MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Calvin and Hope both have significant work to do to get to the conference tournament game.  If they both get there, here is some food/stats for thought:

Through the two Hope-Calvin games this year,
Calvin has shot 12/31, 38.7% from three
Hope has shot 7/42, 16.7% from three

For the year Calvin shot 38.4% from three
For the year Hope shot 33.9% from three

So Calvin is right in line and Hope is way under their season average.
Logically, it is probably due to excellent Knight defense right?

Calvin opponents shoot 33.5% from three
Hope opponents shoot 34.9% from three

One more make in each game from three would have likely won them both for the Dutchmen.  And it would only have raised their average from three to 21.4%.  I'm not expecting 33% from Hope but any regression to the mean could push them over the top.  

Hope was a combined 43-84 (52%) inside the arc against Calvin.  7-42 (16.7%) outside the arc.  If you're having that kind of success inside why are 1/3 of your attempts from 3?  That's not just a questioning of Hope's strategy but it seems a lot of teams live or die from 3.

[sac]

Calvin and Hope both have significant work to do to get to the conference tournament game.  If they both get there, here is some food/stats for thought:

Through the two Hope-Calvin games this year,
Calvin has shot 12/31, 38.7% from three
Hope has shot 7/42, 16.7% from three

For the year Calvin shot 38.4% from three
For the year Hope shot 33.9% from three

So Calvin is right in line and Hope is way under their season average.
Logically, it is probably due to excellent Knight defense right?

Calvin opponents shoot 33.5% from three
Hope opponents shoot 34.9% from three

One more make in each game from three would have likely won them both for the Dutchmen.  And it would only have raised their average from three to 21.4%.  I'm not expecting 33% from Hope but any regression to the mean could push them over the top.  

Hope was a combined 43-84 (52%) inside the arc against Calvin.  7-42 (16.7%) outside the arc.  If you're having that kind of success inside why are 1/3 of your attempts from 3?   That's not just a questioning of Hope's strategy but it seems a lot of teams live or die from 3.

I believe that question was asked by the coaches both times, particularly after the 1st game with 24 attempts.  At least they cut them down 25%

[hoopdreams]

I agree with Riemink being tired during his 2 last shot attempts.  Even with TV timeouts, which they won't have this time around, he works SO HARD on both ends of the floor.  Don't particularly care how hard he worked in the off season, when you're tired, you're tired.

I think all of Hope's starters have "looked" tired for several games, citing 2 examples.  Krombeen's bounce to his game has been missing, he has made some bad selections in shots, (missed a couple he didn't earlier in the season)and TO's to assists isn't quite as impressive as earlier.  Yes, teams are adapting to his game, but...

Bunn's shooting has been poor since the K-zoo game in K-zoo.  The boxscores don't tell the whole truth because he is still scoring on takes to the hoop and backdoor cuts for more layups, but his % outside of 8 feet has dropped considerably.  To his credit, he doesn't settle for jumpers when he's off and gets to the basket.

Bowsers minutes have dropped the last couple of games, particularly in the second half.  He still has a short leash at times, and if he's not rebounding well, well...  Inconsistancy in subbing patterns, he sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.  I heard Saturday at one point in the first half had- jungling, bosch, cox, nelis and vennema on the floor???

If Hope isn't able or willing to rest their starters, they may not make it to saturday and if they do, will be dead in the water.  don't know much about KVS, but he seems a lot more confident in his entire teams abilities to produce in all games.  Producing doesn't necessarily mean big points or rebounds, it means going out, staying within the system and your abilities on O, being in the right spot on D, help out, contest shots, don't give up offensive rebounds, and don't turn the ball over.

That being said, I still think it will be Calvin-Hope on saturday.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Over on the NESCAC board, someone posted (re: Amherst/Williams): "the rivalry could not be any more even".  All-time, Williams leads 112-86.  Maybe one of you Hope or Calvin historians should inform them what an even rivalry looks like!

[I just love trying to stir up trouble! ]

[oldknight]

He picks them by at least a dozen points too! I like the positive thinking but that's hopeful!

If (and I think its a big if) Hope and Calvin meet in the championship on Saturday it will really test the how hard is it to beat the same team three times in one season theory.

This theory is one of the most misunderstood and overutilized cliches in all sports, mainly because it conflates two arguments. If you had asked me in November if it would be difficult for Calvin to beat Hope three times this season, I would have said, "Yeah, that's a tall order--possible, but not easy." Now that the first two games have been played, it isn't any more difficult for Calvin to win the third. It's a little like repeatedly flipping a coin. If the coin comes up heads five times in a row, what's the odds of it coming up heads on the sixth toss? It's still 50/50.

