MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Olivet 74 Spring Arbor 70......thats a nice win for the Comets.

Trine 69 North Park 66

[KnightSlappy]

Kalamazoo is giving Chicago a good game. The Hornets trail by 4, 63-59, with 4:35 left to play.

[sac]

Chicago 68 Kzoo 62

this puts the MIAA at 23-31 on the season.

[Gregory Sager]

The Bible Tigers of Grace (student enrollment, 190) dismantled Cornerstone last night 82-68 at Mol Arena. Calvin's opening game loss--by almost the identical score--is looking less and less disappointing.

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2009/12/grace_bible_shows_it_belongs_v.html

For a city of less than 200,000 people, Grand Rapids has a pretty impressive resume for small-college men's basketball.

I think you aren't using the proper census data. The MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) for Grand Rapids, according to 2008 census estimates, is 778,833. The CSA (Combined Statistical Area - which would include Holland up to Muskegon) is 1,324,513, making it the 32nd largest in the US, right behind Louisville but ahead of cities such as Buffalo, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans.

http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metrodef.html

(FWIW: census.gov is one of my favorite websites.)

Hope---

You quite likely were a math major, and now employed as a statistician. As my wife, the college math teacher says, only a statistician OR someone with a totally illogical mind for math, could make < 200,000 come out to be 1,324,513!    

Even if you include the entire Kent County population, you're still only at approximately 604,000. From how far away are people over there coming to see D3 basketball games?

I chose the statistician description for you least anyone think of you as illogical in any way.  

I'd prefer to be thought of as illogical than a statistician.

I am a sick man. I am a spiteful man. ... Merciful Heavens! But what do I care for the laws of nature and arithmetic when, for some reason I dislike those laws and the fact that twice two makes four? Of course, I cannot break through the wall by battering my head against it if I really have not the strength to knock it down, but I am not going to be reconciled to it simply because it is a stone wall and I have not the strength. ... In fact, man is a comical creature; there seems to be a kind of jest in it all. But yet mathematical certainty is after all, something insufferable. Twice two makes four seems to me simply a piece of insolence. Twice two makes four is a pert coxcomb who stands with arms akimbo barring your path and spitting. I admit that twice two makes four is an excellent thing, but if we are to give everything its due, twice two makes five is sometimes a very charming thing too.

It's a little early in the winter to be quoting Dostoevsky, isn't it? Russian authors are best read when there's three feet of snow on the ground. Save Notes From the Underground for the dead of January, HC, when we all start going a little nuts.

[HopeConvert]

The Bible Tigers of Grace (student enrollment, 190) dismantled Cornerstone last night 82-68 at Mol Arena. Calvin's opening game loss--by almost the identical score--is looking less and less disappointing.

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2009/12/grace_bible_shows_it_belongs_v.html

For a city of less than 200,000 people, Grand Rapids has a pretty impressive resume for small-college men's basketball.

I think you aren't using the proper census data. The MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) for Grand Rapids, according to 2008 census estimates, is 778,833. The CSA (Combined Statistical Area - which would include Holland up to Muskegon) is 1,324,513, making it the 32nd largest in the US, right behind Louisville but ahead of cities such as Buffalo, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans.

http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metrodef.html

(FWIW: census.gov is one of my favorite websites.)

Hope---

You quite likely were a math major, and now employed as a statistician. As my wife, the college math teacher says, only a statistician OR someone with a totally illogical mind for math, could make < 200,000 come out to be 1,324,513!    

Even if you include the entire Kent County population, you're still only at approximately 604,000. From how far away are people over there coming to see D3 basketball games?

I chose the statistician description for you least anyone think of you as illogical in any way.  

I'd prefer to be thought of as illogical than a statistician.

I am a sick man. I am a spiteful man. ... Merciful Heavens! But what do I care for the laws of nature and arithmetic when, for some reason I dislike those laws and the fact that twice two makes four? Of course, I cannot break through the wall by battering my head against it if I really have not the strength to knock it down, but I am not going to be reconciled to it simply because it is a stone wall and I have not the strength. ... In fact, man is a comical creature; there seems to be a kind of jest in it all. But yet mathematical certainty is after all, something insufferable. Twice two makes four seems to me simply a piece of insolence. Twice two makes four is a pert coxcomb who stands with arms akimbo barring your path and spitting. I admit that twice two makes four is an excellent thing, but if we are to give everything its due, twice two makes five is sometimes a very charming thing too.

It's a little early in the winter to be quoting Dostoevsky, isn't it? Russian authors are best read when there's three feet of snow on the ground. Save Notes From the Underground for the dead of January, HC, when we all start going a little nuts.

Greg,

First of all, kudos to you for identifying the source. Second, there was a foot of snow on the ground, and I was already bummed.

HC

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope finished 19-65 from the floor at 28% and shot just 26% in the 2nd half on 9-34 shooting.  I think this has to be considered a pretty disappointing result.  

That pretty much sums up one of the uggliest games Hope has played in a while.  Nothing was going in, and absolutely no flow to the game at all.  Credit ODU's defense for some of that, but I think Hope entered this game over confident.  No doubt the ups and downs from this team point to it being a young team, and every one of these learning experiences should make them better - but only time will tell

[realist]

Congrats to the Dutchman on a convincing victory tonight and three double-doubles.

