Hope with a nice opening MIAA win (earliest ever MIAA win perhaps) over Alma 85-59.  Hope is quite a young team.  5 games into the season, there are 8 players averaging double digit minutes: 2 Sr, 2 Jr, 3 So, and 1 Fr.

The win was also Hopes 1000th all time win in women's basketball!!  Record stands at 1000-355 - 0.738 win percentage

Adam Dugener, a 6-0 PG from North Muskegon has commited to Alma

Fine - I'll stop replying  - hell hath no furry like a PMSing MU fan!

Relax, it's just a playful comment

Quote from: Captainred81 on November 18, 2025, 01:59:24 PMI'm not sure anyone is underestimating the MIAA, although, they are not to be feared as the WIAC schools or NCC.  Hope did score with 15 seconds left last year to make it make a 3 score game, but mostly they were manhandled by NCC just like every other team.  That is not to say that Mount was ever going to win the Stagg bowl, although, they had their opportunities.  I'm not sure Hope ever had the same opportunities. 

Moving on, I think Hope has a great shot a getting past a very inconsistent LAX team.  With or without their #1 QB.  However, they have size and speed that is probably a step up from Olivet.  Assuming that happens, I give them a very real shot against NCC.  I think watching this years Wheaton game is imperative. 

On the other side of that bracket, I think Platteville will be there. 

I'd say someone saying Hope is a 50 point dog to NCC is underestimating the MIAA.  Look, Hope was soundly beaten by NCC in that game, but Hope v NCC was 24-14 1/2 way through the 3rd - in comparison MU v NCC was 21-10 1/2 way through the 3rd. 

I do agree with your prognostications for this years playoffs.

Quote from: D3fanboy on November 17, 2025, 07:30:26 PM

Quote from: Kira & Jaxon's Dad on November 17, 2025, 07:08:31 PM

Quote from: purple on November 17, 2025, 06:03:41 PMI like the fact NC may have to play two CheeseEater teams before facing the Purples. Those big heavy teams sure gave us a hard time.They wear a body out and facing two of them back to back is quite a task.I predict one of them will beat NC.

Bethel used to be a pretty bruising team also.  Tough Bracket for NCC.

UW-L has no QB.  NCC would beat them by 100.  Hope has a better chance, so maybe they only lose by 50 or so

Yeah, keep underestimating the MIAA- that worked well for you a couple years ago, and last year Hope lost @ NC in the playoffs 41-21 - essentially the same score from the Stagg Bowl last year

Quote from: cubs on November 16, 2025, 05:26:26 PMRiver Falls, Whitewater and Platteville all earn home games in their first Postseason game, while La Crosse will head to Alma.

All four WIAC teams earned first round "byes" with Platteville and La Crosse being placed in North Central Bracket, and River Falls and Whitewater put in the Wartburg Bracket.

La Crosse is playing at Hope, while Alma is playing at Platteville

No poll this week, geussing you did not get enough submissions??

Quote from: mwunder on November 13, 2025, 12:12:18 PM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on November 12, 2025, 09:23:51 PMThis was a frustrating game to watch online, as the Alma feed kept me on the slow train to Buffertown all night, but the broadcast duo for the Scots made up for it. They're outstanding, the PBP guy in particular. I may have to watch more Alma basketball just to hear his call.

I'm glad it wasn't only me.  My first experience with HUDL and it was unbearable.  I only made it to halftime.

Since we are reviewing the streaming - Elmhurst's via the CCIW Network was good, and I appreciated the commentary as well.  I do have one suggestion - just because you have replay ability, doesn't mean you have to use it after nearly every made Blue Jays basket.  Doing that, coupled with the lead-in and lead-out graphics every time, meant a lot of missed live action.  Several instances of them returning from replay having missed a basket going the other way.

Great start to the season by the Flying Dutch winning two games in Wisconsin against good teams. Calvin lost to those same two teams, but I noticed that Pre-Season AA Anna Fernandez didn't play in either game for the Knights.  Is she injured?

