MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HOPEful]

I have not heard any comments about the effect that so many seniors and grads leaving had on the tremendous recruiting success this year, but I have to think that the opportunity to play soon had a major effect.  I expect several frosh to be seeing a lot of playing time.  One or more freshman starters would not be a shock later in the year.

It's certainly not quantifiable to what extent, but all other things equal, if I were a high school senior weighing my D3 options, an established program with 4 "openings" would certainly draw my attention.

[KnightSlappy]

I think if we assume playing-time-based promotion from last season, Calvin's lineup will be:

Bult - Nyong - Egekeze - Sensenig - Van Essen

Van Essen and Nyong were not really in the rotation last year, but they were clearly first-in when the benches were opened up. Van Essen occasionally appeared with the game still in doubt.

Ambrose could break into the lineup or rotation, based on being a D2 guy, but he didn't get much playing time in (essentially) two seasons at that level (I have no idea if he was healthy all last season or not). Just being on a D2 roster does not make you a quality D3 contributor, so we will have to see.

VanderWoude and Dirksen got a couple cups of coffee in varsity games. It would not surprise me to see either in the rotation. I would be somewhat surprised if any other returning player featured heavily, but we have lots of minutes to fill.

It is very tough for freshmen to step in right away at the college level, but I am hoping for a couple youngsters to be able to play good minutes this season. We will have to see. Size would be a nice addition so I'm interested to see how Overway, Ewing, and Varnado come along in particular.

[maroonandgold]

I think if we assume playing-time-based promotion from last season, Calvin's lineup will be:

Bult - Nyong - Egekeze - Sensenig - Van Essen

Van Essen and Nyong were not really in the rotation last year, but they were clearly first-in when the benches were opened up. Van Essen occasionally appeared with the game still in doubt.

Ambrose could break into the lineup or rotation, based on being a D2 guy, but he didn't get much playing time in (essentially) two seasons at that level (I have no idea if he was healthy all last season or not). Just being on a D2 roster does not make you a quality D3 contributor, so we will have to see.

VanderWoude and Dirksen got a couple cups of coffee in varsity games. It would not surprise me to see either in the rotation. I would be somewhat surprised if any other returning player featured heavily, but we have lots of minutes to fill.

It is very tough for freshmen to step in right away at the college level, but I am hoping for a couple youngsters to be able to play good minutes this season. We will have to see. Size would be a nice addition so I'm interested to see how Overway, Ewing, and Varnado come along in particular.

I agree with the overall view by KS, but I wonder how ready Nyong is at this point.  I am impressed by his rebounding and defense, but his offense has so far to go.  Van Essen seemed well on his way to be ready to start.  As you mentioned, the big issue is getting the big men ready to contribute since the knights did not really have any players who came up as forwards or centers other than Bult.  Others were experienced as guards but could also play forward or wing because of size and experience.  The success last year depended on experience, and now most of that is gone.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Olivet roster is up - 12 man roster that includes only 1 of the 2 "known recruits" from our list (6-7 Hayden Garrison from Gull Lake):

https://www.olivetcomets.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/roster

I also believe there are four 5th year/covid year SRs on this squad; Derrick Johnson, Tevin Ali, Dane Vos, and Ryan Robinette.  Those four guys logged 2243 min last year, (43% of the teams total).

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope's roster is up.  18 man roster - 6 FR (5 recruits from our list, and 1 "unknown" - Josh Vogt 6-3 G Lima, NY):

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Gone are Hedrick, Ver Steeg, and Halbert...

[HOPEful]

Hope's roster is up.  18 man roster - 6 FR (5 recruits from our list, and 1 "unknown" - Josh Vogt 6-3 G Lima, NY):

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Gone are Hedrick, Ver Steeg, and Halbert...

Notable that they posted a JV and Varsity roster.

Freshmen Marcus Wourman and Justice Mims appear solely on the varsity roster while Ethan Crabtree, Andrew Leeper, Josh Vogt, and Carson Sanders all appear on both varsity and JV rosters. Seeing as the varsity roster has 18 listed, I'm assuming those four still may have an opportunity to play themselves onto the varsity team while the rest, at least for now, do not?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope's roster is up.  18 man roster - 6 FR (5 recruits from our list, and 1 "unknown" - Josh Vogt 6-3 G Lima, NY):

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Gone are Hedrick, Ver Steeg, and Halbert...

Notable that they posted a JV and Varsity roster.

Freshmen Marcus Wourman and Justice Mims appear solely on the varsity roster while Ethan Crabtree, Andrew Leeper, Josh Vogt, and Carson Sanders all appear on both varsity and JV rosters. Seeing as the varsity roster has 18 listed, I'm assuming those four still may have an opportunity to play themselves onto the varsity team while the rest, at least for now, do not?

Your assumption might be right, although if you look at last year it was essentially the same.  3 (maybe 4) guys on both Varsity and JV roster.  17 guys played Varsity minutes last year, and everyone appeared in at least 7 games.  Might be a similar approach this year 

[HOPEful]

Your assumption might be right, although if you look at last year it was essentially the same.  3 (maybe 4) guys on both Varsity and JV roster.  17 guys played Varsity minutes last year, and everyone appeared in at least 7 games.  Might be a similar approach this year

I just wonder what the message is to the players. Feels like, ...

