MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

I'd love to see it become a real conference challenge.  Set up four sites with four teams each.  Keep the traditional Calvin/Hope/Wheaton/Carthage matchup but then add Albion/Trine/Augustana/Elmhurst, Adrian/Kzoo/Illinois Wesleyan/North Central, and Olivet/Alma/North Park/Millikin.

[hope1]

now that would be really nice if they did that

[ziggy]

now that would be really nice if they did that

I think it would be really great for both conferences.  Although, as an MIAA fan, I would be a bit worried how the bottom half of the league may fair...

[KnightSlappy]

This year completes the CCIW/MIAA rotation with each team hosting once.  Has anything been decided with doing a new rotation or switching up the teams?

I think it was said on the CCIW board that these four teams have signed up for another 4 year rotation.  I would also like to see the MIAA/CCIW classic be more like the BigTen/ACC challenge.

[KnightSlappy]

If Wiele is unable to go today, I don't see Wheaton having much of a chance.  Without him they are seemingly very small and don't have any scoring threat besides Mr. Raymond.  I hope KVS learned a lot from GVW's strategy against Raymond, never letting him have an inch of space.  Hope trapped him and doubled him both on and off the ball, and Raymond was visibly very frustrated.

I don't think Carthage will give Hope very much trouble at all.  The Red Men don't really have much of an inside game at all.  They will start to get you if they start making the three ball.  They make a lot of 3's because they take a lot of 3's. (9-35 from downtown against the Knights).  Trey Bowens took 12 3-pt shots and ended with 26 points.  Djurkovic ended up with 14 points but 8 of those were from the line where he was 8-8.  Calvin's defense (and students) were on Djurkovic all night.

[Titan Q]

This year completes the CCIW/MIAA rotation with each team hosting once.  Has anything been decided with doing a new rotation or switching up the teams?

I think it was said on the CCIW board that these four teams have signed up for another 4 year rotation.  I would also like to see the MIAA/CCIW classic be more like the BigTen/ACC challenge.

Thought you might appreciate this blogger's (from the Bloomington Pantagraph) take on the "Challenge"...

http://www.pantagraph.com/blogs/main/?p=2294

[sac]

This year completes the CCIW/MIAA rotation with each team hosting once.  Has anything been decided with doing a new rotation or switching up the teams?

I think it was said on the CCIW board that these four teams have signed up for another 4 year rotation.  I would also like to see the MIAA/CCIW classic be more like the BigTen/ACC challenge.

It was announced at the games in Carthage last season that these 4 teams will continue playing for 4 more seasons after this year but only on the men's side.

I like the ACC/Big 10 challenge idea, but I believe it would become as lopsided as the D1 version with the CCIW playing the ACC's role.


Here's how they would have matched up using last year's standings

Augustana vs Hope
Elmhurst vs Calvin
Wheaton vs Tri-State
North Central vs Adrian
Carthage vs Albion
North Park vs Olivet
Illinois Wesleyan vs Kalamazoo
Milliken vs Alma

I don't know who would be favorites or how these games would play out, but I'd bet the CCIW would win 5 or 6 every year.

[realist]

Key points from last nights Hope/Wheaton game  "Wolfe 17, VanSolkema 15, Klein 14, VanderHeide 11, Tanis 10".  Hard to beat most teams that have that scoring balance. Of course it didn't hurt any that Hope's D really caused t.o. problems. 
Key point from last nights Calvin Carthage game rebounds:  Calvin 43 Carthage 38.  Not as great a spread as it could be, but definitely much better than last weekends games.  Also KVS left his big guys on the floor so they could impact the game.
Yesterday I just felt that this years MIAA/CCIW matchup was going to go very favorably for the MIAA.  I still think that is the case.  Part of my reasoning was the fatigue factor, and that may very well be a key factor today.  Unless of course either Hope or Calvin decide to self destruct.
 

[ziggy]

Key points from last nights Hope/Wheaton game  "Wolfe 17, VanSolkema 15, Klein 14, VanderHeide 11, Tanis 10".  Hard to beat most teams that have that scoring balance. Of course it didn't hurt any that Hope's D really caused t.o. problems. 
Key point from last nights Calvin Carthage game rebounds:  Calvin 43 Carthage 38.  Not as great a spread as it could be, but definitely much better than last weekends games.  Also KVS left his big guys on the floor so they could impact the game.
Yesterday I just felt that this years MIAA/CCIW matchup was going to go very favorably for the MIAA.  I still think that is the case.  Part of my reasoning was the fatigue factor, and that may very well be a key factor today.  Unless of course either Hope or Calvin decide to self destruct.
  Pat:  A little tug on your chain.  The MIAA wins 3 of the 4 challenge games, and you "highlight" the one CCIW team that wins?

