MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Frankly, I would name coach Gifford at Olivet the coach of the year.  I think they've made the most drastic improvement from last year, even if it may not show on the win/loss record.  They're worlds better than they were a year ago, and a lot of that has to do with the coaching job done by Gifford.  And I say this fully hoping that the Comets drop another one on Saturday.

I agree he's done a nice job, but they need to win games.  Talent wise, they shouldn't have lost to Alma.  Terry Smith has done a similar job in changing the on court attitude of Alma's players as well.  Those Scots won't quite untill it says :00.  Been awhile since you could honestly say that about them.

I even think Rob Passage has done a pretty good job replacing 8 Sr's from last years Hornet team.  For all 3 of these guys though to get my coach of the year vote they need to win some games that on paper maybe they shouldn't.

Coach of the Year---I don't have one yet, still a ways to go, GVW is probably the leader at the turn, but a real solid second half could sway things the other way.

What team(s) does anyone see as having the best chance of having a strong second half and vying for the MIAA crown, outside of the obvious choice of Hope who seems to be currently cruising?

I like Albion to have a strong second half.  They play good defense which will always keep them in games.  They have a very favorable schedule now with Hope, Calvin, TSU, Kzoo and Alma all at home.  The road games aren't easy ones with Olivet and Adrian but they have a nice opportunity to continue a good run after starting 0-2.

You can't really draw any conclusions from Albion's first 2 conference games.  There were some pretty tough things that team was dealing with, more good reasons why people shouldn't be so critical of 18-21 year old kids.  A win over Hope Saturday would not surprise me in the least.  As much as I'd like to believe Hope is 15 points better than Albion, I just don't think thats the case.   However Albion isn't strong enough to continue dodgeing performances like they had Wednesday when they struggled to put away Alma.  It might be just as easy for Albion to finish 4-3 as 7-0.  Albion has always been very good at protecting the home court, even during last seasons out of character struggles.

2007--5-2---L to Adrian, L to Hope
2006--6-1---L to Calvin
2005--6-1---L to Hope
2004--6-1---L to Hope
2003--5-1---L to Hope

Every one of those teams won at least a piece of the MIAA except 05 Hope and 07 Adrian.

The second time around the league season is always much tougher, it seems we have 2 or 3 teams right on the cusp of being very good, and might just need one good win to put them over the hump.

[bulldogalum]

Sac:

I can understand your desire to equate wins and losses with coach of the year, and it makes sense, but I just look deeper than that.  It seems clear we're on the same page regarding Olivet, and though I haven't seen Alma, it would seem as though the same is true there.  Although winning is a big part of coaching, sometime the best coaching job involves taking a previously awful program and making it competitive.  I'd wager that Gifford and Smith faced greater challenges this year than any other coach in the league, and probably greater than pretty much anyone else in DIII, and what they've done--to go from a whipping boy to a tough beat, is harder than most can imagine. 

[ChicagoHopeNut]

At the halfway point, I thought I'd take a crack at an all-MIAA team.

First Team
Desmond Young, Adrian
Tony Benford, Tri-State
Marcus VanderHeide, Hope
Tyler Wolfe, Hope
Caleb Veldhouse, Calvin
Derrek Griffin, Calvin
Brandon McClary, Olivet
Mat Kellogg, Kalamazoo

Second Team
John Mantel, Calvin
Ryan Klein, Hope
Lamar Cardenas, Adrian
Ryan Gallus, Adrian
Henry McCain, Kalamazoo
Brandon Way, Olivet
Michael McClary, Olivet
Drew Yancy, Albion

I for one did not envision seeing a 7-0 Hope team in MIAA play while being able to compile an all-MIAA team that didn't include DVS. And I don't think DVS has played poorly in league play. Rather I am impressed with the way the rest of the team has played and worked together. Really impressed with Wolfe.

Realist: I didn't think your comment about the MIAA usually having a player opposing fans enjoy needling was a comment directed towards Hope or any other team. Rather in the context of the rest of the conversation and this year's season it made me, personally, think about Hope players. Certainly in years past many players, from many different teams have filled that role.

[sac]

While looking at the league stats last night, this one from Hope struck me as pretty amazing

Shot attempts per game
VanderHeide .........9.2
VanSolkema..........8.4
Wolfe...................7.9
Klein ....................7.6
Reimink.................7.4

No one else's starting 5 in the MIAA is within this close of a range and it really isn't close.

[AndersDY]

I thought Ty's actions after his last 3 went in were pretty innocuous, smiling and tongue-wagging aside.  However, he did seem maybe just a little too cocky.  The Tri-State player handled it poorly, but it never amounted to much after Ty was immediately taken out of the game.  He may or may not have been taken out for hamming it up too much. 

