WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[hope81]

DK, I by no means meant to lessen the abilities of a very fine supporting cast of players at Calvin.  Indeed if you removed CVK from the team, I would expect Calvin to still challenge for the top spot in the MIAA.  My point was only to say that CVK could easily put up numbers in a career that could be near the top of MIAA history.  I think she is that good.

My comment about injuries and surprise developments was not intended for CVK or any team specifically.  I do think Hope will need to receive a high level of play from an unexpected source or sources to challenge for the top spot this year.  I hope (pun intended) it happens.

[KnightSlappy]

A Calvin roster was provided at the Winter Sports Lunch today:

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2011/10/look-at-2011-12-womens-hoops-roster.html

[Dark Knight]

A Calvin roster was provided at the Winter Sports Lunch today:

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2011/10/look-at-2011-12-womens-hoops-roster.html

Thanks for putting that up, KS.

It looks as though there are 9 returnees from last year, making up 9 of the 10-person rotation. Heather DeKleine, the 10th, is injured (ACL).

It looks as though none of the remaining 5 returned -- two due to graduation.  That makes space for six new players, four frosh, a sophomore transfer from Aquinas, and a sophomore from JV.

In the preseason audio interview, Ross named the newcomers:

Danielle Kapustka, transfer from Aquinas, was heavily recruited by Ross when she was in high school. Versatile point guard and shooter, plays with intensity.

Kayla Englehard -- 1st team all-state (class C) point guard.

Breanna Verkaik -- guard/post player, long, athletic. May be one of the surprises from this recruiting class.

Maria DeKuiper -- 2000 point scorer in high school. Some post moves, defends well.

Jessica Lang -- was a point guard, will convert to a post player.

Shelby Sheehan -- from JV

[northb]

A Calvin roster was provided at the Winter Sports Lunch today:

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2011/10/look-at-2011-12-womens-hoops-roster.html

Thanks for putting that up, KS.

It looks as though there are 9 returnees from last year, making up 9 of the 10-person rotation. Heather DeKleine, the 10th, is injured (ACL).

It looks as though none of the remaining 5 returned -- two due to graduation. None of last year's JV made varsity. That makes space for the five new players, four frosh and a sophomore transfer from Aquinas.

In the preseason audio interview, Ross named the newcomers:

Danielle Kapustka, transfer from Aquinas, was heavily recruited by Ross when she was in high school. Versatile point guard and shooter, plays with intensity.

Kayla Englehard -- 1st team all-state (class C) point guard.

Breanna Verkaik -- guard/post player, long, athletic. May be one of the surprises from this recruiting class.
Maria DeKuiper -- 2000 point scorer in high school. Some post moves, defends well.

Jessica Lang -- was a point guard, will convert to a post player.

Can CV's sister be a "surprise"?

[oldknight]

A Calvin roster was provided at the Winter Sports Lunch today:

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2011/10/look-at-2011-12-womens-hoops-roster.html

Thanks for putting that up, KS.

It looks as though there are 9 returnees from last year, making up 9 of the 10-person rotation. Heather DeKleine, the 10th, is injured (ACL).

It looks as though none of the remaining 5 returned -- two due to graduation. None of last year's JV made varsity. That makes space for the five new players, four frosh and a sophomore transfer from Aquinas.

In the preseason audio interview, Ross named the newcomers:

Danielle Kapustka, transfer from Aquinas, was heavily recruited by Ross when she was in high school. Versatile point guard and shooter, plays with intensity.

Kayla Englehard -- 1st team all-state (class C) point guard.

Breanna Verkaik -- guard/post player, long, athletic. May be one of the surprises from this recruiting class.
Maria DeKuiper -- 2000 point scorer in high school. Some post moves, defends well.

Jessica Lang -- was a point guard, will convert to a post player.

Can CV's sister be a "surprise"?

That's one of those questions that can be answered "yes" or "no" depending on the context. I saw Breanna play about 5 high school games. If an observer evaluates her by way of comparison to her older sister, then a fair evaluator would have to say she did not have the impact on the game Carissa did in high school. CV is a good low post player who has extended her game at Calvin by playing effectively in the high post as well, both by hitting the outside shot and taking the ball to the basket.

Breanna played in high school as a wing player, not in the low post. She is 3 inches shorter than her sister, and is not the rebounder or shot blocker that CV is. Reading between the lines of Coach Ross's comments yesterday I took it that his surprise is partly because he believes Breanna appears able to help the team out in the post (John mentioned his team was thin on post players), and partly because she appears to be a more college ready player than he anticipated.

[sflzman]

Alma scrimmaged Marygrove last night and won by 20+

The Scots scored 86, I believe....

[sac]

women's top 25 is out

http://d3hoops.com/top25/women/2011-12/index

[Dark Knight]

women's top 25 is out

http://d3hoops.com/top25/women/2011-12/index

I think #6 is about right for Calvin. I wouldn't be surprised if Hope ends up higher than #19.

