MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HOPEful]

I think it takes quite a bit of mental gymnastics to say Bill Sall wouldn't be a great hire for Calvin. I agree with the appeal of some of the things someone like Kool would bring but that would be a fallback plan for me if Sall wasn't interested in making the move. Hard to really say much without knowing the candidate pool.

I agree with most of this.

Sall is 215-235 as a head couch, though. I realize the state of both the Ferris and NMU programs when he arrived, but neither program reached the level to which calvin fans would expect of their next head coach. I think Sall would be a great hire (one they probably should have made five years ago) but I don't think it takes "mental gymnastics" to question how great.

[Grutte Dirk]

I think it takes quite a bit of mental gymnastics to say Bill Sall wouldn't be a great hire for Calvin.

Current activity at the Calvin's two Spoelhof buildings.

[wiz]

Whoever Calvin hires, I am confident the Knights will sweep Hope again this year.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Whoever Calvin hires, I am confident the Knights will sweep Hope again this year.

Bold prediction given that they don't play one another again this year 

[oldknight]

A surprising note of great concern, relates to Danny Rodts, former Calvin hoopster. On Wednesday, Danny had a heart attack (yes, you read that right), and he is in critical condition. Here's the gofundme page with the story, and if you're interested in contributing.

https://www.gofundme.com/supporting-the-rodts-family

[sac]

Mike Barnfield  6-4  G/F  Ft. Wayne Snider---Glen Oaks CC will attend Trine, he'll be Jr. eligible.

Had a great 2nd year at Oaks, 20 ppg, 50% shooter

[pointlem]

A surprising note of great concern, relates to Danny Rodts, former Calvin hoopster. On Wednesday, Danny had a heart attack (yes, you read that right), and he is in critical condition. Here's the gofundme page with the story, and if you're interested in contributing.

https://www.gofundme.com/supporting-the-rodts-family

Thank you, OK, and do let us know any further news about Danny.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

A surprising note of great concern, relates to Danny Rodts, former Calvin hoopster. On Wednesday, Danny had a heart attack (yes, you read that right), and he is in critical condition. Here's the gofundme page with the story, and if you're interested in contributing.

https://www.gofundme.com/supporting-the-rodts-family

Thank you, OK, and do let us know any further news about Danny.

Yes, thanks OK - many prayers being offered on his behalf. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Updated recruiting list - corrections or additions welcomed

Player	Height	Position	High School	College
Khy Winston	6-3	G	UD Jesuit (MI)	Albion
Steve Morrissey	6-3	G/F	Northville (MI)	Albion
Andrew Blanchard	6-3	G/F	Engadin (MI)	Alma
Marcus Haveman	5-11	G	GR Christian (MI)	Calvin
Isaac Moolenaar	6-1	G	Midland Down (MI)	Calvin
Isaac Davis	6-2	G	Plainwell (MI)	Calvin
Caleb Dekryger	6-7	F	Allegan (MI)	Calvin
Tommy Surges	5-10	G	Marmion Academy (IL)	Hope
Clayton Dykhouse	5-11	G	Zeeland East (MI)	Hope
Jess Hartmann	6-0	G	Bishop Moore (FL)	Hope
Brady Swinehart	6-0	G	Ionia (MI)	Hope
Luke Putnam	6-1	G	Aquinas Institute (NY)	Hope
J.P. LaPrade	6-2	G	Bishop Moore (FL)	Hope
TJ McKenzie	6-3	G	North Muskegon (MI)	Hope
Evan Thomas	6-4	G/F	Okemos (MI)	Hope
Harris Hawkins	6-4	F	Henry Clay (KY)	Hope
TJ VanKoevering	6-5	F	Unity Christian (MI)	Hope
Jeremy Kitka		G	Warren Cousino (MI)	Kalamazoo
Jack McGuire	6-7	F/C	Walled Lake Northern (MI)	Kalamazoo
Noah Wiswary	6-1	G	Unity Christian (MI)	Olivet
Collin McCrackin	6-0	G	DeWitt (MI)	Trine
Terrel Bryant	6-1	G	Holland (OH)	Trine
Mike Barnfield	6-4	G/F	Ft. Wayne Snider (IN)	Trine
Jake Schuler	6-5	F	Rochester Adams (MI)	Trine
Brent Cox	6-6	F	East Noble (IN)	Trine

[sac]

Reviewing what teams return for 2019-20. 

