MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

It is a great tribute to the entire team, and Hope's coaches that they stopped Calvin from running away with the game.  A lesser team, with lesser talent would probably have gotten blown out in that situation.  Hope fans have every right to be proud of their team.  I have sat in the bleachers at the end of rivalry games when the circumstances were reversed, and felt great pride that Calvin had forced a better team to beat them.

Forgive me, but I'm not sure where this idea came from that Calvin was supposed to win  this game.  The teams appeared very even given their performances against common opponents and Hope had the home court advantage.  Perhaps Calvin's blowout win at Adrian skewed the perception going in, but Adrian's loss to Alma should certainly put things in perspective.  Frankly, I am surprised to hear so much Hope talk about a moral victory.  Perhaps it is a coping mechanism.

The truth is that this game only mattered in the jockeying for position in the MIAA standings.  There will be one game that ultimately determines this season, and all Saturday did was sway the likelihood that that game is played in Grand Rapids, rather than Holland.

[sac]

I think if you ask most people who support Hope they realize this is a rebuilding year.  We are young and talented, talented enough to possibly steal the MIAA, which may still happen, you never know.

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

[arena]

I think if you ask most people who support Hope they realize this is a rebuilding year.  We are young and talented, talented enough to possibly steal the MIAA, which may still happen, you never know.

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

In terms of rebuilding.  Who takes JR's spot on the floor next year?

[almcguirejr]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

[sac]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

[arena]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

The Hope superiority comes out again.   

[sac]

I think if you ask most people who support Hope they realize this is a rebuilding year.  We are young and talented, talented enough to possibly steal the MIAA, which may still happen, you never know.

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

In terms of rebuilding.  Who takes JR's spot on the floor next year?

Really no one will replace his numbers by themselves.   It will probably be a long list of wing players that will get that chance.  Logan Neil, Nate King, Ryan Ross are all similar players, none have Jesse's inside outside ability.

Thats a long way off, I haven't thought of it much.

[HopeConvert]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

Not always.

[arena]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

Not always.

Maybe, but you attended Calvin though, right?

[sac]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

The Hope superiority comes out again.   

I really don't know what your getting at or how you could even interpret that comment that way.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

Shucks, I guess you've got us not just in public nudity, but verbosity too.    And if I understand you, Calvin shouldn't be too excited to be on top in the standings, since Hope is rebuilding this year and never expected to contend?

Either way, I'm very happy that Calvin won a classic on Saturday, but I'm not ready to count Hope out yet.  

Not many people have mentioned this yet, but I think that a huge factor for the rest of Calvin's season is if Caleb can shoot like he did out of the gates on Saturday.  This has been the big missing hole in what was expected from Calvin's game this year.  The "role players" (as someone put it) are playing well, Mantel is establishing himself as the premier big man in the MIAA, and if Caleb can find his stroke, look out!  

Go Knights and beat Olivet on Wed.

[GoKnights68]

Wow! Another great game!

I can't believe Calvin overcame a 16-5 turnover differential. Better rebounding by the Knights in the second half played a big part.

Now the question is going to be whether Calvin's defense took Hope out of their game or whether Hope just had an off shooting night.

Did my eyes deceive me, or did Zwier really hit a pair of threes?

The big story for the Knights is that (despite all the hand-wringing) they clearly have the best defense and rebounding in the MIAA.

Off-shooting night.  That is rare for the recent Hope teams, as they are usually automatic when left open.  Don't expect Hope to shoot like that all year.

[arena]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

The Hope superiority comes out again.   

I really don't know what your getting at or how you could even interpret that comment that way.

Its just a comment that means something to me.  If you don't understand it.  Don't loose any sleep.  There are those who may know what I'm talking about.

Good luck at Calvin next month

[HopeConvert]

But I think only the most homerist of Hope fans would have believed Hope was the favorite to win the MIAA this year.

The majority of them post here.

At least they post more than one line sentences.

Shucks, I guess you've got us not just in public nudity, but verbosity too.    And if I understand you, Calvin shouldn't be too excited to be on top in the standings, since Hope is rebuilding this year and never expected to contend?

Either way, I'm very happy that Calvin won a classic on Saturday, but I'm not ready to count Hope out yet.  

Not many people have mentioned this yet, but I think that a huge factor for the rest of Calvin's season is if Caleb can shoot like he did out of the gates on Saturday.  This has been the big missing hole in what was expected from Calvin's game this year.  The "role players" (as someone put it) are playing well, Mantel is establishing himself as the premier big man in the MIAA, and if Caleb can find his stroke, look out!  

Go Knights and beat Olivet on Wed.

Just to be clear: there was no nudity. The reference is to the aforementioned speedo event, which was duly and appropriately handled by Ray Smith.

I think, given the way hope has progressed, they have succeeded in raising expectations. I didn't think at the beginning of the year they'd be competitive with Calvin. Now, however, I think they are and will continue to be.

[GoKnights68]

Three other observations:

• Once again, Caleb Veldhouse and John Mantel excelled, and right out of the box in the first half.  Calvin fans, someday you'll feel the same ambivalent mix of admiration and anguish over David Krombeen that we Hope fans have felt watching Caleb in his best moments ... like draining shot after shot today at the beginning and then drilling that key 3 near the end
• Win or lose, "the rivalry" is a happening . . . an intense, packed crowd . . . even good student chants right off the bat:   "This is our house."  "Our house is bigger."  "We fill our house [or something to that effect]."  I have also been impressed by the sportsmanship this year . . . no whining over referee calls.
• And speaking of calls . . . Calvin fans, it looked to many of us like Jesse had a clean block on that foul call that led to the winning free throws.  Was this the refs deciding the game?  (I'll grant, you were closer.)
  

It was "You can't fill it."  I got a chuckle out of that one.

It looked like Jesse could have gotten Mantel with the body, but I'm not sure.