MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[arena]

One of North Park's best players of the past ten years, Denny Keizer (NPU class of '99, and now the head basketball coach at Elmwood Park HS in west suburban Chicagoland), was a Timothy Christian product. If Timothy Christian makes a habit out of producing the type of guy that Denny was (and still is) on and off the court, then I'd like to see NPU recruit more TCHS student-athletes.

I saw Keizer play a few times in H.S.  His coach at TCHS is a great friend of mine.

Which coach?  Last year's varsity, or the current coach?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

OC_SID - you all set with your new basketball facility?  I'm looking forward to being there for the first mens MIAA game on the 7th

[Dark Knight]

I think 6 of the 8 teams are not quite as good as last years versions.

OK, I'll bite. Which 6 teams are not quite as good and which 2 are equal or better?

[sac]

I think 6 of the 8 teams are not quite as good as last years versions.

OK, I'll bite. Which 6 teams are not quite as good and which 2 are equal or better?

When I spoke earlier I hadn't run updated weekend stats through the super computer.

As of now........using the numbers that don't include winning %

Adrian, Olivet, Kzoo are slightly better than where last years teams finished. 

........using the number that includes winning %

Olivet, Kzoo and Trine are all slightly better.

In both cases Hope and Albion are substantially off last years finished product, all others only slightly. 

I expect things to change quit a bit in the remaining non-conference schedule, but as of now the conference looks pretty weak overall, even at the top.  The one standout team isn't that far ahead of #2, and #3-7 are tightly packed.    In other years, the current #1 would rank about 3rd and some cases 4th.    I certainly expect that to change but as of now, thats where they are.   

Early season numbers can be tough because of the drastic differences one single game can make, (sort of a strenght of schedule issue)...........I don't think anyone could argue that Calvin hasn't played a difficult schedule, or for that matter Albion. 

[Gregory Sager]

People have been questioning the lack of balance on O or a 3rd scorer.  One cannot have every set go to or through the same person every time. Especially when 2 guys were guarding Jesse every time he touched the ball Friday.

Carthage did run some double-teams at him when he posted up, but Reimink was not guarded by two Red Men every time that he touched the ball. I made it a point to focus upon Reimink while I watched Friday's game, and for the vast majority of it he was guarded solely by 6'6 forward Adam Tolo.

Now, if you want to talk about where the Hope offense went awry, look at the Dutch's inability (or complete refusal) to take advantage of switches on Reimink. The Dutch consistently set a ball screen up top to get a smaller defender on Reimink, and it worked. Inevitably, junior guard Cody Hilton -- all 5'11, 168 of him -- ended up having to stay with Reimink until Tolo could switch back. And nobody tried to get the ball into Reimink's hands whenever this switch took place. Nobody. It was as if his teammates forgot that he was even on the floor.

It's gotta drive a coach nuts when his team does exactly what he tells them to do in order to set up their star player -- and then they squander the opportunity by ignoring it play after play after play.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

People have been questioning the lack of balance on O or a 3rd scorer.  One cannot have every set go to or through the same person every time. Especially when 2 guys were guarding Jesse every time he touched the ball Friday.

Carthage did run some double-teams at him when he posted up, but Reimink was not guarded by two Red Men every time that he touched the ball. I made it a point to focus upon Reimink while I watched Friday's game, and for the vast majority of it he was guarded solely by 6'6 forward Adam Tolo.

Now, if you want to talk about where the Hope offense went awry, look at the Dutch's inability (or complete refusal) to take advantage of switches on Reimink. The Dutch consistently set a ball screen up top to get a smaller defender on Reimink, and it worked. Inevitably, junior guard Cody Hilton -- all 5'11, 168 of him -- ended up having to stay with Reimink until Tolo could switch back. And nobody tried to get the ball into Reimink's hands whenever this switch took place. Nobody. It was as if his teammates forgot that he was even on the floor.

It's gotta drive a coach nuts when his team does exactly what he tells them to do in order to set up their star player -- and then they squander the opportunity by ignoring it play after play after play.

I don't know about the coach, but it sure drove me nuts - holy frustration, Batman!  That is a very accurate description of one of the "struggles" Hope had on Friday night. 

[hope_hoops1]

As many have stated, this is going to be a wide-open race in the league this year.  At the start of the year I thought it would be 2-team race (Hope & Calvin), but after this past weekend, both teams have weaknesses.   I am very concerned about how Hope matches up against a team like Adrian.  It was obvious that the guards could not defend players off of the trouble, and Desmond Young will provide a similar challenge for the Dutchemen. 

I'm hoping the confusion and lack of execution on the defensive end is due to inexperience and trying to learn an aggresive system.  However, there are too many moments where fans are concerned more about the effort than the execution.  Hopefully the lack of effort is coming from indecisiveness and will improve as the season comes along.