Adrian  6-19,  3-11  8th
Tre'Shon Heard  G  Jr.
Jordan Harris  G  So.
Jeremy Kalonji  F  Jr.
Sam Colbert  G  So.
Ke'Shaun Wyatt-Morris  F   Jr.
-----------------------------------
Kas Oganowski  G  So.
Caleb  Ballentine  G  Fr.
Nolan Ansara  F  Fr.
Andrew Landini  G  Sr.

Status unknown for these 3 guys
Kylon Jarreau  G  Fr.
Deontae Ulmer  F  Fr.
Dontez  Rayner  F  Fr.

Rough come down after a pretty good 2018 season, they were a mess.   18 game losing streak until pulling off 3 wins to close the season.  Starting 5 had their moments and they'll all be upper-classmen, but the bench was young and unproductive.  Not sure what 2020 has in store.


Albion  19-9, 10-4  2nd, Tournament Champion, NCAA 1st Round
Jamezell Davis Jr.  G  So.
Jaylin Fordham  G  Sr.
Caden Ebeling  F  Jr.
ArShawn Parker  G  Sr.
MJ  Barnes  G  Fr.
Nate Collins  G  Sr.
Quinton Armstrong  F  So.
Dylan Bennett G  Sr.
Zachary Winston  G Fr.
Devin Holmes  F  Fr.
Ryan Lowe C  Sr.

Albion had a great season on the backs of a Sr. class that logged a ton of games together.  Solid core returns, Brits will spend Nov/Dec looking for bench contributors.  Maybe a big step up for MJ Barnes and Zach Winston next year.


Alma  5-21, 4-10  6th
Ryan Stevens  G  Jr.
Cole Kleiver  G  Fr.
Steve Harvey  G/F  Jr.
Kyle Woodruff  G/F  Jr.
Kevin Gamble  F/C  Sr.
-----------
Brandon Rake  C  Fr.
Amari Hudson  G/F  So.
Matt Lark  G  So.
Scott Maki  G  Sr.

Various Fr. who saw some pt
Jamie Lewis 
Isiah Williamson
Mason Gardner

Tough year in Alma, brutal non-conference schedule and numerous tight losses in the league.  A couple injuries too much to overcome.  Alma returns 4 of 5 starters and Rake probably slides into the starting 5.   Ryan Clark returns to the bench as the head coach, Scots will be hoping for the same quick turnaround he orchestrated in his one season in charge of Alma's women's program


Calvin 14-13, 8-6  3rd tie
Derek DeVries  W  Jr.
Tony DeWitte  W  Jr.
Alex Bos  F  Jr.
Thad Shymanski  G  So
Austin Bykerk  F  Sr.
------------
Jason Walter  F  Sr.
Carlos Amoros-Gutierrez  G  Sr.
Carson Meulenberg  F  Fr.
Emmett  Warners  W  So.

A little better than the last two years (but only because they beat Hope 3 times?).  Meulenberg likely slides into a starting spot and completes a pretty good looking starting 5.   Big question of course will be who the head coach is next Winter. 


Hope 15-11, 8-6  3rd tie
Jason Beckman  G  Sr.
Teddy Ray  F  Sr.
Riley Lewis  G  Jr.
Preston Granger  C  So.
Dennis Towns  F  Sr.
------------
Calvin Haeckert  G  So.
Danny Beckman  G  So.
Sam Vree C  So.
Ryan Gamm  F  So.
Jeff Goral  G/F  Sr.
Jake Honor  F  So.

3 possible contributors who didn't play much
Jason Dietz
Tyler George
Nate Davis


It was.....close?  Big loss in Jason Beckman, but don't discount losing Ray and Towns.  Hope's bench was iffy almost all of 2019 and most of them will have to be heavy contributors next year.  Might be a slow starting team in 2020. 


Kalamazoo  7-18,  4-10  7th
Jeremiah Vincent  G  So.
Tanner Blyly  G  Jr.
Ben Reiter  F  Jr.
Bass Ollie  F  So.
Marritt Hamann  F  So.
Jarnard Smith  G  So.
Drew Scheckell  F  So.
Tre Humes  F  Jr.
Drake Thompson  C  Fr.

Baby steps thus far for Jay Smith's Kzoo rebuild.  Kzoo can bring everyone back next year.  Don't be surprised if the Hornets make a big leap next year.  Anyone got the guts to say they can win what might end up being a pretty weak league?


Olivet  13-14,  8-6  3rd tie
Tracy Edmond  G  Sr.
Trevor Manuel  G/F  Jr.   **  Can return from NBA draft, but that isn't happening
John McAdoo  G/F  Sr.
Colin Jones  F  Sr.
Dee Roberts  G/F  Sr.
----------
Diangelo Carlton  G  Sr.
Chase Brocker  G  Sr.
Keyon Rainey  G  Jr.
Toriano Jackson   C  Jr.

