MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HopeConvert]

Bosch, by the way, is fast.

It'll be a good test tomorrow. I don't know how Hope will handle Lazic. He's a load, and not without skills. I like Hope's energy, though. A very noticeable difference from the Calvin team I saw Tuesday. I don't expect Aquinas to win by 16, especially with a full Dew Crew in good form. I think it's a pick-em. Can Hope handle Lazic? Will they keep Telman under control? Can Aquinas keep up with Hope's speed and depth? If Hope gets some good number from Bowser and Tanis, that might be enough. My guess is they'll use Osborn and some Holt even to try wear Lazic down. It ought to be a good game.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Can Hope handle Lazic? Will they keep Telman under control? Can Aquinas keep up with Hope's speed and depth? If Hope gets some good number from Bowser and Tanis, that might be enough. My guess is they'll use Osborn and some Holt even to try wear Lazic down. It ought to be a good game.

Yes, Yes, and No

I don't see that Hope needs to change any of their rotation to try to wear Lazic down.  He had 6 points and 8 boards in the first meeting.  Hope needs to just bring the defensive A game and they will win this game.  In the first meeting it was more of a C game on defense and poor rebounding that cost them that game.

The first thing I heard from the players after the game - to a man - was that they are hungry to prove that first game was not reality.  They will be ready to play!

[sac]

Lierman for Aquinas has been the player thats gotten away from Hope's defense the last 2 times they've played.

16 last December, 26 2 weeks ago.

Telman, Lierman, Wierzbicki and Lazic is a foursome that very few, if any teams will contain with much success.  Seems to me you just have to outwork Aquinas, and there lies the trouble because AQ isn't going to let you do that without a serious fight.

[gohope]

The De Vos is definitely the place to be tomorrow for basketball.

My dear realist, the DeVos is ALWAYS the place to be for basketball!   

[scottiedawg]

I think we would all agree that Hope stunk up the joint the first time around against Aquinas.  And it still took a prayer from Wierzbicki before the Dutchmen would go down.  We should have no problem tomorrow.  And the Dew Crew will represent!

[gohope]

Just a few thoughts from tonight -

1.  CONGRATULATIONS to Tom Renner, and wife Carole, on the WELL DESERVED honor bestowed to them prior to the start of the game. "TR" is just the best when it comes to the world of SID's!

2.  Even though I only witnessed the first half, had to get back home to get plenty of beauty sleep so that I could be prime for the family portrait for the Christmas Card Photo, I was bummed to see that the Dutchmen only scored two more three's after the first half. Scoring 10 3's in the first half, I was HOPEing that they could break the record of 15.

3.  Like CM mentioned, the "almost" slam by Will Bowser with 2:57 left in the first half had many of us wishing and HOPEing that Christmas came just a little early. We'll just have to be patient and wait!

4.  I take it by the stature of #32 & #34 for Marygrove, they don't offer football at the school ...  

5.  No travel warmups for the Aquinas team?  

6.  Tomorrow... In regards to "heatedness" and "trask-talking" which team (Hope or AQ) will be the first to get a "T"  Watching the last game at Cornerstone, it just seems that there is NO LOVE between the two teams!  Should be warm and toasty in the DeVos tomorrow!

[Civic Minded]

I think we would all agree that Hope stunk up the joint the first time around against Aquinas.  And it still took a prayer from Wierzbicki before the Dutchmen would go down.  We should have no problem tomorrow.  And the Dew Crew will represent!

Speaking of the Dew Crew, nice job tonight!  There were a ton of students in the stands, and they made some noise and stuck around to the end, even though the outcome was pretty clear.  We'd love to see a really active Dew Crew again, and you guys are off to a great start.  Well done!

[Dutch_Man]

It was good to see the Dew Crew in full form tonight (and be apart of it) It was exciting to see so many turn out and make so much noise! I look forward to seeing what this new 3Man has to offer, it looks like he may get some serious exercise this season the way hope is shooting the ball. Speaking of shooting I was very impressed with DVS and his long range game tonight! He was making it rain. Also Ty Tanis caught the wave after getting a few early game jitters out of his system. Tomorrow should be fun to see how Hope responds to AQ and there lone loss to them!