On the men's side, the CCIW has not held any lead in this year's challenge.  Fun Facts!

[Titan Q]

Key points from last nights Hope/Wheaton game  "Wolfe 17, VanSolkema 15, Klein 14, VanderHeide 11, Tanis 10".  Hard to beat most teams that have that scoring balance. Of course it didn't hurt any that Hope's D really caused t.o. problems. 
Key point from last nights Calvin Carthage game rebounds:  Calvin 43 Carthage 38.  Not as great a spread as it could be, but definitely much better than last weekends games.  Also KVS left his big guys on the floor so they could impact the game.
Yesterday I just felt that this years MIAA/CCIW matchup was going to go very favorably for the MIAA.  I still think that is the case.  Part of my reasoning was the fatigue factor, and that may very well be a key factor today.  Unless of course either Hope or Calvin decide to self destruct.
  Pat:  A little tug on your chain.  The MIAA wins 3 of the 4 challenge games, and you "highlight" the one CCIW team that wins?

On the men's side, the CCIW has not held any lead in this year's challenge.  Fun Facts!

I predict the Carthage Red Men will take a 2-0 lead tonight on Hope to blowup this fun fact!

[ziggy]

Key points from last nights Hope/Wheaton game  "Wolfe 17, VanSolkema 15, Klein 14, VanderHeide 11, Tanis 10".  Hard to beat most teams that have that scoring balance. Of course it didn't hurt any that Hope's D really caused t.o. problems. 
Key point from last nights Calvin Carthage game rebounds:  Calvin 43 Carthage 38.  Not as great a spread as it could be, but definitely much better than last weekends games.  Also KVS left his big guys on the floor so they could impact the game.
Yesterday I just felt that this years MIAA/CCIW matchup was going to go very favorably for the MIAA.  I still think that is the case.  Part of my reasoning was the fatigue factor, and that may very well be a key factor today.  Unless of course either Hope or Calvin decide to self destruct.
  Pat:  A little tug on your chain.  The MIAA wins 3 of the 4 challenge games, and you "highlight" the one CCIW team that wins?

On the men's side, the CCIW has not held any lead in this year's challenge.  Fun Facts!

I predict the Carthage Red Men will take a 2-0 lead tonight on Hope to blowup this fun fact!

That would be devastating

[realist]

Hope should handle Carthage without too much trouble.  Hope is just too deep, and can out run the Redmen if they decide to play that game.
Calvin may hear a large amount of Thunder today.  Wheaton is going to be wanting to prove to everyone that last night was a real fluke.  Also don't expect the calls to go quite so favorably for the MIAA today.  If Calvin plays as physical as Hope did yesterday all Wheaton will have to do to stay in the game is make the f.ts.

[sac]

Here's another fun fact, not one you'd expect after witnessing the game.

Kent Raymond took just 36% of Wheaton's shots in total.  He left the game with just under 7 minutes to go, Wheaton proceeded to take 11 more shots.

While Raymond was on the floor he accounted for 18 of 39 shots or 46%.

I'm sure we'll all agree 100% of the offense went through him though.

[Titan Q]

If the officials are calling a tight game, Kent Raymond is almost impossible to stop.  It sounds like last night they were letting 'em play.

Last year at the Shirk Center, IWU tried to trap Raymond all over the floor and be physical with him.  This was the result...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2007/iwumbb22.htm

20-20 FT.

He can keep Wheaton in any game if he's getting calls.  Sounds like last night, they allowed Hope to be physical with him, and then Raymond got a little frustrated over it and started making bad decisions.  I still can't fathom him turning it over 12 times.

[realist]

TQ:  You picked up on my major concern for todays game.  Hope is well coached, and they know enough to play to the limit of what the refs: are allowing.    Having seen enough Wheaton/Calvin games over the years I expect Harris will make a point to talk with the refs. early, and often about  calling the type fouls Wheaton didn't seem to get last night.  Raymond not being on the floor the last approx. 7 minutes last night would indicate Harris knows he has to do the job again today.  All that said it is going to be very hard for one guy to take Calvin down unless he does it at the line.