MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hoopdreams]

quick look at Albion's roster reminds me of something that came about last weekend.  YouTube wonder, black hole gunslinger, JV Hope roster quitter, Albion mid-year latch-on, disappearing artist Spencer Jennings is rumored to have made it as a walk-on for a high-major ACC program.  I checked some rosters in the Carolina-Triangle but came up empty.  Does anyone know, or care if this is true?

Having sent a couple hours on campus last weekend, there is DEFINITELY a transformation happening within that locker room and beyond.  These kids are expecting to do great things this year, are focused, and are on a mission.  It even "felt" a little different around the fieldhouse, and every person a have talked to this fall, said that each practice are absolute wars, even big Andy has bought into it, somewhat.  We shall see....

Granted they are currently 0-0 but this team could be as focused as any for some time.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

An interesting addition to Albion's roster- 6'7" senior Tyler Newsome.  Newsome played as a freshman but hasn't played since.  Good skills and bball IQ- should help Albion.

Interesting observation - there are 2 Seniors on Albion's roster that haven't played varisty ball - Newsome and Kimball.  Kimball has played JV 3 years, Newsome 1. 

[realist]

KVS has 6 of his 9 player rotation back from last year.  2 of those 6 players were fr. last year, and Calvin had a competitive team.  All KVS needs is for one or two more so's to step up their game from last year, and one or two fr. to be as good as last years two fr, and you have a very solid 9 player rotation.  
I don't see any "drop off" in bench streght at Calvin.  In fact the last two years recruiting classes are probably the best two of the KVS era.  What Calvin might give up in experience IMHO they more than make up for in ability.

[KnightSlappy]

quick look at Albion's roster reminds me of something that came about last weekend.  YouTube wonder, black hole gunslinger, JV Hope roster quitter, Albion mid-year latch-on, disappearing artist Spencer Jennings is rumored to have made it as a walk-on for a high-major ACC program.  I checked some rosters in the Carolina-Triangle but came up empty.  Does anyone know, or care if this is true?

According to this youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH16AnNYnVE), he's at Wake Forest, but according to this roster (http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/wake-m-baskbl-mtt.html), he's not on the team. But it sounds like you're aware of this already.

[realist]

quick look at Albion's roster reminds me of something that came about last weekend.  YouTube wonder, black hole gunslinger, JV Hope roster quitter, Albion mid-year latch-on, disappearing artist Spencer Jennings is rumored to have made it as a walk-on for a high-major ACC program.  I checked some rosters in the Carolina-Triangle but came up empty.  Does anyone know, or care if this is true?

Having sent a couple hours on campus last weekend, there is DEFINITELY a transformation happening within that locker room and beyond.  These kids are expecting to do great things this year, are focused, and are on a mission.  It even "felt" a little different around the fieldhouse, and every person a have talked to this fall, said that each practice are absolute wars, even big Andy has bought into it, somewhat.  We shall see....

Granted they are currently 0-0 but this team could be as focused as any for some time.

The Hope guys will get a good opportunity to find out if the dream is realistic or not when they are on the floor against Carthage.  Don't get me wrong.  I expect Hope to be very very good this year, but am not sure they have the ability to make the dreams happen .

[KnightSlappy]

KVS has 6 of his 9 player rotation back from last year.  2 of those 6 players were fr. last year, and Calvin had a competitive team.  All KVS needs is for one or two more so's to step up their game from last year, and one or two fr. to be as good as last years two fr, and you have a very solid 9 player rotation.  
I don't see any "drop off" in bench streght at Calvin.  In fact the last two years recruiting classes are probably the best two of the KVS era.  What Calvin might give up in experience IMHO they more than make up for in ability.

The way I see it, he'll go with:

Salo
Powell	Schnyders
Snikkers	Haverdink
Rodts	Kruis
Schuster	DeYoung

That's 9. Kruis is a big unknown, but there's really only 3 big men on the roster, so I think he'll have to play. After that, KVS will probably pick one more from Brink, Vallie, and DeBoer (although that's just my gut feeling, I really don't know enough to separate these guys from Greene and Rietema).

[KnightSlappy]

Having sent a couple hours on campus last weekend, there is DEFINITELY a transformation happening within that locker room and beyond.  These kids are expecting to do great things this year, are focused, and are on a mission.  It even "felt" a little different around the fieldhouse, and every person a have talked to this fall, said that each practice are absolute wars, even big Andy has bought into it, somewhat.  We shall see....

