MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Knightmare]

the million dollar question is this: Will Peter Bunn return................next season?

Has it been announced or confirmed that he isn't playing at all this season?

[sac]

Northwood, Fla 81 Olivet 65

Pretty much as expected although Olivet really struggled from behind the arc, just 5-22.

McClary 14, Jennings 12


The MIAA is now 34-35

Only Hope and Trine have games next week in Orlando, everyone else is off until at least the 28th or 29th.  I might even say how Hope and Trine do down in Florida will go a long way to deciding whether the league ends up above .500 out of conference this year.

Tuesday, December 21
Trinevs. Dominican, Ill. at RDV Sportsplex D3Classic (Orlando, Fla.), 3 p.m.    
Hope vs. Lake Forest, Ill. at RDV Sportsplex D3Classic (Orlando, Fla.), 5 p.m.
         
Wednesday, December 22
Trine vs. Lake Forest, Ill. at RDV Sportsplex D3Classic (Orlando, Fla.), 5:30 p.m.
Hope vs. Dominican, Ill. at RDV Sportsplex D3Classic (Orlando, Fla.), 7:30 p.m.

[sac]

The research fairy left me a note in my stocking.......


Michael McClary needs 200 points exactly to tie the Olivet all-time scoring record.

He broke the field goals made record last night and needs 10 to break the field goal attempts.


I don't think we've had a player break a schools all-time scoring record in the d3boards.com era.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Some thoughts on tonight's Calvin-Aquinas game:

--Much has been made on this board of Haverdink's contribution lately.  I think tonight's performance by Matt DeBoer will tilt the scales further in the direction of BH seeing his playing time reduced when Salo returns and needs to grab minutes from somebody.  We talk about things that "don't show up in the box score"--one tonight that didn't show up in BH's zero turnovers statistic--completely missing a bullet pass from Tommy Snikkers that could have resulted in an easy layup but instead gave TS "credit" for a turnover when really he had a great look inside.  On the other hand, I swear I saw BH grab two offensive rebounds on one sequence  yet the box score only showed one total rebound for the game.  
--The center position (Schuster, DeYoung, Kruis) combined for 40 minutes of PT.  My guess is that exactly one of them was on the floor at all times, as I don't recall seeing two of them play together.  Regardless, they combined for 4 points and 8 boards.  DeYoung and Kruis didn't attempt a shot in a combined 15 minutes, and Schuster's game is as much outside as it is inside.  Bottom line, we lack a post presence on the offensive end of the floor right now.
--I think the difference tonight was 3-point shooting.  It felt that Aquinas (in addition to Damacious White nailing a big trey at the halftime buzzer and #15's ridiculous banker from the top of the key at a key point late) was left with way too many open looks from beyond the arc.  I didn't see the Wheaton game but I would guess this was the case there too.  In contrast, many Calvin 3-point attempts tonight were from a few feet beyond the line, contested, and, in my opinion, way too early in the shot clock.  
--This is becoming Tom Snikkers' team.  I get the feeling that he has a real drive to win and he plays with effort and emotion.  Foul trouble limited his time tonight but you could tell that even on an "off" night for him, this is his team.  My two cents:  if he can control the emotion (i.e. no "palms up" visible arguing with refs, no eye rolling at KVS even when he's frustrated) and keep working hard, TS could take the leap into the pantheon of Calvin greats before he is through.  I see him as a Jesse Reimink type player with a higher ceiling (both for individual and team accomplishments)
--I love seeing Brad Schnyders 8-9 from the line.  That is his game, driving the opposition nuts with his relentless drives to the rim.  As I've said in earlier posts, kudos to him for clearly putting in the effort in the off season to get better from the charity stripe.
--Coach KVS keeps talking about all the positives he is seeing from this team, i.e. chemistry, effort, etc, and I agree with him to a point.  However, the time is coming soon when we need to start closing out and winning ballgames.  I'm a bit nervous about starting the MIAA season 1-2 after facing Hope and Olivet in the first three games, unless we can elevate our game a bit.  While Aquinas is a lot better now that the one we saw at their place for the GRSHOF tourney, it is a team that we should have beaten.  Regardless, congrats to Hammer's crew for their improvement and the win tonight.
--I hope that the Calvin crew can enjoy a bit of time off for Christmas and come back with a renewed commitment and effort after the break leading into the league season.  Merry Christmas!