A lot of talk here about KVS.  On the postgame interview yesterday, he was very upset with Calvin's effort and took ownership of that as head coach.  Even went so far as to say that if they pulled it out at the end, they wouldn't have deserved the victory based on the effort put forth.  With that type of leadership at the top and the talent Calvin has, don't count them out, I think you'll see some improvements soon.  Also, the rotation seems to be taking shape, with Salo and Schnyders getting fewer minutes and Snikkers and Powell getting more.  Also Campbell playing a more major role and he has been been playing well.  All this is good.  We really need a victory next Friday over Trinity though heading into the Christmas break.

Like many things with KVS if this were the first time we heard these comments in this situation it would have real meaning.  In fact we have heard this once or twice every year if memory serves correct.  What one waits for is some recognition that "oh oh it's happening again", and modification of the "Scheme".

[HopeConvert]

I agree with FDF: there isn't much good that can be said about the game. I thought the team played again with pretty good intensity, but they were slow on a lot of defensive rotations and had difficulty penetrating ODU's defense. Give credit on both counts to ODU, which I thought was a solid team. I do have a couple of concerns about Hope, and not just the size of the interior defense. 1. I don't think this is a particularly good 3-point shooting team. 2. They have to finish better around the rim. The bad percentage yesterday masks the fact that they, once again, missed a lot of bunnies. 3. Interesting that Jungling was in the last five minutes of the game yesterday. Clearly he's more of a 3-point threat than Krombeen, but the latter has also seemed to be not quite as much in control of things as he has seemed in the past. His game has seemed a little off to me, almost like he's trying too hard. 4. For this team to be competitive, they have to be healthy, particularly when you consider that at times the freshmen are going to play like freshmen.

[pointlem]

Last night's game gave me empathy for how Wheaton must have felt after its game against Hope . . . surely an off night for them, when the ball kept rimming out, while Hope's shots (seemingly the same shots missing last night) were falling.  Wheaton, I assume, is much better than they displayed on a weird bad shooting night.  And Hope is much better than they displayed in their weird bad shooting last night.  The unpredictability of sport is part of its excitement.

Hopefully, the frosh returning to complete health and the hoped-for presence of Andy Venema in 2010 will take the team to the next level.  Each of the starting five have excelled at times and will, I'm confident, continue to do so.

[hoopdreams]

I have noticed disturbing trends with this years Hope group, with the most obvious being the horrible first halves thus far.  Taking away the Calvin and Wheaton games which are "big rivalry"-1 legendary, 1 within the past couple years, their first 20 minutes have been quite bad ( I did not go to Trinity so cannot say).  The last 3 games have been beyond poor.  Intensity, execution, shot selection at times, sub patterns....  It may be time to tinker with the starting lineup a bit because they are not getting it done against teams I wouldn't exactly call great.

The reason Jungling was in the last 5 minutes was Krombeen has struggled a lot- turnovers, shot selection, foul trouble.  His confidence has taken a hit to the point where he struggled walking the ball up against no pressure in the second half.  He is fortunate that GVW allows him to play through his mistakes most of the time.  David receives much more flexibility than most others.  And although Scott hasn't played great, their is no 3rd option at PG.  Anyone else notice this....

The 5 that finished the game deserved to be out there because that combo, and no one in particular, played quite well for the most part and displayed an intensity needed for each minute, not just when the game is on the line or the rivalry games.

One may wonder if their poor performances on Saturdays the past 2 weeks was in part due to the starters extensive minutes the night before.  I do not think this should ever be an issue but if so, their preseason,in-season conditioning, and nutrition needs to be questioned.  GVW subbing is already in mid conference form.  By the time conference play begins, non starters won't even need to dress.

I was amused by O Dominican's coaches quotes in the sentinel, especially talking about Hope's O when he said something to the effect of "they really don't do anything offensively" ouch.

I can see this team ending the season with 10 losses and 6 before conference play.  I also see glimpses of a team that could make some noise come Feb and March depending on match-ups.  Hopefully they find their identity in the next couple of weeks.

[sac]

Need some more potent holiday eggnog around here........everyone gets way to down after their team loses a game or two.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

One note of interest about ODU (heard on the Hope sports reports this morning) - they are a provisional NCAA DII school, and will be a member of the GLIAC.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

One note of interest about ODU (heard on the Hope sports reports this morning) - they are a provisional NCAA DII school, and will be a member of the GLIAC.

This is amazing when one considers that the enrollment of GBC is only 190 students!

HUH??

[KnightSlappy]

One note of interest about ODU (heard on the Hope sports reports this morning) - they are a provisional NCAA DII school, and will be a member of the GLIAC.

This is amazing when one considers that the enrollment of GBC is only 190 students!

HUH??

If you take a chunk out of the 'O' and point it inward it becomes a 'G' and a 'B' is really like a 'D' with a line in the middle, and turn the 'U' sidways and it becomes a 'C'. I can understand the confusion.

[realist]

Me thinks someone took Sac's comment about more "potent eggnog" seriously.

Well after reading the posts about Hope I suddenly am brimming with confidence in Calvin.