MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[petemcb]

TREE-nay?

I believe that one has more of a guttoral French R, Pat.  Just can't figure out how to type that one.

[sac]

I'm more luke warm on Trine contending next year.  9-16 to contending is a big leap, while Albion did it this year........Trine is not Albion.

I'm also less convinced they've made any giant strides in the defensive department, I thought so earlier this season but have since changed my thinking.  They allowed 68.6 pts per game this season, which is actually a slight increase over 2007 by .4, their FG% defense also increased slightly over 2007.

How much of Trine's defensive numbers can be attributed to just playing at a slower pace?

Avg shots by both teams in games played
Olivet -------121.4
Calvin ------120.6
Kzoo --------118.16
Adrian ------115.21
Hope -------114.94
Albion -------112.32
Trine ---------111.36
Alma ---------110.33

Albion plays at about the same pace but allowed 5 less points per game.  I think we all agree Albion plays good defense.

Tri-State has alot of things to work on before they can contend, .....to start they need to have their rebound leaders be someone other than guards like Benford and Patrick.  They have an assist to turnover ratio of less than 1, and turn the ball over more than their opponents.  They shot 66% from the charity stripe.  They are a very guard heavy team in a pretty physical league, they just need more height.

Trine was 0-6 vs Hope, Calvin, Albion......the closest a 7 point loss at home to Calvin.  Otherwise the "big 3" handled them with ease winning 4 of the 6 by double digits.  Speaking of home, the Thunder lost their last 5 home games in the MIAA and were just 2-5 in Hersey Hall.

Trine finished the season on a 2-8 stretch and were only close in 2 games they lost, both by 7, not exactly building momentum for 08-09.

Certainly alot of Trine's 08 struggles can be attributed to youth, 11 underclassmen and only 2 Sr's.   Help on the frontline might be on the way, they're getting a 6-9 from Michigan who could help and Harmon has been pleased with his last 2 recruiting efforts and they seem to be on the right track again this year.

Defensive improvement might be how you perceive it, but to me I've never felt like teams had to work very hard to score on Trine, certainly not like against Albion.
I think Trine has upgraded their roster the last couple years, but without much height and an offense that continues to play and look pretty undisciplined, I think they're still looking at battling for 4th. 

[Stinger]

OK, I'll bite.

Hope, Calvin, Albion and.... Olivet (lot's of potential there)?

What about K-Zoo? They may have been 3-11, but as was pointed out before, they don't lose a lot.


C'mon hit up my karma Stinger....

They lose Kellogg. That is a major gap to fill.

[sbaum]

Stinger, have you heard anything about any recruits heading to K next year? Maybe a big man to fill Kellogg's shoes?

[realist]

Sac:  I don't disagree with most of your comments, and certainly don't think that Trine is ready to be a power in the MIAA,  but I do feel they are making an effort to improve their program.  Also if the big 3 all defend home court it means the chances of anyone going 12-2 or even 11-3 is less.  When, and if that happens it increases the odds that an "upstart" could get on a hot streak and greatly impact the final standings.  Trine played some quality teams in the pre-conference portion of their schedule last year.   If the big 3 either separartely or collectively slip up a Trine or Olivet may just be able to use that to their advantage and make a move up.  Almost every team (including Hope and Calvin) have some "ifs" connected to them as it relates to the upcoming season, and probably more than in last 3-4 years. IF Calvin plays like everyone thinks they are capable this has been a lot of wasted words.  IF Hope's talented youngster's maure quickly ditto.

[hope1]

i think the bulldgos adrian will  be in the hunt to they did not lose that  many players

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Wow, the good news is everyone in the MIAA shoots better FTs than Memphis. What a terrible way to lose!

[sac]

If there was ever a better advertisement for practicing FT's......I haven't seen it.

.....but everyone said it would catch up with them eventually.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So much for Calipari's statement about their FT shooting percentage not mattering because they would "make them when they count".

[hope1]

that was a good one   three throws is what made them lose if they made them they would have won

[GoKnights68]

Should've fouled at the end of regulation.

[goodknight]

Spring break is a traditional decision point for many high school players, so the next week or two could bring a flurry of news about recruits.  It's whispered at Calvin that the wing from Up North is coming to play for the Maroon and Gold, although he might be a long shot to make the varsity as a freshman.  And word is that Calvin is still in the hunt on a couple of others who might well see varsity minutes in their freshman seasons. 

[wiz]

Spring break is a traditional decision point for many high school players, so the next week or two could bring a flurry of news about recruits.  It's whispered at Calvin that the wing from Up North is coming to play for the Maroon and Gold, although he might be a long shot to make the varsity as a freshman.  And word is that Calvin is still in the hunt on a couple of others who might well see varsity minutes in their freshman seasons. 

That's good news.  And, thanks for bringing us back to a DIII discussion.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Should've fouled at the end of regulation.

Excellent tactical point!

On the recruit issue: April 30/May 1 is the essentially universal deadline for high school seniors to tell any college they are accepting an offer of admission and send in that first 'tuition check.' (Its usually just a couple hundred bucks). But certainly after May 1 some more information ought to be available about who is going where next year.

[GoKnights68]

Spring break is a traditional decision point for many high school players, so the next week or two could bring a flurry of news about recruits.  It's whispered at Calvin that the wing from Up North is coming to play for the Maroon and Gold, although he might be a long shot to make the varsity as a freshman.  And word is that Calvin is still in the hunt on a couple of others who might well see varsity minutes in their freshman seasons. 

Keep us posted, Goodknight.  Thanks....