MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Walked into the DeVos Fieldhous tonight for the first time, and I was totally speechless.  That place is absolutely amazing.  I would guess the crowd was 1500-2000.  I took the time to view the floor from a number of spots, and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house.  Our seats for this season are awesome, and I can't wait to hear what kind of reaction all of you have if you come by for a game.  I can't think of a nicer place to watch a game - and I can't wait to hear what it's like in there when it get's rocking.  Sound system and scorebard are also top notch.

The Dutchmen looked pretty good - starting 5 was Immink & Cramer at guard, VanderHeide and Phillips at forward, and Voisin at center.  Getting to see Immink play again, I realized how much we missed him last year.  Phillips looked amazing, and looks to be deserving of his 1st team All-American rank.  Good play off the bench by Richardson, Wolpert, Hare, Wolfe, Reimink, and Creighton.  Carlson didn't play - but since the Dutchmen lost their NCAA soccer game today, he should be joining the team on Monday.

[oldman_crenshaw]

I was also at meet the dutchmen and boy the team looks improved.   Score was about 100ish Dutchmen to 80ish All Stars. 

Flying Dutch Fan is right on the money.  Devos is very, very nice.  I sat in the reserve seats and there will be a lot of happy fannies.    Besides the great sound system, the court is well lit,  shot clocks on the baskets, scoreboard good.   Bathrooms nice with doors on stalls.  Nice looking weight room.  One complaint:  time-out/substitution buzzer way too loud (I have sensitive ears).   

Other..   VanIwaarden was the game announcer and he did a great job.   Had some former players in the crowd per usual.   Plenty of fine Dutch ladies in attendance as you'd expect  .    Kleersynder was on the Berghorst All Stars. 

Parked next to the Martha Miller center and wow.  Devos and Martha really spruce up that side of the Hope campus.  Incredible. 

[hope1]

what a really nice field house i agree the buser was to loud hope looked really good

[Dark Knight]

"Bathrooms nice, with doors on the stalls"? . . . Remind me to take care of business before visiting any other buildings on Hope's campus.

[devossed]

But Dark Knight, remember that the Civic Center with the aforementioned "doorless" stalls was *off* campus.    At least they never had the "troughs" there (see: Spartan/Tiger stadiums)

I made my way around the arena, sitting in various locales and I concur with FDF--not a bad spot in the house. And well beyond the "doneness" of completion I was expecting to see. My hat is off and waving in the direction of Dan Vos and crew. You guys deserve the applause.

Re: the game itself -- Hope's starting 5 looked good. I think that Immink is every bit the All-American that Phillips is, and it showed for the brief moments he was out there. He not only exudes leadership and calmness, he just makes everybody around him better, much the same way that Elliot used to do. Cramer looks ready for a breakout year, and there's no reason he shouldn't start this year. Vanderheide showed solid potential at the 3 (suprise as I thought Phillips would play there and Marcus at the 4), and Voison could just dominate if he decided to stop playing on the perimeter. Excellent play off the bench by Richardson and Woolpert, while Wolfe struggled with his shot. Would still like a glimpse of (injured) Partridge, as I've heard he brings a lot to the table as well. Getting excited for a battle once again near the top-- Albion, Calvin and Hope will be right there at the end as always...

Oh, and in case any are still wondering-- "Sugar" Mel was up to his old antics, despite being on Social Security and arriving at the game with his walker and ventilator. He probably shot about 8-15 from downtown, and generally showed why he earned the "extra" NBA 6th foul. Plus, I liked his new look this year, with the big hoop earring...

[Civic Minded]

The DeVos...amazing...everything that everyone else has said, and then some.  You just have to see it to believe it.  Think I'll have to arrive early just to watch opposing team's & fans' faces as they come in.

The buzzer -- might be a location thing.  I have VERY sensitive hearing, and I found the buzzer to be no problem at all -- at least from where I was sitting.  Watched a game recently at Ferris, and had to cover my ears every single time -- it was horrid.  This one didn't even catch my attention on a noise level.  We had even discussed it while at Ferris, hoping that it wasn't going to be that loud at DeVos, and I'm relieved that it doesn't seem to be.

