MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

KS has a post on his blog previewing tonight's matchup against Ferris. He also has a piece arguing the need for the NCAA to reconsider its Division III criteria and the current system's impact on a school like Calvin. It's worth the read I think, even by non-Knight fans because the NCAA's current set of criteria impact most MIAA schools about the same.

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/

It is hard to argue that Calvin needs "regional" relief (based on travel expense) when a quick check of the Calvin schedule shows them flying out to Washington for 2 games over the holiday break.  Perhaps it is scheduling games like those that cause the NCAA to turn a deaf ear to plantiff cries like those KS presents. 

I don't think expense has ever been the complaint, nor is it the reason for the "regional focus" of Div. III. They don't want kids to have to miss class.

I'm still willing to place a majority of the "blame" on the institution rather than the governing body. Take a look at the schedule, there are plenty of weekends that Calvin could theoretically use for in-region play. I know it is a dead horse but there really isn't any point in complaining about in-region criteria when there doesn't appear to be anything more than a cursory acknowledgement of the system in the Knights' scheduling practices.

[Gregory Sager]

KS has a post on his blog previewing tonight's matchup against Ferris. He also has a piece arguing the need for the NCAA to reconsider its Division III criteria and the current system's impact on a school like Calvin. It's worth the read I think, even by non-Knight fans because the NCAA's current set of criteria impact most MIAA schools about the same.

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/

It is hard to argue that Calvin needs "regional" relief (based on travel expense) when a quick check of the Calvin schedule shows them flying out to Washington for 2 games over the holiday break.  Perhaps it is scheduling games like those that cause the NCAA to turn a deaf ear to plantiff cries like those KS presents. 

In my professional experience, I have found defendants to be far deafer than plaintiffs.

Yes, but is there anything more heart-wrenching than the plaintive cry of a plaintiff? Especially when it's caused by a plane tiff.

[RFMichigan]

We're only a week away 

Hope's first opponent, Rochester College, has been playing games since October 21. They're currently 6-0 with 2 more games before next Tuesday night.  They should win them both since they've already beaten both teams once each.  The Warriors have been dominating the Canadians.

http://www.rochestercollegewarriors.com/schedule/0/1.php

roster
http://www.rochestercollegewarriors.com/roster/0/1.php

Fleming college?
Lambton college?
Nouvelles college?
Georgian college?

Yeah, but then:
Tennessee - Martin (D-I)
Eastern Michigan University (D-I)
Grand Valley State University (D-II)
Oakland University (D-I)
Austin Peay State University (D-I)

[wiz]

Tall, baby Knights showing promise tonight in their exhibition game with Ferris.

[KnightSlappy]

Really nice game from Calvin tonight. Ferris isn't as strong as they've been the last couple of years, but they still look to be a solid team. Calvin probably doesn't have the top-end talent that they've had many years (excepting Snikkers), but they look like they could go 10 or 11 deep without much drop off on either end of the floor.

Stat of the game: 10 Knights attempted at least one field goal, and 9 of them had effective field goal percentages of at least .500. Pretty good efficiency across the board.

[maroonandgold]

Tall, baby Knights showing promise tonight in their exhibition game with Ferris.

Calvin won by 7 points by showing lots of speed, cutting to the basket, and solid defense.  What was a pleasure to see was that the team was really moving and cutting on offense right from the beginning.  Their height brought them some baskets and more free throws, and they shot free throws well for the most part and especially at the end to put the game away.  Their lack of experience, as well as Ferris' lack of experience made for a rather crude game at times.  Their biggest weakness was the poor outside shooting most of the game.

[oldknight]

A very heartening win for Calvin over a young but athletic Ferris quintet. I was enjoying the moment too much to remind myself of the final score with a look at the scoreboard but I believe the final was 79-72. Aside from the fact that Calvin did this in their first true action, and against a D2 school that counts this game on their regular season record, what was most positive for me is the way the Knights handled the game down the stretch. With the Knights either nursing a small lead or being tied during the final minutes, Calvin spread the floor--a format that would seem to be to the liking of the visitors from Big Rapids--and simply found mismatches on almost every possession. If it wasn't Snikkers it was DeBoer, even Haverdink, as Calvin showed admirable patience and execution.

