MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HOPEful]

Kalamazoo 88, Machester 70
Another good non-conference win for the league

This is a low-key great win for the MIAA. Manchester was picked by the HCAC coaches to finish second in their conference. Kalamazoo has gotten off to a very nice 5-1 record (4-1 if you don't count Grace). They have couple tough tests coming up as well, tomorrow against Chicago and Saturday against Case Western.

Conversely, Adrian is still sitting at 0-7 and a 1 or 2 win season is looking more and more realistic (they're going to beat Hiram at least, right?!)

[Gregory Sager]

Seeing as how I'm one of the people who raised the alarm about the sort of damage the bottom five MIAA teams could do again to the top three MIAA teams with regard to SOS, if I was a fan of Calvin, Trine, or Hope I'd be ecstatic at what Kalamazoo and Alma have been able to do so far, and at what Albion will most likely do in December. The only dead weight on the MIAA table has been The School of a Thousand Sports, Adrian.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Seeing as how I'm one of the people who raised the alarm about the sort of damage the bottom five MIAA teams could do again to the top three MIAA teams with regard to SOS, if I was a fan of Calvin, Trine, or Hope I'd be ecstatic at what Kalamazoo and Alma have been able to do so far, and at what Albion will most likely do in December. The only dead weight on the MIAA table has been The School of a Thousand Sports, Adrian.

Kalamazoo & Alma have been fantastic thus far, let's Hope they keep it going. 

Just realized I hadn't seen it shared here, but Hope's win vs Wilmington last Friday was the basketball teams' 1700 win. 

Hope joins Wittenberg, Wooster, and IWU as the only other 1700+ win schools in NCAA DIII.  After an additional win vs Concordia (WI) on Saturday, Hope's record is now 1701-819.  970 of those wins were under the two coaches whose names are on the court (DeVette with 310 and Van Wieren with 660)

[ziggy]

Looking ahead at what Kalamazoo has left in terms of non-conference opponents makes it doubtful they will keep this up (Chicago, Case Western Reserve, Lake Forest, Redlands, Cal Lutheran). Hopefully they can pick off another win (maybe Lake Forest) and enter league play with a 5-5 record against D3 opponents. To me, that's a huge win for the Kalamazoo program and the league overall.

[pointlem]

It will be tough to sustain 53% (43% 3-point) shooting. A game will come when those 3-point shots aren't falling. Even so, I expect competitive defensive intensity, offensive ball movement, guard speed, and bench depth.

What a difference a game makes, as an ice cold Hope (3 of 23 from 3-point land) faced a great comeback effort by Hanover . . . which hit 5 of its last 6 three point shots, and was half a second from going 6 of the last 7 after a game-ending corner 3 was waved off (and unquestionably so). Also credit Hanover's coach for its effective switch to a zone defense, which effectively shut down Hope's speedier guards' drives to the basket.

Meanwhile, Hope's previously sharpshooting Mims, Decker, and Wourman combined for 0 for 15 from behind the arc. To have such an off night shooting and still win has got to be a morale boost.

And who would have predicted that one of Hope's 3's would be a late game-winner from Gabe Quillan off a missed 3-point shot by  Marcus Wourman, who snared his own rebound and delivered the ball to Gabe. Give Gabe the game ball, with 7 other baskets, 7 of 8 free throw shooting, and 13 rebounds in 42 minutes of play.

[sac]

.....how easily Hope handled both squads after struggling nearly every game they played at home a year ago.

Yeah probably shouldn't have brought that up.


The last 10 min (5 reg, 5 ot) was actually pretty tough basketball.  Enjoy watching good programs play each other in D3, these aren't the best Hanover, Hope squads of the last decade plus but they ended up playing a tight, tournament style game.

[HOPEful]

It will be tough to sustain 53% (43% 3-point) shooting. A game will come when those 3-point shots aren't falling. Even so, I expect competitive defensive intensity, offensive ball movement, guard speed, and bench depth.

