MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Ralph Turner]

To paraphrase George Gobel from an old Tonight Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue3Gcp_5ESs

"did you ever feel like the Spoelhof complex is a tuxedo but the scoreboard is a pair of brown shoes"

ROTFLMAO!

Back when smoking was cool!    

Did you notice Dean Martin flicking his cigarette in Gobel's drink about 2:03, 2:22 and 2:33 of the clip?   

[sac]

Took a late afternoon ride today and ended up in Midland so I made it over to Alma to catch the Brits and Scots tonight.

Funny thing is I had this date in my head since December about it being a nice day to catch a game or two at Alma, but I couldn't figure out why.  Alma v Albion?  Really?  It seems the part of the brain that remembers details failed to notify the part that takes action the reason why this would be a good day to trek north.

So as I meandered northward I decided to head to Alma and catch the game, pulled into the parking lot and couldn't figure out why there were so many cars, and whats that familiar looking bus in the distance.........can't read it.  Walked into the gym and it was a full 7 or 8 steps before I realized.......hmmmm there's alot of orange in here, how odd.    <slap on the forehead> Its the Hope women's team.  Oh yeah thats why.    Fortunately the ladies needed no Sac mojo tonight and won handily.  The Dutch team and faithfull filed out and it was me and the crickets.

on with the game.....

Albion 74 Alma 59

It wasn't pretty folks, the boxscore doesn't lie http://www.miaa.org/mbb/stats/0809/acvsabcm.htm 
you put one team thats determined to play tough with another that plays in your chest defense and its bound to be a foul fest. Which it was.......48 Fouls, all legit, and 57 FT's.

Albion was the walking wounded again tonight, 3 in street clothes, maybe a 4th but I swear that kid graduated.  Drew Yancey had the all to familiar limp of someone with a bad back injury and he sat this one out.  15 months later I'm still not 100%, so I'm sorry to say I don't have high hopes that Drew will be back anytime soon for the Britons.  Thats a tough blow to him and the team, they miss him.  The only cure for that is time and strengthening muscles that are stubborn to strengthening.  Not to play doctor but I was told 6 month minimum, but I'm neither and athlete nor 21 anymore.

I thought Albion was the better team for most of the night, Alma kind of blew their chance early scoring only 5 points in the first 10 minutes, Albion only scored 7 in the first 8.  Albion finally established some control with a 10-0 run to lead 17-5.  After that the Scots hung on for dear life to a potential blowout and kept the game reasonably close going into the halftime down 11.

Alma played very well to start the 2nd half, controlled the boards, hit some shots and were within 5 at the 16:30 mark and the better team..........the old axiom first 5 of the 2nd sets the tone.  Unfortunately for Alma just 1 1/2 minutes later Albion was back up by 12.

The lead wavored back and forth between 8 and 12 for the rest of the game.  Last Saturday Albion couldn't buy a 3 pointer, tonight they hit one on just about every important posession to change momentum. Ultimately that won the game.

Jodi May implored his team at least twice, infact used the words "I'm begging", to quit fouling.  Neither team could play defense without fouling tonight and it was brutal to watch.


Individually, Jordan Redditt finished with 9,   I hate to judge a kids all-miaa first team credentials on one game but he was awfull tonight, I wouldn't put him ahead of Staley or Evans.  Redditt missed several easy layups, forced a number of other shots, and was out of position on defense a number of times.  Alot of credit has to go to Albion's JC Cruse who's height and wingspan gave Redditt fits.  Albion also bottled up Ryan DeHaan pretty  well, leaving the Scots without a lot of offensive fire power.  Better night from DeHaan and Redditt and Alma might have actually won this one.  Those two were 4-22 combined.  Albion's interior defense was very good tonight.

I've seen Andrew Holmes play 2 games in a row now like a Senior playing his last.  He's playing with some fire and to be honest is Albion's best player right now with Yancey sidelined.  JC Cruse is a good looking athlete but lacks alot of polish, he misses way too many shots he needs to knock down, Albion wins going away if he hits some shots.  Stasiak was the hot hand tonight he didn't miss any wide open 3's.   

Back on the Alma side, Corey Schneider is a shooter.   

