MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Bob MacKenzie]

Well said, DK! 

Or they could just focus on getting as well-prepared as possible for the conference schedule, which is still by far the most important thing.

[Pat Coleman]

There aren't any D-III teams in Puerto Rico. You might find some other D-III teams in Florida also visiting if you go at the right time, but there are no D-III schools in Florida at the moment.

But perhaps you're missing the real force of the NCAA's rules. If Calvin wants to maximize chances of getting into the NCAAs by gaming the rules, rather than preparing the team and minimizing travel, they need to play not-such-high-quality regional teams with >.750 winning percentages.

Indeed (although the margin is .667). There's room for both in the schedule, but you have to be willing to give up the second game against Aquinas and get someone else.

Travel on a Saturday should not be the issue. It's definitely not an issue if you get someone to come to your place!

[Mr. Ypsi]

There are surely some top 3 teams in the PAC and AMCC conferences who could be counted on to have >.667 records and yet be counted on to be cannon-fodder for Calvin - THAT'S how you beat the system!

And since winning percentage in only one criterion, I wouldn't count on 11-3 necessarily being looked upon more favorably than 17-7 (in-region) - the 17 vs. 11 might trump the 78 vs. 70.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin was rewarded just fine last year and this schedule looks to be potentially more favorable.  If you win your games you dont need to worry.

Luckily, yes, Calvin was not on the bubble. Ask 2004 Hope what that's like, 21-5 and staying home because you played only one non-conference regional game.

Hope figured it out and changed its schedule. Don't get caught in that situation.

Hopefully the newly expanded field takes care of this

It means the bar is at 19-7 or so instead of 21-5. Someone is always on the bubble, no matter how many teams are in the field, you know.

Of course there will always be a bubble.  What I mean is a 21-5 team would not have sat at home in an expanded field.

[kcrest]

Saw today that Jay Smith resigned up at Central Michigan University.  Not a D3 topic but perhaps of interest to this board b/c of Jay's prior 1-year stint at Grand Valley.  He was at CMU for nine years.

The CMU AD said it was a "unique" time of year to be searching for a new coach.

"We need to move quickly," he said, adding that recruits had been contacted and are still planning on attending CMU. "We'll keep the position open until the right candidate comes along. We'll evaluate as we go."

Names that have surfaced include former University of Michigan player and current San Diego State assistant coach Mark Hughes, whom Smith coached as a Wolverines assistant, and Michigan State assistant coach Mark Montgomery.

[gohope]

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/051206/localsports_20060512034.shtml

Yeah Baby!!!!   

[SBell]

Bill Sall is another name that has come up for the CMU job, along with Steve Schmidt from Mott.

[SBell]

Best high school players from West Michigan, and various ones from Lansing, Detroit, Ann Arbor, will be playing at Hope this weekend.

http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/hsbasketball/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_hsbasketball/archives/2006_05.html#140377

[almcguirejr]

Bill Sall is another name that has come up for the CMU job

You can throw anybody's name out there you want, but I don't think Bill Sall has a chance of even being considered at CMU.  He's a fine DII coach but hasn't done enough to be a viable candidate there.

[SBell]

Actually, I'm not throwing any name out there. I'm relaying information provided by a reliable source, as opposed to your providing your opinion.

[sac]

Didn't know GVSU dropped out of the VanAndel Tournament, might be time for the GR Sports Hall of Fame to think about a new format like a D3 Tournament with Hope/Calvin and an NAIA tournament with Aquinas/Cornerstone.

Two tournaments on the same floor and 2 full days of basketball......I think it would work, I don't think you'd have much trouble getting some good D3 teams to come to Van Andel.  I have no idea about NAIA schools.


Incidently, how does an AAU event manage to get scheduled in Holland on this particular weekend?.........kind of busy.

[oldknight]

Incidently, how does an AAU event manage to get scheduled in Holland on this particular weekend?.........kind of busy.

No problem--the event organizers simply schedule a weekend of cold weather, heavy rain and gusty winds in order to clear out the klompen dancers. Apparently the AAU hates the Dutch . . . and they probably root for Calvin too.

[formerd3db]

Saw today that Jay Smith resigned up at Central Michigan University. Not a D3 topic but perhaps of interest to this board b/c of Jay's prior 1-year stint at Grand Valley. He was at CMU for nine years.

The CMU AD said it was a "unique" time of year to be searching for a new coach.

"We need to move quickly," he said, adding that recruits had been contacted and are still planning on attending CMU. "We'll keep the position open until the right candidate comes along. We'll evaluate as we go."

Names that have surfaced include former University of Michigan player and current San Diego State assistant coach Mark Hughes, whom Smith coached as a Wolverines assistant, and Michigan State assistant coach Mark Montgomery.

Do any of you have any info as to why Smith resigned?  The newspaper articles did not really cite reasons why; whether he was asked to step down, or if on the other hand it was due to personal/family reasons or he/they[CMU administration] wasn't happy with the direction the program was going of recent despite what success Smith had during his tenure, or whether they just wanted a change mutually.

As some of you have mentioned, I can't imagine there aren't some good qualified assistants who are ready for the top position at a DI level program.  Certainly, Montgomery from MSU might be a good choice IF he was willing to go to a MAC program instead of waiting for one of the "bigger" DI programs somewhere.  Just speculating here since I have no info personally.  Anyway, it will be interesting to see who is selected for the job.

[Drake EX]

Yes, it would be interesting.

[realist]

d3b:  In several articles regarding J Smith it seems his resignation came as a surprise to CMU AD and others so doubt it was asked for.  Everything I have heard or read seems to indicate he resigned for family reasons, and The GR Press mentioned several young children.  I am sure the AD at CMU is scrambling to make sure they hold any recruits he might have signed.  One article mentioned a meeting between J Smith, and the AD, and based on that several months ago all was okay.   His record was positive, and it seems he was generally liked and respected by players, admin., and fellow coaches.  GVSU was unhappy when he left after 1 year there, but CMU was too good for a young coach to turn down.