Admittedly, when dealing with a ball game and the emotions and attitudes players bring with them, that is an additional variable to consider. But it seems just as likely that Hope feels snakebit as Calvin feels their luck has run out. I don't know if any research has been done on the question, but I would expect that more often than not the winner of two close games wins the third as well.

[oldknight]

Over on the NESCAC board, someone posted (re: Amherst/Williams): "the rivalry could not be any more even".  All-time, Williams leads 112-86.  Maybe one of you Hope or Calvin historians should inform them what an even rivalry looks like!

[I just love trying to stir up trouble! ]

Since it's impossible to find an MIAA regular who ever rabble rouses with a contrary post  maybe that task is better left to a CCIW observer.

[almcguirejr]

Final regular season regional rankings:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2009/02/25/final-public-ncaa-regional-rankings/

[KnightSlappy]

Final regular season regional rankings:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2009/02/25/final-public-ncaa-regional-rankings/

So is Calvin #4 or #5?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

He picks them by at least a dozen points too! I like the positive thinking but that's hopeful!

If (and I think its a big if) Hope and Calvin meet in the championship on Saturday it will really test the how hard is it to beat the same team three times in one season theory.

This theory is one of the most misunderstood and overutilized cliches in all sports, mainly because it conflates two arguments. If you had asked me in November if it would be difficult for Calvin to beat Hope three times this season, I would have said, "Yeah, that's a tall order--possible, but not easy." Now that the first two games have been played, it isn't any more difficult for Calvin to win the third. It's a little like repeatedly flipping a coin. If the coin comes up heads five times in a row, what's the odds of it coming up heads on the sixth toss? It's still 50/50.

Admittedly, when dealing with a ball game and the emotions and attitudes players bring with them, that is an additional variable to consider. But it seems just as likely that Hope feels snakebit as Calvin feels their luck has run out. I don't know if any research has been done on the question, but I would expect that more often than not the winner of two close games wins the third as well.

You make a number of good points (that Mr. Sager would be proud of I'm sure).  I do have to wonder, however, if the margin of victory of the previous two games is a factor.  I would expect that the smaller the margin of victory, the more likely the previous loser becomes the victor in the third game.

I guess it all really doesn't matter - it's time for us to all focus on the task at hand.  Winning an opening game in the tournament, which is not as easy a task this year, IMHO.

[almcguirejr]

Final regular season regional rankings:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2009/02/25/final-public-ncaa-regional-rankings/

So is Calvin #4 or #5?

That's the way the official release is:

http://www.ncaa.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/ncaa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/DIIIMBK22509Regional

If Calvin goes 3-0 this week it won't matter.  If they don't, it probably won't matter either.

[scottiedawg]

Bowsers minutes have dropped the last couple of games, particularly in the second half.  He still has a short leash at times, and if he's not rebounding well, well...  Inconsistancy in subbing patterns, he sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

Against Adrian, Bowser sat in favor of the seniors, and quite frankly, we didn't need him.  Glenn wanted to give the seniors a lot of PT, especially Bosch and Cox.  10 min played.

Against Trine, I believe he got popped in the mouth and required stitches.  15 min played.

Three games ago, he played 25 minutes.  He'll see the floor, and he'll help Hope.

[sac]

Bowsers minutes have dropped the last couple of games, particularly in the second half.  He still has a short leash at times, and if he's not rebounding well, well...  Inconsistancy in subbing patterns, he sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

Against Adrian, Bowser sat in favor of the seniors, and quite frankly, we didn't need him.  Glenn wanted to give the seniors a lot of PT, especially Bosch and Cox.  10 min played.

Against Trine, I believe he got popped in the mouth and required stitches.  15 min played.

Three games ago, he played 25 minutes.  He'll see the floor, and he'll help Hope.

....or not!


Its 5:37 and I still haven't decided between going to the Adrian/Albion game, or the Kzoo/Olivet game.    I may close my eyes at the Ainger Road exit and let the car do the talking.....straight Albion.....right Olivet.......left, trouble.

[hope1]

sac go the albion game that schould be a pretty good one to watch

[Knightmare]

For the semifinals on Friday (let's assume for a moment it is at Calvin), how is it determined who plays in the 1st game and who plays in the 2nd game.  Also regarding the final on Saturday evening what is the typical tip-off time of that game?

Just trying to plan the weekend trip and that is affected by kids under the age of 5, late nights/games can be rough on the little ones.  Thanks for any replies and info.

[HopeConvert]

For the semifinals on Friday (let's assume for a moment it is at Calvin), how is it determined who plays in the 1st game and who plays in the 2nd game.  Also regarding the final on Saturday evening what is the typical tip-off time of that game?

Just trying to plan the weekend trip and that is affected by kids under the age of 5, late nights/games can be rough on the little ones.  Thanks for any replies and info.

I believe that as the host team, Calvin would get the second game.

Saturday would be a 7:30 tip.