MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[bulldogalum]

HELLO..............Hello..............Hello

ECHO...............Echo...............Echo

Now batting for Pedro Borbon, Manny Mota.........Mota.......Mota

+k.  Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

[sac]

Its a remarkable set of coincidences that on the day Olivet at Aquinas is postponed because of a power failure, that I should also experience a power failure of my own...........my car battery died today.   Its been on life support for awhile (which means I have to jump it to get the car started). Probably not related at all


I don't bring this up for any other reason but to tell this little episode in my day.  If you hate non-basketball posts and I know some do, stop reading here!     


So fixing this personal energy crisis requires a trip to a battery replacement shop..........also known as a mom and pop garage, because I'm good like that.  I chose a small out of the way place, 1) because they had the AC Delco battery I needed and 2) It was called Town and Country........how can you not buy various auto-parts from a place like that.

As I'm sitting in the the 1970's decor waiting room, catching up on my Golf Magazine reading, a wonderful older ladie of about 75 walks in and asks for an oil change.  So being that this place is kind of out of the way and being located among a forest of warehouses and well......forests.  We were the only two customers in that building,   probably since 1970.

As time passed, one of the two gents (Merle) strolls by and says " I have some coffee, would anyone like coffee."  I just looked up from my magazine, half slouching in my chair and say in my self assured way "No thanks, I'm good". 

Then he turns to the older woman sitting perfectly straight in her chair and she slowly folds her magazine shut on her lap, looks at the gentlemen slowly and says "Thank you no, I'm fine"...........in the most sweetest, gentlist grandmother voice ever in human history.  Merle glanced my way and slowly cracked a smile and retreated to his office.

Nothing registered for a moment or two, untill it dawned on me............I had just been schooled by a grandmother. 

Not with some fancy physical movements, but by simple language and grace.  I tried sitting up in my chair, but it did no good, the humiliation was quietly building inside.  Nothing was said between us, how could there be?  This fringe generation X'er had just been put in his place.  I knew it, she knew it, Merle the guy offering the coffee knew it, the clock on the wall knew it.

The battery could simply not be changed fast enough.

As I sat there drowing in my shame, I started thinking maybe she didn't really notice and I was just blowing this up into something more than it was.  Maybe thats just how she is all the time, well spoken with perfect posture.  Finally my car was ready, not soon enough.

I stood to pay and the wave of shame had overcome me again,............my god she was clever.  I might as well have been writing my check with no clothes on.
Quickly I convinced myself that it was nothing and I could be on my way and that this was all an incident no one would remember or even comment on.

As I turned to walk out, I had to look.  I had to see the face of this kindly old woman.  Who was it that had just schooled me with such eloqunce a subtlety?  Just as I reached for the door knob she peaks over her magazine.........and winks!

God no!!! Oh, no, no, no.  She's rubbing my face in it.  Slowly I slinked away, head down, defeated by the cleverist of adversaries.


Who knew getting a battery changed could be so traumatic..........this scar may never heal.

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac,

Great story!  The greatest shame of all is that you never did recognize your 2nd grade teacher!

[sac]

Trine 73, Franklin, Ind. 68

http://www.franklincollege.edu/athletics/mbasket/box/2008/fcm09g02.htm

Franklin was picked 3rd in the Hearland Conference this year.  The Grizzlies are 0-2 now and lost their first game to #13 Centre 65-63.

Good win for Trine it appears, in general these kinds of matchups have been losses for the MIAA the last couple years.

[Gregory Sager]

And Veldhouse's 7 years at Calvin certainly raises their average.

Seven years of college down the drain!

[realist]

"I might as well have been writing my check with no clothes on."

Thanks, now I have to go wash my eyes!

Just looking at the stats the Trine game must have been interesting to watch.  Trine shoots over 67%  for the game, and has less than 20 rebounds.

