MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

New Alma recruit (first one I believe for new coach Mike Fitz):

6-4 SG Matt Blanton for Chelsea MI

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Updated recruit list (corrections appreciated).  Up to 48 on the list: Avg is 6-4, 19 guys over 6-5, 4 guys under 6-0

Player	Height	Position	High School	College
Jordan Love	5-11	G	Wyoming (MI)	Adrian
Jake Slezinger	6-3	SG	Gibraltar Carlson (MI)	Adrian
Andrew Tiemeyer	6-3	G	Allendale (MI)	Adrian
Ethan Krueger	6-7	PF/C	Mona Shores (MI)	Adrian
Mason Woods	5-10	PG	East Lansing (MI)	Albion
Nate Childers	6-2	PG	Benzie Central (MI)	Albion
Phil Ragan III	6-2	G	UD-Jesuit (MI)	Albion
Nathan Steinman	6-2	G	Clarkston (MI)	Albion
Cooper Bright	6-3	G	Alpena (MI)	Albion
Jerod "Beck" Willems	6-3	G	Bethany Christian (Goshen IN)	Albion
Michael Calhoun	6-6	F	Riverview Gabriel Tichard (MI)	Albion
Dray Chase	6-0	PG	Okemos (MI)	Alma
Paul Gadde	6-3	G	Alma (MI) / Albion Transfer	Alma
Dylan Cragg	6-4	G	Grayling (MI)	Alma
Josh Elliott	6-5	G/F	Freeland (MI)	Alma
Matthew Ambrose	6-2	G	Stevenson (IL) / U of Indianapolis transfer	Calvin
Brock Broderick	6-3	G	Traverse City Christian (MI)	Calvin
DeJuan Potts-Heard	6-3	G	Cookeville HS (Cookeville TN)	Calvin
Luka Ressler	6-3	G	GR Catholic Central (MI)	Calvin
Michael Morris	6-4	F	West Catholic (MI)	Calvin
Trevin Winkle	6-4	G	Northern MI Christian (MI)	Calvin
Owen Varnado	6-6	F	Western MI Christian (MI)	Calvin
Brady Ewing	6-7	PF	Petoskey (MI)	Calvin
Jalen Overway	6-9	PF/C	Holland Christian (MI)	Calvin
Sam Leppien	6-10	C	Alma (MI)	Calvin
Marcus Wourman Jr	5-11	PG	East Lansing/ Mt. Zion Prep (MI)	Hope
Joseph Hayes	6-1	G	Shelby (MI)	Hope
Justice Mims	6-2	PG/SG	Rochester Adams (MI)	Hope
Ethan Crabtree	6-5	PG/SG	Coldwater (MI)	Hope
Blake Pistro	6-5	F	New Albany (OH)	Hope
Carson Sanders	6-5	SG	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Hope
Nic Stump	6-5	SF	Grand Haven (MI)	Hope
Andrew Leeper	6-6	PF	Homestead (Ft Wayne IN)	Hope
Carter Bandemer	6-2	G	Howell (MI)	Kalamazoo
Caleb Caul	6-2	G	Grayling (MI)	Kalamazoo
JJ Stevens	6-6	G/F	Sturgis (MI)	Kalamazoo
Hayden Garrison	6-8	C	Gull Lake (MI)	Olivet
J.J. Marshall	5-11	G	La Lumiere Prep (LaPorte IN)	Trine
Drew Cwik	6-1	G	South Elgin HS (Elgin IL)	Trine
Evan Lumbrezer	6-1	G	Evergreen HS (Metamora OH)	Trine
Mason Gladieux	6-2	G	Crossroads Christian (Henderson NC)	Trine
Jackson Jannsen	6-2	G	Carmel (IN) / Manchester Transfer	Trine
Ryan Schroeder	6-3	G	Central Noble  (Albion IN)	Trine
Colin Shriver	6-5	F	Holland West Ottawa (MI)	Trine
Nate Tucker	6-5	G/F	Marshall (MI)	Trine
Troy Cicotte	6-6	G/F	Arbor Prep/Divine Child (MI)	Trine
Logan Gard	6-7	PF	Central Noble  (Albion IN)	Trine
Logan McKenzie	6-7	F	Byron Center (MI)	Trine

[sac]

New Alma recruit (first one I believe for new coach Mike Fitz):

6-4 SG Matt Blanton for Chelsea MI

Matt is a 2023 kid.   He has offers from Alma, St. Vincent and visited Kalamazoo

[Flying Dutch Fan]

New Alma recruit (first one I believe for new coach Mike Fitz):

6-4 SG Matt Blanton for Chelsea MI

Matt is a 2023 kid.   He has offers from Alma, St. Vincent and visited Kalamazoo

Oops - thanks for the correction - I updated the list above

[TUAngola]

This is non-sports related, but huge, albeit not unexpected, news at Trine University annouced today:

https://www.trine.edu/news/2022/dr-brooks-retiring.aspx

After 23 years at Trine University Dr Earl D Brooks II is retiring at the end of May 2023.  He has been the longest tenured university or college president in Indiana.  What he has done in his time at Trine is nothing short of remarkable.  This was a college that had declining enrollment, a campus infrastructure that was falling apart, and financial woes.  Now Trine has a top notch campus with all current academic buildings fully renovated or being built almost yearly, not only on its Angola campus but at their satellite campuses as well.  Enrollment continues to increase yearly.  And the athletic facilities are a tremendous attraction to student-athletes who want a great education and play the sport they love.