What a difference a game makes, as an ice cold Hope (3 of 23 from 3-point land) faced a great comeback effort by Hanover . . . which hit 5 of its last 6 three point shots, and was half a second from going 6 of the last 7 after a game-ending corner 3 was waved off (and unquestionably so). Also credit Hanover's coach for its effective switch to a zone defense, which effectively shut down Hope's speedier guards' drives to the basket.

Meanwhile, Hope's previously sharpshooting Mims, Decker, and Wourman combined for 0 for 15 from behind the arc. To have such an off night shooting and still win has got to be a morale boost.

And who would have predicted that one of Hope's 3's would be a late game-winner from Gabe Quillan off a missed 3-point shot by  Marcus Wourman, who snared his own rebound and delivered the ball to Gabe. Give Gabe the game ball, with 7 other baskets, 7 of 8 free throw shooting, and 13 rebounds in 42 minutes of play.

Going 3 for 23 from behind the arc and still gutting out a win is huge. They weren't forcing up many bad looks, they were just ice cold. They've got a week to knock off the ice before Whitewater comes to Holland. Whitewater lost last night to a very good Carthage team. Obviously, Hope will need to shoot better to win that one

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Apparently benig ranked #1 doesn't last long.  UWW goes down one day after being ranked #1.  Hope was actually #1 in D3 for FG% going into last nights game (53.2%) and #6 in 3pt % (43.3%) - obviously based on only 3 games.

[Dr. Acula]

For anyone looking for something to watch Trine and Heidelberg are 35-35 at half.  I'm gonna watch the 2nd half unless BW gets closer w JCU. 

[Dr. Acula]

Good road win for Trine 82-72.  Watched some of it.  Impressed w Trine.  Tough sledding in conference w a top 5 team but they looked very solid to my untrained eye.  With Hope playing well too it should be a fun winter for you guys too.

[TUAngola]

For anyone looking for something to watch Trine and Heidelberg are 35-35 at half.  I'm gonna watch the 2nd half unless BW gets closer w JCU.

Trine 82 Heidelberg 72

Nice win for the Thunder beating a pretty good Heidelberg team on the road.  Trine jumped out to a quick 20-10 lead then 'Berg stormed back and went into the break tied with the Thunder.  Second half had a faster paced, up and down the court action.  Heidelberg led by as many as 4 points 5 minutes into the second half, then Trine surged back into the lead never to trail again.  Heidelberg crashes the boards hard, had many second chance points.  Difference was Trine shot the ball better, especially in the second half, except we struggled with 3 pointers going 3-15.

Trine now with a 10 day break before their next game at home against UW-Stevens Point on Dec 9th.

Trine: C Garland 22, Cox 16, F Garland 14, Megnanglo 12 w/ 16 reb
'Berg: Watkins 20, Panning 16 w/ 14 reb 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Kalamazoo with a narrow defeat to Chicago last night, 67-63. 7 ties and 9 lead changes.  Stats all very close except the Hornets shot 54.5% from the line

Albion with a single point win at Rose-Hulman, 65-64. 18 ties and 32 lead changes!  Brits shot 46.7% from the line

MIAA now 27-16 vs D3

[northb]

Calvin beats UW-Lacrosse, 84-71.  Ressler with 18. Wheaton is next.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So last week both Adrian and Alma lost to SVSU.  Both of those results are reflected in the current MIAA schedule, results and W/L records.  But both teams have a total of 12 non-con games listed which would put them over the "legal" limit by 1.  I've been assuming those were both exhibitions for the MIAA schools, but when the league lists them as actual contests, then I have to wonder...

[ziggy]

So last week both Adrian and Alma lost to SVSU.  Both of those results are reflected in the current MIAA schedule, results and W/L records.  But both teams have a total of 12 non-con games listed which would put them over the "legal" limit by 1.  I've been assuming those were both exhibitions for the MIAA schools, but when the league lists them as actual contests, then I have to wonder...

The schedule page on Alma's site does show it as an exhibition: https://almascots.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2023-24
It is not noted as an exhibition on Adrian's schedule page so that does appear to be an issue as you noted: https://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2023-24
The Adrian game recap also makes no note of it being an exhibition. Interesting.