MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Albion's Andy Ruddick has decided to leave Albion College.  He has not yet announced where he is going.  After talking to him, he wanted to go where he can pursue an engineering degree.

Always a tough decision in that situation.  Many of the student-athletes who desire an engineering career have limited choices for that.   Also, many of the schools that offer those courses and/or degrees are very expensive.  Hopefully, he'll find the right school that is best for him and perhaps also one where he can continue his athletic career.  I wish him the best.

As far as the karma system, several have already commented.  I, too, think, that most posters here are civil, however, I have noticed that on some of the other boards, people get smited just because someone disagrees with their opinion.  IMO, that is not the way the karma system should be used (or at least in my understanding it was not designed to be used in that manner).  Rather, I agree (thought) that the system, as another poster already mentioned, was supposed to be used for pithy comments, rewarding comments and smiting reserved for inappropriate and /or malicous posts.  Nothing wrong with differing opinions here, but that in and of itself doesn't warrant a smite I believe.

One last comment - on other topics, I noticed that Hope's women's bball team was honored at the Michigan State Capital on Thurs.  Very nice opportunity and experience for them.

[devossed]

If I could I'd pass along Karma, it'd definitely go to ScotsFan for the Oberon label. Nice work.  Such sweet, sweet nectar.  Their slogan this year: "Get a Tan from the Inside Out".  Gotta love Larry Bell.

36 at Arcadia tomorrow.  My virgin run, and looking forward to the challenge.

Stinger--best of luck to you, despite my jealousy. Karma will be added to wish you godspeed on your journey. Do tell which offers the better experience: a morning run or the afternoon affair?

Pay particularly close attention to their own little Amen Corner (12-13-14), my three favorite holes on the course. Even from the white tees, the carry to the green at 13 is daunting! But I'm guessing you'd want to play a course like this from the tips, so bring the lumber because I think it's longer than the posted 240. And of course, once you putt in on 14, turn around and take in what you just accomplished (a view very similar to the website's opening picture).

This, in my humble opinion, is why we Michiganders are glad to suffer through 9 months of winter!!!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Oooops there goes my Karma

Well, you have to admit that you brought it on yourself!   8)

I'm not doing too bad in the Karma department.  A brief review
shows the following:

Name               Karma/posts            ppk(posts per karma)
sac                   43/2102                   +49.3
Civic Minded     8/317                       +39.6
Northb              11/189                     +17.2
FDF                   16/935                      +58.4
oldknight           23/259                     +11.2
diehardfan         98/3429                   +34.1

Man, I hate the off season.  If it weren't for golf and warm weather, I'd go nuts 8)

Oh the shame - 58.4 posts per karma point!!!  I guess you guys really don't like me 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Scotsfan,
  I was so upset at being informed that I am the only guy paying full tuition at Hope that I must have accidently deleted my reply! To make matters worse, our son who we're paying the tuition for has a 3.9 GPA after his junior year.

The pain wears off in about 15 years when you realize you paid 1/3 what future students will be paying.

Tuition my Freshman year was 11, 900.

by the way, the Tuiips are at peak this week.  Lovely time of year........crowded but lovely.

IIRC, tuition and room and board at Calvin was just under 12.000 my senior year.

Arena - either that's a typo (12.000), you're in some other country (where decimal & comma are switched) or you went there a realllllllllly long time ago.   

[realist]

NB:  With this chat room, and all the posters we are now more aware than say 6 or certainly 10 years ago where the h.s. players are planning to go to college.  Instead of following maybe 10 kids we know have information on 100.  Even with all the kids going for the $$ Calvin still had a nice recruiting year.  Calvin was at the final 4 a year ago, and Hope had a strong team this year.  If we lost all the talent how does one explain the team records/performance which for the most part matches the 90's, and is ahead of the 80's?
Just like our economy.  For years we dreamed of reaching "full" employment which was 6% unemployed, and read the paper today with a lower rate, and you would think we were in a recession. 
All a matter of perception.

[devossed]

NB:  With this chat room, and all the posters we are now more aware than say 6 or certainly 10 years ago where the h.s. players are planning to go to college.  Instead of following maybe 10 kids we know have information on 100.  Even with all the kids going for the $$ Calvin still had a nice recruiting year.  Calvin was at the final 4 a year ago, and Hope had a strong team this year.  If we lost all the talent how does one explain the team records/performance which for the most part matches the 90's, and is ahead of the 80's?
Just like our economy.  For years we dreamed of reaching "full" employment which was 6% unemployed, and read the paper today with a lower rate, and you would think we were in a recession. 
All a matter of perception.

Well put...Calvin and Hope may have a down year here and there, but they are two *established* programs and will continue to be good for many years to come. The reason they will be good? They will continue to get good players, because they are Calvin and Hope, no matter what the economy does.

[northb]

NB:  With this chat room, and all the posters we are now more aware than say 6 or certainly 10 years ago where the h.s. players are planning to go to college.  Instead of following maybe 10 kids we know have information on 100.  Even with all the kids going for the $$ Calvin still had a nice recruiting year.  Calvin was at the final 4 a year ago, and Hope had a strong team this year.  If we lost all the talent how does one explain the team records/performance which for the most part matches the 90's, and is ahead of the 80's?
Just like our economy.  For years we dreamed of reaching "full" employment which was 6% unemployed, and read the paper today with a lower rate, and you would think we were in a recession. 
All a matter of perception.

Well put...Calvin and Hope may have a down year here and there, but they are two *established* programs and will continue to be good for many years to come. The reason they will be good? They will continue to get good players, because they are Calvin and Hope, no matter what the economy does.