Granted they are currently 0-0 but this team could be as focused as any for some time.

The Hope guys will get a good opportunity to find out if the dream is realistic or not when they are on the floor against Carthage.  Don't get me wrong.  I expect Hope to be very very good this year, but am not sure they have the ability to make the dreams happen .

Hope went toe-to-toe with the Red Men last year (and Calvin beat 'em), but I think Carthage (at home) will lay the wood on both MIAAers this year. Calvin and Hope never fare well on the evil side of the pond, so I'll be heading into the MIAA-CCIW Challenge with low expectations. I haven't dug into it very much, but Wheaton looks beatable. At this point, I'd be plenty happy with a 1-1 weekend.

As long as Hope beats Wheaton, I won't worry about the end results too much (although I'd be sad if Calvin loses both).

[Gregory Sager]

This is the first thing that comes up in a GIS for "evil side pond":

[ziggy]

This is the first thing that comes up in a GIS for "evil side pond":

It's never too early to pick up a few stocking-stuffers.

[oldknight]

KnightSlappy has been blogging about Calvin basketball and I think it's worth reading for those of you interested in Calvin hoops. He attended Saturday's scrimmage against the JV and included this bit:


The freshmen didn't really make much of an impact, but they didn't play poorly either. Mitch Vallie showed some nice touch on his shot.

The Knights still need to find an offensive presence in the post. DeYoung was active, but he still doesn't seem like a polished offensive player. In general, the team wasn't able to finish many shots in traffic. That won't always be the case, but I'm getting the feeling that they'll live and die with their mid-range and longer shooting.


I think KS is right about Calvin being largely a perimeter team on offense. I think that identity will remain until Tyler Kruis develops into that low post scorer Calvin needs him to be. Adam DeYoung offers a strong post presence on defense and the boards but he will never be a go-to guy when the Knights have the ball.

[calvin_grad]

I think KS is right about Calvin being largely a perimeter team on offense. I think that identity will remain until Tyler Kruis develops into that low post scorer Calvin needs him to be. Adam DeYoung offers a strong post presence on defense and the boards but he will never be a go-to guy when the Knights have the ball.

Stating the obvious here, but I think they are really going to miss Mantel this year.  There will be a few games that they lose this year because they go cold from outside (not that discussion again   ).

[KnightSlappy]

I think KS is right about Calvin being largely a perimeter team on offense. I think that identity will remain until Tyler Kruis develops into that low post scorer Calvin needs him to be. Adam DeYoung offers a strong post presence on defense and the boards but he will never be a go-to guy when the Knights have the ball.

Stating the obvious here, but I think they are really going to miss Mantel this year.  There will be a few games that they lose this year because they go cold from outside (not that discussion again   ).

I was always surprised at how much (unfair) grumbling Mantel induced out of the Van Noord crowd. It seems he was never the player that they expected him to be (mainly Shaq in his prime if he also shot 100% from the line), but what he was what he was, and that was a darn good D3 player. They didn't hand out trips to the senior all-star game to everyone. It's my understanding that those types of players don't come around too often. I hope the complainers realize what they had.

[David Collinge]

This is the first thing that comes up in a GIS for "evil side pond":

Wait, which one is the mustard?

[Mr. Ypsi]

This is the first thing that comes up in a GIS for "evil side pond":

Wait, which one is the mustard?

Silly David, ketchup is obviously red.

(Though I think I would pass on blue mustard. )

[GoKnights68]

I think KS is right about Calvin being largely a perimeter team on offense. I think that identity will remain until Tyler Kruis develops into that low post scorer Calvin needs him to be. Adam DeYoung offers a strong post presence on defense and the boards but he will never be a go-to guy when the Knights have the ball.

Stating the obvious here, but I think they are really going to miss Mantel this year.  There will be a few games that they lose this year because they go cold from outside (not that discussion again   ).

I was always surprised at how much (unfair) grumbling Mantel induced out of the Van Noord crowd. It seems he was never the player that they expected him to be (mainly Shaq in his prime if he also shot 100% from the line), but what he was what he was, and that was a darn good D3 player. They didn't hand out trips to the senior all-star game to everyone. It's my understanding that those types of players don't come around too often. I hope the complainers realize what they had.

I agree.  He really did improve tremendously from his junior to his senior year, just going by myself personally observing almost every home game of Calvins.  He definitely closed out his personal career (not team) on a high note with 29 points in the MIAA tourney finals.