MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Hope will be playing at North Park on Thursday Dec 21 next season.  Second season in a row  (played at North Park tournament in 18 but did not play North Park)


North Park ended up Hope's most valuable non-conference opponent last season and will likely be better on the court this year.

[Greek Tragedy]

When it comes to the players and coaches, no one likes double-headers. No one likes to sit around for 3 hours to play the 2nd game and no one likes to sit around for 3 hours after playing to watch the 2nd game.

Someone posted on the WIAC board that they are planning on going back to double-headers, but in the past I believe those have been just on weekends. I don't recall weekday double-headers.

[KnightSlappy]

There's also the issue of start times, old way the womens games always tipped first, followed by men.  New way they try to even that out.  So you get 5:30 mens game tips on a Wed afternoon because you scheduled an unnecessary double-header.  Women had the same issue and they certainly don't deserve the 5:30pm tips on Wed afternoons either. 

I don't think start times are a conference thing, at least anymore. Last year on all home doubleheader days at Calvin, the women played early 1pm/6pm and the men played later 3pm/8pm.

[oldknight]

There's also the issue of start times, old way the womens games always tipped first, followed by men.  New way they try to even that out.  So you get 5:30 mens game tips on a Wed afternoon because you scheduled an unnecessary double-header.  Women had the same issue and they certainly don't deserve the 5:30pm tips on Wed afternoons either. 

I don't think start times are a conference thing, at least anymore. Last year on all home doubleheader days at Calvin, the women played early 1pm/6pm and the men played later 3pm/8pm.

In American society's continuing search for equity — however one defines it — I am reminded of economist Thomas Sowell's prescient observation that "There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs."

[pointlem]

Trine's 2023-2024 MBB schedule is out:

https://trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/schedule

11 game non-conference schedule, 6 home games and 5 away.  It will be very challenging lineup which includes games against Berry, Elmhurst, UW Platteville, Heidelberg, UW Stevens Point, Ohio Wesleyan, Baldwin Wallace, and 4 against the HCAC including what will be a very good Anderson team who gave a scare to Mount Union in the NCAA tournament.

Very strange MIAA schedule which sees the Thunder play 6 of their first 8 games on the road, then finish with 5 of 6 at home.  Both the Adrian and Hope series have short turnarounds, 10 days between games with the Bulldogs and 11 days between games with the Flying Dutchmen.

I really don't like the way the schduling has been working out since we went away from a "balanced" schedule (play each of the other 7 teams once, then play them again in the same order for the 2nd time, swapping Home/Away).  Does nyone know the lpogic behind why this chnage was made.  I've always assumed it was somehow related to setting up mor M/W double headers, but would like to know for sure.

So between Jan 17 - 31 there are 5 games for each team.  Hope will play Trine twice and Calvin twice in that 5 game stretch.  REALLY??

FYI - Fixed the last word of your post for you 

As I recall from a years old conversation its trying to intertwine the 9 team womens schedule with the 8 team mens schedule in an "equitable" way.  Doing it the old way meant some schools game day support staff rarely if ever had days off during the season (ie women home/men away or vice versa).   So they've tried to pair up more mens/womens double-headers even if its different opponents.  This allows for some support staffs to have a break from basketball on some game days.  Remember they're also busy with swimming and diving most of the Winter and Spring sports are increasingly creeping into February.  It can get hectic for them.

There's also the issue of start times, old way the womens games always tipped first, followed by men.  New way they try to even that out.  So you get 5:30 mens game tips on a Wed afternoon because you scheduled an unnecessary double-header.  Women had the same issue and they certainly don't deserve the 5:30pm tips on Wed afternoons either. 


They have been, imo, making something incredibly more difficult and complex than it needs to be.

As a fan, I yearn for the days before St. Mary's became an MIAA women's team . . . when there was always a home game (women's or men) on both Wednesday and Saturday . . . and both received prime time, with jv games paired just beforehand (gave jv games some audience at least for their 2nd halves). If only, once again, we could have an equal number of men's and women's teams.

