Calvin wins the MIAA championship over Trine 70-57.  The Knights were very good, clearly the best team this weekend.  Hannah Sall was a force inside both offensively and defensively with her rebounding and shot blocking, and Fernandez and Larue were draining 3s from outside.  Fernandez makes this team go, she can get to the rim as well.  MIAA WBB as a whole is improving which is good for the league.  I don't foresee it as a Hope/Trine 'twosome' that had been commonplace for the last 8-9 years or so.  Congratulations Calvin, well deserved. 

With 4 steals in last night's game against Kalamazoo, Aidan Smylie has now become the all time steals leader in program history with 188 in his career.  He may not make all-conference because he doesn't score that much at 7 ppg, but is second on the team in rebounds, first in assists, first in steals, second in blocks, and if there were a stat for this, first in floorburns diving for loose balls.  He does so much to help this team compete at a high level.  He knows his role so well, one of the hardest competitors I've seen at Trine, ever!     

Trine 89 Olivet 55.

Senior day victory for the Thunder.  Olivet came out on fire and led 30-22 before Trine went on a 15-2 run to lead 37-32 going in to the locker room at the break.  Second half was all Trine as the Thunder found better footing on defense turning the Coments over at a high rate which led to easy buckets and open 3's.  Trine ends the game on a 67 to 25 run.  Manny punctuated the end of his time on the court with a bank-in 3 which brought down the house.

8 seniors honored before the game: Cam Awls, who got the start and played very well with 4 pts and 5 asst, Drew Moore 24 pts, Aidan Smylie 12 pts 9 reb, Emmanuel Megnanglo 9 pts 4 blocks, Grant Pahl 2 pts, Cam Smith 6 pts, Max Greenamoyer 1 pt, and Trevor Montiel 1 reb.  Heart wrenching honor of Fred Garland as the Garland family participated in senior day.  Lots of tears.

Trine 92 Adrian 65.

Really great defense by the Thunder in the first half, limiting the Bulldogs to 19 points on 23% shooting.  Second half both teams played even as Trine didn't have the same defensive mindset, it's hard to maintain that intensity with a big lead.  Balanced scoring with Tucker leading the Thunder with 22 points.  He's having a tremendous year, should easily be first team MIAA.  Love seeing his confidence grow, his mid range game is really good, most guys these days don't shoot the 10-15 foot jump shot, which is where Tucker thrives.  Megnanglo, Smith and Cusack also in double figures.  Moore in street clothes on the bench in a boot.  He was injured in the last 5 minutes of the Calvin game but continued to play.  I'm guessing today was just a 'rest day', but don't know for certain if it's more serious or not.

This crazy conference schedule now works against Trine, 5 of the last 6 games on the road beginning at Hope on Wednesday and ending at Calvin on Feb 22.  Calvin won today, so my guess is that they win out leading up to the game against Trine.  Trine would have to win all 6 to get home court advantage in the MIAA tournament.  That will be a tall task.

Quote from: oldknight on January 30, 2025, 12:24:04 AM

Quote from: TUAngola on January 29, 2025, 09:49:11 PMCalvin tops Trine 62-58 in a physical, defensive slugfest.  Calvin's defense was stellar, they play tight man to man just like Trine.  I don't think Trine played badly, they just had a tough time generating any consistent offense, but again that was due mostly to Calvin's defense.  Uchenna was up to the task guarding Drew, it was tough for Drew to get many shots up.  The big key to the win was Uchenna offensively was agressive, I've watched him play for 4+ years now and this is the most he has looked for his shot against us, he was their go-to guy.  Trevin was big for the Knights too, he had a great first half.

Good game analysis. I will just add a few thoughts. This was the most intense basketball game I have attended in many years, raising my blood pressure a notch throughout its course. Calvin's win at Hope last week was pretty intense too, but this tilt against Trine exceeded the Rivalry game I believe. As good as Calvin defense is and was, I think Trine's was every bit as good if not better, forcing 20 Calvin turnovers to keep the Thunder in it. In the end, Egekeze was the difference maker, coming up with a spectacular game of 23 points and 5 steals. No one has ever considered Uchenna to be much of a threat from the arc, but he hit 3 of 4 triple attempts and his corner 3 ball with the game tied at 56 proved to be the difference maker. Ressler struggled a lot tonight, but with the shot clock winding down the final 30 seconds, and the Knights up one, Luka arced in a short but difficult fadeaway over Megnanglo to put the home team in a tough spot. I thought Nate Tucker was excellent for Trine, scoring 16 and grabbing 7 boards. Just a great game. I might not sleep tonight.

