MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

A couple final thoughts about our Sr's

----Without a doubt the toughest one to replace will be Phillips who's energy has been amazing to witness.  His MVP season in 04 was inspiring.  This season he's taken a back seat to be a team player and despite seemingly struggling at times he's been Hope's most important player on the court.

----Jeff Carlson has had tough couple of years at Hope, his struggles to return to 100% from a knee injury were tough to watch.  Its been great to see Jeff become a great contributer and defensive specialist on this team.

----Eric Voisin, about midway through the season Mr. Voisin began realizing he could be a very good D3 center.  His development from the 6-8 kid who shot more than 3's than post moves has been great to watch.  Hope fans would sure love 1 more year of development.  Another graduate of the Hope big man school.

----What can be said about Greg Immink.  His worth as a player was measured a year ago in the disapointing 05 campaign.  The knee injury just seemed harsh to a kid who worked so hard for 4 years.......he didn't deserve to have his Sr year ruined like that.  With that it gives you a nice warm smile to see Greg performing at his best as if he was never hurt.   His leadership and sold point play have been invaluable to this years squad.

In 2002 it was announed Hope would construct the DeVos Fieldhouse and it looked like that group of Freshman would end their careers in the new digs.  But the project was pushed back one year.  Things have a strange way of working out and I couldn't feel better for Greg, that all the hard work returning from a knee injury has paid off with a Sr season to remember.  Leading his team every game on to the DeVos Floor.  Congrats Greg and thank you for coming back.

[almcguirejr]

Tniem:

I do not agree with your recap.

When GVW said to the media " I didn't even know Derek was coming here" was
that truth or "Coachspeak"

[Stinger]

Tniem,  my word association with "coachspeak" is phoney.   Have you ever listened to a Tom Izzo interview? That's a coach who is honest and has integrity.  He doesn't BS the media, he tells it like it is. If you had an opportunity to listen to Coach Izzo on the Stoney and Wojo show on WDFN this afternoon, you would've heard how a coach should address any question; with openess and honesty.

Why a DIII coach would have to use this "coachspeak"  seems ludicrous to me anyway.   Your  words make GVW and his relationship with the Holland/GR  "media"  seem as bad as Mike Davis has/had  it at IU

[Stinger]

As tomorrow is the last home game for  Hope, and although my brethren at Kzoo may disown me, I do want to wish Andy Phillips luck tomorrow. Congrats on a helluva career.  The guy is a class act, he's from a fine family and it's been fun watching him play.  I would have much more enjoyed him in the black and orange breaking every Rolla Dome record known to man, but he's put in a fine career for the dutch. 

Here's to kzoo making the final next Saturday and beating Hope to make the NCAA! 

Beat Calvin!

[almcguirejr]

Tniem,  my word association with "coachspeak" is phoney.   

Stinger is right on the money.

[MIdoubleA]

Let's move on, please?

I'm sick of this crap.

I like your senior posts, Sac, and I'd like to hear some from other posters from other teams as well 

[albionbritfan]

Albion will honor four seniors tomorrow at Kresge.

Rick Palmer--He's been Albion's defensive stopper for the past couple years and is a great floor leader.  Best story I can offer about Rick:  As a freshman, Rick swiped the ball from Veenstra late in the game at Calvin.  Afterward, during a stop in play, Veenstra came up to Rick and said, "Who are you?"  Rick's reply: "Who are YOU?"

Garrett Gibbons--He's basically started the last four years.  Great guy.  My best memory of him will be the four threes he pumped in against Hope at home this year.

Michael Bailey--As about stonefaced a player as I have ever seen.  I expect to see him in the World Series of Poker really soon.  Enjoyed seeing him throw in the open three ball or at his size take it to the rack.  Speedy.

Brandon Crawford--Certainly the MVP of Albion, probably the MVP of the league.  Works really hard, and has played through double and triple teams the entire season.  Quiet guy that goes about his business.

Another great fact about these guys and the rest of the basketball team for that matter is that every week they volunteer as mentors to elementary school children in Albion.  It's a really big deal to the children.

[kcrest]

I like your senior posts, Sac, and I'd like to hear some from other posters from other teams as well 

Only three seniors on the Calvin team:  Prins, Draayer and Trewhella.  Interesting thing about that trio is they're pretty understated.  Draayer did set a new Calvin career record for threes and he's shown a pretty good ability over the last three years to knock down the three-ball, but he's not a star.  Prins has been a role player during his tenure at Calvin and Trewhella has been a really solid presence for the Knights, but again is not a marquee player.

