MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[April]

Hope and Calvin have both played against Djurickovic before.

True, but less often than any CCIW team.

Chuck, stop saying silly things.

This was a bit unnecessarily mean Bob. 

[sac]

Tonights MIAA action

Olivet 70, Madonna 66 
Michigan-Dearborn 73, Alma 64
Carthage, Wis. 89, Hope 68 
Wheaton, Ill. 68, Calvin 56
Indiana-Northwest 87, Trine 84

League drops to 18-24 overall.


Heck of a performace from Michael McClary up at Alma.  Michael had 20pts and 17 rebounds for the Comets.  Brother Brandon with 19 points.

[scottiedawg]

I'll give a fairly extensive breakdown of the two games tonight when I get down to it.

But quickly, even as well as Carthage shot the ball, Hope played awful defense.  Constantly outrebounded, constantly outhustled. 

And for Calvin, Brad Schnyders is absolutely terrible.  He is the most lost player on defense I have ever seen in the MIAA.  Also, he yelled at his teammates multiple times tonight.  I have no idea how KVS justifies playing him while having Rodts sit for an extended period of time in the middle of the second half.  Rodts played awesome tonight. 

[sbaum]

Mr Y may have called this one: Djurickovic is doing a number on the Dutchmen. 31 points and 9 assists.

I haven't done the research on this one, but my sense is that a team that gets badly blown out at some point in the season will never be able to advance too far in the postseason (bad news for MSU fans). I thought Carthage would be a tough game, but I didn't expect it to be this one-sided.

3-pointers and free throws appear to be the difference.

I would tend to agree. However, even if it was an exception to the rule, let's not so quickly forget the results of Hope vs. Wheaton in the CCIW-MIAA challenge last year and how far Raymond eventually brought them in the postseason. Elite 8 isn't so shabby! So hey, let's not lose too much hope yet!

[Titan Q]

I seem to remember similar comments about Carthage last season and at the halfway point they were leading the CCIW.

That's true Scott, but Carthage did finish in 5th place (7-7). 

I really can't envision the Red Men finishing any higher than that this year.  I just don't see them finishing better than Augustana, Wheaton, and Elmhurst, and I'm pretty sure Illinois Wesleyan is quite a bit better overall too (more balance, more size).

Carthage has one of the best players in Division III and they are going to knock off top CCIW teams, but I just don't think they have enough size down low to contend in the CCIW this year.  We'll see.

[Titan Q]

I haven't done the research on this one, but my sense is that a team that gets badly blown out at some point in the season will never be able to advance too far in the postseason (bad news for MSU fans). I thought Carthage would be a tough game, but I didn't expect it to be this one-sided.

Just off the top of my head, I remember IWU getting blown out of the gym at, coincidentally, Carthage in 2001...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2001/12001m.htm

Thirty days later the same two groups of kids played and IWU beat Carthage just as badly (IWU led by 21 at halftime and 18 with 3 minutes to go)...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2001/022101m.htm


That IWU team went to the Final Four.

I've learned to never put too much stock in one game...especially for a "new" team, which Hope certainly is.  It's important to look for trends as the non-conference season plays out - and strengths and weaknesses certainly start to become apparent - but I just don't think you can look too much at one game.

[Dark Knight]

I didn't see the game, but from the stats it looks as thoughn it was a respectable showing by the Knights at Wheaton, who had won their previous game by an average of 30 points. Wheaton had scored at least 81 points in prior games but Calvin held them to 68. The knights had comparable stats across the board, except that Calvin had 6 more fouls and Wheaton had 6 more rebounds. Wheaton was apparently successful at driving to the bucket and drawing the foul.

Veldhouse had a poor game offensively. It happens to everyone at some point, I guess. Give him his season-average field goal percentage and the game is a toss-up. Though no doubt Wheaton's defense was keying on him.

Mantel played only 25 minutes, compared to 35 vs. Cornerstone. Was that because of foul trouble?

[oldknight]

Watching the video feed and listening to the Wheaton announcers.  They're whining a good bit about the physicality of Calvin's defense.  I've been whining for years about it, too.  As in, where it is?
Evidently, it's in the western suburbs tonight.

The Thunder student section was whining too. Even though their team shot 27 free thows to Calvin's 9, the sixth man in the Wheaton end zone was constantly complaining. In the second half Zoerhof made a spectacular block of Raymond from behind on a fast break, getting all ball, but just nicking Raymond on the way down and sending him sprawling right in front of the students. The student section became unglued, apparently thinking Calvin was on a mission to take cheap shots at their excellent guard. Get a life guys. Apparently the Wheaton students aren't the only ones in the world who think the home team should get every call.

Despite the fact that Calvin's offense struggled mightily the entire second half, I was encouraged by the fact that the Knights' defense played hard to the end. In fact, it kept Calvin in the game who never trailed by more than the final 12 point margin. To me, one play in the second half typified the game and demonstrated why Calvin wasn't going to win this one. With the score 48-44, a streaking and wide open Zoerhof was recipient of a nice feed along the baseline. I thought he was in a position to dunk it as he usually does but he chose to try and lay it in, only to miss. Wheaton immediately took the ball downcourt and just seconds later, Raymond quickly scored an easy transition jumper in the lane. An apparent 48-46 deficit had promptly become 50-44. Stuff like that happened several times.

