MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[NW Hope Fan]

They really suffered finding quality in-region opponents in the past as realist noted...

And thus another reason I'll never see my Dutchmen in the PNW playing the likes of UPS, LC or Whitworth... 

[Gregory Sager]

No offense, NW Hope Fan, but the Pacific Northwest just isn't that attractive a travel destination if you're a D3 basketball coach. It's a long and expensive trip to Portland, Sea-Tac, or Spokane for everybody except for the other D3 West Coast teams, and if you're going to take a long and expensive trip you're going to want to make it a snowbird trip (i.e., a trip to SoCal, Texas, or Florida). Oregon and Washington weather in November and December has more to recommend it than does the weather here in the heartland, but it's still no match for the sunny climes down south that D3 coaches and players prefer for their winter road trips.

[NW Hope Fan]

All that may be true, but the least attractive part is lack of in region games. At least Hope played a couple in FL. this winter.

That aside, is is "legal" for alumni to help pay for such travel? And wouldn't such costs be justified for recruiting and fund raising? Seems at least from the Hope side Alumni support could be increased in the PNW where there is a small association in the Seattle area and nothing formal in the Portland area. What better way to rally (way better than the occasional Presidential trip) than a basketball tournament?

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Not a very fast start from Hope. 0-4 from beyond the arc but I guess the team had to come back to earth after Wednesday night's performance.

10 total turnovers in the first 6 plus minutes as well. I guess I don't know for a fact compared to other games but that seems like a lot of early turnovers.

Albion averages 13 turnovers a game but Hope forces just over 19 from their opponents. Albion already has 7 turnovers in the first 8 minutes so that's a pace for well over 13 and 19.

Maybe Albion and Hope just bring out the sloppiness in each other.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Hope is being out-rebounded 10 to 1 in the first 9 minutes!!!

Now 16-3 after 12 minutes!

[realist]

NWH:  Calvin has played out in CA., and several years ago went out to Denver.  I don't specifically recall any trips to the NW, but I wouldn't rule it out for Calvin.  Calvin hasn't really worried that games out there would not be "in region".  I don't know why it wouldn't be kosher for a team to travel to the NW.  No one had a problem with Hope going to FL.  Greg has a good point about attractive destination, but if Calvin snagged a good recruit from Lynden Christian it might be a factor.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Hope 25
Albion 24
Halftime

Wow, what is it that about these two teams meeting that creates some really ugly basketball.

Hope has been outrebounded by an absolutely incredible 27-7 count!!! (For reference, the totals of the first game were 40-39 with Hope having the advantage). So there is something seriously wrong here.

Seeing that incredible stat one may ask, how could Hope lead 25-24? Well Albion had 18 first-half turnovers (they only average 13 a game).

Hope shot 34.6% from the floor (11.1% from beyond the arc).
Albion shot 38.1%.

So I guess this is better than the 18-16 halftime score from the first game but not by a lot.

[devossed]

Here's 3 things I don't expect to see today........

1.  I don't expect an 18-16 halftime score at Albion

2.  I don't expect Albion's starting 5 to shoot 19.4% from the floor again or 22.8% as a team.

3.  I don't expect Hope to win by 15 this time around.

I expect a very tough, exciting, close ballgame today.  This is a very big day for the Dutchmen.


Be safe in your travels, Go Hope!

# 1: check! but the nets really aren't burning at 25-24...

# 2: check! but double the % so far hasn't doubled their score...

# 3: check - so far...but seriously, minus -20 on the glass???

also, love the drum show in kresge!!!!

[Hopester]

Hope has appeared to struggle so far, but leads 25-24 at the half.

34.6% shooting
1-9 from three.

DVS leads the way with 10 points for the Dutch

Mocini leading scorer for Albion with 6

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I think of rebounding as a hustle stat more so than any other stat. The radio guys didn't mention the discrepancy on the boards until going over half time stats. But I will be really curious to hear a report about how a team gets out-rebounded by 20 in a half. I mean that's just unfathomable. By accident you should get 5 rebounds a half. So that leaves 2 more that Hope got.

One sequence I do recall was Albion put up a shot. Got the offensive board and any easy bucket from it. The announcers said "no one boxed [player X] out. just an easy board and bucket." (I can't remember who scored for Albion there). But that won't get it done!

[devossed]

wow, looking @ halves around the league:

adrian 37 olivet 32

alma 33 kzoo 27

trine 32 calvin 29


i might be 0-4 on pickem today....

alma?

[ChicagoHopeNut]

devossed you beat me to it but I was going to comment on the really close scores around the league today at the halves. Should be an exciting hour of basketball coming up around the league.

[Hopester]

Update:

TSU 32
Calvin 29

Halftime

[devossed]

devossed you beat me to it but I was going to comment on the really close scores around the league today at the halves. Should be an exciting hour of basketball coming up around the league.

must be the high-speed connection...

but then Hopester beats me on the calvin score. ah, the game within the game...

[tyrone]

Congratulations in order for Jordyn Boles (Hope women) setting Hope's all-time three-point record. Now if only Ty Tanis can get half as close over his career...