WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Worth noting that with another double-double last night, Maura McAfee tied the school record for career double-doubles at 23 - a feat she shares with Carries Snikkers. All 23 of these have occured during this season or last season - a total of 44 games.  During that span she is averaging 14.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg.

For her career she currently totals 750 pts and 580 reb. 

[Roundball999]

Worth noting that with another double-double last night, Maura McAfee tied the school record for career double-doubles at 23 - a feat she shares with Carries Snikkers. All 23 of these have occured during this season or last season - a total of 44 games.  During that span she is averaging 14.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg.

For her career she currently totals 750 pts and 580 reb. 

She's a REALLY solid player.  Interesting comparison in the game with Olivet's preseason 2nd team All American Stefanie Lang.  On the offensive end, Lang went for 18pts and 14rebs while shooting 50%, while McAfee went for 20/10 while shooting 62%.  Both great numbers and pretty even.  But on the defensive end I think there's no comparison.  McAfee and Rebekah Llorens were able to repeatedly drive the lane for layups while Olivet was able to hit only 33% for the game.  Lang did have 7 offensive boards and a number of putbacks, she does a great job maximizing her advantage by keeping the ball high and has a nice touch using the board around the basket, otherwise that team shooting % would have been even lower.  I think the league coaches knew what they were doing when they picked McAfee as league MoP last year.  Perhaps McAfee will get some deserved national attention at the end of year.

[realist]

I was looking at the starting five, and minutes played, and number of players scoring for last night's games.  Hope seemed to use a shorter bench than Calvin resulting in lots of minutes for starters.  Was this by design or did Olivet dictate this?
Over the years it always appeared that Hope liked to spread the minutes around whenever possible.
The Calvin coach commented that he liked (or words to that affect) being able to rest the starterss before Sat's big game.

[Roundball999]

I was looking at the starting five, and minutes played, and number of players scoring for last night's games.  Hope seemed to use a shorter bench than Calvin resulting in lots of minutes for starters.  Was this by design or did Olivet dictate this?
Over the years it always appeared that Hope liked to spread the minutes around whenever possible.
The Calvin coach commented that he liked (or words to that affect) being able to rest the starterss before Sat's big game.

I think Hope's starters are as strong as any of their teams in recent years, but no doubt the Dutch aren't as deep as in some recent years so starters' minutes are up.  But playing at Olivet doesn't compare to hosting St. Mary's either, as evidenced by Olivet's lead over Calvin late in the 2nd half of their game recently.  Not surprising that Hope would play its starters a bit longer in their game last night.  But a starter playing 30 minutes instead of 20 minutes, in a game 3 days before, should be a non-factor for Saturday's game imo.

As for that game, I chicken out and call it a toss-up.

[realist]

I was looking at the starting five, and minutes played, and number of players scoring for last night's games.  Hope seemed to use a shorter bench than Calvin resulting in lots of minutes for starters.  Was this by design or did Olivet dictate this?
Over the years it always appeared that Hope liked to spread the minutes around whenever possible.
The Calvin coach commented that he liked (or words to that affect) being able to rest the starterss before Sat's big game.

I think Hope's starters are as strong as any of their teams in recent years, but no doubt the Dutch aren't as deep as in some recent years so starters' minutes are up.  But playing at Olivet doesn't compare to hosting St. Mary's either, as evidenced by Olivet's lead over Calvin late in the 2nd half of their game recently.  Not surprising that Hope would play its starters a bit longer in their game last night.  But a starter playing 30 minutes instead of 20 minutes, in a game 3 days before, should be a non-factor for Saturday's game imo.

As for that game, I chicken out and call it a toss-up.

I didn't think the minutes would be a problem it was just a contrast I noticed when reviewing the box scores.

Calvin does not really have the size to match up that well with Hope.  With the game being in Holland it would seem Hope has the advantage, but I am willing to be proven wrong. 

[bballfan13]

I agree with Roundball that hosting St. Mary's is not like playing at Olivet and that is why you see the difference in minutes.  If you look at the overall average of minutes in the league this year Hope only has Berry at #10 for minutes played and Calvin does not have anyone in the top #25.  This is pretty typical of both programs. 

Hope has the advantage in the post for Saturday's game but I like how Calvin's press has been looking this year and their rebounding is much improved from last year.  I agree the game is a toss up and should be a great one.  Let's hope for an enjoyable afternoon of basketball on Saturday.  It is great to see these 2 programs remain strong and amongst the top teams in the country every year.

[realist]

Calvin wins a tough one 76-74.  As Hope was making the run at the end of the game I wasn't sure if the Lady Knights had enough gas left for a furious finnish.  Great game by both teams.  Just not used to seeing Hope with that many t.o'.

