WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Calvinhoops]

I noticed Hope had tough game....was it matchup problems?  Seems like Hope is playing small ball.....shooting more threes than usual.  Anyone at the game?

[Roundball999]

I noticed Hope had tough game....was it matchup problems?  Seems like Hope is playing small ball.....shooting more threes than usual.  Anyone at the game?

Wasn't at the game but listened to it on radio.  I think it's a combination of things.  Hope has two very good guards that can shoot the three and that has lead to a few more attempts behind the arc.  In the game yesterday, they turned it over more than usual and that kept it close.  They have a lot of height, but most of it is young and still developing.  Their inside game will be tough in a year or two, but right now their strength is not creating shots in the lane or low post.

[KnightSlappy]

With the inside play of CV and company and the hustle of the frosh on defense, Calvin looks very tough.  They could use some balanced scoring in the event CV has a tough matchup.  Not sure who steps up in that case.

I don't think there are any tough matchups for Carissa in Division III. In four games against the third and fourth team All-American centers last year (Taylor Simpson, Chicago and Carrie Snikkers, Hope), she averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds.

[Dark Knight]

With the inside play of CV and company and the hustle of the frosh on defense, Calvin looks very tough.  They could use some balanced scoring in the event CV has a tough matchup.  Not sure who steps up in that case.

I don't think there are any tough matchups for Carissa in Division III. In four games against the third and fourth team All-American centers last year (Taylor Simpson, Chicago and Carrie Snikkers, Hope), she averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds.

FWIW, Verkaik averaged 20.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in the Knights' five losses last year -- better numbers than the season averages. When they lost, it wasn't because Verkaik had a tough matchup.

Looking at those five losses, in four of them Calvin was out-rebounded despite CV's pulling down 12.2 boards. In most of the losses the other team also had a higher shooting percentage than Calvin (except for Verkaik). Calvin lost to Hope because Hope stole the ball 23 times contributing to 35 turnovers.

[Calvinhoops]

I agree...someone else needs to be able to help her in scoring....the other players can't shoot poorly or disappear on the boards either.  Hopefully the supporting cast shows up.

[sac]

I noticed Hope had tough game....was it matchup problems?  Seems like Hope is playing small ball.....shooting more threes than usual.  Anyone at the game?

Hope avg'd 18.2 3 point attempts last year.

This year, so far its 21.2, and that's probably skewed a little because they took 28 vs Capital when they were trailing for the entire game.  Prior to that the high was 22 and a low of 16.

It will be interesting to watch as the year goes, Hope's recent teams have all been averaging between 18 and 19 attempts per game.

[Calvinhoops]

That made me lookup Calvin's stats and they are eerily the same except Hope shoots a better percentage.   They also average 21 per game this year and 18 last year.  Oddly, with the 3 point line being moved back, you would think less three attempts.  Can Hopes better shooting percentage overcome Calvin's better post play?  Only time will tell!

[Dark Knight]

The MIAA season starts tomorrow! Here are Massey's predictions:

Saint Mary's at Trine -- 61-62
Calvin at Albion -- 68-54
Kzoo at Hope -- 50-78
Adrian at Alma -- 47-54

The Saint Mary's at Trine game may be the most interesting one, as those teams currently look as though they will be battling for third place in the league (according to Massey). Trine is currently 4-0 and Saint Mary's is 2-4, but the Belles have played a much, much tougher schedule.

[Dark Knight]

Calvin defeated Albion 69-60.

Calvin allowed Albion a few more points than Massey predicted, and according to Massey Calvin's defense is three points weaker this year than last.

I saw part of the game on the video feed, and it looked as though Calvin's defense played very well at times but at other times wasn't quite there.

Hopefully the defense will get back to last year's level of intensity and consistency by the end of the month, in time for the trip to  LaCrosse.

[bballfan13]

Calvin beat Adrian this afternoon 64-46.

Adrian came out energized and played Calvin close in the first half with Calvin leading by 7 at the break, 31-24.  The Knights offense had a little trouble getting started but the D was playing decent.  After half Calvin started on a 15-2 run and never looked back.  The Knights defense played great and the offense moved the ball around much better in the second half.

Next up is at a surprisingly undefeated Trine squad on Wednesday night.

[Roundball999]

Hope handled Albion 78-53 though the game was a bit closer than the score would indicate.  Albion led for a significant part of the first half, Hope was shooting poorly but started heating up and led by six at the half.  Hope caught fire in the second half, hitting 10-18 threes for the game with seven different players hitting at least one three.  Morehouse was platooning ten players even in the first half when the game was tight.  Maybe the biggest difference was that Hope center Kussmaul had a huge game, scoring 24 while a very good Albion center Rewa was held to 7 and was in foul trouble most of the game.

[Dark Knight]

Interesting matchup with Calvin playing at Trine tomorrow night. Massey says this will be Calvin's toughest MIAA game apart from the two games with Hope.

Last week Trine defeated last year's #3 team in the MIAA, St Mary's, by 12 points. Trine also blew out Anderson, IN by 37 points -- a team that Calvin beat by 15.

[wiz]

Interesting matchup with Calvin playing at Trine tomorrow night. Massey says this will be Calvin's toughest MIAA game apart from the two games with Hope.

Last week Trine defeated last year's #3 team in the MIAA, St Mary's, by 12 points. Trine also blew out Anderson, IN by 37 points -- a team that Calvin beat by 15.

...and the same Trine team that just defeated Olivet by 2.  Interesting.

[bballfan13]

Interesting matchup with Calvin playing at Trine tomorrow night. Massey says this will be Calvin's toughest MIAA game apart from the two games with Hope.

Last week Trine defeated last year's #3 team in the MIAA, St Mary's, by 12 points. Trine also blew out Anderson, IN by 37 points -- a team that Calvin beat by 15.

...and the same Trine team that just defeated Olivet by 2.  Interesting.

I agree, this should be an interesting game to watch tonight.  The Anderson game is really the only way to compare the two teams right now.  Calvin's 15 point win was actually much larger than that as they were up by 25 for most of the 2nd half, but Trine's 37 point win was impressive.  This will be Trine's first major test of the season and it's at home for them.  I think it we will get a good feel for just how good Trine will be this year.

As for the Olivet game it makes you scratch your head a bit....I guess we will know more tonight.

[wiz]

Listening to the Calvin/Trine game and am reminded of something that I observed last year, but it is worth mentioning again.  Trine has the best radio announcers in the MIAA.  They do their homework on opposing teams and players, are fun to listen to, keep the pace moving, and understand basketball.