeopardize anyone's safety.

I would say "it is unlikely to" rather than "it would not" because you can't guarantee anything.

However, anything the conference might request is subject to ratification by individual schools. Each school can control its own campus as it wishes.

Reading the room a little I don't get the sense there's a big push to get parents in the stands.  Perhaps on Senior nights.  Mostly I think they'd just like to complete the season.


It would be wise to pay attention to  Washtenaw County's UK variant outbreak hitting the University of Michigan campus.  While it hasn't actually struck athletics that could bring things to a screeching halt quickly.

[sac]

Saturday

Calvin 83 Olivet 65
Adrian 85 Alma 80
Trine 76 Albion 70

[TUAngola]

Final from Albion:  Trine 76 Albion 70

This was a fun game to watch.  Both teams shot the ball exceptionally well, both around 58% for the game, with Albion shooting a scorching 70% in the 2nd half.  Trine led pretty much wire to wire, not sure if Albion had a lead in the 1st half or not, I think the game was tied at one point.  The difference in the game was that Cortez Garland picked up 2 fouls in the first 6 minutes of the game and Coach May sat him the rest of the half.  If Cortez was in there for the whole game it would have made a huge difference because in the second half he just went off.  He scored all of his 26 points in the second half including shooting 6-6 from 3, which included a banked in 3 at the buzzer to make the final score a 6 pt game.  It wasn't like they were all open looks, we had a hand in his face all the time, he just made some really tough shots.  If I was the coach I would have played him with 2 fouls off and on in the 1st half, especially being down, because the Brits are pretty much Ebeling and Garland offensively this year, at least on a consistent basis.

For Trine it was another outstanding game from Nick Bowman, but the whole team just plays so well.  Most of our shots are uncontested as we move the ball from side to side very well and penetrate and dish.  We had lots of points in the paint, and it was good to see Bryce Williams break out of a shooting slump with 3 big 3pointers in the 1st half.  Mitch Geller had a good second half and threw down a couple dunks.  This team works harder on the defensive end than any other MIAA team I've seen so far.  Even though Albion shot the ball outstanding today, we forced a lot of turnovers and took numerous charges.

Now it's on to the 2nd half of the MIAA schedule where every game counts in the conference standings.  A rare 3 game schedule next week for everyone with games on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Trine:  Bowman 27, Williams 16, Geller 12
Albion:  Garland 26, Ebeling 25