MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah sorry - I was thinking of another school on a two week break at the same time as I wrote this.

Lots going on even if not a lot of games are happening.

[maroonandgold]

After watching Calvin play Eastern Michigan last week, I thought their defense looked strong.  But was difficult to tell if they had much going on offense, playing because Eastern MI played such outstanding defense by MIAA standards.  Tonight against Alma Calvin continued to play tight defense, cause turnovers, and make it difficult to get easy shots close up.  But they really turned on the offense, winning 99 to 65.  It would have been even a larger margin and more points if they had not wisely brought in many players who might play in most games.  Warners scored 26, Shymanski 24, and they had 5 players in double figures.  In the first half they shot 68% on 3 point shots.  So there is definitely some offensive firepower.  Warners had a great game with 10 rebounds to go with his 25 points, many layups and 3 out of 3 three point shots.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Was soooo looking forward to watching (online) some basketball in De Vos tonight - and I still will as the Hope Women kick off their season at 5pm.  Waiting (not so) patiently for the men to begin play as well. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Noticed that Albion's roster is now official (it's now the published roster on their site).  I will finish updating our recruiting info coming into this season, showing who made rosters and who did not and post that later today.

I also noted that Albion added a reserves schedule and see that Hope also has a JV schedule (even though they have no JV roster).  Most teams do have expanded rosters this year, so expect the JV/reserve rosters to simply be from those rosters.  The schedules follow the varisty schedules - with these game being played befored the varisty games.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Post 1 of 2:  Our list of 2020-21 recruits including who made currently published rosters.  For the Roster Column, V = on Varsity roster with a jersey number, * = either on JV roster or varsity roster with NO jersey number, <blank> = not listed on any roster.

Player	Height	Position	High School	College	Roster
Khalil McAdoo	5-7	G	Detroit Edison (MI)	Adrian	*
Emcee Williams	6-0	G	Muskegon Reeths-Puffer(MI)	Adrian
Michael Rightnowar	6-3	G	Genoa (OH)	Adrian	V
Michael Williams	6-10	F	Fenwick (IL)	Adrian	V
Zak Krueger	5-11	G	Homestead (IN)	Albion	*
Fred Garland	6-0	G	Oak Park (MI)	Albion	*
Joey Tocco	6-0	G	Macomb Dakota (MI)	Albion	*
Tony Honkala	6-2	G	Howell (MI)	Albion
Chanse Crittendon	6-4	G/F	Timothy Christian (IL)	Albion	*
Lamar Lee	6-4	G/F	Muskegon (MI)	Albion	*
Marco Lucchesi	6-4	G/F	Dexter (MI)	Albion	*
Adrian (AJ) Barden Jr	6-5	F	Detroit Pershing (MI)	Albion	*
Lorenzo Baldera	6-6	F/C	Miami Christian(FL)	Albion
Ryan Gaynor	5-11	G	Riverside - Brookfield (IL)	Alma	*
Hayden Voss	6-1	G	Dansville (MI)	Alma
Gabe Bourdeau	6-2	G	Almont (MI)	Alma	V
Landen Moore-Pierce	6-2	G	Flushing (MI)	Alma	V
Brandon Whiteside	6-2	G	UW Oshkosh - transfer	Alma	V
Xavier Bargesser	6-4	G	Grass Lake (MI)	Alma	V
Jackson Raymond	6-4	G	East Jordan (MI)	Alma
Xavier Glenn	6-7	F/C	Macomb Dakota (MI)	Alma	V
Colton Meister	6-8	C	Lapeer (MI)	Alma	V
Carter Chase	5-11	G	Grant (MI)	Calvin
Jackson Glanzer	5-11	G	Berrien Springs (MI)	Calvin	*
Blake Pedersen	5-11	G	West Ottawa (MI)	Calvin	*
Brock Stevens	6-0	G	Calvin Christian (MI)	Calvin	*
Case Medema	6-1	G	Potters House (MI)	Calvin	*
Luke Scheffers	6-1	G	St. Charles (IL)	Calvin	V
Jack Bristol	6-3	W	Calvin Christian (MI)	Calvin	*
Uchenna Egekeze	6-3	G	Huntly (IL)	Calvin	V
Evan May	6-3	W	GR Christian (MI)	Calvin	*
Marcus Bult	6-4	W	Wheaton Academy (IL)	Calvin	V
Trent Mulder	6-4	G	Covenant Christian (MI)	Calvin
Ty Mulder	6-5	W	Covenant Christian (MI)	Calvin	*
Henry Goldkuhle	6-7	F	Traverse City Central (MI)	Calvin	*
Brandon Paul	6-8	F	GVSU - transfer	Calvin	V
Jake Zuiderveen	6-8	F	Kalamazoo Christian (MI)	Calvin	*

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Post 2 of 2:  Our list of 2020-21 recruits including who made currently published rosters.  For the Roster Column, V = on Varsity roster with a jersey number, * = either on JV roster or varsity roster with NO jersey number, <blank> = not listed on any roster.

