MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Any Aurora fans or others think they could get me a ticket or two for Friday's games only?  Send me a message. Thanks.

[realist]

FWIW:  For Aurora fans wanting to know how Calvin did this year.  They started the year way over hyped, and struggled much of the season.  To give you an idea.  Hope and Calvin both lost to Wheaton and Carthage early.  Hope beat Calvin twice, and Calvin returned the favor beating Hope twice.  The most recent last Sat. for the MIAA AQ.  The other Calvin L's were to UW Lax, and Wooster in a Christmas tourney at Wooster.  The other L's were to MIAA teams.  Based on the stats posted above you can draw your own conclusions.

[fishguy]

I absolutely cannot believe the NCAA is sending Calvin and Hope to a site like Aurora. For those who have never been there, it's not real big, and the word is they are not planning on clearing the crowd after the first game. Based on how well Hope and Calvin travel, I think there are going to be a LOT of disappointed fans this weekend. Aurora did all the right things on the court to earn the host - it's just that they don't have a gym big enough to host the likes of Calvin and Hope. I sure hope that Aurora plans on having everyone in athletics working OT to help out this weekend!

[Greek Tragedy]

This site says Aurora's gym holds 2200...that's twice as much as Lawrence's Alexander gym.  They cleared out the gym after the first game and made the fans that attended the Augie game stand out at the end of the line just to get back in for the Lawrence/IWU game...and that was a sectional.  I heard Hope and Calvin travel well, but so does IWU.  Since Hope and Calvin will be split up for the first game, it shouldn't be too bad.  Aurora averages less than 500 a game, according to their website.

[Big_Uns]

2200? Unless there's a breakaway wall on some end, there's no way. Both baselines barely have enough room for the cheerleaders much less standing room only fans, and the bleachers aren't all that tall either.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

2200? Unless there's a breakaway wall on some end, there's no way. Both baselines barely have enough room for the cheerleaders much less standing room only fans, and the bleachers aren't all that tall either.

And following NCAA rules(2/3 of tickets for the host, the other 1/3 split between the other three teams), Aurora has provided 285 tickets each to Calvin & Hope (and presumably Chicago).  Hope and Calvin - if given unlimited tickets - would easily each bring 1000-1500 fans to that gym on Friday.  Should they both win on Friday, the Aurora folks can not possibly anticipate what's coming.  This rivalry has never failed to fill whatever location they are playing in - including the 12,500 seat Van Andel arena in Grand Rapids

[Greek Tragedy]

2200? Unless there's a breakaway wall on some end, there's no way. Both baselines barely have enough room for the cheerleaders much less standing room only fans, and the bleachers aren't all that tall either.

Don't kill the messenger because of the message...that's what THIS SITE has listed.

According to Aurora's website, the biggest crowd they had was when Benedictine came to town, and the boxscore says 1589.

2200? Unless there's a breakaway wall on some end, there's no way. Both baselines barely have enough room for the cheerleaders much less standing room only fans, and the bleachers aren't all that tall either.

And following NCAA rules(2/3 of tickets for the host, the other 1/3 split between the other three teams), Aurora has provided 285 tickets each to Calvin & Hope (and presumably Chicago).  Hope and Calvin - if given unlimited tickets - would easily each bring 1000-1500 fans to that gym on Friday.  Should they both win on Friday, the Aurora folks can not possibly anticipate what's coming.  This rivalry has never failed to fill whatever location they are playing in - including the 12,500 seat Van Andel arena in Grand Rapids

Did they fill that with 12,500 Hope and Calvin fans?  Anyway, I don't think you'll have to worry about what the Aurora folks will anticipate if Hope and Calvin win, there won't be any there.

Anyway, VERY EALY prediction...

Hope and Calvin both lose.  Calvin is a decent team but plays it's best vs. Hope.  Hope needs to prove it can beat a quality opponent like Chicago.

I haven't seen Calvin, Hope or Chicago play, but it's rumored that the UAA is a stronger conference up and down than the MIAA.  I've seen Carthage play and I saw that Carthage (and Wheaton) swept Hope and Calvin.  Aurora, the only time I saw them, looked horrible, but they'll be at home.

[KnightSlappy]

They way I see it, Aurora isn't going to last the weekend.  I don't see both MIAA teams losing on Friday and an untested Aurora team may have a hard time winning back to back tough games against quality physical teams.  Calvin is a completely different team then they were at Carthage, they will give the Spartans a tough matchup.

[realist]

Old School:  Yes, the UAA is a fine conference.  Yes, the MIAA was down this year.  However, judging the conference by one year, and several early season games is not wise.  Calvin won the championship in 2000,  and made the final 4 in 05.  When did Aurora last appear in the final 4?  Keep thinking that the NCAA has sent two patsy MIAA teams to Aurora for your enjoyment.     If I recall correctly in 05 no one gave Calvin any hope of surviving the trip to Chicago.

[Greek Tragedy]

Considering I'm judging the MIAA by one year, THIS YEAR, yeah, I'll stick with my BOLD predictions! lol.  And yes, I haven't seen Calvin or Hope play this year, so I guess I'm just talking out of my butt.

A lot has been said of Hope and their inability to win an "impressive" game this year.  Calvin and Hope have great traditions, as you have mentioned.  I was there in Salem in 05 and I don't think they should've lost to Rochester.  They won the championship in 2000, yes, congrats.  But, how does that factor into THIS WEEKEND?! 

You are being totally contradictive (is that a word? lol) to yourself.  You are questioning ME on judging the conference by one year and "several early season games" and then you tell me how awesome Calvin was in 2000 and 2005!  That's just too funny. 

Read your own post again and you'll laugh too! lol 

Anyway, my posts are good natured.  I don't have a dog in this fight this weekend.  I'm hoping to see some good basketball, and by all means, if I make it down there, feel free to introduce yourself.

[WLCALUM83]

Congratulations to all players who received NAthCon All-Conference Awards!

http://northernathleticsconf.com/sports/basketball_men/all-conference/

No real surprises there.

[Greek Tragedy]

Hey Greg,

Just curious if you are going to the Aurora "sub-sectional"...it's kind of in your neck of the woods.

[Pat Coleman]

2200? Unless there's a breakaway wall on some end, there's no way. Both baselines barely have enough room for the cheerleaders much less standing room only fans, and the bleachers aren't all that tall either.

Don't kill the messenger because of the message...that's what THIS SITE has listed.

::shrugs:: We compiled these numbers like five years ago so I can't say for sure where we got them, but it must've been printed somewhere.

Been in the gym once. It doesn't strike me as small but what do I know? I was not there to count seats.

[Gregory Sager]

Hey Greg,

Just curious if you are going to the Aurora "sub-sectional"...it's kind of in your neck of the woods.

I'm planning on it ... but first I have to purchase the NCAA-sanctioned neutral fan attire of a Rangers starter jacket and a purple cap.

(I'm also thinking of having a blue t-shirt made that says, "Deis! Deis! Deis!" on the front and "I'm Swampgoon" on the back.)

[John Gleich]

Hey Greg,

Just curious if you are going to the Aurora "sub-sectional"...it's kind of in your neck of the woods.

I'm planning on it ... but first I have to purchase the NCAA-sanctioned neutral fan attire of a Rangers starter jacket and a purple cap.

(I'm also thinking of having a blue t-shirt made that says, "Deis! Deis! Deis!" on the front and "I'm Swampgoon" on the back.)

Come on GS... there's only ONE Swampgoon....!  And I can attest that he's real and NOT a figment of OS's imagination!