MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[NW Hope Fan]

I'm not suggesting an outcome... just a surprise.

But, would you be surprised if Calvin beat Olivet by 30?

side note: Interview w/ Dav... he was surprised...

[realist]

Good win for Hope.  Their guys came to play, and sounds like they had some fun. 
All the years I have been following the MIAA I do not recall an Albion team playing like this.  Perhaps it has happened before, but not often.

[realist]

NWH  I am not surprised we saw one 30 pt game tonight, just didn't expect it to happen quite this early.
Most impressive stat is Hope bench 41 points. 

[goodknight]

NWH  I am not surprised we saw one 30 pt game tonight, just didn't expect it to happen quite this early.

Let the record show I didn't expect a 30-point margin in either game.
Any team in our league would have to be surprised by a blowout win over Albion. Well  done, Hope.
Now, let's make sure we hold up our end of the rivalry in the Knightcap.
Speaking of which, I'm planning to celebrate with a poolside margarita (or two) about 9:30.

[NW Hope Fan]

NWH  I am not surprised we saw one 30 pt game tonight, just didn't expect it to happen quite this early.
Most impressive stat is Hope bench 41 points. 

The big difference is hope beat Albion by 25 the first time around, so I guess 30 was not completely out of the question.

-3 and +11 doesn't give me high hopes for a 30 point Calvin win, but I'd venture to say 15-17 points is more likely...

We'll see!

I hope it is a good tough game... Maybe even triple overtime!!! 

[realist]

GK:  Be careful.  We wouldn't want a pre-mature margarita now would we???

[realist]

Surprising  you should say that NWH, that is exactly how I wanted the last game to go.

[goodknight]

It's early, to be sure, but the tequilla and triple sec are chillin' -- and the Knights are smokin' hot in the early going.  Calvin's 18-21 from the field for a 42-26 lead at the 4:49 mark of the first half.

[realist]

Calvin 51 -30 at the half.

[almcguirejr]

en fuego

[sac]

Semifinals - Friday at Calvin
#2 Hope 75, #3 Albion 48
#1 Calvin 90, #4 Olivet 72

Championship - Saturday at Calvin
#2 Hope (11-3, 20-7) vs. #1 Calvin (12-2, 19-7), 7:30 p.m.

[hope1]

it schould be a good game saturday night at calvin hope played really good tonight jessse had a off night hope he is saturday at least  hope used the bech most of the 2nd half and calvin played there starters the whole game hope might be able to tire calvin out in the game. calvin was hot in the first half hope has to shut calvin 3 pointers off with tuff defensve

[hope1]

i thiink a lot of tickets left for the walk up people to buy tickets

[sac]

Hope 75 Albion 48

Well this one sure didn't play out like anyone expected.  Its actually pretty easy for me to pick out how Hope won this one and relates to how Albion was able to beat Hope at Albion.   Interior offense.  Dave Elliot, Wayne Bond and Jake Seibert scored zero points tonight for Albion.....thats a big goose egg from the 5 spot.  David Bunn scored 7 but I think all his came very late in the game when all that was in doubt was the final score.  In contrast Hope had 8 from Andy Venema and 9 from Zach Osburn a virtual 17-0 advantage at one position on the floor.  At Albion it was the other way around.

You take the above fact and combine it with Dave Stasiak, Andrew Holms, Bill Leising and Kyle McDonald going a combined 1-19 from the floor and you have the makings of a disaster.

I'd like to believe Hope had at least something to do with this outcome on defense, the zone defense Hope deployed sure seemed to have Albion thrown for a loop most of the game.   Hope rotated the D quick enough that Albion never seemed to have the same wide open looks they had at their place.......the deep three's also seemed a little longer in this one.  Albion just couldn't make anything to make Hope even think about coming out of it.   The biggest plus for Hope was giving up almost nothing inside of 10 feet of the basket....and with so many perimeter shots they seemed to own the defensive glass.

Offensively Hope had some good opportunities to run in this one and that was very different from the encounter at Kresge.  Hope also seemed to do a better job of making the extra pass on the interior resulting in many easy layups.

This one very clearly got away from Albion in the middle 14 minutes  when they went the final 7:38 of the first half without a single FG, and the first seven of the second half with only 1  FG.  It went from 21-19 to 45-23.


There was one pretty good moment that caught my eye and it came about midway in the first half when Hope subbed with a lineup of Jungling, Tanis, Bosch, Venema and Nelis.   Albion's kids seemed to really get fired up and started playing with a bit more energy sensing maybe they could take advantage........but in short order Hope hit 2 three's from Tanis and a third from Jungling.  When that group left it was 19-15, the starters returned and thats when it all went wrong for Albion.


I think if you'd asked on Thursday what the ideal scenario for Hope in this game would be it would have to be, win comfortably, rest your starters, and everyone plays well.    Hope gets a 3rd shot at Calvin tommorrow which is what we all wanted........no matter how it goes its a great way to either continue or end a season.  I couldn't be happier how this week has gone for the Dutchmen.

[ACHOOPS-00]

it schould be a good game saturday night at calvin hope played really good tonight jessse had a off night hope he is saturday at least  hope used the bech most of the 2nd half and calvin played there starters the whole game hope might be able to tire calvin out in the game. calvin was hot in the first half hope has to shut calvin 3 pointers off with tuff defensve

Calvin had 2 guys play 26 mins. There starters played between 22-26 mins. I do not think fatigue will be a factor tommorow night