[hoopdreams]

Bunn's timetable for return has not been made public and my earlier question was meant to bring some discussion about possible scenarios.  If one were to read between the lines a bit (DISCLAIMER: not spreading a rumor).... maybe Corey Williams sudden departure at semester break had something to do with him thinking/knowing that Bunn was coming back next year?  Purely hypothetical but not out of the realm of possibility.  As mentioned earlier, with Bunn, Tanis and Bowser graduating, that's a lot of minutes to replace next year at the 2 and 3 spots.

[hoopdreams]

I may also add that the departure of Jared M, the heir apparent shooting guard replacement, makes even more minutes available.

[realist]

Quoting Oldknight:  "They {Aquinas}are a great example of how talent needs to be properly directed in order for the team to win games, and how talent looks more impressive when it is.

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

Amen,  You won't get any arguement from me.

Quoting HCG:  "However, the time is coming soon when we need to start closing out and winning ballgames."

One would have thought the object of the first game, and every game since that was to WIN.   The hardest part of listening to KVS in the post game show yesterday was his seeming acceptance of loosing ballgames.

[almcguirejr]

Quoting Oldknight:  "They {Aquinas}are a great example of how talent needs to be properly directed in order for the team to win games, and how talent looks more impressive when it is.

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

Amen,  You won't get any arguement from me.

Quoting HCG:  "However, the time is coming soon when we need to start closing out and winning ballgames."

One would have thought the object of the first game, and every game since that was to WIN.   The hardest part of listening to KVS in the post game show yesterday was his seeming acceptance of loosing ballgames.

I think the talent is properly directed.  The talent may not always execute what their directed to do.   

[hoopdreams]

Scottiedawg, we cannot believe anything to be true until its reported in the Sentinel, so let's let it play out.   Maybe more feedback after Hope plays Tuesday and word gets out.

Is it normal for teams to remove players from the roster, essentially kicking them off the team, due to injury?  I don't know all the rules to D3 about roster limitations, how many can dress, etc... but I thought about this a couple years back when Kelvin Carter's name disappeared mid-season after his knee injury. Everyone knew he wasn't coming back but did he quit, or was he replaced?

Bunn and Salo are still listed on their respective rosters even though neither has played 1 second this season. 

[Gregory Sager]

I'm sure it will be written about in the Sentinel within a week or so.  Or wait a bit and other posters, more knowledgeable than I, can report.

Hope opponent in Florida, Dominican U, is going to be without a couple pretty important contributors as well from what I gather.

I'm not sure to whom it is that you're referring. I was at Igini Sports Forum yesterday, watching Dominican dismantle MacMurray, and it was the same story as always: Marquis Turley and a large cast of interchangeable guys in supporting roles. One of the players who's seen playing time in most of the games is no longer on the roster, and two other guys who've also received a lot of time didn't get into yesterday's game, but in no way would I call any of the three "pretty important contributors" -- as I said, Mark White has a truckload of guys he uses interchangeably (some of them yo-yoing back and forth between JV and varsity, like your boy Taylor DeRoo), but the only member of that team whose absence would cause a breakdown is Marquis Turley.

(By the way, DeRoo had a very sweet dunk yesterday, for those of you who care about such things.)

[Dark Knight]

Some thoughts on tonight's Calvin-Aquinas game:
--The center position (Schuster, DeYoung, Kruis) combined for 40 minutes of PT.  My guess is that exactly one of them was on the floor at all times, as I don't recall seeing two of them play together.  Regardless, they combined for 4 points and 8 boards.  DeYoung and Kruis didn't attempt a shot in a combined 15 minutes, and Schuster's game is as much outside as it is inside.  Bottom line, we lack a post presence on the offensive end of the floor right now.

