MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Grace Bible College defended their NCCAA national championship today.

Congrats to GBC!  I was certainly impressed when I saw them play against Calvin this year.  (much more than when I saw them play Calvin last season at the GRCHS gym). 

I looked at the NCCAA website--there are only 43 schools in the entire nation classified as DII within the NCCAA.  They probably don't use the same "in-region" definitions that NCAA DIII uses......

[KnightSlappy]

I am not a huge fan of Hope-Calvin opening MIAA play against each other. I rather see them get into the MIAA season with a game or two rather than have it right after Christmas when students at one or the other school aren't necessarily around. Hopefully, after 2010-11 that'll switch up again.

You can't really schedule the league around Calvin and Hope though. It would be like telling the other teams that they're not as important. And while we know this is true, they can't come out and say that. 

Agreed. I can't believe I am about to say this but I am getting tired of 4 Hope-Calvin meetings a year. (Did we hit five once even?)

'06-'07 Calvin and Hope played five times.  The home team went 0-4 in those matchups (one neutral site).   I have no problem with meeting that many times since that means we both made the NCAA tourney.  But, the one I would be willing to let go of is the pre-league tourney matchup, especially if it's in a consolation game like this past season. 

I think it takes much of the fun and excitement out of the NCAA tournament game when you've already seen the team four times before.

There's really no reason that these teams should meet in the non-conference. Hopefully the rumors about Calvin and Hope leaving the GRSHOF Tournament after next year are true.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

You can't really schedule the league around Calvin and Hope though. It would be like telling the other teams that they're not as important. And while we know this is true, they can't come out and say that. 

The ACC schedules around Duke-NC every year. They never open with that game.

The Big Ten and every other conference schedules football around the marquee rivalry match-ups.

This year and last year are the first times I remember Hope-Calvin meeting the first weekend since I started paying attention to the MIAA so my guess is it rotates to some degree and after next year it will shift again anyways.

[ziggy]

You can't really schedule the league around Calvin and Hope though. It would be like telling the other teams that they're not as important. And while we know this is true, they can't come out and say that. 

The ACC schedules around Duke-NC every year. They never open with that game.

The Big Ten and every other conference schedules football around the marquee rivalry match-ups.

This year and last year are the first times I remember Hope-Calvin meeting the first weekend since I started paying attention to the MIAA so my guess is it rotates to some degree and after next year it will shift again anyways.

Perhaps the MIAA would oblige if the money involved equaled the magnitude of Big Ten Football and ACC basketball. Neither team was adversely affected by their conference schedule so we'll just have to grin and bear it when this situation comes up every now and then.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

You can't really schedule the league around Calvin and Hope though. It would be like telling the other teams that they're not as important. And while we know this is true, they can't come out and say that. 

The ACC schedules around Duke-NC every year. They never open with that game.

The Big Ten and every other conference schedules football around the marquee rivalry match-ups.

This year and last year are the first times I remember Hope-Calvin meeting the first weekend since I started paying attention to the MIAA so my guess is it rotates to some degree and after next year it will shift again anyways.

Perhaps the MIAA would oblige if the money involved equaled the magnitude of Big Ten Football and ACC basketball. Neither team was adversely affected by their conference schedule so we'll just have to grin and bear it when this situation comes up every now and then.

Agreed. It's completely a matter of personal preference that the Rivalry game come later in the conference season.

[KnightSlappy]

I couldn't help but LOL at Mike & Mike this morning when they complained that the bracket wasn't fair and balanced because #2 seeds West Virginia and Ohio State were in the regions with the top two #1 seeds.

A bracket isn't balanced because of a potential elite eight matchup? I think we would all love that type of balance in the DIII bracket.

[Gregory Sager]

I think it takes much of the fun and excitement out of the NCAA tournament game when you've already seen the team four times before.

So you're saying that a D3 tournament game between Hope and Calvin loses juice if it's the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams, in spite of the fact that it's a tournament game? Color me skeptical.

[KnightSlappy]

I think it takes much of the fun and excitement out of the NCAA tournament game when you've already seen the team four times before.

So you're saying that a D3 tournament game between Hope and Calvin loses juice if it's the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams, in spite of the fact that it's a tournament game? Color me skeptical.