Yes, you knew it was Uchenna's night on that 3 ball from the corner.  From my angle I thought there is no way that's going in as it was pretty much a 'line drive' shot, very little arc to it, but it went in.  And Luka's  shot was amazing too.  I didn't like that Trine didn't look for a quick 2 pointer after the time out, that's what I would have done, and then either get a trap/turnover on the inbounds pass or foul and make Calvin hit free throws.  Calvin defended the 3 point line great all night and certainly on the last Trine possession did not give anyone a good look as Drew had to force an off balance shot that had no chance.

Calvin tops Trine 62-58 in a physical, defensive slugfest.  Calvin's defense was stellar, they play tight man to man just like Trine.  I don't think Trine played badly, they just had a tough time generating any consistent offense, but again that was due mostly to Calvin's defense.  Uchenna was up to the task guarding Drew, it was tough for Drew to get many shots up.  The big key to the win was Uchenna offensively was agressive, I've watched him play for 4+ years now and this is the most he has looked for his shot against us, he was their go-to guy.  Trevin was big for the Knights too, he had a great first half.

Quote from: BigBallBoy on January 25, 2025, 04:52:40 PMTough Trine-Hope game to watch from a Dutchman perspective.  Especially lack of competitiveness, apparent frustration by coaching staff (e.g. hand gestures, lowering head) and reserves playing the majority of the last 10 minutes...

Give Trine credit - the defense was solid with so much versatility to guard anyone at any position and place on the floor.  Their offence was good, Moore and Tucker were especially efficient, getting the shots they wanted and making them.

Very nice play at the 4 minute mark by "E" with a steal, behind-the-back dribble, pass to Tucker(?), and finishing the alley-oop!

Tough climb from here for the Dutchmen, but there is always Hope!

Trine led wire to wire today, winning 77-54.  Like BBB mentioned above, the difference in the game is Trine plays outstanding defense.  Even when we employ a 'hockey line change' to the lineup the reserves are just as locked in defensively as the starters.  I thought a key turn to the game was when Hope had cut a first half lead for Trine down to 2, Jayce Cusack hit back to back 3 pointers to jump the lead back out to 8.  It was good to see Jayce shoot it well as offensively he has been struggling a bit lately.  Moore and Tucker again lead us offensively with 17 and 16 points respectively.  I hope Matt & Zac add Manny's dunk to their D3 best dunks of the year.  It wasn't the dunk itself that was the most impressive, to me it was Manny's steal and the behind the back dribble to free himself of the defender, pretty impressive for a big man.

This weeks scores:

Trine 77 Alma 48
Trine 66 Albion 56

Offensively both games were icky, shooting woeful.  Guys passing up open looks for contested shots at the rim. Very hesitant on when to take shots.
Moore and Tucker have been good, especially today.  Moore kept us in the game the first half.
Alma has a ways to go be to competitive.  Albion is a very physical team, good defense. Umeh is so athletic.
We got in the bonus 5 minutes into the second half today, free throws were the difference, we were 23-30, Albion 10-16.
Coach Miller visibly frustrated today, which is rare.  We need to find some shooters other than Moore.
I don't think 'going big' is working, we need better guard play.  But Coach loves defense and the starters are his best defenders.
Would love to see Brenner and Greenamoyer get more PT, could be answer to outside shooting woes.
Smylie finally looked for his shot second half today, can't have him with zero attempts like the first half.
We're going to have to win 'ugly' the rest of the year.  Defense has been the constant all year.
Big week next week, at Adrian Wednesday, Hope at home on Saturday.  We'll need to hit more shots to win either.

Quote from: scottiedawg on January 13, 2025, 09:26:33 AMFrom what I've seen (could be some very good FR buried on the depth chart on some very good teams), Hope WBB's Freshmen class is the best in the nation. (Petroelje listed as FR so assuming she has 4 years of athletic eligibility remaining).

Honestly Hope's second 5 (which included the Richards twins and Petroelje) played much better than the starting 5 against Trine.  Garner never did get into the flow of the game, not sure why.  Trine has a good freshman class too, but right now only two of them are in the rotation, guard Zoe Willems and forward Hailey Cole.  They each scored 6 points against Hope.  Cole is very physical, has good touch around the rim.  Willems will be the heir apparent to replace Wagner in the starting lineup next year.  Willems can penetrate very well and has good moves around the rim, but hasn't shot it well from outside yet.  They don't need to be major scoring options as much for Trine this season, but will definitely be counted on to score more next season.  

Quote from: scottiedawg on January 10, 2025, 10:38:58 AMTomorrow's Hope @ Trine game should be a great one!!

As well coached teams do, both teams have only gotten better since the season started.

In my simulations, 4-loss Hope/Trine teams both make the NCAA Tournament a majority of the time—so tomorrow is not a must-win type of game.