In past years Alma's had a pretty steep dropoff in bench talent.  Tonight they went 8 deep and the drop didn't seem to be there.  They have a ways to go before competeing for the top half but they'll give everyone fits on nights they shoot the ball well.  What they lack in athleticism they're trying to make up for by being tougher and more physical. The progress is there to see, its just Alma had/has so far to go.  They'll win a couple more before the years over.

Albion can play the typical tough Albion D but they dont' seem to be able to sustain if for 40 minutes.  Without Yancey this team is lacking some offense.    I think Albion's going to have a hard time finishing 3rd, let alone 2nd or 1st.   The spirit and tenacity might be there to pull that off though.  The next 2 might be their season @ Adrian, and Hope.

[sac]

Updated standings through Wed.

Calvin 6-1    (+2)
Hope 6-1     (+2)
Albion 4-3    (0)
Olivet 4-3     (+1)
Alma 3-4      (0)
Adrian  3-4   (-1)
Trine 1-6      (-1)
Kzoo 1-6      (-3)

Saturday, January 31
Albion at Adrian, 3 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Alma, 3 p.m.
Calvin at Trine, 3 p.m.
Olivet at Hope, 7:30 p.m.

***The big winner today was Olivet who picks up road win #4.  Maybe their BIG game of the year this Saturday in Holland. 

***Adrian's now in a must win vs Albion at home and really with Hope coming to Albion next Wed it might be a must win for Albion as well.

[hopehoopfan]

Kudos to Hope College's SID for including "livestats" for the home JV games. Do any of the other MIAA schools do this? I have only checked the Hope @ Alma game and they did not.  For those fans/family members that can't make all the games, it is greatly appreciated and is the next best thing to being there! Also, am I the only one that feels that post game summarys on the Hope/Trine game are scarce? I do know that Sac was at the Alma game, so his normally insightful reviews are absent. Looking at the box score, the major minutes logged by the starters and the fact that some subs never got in the game leads me to assume(yea, I know about assuming) that Trine gave Hope a closer game than they thought they were going to have.

[HopeConvert]

Kudos to Hope College's SID for including "livestats" for the home JV games. Do any of the other MIAA schools do this? I have only checked the Hope @ Alma game and they did not.  For those fans/family members that can't make all the games, it is greatly appreciated and is the next best thing to being there! Also, am I the only one that feels that post game summarys on the Hope/Trine game are scarce? I do know that Sac was at the Alma game, so his normally insightful reviews are absent. Looking at the box score, the major minutes logged by the starters and the fact that some subs never got in the game leads me to assume(yea, I know about assuming) that Trine gave Hope a closer game than they thought they were going to have.

It's actually not a bad assumption. I found myself wondering how Trine's record wasn't better than it is, as they looked to me to be a pretty solid basketball team. Deon Thompson is a dynamic little bundle of pure muscle, who unfortunately makes too many mistakes with the ball, but is an entertaining player to watch. Wes Weir can fill it up, and is deadly when he has a little room to shoot. They played tough the whole night and kept coming back when it looked as if Hope was going to pull away. It was a very competitive game throughout.

[calvin66]

Some thoughts:
1.  Saw the Van Noord first time last night.  Really nice.  Don't worry, they'll get the scoreboard fixed.
2.  Kazoo is awful.  How long can Passage last?  He's lasting only because he's an alum.  Bring back "Smokin Joe".  At least there was some excitement then.
3.  GVW replacement.  Tom Davelaar in a couple years
4.  KVS substitution drives you nuts.  Veltema his his first two and is immediately removed. 

[Stinger]

I took in the game at the VanNoord last night.  I must say, the Spoelhoff complex is very nice. However, there was something about the arena itself that just didn't feel right. Perhaps it was the scoreboard issues up-top (if you can type St. Mary's into the scoreboard you sure as hell can type out Kzoo or Kazoo) or what looks like an electronic version of an intramural flip scoreboard on the floor across from the scorer's bench or maybe it was the crappy hot dog I had at half time.   I guess I can''t put my finger on it.  Just felt like it was patch-worked together to try to get it open.

As for the game, 6 field goals in the first half just isn't going to cut it. I give the Hornets credit for holding Calvin to 27 points.   The first 5 minutes of the 2nd half were the key I thought with Calvin scoring at will and K still not being able to execute on the offensive side of the ball. 

As for McCain, he is playing hurt, but I wonder if he's checked out.  I saw a lot of the same things HCG. Shame.