[KnightSlappy]

When was the last time Trine only attempted 4 three-pointers?  This is not your older brother's TSU team with Tony Benford and Mo Brookins

[Flying Dutch Fan]

When was the last time Trine only attempted 4 three-pointers?  This is not your older brother's TSU team with Tony Benford and Mo Brookins

I think that is a great thing - makes them a stronger team and strengthens the league.

[sac]

When was the last time Trine only attempted 4 three-pointers?  This is not your older brother's TSU team with Tony Benford and Mo Brookins

Trine only took 12 in their first game, and seven of those came from Wes Weir in his first game back from his knee injury.

Looking at their sched, if I assume some things about some of those schools I know nothing about, the Thunder have a good shot at 8 wins by MIAA time.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Back to the experience discussion for a moment.  As promised, I compiled stats so we can really look at the "on the floor" experience level of the teams.  I accomplished this by looking at the number of minutes each player has played over their varsity college career.  For transfers, I included any varsity minutes at their previous school.  At first, I wasn't sure if I should include the minutes for the transfers from Community colleges (Brad Schnyders, Paul Campbell, and Brandon McClary).  That was settled on it's own, as none of those institutions have archived statistics that include playing time. 

Keeping all of that in mind, here then are the total numbers of playing minutes for each team:

Team --- Minutes Played
Calvin --- 9036
Albion --- 4966
Adrian --- 4955
Hope --- 4312
Alma --- 3721
Trine --- 3656
Kazoo --- 3630
Olivet --- 2885

I must admit the Calvin experience advantage is overwhelming (yes, I triple checked the numbers ) - nearly 2:1 over every other team.  And that's with 2 CC transfers who are contributing 0 to the Calvin total (based on my calculation method).

Food for thought...

[HopeConvert]

Back to the experience discussion for a moment.  As promised, I compiled stats so we can really look at the "on the floor" experience level of the teams.  I accomplished this by looking at the number of minutes each player has played over their varsity college career.  For transfers, I included any varsity minutes at their previous school.  At first, I wasn't sure if I should include the minutes for the transfers from Community colleges (Brad Schnyders, Paul Campbell, and Brandon McClary).  That was settled on it's own, as none of those institutions have archived statistics that include playing time. 

Keeping all of that in mind, here then are the total numbers of playing minutes for each team:

Team --- Minutes Played
Calvin --- 9036
Albion --- 4966
Adrian --- 4955
Hope --- 4312
Alma --- 3721
Trine --- 3656
Kazoo --- 3630
Olivet --- 2885

I must admit the Calvin experience advantage is overwhelming (yes, I triple checked the numbers ) - nearly 2:1 over every other team.  And that's with 2 CC transfers who are contributing 0 to the Calvin total (based on my calculation method).

Food for thought...

FDF: excellent work. Thanks for doing that.

[realist]

FDF + karma.  Very good work indeed.  I figured Calvin would have a big advantage over most of the teams, but didn't think it would be by such a wide margin.   Having guys like Mantel who played a lot as fr. really has an impact, not to mention a guy like Veldhouse with 7 years. 
However, not all experience even at the varsity level is equal.  Some guys have a respectable number of minutes, but when you look at points, rebounds etc. you don't see much. 

[sac]

FDF + karma.  Very good work indeed.  I figured Calvin would have a big advantage over most of the teams, but didn't think it would be by such a wide margin.   Having guys like Mantel who played a lot as fr. really has an impact, not to mention a guy like Veldhouse with 7 years. 
However, not all experience even at the varsity level is equal.  Some guys have a respectable number of minutes, but when you look at points, rebounds etc. you don't see much. 

Nick Sheridan has a lot of minutes played..........not alot of points scored. 

[NW Hope Fan]

The "Baby Knights" have come of age indeed!

[Dark Knight]

Team --- Minutes Played
Calvin --- 9036
Albion --- 4966
Adrian --- 4955
Hope --- 4312

That's a lot of experience for the knights, but if they are starting three transfers who don't know the system, doesn't that almost negate the experience factor?

In fact, I have no idea what to expect. I'm even a little nervous about the game against Grace Bible, who come in with several games' experience and a close loss to a D-I team.