[realist]

I, for one, am not as willing as some here to sell the MIAA short this year.  This is especially true if one of the main points for that viewpoint is that neither Calvin nor Hope "performed up to expectations" this past weekend.  Honestly, who doesn't think that Wheaton is a top 5 caliber team?  Most of us conceded going in that either team beating Wheaton was going to be an upset.  I also think we all (probably) were less impressed with Carthage coming into the series, and dang if they don't catch Hope on one of those terrible off nights when their youth, and inexperience are exposed.  The next afternoon they get super hot with the 3's, set records against Calvin, and we are down on Calvin.     If Carthage shoots those kind of numbers during the CCIW season imagine the trouble they can cause.   In fact if they can duplicate those numbers on a regular basis I doubt few teams will beat them. 
Sac:  Calvin and Hope have had 4 common opponents.  Calvin has played Grace Bbile and Spring Arbor.  I don't see them as much stronger than Hope's first several opponents.
It appears it has taken Calvin longer than expected to replace Engelsma.  Veltema is starting to really produce offensively, and if Calvin gets better at rebounding they should be able to control most teams in the MIAA. 
Hope, still has a ways to go to be ready for MIAA games.  However, when they start to click they are going to be a handfull for any team to contain, even Calvin.  In the next few games I would expect GVW to say these are my 7 or 8 guys in the rotation.

[northb]

So in the past, posters on this board have seen the league break out in a 3-way race.  Albion, Calvin and Hope would need to win at home, hold serve against Kalamazoo (pun intended), Alma, Olivet, Trine and Adrian, then steal one at the other league leaders' home court.  Failing that, wait for the other league leaders to stumble and win the war of attrition. Does this philosophy hold true for this season, most esteemed prognosticators?

[dumezrules]

Who do you think played well defensively for the Dutch?

In my "coaching" eyes, there are only a couple who "get it" and I think it was painfully obvious this weekend.  95 and 91 points is an embarrassing amount, even against very good teams.  Yes, I know there is a system to learn but ultimately it's pretty simple.  Especially when you're playing man-to-man.  Keep the ball handler in front of you, be in positon to contest all shots, or if you're really good, force him to put the ball on the floor before he can release his/her shot, call out screens, hedge the darn ball handler so he doesn't have a free lane to do whatever he wants (especially when its kent raymond because he doesn't pass) switch if needed, be in help side position, cut off penetration on baseline, blah, blah, blah. Oh yeah, when the officials have called 5 hand checks in 5 minutes, keep your hands to yourself.

People have been questioning the lack of balance on O or a 3rd scorer.  One cannot have every set go to or through the same person every time. Especially when 2 guys were guarding Jesse every time he touched the ball Friday. There has to be an effort made to get someone else involved.  Your "shooters" have to get more than 3-4 shots per game.  Even if they go 0-12 which is essentially what Panner was in the 1st half of both games. 

WOW....maybe you should take over the reins from GVW...you obviously know more than he does...  which kid that isnt playing enough is yours ?

This is why they play PRECONFERENCE games....be patient.  Good athletes will learn and play well. Coaches will find a lineup...I hope your son is in it.

[KnightSlappy]

So in the past, posters on this board have seen the league break out in a 3-way race.  Albion, Calvin and Hope would need to win at home, hold serve against Kalamazoo (pun intended), Alma, Olivet, Trine and Adrian, then steal one at the other league leaders' home court.  Failing that, wait for the other league leaders to stumble and win the war of attrition. Does this philosophy hold true for this season, most esteemed prognosticators?

This holds true in the fact that if Calvin, Hope, or Albion go 13-1 in the league, they are going to win for sure.  I don't see this happening though.  In the past few years there have been 2 or 3 teams at the top with the rest following well behind.  I wouldn't be that surprised to see Olivet, Adrian, or Trine beat one, two, or all of the "big three" teams.  At the end of the season I still expect to see Calvin, Hope, and Albion at the top (in that order) but I wouldn't bee too shocked if one of the other teams got in there.

Alma -- Probably won't win too many in the league.
Kzoo -- Could sneak up on a team but I don't know if they will factor in much
Adrian, Trine, Olivet -- Don't sleep on any of these teams.  If you don't bring your best, you don't win.
Calvin, Hope, Albion -- Favorites now, but will they still be at the end of the season?

I wouldn't want to finish 3 or 4 in the league and have to play a tough opening round MIAA tournamnet game.  IMO at least one of 'the big three' wont make it to the MIAA semifinals.  We may be seeing a lot more league parity than we have seen the past few seasons.

[scottiedawg]

The new Top 25 poll is out.

Hope loses 84 votes
Calvin loses 37

No MIAA team is receiving any votes.

Carthage gains 8 votes and is ranked #42.
Wheaton gains 49 votes and is ranked #2.

[sac]

This is why they play PRECONFERENCE games....be patient. 

Oh no!   

[OC_SID]

OC_SID - you all set with your new basketball facility?  I'm looking forward to being there for the first mens MIAA game on the 7th

FDF, yes, we are all set with the new facility ... As a matter of fact, the facility was done in mid-August and our volleyball team was able to play its entire home schedule in there ...

There are several nice touches to the facility and for basketball games ... I won't ruin the surprises, so I will let you experience a game first before I point them out ... I am curious to see if anyone notices some of these things!

Overall, during the fall, we had many, many compliments from alumni, friends, parents, other coaches, etc. on the building ... It is just the right size for a school like Olivet.   

[NW Hope Fan]

There are several nice touches to the facility and for basketball games ... I won't ruin the surprises, so I will let you experience a game first before I point them out ... I am curious to see if anyone notices some of these things!

LIGHTS???