It's kind of sad when Todd Geerlings is the best referee on the court. I don't know where the MIAA found Ed Grimley and Creed Bratton, but they need a lot of work.

Through the first half of the MIAA, I have seen  Trine, Albion, Hope and Calvin all play this year. I think this is the weakest I've seen league since I started following it.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

It's kind of sad when Todd Geerlings is the best referee on the court. I don't know where the MIAA found Ed Grimley and Creed Bratton, but they need a lot of work.

They had this guy officiating at the Calvin - Kalamazoo game last night?

[hopehoopfan]

Some thoughts:

3.  GVW replacement.  Tom Davelaar in a couple years
removed. 

Miss a few days worth of posts and I maybe miss a big one! Did I miss that GVW is nearing the end of his tenure? If so, has anyone mentioned Eric Elliot?? He does a great job with the JV and might be a great fit as the next Hope coach. Experience with Hope, intensity, knowledge of the game, former player, and a dynamic personality which is essential for recruiting(and his job as a successful realtor).  

[Bob MacKenzie]

Regular posters know that I have been in the tank for the last 4 years for Jesse Reimink, and his impending graduation has had me in a bit of a funk. I'm pleased to announce that I am ready to anoint Peter Bunn a worthy heir. For the next couple of years, he will automatically be my "key to the game."

Anybody else have the irresistible urge to follow every mention of Peter Bunn with "Private Detective"?

http://www.televisiontunes.com/Peter_Gunn.html

[HopeConvert]

Some thoughts:
1.  Saw the Van Noord first time last night.  Really nice.  Don't worry, they'll get the scoreboard fixed.
2.  Kazoo is awful.  How long can Passage last?  He's lasting only because he's an alum.  Bring back "Smokin Joe".  At least there was some excitement then.
3.  GVW replacement.  Tom Davelaar in a couple years
4.  KVS substitution drives you nuts.  Veltema his his first two and is immediately removed. 

I don't imagine GVW will be stepping aside anytime soon. I'd be surprised if he did within the next 4 or 5 years. Id' be even more surprised if Davelaar were his replacement. I don't see Hope going in that direction.

Stinger: I haven't seen a game in Van Noord yet, but I've been in it, and it seemed to me to have a lack of intimacy. I also thought something didn't feel quite right about it, and that's as close as I've come to putting my finger on it.

[AlwaysHope]

My son made what I thought was a unique observation about Hope basketball and its history.

"Do you realize that Hope has had two basketball coaches since 1948, over 60 years ago."  The first one, Russ DeVette, was the first MIAA MVP in 1947, and the second, Glenn Van Wieren, was one of his prize players from 1960-64.  GVW took over from DeVette in 1977.

DeVette's teams won 11 MIAA Championships, while GVW's teams have taken the title 17 times.  Both figures include shared championships.

Now that is continuity in a program!

OK, so as I peruse the MIAA men's basketball website, I'm narrowing down the list of GVW replacements to Duance Bosma, Joel Holstege, Don Overbeek, Andy Phillips, Stephen Cramer and Marcus Vanderheide. Any of those, you think, have aspirations of replacing their mentor on the sidelines? Or is EE the heir apparent for the Flying Dutchmen if and when ol' Glenn steps aside? After all, he was a star, he's a two-time MVP (though he shared one of 'em with Billy Sall) and — drum roll, please — he's already there.
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm??

I didn't mean to start of discussion of GVW's replacement, but since someone else already did...

The criteria for the Hope coach, going back to 1948, is:

1) You must make a committment to stay for at least 30 years, and stay longer than your predecessor.
2) You must keep the Hope Nation happy with a lot of MIAA championships, including more than your predecessor.
3) You must be a star player at Hope, being all-MIAA first team at least two years, if not MIAA MVP.
4) And a new criteria that began in 1977:  You must have a winning record vs. Calvin.