DeBoer showed some nice offensive moves in the post, with a sweet hook shot. He hit seven of eight shots and was the knight's top scorer. That sounds like an offensive post presence to me, at least for this game.

By the way, what are the differences of the roles of the 4 and 5 in VandeStreek's system this year ?

[hoopdreams]

Sorry Sags, DeRoo's not my boy!  Never seen him play in person and couldn't pick him out of a police lineup.  I did, however, inquire about a Holland kid ending up in Chicago, playing varsity as a frosh.  If I recall, you attempted to show me up by stating something to the effect that he barely played at that time.  Is he playing a little bit more now?

I was told that DU's starting point guard was removed from the roster (fairly important I think) and Marquis was moved to point, which was one of the "issues of disagreement" in why he left Ann Arbor.  I was also told that Jovan, Marquis' brother,  a off and on 3 year starter and double digit scorer, would not be making the trip and possibly 1 other player.  Jovan might be considered kind of important? 

[hoopdreams]

of course, I could have been given incorrect info if so, my bad.  Have a glorious day!

[Gregory Sager]

Sorry Sags, DeRoo's not my boy!  Never seen him play in person and couldn't pick him out of a police lineup.  I did, however, inquire about a Holland kid ending up in Chicago, playing varsity as a frosh.  If I recall, you attempted to show me up by stating something to the effect that he barely played at that time.  Is he playing a little bit more now?

Don't take it so personally, man. I wasn't trying to show you up at all. I was merely stating DeRoo's correct status at the time.

Yes, he's playing more varsity now. In fact, he started yesterday's game. He fouled out after scoring 14 points in 21 minutes.

I was told that DU's starting point guard was removed from the roster (fairly important I think) and Marquis was moved to point, which was one of the "issues of disagreement" in why he left Ann Arbor.  I was also told that Jovan, Marquis' brother,  a off and on 3 year starter and double digit scorer, would not be making the trip and possibly 1 other player.  Jovan might be considered kind of important?  

Your source is incorrect. Xavier Patterson, who had started three of Dominican's ten games, is the player who was removed from the roster. But the PGs have more or less been the two Turley brothers. Patterson was not that big a piece of the puzzle; in eight games played he averaged only 14 mpg. As I said, it's a team made up mostly of interchangeable parts.

I don't know why Jovan Turley wouldn't be making the trip to Florida. He played yesterday against MacMurry.

[realist]

Quoting Oldknight:  "They {Aquinas}are a great example of how talent needs to be properly directed in order for the team to win games, and how talent looks more impressive when it is.

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

how talent needs to be properly directed

Amen,  You won't get any arguement from me.

Quoting HCG:  "However, the time is coming soon when we need to start closing out and winning ballgames."

One would have thought the object of the first game, and every game since that was to WIN.   The hardest part of listening to KVS in the post game show yesterday was his seeming acceptance of loosing ballgames.

I think the talent is properly directed.  The talent may not always execute what their directed to do.   

Al.:  Pre-conference season results.
"2010-2011 pre conference games  4-5 as of yesterday 12-18-2010
2009-2010 pre conference games  5-6   
2008-2009 pre conference games  5-5   
2007-2008 pre conference games  5-5  *********

**********  Only 2 of the present Knights saw any action year 07-08. 
Mr. Schuster played a total of 70 minutes in 11 games, so definitely not an impact player.  Mr. Rodts played 1 minute, in 1 game so even less impact.  Many new players, and the same results.

Perhaps you are right, and the talent is properly directed.   However, I don't understand why they wouln't want to execute according to direction.   

With one or two exceptions every team Calvin has played so far this year seems to know what directions Calvin players are given almost as well as the Calvin players themselves do.  IMO AQ won yesterday, not because they are a better team with better players, but simply because they knew what to do to beat Calvin.