MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[GoKnights68]

I know that Hope fans could agree with this statement.  Cleary Cleary Cares for Calvin.  He seems to forget that people all over watch this broadcast and should be a neutral unbiased commentator.  It appears he targets the Grand Rapids market.  Maybe I'm way off on this but it's just my opinion. 

It's funny how our own bias affects our opinion. Since Saturday's game I have spoken with 3 Calvin fans who, like me, watched the TV broadcast. Every one of them was vehement in their denunciation of what they saw as Cleary's pro-Hope bias and said they wouldn't listen to any broadcast he did.

Reminds me of Brent Musberger.  Michigan fans all think he is an OSU homer, while OSU fans all think he is a Michigan homer.

I am usually always at the game, so I can't really say.  Maybe WGVU should try to get George Blaha to do the game, an excellent announcer?   

[GoKnights68]

I think the disgruntlement with Cleary comes from the fact that he is a completely negative announcer.  Both teams' fans view him as pro-'other' because he is constantly criticizing every player on the court.  I'd rather have a biased announcer who would acknowledge great plays from at least one team than one who criticizes 20-year olds for 40 minutes plus.

Another classic rivalry game, and the posts on here are showing why it is such.  Both teams have a lot of positives to take from the game and a lot of things they can improve upon.  Calvin has to be the favorite from here on out simply becaues they won at Hope and it appears the rest of the league is not as good as advertised. 

Hats off to all the participants.  A few shots here or there and Hope wins the game.  A few shots here or there and Calvin wins going away.  That's why it's such a great game.   Every player on the court gave it their all.  Now, I'm just counting down the days until the rematch.  HOPEfully we can open up the Noord in style with a Hope win. 

Is it just me, or is everyone else glad these teams won't play 5 times this year as they did a few years ago?

I said before the year and I'll say it again.  I won't be surprised if Calvin wins the regular season title, while Hope beats Calvin in the MIAA tourney finals to get the automatic bid.

If Calvin makes the tourney, I really hope that Hope is not in it because Hope has ended Calvin's season the last 3 years, including twice in the NCAA tournament in the second round.

[realist]

With 10 conference games to go it is a little early to be thinking about winning the MIAA, or losing the MIAA tournament.  I can see some teams ahead that have over the years caused problems for Calvin.  Albion at their place is always a potential disaster waiting to happen.  Based on results so far I think Calvin is in the best position possible, but they can't afford the luxury of relaxing or taking anyone for granted.  I looked at these stats off the Calvin site, and it looks to me there is plenty of room for improvement.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS     1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................                3   0 -   3
Hope....................               7  15 -  22

POINTS IN PAINT      1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    8  10 -  18
Hope....................   18  24 -  42

2ND CHANCE POINTS    1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................          2   7 -   9
Hope....................         4   6 -  10

FAST BREAK POINTS  1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................      0   0 -   0
Hope....................     2  10 -  12

BENCH POINTS        1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    6   9 -  15
Hope....................    6   7 -  13

I think 13-1 is possible for a Team to win the MIAA, 12-2 is more likely.
14-0 just doesn't happen very often, and that takes a very dominant team. 

[sac]

Hope plays Alma Wednesday and will look to continue another long wining streak, this one stands at 27 straight games going back to 1998.  http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/mbb/mbbvsmiaa.html  (missing 2007 and 2008 MIAA Tournament results)

Its also 37 of 38 games, and 22 straight in Holland.  Alma's last win in Holland was in 1994.


Its not Hope's longest win streak vs an MIAA opponent, they once had a 38 game streak vs Olivet from the 1937-1965.  It is the 2nd longest though.

I suspect Alma will be coming to Holland with alot of confidence, they've won 2 in a row, 4 of 7 and have played well in 3 of 4 MIAA games.

[GoKnights68]

With 10 conference games to go it is a little early to be thinking about winning the MIAA, or losing the MIAA tournament.  I can see some teams ahead that have over the years caused problems for Calvin.  Albion at their place is always a potential disaster waiting to happen.  Based on results so far I think Calvin is in the best position possible, but they can't afford the luxury of relaxing or taking anyone for granted.  I looked at these stats off the Calvin site, and it looks to me there is plenty of room for improvement.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS     1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................                3   0 -   3
Hope....................               7  15 -  22

POINTS IN PAINT      1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    8  10 -  18
Hope....................   18  24 -  42

2ND CHANCE POINTS    1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................          2   7 -   9
Hope....................         4   6 -  10

FAST BREAK POINTS  1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................      0   0 -   0
Hope....................     2  10 -  12

BENCH POINTS        1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    6   9 -  15
Hope....................    6   7 -  13

I think 13-1 is possible for a Team to win the MIAA, 12-2 is more likely.
14-0 just doesn't happen very often, and that takes a very dominant team. 

