MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[knightvision]

Hope's varsity roster is up:

http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/2013-14/roster


I count three freshmen, and I don't see Wittenbach listed here.
Is 5-9 senior Cody Campbell a transfer, or was he in the Hope program last year?

Only 13 names. Is that the usual for Hope?

There's 14 there now, still no Wittenbach.

The 14th spot is Chad Carlson redux, the little lefty from Rockford, and the fourth freshman to make this year's squad.  At 5-7, he will not not help Hope in the height department, but he was a fine high school player who was also recruited by Calvin.

Caught the Hope vs. Bethel (IN) scrimmage today at the DeVos...

Prior to start, Kevin Kooiker and the two MIAA officials reviewed a couple "points of emphasis" for the year for all players and coaches.  In addition to the the emphasis on more strictly calling hand checking that has already been mentioned on here (and two of the criteria specifically noted were interference with the offensive players "pace" and "line"), the one they covered first and spent more time discussing was the fact that this year a player attempting to take a charge in the lane must be established and set outside the in-lane arc prior to the offensive player entering the lane.  If enforced, we will see way more blocking calls--they are clearly trying to do away with the late rotation of help side defender who slides over in front of an offensive player who may have already left his feet in the lane while attacking the rim.  I like both of these and believe it will improve the game.

Format was two 10 minute half court sessions with Hope on offense for 10 minutes first, then on defense for 10 minutes.  Scrimmage/game followed--2 20 minute halves, only 1 FT for shooting fouls (miss 0 pts, make 2 pts) and no 1 & 1 except at the end of the half.  Neil was in street clothes and did not play, Byers was in street clothes and had a walking boot on his R foot, and there was no sign of Wittenbach.  Hope started Gardner, Eidson, McMahon, Benson, and VanArendonk. 

Overall, scoring was about equal overall. (By way of reference for those not familiar, Bethel is NAIA DII and will begin the year in the top 25 nationally).  Bethel didn't shoot the ball particularly well.  Hope, on the other hand , shot it very well--for only being a week and a half into the year, MN had to be pretty pleased with his guys. 

Some (very) early impressions of Hope, focused on what seemed like their core group (minus Neil & Byers):

1) I liked Gardner last year, and he is even better this year.  He was pretty unflappable against ball pressure (and Bethel's strength is their back court), hit 3's, distributed, and created problems with 1 on 1 ball pressure.  He is an all conference caliber player-- right now. 

2) Eidson and McMahon are strong, athletic players who both shot the 3 well and were excellent perimeter defenders.  They are both tough-minded and definitely got up into people defensively. 

3) Benson is impressive physically--looks even stronger than last year, and he didn't look much like  a FR last year.  Other than a nice dunk off a turnover, though, I honestly don't remember him scoring.  He had at least 4 fouls in the first half of the game, and just seemed a bit out of sorts overall.  I will  be curious to see if becomes more confident offensively....

4) NVA looks leaner and noticeably stronger.  He was more of an imposing presence defensively than I remember him being last year, and there were none of the bad defensive fouls he seemed to accumulate last year.  He changed a lot of shots and rebounded well.  Offensively, he was largely a non-factor--in part because Bethel likes to double in the post, and in part because he still seemed a bit mechanical when operating with the ball on the block when he did have an opportunity. 

5) Blackledge can play.  Athletic wing who hit a ton of 3's, many of them well beyond the arc.  If he shoots and plays like he did today, he is going to play a lot, and MN will have a tough time keeping him out of the starting line-up.  I believe the roster lists him as a F, but from what I saw today, he is more of a 2/3 than a 3/4.  (And sac, with regard to your wondering about the actual height of some Hope players, I'll say this--I didn't get a close up look at him, but if Blackledge is 6'6", 210, NVA should be listed in the program as 7'4", 310  ).

Overall, I was impressed with Hope.  Defensively, I will be surprised if they don't feature a ton of perimeter ball pressure; they have athletic, tough minded perimeter players, along with the luxury of NVA on the back end to change shots when they do get beat on the perimeter.  Offensively, I think their defense will create a lot of transition offense, and they appear to have at least 4 legitimate 3 pt threats that will force teams to extend defensively.  When they spread the floor and hit 3's, it creates driving lanes as well as space for NVA and increases the likelihood of success for him inside--he's just an absolute load to handle 1 on 1.   Hope is set in the back court for several years to come--and if they are not a top 25 team now, my sense is that they will be soon.   