Player	Height	Position	High School	College	Roster
Anees Abdul-Raheem	6-0	G	Oak Hill Academy (VA)	Hope
Ethan Clason	6-0	G	Jenison (MI)	Hope
Brandon Ducoing	6-0	G	Yorkville (IL)	Hope
William Pujals	6-0	G	Loyola Academy (IL)	Hope
Alijah Nelson	6-1	G	Bolingbrook (IL)	Hope
Derek Petersen	6-2	G	Greenwood Christian (IN)	Hope
Anders Rasmussen	6-2	G	Holland (MI)	Hope	*
Mitchell Cook	6-3	G/F	Williamston (MI)	Hope
Griffin Gleason	6-4	F	Eaton Rapids (MI)	Hope
Jaret Griffith	6-4	G	Stetson - transfer	Hope
Noah Hedrick	6-4	W	Covenant Christian (IN)	Hope	*
Bryce Sanders	6-4	F	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Hope
Robert Nocek	6-5	F	Wheaton St Francis (IL)	Hope	*
Dan Delmotte	6-6	F	Marshall (MI)	Hope
Jaxon Halbert	6-7	W	Holland Christian (MI)	Hope	*
Tanner Wiegerink	6-7	PF	West Ottawa (MI)	Hope	*
Devin Cheaney	6-8	C	Batavia  (IL)	Hope	*
Ty Horky	6-1	G	Manchester (MI)	Kalamazoo	V
Bobby Samples	6-1	G	Howell (MI)	Kalamazoo	V
Alex Rueff	6-2	G	Lawton (MI)	Kalamazoo	V
Sam Coleman	6-3	G	La Jolla Country Day (CA)	Kalamazoo	V
Jaylen Hopson	5-10	G	Mona Shores (MI)	Olivet
Matt Owens	5-10	G	Timothy Christian (IL)	Olivet
Noah Turner	5-10	G	Wyandotte Rosevelt (MI)	Olivet
Dre Tuominen	5-11	G	Mid-Michigan CC - transfer	Olivet	V
Jared Houghton		G	Grand Ledge (MI)	Olivet
Cade McMillan		G	Lake Fenton (MI)	Olivet
Diego Ledesma	6-1	G	Wyoming (MI)	Olivet
Ryan Bart	6-2	G	Kenowa Hills (MI)	Olivet	V
Nmeso Nnedbedum	6-2	G	Siena Heights - transfer	Olivet
Daylen Boddie		F	Wyandotte Rosevelt (MI)	Olivet
Mitch Sauber	5-10	G	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Trine	V
Kolby Bullard	5-11	G	Lapel (IN)	Trine	*
Christian Knox	5-11	G	Ypsilanti Community (MI)	Trine	V
Trent Finegan	6-3	G/F	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Trine	*
Jack Brockie	6-4	G	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Trine	*
Mason Loeffler	6-4	G	Evergreen Metamora (OH)	Trine	V
Sam Buckingham	6-5	F	Nouvel Catholic Central (MI)	Trine	*
Logan Suchland	6-5	G/F	New Breman (OH)	Trine	*
Grant Gresham	6-6	F	LaPorte (IN)	Trine	*

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin's box score is a bit messed up from last night.

https://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/boxscores/20210119_0whr.xml?view=boxscore

Jacob Williams did not actually play. I believe those stats belong to Isaac Davis.
I believe the stats listed for Isaac Davis actually belong to Henry Goldkuhle who got in the game for a few minutes.

I think it's a uniform number thing vs. the listed roster. Davis wore 10 and Goldkuhle wore 40 last night.
For whatever reason Calvin has seemed to have a few players wear different numbers home and road. This was the case last year as well.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Calvin's box score is a bit messed up from last night.

https://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/boxscores/20210119_0whr.xml?view=boxscore

Jacob Williams did not actually play. I believe those stats belong to Isaac Davis.
I believe the stats listed for Isaac Davis' actually belong to Henry Goldkuhle who got in the game for a few minutes.

I think it's a uniform number thing vs. the listed roster. Davis wore 10 and Goldkuhle wore 40 last night.
For whatever reason Calvin has seemed to have a few players wear different numbers home and road. This was the case last year as well.