I agree.  It is way to start early to think about winning the MIAA title (although I'm sure GVW and KVS are stressing that they both have a legitimate shot at winning it this season).  All I know is it will either be Hope or Calvin, or perhaps I wouldn't be surprised if it were a tie between those 2 schools.  The league is so down, though, it will be considered a pretty big upset if Hope or Calvin lose to someone else besides each other.  I guess it seems the last couple years that Calvin usually stumbles against a team they are favored to beat.  My prediction is either Hope or Calvin go 13-1 in league play to win the league(or perhaps even both go 13-1?).

Hope and Calvin shouldn't have that tough of a time this Wednesday.  I expect Hope to come out with fire and clobber Alma.  Calvin should be able to to handle Olivet this Wednesday in solid fashion.  I would be worried about let-down, but playing at Calvin will help for a let-down to not happen in my opinion.

[GoKnights68]

Hope plays Alma Wednesday and will look to continue another long wining streak, this one stands at 27 straight games going back to 1998.  http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/mbb/mbbvsmiaa.html  (missing 2007 and 2008 MIAA Tournament results)

Its also 37 of 38 games, and 22 straight in Holland.  Alma's last win in Holland was in 1994.


Its not Hope's longest win streak vs an MIAA opponent, they once had a 38 game streak vs Olivet from the 1937-1965.  It is the 2nd longest though.

I suspect Alma will be coming to Holland with alot of confidence, they've won 2 in a row, 4 of 7 and have played well in 3 of 4 MIAA games.

It will be interesting to see how long Hope can keep up the winning streak against anyone in the league not named Calvin at DeVos, which opened in 2006.

I suppose Alma is a lot better than last year, but I just seeing Hope shooting the lights out against them, and Reimink having another solid game.

[ziggy]

Hope and Calvin shouldn't have that tough of a time this Wednesday.  I expect Hope to come out with fire and clobber Alma.  Calvin should be able to to handle Olivet this Wednesday in solid fashion.  I would be worried about let-down, but playing at Calvin will help for a let-down to not happen in my opinion.

Oliver doesn't scare me too much because of the way Calvin has rebounded the ball.  The McClary's can really eat up a team that is weak on the boards.

[scottiedawg]

John Mantel has been named player of the week.  Jesse Reimink certainly made a strong case to "three-peat" but the result of Saturday's game certainly came into play.  Desmond Young had a very nice week scoring the basketball but Adrian went 0-2.

The old case of MVP's and the like coming from the best team.  If you value the fact that Mantel's team won two league games and took over first, he's the obvious choice.  If you look solely at numbers, Jesse's the obvious choice.  You can make a very strong case for either. 

Reimink for the week: 23.5 pts, 10.5 rebs, 18/38, 47.6%
Mantel for the week: 14.5 pts, 12 rebs, 10/21, 47.6%

oh, not to be a Hope homer, how does Brandon McClary feel?
Brandon for the week: 24.5 pts, 14 rebs, 19/37, 51.4%

[GoKnights68]

John Mantel has been named player of the week.  Jesse Reimink certainly made a strong case to "three-peat" but the result of Saturday's game certainly came into play.  Desmond Young had a very nice week scoring the basketball but Adrian went 0-2.

The old case of MVP's and the like coming from the best team.  If you value the fact that Mantel's team won two league games and took over first, he's the obvious choice.  If you look solely at numbers, Jesse's the obvious choice.  You can make a very strong case for either. 

Reimink for the week: 23.5 pts, 10.5 rebs, 18/38, 47.6%
Mantel for the week: 14.5 pts, 12 rebs, 10/21, 47.6%

If the season ended today, I would vote for Reimink.

Even if Hope finishes a game back at the end of the season, and Reimink is anywhere close to the numbers he is averaging now, I still thinks he gets MVP.  If Hope wins the league, he will easily win MVP.

Either Veldhouse or Mantel have to improve more on their numbers if they want the MVP award, although I am sure they only care about getting the W each game.

[sac]

MVP seems to be coming down to Desmond Young, Jesse Reimink, Brandon McClary or John Mantel/Caleb Veldhouse.............which ever of those two continues to have the big season for Calvin.

I personally think Mantel will end up having the better year vs Caleb because there just isn't anyone even close to him that can defend him in the league.  Athough he still has to face Michael McClary and Henry McCain, but I think the edge in those games still goes to Mantel based solely on Saturday.  I expect many more solid games from him.

[HopeConvert]

I think the disgruntlement with Cleary comes from the fact that he is a completely negative announcer.  Both teams' fans view him as pro-'other' because he is constantly criticizing every player on the court.  I'd rather have a biased announcer who would acknowledge great plays from at least one team than one who criticizes 20-year olds for 40 minutes plus.

Another classic rivalry game, and the posts on here are showing why it is such.  Both teams have a lot of positives to take from the game and a lot of things they can improve upon.  Calvin has to be the favorite from here on out simply becaues they won at Hope and it appears the rest of the league is not as good as advertised. 