[FyteOnne]

Two more for Albion:

Truman King, 6-1, G, Standish Sterling (MI)
Terrance Curry II, 6-4, F, West Bloomfield (MI)

https://twitter.com/truman_king13/status/1651583731717615616
https://twitter.com/TerranceCurryII/status/1669175345117900800

Though they might be 6-2 and 6-5, depending on which site you see.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Updated list - up to 59:

Player	Height	Position	High School	College
Xzavier Brooks	5-10	PG	Ypsi Arbor Prep (MI)	Adrian
Luke Rager	6-0	PG	Huron (OH)	Adrian
Antonio Sanders	6-1	G	Frederick Douglas (MI)	Adrian
Cayden Lepper	6-2	G	Rockford (MI)	Adrian
Grant Stockford	6-3	G/F	Clinton (MI)	Adrian
Braylon Dickerson	6-4	G	Ann Arbor Huron (MI)	Adrian
Dylan Gira	6-4	F	Anchor Bay (MI)	Adrian
Darius Welch	6-6	F	Lansing Waverly (MI)	Adrian
Deonte Roberts	5-9	G	Lansing Waverly (MI)	Albion
Dwayne Ray Jr	5-9	G	North Farmington (MI)	Albion
JP Spybrook	5-11	G	Kalamazoo Central (MI)	Albion
Brian Hunter Jr	6-0	G	Dallas (TX) / Lake Mich College transfer	Albion
Truman King	6-1	G	Standish Sterling (MI)	Albion
Sincere Germany	6-3	G	Cathedral (IN)	Albion
Logan Stoep-Stockwell	6-4	F	Grandville (MI)	Albion
Terrance Curry II	6-4	F	West Bloomfiled (MI)	Albion
Nate Delaney	6-7	F	Forest Hills Central (MI)	Albion
Dai'John Chandler	5-8	PG	Lansing Sexton (MI)	Alma
Connor Florenski	6-3	G/F	Powers North Central (MI)	Alma
Mason Hallett	6-3	G	Mona Shores (MI)	Alma
Bryce Garbacz	6-4	G/F	Plymouth (MI)	Alma
Luch Guerrrazzi	6-6	F	Lansing Catholic (MI)	Alma
Logan St Martin	6-6	F	Kalamazoo Hackett (MI)	Alma
Jax Wilson	6-1	G	Sparta (MI)	Calvin
Austin Buckley	6-2	G	Byron Center (MI)	Calvin
Kyle Cannon	6-2	G	Holland Christian (MI)	Calvin
Jordan Scottt	6-2	G	Plymouth Christian (MI)	Calvin
Trip Riemersma	6-3	G	Zeeland East (MI) / SVSU transfer	Calvin
Luke Van Essen	6-3	G	Illiana Christian (IN)	Calvin
Zeke Van Essen	6-3	G	Illiana Christian (IN)	Calvin
Quincy Winkle	6-3	G/F	Potters House (MI)	Calvin
Sam Lewis	6-6	F	Millford (MI)	Calvin
Hunter Krohn	6-7	F	Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (MI)	Calvin
Tyson Mann	6-2	G	Grandville (MI)	Hope
Gabe Gamsho	6-2	G	Kalamazoo Hackett (MI)	Hope
Johnny Ryg	6-2	G	Arlington Heights (IL)	Hope
Brett Bultsma	6-4	G	Wayland (MI)	Hope
Carson DeHaan	6-4	G	Calvin Christian (MI)	Hope
Josh Decker	6-4	G	Cuyahoga Falls (OH) / Kalamazoo transfer	Hope
Parker Hovey	6-5	PG	Hart (MI)	Hope
Simon Neuhaus	6-5	G/F	East Grand Rapids (MI)	Hope
Peyton Ter Meer	6-2	G	Corunna (MI)	Kalamazoo
Connor Kouki	6-7	F	Macomb L'Anse Creuse North (MI)	Kalamazoo
Trey Kolakovich	5-11	G	Crosswell-Lexington (MI)	Olivet
Nate Richardson	6-0	G	Grand Blanc (MI)	Olivet
Jordan Bellamy	6-3	G	Marengo (OH) / UM Dearborn transfer	Olivet
Kayden Neiderquill	6-3	G	Swan Valley (MI)	Olivet
Brayden Wine	6-4	F	Olivet (MI)	Olivet
Charlie Deutsch	6-5	G/F	Rockford (MI)	Olivet
Donte Work	6-8	F	Coldwater (MI)	Olivet
Justin Wypasek	5-10	G	Strongsville (OH)	Trine
Nolan Bales	6-1	G	Northridge (IN)	Trine
Fred Garland	6-2	G	Oak Park (MI) / Albion transfer	Trine
Colin McBride	6-2	G	Muncie Burris (IN)	Trine
Jayce Cusack	6-4	G	Lake Odessa (MI)	Trine
Eddie Millington	6-4	G/F	Brighton (MI)	Trine
Drew Moore	6-4	G/F	Forest Hills N (MI) / Olivet & GRCC Transfer	Trine
Isaac Richardson	6-5	F	Avon Lake (OH)	Trine
Chase Kuzma	6-6	F	Hanover Central (IN)	Trine

[northb]

Okay, so who is winning the recruiting battle?