Players -- a few more practices, and this team is really going to start to gel.  Hare's looking better than what I had seen this summer, VanderHeide can really make things happen, and the returning players are in very good form.  Cramer seems to be back to his old self, sans back problems, and he's ready to jump!  Wolpert and Richardson are not to be ignored.  Partridge will be a fabulous addition as well.  After seeing what he can do, I was disappointed that he wasn't able to play last night.  Ah, well, soon enough, I suppose.

Very glad to see Jay Creighton moved up to varsity (hope it's permanent).  Another point guard will be invaluable, and he seems to have the skills necessary to take care of business.

At any rate, thank goodness it's baskeball season again! 

As always, GO HOPE!

[sac]

One word.....WOW!  What a place, I like most probably spent a good few minutes at the balcony just looking in amazement.  By FAR the best facility I've been in for a small college, now to be fair I haven't been in more than a dozen or more but there is no way anyone else has anything close to DeVos.

Its the anit-civic, in fact everything is opposite, including the home bench and location of the Dew Crew.  I agree with everything stated above, first class facility all the way.  It certainly won't have the intimate feeling of the Civic, this place is much bigger and will be more difficult to fill with noise but I think we'll give it a go.

It has to be the best lit baksetball court around, I think there are more lights than in the entire MIAA combined.

As for the team, pretty good.  Just watching Immink play again was a treat, easy to forget just how important he's been to Hope basketball.   Phillips looked like his Sophomore MVP self and thats exciting to see.  Looks like they have a real solid bench, but as stated thin at the point.  Tough to get a good read on the team but I know the starting  5 trounced the all-stars when they were on the court together.

The All-Star team itself was loaded with D2 and small D1 players, lots of big bodies.  But they didn't play good defense and looked like they were in love with the 3 ball.  Tough to get a good read on this one.

......and is it possible that Steve Cramer can now dunk a ball even easier than before!

[sac]

Couple articles from the local press

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/111205/local_20051112053.shtml

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/111205/localsports_20051112048.shtml

[albinomascot19]

Since the tournament field has expanded, it is very possible for there to be 3 teams from the MIAA, to play in the NCAA tournament?   

[ziggy]

According to the hope basketball 2005-2006 outlook, the January 14 Calvin vs. Hope game will be nationally televised!

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/mbb/

[albinomascot19]

Thats what I read also, about the Hope/Calvin game.  What I am not sure if that refers to satellite coverage....or....web feed....or I will be able to pick it up as well....I think it'll be sweet....to watch some DIII basketball!

[Civic Minded]

From the Hope website regarding the Rivalry:

2005-06  (Hope - Calvin) Games

Saturday, Jan. 14
Calvin at Hope
3 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Feb. 8
Hope at Calvin
8 p.m. ET

Hope-Calvin games can be seen live on WGVU-TV. Catch the Jan. 14 game via satellite at locations throughout the United States.

While I would love to see ESPN carry The Rivalry, and heck, they might already be considering it for some obscure station and time of day, I believe that this info, taken from the Hope website, is as current as we have at the moment.  At this time it does appear that "national" is being defined as carried throughout the nation via satellite.  Currently, it's only the Saturday game (Jan. 14 in 2006) that is carried via satellite.

[hopefan]

Wish List - Wish Hope would have a preliminary half hour show prior to the Calvin at Hope game showing some film of the construction of the Devos from hole in the ground to completed structure and a quick tour of the building  -  would be a great addition to the telecast for those of us around the country.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

hopefan - Wouldn't surprise me if they would do something like that anyway - maybe at halftime. 

I have created a new topic for our annual Pick 'Em contest.  Rules are posted there.  We will just be doing league games, but will also do a prediciton of final league standings.

[Stinger]

The Hornets open up a very tough schedule with Wooster on Friday at their tourney.  They open up with 8 straight games on the road and finally open up the Rolla Dome vs Elmhurst (who'll be looking for pay back I'm sure)

I am very, very curious to see how these young Hornets will perform this year. With Herman, Worst and Konwinski, they have a veteran backcourt.  I think a key player for the Hornets is Matt Kellogg.  I think he finished last season strong, and could make a huge leap.

Nice to see Big Mo (K'57) get his name in the limelight at Olivet this weekend.