MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[NW Hope Fan]

Hope 82-75

Thank God for good D and Steve C (24 points). Free throw shooting at the end of the game was iffy at best.

Nice to get away with 2 wins against Aquinas. First time since 94-95 season.

[bulldogalum]

I was not at the Adrian game today, but from the sounds of it, it was a very poor shooting performance.  I was hoping, after the Siena game, that the Bulldogs would improve upon their free throw woes, but apparently not yet.  The good news is they've got a little break to regroup after a relatively tough week.

On a side note...looks like Hope is about to catch up to the Indianapolis Colts.  Which will be the first to lose?

[sac]

As mentioned.....Hope 82 Aquinas 75

You wouldn't believe it looking at the final score but 4 1/2 minutes into the game it was 17-0 Hope.  Combination of sizzling shooting and solid defense, including a couple easy puppies off the press.  It was a ridiculously easy start to the game.

Real solid effort from Aquinas, they showed a lot of grit to climb back into this game and it was there for the taking.  How'd they do it?........well they found two plays Hope couldn't figure out how to stop, they got a 5 minute 3 pt show from Jeff Jayson that was superb and pulled AQ close at the break, and played some 3-2 zone that Hope had trouble cracking.  Having 3 athletic gaurds in Blicher, Jayson and Telman make it difficult to break down that zone.

Once again Marcus VanderHeide sat out, how much of difference he'd make I'm not sure, but Hope really seemed to lacking something out there today......like a D1 transfer.  Steve Cramer was outstanding at both ends, he certainly had a couple CLUTCH shots and when it seemed AQ was finally going to grab the MO and take the lead Mr. Cramer stepped up to the plate.  Very deserving MVP of the tournament.

The starting 5 all ended in double figure with Cramer pacing the way with 24,  Jeff Carlson also had an outstanding 15 points, all 3's I believe.  Greg Imminks' FT's in the closing minutes gave him 10......thank goodness because he was the only one who could make them today.

Hope's 9-0, with all those games coming in 22 days and frankly they looked tired and fatigued today.  You'd swear this was their 30th game the way they looked out there.  They could use an 18 day break.

This was actually a very good test today for Hope because at some point in the MIAA this is exactly the kind of game they'll face.  A tough opponent that won't quit.

Lots of lapses on defense today, I'd have a hard time calling this a good defensive effort, but good teams win these kinds of games.  There's just a nice quiet confidence about these guys.


All members of the Hope basketball team are to report to the Dow Center at 8:30 for a MANDATORY ft shooting session. 

Ah well, ya can't be perfect every time out! 

[sac]

On a side note...looks like Hope is about to catch up to the Indianapolis Colts.  Which will be the first to lose?

Indy!  Hope doesn't play for 3 weeks....... .


Allow me to indulge in pumping up the Aquinas Saints a little bit as I'm sure some people are rolling their eyes when I call them a good team.


11/15/2005 @ Hillsdale  63 - 60 W 
11/19/2005 @ Marian College   51 - 56 L 
11/22/2005 @ Northwood   64 - 75 L 
11/25/2005 Hope 66 - 67 L 
11/26/2005 Calvin  86 - 71 W   
12/03/2005 Kalamazoo Hornets   64 - 59 W 
12/06/2005 Calvin Knights   52 - 69 L 
today.          Hope 75-82

They've beat a D2, lost to a D2, a good NAIA team and have 3 losses to good D3 teams.

[mrswylie]

Hope seemed to struggle to defend the three guard set Aquinas ran in the second half.  FDF, it looks like you had the watch on Friday.  You mentioned the quickness of Madonna as a problem.  Have the scouts found a pattern?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

mrsw - I would say that another teams quickness is something that Hope has to adjust for - and they don't necessarily seem to adjust quickly.  Once they get adjsuted to the other team - we see the good D.  With Aquinas, we saw the great D to start the game - becuase AQ was a known quantity , but then when AQ adjusted, it took Hope awhile to "readjust".  As sson as this teams figures out how to make those adjustments more quickly - we're gonna see what they are really capable of.  And hitting a few FT's wouldn't hurt.

[sac]

...... but then when AQ adjusted, it took Hope awhile to "readjust". 

hmmm.....I'm still waiting.


.....but I'll give Hope credit for stopping the baseline play once, when the guy stepped out of bounds, ultimately it was key in giving Hope a couple posession padding on the scoreboard.

