MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[GoKnights68]

Well first time back on here since Wednesday's nights game.

Just to add a few comments...

That had to be one of the ugliest games I've seen played by a Calvin team in a long time.

It seems Mantel is better at making those 8 foot fade-away jumpers than his one-foot lay-ups and put-backs.  Hard to single him out though as nobody could make a lay-up that night.  Maybe KVS should do some lay-up drills in practice?

Also, what happened with Veldhouse's free-throw shooting?  Unusual...

It seemed anytime you post up Zoerhof down low, it is an automatic 2 points, when you just spin around and have a wide open one foot shot.  Again, hard to single him out, as it was weak defense all for the whole team.

Olivet was making all their threes and Calvin didn't seem to care or try to stop them.  What happened to the in-your-face defense that Calvin basketball is known for?  Perhaps Bob Knight could show up to a practice or two and teach the boys something about that?

This team has great composure, but they seem to have a problem focusing judging by their continuous sloppy play.  Hopefully the Knights can still be tied with Hope going into the next Hope-Calvin game at the Van-Noord...

[GoKnights68]

how long is rodts  out with suspension  just wondering

He will be out one more game I believe.  He will be back for next Wednesday's game.

[formerd3db]

News from the Hope campus announcing Ray Smith's retirement. Ray's a great guy. I'm sorry to see him go.

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/

This day's been coming and I'm sad to see it here so soon.  I doubt Ray remembers but I first met him in the mid 80's when my uncle dragged Ray to play golf with his nephew and my dad on one of MSU's Forest Aker's courses.  I'm sure I made a fantastic impression that day.   Little did I know then that Hope was in my future.

Ray and Sue have been familiar faces I could talk to at many Hope games and on more than a couple occasions made sure I had good seats for some important contests.  I hope they remain a strong presense at Hope athletics events, they will be sorely missed by many.



***  here's one of those weird memory moments.   I sat next to Ray at the Michigan State v Indiana football game that decided the Big 10 Championship in 1987.

Although I posted these over on our MIAA football board, I'd like to post those here as well to add to yours as noted above:. . .


Well, I, too, knew it was "coming down the field some time" in the future, however, I just didn't expect it quite this soon.  I thought it would still be awhile yet.  I guess I am somewhat surprised, yet not, if that that makes any sense.  I am not embarressed to say here that I have the greatest respect and admiration for this man; he is a great family man, devoted husband and father, a man of great Faith, a great friend to his colleagues and also the many players he coached over the years; as my own college football coach, he has been and still is a mentor to me and like a "second" dad to me.  As can be seen by the press release announcing his intention to retire at the end of this school year, his accomplishments both personal and in the service of Hope College and others is tremendous, although he is a very humble man and never mentions his accalodes and accomplishments.  I am sad to see his era come to an end, however, I certainly understand and can appreciate the difficult process and situation that he went through/is going through like anyone experiences when they consider that the time has arrived to make that decision.  Hope College has been blessed and is so very fortunate to have had Coach Smith and his wife among the administrators/coaches, supporters and friends among the long list of the same in the history of our college.  I wish Coach Ray and his wife Sue all the best in their future endeavors and as they enjoy his "retirement", although I would bet (if I were a betting man) that they won't be far and will continue to be watching over the Dutchmen/Dutch in the future .     

[GoKnights68]

I know Hope fans are sick of hearing about this game, and it's in the past, but somebody from Calvin posted some nice highlights from their website from last Saturday's game.  It is probably a lot better quality than WGVU and it gives a nice slow-motion of Hope's last possession.  Wait a minute for it to load once you click on it...

http://www.calvin.edu/news/2008-09/calvin-hope/

[sac]

The Hope/Adrian game is going to feature two of the nations scoring leaders.  Desmond Young came into this week #16, Jesse Reimink #18.  Along with those 2 it will feature 2 of the 3 assist leaders in the league.  Michael Staley and David Krombeen.

I hope people realize what outstanding guard play we have in the MIAA this year.  It seems like every game the key matchups seem to be on the perimeter.

This weekend its  Krombeen/Bunn matching up with Young/Staley.  Hope's done a descent job on Desmond Young the last 2 years, kind of 50/50.  Young has scored 5, 18, 7, 9, 20, 24 vs Hope.  Hope will be throwing 2 guys at him that have never seen Young before, vs the last 2 years where Derek VanSolkema was a former teamate at Eastern Michigan.


Hope's a pretty mediocre rebounding team in the league games so far, infact they're dead zero in rebounding margin.  Adrian is a poor -7, expect the team with the rebounding advantage to win this one.   Both teams also shoot it well, so if either team can find a defensive advantage they should pull this one out.

[HopeConvert]

I'm glad SAC has mentioned the rebounding problem. That really struck me again Wednesday night. Part of it is lack of size. But they are also getting a lot of rebounds from their guards. The basic problem is that they are not doing a good job boxing out. As I said, that really hit me in Wednesday's game.

[bulldogalum]

I agree with sac, the team that rebounds better and plays better defense will likely win the game.  I haven't seen Adrian play since the Calvin game, but if they're going to have a chance against Hope tomorrow, they're going to have to do a much better job on the defensive side than they did against Calvin.  Hopefully Wednesday's road win will give them some positive momentum for tomorrow.  We'll see.