GO HOPE!

[hope1]

it schould be a great game today 2 of them with the girls right after the men gane

[almcguirejr]

Bosch, by the way, is fast.

My guess is they'll use Osborn and some Holt even to try wear Lazic down. It ought to be a good game.

I think Lazic's eyes will light up if he see's those 2.  Nobody has mentioned Jordan Torres for AQ, but that guy does some very good things.  He's their best defender and I think he will try to get right in his old H.S. teamate, DVS, face.

[hope1]

dew crew you were  great last night keep it up all year 

[Civic Minded]

It was good to see the Dew Crew in full form tonight (and be apart of it) It was exciting to see so many turn out and make so much noise! I look forward to seeing what this new 3Man has to offer, it looks like he may get some serious exercise this season the way hope is shooting the ball. Speaking of shooting I was very impressed with DVS and his long range game tonight! He was making it rain. Also Ty Tanis caught the wave after getting a few early game jitters out of his system. Tomorrow should be fun to see how Hope responds to AQ and there lone loss to them!

GO HOPE!

So, have you ordered a new supply of "3" bottles to keep up with demand?     After 10 3's in the first half last night, we started to wonder if the supply would hold out!   

[realist]

GoH:  re: Your point #6.  Unlike the first game I doubt Hope will get down the way they did the first time.  In a close competitive game neither team has time for the trash.  Also trash works much better when you have the other team on the ropes, and the needles hit home.
You might be right about the De Vos.  The Knights have done decently in that building.

[mjfasteenwolf]

Well it is a few weeks into the new season, thought maybe it was time to give my input, even if nobody cares. I don't really have any feelings on anyone else in the MIAA yet because I haven't seen them play, but I would have to guess after watching Hope improve over the past few weeks, that it will be difficult for anyone in the MIAA to take the championship away from the Dutchmen.

The most impressive thing to me so far this season has been the improved play of Wolfe and Vanderheide. I think it is quite apparent that both of these guys spent some serious time in the off season getting ready to have big senior years. They both look quicker and very aggresive, when those two guys are getting to the rim, and hitting from the outside, their offense is very tough to stop. Reimink also looked great last night, nice touch on the outside and mid range jumper, and his entry passes were on the money. DVS is DVS, he'll handle the ball, and make his deep threes, if he can continue to hit he'll be fine. Klein just has to keep battling down low, he'll be guarding guys bigger than himself a lot, but he has been doing a great job of getting in the passing lanes, and playing d with his feet, should be fine.

I think the toughest challenge in stopping Hope's offense will be slowing down the break, they have 4-5 guys who can all handle the ball, they can all shoot from outside, and they can get up and down the floor quicker than any hope team has over the past 3-4 years.

The bench also looks good. Very impressed with the freshmen, Tanis is a little cocky, but plays very smoothly and obviously has that good stroke. The most impressive freshmen to me has been Carter. Wow he is quick, and can get to the hole. He needs to learn how to either finish, or draw some contact, but as he matures, he will be a great point guard. I wouldn't be surprised to see GVW play him at the 1 with DVS and TW at the 2 and 3 if Hope is trying to go really small, or MVH, RK, or JR get in foul trouble. That could be fun to watch. Bowser also looks very solid, good at getting to the hole, just needs to work on his jumper and his finishing a little, but when he comes around, he will be dangerous. He is very quick and is not afraid of taking it at someone.

Final Thought: The one thing Hope will need to win the conference and possibly run the MIAA table will be for their veteran role players such as Osburn, Kratz, Holt, Bosch, Canan to contribue when they get the chance. Those guys  are often the first off the bench to congratulate their teammates, and they can all play when they get the chance. If those guys can keep their heads in it all season, and produce when they are called upon, look out for the Dutchmen.

Today - Hope by 12 over AQ, the Dutchmen are out for revenge, playing well, and tough to beat at home. Should be a good crowd, and hopefully everyone sticks around to support the lady dutch during their huge game tonight as well. It looks like it will be a great day for HopeBasketball!

[sac]

Livestats available for all 3 games from DeVos tonight

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/livestats/

Audio for the Hope games

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/hop