Hats off to all the participants.  A few shots here or there and Hope wins the game.  A few shots here or there and Calvin wins going away.  That's why it's such a great game.   Every player on the court gave it their all.  Now, I'm just counting down the days until the rematch.  HOPEfully we can open up the Noord in style with a Hope win. 

Is it just me, or is everyone else glad these teams won't play 5 times this year as they did a few years ago?

I said before the year and I'll say it again.  I won't be surprised if Calvin wins the regular season title, while Hope beats Calvin in the MIAA tourney finals to get the automatic bid.

If Calvin makes the tourney, I really hope that Hope is not in it because Hope has ended Calvin's season the last 3 years, including twice in the NCAA tournament in the second round.

Thank you for the positive memories during this difficult time. 

[NW Hope Fan]

Home from Michigan and caught up on the 20 pages I missed in the last week...   

Please excuse me but here are a few of my thoughts:

Having only seen DeVos before, on an afternoon in May of '06, I was delighted to finally see a game there! No doubt our friends to the East have a bigger/newer place... But WOW! What a bright, beautiful place to see/play a game.

It was nice to meet some fellow posters. I hoped to catch a few from Calvin... but maybe next time.

While I was obviously disappointed in the turnout... Can you beat that game? Classic!!!

I understand JM was excited to win this game, but noticed a bit of cocky bravado that I thought was a bit out of line. Caleb on the other hand impressed me, as the Calvin student section began chanting "this is our house", he sort of had a "no, no, no" look on his face, and gave a little"shhh" sign and rolled his eyes... Mature, and classy!

I thought JR did a good job defending JM at the end of the game. I'm not sure he could effectively do it the whole game, without other parts of his game suffering, but for the time he did, his athleticism made up for the height difference.

I would say Calvin should be favored to win the next battle at their place, but should prove to be another classic. I'm also sure no one will be shocked if Hope sneaks out of there with a win.

All in all a great, but way to fast visit that I'm looking forward to doing again... maybe next year to check out the new digs in GR.

Thanks again to AB and WW for hooking us up.

Peace from the PNW!

[realist]

At this time it does look like 4 or 5 guys are going to compete for MVP.  I wouldn't be too quick to give the crown to anyone.   I sort of feel Veldhouse is in the weakest position, and he is followed by Young.  The other guys are all more than capable of a series of double doubles, and typically that will win out over the guy just scoring points.
People keep mentioning that this is a down year for the MIAA.  As Sac has documented the MIAA did not do well in the pre-conference portion of their schedules.  However, almost every team is playing many new faces, and it takes time for them to come together as a team.  
Based on the MIAA games so far it strikes me we have more parity in the league than the fact it is down year.  Yes, we have Calvin and Hope in traditional positions, and what we are lacking are clearly defined #3, and #4.  
Glad to hear you made it safely home NWH:  I think the MIAA games have been a real coming out party for JM.  If you hear him talk he is almost too laid back, and us Calvin folks have wanted to see him exhibit more emotion (sorry you had to see it).   JR played 38 minutes, and being asked to defend a bigger guy, and than run to the other end where you are going to shadowed is very taxing.   Earlier in the game with fresh legs that last shot of his goes in. 

[almcguirejr]

With 10 conference games to go it is a little early to be thinking about winning the MIAA, or losing the MIAA tournament.  I can see some teams ahead that have over the years caused problems for Calvin.  Albion at their place is always a potential disaster waiting to happen.  Based on results so far I think Calvin is in the best position possible, but they can't afford the luxury of relaxing or taking anyone for granted.  I looked at these stats off the Calvin site, and it looks to me there is plenty of room for improvement.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS     1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................                3   0 -   3
Hope....................               7  15 -  22

POINTS IN PAINT      1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    8  10 -  18
Hope....................   18  24 -  42

2ND CHANCE POINTS    1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................          2   7 -   9
Hope....................         4   6 -  10

FAST BREAK POINTS  1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................      0   0 -   0
Hope....................     2  10 -  12

BENCH POINTS        1   2 - Tot
Calvin..................    6   9 -  15
Hope....................    6   7 -  13

I think 13-1 is possible for a Team to win the MIAA, 12-2 is more likely.
14-0 just doesn't happen very often, and that takes a very dominant team. 

Calvin getting outscored by 24 in the paint is not a good statistic.  KVS said they had a lot of defensive breakdowns that led to lay ups.  I guess he was right. 

[NW Hope Fan]

Oh... don't get me wrong! I'm an ENTHUSIATIC guy, and have gotten in trouble for it. I appreciated John's energy and knew, based on what has been written about him on this board, this was what Calvin faithful have been looking for. With that said... I just think what I saw at the end of the game was ever so slightly misplaced. Ball held high, a stare and a nod to the dew crew, a few beats of his chest, all before he left the 3 point arch on the "wrong end" of the court.

I just appreciated Caleb's reaction better.

But hey they're kids... And it was a good one to celebrate.