[mrswylie]

I'm probably a bit closer to where sac is at.  Aquinas went for a mismatch and Hope had two problems.  Our 5 couldn't handle the quickness of AQ's 3 guard set.  On offence, we couldn't seem to exploit our size advantage.  AQ collapsed on Voisin and he couldn't seem to move the ball quickly enough to take advantage.

Maybe it's just a matter of making an adjustment, but we struggled most of the second half.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

mrsw - I agree completely - you just srticulated it better than I.  And I do think that if Hope were to face that again, they would be ready to handle it.   I see our problem as adjusting to the unprepared for scenario's.  But then maybe that's picking at nits - I mean we are 9-0, and I think a tough game like today just makes us better.  The next tournament should be tough, with John Carroll and Lakeland both quality D3 teams

[sac]

The 4th team in the DeVette tournament is Goshen, IN currently 10-3 yet unranked in NAIA.  Should be a competitive tournament.


On the subject of FT's.....Adrian goes 9-22 tonight, but FT's aren't just a Dutchmen/Bulldog problem.

This is scary bad......

FREE THROW PERCENTAGES
# Team                  G    FTM   FTA   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1.Calvin..............  9    151   220  .686
2.Hope................  9    143   211  .678
3.Olivet..............  6     62    92  .674
4.Alma................  7     70   105  .667
5.Tri State...........  7     81   122  .664
6.Kalamazoo...........  9     91   141  .645
7.Albion..............  6     80   128  .625
8.Adrian..............  7     69   137  .504

68% leads the league?  thats as bad as I can recall.


To put a capper on today's Hope game.......Jeff Jayson had 30 points, great effort from the AQ gaurd.

If it takes a better effort than what AQ put on the floor to beat Hope this year than the Dutchmen will be just fine.   8)

[MIdoubleA]

Jeff Jayson is probably the most gifted 3 pt shooter I have ever seen in my life. For those of you not at the game, here is what a one minute span looked like towards the end of the first half.

AQ takes the ball down court, sets a pick and Jeff Jayson gets open for the tray.

Hope goes down the court, misses a shot and AQ gets the rebound.

AQ takes the ball down court, gets the ball to Jason who is 3ft behind the arc with Cramers hand in his face and drains the 3ball.

Hope goes down the court, makes a two point basket, and AQ inbounds the ball.

AQ takes it down the court and gets Jayson the ball. Jayson actually invites Cramer into his jersey so they are both wearing it, has Cramer put both hands in his face, take 5 steps backwards and puts a 3-pointer through the basket like it was that easy.

Ok so there is slight exaggeration on my part, but you get the idea. It was sick. I think all 15 of his first half points were off of 3's. On a positive note, Hope is 9-0 with a well deserved break.

As a point of interest, I'll share with you my current Christmas list (in no particular order). It might not be much, but it will do. Feel free to post your own 

1. A Free throw % above 70%
2. A healthy Vanderheide
3. A healthy everyone else
4. 3 referees that know what they are doing (today's were the closest I've seen yet)
5. 1 National Championship

[sac]

You forgot to include nearly touching the rafters with the arc on those 3 balls.  It was an impressive stretch and changed the game completely.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

MI2A - I agree about hte officials - pretty good today.  Friday night was unbelievable - I counted four calls on carrying the ball (I know they are supposed to focus on it, but the calls were on plays that were really no different than any others - like the official suddenly remembered to call it) and they were all called by the same official.

That being strange enough, there were also 2 calls for charging where they also gave the guy the basket.   

[True Basketball Fan]

I didn't see the plays.  However, in college basketball, if a player charges after the ball has left their hands, then the basket counts.  If that's what happened, then it is perfectly legal, and the officials made the right call.  Also, carrying the ball is a tricky call.  It's right up there with the 3 second call (Only call it if a guy is gaining an advantage)  Fans AND officials who don't understand that, need to stick with junior high basketball, because college is too advanced for them.

[Dark Knight]

Nice wins for Olivet and Alma yesterday.

Olivet defeated 5-3 Defiance by a score of 68-50. (Check out d3hoops.com's story; it gives Defiance the early 7-2 lead off baskets by Erica Franks, Megan Myers, and Meghann Savard.)

Alma defeated Spring Arbor 67-65, which is a better result than Albion or Olivet had against that team.

It looks as though Olivet and Alma will be among the stronger of the "other 5" teams of the MIAA. That's impressive, especially for Alma, after the loss of Jones.