Perfect time for a teeth chattering back-screen if you ask me.

Those will certainly get ya:

View My Video

[MWKnight]

There are a lot of things that strike me about this board the last few days that most of you might disagree with. 

First off, MVH for sure is league MVP which is verified by this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbzIl4uw_Wk

Another thing: GVW is not the best coach on his own staff, so please do not compare him with KVS or Coach Turner.

Third: Calvin will advance furthest in the NCAA's 

Geaux Knights

[Gregory Sager]

I thought Ty's actions after his last 3 went in were pretty innocuous, smiling and tongue-wagging aside.  However, he did seem maybe just a little too cocky.  The Tri-State player handled it poorly, but it never amounted to much after Ty was immediately taken out of the game.  He may or may not have been taken out for hamming it up too much. 

Perfect time for a teeth chattering back-screen if you ask me.

Those will certainly get ya:

View My Video

If I'm Bo Ryan, at the first stoppage of play I give #43 for the Badgers an earful for not protecting his teammate by calling out that screen.

Also, if I was Bo Ryan I would resist any and every attempt to get me to dance to "Soulja Boy", but that's another story.

[Stinger]

Not to change the subject or anything...

I was just looking over Albion's record to get a feel for how they've done with the rest of the league.  This Saturday's matchup against Hope will be only the 5th time this season they've had the home court advantage.  That makes me wonder what kind of atmosphere they have for their games this year.  I recall a very spirited fan base in years past, but with so few home games, I would think it would be hard to build much momentum with the home fans.  I hope I'm wrong, for the sake of the Hope fans heading there for the game...Albion's fans usually provide quite a bit of entertainment.

Albion just started their semester a week ago, maybe two.  The MIAA was able to give them a bit of a break so they could have some home games while students were actually on campus.  This is why Alma only has 2 home games the second half of the season, and Albion has 5.

I can only speak about the last two trips to Albion where student support has been rather soft.  Of course last year was a Monday night game and the atmosphere was exactly what you'd expect on a Monday night.

Attendance at Albion
2007--252........Monday night game, Albion was 6-14 coming in.
2006--554........students were not on campus
2005--1351......students were on campus
2004--1307

I was at the Albion/Adrian game last week and there was a decent and active student section. I am sure that they will be out in full force on Saturday. 

[Erm Schmigget]

I was at the Albion/Adrian game last week and there was a decent and active student section. I am sure that they will be out in full force on Saturday. 

Excellent.  I believe Hope thrives on the intensity a good crowd provides.  I wish we could be in two places at once, but we already have season tix for the women's games, and it's money already spent, so that's where we'll be.  Besides, Hope's women have been having a fantastic season as well.  If you're in Holland and planning not to leave town, I highly recommend you come to the DeVos tomorrow (not solely directed to any individual).

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Third: Calvin will advance furthest in the NCAA's 

Out of curiousity. Other than the fact you are a Calvin fan what leads you to make that statement. For the sake of argument we can assume Calvin makes the tourney one way or another, which is far from certain in real life. If they do why do they advance the farthest, particularly assuming they would face a more difficult first round opponent than Hope.

[bulldogalum]

DCHN:

MWKnight must be assuming that Calvin will win the MIAA tournament and Hope will not get an at large bid.  At this juncture, it's probably the only way Calvin would outlast the rest of the MIAA in the tournament.  Not to say Calvin couldn't improve--they have a sneaky way of doing that come tournament time, but right now that's the best chance they've got to fulfill that prediction.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Another thing: GVW is not the best coach on his own staff, so please do not compare him with KVS or Coach Turner.

Isn't it amazing how 605 vistories and a .751 winning percentage can just fall into a bad coaches lap?  I too, would prefer you not compare him with KVS who is 13-19 against Hope and (322-164) .663 in his career.    

[hopehoopfan]

Another thing: GVW is not the best coach on his own staff, so please do not compare him with KVS or Coach Turner.

Geaux Knights

I almost said something a couple of days ago, but with the above, I feel the need to comment. 

Much was said about when "Calvin gels" or gets their act together with all the talent they have, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. If this is the case, shouldn't it have been  KVS's job to get this to occur by now?? Especially if he is, as you alude to,  a better coach than GVW?

[Civic Minded]

Hey fellas....troll alert.   8)

Ignoring the trolling is better than taking a bite and giving him/it exactly what he was hoping for.   

[hopehoopfan]

Hey fellas....troll alert.   8)

Ignoring the trolling is better than taking a bite and giving him/it exactly what he was hoping for.   

Sometimes the bait is just to mouth watering!