[gordonmann]

Yeah, I watched the online broadcast and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Both teams looked very good and the ending was fantastic. That was a really tough shot by Berry to take the lead late, forcing it over the rim somehow. And then Verkaik made a perfect pass in the paint to Acre for the winning basket.

Hope did make too many turnovers in the final minutes, but kudos to them for rallying with some big threes by Berry and Traversa late in the game. I was most impressed by Calvin's speed and balance on offense. The Knights had a quickness advantage at most positions and Hope had a hard time staying in front of the Calvin ball handlers. Breanna Verkaik made some big plays near the end of the game, particularly saving the ball from going out of bounds to set up a three-pointer by Spayde. Verkaik has great body control when she gets in the air and Engelhard was really tenacious on offense.

Also, the Hope video broadcast was great. Good play-by-play and color commentary, nice graphics, minimal buffering, nice floor camera angles...just a nice presentation all the way around.

[realist]

Yeah, I watched the online broadcast and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Both teams looked very good and the ending was fantastic. That was a really tough shot by Berry to take the lead late, forcing it over the rim somehow. And then Verkaik made a perfect pass in the paint to Acre for the winning basket.

Hope did make too many turnovers in the final minutes, but kudos to them for rallying with some big threes by Berry and Traversa late in the game. I was most impressed by Calvin's speed and balance on offense. The Knights had a quickness advantage at most positions and Hope had a hard time staying in front of the Calvin ball handlers. Breanna Verkaik made some big plays near the end of the game, particularly saving the ball from going out of bounds to set up a three-pointer by Spayde. Verkaik has great body control when she gets in the air and Engelhard was really tenacious on offense.

Also, the Hope video broadcast was great. Good play-by-play and color commentary, nice graphics, minimal buffering, nice floor camera angles...just a nice presentation all the way around.

Glad you enjoyed the game.  Hope does a pretty good job with it's broadcasts.  Hope women's bball has only lost 5 games versus 146 wins since the De Vos opened so any win by a visiting team on that floor is big news.  This was only Calvin's 2nd win there since the De Vos opened.
Everyone thinks of the men's rivalry, but the women's rivalry is equal, and the volleyball teams take up the slack in the fall.

[almcguirejr]

Here is a link to an obstructed view of  Calvin's final shot:
http://youtu.be/k3ClZEolSyI

[Roundball999]

Congrats to the Knights on a big win and rare victory at DeVos.  Those are two extremely good teams and while Hope has gotten some recognition, Calvin has been kind of sneaking up the polls.  Perhaps now the pollsters will realize just how good they are.  I thought it would be a toss up and it sure was, it seemed like whoever had the last shot was going to win.    These teams just battled each other right down to the wire.  And what a great atmosphere with 2600 enthusiastic fans, full cheerleading squad, a great local high school band, and one of the best live renditions I've seen of the national anthem, performed by Hope's excellent male a cappella group 12th St. Harmony.  Looking forward to the next matchup.

[bballforever]

Great Calvin/Hope game.  I was surprised at how athletic and quick Calvin's whole team was.  Kudos to the Knights.
Berry from Hope seemed sluggish is she struggling with health?  We hope not.

[realist]

Great Calvin/Hope game.  I was surprised at how athletic and quick Calvin's whole team was.  Kudos to the Knights.
Berry from Hope seemed sluggish is she struggling with health?  We hope not.

You do not have to go back too many years to a time when Calvin strggled with slower players (especially in the backcourt).  This was evidenced  by  turnovers.  Calvin did not react well historically when teams used full court, and in your face type defenses.  After Carissa V. departed Calvin needed to come up with a new means to play well without the size they enjoyed.  It seems to me that Coach Ross has figured out the best way to beat a pressing, agressive team is to become one yourself.  It is hard to gauge player speed etc., but it sure does seem like Calvin is reacting faster to ball movement that I ever remember them doing, and more importantly they seem to be anticipating passes, and passing lanes. 

If you watch Ms. Berry in the short clip above it does not appear to me that she has lost anything speed wise if that basket and foul are any representation of her ability.

[wiz]

Calvin moves up to number 10 in the polls.  A nice position for this undefeated and constantly improving team.  I expect them to keep climbing.

[AlwaysHope]

Hope's newest recruit has committed very early:  www.celinaking.com

Be sure to click on her "Blog" and watch her play with the high school boys last fall as a junior!

How did we get her?  Did Courtney Kust, former Hope star also from Cincinnati and currently a Hope Assistant Coach, have something to do with Celina coming to Hope?