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on November 07, 2025, 09:21:01 AM

Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on November 07, 2025, 08:23:17 AMMIAA Coaches Poll:

https://miaa.org/news/2025/11/5/defending-champion-calvin-picked-first-in-miaa-mens-basketball-preseason-poll.aspx

Calvin - 7 (7)
Trine - 16
Hope - 18 (1)
Olivet - 23
Albion - 31
Adrian - 40
Kalamazoo - 40
Alma - 49

I've been trying to figure out the math on this.  It seems like coaches vote, but can't put their own team on the ballot at all? That would mean 5 of the 8 coaches put Olivet in the top 3?  Calvin, Trine, and Hope would be three of them.  Two other coaches think Olivet is going to break into that recently solid top tier.  That's interesting.

Your assumption is correct - coaches cannot vote for their own team

MIAA Coaches Poll:

https://miaa.org/news/2025/11/5/defending-champion-calvin-picked-first-in-miaa-mens-basketball-preseason-poll.aspx

Calvin - 7 (7)
Trine - 16
Hope - 18 (1)
Olivet - 23
Albion - 31
Adrian - 40
Kalamazoo - 40
Alma - 49

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on November 05, 2025, 01:33:38 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on November 05, 2025, 12:07:34 AMYes, there are semifinalist trophies.

Okay I get finalist trophies but semifinals? How far down the ladder do trophies go? Why not quarterfinalist trophies? It's a slippery slope!

Wonder if it has something to do with being "equivalent" to basketball.  They have had semi-finalist trophies for years, but then of course a semi-finalist is a regional champion in basketball.

Hypothetical question (and I'm not overlooking any of the upcoming games):

Should Hope and Adrian win out (meaning an Alma loss in the final game of the MIAA) we would have a 3 way tie for first at 6-1.  So what is the tie-breaker to determine the automatic qualifier in that kind of scenario?  I would assume that with the same MIAA record, and the losses coming from each other, you have to then go to non-league record (which would eliminate Alma) but Adrian and Hope are still tied.  At that point does Hope get it for beating Adrian head-to-head? Do we at some point go to higher NPI?  Do we anticipate 2 playoff bound teams if we have have two 9-1 teams?

Last look at our recruit lists compared to posted rosters:

Player	Height	Position	High School	College	On roster
Carson Lutz	6-0	G	Milford (MI)	Adrian	x
Ben Murphy	6-2	G/F	Dexter (MI)	Adrian	x
Cameron Essell	5-11	PG	East Lansing (MI)	Albion	x
Tyler Davis	6-0	PG	Grand Rapids Christian (MI)	Albion	x
Aaron Lauer	6-1	PG	Novi (MI)	Albion	-
Bowen Moore	6-4	G/F	Holly (MI)	Albion	x
Kaleb Brown	6-4	G	Ann Arbor Huron (MI)	Albion	x
Colin Whalen	6-4	F	Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (MI)	Albion	x
Austin Miller	6-5	G/F	Marshall (MI)	Albion	x
Henri Maye	6-7	C	Tindley (IN)	Albion	x
Vincent Salmon	6-8	C	Brighton (MI)	Albion	x
Elijah Sykes	5-10	G	Sacramento Sheldon (CA)	Alma	-
Jaxon Jurmu	6-0	PG	Marquette (MI)	Alma	x
Ben Beetham	6-1	PG	West Ottawa (MI)	Alma	-
Darrion Sardo	6-1	SG	Sandy Spring Friends School (MD)	Alma	-
Ryan Mossburg	6-2	G	Tecumseh (MI)	Alma	x
Maxx Ladd	6-3	SG	San Jose St Francis (CA)	Alma	x
Jayden Hanson	6-5	W	Bellaire (MI)	Alma	-
Waylon Sales	6-6	F	Gwinn (MI)	Alma	x
Tamarion Kindle	6-8	F	Saginaw Heritage (MI)	Alma	-
Zion Ruckard	6-0	PG	Aurora (CO) / St Thomas Aquinas transfer	Calvin	V
Kade Clayton	6-1	G	Prolific Sports Prep Calgary (AB)	Calvin	-
Michael Dekuiper	6-1	PG	Rockford (MI)	Calvin	V
Jayden Keefer	6-5	F	Ann Arbor Huron (MI)	Calvin	V
Dylan Trobetsky	6-5	F	Bend Valley Catholic (OR)	Calvin	jv
Ben Elzinga	6-8	C	GR Covenant Christian (MI)	Calvin	-
Ryan Wind	6-10	C	Denver Christian (CO)	Calvin	jv
Brendan Cargill	5-11	G	Forect Hills Central (MI)	Hope	V
Avery Sanchez	6-2	G	Turlock Pitman (CA)	Hope	V
Justin Fisher	6-3	G/F	Hudsonville (MI)	Hope	V
Tucker Walther	6-4	G	Schoolcraft (MI)	Hope	V
Derek Sanders	6-5	G	Brooklyn Columbia Central (MI)	Hope	jv
Sean Wesolek	6-6	PF	Bay City John Glenn (MI)	Hope	V
John Kaul	6-3	G	Clarkston (MI)	Kalamazoo	x
Ben VanSumeren	6-5	G/F	Midland (MI)	Kalamazoo	x
Zander Nash	6-7	G/F	Imlay City (MI)	Kalamazoo	x
Tarren Calvert	5-11	G	Wyoming (MI)	Olivet	jv
Levi Stambaugh	6-0	G	Mason (MI)	Olivet	V
Warren Williams	6-1	G	Wyoming (MI)	Olivet	jv
Adam Devalaar	6-2	G	Holland (MI)	Olivet	jv
Hayden Cross	6-2	F	White Lake Lakeland (MI)	Olivet	jv
Alex Genuise	6-2	F	Allendale (MI)	Olivet	V
Gavin Ort	6-4	F	Waterford Mott (MI)	Olivet	-
Danny Flood	5-11	PG	Valley City (OH) / Marietta transfer	Trine	x
Trevon Thomas	6-0	G	Bridgton Acad (ME) / Franklin Pierce transfer	Trine	x
Elisha Jones	6-1	G	Little Miami (OH) / Mt St Joseph transfer	Trine	x
Landon Lybarger	6-1	G	Monroeville Heritage (IN)	Trine	-
Adam McBride	6-1	G	Ossian Norwell (IN)	Trine	-
Ayden Dirschell	6-2	G	Coldwater (MI)	Trine	-
Elias Lewis	6-2	G	Olentangy Orange (OH) / Walsh transfer	Trine	x
Montell Johnson	6-3	G	Indianapolis Park Tudor (IN)	Trine	-
Michael Roberson	6-3	W	Knightstown (IN) / Marietta transfer	Trine	-
Nick Ryan	6-3	G/F	Warren JFK (OH)	Trine	-
Jayden Bradshaw	6-4	W	Blanchester (OH) / Marietta transfer	Trine	x
Jess Roller	6-5	G	Batavia (OH) / Bethany transfer	Trine	x
Nolan Fedak	6-6	F	Westerville North (OH)	Trine	-
Paxton Crane	6-7	F	Ft Wayne Carroll (IN)	Trine	x
Drew Panning	6-9	F	Hilliard Darby (OH) / Heidelberg transfer	Trine	x

Adrian roster is posted:

https://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

25 total players, 13 of them new to the program - 7 freshman (inlcuding the 2 we had on our recruit list) and 6 transfers.

Freshman:
Carson Lutz 6-0 G Milford (MI)
Gavin Saunders 6-3 W Indianaplois (IN)
Maisen Bordchart 6-6 W Jackson Hole (WY)
Que Long 6-3 W Eniud (OK)
Austin Burns 6-5 W Marshall (MI)
Matt Evans 6-4 W Imlay City (MI)
Ben Murphy 6-1 G Dexter (MI)

Transfers:
Noah Vanlaningham JR 6-0 G (Kalamazoo (MI) / Albion
Kechan Johnson JR 6-0 G Toledo (OH) / Schoolcraft CC
Lewis Covile JR 6-7 F Atlanta (GA) / Central GA Tech & Delta CC
Jeremiah Dallas JR 6-1 G Detroit (MI) / Indy CC
Jaden Smiley JR 6-7 F Detroit (MI) / Kellogg CC
Brendon Schlink JR 6-7 F Bay City (MI) / Delta CC

Lot of size and experience - going to be tough to "guess" where they finish in the league.  Could they be as surprising as their FB team this year?