[HOPEful]

Okay, so who is winning the recruiting battle?

I have thoughts on a few of the incoming freshmen that I think could make immediate impacts, but no one sticks out like last year's class.

However, transfers Riemersma, Decker, and Garland could all make huge impacts on their new teams. If you're looking through the lens of "who is winning" the battle based off of need, it's hard to not say Calvin. With Egekeze and Overway, a guard like Trip feels like the kind of transfer that could move Calvin to serious national contender level.

Decker should slot is decently for Thomas, and Hope will have some lineup options if Dykhouse, Wourman, Decker, Schoonveld, Wiegerink, Quillan, etc. can all stay healthy.

We seem destined for another 3 team race between Trine, Hope, and Calvin at the top and a large gap between them and everyone else... My guess is that the preseason coaches poll will go 1. Calvin 2. Hope 3. Trine

[ziggy]

I agree with HOPEful that next season will be another three-team race at the top. I think it is possible all three will be NCAA Tournament worthy teams (in an absolute sense), though once again it will come down to how the other five teams in the league do in non-conference play that will determine whether or not the Pool C resumes actually look competitive.

Shockingly, it has been over 20 years since Kalamazoo last finished .500 or better overall. That goes back to Rob Passage's first season as head coach and spans his final nine seasons and the next three head coaches. It's a big gap between them and the last time any other MIAA school's most recent .500+ finish.

Most recent .500+ season:
2022-23
Calvin
Hope
Trine

2021-22
Albion

2019-20
Adrian
Alma

2017-18
Olivet

2002-03
Kalamazoo

Hard to see that changing with Decker transferring out and just two names on the recruiting board here. Does no one want to go to Kalamazoo to play basketball?

[HOPEful]

Is this the new norm? In a NIL/Transfer Portal culture at the D1 level, is the trickle-down effect going to be a greater willingness at the D2/D3 level to jump teams for more playing time and/or to chase wins?

[KnightSlappy]

However, transfers Riemersma, Decker, and Garland could all make huge impacts on their new teams. If you're looking through the lens of "who is winning" the battle based off of need, it's hard to not say Calvin. With Egekeze and Overway, a guard like Trip feels like the kind of transfer that could move Calvin to serious national contender level.

I have not seen Riemersma play, maybe he's great, but I never know what to make of D2 transfers that didn't see much playing time at the higher level. We don't know that he can be an impact player at the high-D3 level (Ambrose last year was a contributor but not particularly revelatory). We essentially do know that about Garland and Decker, however.

For Riemersma at Calvin, I can envision every scenario between starter and not quite in the rotation. (Don't put much stock in what I can envision though. Last year I did not peg Ressler as a rotation player, much less an eventual starter.)

[Dark Knight]

However, transfers Riemersma, Decker, and Garland could all make huge impacts on their new teams. If you're looking through the lens of "who is winning" the battle based off of need, it's hard to not say Calvin. With Egekeze and Overway, a guard like Trip feels like the kind of transfer that could move Calvin to serious national contender level.

I have not seen Riemersma play, maybe he's great, but I never know what to make of D2 transfers that didn't see much playing time at the higher level. We don't know that he can be an impact player at the high-D3 level (Ambrose last year was a contributor but not particularly revelatory). We essentially do know that about Garland and Decker, however.

For Riemersma at Calvin, I can envision every scenario between starter and not quite in the rotation. (Don't put much stock in what I can envision though. Last year I did not peg Ressler as a rotation player, much less an eventual starter.)

I know that Sall was looking in particular for a point guard. Does Riemersma fit the bill there?

[HOPEful]

I know that Sall was looking in particular for a point guard. Does Riemersma fit the bill there?

No, he's more of a 2. But he can shoot from deep and drive to the basket. Or at least he could at Zeeland. I'm not sure how much he has or hasn't developed while at SVSU, but as a Hope fan, an athletic guard that can shoot and drive to the basket and take some pressure off the offense always having to flow through Egekeze or Overway would be scary. Both games Hope won last year, they were able to shut down Calvin's guards outside of a couple Ressler 3s.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

The Hope schedule is now up:  https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

First 7 games are Manchester, Wilmington, Concordia (MI), Hanover, UW Whitewater, UW Platteville, Wittenberg ALL at DeVos!

Then at North Central & North Park on Dec 20/21

Lastly a trip to NY between Christmas & New Years to play Yeshiva (12/28) and Lehman (12/29)