To the players on both rosters - "We recruited you to come here and still believe you could be impactful players in your four years here. Just probably not this year."
To the JV only players - "At this time, we don't really see you as someone that's going to be a contributor at the varsity level"

[Greek Tragedy]

Your assumption might be right, although if you look at last year it was essentially the same.  3 (maybe 4) guys on both Varsity and JV roster.  17 guys played Varsity minutes last year, and everyone appeared in at least 7 games.  Might be a similar approach this year

I just wonder what the message is to the players. Feels like, ...

To the players on both rosters - "We recruited you to come here and still believe you could be impactful players in your four years here. Just probably not this year."
To the JV only players - "At this time, we don't really see you as someone that's going to be a contributor at the varsity level THIS YEAR."

I added "this year"

Essentially "redshirting"?

[sac]

Hope's roster is up.  18 man roster - 6 FR (5 recruits from our list, and 1 "unknown" - Josh Vogt 6-3 G Lima, NY):

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Gone are Hedrick, Ver Steeg, and Halbert...

With Halbert and Hedrick out of the mix Hope returns 5 of its top 10 minutes rotation.  Both saw limited minutes the last half of the MIAA portion of last years schedule.  I think we all hoped they would make a nice Soph to Jr. leap.

Halbert and Ver Steeg are injury related.  All 3 are still enrolled at Hope I believe.
Sam Ver Steeg is taking a medical year, per his twitter.


You could roll with a starting 5 of Dykhouse, Thomas, McKenzie, Schoonveld, Wiegerink.   Schoonveld and McKenzie started 1 game between them last year.   After that I think there are a lot of question marks but some options.

I would guess McKenzie won't be able to play until the second weekend.  But that's a guess.

[sac]

Hope has an added exhibition game at Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 3.

Its not on Hope's schedule, but it is on Saginaw Valley's
https://www.svsucardinals.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule

I'm assuming SVSU's Gabe Hawes and Hope's Zach Hawes are related,  cool night for them.

[HOPEful]

Your assumption might be right, although if you look at last year it was essentially the same.  3 (maybe 4) guys on both Varsity and JV roster.  17 guys played Varsity minutes last year, and everyone appeared in at least 7 games.  Might be a similar approach this year

I just wonder what the message is to the players. Feels like, ...

To the players on both rosters - "We recruited you to come here and still believe you could be impactful players in your four years here. Just probably not this year."
To the JV only players - "At this time, we don't really see you as someone that's going to be a contributor at the varsity level THIS YEAR."

I added "this year"

Essentially "redshirting"?

I actually meant ever, not this year. To me, the sentiment you're portraying is what's being said to the four guys that are listed on BOTH JV and varsity. To me that says, "we want you to know the expectation is that you'll be contributors to this team, just not this year." These are guys that only get into the game in garbage time.

[Greek Tragedy]

I guess we'll agree to disagree. Playing JV let's you get minutes in an (assumed) abbreviated schedule. Being able to jump from JV to varsity allows them to see the "big time" even if they don't play. Is there any actual rule where you need to be listed on the varsity roster to play there? Can a JV only player be called up? Anyway, I just don't think being on JV your freshman year means you'll never see Varsity in the next 3 or 4 years.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Your assumption might be right, although if you look at last year it was essentially the same.  3 (maybe 4) guys on both Varsity and JV roster.  17 guys played Varsity minutes last year, and everyone appeared in at least 7 games.  Might be a similar approach this year

I just wonder what the message is to the players. Feels like, ...

To the players on both rosters - "We recruited you to come here and still believe you could be impactful players in your four years here. Just probably not this year."
To the JV only players - "At this time, we don't really see you as someone that's going to be a contributor at the varsity level THIS YEAR."

I added "this year"

Essentially "redshirting"?

I actually meant ever, not this year. To me, the sentiment you're portraying is what's being said to the four guys that are listed on BOTH JV and varsity. To me that says, "we want you to know the expectation is that you'll be contributors to this team, just not this year." These are guys that only get into the game in garbage time.

Don't agree at all that you are sending that kind of message to a JVer.  The list of Hope players who played JV and went on to a successful Varsity career is significant.  3 "stars" off the top of my head:

Don Overbeek
Jesse Reimink
Colton Overway

[HOPEful]

I'm not saying there's no path to varsity for the other freshmen. But if I was a "recruited" freshman and found myself on JV solely, with 6 other freshmen either on varsity or split between varsity and JV, I would assume I'm at best the #7 freshman at this point in time. Sure, a lot can happen in a year with growth on the court and in the weightroom, but intended or not, having 4 freshmen on both rosters does send a message to those that are not.

My point is NOT that the message is specific to ANY JVer ever. There are obviously countless examples of players that went from JV as freshmen on to solid starters and even stars as upperclassmen. My point is that it does send a message when you're specifically rostering/labeling 6 freshman differently than the others.