I suppose the measuring stick I was using was the performance against NCAA II and NAIA II teams. In 90's Calvin dominated such teams, always beating C'stone, Aquinas and Ferris, and usually GVSU.  Recently, those games have been more competitive and Calvin has not been on the winning end as much.  But by no means do I wish to imply that both Calvin and Hope are not premiere Division III teams--if I did that, I'd have to turn in my wooden shoes.

[matblake]

I haven't had the ability to +/- karma until recently, very recently in fact.  But I handle it this way.  Something funny or a very good stat or point gets + karma.  Something has to be very out of line for me to smite.  

[formerd3db]

northtb and devossed:

Good comments.  Just to add, IMO, Calvin and Hope can still compete with some of the DII teams due to the caliber of their programs as you point out.  It just depends on the year, with wins coming not as often in the past for reasons you mention as well.  I also like to see an occasional game such as the Albion/Eastern Michigan matchup.  Some of us discussed that "a while back", but even though an MIAA team is probably less likely to win, I think it is a great experience and nothing wrong with that, especially in the early part of the season where the schedules permit it.

Also, the discussion on the cost of education and association with athletics at our MIAA schools has been interesting.  One aspect is certain, as you all know, it isn't inexpensive today.  However, I will say, compared to the tuitions at other DIII schools out-of-state, our schools are still indeed a good bargin.

[northb]

northtb and devossed:

Good comments.  Just to add, IMO, Calvin and Hope can still compete with some of the DII teams due to the caliber of their programs as you point out.  It just depends on the year, with wins coming not as often in the past for reasons you mention as well.  I also like to see an occasional game such as the Albion/Eastern Michigan matchup.  Some of us discussed that "a while back", but even though an MIAA team is probably less likely to win, I think it is a great experience and nothing wrong with that, especially in the early part of the season where the schedules permit it.

Also, the discussion on the cost of education and association with athletics at our MIAA schools has been interesting.  One aspect is certain, as you all know, it isn't inexpensive today.  However, I will say, compared to the tuitions at other DIII schools out-of-state, our schools are still indeed a good bargin.

A bargain indeed

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/ccbach/ccmidwest/tier1/t1ccbach_mw_brief.php

[diehardfan]

I figured this went here too:

Notice that the old definition of regions does not go away. There are three ways a game can be defined as in-region:

1) Schools are in the same region as defined by that sport's committee.
2) Schools are in the same Region (1, 2, 3, 4) as defined by the NCAA.
3) Schools are 200 miles apart or less, as determined by MS Streets and Trips 2004 on shortest-possible-distance setting.

Isn't there still a 4th way...

4) Schools are in the same conference.

So a basketball game between WashU. and NYU is still counted as in-region, even though it doesn't qualify under the first three formulae. Right?

I know, the MIAA and the CCIW could just make themselves east and west versions of the same conference... then the games would count, right? 

On the other hand, they would have to change their conference names.... a... LOT. 

Ah, but that would defeat the purpose of the "in-region" formula to begin with--to get to the big dance--as only one AQ would be given to the conference, even if it was a massive multi-division conference.

That's true. 

[Dark Knight]

I figured this went here too:

Notice that the old definition of regions does not go away. There are three ways a game can be defined as in-region:

1) Schools are in the same region as defined by that sport's committee.
2) Schools are in the same Region (1, 2, 3, 4) as defined by the NCAA.
3) Schools are 200 miles apart or less, as determined by MS Streets and Trips 2004 on shortest-possible-distance setting.

Isn't there still a 4th way...

4) Schools are in the same conference.

So a basketball game between WashU. and NYU is still counted as in-region, even though it doesn't qualify under the first three formulae. Right?

I know, the MIAA and the CCIW could just make themselves east and west versions of the same conference... then the games would count, right? 

On the other hand, they would have to change their conference names.... a... LOT. 

Ah, but that would defeat the purpose of the "in-region" formula to begin with--to get to the big dance--as only one AQ would be given to the conference, even if it was a massive multi-division conference.

Well, if everyone joined one big conference, then there'd be one automatic qualifier, and the best of the other teams would get selected via pool C. Sounds good to me!

[northb]

I figured this went here too:

Notice that the old definition of regions does not go away. There are three ways a game can be defined as in-region:

1) Schools are in the same region as defined by that sport's committee.
2) Schools are in the same Region (1, 2, 3, 4) as defined by the NCAA.
3) Schools are 200 miles apart or less, as determined by MS Streets and Trips 2004 on shortest-possible-distance setting.

Isn't there still a 4th way...

4) Schools are in the same conference.

So a basketball game between WashU. and NYU is still counted as in-region, even though it doesn't qualify under the first three formulae. Right?

I know, the MIAA and the CCIW could just make themselves east and west versions of the same conference... then the games would count, right? 

On the other hand, they would have to change their conference names.... a... LOT. 

Ah, but that would defeat the purpose of the "in-region" formula to begin with--to get to the big dance--as only one AQ would be given to the conference, even if it was a massive multi-division conference.

Well, if everyone joined one big conference, then there'd be one automatic qualifier, and the best of the other teams would get selected via pool C. Sounds good to me!

Anarchy, complete Anarchy!!

[ziggy]

Calvin has posted a schedule for next season.  I dont know how subject it will be to change but it does confirm the tournament at Wooster and lists the MIAA-CCIW challenge hosted by Carthage.
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mbasket/schedule.htm

[Pat Coleman]

Aargh. So much for adding regional games. At least Tri-State counts as regional next year.