Thank you Dr & Mrs Brooks and congratulations on your retirement!

[HOPEful]

This is non-sports related, but huge, albeit not unexpected, news at Trine University announced today:

https://www.trine.edu/news/2022/dr-brooks-retiring.aspx...

From an outsider's perspective, I can't think of a single campus that has improved as significantly as Trine has since they were Tri-State. Athletically, they've risen from laughing stock bottom dwellers in most sports to perennial contenders. This is aided by the new buildings on campus, like the MTI Center and Ice Arena. (Oh how I wish Hope would go varsity hockey)

I've never met Dr. Brooks, but I have a ton of respect for any president that led his/her institution with the success that Trine has had over the past couple decades.

[sac]

This is non-sports related, but huge, albeit not unexpected, news at Trine University announced today:

https://www.trine.edu/news/2022/dr-brooks-retiring.aspx...

From an outsider's perspective, I can't think of a single campus that has improved as significantly as Trine has since they were Tri-State. Athletically, they've risen from laughing stock bottom dwellers in most sports to perennial contenders. This is aided by the new buildings on campus, like the MTI Center and Ice Arena. (Oh how I wish Hope would go varsity hockey)

I've never met Dr. Brooks, but I have a ton of respect for any president that led his/her institution with the success that Trine has had over the past couple decades.

I agree on Trine, incredible transformation, they've proven a great addition to the MIAA.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I know some/all of these have been shared previously, just bringing all of the posted 22-23 schedules together:

Adrian:  https://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Albion:  https://gobrits.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Alma: 
Calvin:  https://www.calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule
Hope:
Kalamazoo: 
Olivet:
Traine:  https://www.trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule

[sac]

We kinda knew this already but confirmation UW-Oshkosh will play at Hope on Nov 12.  UW-Stout plays at Hope on that Friday.   Both schools are playing at Calvin on opposite days.    https://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule

I believe Hope/Calvin are also flopping opponents with Rockford and UW-Stevens Point.


At last check Hope is also sharing a one game opponent with a team out East that is also playing a game in the Chicago area the next day which is very cool.   

I'd share the rest but I've forgotten one.  I don't want to get it wrong and I don't have dates.

[PauldingLightUP]

Hope full schedule:

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope full schedule:

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule

Preconference schedule looks quite interesting and there will be some really tough challenges.  Six of the 11 non-con games are against Massey top 100 teams from last year:

UW Stout - 49
UW Oshkosh - 3
Hanover - 69
UW Plattville - 9
North Central - 41
Babson - 51

Only Hanover and UW Plattville in that list in on the road, as Hope opens with 5 in a row at home, then 4 in a row on the road, and finish with 2 at home leading into the MIAA Season

[HOPEful]

Such an exciting schedule. Feels like 4 games against WIAC schools is becoming standard, which I love, since it's always a nice SOS boost. But adding in there Hanover, North Central, Wittenberg, and Babson is awesome. Two additional D3 opponents is just so much better than the tournament with Cornerstone and Aquinas. Hope might especially need those non-conference RROs, since many MIAA teams will be entering a rebuilding year and it's very possible conference play won't provide any this season.

The argument in the past for keeping the Cornerstone/Aquinas tournament was difficulty scheduling D3 opponents, particularly on Thanksgiving weekend. Is there a reason why that doesn't seem to have been an issue this season? And anyone know if the Wittenberg and Hanover games were a home/away swap? Can we hope to see them in Holland next season?

[ziggy]

At last check Hope is also sharing a one game opponent with a team out East that is also playing a game in the Chicago area the next day which is very cool.

Looks like the Babson game as they play at U Chicago on 12/31. Always cool to see matchups like this we don't normally see on a schedule.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

At last check Hope is also sharing a one game opponent with a team out East that is also playing a game in the Chicago area the next day which is very cool.

Looks like the Babson game as they play at U Chicago on 12/31. Always cool to see matchups like this we don't normally see on a schedule.

Babson's got a very strong alumni network. I know the last time they went to Chicago, it was largely paid for by a local alum, eager to help the team make business connections out that way. I'd bet this is a similar deal. Glad to see them getting creative with the schedule, too.

[sac]

That Hope/Wittenberg game will be their first regular season matchup since 1993-94 at Hope's Holiday Tournament.  Witt won 87-77 on OT.  Witt ended up going 30-2, 16-0 and made it to the Final Four losing to eventual champ Lebanon Valley and winning the consolation game.  Think that was either the first or second Final Four in Salem.   Witt went unbeaten in the regular season lost in the NCAC title game and national semi-final.  If they weren't #1 going into the tournament they were close.

Witt head coach Matt Croci was an All-American guard on that team.

They've met a couple times since in the NCAA's, both times at Witt.  A Hope win in 1996 that sent them to the Final Four, and a Witt win in 2006 Sweet 16 where eventually Witt ended up in the Final  Four.

Overall the series is 3-4 to Witt, and I think 6 of those are NCAA tournament games.  There was a pretty long stretch from the early 80's to 1996 where Hope or Calvin squared off with Wittenberg several times in NCAA tournament.


Nice historical matchup.  I suspect Witt will be better than the .500 team they were last year.