MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Free throw shooting was obviously a huge factor in Calvin's win Saturday over Olivet.  A couple of observations:  Two players who do not quite qualify for the MIAA leaderboard in FT % are having great seasons at the stripe:  Danny Rodts is shooting 89% this year and Matt Veltema is at 88%.  In fact, taking Mantel out of the mix (who has been much better from the line recently but had a rough start to the season), the Knights are connecting at a 76% clip on the season.  This FT success could be a huge factor in winning some tight games this year as there are several options for handling the ball in late-game fouling situations. 

[almcguirejr]

John Mantel and Joe Prepolec are MIAA Players of the Week.

http://miaa.org/mbb/

[realist]

John Mantel and Joe Prepolec are MIAA Players of the Week.

http://miaa.org/mbb/

Well deserved in both cases.  Very important that your team win to get pow.

OK:  I agree that any one not taking Olivet seriously is going to pay the price.  However,  their failure to defend home court against Albion gives one pause for concern.  Also the fact they had Calvin down, and then let them back in the game works against them.  In their defense they did claw their way back into at the end of the game, but that may point to a problem with Calvin not knowing how to protect either a lead or the ball.

Did you factor in KVS trying to get some mismatches with his player combinations?  If I were coach I woul have Rodts handling the ball especially when the opposing team almost has to foul.  .886 at the f.t. line is better than Snikkers or Veltema, and neither Salo nor Powel seem to draw fouls.

[oldknight]

Did you factor in KVS trying to get some mismatches with his player combinations?  If I were coach I woul have Rodts handling the ball especially when the opposing team almost has to foul.  .886 at the f.t. line is better than Snikkers or Veltema, and neither Salo nor Powel seem to draw fouls.

There is no question the Knights want Rodts or Veltema at the stripe with the game on the line. Both have proven that they can produce in clutch situations. But it's not just those two who have been big in the free throw department. As a whole the Knights are simply getting to the line far more often than their opponents and that has helped them even as Calvin's overall FG% has remained relatively low (still under 43% for the year). Last year, Calvin averaged 19.5 FT's per game; this year they average 24. That's a big difference.

The Knights have shot 88 more free throws this year than have their opponents, easily the biggest margin in the MIAA. Much of that has to do with the fact that Mantel's game has matured. In 13 games, John has taken 102 free throws--only 22 fewer than he took all of last season in 27 games. Combine that with the fact that Schnyders and Snikkers regularly attack the basket with abandon and Calvin's offense becomes a challenge to opposing defenses. Someone perceptively mentioned that Schnyders game is almost reckless but that's what makes him such a pain to guard. When Calvin's offense constantly challenges defenders to block shots the Knights are dictating how the game is to be played.

[Hopecouple]

Why wasn't Peter Bunn player of the week over John Mantel ?

Maybe I'm kinda partial to Peter Bunn.... and well I just don't like John Mantel.

Maybe cause John Mantel is a knight? 

LOL go hope.

[CalKnight60]

Because being most valuable is about more than scoring, and while Bunn averaged 6 more points than Mantel, Mantel averaged 7 more rebounds and also had more assists and blocks than Bunn.  Not to mention the fact that John led his team to victory over Bunn's.

[sac]

Did you factor in KVS trying to get some mismatches with his player combinations?  If I were coach I woul have Rodts handling the ball especially when the opposing team almost has to foul.  .886 at the f.t. line is better than Snikkers or Veltema, and neither Salo nor Powel seem to draw fouls.

There is no question the Knights want Rodts or Veltema at the stripe with the game on the line. Both have proven that they can produce in clutch situations. But it's not just those two who have been big in the free throw department. As a whole the Knights are simply getting to the line far more often than their opponents and that has helped them even as Calvin's overall FG% has remained relatively low (still under 43% for the year). Last year, Calvin averaged 19.5 FT's per game; this year they average 24. That's a big difference.

The Knights have shot 88 more free throws this year than have their opponents, easily the biggest margin in the MIAA. Much of that has to do with the fact that Mantel's game has matured. In 13 games, John has taken 102 free throws--only 22 fewer than he took all of last season in 27 games. Combine that with the fact that Schnyders and Snikkers regularly attack the basket with abandon and Calvin's offense becomes a challenge to opposing defenses. Someone perceptively mentioned that Schnyders game is almost reckless but that's what makes him such a pain to guard. When Calvin's offense constantly challenges defenders to block shots the Knights are dictating how the game is to be played.

Especially at the moment, because the MIAA collectively is shooting 68% from the stripe, down 3 full percentage points from last season.

.......also is Mantel getting more FT opportunities because the game has matured or is it because he's shooting under 60% from the line?
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just a side tidbit..........Hope is coasting along at a fairly avg FT% of 70%, not great, not horrible...........Will Bowser and Nate Snuggerud have really struggled at the FT line, both batting in the .500 range.  The rest of the Hope team is making 76% if the free tosses.

[CalKnight60]

".......also is Mantel getting more FT opportunities because the game has matured or is it because he's shooting under 60% from the line?" -Sac


I'm trying to figure out how his 60% free throw percentage would help get him to the line more?

[Erm Schmigget]

".......also is Mantel getting more FT opportunities because the game has matured or is it because he's shooting under 60% from the line?" -Sac


I'm trying to figure out how his 60% free throw percentage would help get him to the line more?

Let's see...  I'm an MIAA post player on a team other than Calvin.  He's got the ball near the hoop and I'm within an arm's reach.  I could a) let him go in for the easy layup, or b) challenge him and take the chance of either possibly blocking his shot, or foul him and send him to the line where he has been making less than 60% of his shots.  Hmm...tough decision.   