Yet somehow these three were part of a team that finished third in the country last year and tomorrow they have a chance to become the first 13-1 team in the MIAA in over 40 years.  So they've collectively accomplished some pretty good things (this year's completely unexpected MIAA title being one of them).

I guess the bottom line is all three really personify what it means to play within and buy into a system and, in my opinion, all three have gotten the most out of what they bring to the court.  They'll be missed in a different way than Calvin was talking about missing Shilts and Aultman a year ago (our two transfers!   ) but they'll be missed.

On the women's side there's only one senior - Sarah Winkle - and she didn't play her freshman year, played jayvee as a soph and then played limited minutes last year before becoming a starter this year.  Pretty good story of tenacity (I don't believe she started in high school) and, again, getting the most out of her game.  She'll be missed too.

[hope1]

seniors we will miss you guys so much  for  hope  keep it going to leage champs next week and the ncaa  thank you so much seniors go  hope

[David Collinge]

Tommorrow night is always a special night for Hope hoops, and it will be the first time we get to have  Senior night at DeVos.

Its also fan appreciation day, and we'll be treated to a rare QUADRUPLE header.    Fortunately DeVos is stocked with plenty of great food for that marathon.

Such as....



The way things have been going in here, it was definitely time to trot out the ol' Heinz Mustard and Ketchup, or HMK as I will now call it so I appear to fit in around here.   

[KnightSlappy]

My take on Calvin's seniors

Kevin Prins - Never really got many minutes and still comes off the bench as a senior but when he is in the game he plays with intensity.  On defense he is aggressive and never is afraid to fight for a loose ball.

Andy Draayer - Mostly known for his three ball.  Earlier this year he set a Calvin career record for three pointers.  One of the best shooting performances you will ever see was when he nailed 9 threes last year vs. Alma.  I think people expect so much from him that they feel disapointed when he only makes 2 in a game.

Kyle Trewhella - A two year captain and a key member of last year's final four team.  He has the ability to take the team on his shoulders when they are struggling (the only Knight in double figures @Hope this year).  I think the turning point for Calvin this year was their comeback vs. Trinity.  Down 16 at the half the Knights fought back to make it close.  Kyle scored 7 points in the last 42 seconds and Calvin won by a single point.

[Gregory Sager]

Andy Draayer - Mostly known for his three ball.  Earlier this year he set a Calvin career record for three pointers.  One of the best shooting performances you will ever see was when he nailed 9 threes last year vs. Alma.  I think people expect so much from him that they feel disapointed when he only makes 2 in a game.

His performance against Wheaton in the CCIW/MIAA Challenge last year in Wheaton, in which he knocked down all six of his attempts from downtown, was one of the most amazing shooting performances I've ever seen. He was hitting fallaway circus shots in that game in which he fell backwards into the bench. At least two of the treys he knocked down in that game were 25-footers.

[Dark Knight]

His performance against Wheaton in the CCIW/MIAA Challenge last year in Wheaton, in which he knocked down all six of his attempts from downtown, was one of the most amazing shooting performances I've ever seen. He was hitting fallaway circus shots in that game in which he fell backwards into the bench. At least two of the treys he knocked down in that game were 25-footers.

Must be something about thunderstorms. He hit all six attempts against Wheaton this year, too. Two of them were banked and one was the front end of a four-point play in which he ended up on the bench.

I don't think this year's offense was quite as conducive to three-balls -- defenders could hang around the arc a bit more frequently.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I will affirm what Greg had to say.  It was the only game I've seen Draayer play, but at least that one time, he was ridiculously good!  I assume his skills were not normally what I saw that night (or he wouldn't have been at Calvin!), but that one game, any d1 team in the country would have wanted him as their SG.

[Mr. Ypsi]

DK,

Trust me - that one game, the defense was irrelevant.  Most of Draayer's 3s were with a hand in his face.  Why he only shot 6, I don't know (perhaps because they won anyway), but he could seemingly have scored any number he desired.  Most of his shots were NOT good shots - until they went in!

(I suspect he passed up more good shots than the 6 he made!)

While I've seen even better on TV, I hadn't seen a better display live since the national champion Wolverines team.