Wheaton plays outstanding defense and with Raymond in the game, their transition offense is dynamite. I do think the Thunder's half-court offense needs some work though, and I don't think they have the depth of weaponry I observed from WashU when Calvin upset the Bears at Knollcrest last year (with a healthy Sean Wallis). If Calvin can bring back to Michigan the physical defense from the western suburbs  the Wheaton announcers saw, Calvin has a good shot at winning the conference this year. The Knights's do suffer though when Mantel leaves the game. I'm now noticing that Engelsma's ability to provide Calvin quality minutes off the bench is being sorely missed.

[hope1]

i hope both calvin and hope rebound from there losses last night and get  2 wins for the miaa  it would be nice to be 2-2 

[realist]

Like the other Calvin posters I do not feel that bad about the outcome of Calvin's game last night.  Yes, I would be much happier if they had won, but to play a better team (on their court) even for a half is encouraging, and like OK said a dunk here, and a stop there could have had a serious impact on the outcome.
My bet is that both Hope, and Calvin show more offensive prowess this afternoon.  If Calvin can make Carthage work harder for their shots like they did to Wheaton last night I like thier chances.  Caleb should bounce back just fine.  Hope will have to do everything Calvin did last night defensively or even more effectively on Raymond plus have Riemink avoid foul trouble to have a chance quieting the Thunder down.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

For me the hardest part of watching Hope get thrashed by Carthage was the lack of effort.  A few of the Dutchmen played hard (Reimink, Bosch, Krommbeen), but too many of them looked like deer in the headlights, and just plain got out worked.  It's been a long time since I've seen that from a Hope squad.  Some of the last guys off the bench played some of the best minutes for Hope in the 2nd half.  With the fluccuating line-ups it is clear that even the coaching staff is still trying to figure it out.  Seems like there are only a few guys who know what their role is with this team.  Until that get's figured out, it's going to continue to be a struggle.

OK- I was sitting right by the basket where Zoerhoff made the "spectacular" block.  While he did block the ball, there was a full on body slam included.  The foul call was completely appropriate - it was a hard foul, but not malicious.  The calls for an intentional foul by the fans were unfounded, but it was a hard foul.

[sac]

I seem to remember similar comments about Carthage last season and at the halfway point they were leading the CCIW.

That's true Scott, but Carthage did finish in 5th place (7-7). 

I really can't envision the Red Men finishing any higher than that this year.  I just don't see them finishing better than Augustana, Wheaton, and Elmhurst, and I'm pretty sure Illinois Wesleyan is quite a bit better overall too (more balance, more size).

Carthage has one of the best players in Division III and they are going to knock off top CCIW teams, but I just don't think they have enough size down low to contend in the CCIW this year.  We'll see.

All thats true, but its also true Carthage lost two games down the stretch by 1 in OT and 2 in regulation. Swing those games to W's and they finish 9-5 in a tie for 2nd.


Its the emphasis on "NO BETTER THAN 6th in the CCIW" by Chuck thats irked me.........these little conference superiority jabs are just demeaning to the rest of us who follow D3.   

[sac]

livestats from Wheaton this afternoon

http://livestats.internetconsult.com/wheaton/wbball/

and video for the Hope/Wheaton game

http://www.wheaton.edu/wetn/

Hope broadcast, once again won't bother with the yahoo link.

www.whtc.com

The Calvin broadcast
http://secure.stretchinternet.com/demo/games.php?user=calvin&o=cal_stamp

[Titan Q]

Its the emphasis on "NO BETTER THAN 6th in the CCIW" by Chuck thats irked me.........these little conference superiority jabs are just demeaning to the rest of us who follow D3.   

I understand that.  What I don't get is who he thinks is so clearly favored to finish 5th.  At this early stage I see Wheaton and Augustana as a clear 1 and 2 (not sure what order), Elmhurst as a clear 3, IWU as a clear 4, and a complete toss-up after that between Carthage, North Central, North Park, and Millikin.

[arena]

For me the hardest part of watching Hope get thrashed by Carthage was the lack of effort.  A few of the Dutchmen played hard (Reimink, Bosch, Krommbeen), but too many of them looked like deer in the headlights, and just plain got out worked.  It's been a long time since I've seen that from a Hope squad.  Some of the last guys off the bench played some of the best minutes for Hope in the 2nd half.  With the fluccuating line-ups it is clear that even the coaching staff is still trying to figure it out.  Seems like there are only a few guys who know what their role is with this team.  Until that get's figured out, it's going to continue to be a struggle.

OK- I was sitting right by the basket where Zoerhoff made the "spectacular" block.  While he did block the ball, there was a full on body slam included.  The foul call was completely appropriate - it was a hard foul, but not malicious.  The calls for an intentional foul by the fans were unfounded, but it was a hard foul.

It wasn't a spectacular dunk?