I also noticed that Alma's UW Oshkosh transfer Brandon Whiteside did not play.  Anyone know why?

[ziggy]

The MIAA preseason poll has been announced. First place votes in parentheses.

1. Albion - 43 (4)
2. Hope - 40 (1)
3. Trine - 38 (2)
4. Calvin - 36 (1)
5. Alma - 26
T6. Olivet - 17
T6. Adrian - 17
8. Kalamazoo - 7

Not sure I recall a preseason poll with first place votes split four ways.

[ziggy]

After watching Calvin play Eastern Michigan last week, I thought their defense looked strong.  But was difficult to tell if they had much going on offense, playing because Eastern MI played such outstanding defense by MIAA standards.  Tonight against Alma Calvin continued to play tight defense, cause turnovers, and make it difficult to get easy shots close up.  But they really turned on the offense, winning 99 to 65.  It would have been even a larger margin and more points if they had not wisely brought in many players who might play in most games.  Warners scored 26, Shymanski 24, and they had 5 players in double figures.  In the first half they shot 68% on 3 point shots.  So there is definitely some offensive firepower.  Warners had a great game with 10 rebounds to go with his 25 points, many layups and 3 out of 3 three point shots.

I also wasn't quite sure what to make of Calvin's performance against EMU. Certainly the halftime and final scores were more than respectable but it wasn't even a full EMU squad and these kind of matchups are basically a no-lose situation for the D3 and a no-win situation for the D1.

Watching the Knights take on Alma gave me more confidence that the EMU game was a fairly "real" result. The offense looked much better with more room to operate and fewer challenges when finishing in the paint. Outside shooting was great last night but I still think that is a question mark that will take more time to get a firm answer. Shymanski is probably the only guy I trust to perform well from behind the arc consistently but hopefully we will see at least a couple others emerge this season as dependable shooters from range. It was one of my main concerns watching the stream of the scrimmage a couple months back.

On the positive side coming out of the scrimmage, I was really excited to see Uchenna Egekeze and Luke Scheffers. I'm not sure why Scheffers didn't play against EMU but both he and Egekeze have an obvious impact when they are on the floor. I was struck by how ready both appeared to step right in and contribute. It was a "hit the ground running" debut that is rare for freshmen.

I still think Calvin's best lineup will be with Scheffers running the point with Shymanski off the ball. We saw some of that last night (I don't recall exactly how long) even though Scheffers played just ten minutes. Will be interesting to see how playing time and lineups solidify as the season progresses (fingers crossed, right?). Bill Sall definitely has a deeper team this year but heavy usage of his top six or seven players has been common for him.

[KnightSlappy]

The MIAA preseason poll has been announced. First place votes in parentheses.

1. Albion - 43 (4)
2. Hope - 40 (1)
3. Trine - 38 (2)
4. Calvin - 36 (1)
5. Alma - 26
T6. Olivet - 17
T6. Adrian - 17
8. Kalamazoo - 7

Not sure I recall a preseason poll with first place votes split four ways.

Going to be a strong league if there are three teams better than Calvin has showed so far.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

The MIAA preseason poll has been announced. First place votes in parentheses.

1. Albion - 43 (4)
2. Hope - 40 (1)
3. Trine - 38 (2)
4. Calvin - 36 (1)
5. Alma - 26
T6. Olivet - 17
T6. Adrian - 17
8. Kalamazoo - 7

Not sure I recall a preseason poll with first place votes split four ways.

Going to be a strong league if there are three teams better than Calvin has showed so far.

Very true - although I seriously doubt there are 3 teams better than Calvin in the league this year

[calvinite]

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

[ziggy]

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

Calvin 75, Olivet 74

I will be honest, Calvin deserved to lose that game. Thank goodness for some heroics from Egekeze to beat the buzzer. (video)

A night after everything felt easy on both ends of the court, tonight's game was the polar opposite. Credit to Olivet for showing a lot of heart and bringing more energy than Calvin tonight but the Knights certainly didn't make things easy on themselves by being sloppy with the ball and poor free throw shooting.

Losing Warners to injury felt like a real turning point in the game and the Knights adjusted poorly to his absence. There were several possessions in the second half that last year they could have given it to DeVries and let him go to work but the lack of that kind of presence was definitely felt tonight. Plenty of things to work on and lessons to be learned but better to do that with a win than a loss.

[KnightSlappy]

Jordan Katje has scored 37 pts in 3 games for Calvin this year. He scored 31 pts in 26 games last year!