[oldknight]

I spent the evening at Hudsonville Unity Christian who hosted Zeeland East, in the first matchup between two of West Michigan's top high school teams. It wasn't much of a game to watch after Zeeland East went on a 27-0 run that started just before half-time, but there were some other things of interest I observed. I quickly noticed Glenn, prominently placed, standing in the corner not far from end zone action. I then saw KVS stride confidently past VanWieren, heading for his seat at mid-court. As it turned out, both Aquinas and Grand Valley were represented as well. It wouldn't surprise me if I learned Grace Bible and Davenport also were in attendance because between the two high school teams there are probably 8-10 players who have the potential to play college hoops if they are so inclined.

[GoVols]

Also saw a couple of guys from Wisconsin Parkside talking to Mickey Cochran. Remember, VandeStreek lives in Hooterville and his kids attended Unity Christian (a comment that will probably get a "Duh" from other posters, but I mention it anyway.) Spotted two gents in Blue windbreakers with a "D" logo that looked something like Duke's, but I'm thinking they weren't. Any ideas??

[goodknight]

Also saw a couple of guys from Wisconsin Parkside talking to Mickey Cochran. Remember, VandeStreek lives in Hooterville and his kids attended Unity Christian (a comment that will probably get a "Duh" from other posters, but I mention it anyway.) Spotted two gents in Blue windbreakers with a "D" logo that looked something like Duke's, but I'm thinking they weren't. Any ideas??

Davenport?
Defiance?
DePaul?
DePauw?

[HopeConvert]

Also saw a couple of guys from Wisconsin Parkside talking to Mickey Cochran. Remember, VandeStreek lives in Hooterville and his kids attended Unity Christian (a comment that will probably get a "Duh" from other posters, but I mention it anyway.) Spotted two gents in Blue windbreakers with a "D" logo that looked something like Duke's, but I'm thinking they weren't. Any ideas??

I have no idea, but when a kid hits 120 shots in a row from beyond the arc, even if it's practice, I would think he's going to get a look or two from some big-name schools.

[wiz]

Also saw a couple of guys from Wisconsin Parkside talking to Mickey Cochran. Remember, VandeStreek lives in Hooterville and his kids attended Unity Christian (a comment that will probably get a "Duh" from other posters, but I mention it anyway.) Spotted two gents in Blue windbreakers with a "D" logo that looked something like Duke's, but I'm thinking they weren't. Any ideas??

I have no idea, but when a kid hits 120 shots in a row from beyond the arc, even if it's practice, I would think he's going to get a look or two from some big-name schools.

da Bears!

[jspiii]

I spent the evening at Hudsonville Unity Christian who hosted Zeeland East, in the first matchup between two of West Michigan's top high school teams. It wasn't much of a game to watch after Zeeland East went on a 27-0 run that started just before half-time, but there were some other things of interest I observed. I quickly noticed Glenn, prominently placed, standing in the corner not far from end zone action. I then saw KVS stride confidently past VanWieren, heading for his seat at mid-court. As it turned out, both Aquinas and Grand Valley were represented as well. It wouldn't surprise me if I learned Grace Bible and Davenport also were in attendance because between the two high school teams there are probably 8-10 players who have the potential to play college hoops if they are so inclined.

  i read somewhere that Corey Van Dussen from Zeeland East was coming to Hope next year.

[oldknight]

I spent the evening at Hudsonville Unity Christian who hosted Zeeland East, in the first matchup between two of West Michigan's top high school teams. It wasn't much of a game to watch after Zeeland East went on a 27-0 run that started just before half-time, but there were some other things of interest I observed. I quickly noticed Glenn, prominently placed, standing in the corner not far from end zone action. I then saw KVS stride confidently past VanWieren, heading for his seat at mid-court. As it turned out, both Aquinas and Grand Valley were represented as well. It wouldn't surprise me if I learned Grace Bible and Davenport also were in attendance because between the two high school teams there are probably 8-10 players who have the potential to play college hoops if they are so inclined.

  i read somewhere that Corey Van Dussen from Zeeland East was coming to Hope next year.

I might be detecting a whiff of wishful thinking from the Hope brethren. I know Hope has been on the trail for some time. I remember seeing GVS and Davelaar at one of VanDussen's games when he was a sophomore. But like Kirk Walters who--a few years ago seemed destined to play at Calvin--I think Korey has become just a bit too good to consider an MIAA school. I do have some questions about how ready he is to defend if he goes to a scholarship school, but I'm convinced VanDussen is a D1 player when the ball is in his hands.

[sac]

Also saw a couple of guys from Wisconsin Parkside talking to Mickey Cochran. Remember, VandeStreek lives in Hooterville and his kids attended Unity Christian (a comment that will probably get a "Duh" from other posters, but I mention it anyway.) Spotted two gents in Blue windbreakers with a "D" logo that looked something like Duke's, but I'm thinking they weren't. Any ideas??

Davenport?
Defiance?
DePaul?
DePauw?

Given the number of Michigan kids on current and former rosters........I'll go with Drake.

(and in living in WM for 20 years, I never once heard Hudsonville referred to as hooterville)