So I plan to head up a committee to make sure things are done right.  I have already committed to the administration a huge contribution to the Hope fund, to be paid as soon as my stock portfolio increases and my house triples in value.  We will then insure that the following happens:

1) Papa Joe...er, Glenn can stay as long as he wants.
2) If and when Papa retires, he may follow the Ray Smith standard of waiting until age 70, an early retirement by Hope standards.  This would be 2012.
3) We look for a coach that will stay at least 36 years, so that way we would have 3 coaches in 100 years!
4) Eric Elliott, already mentioned on this board, is ineligible.  While he is a talented and fine young man, he already too old for the above criteria.
5) Which leaves only one viable option. Remember, 2012!
6) He's already at Hope, so we will save moving expenses.
7) He knows the players very well.
8) He was tutored by the best.
9) Drum roll please...





COACH DAVID KROMBEEN

P.S.  Now that's change we can believe in!
P.S.S. Just think, in the year 2048 we will be talking about "Papa Dave."

[realist]

Thanks for the game information.  The thing that strikes me about Trine is they seem to play to the level of competion.  Several posters stated they lacked confidence (Trish comes to mind) because Calvin didn't blow them out.  Last night Trine stays competitive against Hope.  Go figure. 
It is interesting reading the thinking on GVW's possible replacement.  My guess is if you asked anyone, including GVW in 77 if he would serve more years as coach than De Vette it would have gotten a laugh.  It would surprise me to see Hope go outside the program to get a coach. 

[Intangir]

I took in the game at the VanNoord last night.  I must say, the Spoelhoff complex is very nice. However, there was something about the arena itself that just didn't feel right. Perhaps it was the scoreboard issues up-top (if you can type St. Mary's into the scoreboard you sure as hell can type out Kzoo or Kazoo) or what looks like an electronic version of an intramural flip scoreboard on the floor across from the scorer's bench or maybe it was the crappy hot dog I had at half time.   I guess I can''t put my finger on it.  Just felt like it was patch-worked together to try to get it open.

As for the game, 6 field goals in the first half just isn't going to cut it. I give the Hornets credit for holding Calvin to 27 points.   The first 5 minutes of the 2nd half were the key I thought with Calvin scoring at will and K still not being able to execute on the offensive side of the ball. 

The scoreboard thing was weird, the two games I've been to previously it's worked fine (including the women's Calvin/Kalamazoo game on Saturday and the board did say KZOO like it should).  I'm pretty sure whatever problems there were last night were something not fixed without a repairman, and having run a few scoreboards for some kids games, and when something goes wrong it's embarrassing enough then, let alone at a college game!  At least the ones on the floor were working.

Scoreboard problems aside, the only thing I don't like about VanNoord is that you can't go between the upper and lower sections without leaving the court and finding some stairs.  I like to sit in the lower section but my in-laws have season tickets in the upper section and it is a pain to walk around to find them during half-time or after the game.  Other than that, I think it's great, I especially like the big entrance way and while I'm not a big swimming/diving fan the pool area is amazing as well. 

The game itself was just bizarre, the two halves seemed like totally different games.  Neither team seemed to be playing particularly poorly in the first half but nothing really seemed to happen either.  It was great watching Dustin Smith get so many rebounds right away, he was always right where he needed to be.  Trent Salo is also really fun to watch. 
The second half was such a tempo shift, Calvin scored what seemed like 20 points in 5-6 minutes held Kalamazoo to 15 points until almost 5 minutes into the half.  Veltema hit a ton of great shots and their offense seemed like it was working perfectly for awhile.   Once the second string players came in though, I don't think they scored more than two points in the last 5 minutes of the game, but I give Kalamazoo a lot of credit for putting in bucket after bucket at that point and closing a big gap to a much more respectable score. 

I was sitting behind the Kalamazoo fans and noticed that they were fairly unhappy with the referees, but with one or two exceptions I thought it was fairly even, the foul counts were nearly even both halves and I generally pride myself on being impartial about that stuff. 

[ziggy]

The second half was such a tempo shift, Calvin scored what seemed like 20 points in 5-6 minutes held Kalamazoo to 15 points until almost 5 minutes into the half.  Veltema hit a ton of great shots and their offense seemed like it was working perfectly for awhile. 

It took Calvin about 8:15 to equal their first half offensive output.  Veltema has certainly been huge, setting a career high for scoring in back to back games.  It has been good to see him find his groove.

Once the second string players came in though, I don't think they scored more than two points in the last 5 minutes of the game, but I give Kalamazoo a lot of credit for putting in bucket after bucket at that point and closing a big gap to a much more respectable score.

I wouldn't call it the second string.  I would call it the JV, because it basically was.