MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Dark Knight]

I really like the knights' offense this year. They've got lots of options.

They can grind it in to Mantel, and not much stops him. He's more willing to head toward the hoop, instead of fading away, so he's drawing lots of fouls. And they run somenice offensive plays that get the ball into the low post.

A number of players can slash to the basket. Even 6'10" Schuster dribble-drove and made a bucket last game.

All of the starters -- Veltema, Rodts, Salo, Mantel, and Snikkers -- as well as Powell and Schuster can put up a decent 3-point shot.

The defense is much improved, but there is room for further improvement. If they can continue to improve, and play full 40-minute games, they'll be mighty hard to beat.

[sac]

This is pretty late but here's some good video from the Hope/Calvin game the week before last.  Very good looks at VanNoord Arena if you haven't seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZM39uq8-z0

[sac]

also these highlights from Hope's previous win vs Davenport
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tigFqgA_n38&feature=related

and then this........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GB6Ram5uNk

.........which at this point.......

[Erm Schmigget]

Nice performance for much of the game from Hope Saturday.  I was glad to see Venema get the start, and believe that coming off the bench was good for motivating Snuggerud, who finished with 8 points and 6 blocks after averaging just over 6 and just under 2 for the first 13 games.  I don't think Andy is up to speed yet, and his stats would suggest that.  But if starting him and playing him for 15 while Snuggerud comes off the bench for 25 only serves to boost Andy's morale and light some fire under Nate, I'll take that.

From the usual starting 5, only Bowser and Krombeen played their season average of 28 minutes or so each, and the whole team got in on the action.  Even Nathaniel King got 4 pts and a rebound in just the last 1:16.  Now if only Ty Tanis could find his shot and work his way back into the rotation.....

Hope's field goal %age in the second half took a disturbing dive from 57.6 to 32.4, while K improved from 37.9 to 42.4.  I hope we don't see that again.  Spotting 10 percentage points there to your opponent is a serious no-no and they simply can't let that happen again.  Bowser went 3-5 in the first, then 0-5 in the second.  He needs to finish his shots stronger. 

Bunn led again, with 12 pts in 24 min.  The guy next to us got really frustrated when GVW kept Peter out for about 7 1/2 min in the 2nd, but I saw nothing wrong with getting a chance to see more of the bench in the game.  At the time there was enough of a cushion in the score to handle letting your leading scorer(s) rest.  A 20-pt lead got down to 11, but that's still comfortable against a team like Kazoo at this point.

Great student support again, very much into the game and on top of the situation.  As Kazoo's Alex Lapka was at the line for 2 in the first half, the Hope students chanted "You will miss!  You will miss!"  He did.  Both.  I think that's the first time I've seen that work quite so well.  During the second half, someone kicked loose a cable at the scorer's table and all of the stats disappeared from the scoreboards.  The students--including the cheerleaders and the sound guy--provided some impromptu entertainment that helped the repair time pass very quickly.  Definitely not a quiet place to study, even when the game was halted by technical difficulties.   

Looking ahead, Albion's Hutton, Bridges, and Cruse seem to be the ones to look out for.  Hope will have to defend the 3 better than they have in the 2 conference losses.  If Nelis and Venema can contain Bridges without much help from the double team, that should free up the rest of the defense for good coverage, unlike the Olivet game.  This is an improtant road win for Hope to get, not only for the sake of the record, but also to prove to themselves that they really should be considered one of the best teams in the league.  Wish I could be there Wednesday...guess I'll just have to let the radio take the brunt of my yelling.   

[ziggy]

Horrible news for the Hope College community:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100117/NEWS06/100117024/?imw=Y

My prayers go out for all.

[sac]

Never easy to break the silence from such terrible news.  My heart goes out to the family and friends.


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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

[almcguirejr]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

[doc]

A number of players can slash to the basket. Even 6'10" Schuster dribble-drove and made a bucket last game.

I don't know if you could call anything Schuster does a "slash", but his improvement this year has been really fun to watch.  If he is shooting the 3 like he has been, it really opens things up and is impossible to block.  I like the "twin tower" look the Knights pull out from time to time with Schuster and Mantel.

[sac]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

Thats ok, I don't think the punch really landed..........I expect Stinger to be on here soon with something about Hope grads flopping.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

Thats ok, I don't think the punch really landed..........I expect Stinger to be on here soon with something about Hope grads flopping.

Of course any flopping they learned, they learned from Joe Haklin   

[realist]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

Thats ok, I don't think the punch really landed..........I expect Stinger to be on here soon with something about Hope grads flopping.

Of course any flopping they learned, they learned from Joe Haklin   

Excuse me!!!   All the games I saw with Smokin Joe.     Never once did he flop.  Take off his coat, twirl it around his head several times, and then, and then, and then cast it down upon the court.  Yes, but flop......... never.

[realist]

Sac:  Thanks for breaking the silence.  I tried several times, but it just reminded me too much of the several Calvin students injured in a head on several years ago.  I know all Calvin fans, and the entire MIAA will join in a moment of silence on Wed.

[sac]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

Thats ok, I don't think the punch really landed..........I expect Stinger to be on here soon with something about Hope grads flopping.

Of course any flopping they learned, they learned from Joe Haklin   

Excuse me!!!   All the games I saw with Smokin Joe.     Never once did he flop.  Take off his coat, twirl it around his head several times, and then, and then, and then cast it down upon the court.  Yes, but flop......... never.

If you look closely you can still see the floor burns from the snow angel Haklin tried to make on the old Calvin Fieldhouse floor in what turned out to be his last game as the Kzoo head coach.

[Civic Minded]

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The odds on this are just staggering, plus he's from about 5 miles from where I live.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1689211031/Baseball-manager-throws-punch-at-umpire-D-J-Reyburn-a-Hope-College-graduate

I saw the replay on ESPN.  I thought it was a horrible thing Offerman did.  BUT,
that was before I knew the umpire was a Hope grad. 

Thats ok, I don't think the punch really landed..........I expect Stinger to be on here soon with something about Hope grads flopping.

Of course any flopping they learned, they learned from Joe Haklin   

Excuse me!!!   All the games I saw with Smokin Joe.     Never once did he flop.  Take off his coat, twirl it around his head several times, and then, and then, and then cast it down upon the court.  Yes, but flop......... never.

If you look closely you can still see the floor burns from the snow angel Haklin tried to make on the old Calvin Fieldhouse floor in what turned out to be his last game as the Kzoo head coach.

[/quote]
Oh my gosh, that has to be one of the oddest/funniest/strangest basketball memories I have.  If I recall correctly, he threw himself on the floor, lying on his back like a toddler, flailing his arms and legs in a grand "but I want that piece of candy! (or that missed call)" fit.    Seared in my brain for life...

[realist]

As funny as it was I never considered what Joe did as flopping   He initated all the action, and a good flop (imho) at least requires an opposing player in the same zip code.