MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Civic Minded]

The Great Lakes guy on Hoopsville was very high on Calvin tonight.  It actually didn't sound like he'd seen them play.  At one point he mentioned they had enough to make a run in the NCAA's if they got there.

Has anybody else seen this in the Knights?

I've seen them play 5 times this year, and I really don't see this as a realistic possibility.  But, as goknights68 mentioned, they have the right coaching -- VDS does seem to get the very best out of whomever he has to coach.  Time will tell.

[Outnthewoods]

I really hope that the Hope team(s) show up tomorrow as well. Perhaps I will see you there CM.  I will not look for a soul, rather will just try to blend in with the other crazed Hope fans.

Students have been great in a couple of games.  Sure wish I knew how kids can study vs. watching some awesome hoops.

Go Hope!!!

[Pat Coleman]

I kinda thought that based on what I saw last year and what was coming back, that there was the potential with the right additions to put things together come February. That's why I wasn't as aghast as some when Calvin came out No. 24 in the preseason poll.

[oldknight]

The Great Lakes guy on Hoopsville needs to remember that in order for the Knights to make a run in the NCAA tournament Calvin must first get into the tournament. In order for that to happen they will have to win the conference tournament because they won't be getting an at large bid. As much as I like to be hopeful (darn I hate using that word) I don't think that will happen this year. I still think Calvin is likely to finish third in the conference regular season (and at best, second) and almost certainly would have to beat Albion in the semifinals and Hope in the finals of the conference tournament. That's a pretty tall order. But the Knights filled a pretty tall order last year too by winning 6 straight road games to get to Salem--2 at Kresge to win the MIAA tournament and then 4 in the NCAA--including 2 wins over a tough and talented Albion crew. So maybe I am misunderestimating them again, to use a Bushism. I h--desire so (I can't use that word twice in one post).

[Civic Minded]

As much as I like to be hopeful (darn I hate using that word) I don't think that will happen this year.  I h--desire so (I can't use that word twice in one post).

LOL!  Hope is a difficult word to avoid!     I'm so glad that, even in the CRC church at which I work, John Calvin doesn't come up often in conversation!   

[KnightSlappy]

I missed the Great Lakes portion of Hoopsville and if he was that high on Calvin then he probably only saw them against Albion.  This team has great potential and showed last weekend that they can play with the big boys in the region.  The big problem with this young team is they have not played consistantly well all year.  They showed their inexperience when they let The Game get into their heads and got hit in the mouth by that team from Holland. (I also avoid using four-letter-words).  The Knights need to avoid a let down loss to teams such as Kalamazoo and Tri-State in order to maintain their confidence and have a shot at 'The big dance.'  Probably no NCAA banner this year (Hope fans we will explain what an NCAA banner is later).

[AndersDY]

Sac: I will do my part and help you complete that tour of the MIAA. Just drop that UM-MSU ticket off at my office this afternoon, I'll give you directions. Because of that game on TV, I likely won't even listen to the Hope game, but I'll root my hardest at midnight when I remember to check the score on the MIAA website.

(Hope fans we will explain what an NCAA banner is later).

Wow, NCAA banners, think I heard those mentioned, in, oh... every Calvin game of the last decade, give or take. Yeah, I think those got explained. Calvin needs to root like crazy for Hope to never get a true banner (they suddenly now decided to mark the 96 and 98 teams by throwing some banners up, what was that about?) because what in the world would the Calvin student section have to yell during the Hope game then? I won't  bother to mention the number of current students who witnessed those championship years... 

[Carl Yastrzemski]

I love to use four letter words. The only one my parents wouldn't let me use is the one with a "p" in it.

Nate,
When Featherstone scored his 77 points he faced a few more double teams than Kobe did when he scored his 81.

I have to say Calvin got the best draw of the schedule with the school from the West and Albion both having to play at Calvin the second half of the league schedule. But with how well Albion has played on the road lately, Coach Turner may have placed a pre-season phone call to the commish to influence the league schedule a little.

A little news from MLB. The Texas Rangers added Jose Canseco to their roster. I can't believe the A's would let this bash brother get away from their system. Look for Jose to win a couple of Gold Gloves with his stellar play in the outfield.

Rumor around the SuperSweetness Hall of Fame office is  Indiana  High School Basketball legend Bobby Plump will be in attendance for the Tri-State game tonight.

[oldknight]

Rumor around the SuperSweetness Hall of Fame office is  Indiana  High School Basketball legend Bobby Plump will be in attendance for the Tri-State game tonight.

But will Plump be playing? And how about Jimmy Chitwood?

[bulldogalum]

Norman Dale has agreed to take over as Tri State coach for one game only.  His game plan includes measuring the floor, only to later realize that Tri State is playing in its home gym.

[veragrace]

On the other outgoing ref, Tom Hoffman: during the game when he was honored at DeVos, I heard a supposed story that Tom also has worked as a Big 10 official for football and had become notable by hosing UM on some non pass-interference call. Is he the ref who watched Desmond get tripped by MSU in 1990 or was this another blown call? I couldn't find that tidbit by searching online but was curious if anyone else knew about that.

T Hoff (as he is known by fellow officials) was said ref.  He was also in the booth at the Michigan-Mich State famed last second play with Jim Augustine when Michigan lost that game.

[NW Hope Fan]

Yo veragrace! Mustard mustard...   
KDR

[veragrace]

NW Hope Fan!!!  I may have to give up my tix to the Hope-Calvin game Feb 8.  You wanna fly in for it?

[NW Hope Fan]

  You wanna fly in for it?

Ahhh... YEAH!!!  But alas, I can't! I'm sure there will be a few people on the board that will probably respond to my decline. Be prepared for some groveling. 

Good luck with what will keep you away from the game! 

[John Rusnak]

Boy, that Great Lakes guy on Hoopsville really is good looking!

Oh, anyway...

The point I was trying to make on Hoopsville last night, which is hard when you get 10 minutes to talk about the best region in the country, is that Calvin has enough pieces to possibly...and I say possibly...make a run.

Yesterday was a bit of a blur for me, but I believe I said that for them to make a run in the NCAA, they first had to get into the tournament, which meant that either 1. they win the MIAA, which is possible but not necessarily probable; or 2. They only lose one more time, either to Hope or Albion, and then get to the championship of the MIAA.  If they finish 22-4, or whatever it would be at that point, the committee would have a hard time leaving one of last year's final four teams out.  At that point it comes down to how they draw and how well they are playing at the time.

Realistically, Hope and Albion have a much better chance of going deep this year, along with Witt and Woo.

And just to mention, I have not seen Calvin yet this year, but I know who they lost and who they brought back, so I'd believe the theory that they are young, but over the course of a season young guys have a way of developing, especially when they are well coached, which I think we'd agree this team has a pretty good one.

I'd also say that if I based my opinion on the only Hope game I've seen, I'd say Hope is the worst team in the country, so you definitely can't form opinions on only one game.