Early on, it didn't look so good with Calvin down 12-5 more than nine minutes in and obviously laboring to get off good shots. Calvin's defense was pretty solid throughout the game and it seems their length should create problems for D3 opponents. The Knights' offense was pretty tentative the first 10 minutes of the game and seemed destined to struggle to stay in the game. If I can pinpoint a change in game dynamics it occcured when freshmen Tyler Dykstra--in a span of less than two minutes--came out of nowhere with a putback dunk, followed by a blocked shot (that yours truly cleanly snared ), followed by finishing a layup on a fast break.

The action energized both the crowd and the Knights' bench and Calvin headed to the locker room with a 33-30 lead. Calvin held small leads through much of the second half but a lull midway through (when Calvin seemed tired and content to settle for jump shots) put the Knights down 63-56 and Calvin seemed (pre)destined to lose. But the boys fought through that stretch led by some good floor play by Powell who may be learning that Calvin's living, and his starting position, likely depends on less shooting and more on getting the ball to the big boys. And my, Calvin has a lot of big boys.

[Dark Knight]

Tall, baby Knights showing promise tonight in their exhibition game with Ferris.

Beating D-II Ferris State by 7 is nice, but eye witness reports (of which I was not one) say it could be due to a young, disorganized FS team.

I don't think anyone nailed the starters, who turned out to be Rietema, Haverdink, Vallie, Snikkers, and Kruis. I wonder if Powell will fill that 6-th man shooter off the bench role that Veltema previously filled, and before him, Draayer?

Dykstra got two blocks and a back-handed dunk in 5 minutes of playing time.

I was surprised to see that Calvin out-stole FS 7-3. Usually those D-II teams are quick enough to steal the shirt off your back.

[maroonandgold]

I was particularly interested in the comment about Powell's role.  Although I was surprised to see him start off the bench, I thought he looked much better in that role and the type of action in which he was involved than he generally looks as a starter.  Mitch Vallie as a starter came as a surprise, too.  But he added speed and a strong passing game once he got his feet under him.  He seemed a little off balance and may have been trying to do too much in the first half, but he looked good in the second half.

[sac]

Aside from the fact that Calvin did this in their first true action, and against a D2 school that counts this game on their regular season record, what was most positive for me is the way the Knights handled the game down the stretch.

This game is listed as exhibition by Ferris State as well.

http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/schedule

[KnightSlappy]

Bryan Powell clearly outplayed David Rietema tonight. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bryan back starting sooner rather than later.

[maroonandgold]

Bryan Powell clearly outplayed David Rietema tonight. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bryan back starting sooner rather than later.

Brian Powell deserves every bit of the appreciation he received for his fine game last night.  Other than a forced 3 pointer, which he missed badly when he first entered the game, he made great decisions, getting the ball to the big men, and when shots were open hitting almost every mid-range shot and lay-up he took.  That game is the best I recall seeing him play for Calvin.  Whether he will continue as the first sub or as a starter will be interesting. 

I thought all 10 players that rotated in the game regularly played well.  Rietema did not score, but he handled the ball well and defended well.  He has very little game experience, and that lack of college experience may have been a factor.  I like the way he handles the ball much better than those one-handed passes of Powell's.  With more PT I think he will do well for a team that is so limited in true guards.   

Mast looks like he could become a great shooter and will probably spend just about all of this playing time at guard.  He must be a better free throw shooter than he showed last night.  First game jitters?

It is interesting that Snikkers is hardly mentioned since his outside shooting was a bit off.  He merely scored 20 points with drives, fast breaks, and excellent free throw shooting.  That fact that only one person even mentioned him along with several others in the strong closing of the game show just how much is expected of him and how important he is to the team's success.

[sac]

Hope College has something called "Hope Madness" tonight involving both the women and men.  It's either at 6:30 or 7:30 depending on who you ask or who's putting it in print or sending it out over the internet.  (time confirmation would be appreciated)

[wiz]

Hope College has something called "Hope Madness" tonight involving both the women and men.  It's either at 6:30 or 7:30 depending on who you ask or who's putting it in print or sending it out over the internet.  (time confirmation would be appreciated)

There's been a lot of that going on over there for years.  Probably has something to do with the Cosmos.

[jspiii]

Hope College has something called "Hope Madness" tonight involving both the women and men.  It's either at 6:30 or 7:30 depending on who you ask or who's putting it in print or sending it out over the internet.  (time confirmation would be appreciated)

Hope site says 7:30pm as did the email I got from Hope earlier.