What I meant was that some of the excitement of a tournament game for me is the fact that we get to see a team that we don't usually see. That's lost when it's the fifth game of the season against a particular team.

[Gregory Sager]

I think it takes much of the fun and excitement out of the NCAA tournament game when you've already seen the team four times before.

So you're saying that a D3 tournament game between Hope and Calvin loses juice if it's the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams, in spite of the fact that it's a tournament game? Color me skeptical.

What I meant was that some of the excitement of a tournament game for me is the fact that we get to see a team that we don't usually see. That's lost when it's the fifth game of the season against a particular team.

I can understand that. But at the same time, a tournament game is the one for all the marbles. When you're a national-power program that has annual aspirations to make it to Salem and bring home hardware (a description that certainly fits both Hope and Calvin), I would imagine that the very fact that you're playing your archrival in March would ratchet up the intensity, in spite of your familiarity with that opponent's personnel.

[hope_hoops1]

I don't mind that Hope and Calvin have played a higher amount of times the last few years.  Each game typically has more importance than the previous.  Playing a 5th time means that both teams had very good seasons and have played each other in the conference finals (most likely) and the NCAA.

My only issue with the 5th game (or any of their matchups in the NCAA tournament) is that it has been in the first weekend.  I'd like to see the MIAA teams get split up a bit more so they can battle each other further along in the tournament.  I think this goal is ambitious at best and most likely won't happen unless the two teams are 1-2 in the region where they could both host.  Even then, probably a long shot still as DIII is often understandably concerned with travel costs for its teams in the tournament.

[ziggy]

I don't mind that Hope and Calvin have played a higher amount of times the last few years.  Each game typically has more importance than the previous.  Playing a 5th time means that both teams had very good seasons and have played each other in the conference finals (most likely) and the NCAA.

My only issue with the 5th game (or any of their matchups in the NCAA tournament) is that it has been in the first weekend.  I'd like to see the MIAA teams get split up a bit more so they can battle each other further along in the tournament.  I think this goal is ambitious at best and most likely won't happen unless the two teams are 1-2 in the region where they could both host.  Even then, probably a long shot still as DIII is often understandably concerned with travel costs for its teams in the tournament.

Calvin and Albion were split in 2005 (48 team tournament). Calvin got sent Chicagoland way before ultimately beating Albion on the road to earn their most recent trip to Salem. Albion was grouped with the Ohio participants.

I don't see a scenario where Calvin and Hope would both host. Its the Lake Michigan effect that has nothing to due with snow. We really have geography working against us. It is more likely than if both were 1-2 that one would host (probably #1) and the other would be sent to a weaker host site where they might be a favorite. 

Look at the bracket this year. There were far more hosting worthy schools in the West, Midwest, and GL than could realistically host. As a result, Whitewater got sent to Wooster while Plattsburgh State got to host. Geography plays such a big factor.

[almcguirejr]

I looked at the NCCAA website--there are only 43 schools in the entire nation classified as DII within the NCCAA.  They probably don't use the same "in-region" definitions that NCAA DIII uses......

I was surprised how few schools are involved.  Can you really call that a "National Championship?"  I'm not saying Grace didn't have a very good team but 43 team just isn't a very big pool.

[sac]

I believe all 43 teams start out the tournament in Regionals before moving on to the National Finals......that involves 12 teams which are then seeded.  GBC had to win 6 games to bring home the title.

All 10 of GBC's losses came to teams in NAIA II, NCAA II or NCAA III.

[HopeConvert]

I looked at the NCCAA website--there are only 43 schools in the entire nation classified as DII within the NCCAA.  They probably don't use the same "in-region" definitions that NCAA DIII uses......

I was surprised how few schools are involved.  Can you really call that a "National Championship?"  I'm not saying Grace didn't have a very good team but 43 team just isn't a very big pool.

As far as that goes, there is no such thing as a national championship in any sport, nor ought there be.

[sac]

I'm sure someone in the MIAA was recruiting Austin Semple from Zeeland..........brother of Cornerstone's Semple I assume.

He's heading to Mount Vernon Nazarene in Ohio.