[CalKnight60]

".......also is Mantel getting more FT opportunities because the game has matured or is it because he's shooting under 60% from the line?" -Sac


I'm trying to figure out how his 60% free throw percentage would help get him to the line more?

Let's see...  I'm an MIAA post player on a team other than Calvin.  He's got the ball near the hoop and I'm within an arm's reach.  I could a) let him go in for the easy layup, or b) challenge him and take the chance of either possibly blocking his shot, or foul him and send him to the line where he has been making less than 60% of his shots.  Hmm...tough decision.   

Well the thing is I have seen every game and I don't think I can remember more than one or two times when he was fouled having a clear path to the basket.  Almost every time he is two strong in the post with his back to the basket and the other team just naturally fouls him in an attempt to block the shot.  I think it's pretty clear to anyone who has seen this season and last season that he is much more assertive down low, and relies less on fading away.  So i'm going to have to say that your scenario doesn't really have an impact.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Sounds like some of the Hope crowd is suggesting a Hack-a-Shaq approach to John Mantel.  A couple of thoughts:  Mantel is shooting .451 from the field (.476 from 2 point land) and .598 from the line (actually .667 after his horrible 9-24 start to the season at the line, but we'll use his full season numbers).  The "expected value" of a field goal attempt is then 2 points x .476 = 0.95 points.  The "expected value" of 2 free throw attempts is 2 shots x .598 = 1.20 points.  Keep fouling, guys.  I'm happy to see Big John keep parading to the stripe.

[sac]

Sounds like some of the Hope crowd is suggesting a Hack-a-Shaq approach to John Mantel.  A couple of thoughts:  Mantel is shooting .451 from the field (.476 from 2 point land) and .598 from the line (actually .667 after his horrible 9-24 start to the season at the line, but we'll use his full season numbers).  The "expected value" of a field goal attempt is then 2 points x .476 = 0.95 points.  The "expected value" of 2 free throw attempts is 2 shots x .598 = 1.20 points.  Keep fouling, guys.  I'm happy to see Big John keep parading to the stripe.

I don't know if I was suggesting the hack-a-shaq approach as much as I'm just curious if people think Mantel is really more aggressive.  I've seen two games vs Carthage and the 2nd Hope game.....and really didn't see anything that different from what I've seen the last 3 years.  If anything I didn't think Calvin went to him enough vs Hope.


But if I'm a non-conference opponent, all I really have to go on in scouting is stats and I see a big 6-8 center that my team probably can't handle very well shooting around 50% at the line..........and I have the depth to do it, I'm taking my chances at the FT line.

This was really all I was suggesting.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

".......also is Mantel getting more FT opportunities because the game has matured or is it because he's shooting under 60% from the line?" -Sac


I'm trying to figure out how his 60% free throw percentage would help get him to the line more?

Let's see...  I'm an MIAA post player on a team other than Calvin.  He's got the ball near the hoop and I'm within an arm's reach.   I could a) let him go in for the easy layup, or b) challenge him and take the chance of either possibly blocking his shot, or foul him and send him to the line where he has been making less than 60% of his shots.  Hmm...tough decision.   

Well the thing is I have seen every game and I don't think I can remember more than one or two times when he was fouled having a clear path to the basket.  Almost every time he is two strong in the post with his back to the basket and the other team just naturally fouls him in an attempt to block the shot.  I think it's pretty clear to anyone who has seen this season and last season that he is much more assertive down low, and relies less on fading away.  So i'm going to have to say that your scenario doesn't really have an impact.

Apples and oranges.

Sounds like some of the Hope crowd is suggesting a Hack-a-Shaq approach to John Mantel.  A couple of thoughts:  Mantel is shooting .451 from the field (.476 from 2 point land) and .598 from the line (actually .667 after his horrible 9-24 start to the season at the line, but we'll use his full season numbers).  The "expected value" of a field goal attempt is then 2 points x .476 = 0.95 points.  The "expected value" of 2 free throw attempts is 2 shots x .598 = 1.20 points.  Keep fouling, guys.  I'm happy to see Big John keep parading to the stripe.

Not sure anyone was even close to suggesting that.  A simple, legitimate question was asked followed by a concise explanation of the thought behind the question.  I'll bet big money that during his 9-24 start from the line, he was indeed more likely to be fouled.  I know I have seen those kind of in-game adjustments all the time - some guy is struggling from the free throw line and the opposing team makes sure to send him there versus taking a shot from the field.

EDIT - And I agree with sac's comments that Mantel's play does not seem to be much different this year (I've seen him play 5 games). 

[wiz]

Sounds like some of the Hope crowd is suggesting a Hack-a-Shaq approach to John Mantel.  A couple of thoughts:  Mantel is shooting .451 from the field (.476 from 2 point land) and .598 from the line (actually .667 after his horrible 9-24 start to the season at the line, but we'll use his full season numbers).  The "expected value" of a field goal attempt is then 2 points x .476 = 0.95 points.  The "expected value" of 2 free throw attempts is 2 shots x .598 = 1.20 points.  Keep fouling, guys.  I'm happy to see Big John keep parading to the stripe.

Bring it on!

[HopeConvert]

I've seen Mantel play four games this year. In every instance he seemed to me to be more aggressive, less likely to wander away from the basket (although he still does from time to time), more comfortable with contact, more likely to back his defender down, and more likely to take it to the rim rather than settle for a fadeaway than he was last year. I think his footwork has gotten better every year. He seems like a different player to me. Just my opinion.

Still, I think Hope can win so long as we keep Schnyders and Schuster and Powell from nailing threes. Let Mantel have his 25 but shut those guys down. Don't be so quick to double-down when Mantel gets the ball on the blocks.