However, a 2-3 loss Hope or a 1-2 loss Trine could absolutely be in line to host opening weekend, so that is probably the main thing (NCAA Tournament-wise)" on the line tomorrow.

Trine comes away with a 76-66 victory over Hope this afternoon.  A nice win for the Thunder as they shot the ball pretty well hitting 52% of their shots.  Sidney Wagner had a terrific all around game, 21 pts, 10 reb, and 6 assists.  Hope was led by Bellows with 16 and the Richards sisters, Anna with 15 and Leah with 10.  Those girls are going to be a handful down the road, very polished for freshmen, are they twins??  Angola HS product Lauren Leach with a nice second half for the Flying Dutchmen.  It was like old times with Trine's Jada Rhonehouse guarding Lauren as they played against each other in high school as Jada played up the road at Fremont. It was a tight game thru 3 periods, but Sierra Hinds has a big 4th quarter to propel the Thunder to a win.  It was the first win in Angola against Hope in I think 6 years or so.  Hope has had our number at Trine, but the Thunder in turn always play well in Holland.  Rematch on February 15th.  It was a hard fought well played game by both.

Record breaking crowd of 3029 at MTI last night as the Thunder outlasted Kalamazoo 76-63.  It was a very emotional tribute before the game as the Trine nation honored Fred not with a moment of silence, but with cheers to the heavens, arms raised with #1.  Fueled by the energy of the students back on campus the Thunder raced out to an early lead and stymied the Hornets with suffocating defense, it was 40-20 going in to the break.  Complete opposite feel in the second half as Kalamazoo found their footing and played well offensively, DJ Ferguson was very good for the Hornets off the bench.  You could tell Trine lost their intensity, especially after at least a 15-20 minute delay to the game as the fire alarm went off in the arena with the repeated announcement from the alarm telling everyone to leave the building.  It was not certain what to make of it, some left but most stayed until it was finally announced the alarm was due to a 'sensor' issue.  Who knows.  Next stop at Olivet this Saturday, the Comets took it to the Thunder last year on their court, hoping for a better outcome this time around.   

Quote from: ChickenHoops on January 08, 2025, 08:42:45 AMTrine ranked #3.

What are the odds they run the table in the MIAA? 

Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on January 08, 2025, 08:57:01 AM

Quote from: ChickenHoops on January 08, 2025, 08:42:45 AMTrine ranked #3.

What are the odds they run the table in the MIAA? 

Slim to none

I agree with FDF.  Fred was the engine to this year's team.  Without him we look totally different.  We can still be good, but right now we're not playing like #3 in the country, probably not even top 25 either.  I'd put Calvin ahead of Trine, maybe even Hope.  It will be an emotional night tonight at MTI, first game for the student body without Fred.

Manny sets a new school record for blocks in a game with 11 today in a win over Illinois Tech 75-57.  The Red Hawks kept it close for the first half, Trine with a good start to the second half and eventually pulled away down the stretch.  It wasn't a pretty game, but a win is a win.  We need Aidan to get back to how he played last year, he's had some not so good games lately, when he's playing well offensively it makes us so much better.  The conference grind starts next week.   

Trine 58
Manchester 37

After a 3 week layoff and the absolutely heartwrenching death of their teammate the Thunder grinded out 2 wins, first on the road over Franklin last Saturday and at home this afternoon against Manchester.  A great tribute to Fred before todays game.  The guys are wearing patches on the uniforms and new warmup T's with the word 'ONE' on the front as this was Fred's uniform number, but it also defines Trine basketball, they play as ONE.  Great crowd on a weekday afternoon with no students, over 1200.  It was vocal too, lots of cheering and encouragement.  The boys are going to need energy from the crowd as they try to navigate the rest of the season.

It's going to be a struggle to find consistent offense, with Nate Tucker inserted into the starting lineup we are essentially playing 4 wings and a center, no true point guard.  Ball handling is and will be an issue going forward.  We did not get much offense from our sets, it was all pretty much take your guy off the dribble and try to create.  Defense was tremendous though over these last 2 games.  Manchester came in averaging 84 points a game and were 47 under that average today.  One addition to the roster, Grant Pahl is back on the team this semester after not playing the first semester.  He was in the rotation both games.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic news of Fred's passing late last evening from a car accident.  I've been teary eyed most of the day, even now still trying to process.  The Trine community has lost a great leader, competitor, teammate and friend.  Fred brought great joy to those who knew him and from those of us who witnessed his talents on the court, helping lead the Thunder to a national championship.  I am truly heartbroken.  My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Fred's family, Coach Miller and the Trine team, coaches and staff, the Trine campus family.