[pointlem]

Thanks, KnightVision, for the great synopsis.  I was there, too, and saw exactly what you did, with Hope handily outscoring Bethel when Ben Gardner was driving the train.  There was excellent 3-point shooting from a bunch of players (suggesting the possibility of an improved 3-point percentage from the 2/3 positions this year).  And the three tall frosh showed exciting potential.  Blackledge's shooting ability and agility around the basket reminded me of Snuggerud.  And, yes, Stuive's length, quickness, and range bring to mind Tyler Dykstra.

I see that GVSU plays Michigan this week and Hope in two weeks . . . making for some interesting comparisons.

[sac]

Bethel plays their first official game tomorrow night.  They were picked second in the Crossroads Conference behind Indiana Wesleyan.  First official NAIA poll debuts tomorrow as well, I suspect they'll receive a top 15 placing for the Pilots.

[HopeConvert]

I can't recall if VanArendonk has another year of eligibility past this year. I think he does. If so, next year's team could be really loaded and the schedule would set up much better as well.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I can't recall if VanArendonk has another year of eligibility past this year. I think he does. If so, next year's team could be really loaded and the schedule would set up much better as well.

Has a year of eligibility - yes.  As of last spring he wasn't planning on using it.

[sac]

I just noticed our friends from Finlandia open their season at Grinnell on Nov. 15.

[Cowman]

A little help.

How do HIPAA and/ or FERPA laws effect SIDs when dealing with players'...
... injuries?
... discipline issues?
... academic issues?

edit: added FERPA, thanks

[Flying Dutch Fan]

A little help.

How do HIPAA laws effect SIDs when dealing with players'...
... injuries?
... discipline issues?
... academic issues?

Pretty sure zero. HIPAA (in my understanding) only addresses what the health care folks can share, and wouldn't affect what an SID shares.

[madzillagd]

Well if anybody ever followed it the medical staff would never share it with the SID so he would not have any info available to disclose to begin with.

[Roundball999]

It's a very confusing situation and depends on the specific situation and whether the institution or even parts of the institution is defined as a covered entity under HipAA.  For example, a college's health service may be convered under HIPAA but the athletic department (including trainers and SID) may not be subject to HIPAA.  But even in that situation, if a college Dr shares HIPAA protected info with a coach, the coach may not then be restricted from sharing that info publicly.  Clear as mud.  So one solution many colleges have used is the medical release form that includes language allowing the school to treat injured athletes and also includes HIPAA waivers wherein the athlete specifically allows the college to share his/her health information.  Such waiver forms are pretty common.

[SKOT]

A little help.

How do HIPAA laws effect SIDs when dealing with players'...
... injuries?
... discipline issues?
... academic issues?

Discipline and academic issues are covered under FERPA, not HIPPA.  Without a student's consent, a school receiving federal funding cannot release anything more that "Directory Information."  (i.e. name, address, dates of attendance, etc.)

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

[KnightSlappy]

MIAA officials reviewed a couple "points of emphasis" for the year for all players and coaches.  In addition to the the emphasis on more strictly calling hand checking that has already been mentioned on here (and two of the criteria specifically noted were interference with the offensive players "pace" and "line") , the one they covered first and spent more time discussing was the fact that this year a player attempting to take a charge in the lane must be established and set outside the in-lane arc prior to the offensive player entering the lane.  If enforced, we will see way more blocking calls--they are clearly trying to do away with the late rotation of help side defender who slides over in front of an offensive player who may have already left his feet in the lane while attacking the rim.  I like both of these and believe it will improve the game.

How will Adrian ever win another game?

[ziggy]

Calvin College is bidding to host the DIII Final Four: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2013/10/finalists-for-future-final-fours

[pointlem]

That would be great in Calvin could host either women or men . . . or both.

The article says the proposals cover the five-year 2014 to 2018 period (with the women booked this year to Wisconsin Stevens Point).  But http://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d3 indicates that 2014 men's final four will be in Salem.  So perhaps it's the four-year 2015 to 2018 span that's being considered?

[sac]

Supposedly the coaches have their conference call tomorrow.  Hopefully we might see the coaches poll and the remaining rosters of Alma, Albion, Adrian and Olivet.