Likely contributor
Delbert Redfield  G  So.


Easy to forget, the Comets were actually under .500 last year.  Olivet hired Sam Hargraves from Alma in maybe the most unexpected coaching change/move in decades around here.  Its probably going to be a total rebuild in Olivet.


Trine  19-8,  11-3  Regular season Champions
Pete Smith  G  Sr.
Langston Johnson  G  Jr.
Myles Copeland  F  Sr.
Marcus Winters  G  Jr.
Maurice Hunter  F  Jr.
-----------
Ellis Cummings  C  Sr.
Bryce Williams  G  Fr.
Aiden Warzecha  G  Fr.
Jared Dishop  F  Sr.
Jason Clune  G  Jr.

Trine finally climbed the mountain in 2019 and won the MIAA with maturity down the stretch.  Thunder lose MVP Pete Smith and Ellis Cummings who was a monster sometimes.  Pretty decent core of players returning, it might all hinge on if Marcus Winters plays which I guess is a little bit of a question mark. 



My early thought is the MIAA might be pretty weak next year.   If I were putting them in groups I might say favorites Albion, Calvin, Trine....or likely top 3.   Hope, Kzoo for the 4th spot with Alma/Adrian not far behind.   Olivet just has far too many questions to make any kind of prediction.  That's how it looks to me on April 30 for next year with returning players.

[HOPEful]

My early thought is the MIAA might be pretty weak next year.   If I were putting them in groups I might say favorites Albion, Calvin, Trine....or likely top 3.   Hope, Kzoo for the 4th spot with Alma/Adrian not far behind.   Olivet just has far too many questions to make any kind of prediction.  That's how it looks to me on April 30 for next year with returning players.

I agree for the most part. My rankings would go...

1. Albion. By a fairly good margin...
2. Calvin. Also by a fairly good margin... I think the losses of Bykerk and Walter will hurt more than anticipated.
3. Hope, Kzoo, Trine... in no particular order. I think Trine is closer to these two right now than the first two. I don't see returning Johnson, Winters, and Hunter as much better than Hope returning Lewis and Granger or Kalamazoo returning everyone. 

[Goknights2017]

Reviewing what teams return for 2019-20. 



Calvin 14-13, 8-6  3rd tie
Derek DeVries  W  Jr.
Tony DeWitte  W  Jr.
Alex Bos  F  Jr.
Thad Shymanski  G  So
Austin Bykerk  F  Sr.
------------
Jason Walter  F  Sr.
Carlos Amoros-Gutierrez  G  Sr.
Carson Meulenberg  F  Fr.
Emmett  Warners  W  So.

A little better than the last two years (but only because they beat Hope 3 times?).  Meulenberg likely slides into a starting spot and completes a pretty good looking starting 5.   Big question of course will be who the head coach is next Winter. 

I love your posts sac. You do a great service, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on the "better than the last two years" part. Obviously, this year's team did a great job against Hope and played a very tough schedule. However, the 2016-2017 team went 17-11 (yes, the schedule was easier), 8-4 in conference. They beat a good Hope team 2 out of 3 (I think both wins were at Hope) and won the MIAA tournament. The schedule and competition was clearly different, but that Calvin team was tough.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Per Twitter:

Drew Moore 6-3 G/F FHN will be attending Olivet.

[sac]

Reviewing what teams return for 2019-20. 



Calvin 14-13, 8-6  3rd tie
Derek DeVries  W  Jr.
Tony DeWitte  W  Jr.
Alex Bos  F  Jr.
Thad Shymanski  G  So
Austin Bykerk  F  Sr.
------------
Jason Walter  F  Sr.
Carlos Amoros-Gutierrez  G  Sr.
Carson Meulenberg  F  Fr.
Emmett  Warners  W  So.

A little better than the last two years (but only because they beat Hope 3 times?).  Meulenberg likely slides into a starting spot and completes a pretty good looking starting 5.   Big question of course will be who the head coach is next Winter. 

I love your posts sac. You do a great service, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on the "better than the last two years" part. Obviously, this year's team did a great job against Hope and played a very tough schedule. However, the 2016-2017 team went 17-11 (yes, the schedule was easier), 8-4 in conference. They beat a good Hope team 2 out of 3 (I think both wins were at Hope) and won the MIAA tournament. The schedule and competition was clearly different, but that Calvin team was tough.

The years all kind of run together after awhile.   

[almcguirejr]

I'm watching for white smoke from Van Noord Arena.