BTW, do the knights have an exhibition game or open scrimmage scheduled?

[bballfan13]

women's top 25 is out

http://d3hoops.com/top25/women/2011-12/index

I think #6 is about right for Calvin. I wouldn't be surprised if Hope ends up higher than #19.

BTW, do the knights have an exhibition game or open scrimmage scheduled?

I agree with the #6 ranking for Calvin and also agree that Hope will most likely move up as the season progresses.  Calvin deserves to be ranked here as they return all of their significant pieces from a very successful season last year.  I think there is still a lot of unknown with Hope this year as they lost some important players.

The Knights scrimmaged last Tuesday against Bethel at the Van Noord.  They have an exhibition scheduled at Ferris next Tuesday, November 8th at 7pm.

[realist]

From the MIAA:  "Women's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. Saint Mary's 21. 4. Albion 36. 5. Olivet 38. 6. Adrian 41. 7. Trine 50. 8. Alma 51. 9. Kalamazoo 63."

[Flying Dutch Fan]

From the MIAA:  "Women's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. Saint Mary's 21. 4. Albion 36. 5. Olivet 38. 6. Adrian 41. 7. Trine 50. 8. Alma 51. 9. Kalamazoo 63."

If my math is right, that means one coach picked Hope 3rd - interesting

[ziggy]

From the MIAA:  "Women's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. Saint Mary's 21. 4. Albion 36. 5. Olivet 38. 6. Adrian 41. 7. Trine 50. 8. Alma 51. 9. Kalamazoo 63."

If my math is right, that means one coach picked Hope 3rd - interesting

Your math is right. Based on the voting we know that the third place vote didn't come from Calvin or St. Mary's.

[Dark Knight]

The Knights have an exhibition game against Ferris St this evening. If it were a real game, it'd be a big one -- possibly their toughest game all season not including the NCAA tournament.

The Knights really only have four games scheduled against teams that are competitive with them in terms of Massey power--Iowa Wesleyan (NAIA II #8, according to Massey), WI-LaCrosse (NCAA III #13, according to Massey), and two games with Hope. Iowa Wesleyan got only one vote in the NAIA II poll, so they may be down a little from last year. Likewise, WI LaCrosse got no votes in the d3hoops.com poll.

Massey has Ferris State as a 6-point favorite, including home court advantage, but Massey doesn't know about the fact that Ferris State lost two starters and Calvin didn't lose any.

If Calvin wins, it might be an indicator that Calvin should be a favorite in all their games this year, if both teams are playing it like a real game. More likely, they'll experiment with various groups of players in the second half, and we won't learn much.

I will be curious whether any of Calvin's newcomers get playing time in the main rotation...

Edit: it's an exhibition game, not a scrimmage, as pointed out below

[Roundball999]

The Knights have a scrimmage against Ferris St this evening. If it were a real game, it'd be a big one -- possibly their toughest game all season not including the NCAA tournament.

The Knights really only have four games scheduled against teams that are competitive with them in terms of Massey power--Iowa Wesleyan (NAIA II #8, according to Massey), WI-LaCrosse (NCAA III #13, according to Massey), and two games with Hope. Iowa Wesleyan got only one vote in the NAIA II poll, so they may be down a little from last year. Likewise, WI LaCrosse got no votes in the d3hoops.com poll.

Massey has Ferris State as a 6-point favorite, including home court advantage, but Massey doesn't know about the fact that Ferris State lost two starters and Calvin didn't lose any.

If Calvin wins, it might be an indicator that Calvin should be a favorite in all their games this year, if both teams are playing it like a real game. More likely, they'll experiment with various groups of players in the second half, and we won't learn much.

I will be curious whether any of Calvin's newcomers get playing time in the main rotation...

I understand Hope scrimmaged Ferris State last weekend.  Wasn't there but I think it was supposedly a scrimmage rather than an exhibition game.  In any case, Hope was reportedly outscored by FS though not by a huge margin.  Not sure if any conclusions can be drawn other than a win by Calvin tonight would probably further indicate the Knights position as league favorite.

[Dark Knight]

Ferris State nipped Calvin by 2 in overtime, 75-73, after Calvin led by 12 with 6 minutes remaining in regulation (recap).

Calvin played 13 players, with Verkaik, Wolffis, Thomas, Kurncz, and freshman Englehard starting. Hillbrands is still in volleyball mode so I think everyone available played. The knights hit 10 of 28 3-point attempts, or 36%, which wasn't bad considering 3-point shooting has been a weakness. The most prominent stat in Ferris State's favor was rebounds, 46-36. I'm guessing D-II Ferris State has a tall, athletic team.

Verkaik had 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.

Disappointing ending but I'd say that's really a pretty good result under the circumstances.