MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[knightmoves]

It sucks! The fun of the tourney is playing different teams. Also, since Hope didn't have the foresight to build a bigger facility a lot of us will be lucky to have any chance at tickets Saturday if both teams win!!!

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Unfortunate the Committee did not split up Calvin and Hope in the same way it split up Albion and Calvin last year. It could have been done but expecting anything from the Committee is expecting too much.

On a side note, unfortunate the Hope women are forced to travel. The deserved to host as much as the men if not more.

[Greek Tragedy]

Calvin at Hope in Round 2.

possible matchup.    La Crosse may have ended up 5th in the WIAC, but they are a solid team.  Don't underestimate the Eagles.  However, you may give Hope a "bye" vs. Wisconsin Lutheran! lol. 

That sucks that two conference foes MAY end up playing each other as early as the 2nd round...at least you aren't Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Occidental, who get to play each other in the first round!

[dren]

Well, Hope got a 1st round game against probably one of the weakest teams in the tournament and with a win will be playing either Calvin or UWLAX.  Not a bad draw for either team.  Outside of the fieldhouse, Calvin has played at the Devos more than anywhere else this season.

at Hope
Wisconsin Lutheran

Calvin
UW-La Crosse


Hope women on the other hand have every reason to complain.  The Flying Dutch are only 27-1 and taking a 24 game winning streak to the road.

I know the logistics of try to host both the mens and womens NCAAs at Hope would be a pain in the rear... but it is very doable and I believe Hope is as (if not more) capable as any other school of pulling it off.  If anything I'd of liked to see them give Calvins women the host and let both play there.

[ziggy]

Should be an easy game for Hope.  Wisconsin Lutheran participated in Calvin's tip-off tournament and came in last place.  Yeah, they lost to Grace Bible in the consolation game.  I'm guessing they got a little better since then but thats not a good loss.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Not to mention that WL will probably be affected by the crowd.  Their entire home attendance for 14 home games is around 4100 (about 290 per game)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Interesting to consider that Calvin and WL are similar (now chiill out and read the rest of the post)- considering that WL is a football only member of the MIAA, filling in for the Knights.

[ziggy]

Does anyone else think its funny that York is playing York in the first round? (PA vs NY)

[AndersDY]

Well yes, certainly everything is only projected as we discuss it now, but it's clear enough when they aren't trying to separate teams. I guess it was just the NCAC's turn as last year the MIAA managed to keep Albion and Calvin apart until the Elite 8, which is the arrangement for Wooster and Witt this year. Given a virtual home game against UW-Lax, I do still figure Calvin is the heavy favorite for that one. Hopefully getting an easy first round matchup and the home court advantage will be enough for Hope to avoid a season split with Calvin when that matchup shows up again on Saturday.

[Gregory Sager]

Does anyone else think its funny that York is playing York in the first round? (PA vs NY)

It's the Peppermint Patty Bowl. Get the sensation!

Sorry to see that Van Frick and Van Frack could meet as early as next Saturday. However, I can kinda see why the NCAA is doing that to the two MIAA reps. A Hope/Calvin matchup guarantees not only a packed house (translation: more moolah for D3) but great press coverage for the tournament as well. With the Great Lakes section being as tough as it is, the chances of both MIAA reps making it far enough as a tandem and playing a game deeper into the tourney get pretty small pretty quickly.

[oldknight]

Given a virtual home game against UW-Lax, I do still figure Calvin is the heavy favorite for that one. 

You might want to modify that comment before anyone at Wis-LaCrosse finds out. They're a WIAC team so don't let their 10-6 4th place conference finish lull you into a false sense of security. They will be a real challenge.

[dren]

very very strong region

Great Lakes -- 9 in top 25  -- 5 in top 10
#10 Mississippi College 27-1
#38 Trinity Texas 20-6
#21 Transylvania 24-4
#25 Randolf Macon 22-6
#3 Wooster 25-3
----------
#2 Hope 26-2
#13 Calvin 22-6
#6 Wittenberg 25-3
#24 Carnegie Mellon 20-5
#7 Baldwin UUallace 24-4

As far as the other regions the

Northeast/East 3 in top 25 -- 1 in top 10
#5 Amherst
#16 St John Fischer
#23 Worchester Poly Tech
#33 Cortland State

South Atlantic 3 in top 25 -- 2 top 10
#8 Virginia Weslyan
#35 Ursinus
#18 Lincoln
#4 York

West/Midwest 8 in top 25 -- 2 in top 10
#1 Lawrence
#31 St Thomas
#19 North Central
#20 UW Whitewater
#12 ILL Weslyan
#15 Carroll
#17 Pudget Sound
#26 Occidental
#41 Claremont MS
#9 Augusta
#14 UW Stout
#30 Carleton

[Civic Minded]

Does anyone else think its funny that York is playing York in the first round? (PA vs NY)

It's the Peppermint Patty Bowl. Get the sensation!

LOL!    Nice one, GS!

As to the possible re-match of Hope/Calvin, pass the Tums!  I've barely recovered from Saturday's game, for heaven's sake!  

I have to agree with oldknight and others though -- the WIAC is a tough, tough league.  Wis-LaX will be a challenging opponent.  Knowing that, maybe I'd rather play Calvin should we advance to Saturday.  I'll have to consult with my advisors at dinner tonight...   

[John Rusnak]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I hate this f*cking committee!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm too mad to event post more!

[realist]

The more things change the more they stay the same.
This is the late 80's the 90's, and most of the 00's all over again.
Dren:  I noticed the same thing when I saw the brackets.  It sort of jumps out at a person that one region has a high number of ranked teams, and the NCAA will say well we just use regional rankings.  Imagine if they did this at the D1 level.
I don't really think the NCAA cares if this tourney makes money or not.  If $$ were a deciding factor why not a home game for Calvin round one?