MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[realist]

Terry also had a really good 6'11" kid from Ithaca (7 miles south of Alma), who I saw put up 26 to beat a solid Alma HS team last year, but when Terry left, he transfered....
[/quote]

I can't believe you said that with a straight face.

[SBell]

Maybe Creed Stapleton grew 4 inches after his junior year, but I'd never heard anything about him reaching 6-11.

[Knightmare]

Just FYI, the Calvin Men's soccer team advances with a shootout win over Dominican, same team they defeated in last years NCAA semi-finals.  Congratulations and good luck on an extended run in the tourney!

[Dark Knight]

Just FYI, the Calvin Men's soccer team advances with a shootout win over Dominican, same team they defeated in last years NCAA semi-finals.  Congratulations and good luck on an extended run in the tourney!

It was a fantastic game -- both teams have highly effective attacks and great defenses. In fact, I'd give DU's defense the edge. Still, Calvin had lots of good chances and outplayed DU in the second half.

The PK shootout ended 3-1, with Ryan Bratt saving 3 of the 4 PK attempts that DU took. Wow! Not bad for the second best goalie in the league.

[oldknight]

Just FYI, the Calvin Men's soccer team advances with a shootout win over Dominican, same team they defeated in last years NCAA semi-finals.  Congratulations and good luck on an extended run in the tourney!

It was a fantastic game -- both teams have highly effective attacks and great defenses. In fact, I'd give DU's defense the edge. Still, Calvin had lots of good chances and outplayed DU in the second half.

The PK shootout ended 3-1, with Ryan Bratt saving 3 of the 4 PK attempts that DU took. Wow! Not bad for the second best goalie in the league.

It really was a great game. Dominican's defense was so strong and disciplined that I had little hope of a comeback after they took the lead early in the second half. But the thrownin came in so quickly--like a dart--it seemed to catch the defense offguard and the header passed through the near side with no margin for error. It was perfectly executed.

[Knightmare]

Just FYI, the Calvin Men's soccer team advances with a shootout win over Dominican, same team they defeated in last years NCAA semi-finals.  Congratulations and good luck on an extended run in the tourney!

It was a fantastic game -- both teams have highly effective attacks and great defenses. In fact, I'd give DU's defense the edge. Still, Calvin had lots of good chances and outplayed DU in the second half.

The PK shootout ended 3-1, with Ryan Bratt saving 3 of the 4 PK attempts that DU took. Wow! Not bad for the second best goalie in the league.

It really was a great game. Dominican's defense was so strong and disciplined that I had little hope of a comeback after they took the lead early in the second half. But the thrownin came in so quickly--like a dart--it seemed to catch the defense offguard and the header passed through the near side with no margin for error. It was perfectly executed.

Wish I could've seen it but geography just seems to get in the way.  Would take a 2+ hour drive to be in GR.

[KnightSlappy]

The Knights are hanging tough in Big Rapids. Down by 5 at the half.

Ferris 47, Calvin 42.

Bryan Powell leads all scorers with 13.

[Dark Knight]

The Knights are hanging tough in Big Rapids. Down by 5 at the half.

Ferris 47, Calvin 42.

Bryan Powell leads all scorers with 13.

It looks as though KVS is experimenting with different lineups and putting the freshmen in. Ferris State now leading by 24.

On the other hand, the Volleyball Knights are headed to the elite 8 and both cross country teams won regionals!

[sflzman]

Just FYI, the Calvin Men's soccer team advances with a shootout win over Dominican, same team they defeated in last years NCAA semi-finals.  Congratulations and good luck on an extended run in the tourney!

It was a fantastic game -- both teams have highly effective attacks and great defenses. In fact, I'd give DU's defense the edge. Still, Calvin had lots of good chances and outplayed DU in the second half.

The PK shootout ended 3-1, with Ryan Bratt saving 3 of the 4 PK attempts that DU took. Wow! Not bad for the second best goalie in the league.

It really was a great game. Dominican's defense was so strong and disciplined that I had little hope of a comeback after they took the lead early in the second half. But the thrownin came in so quickly--like a dart--it seemed to catch the defense offguard and the header passed through the near side with no margin for error. It was perfectly executed.

Wish I could've seen it but geography just seems to get in the way.  Would take a 2+ hour drive to be in GR.

You mean it would be a "Knightmare"?

[Dark Knight]

The starters were Powell and freshman Jordan Brink at guard and Snikkers, Rodts, and Schuster in the front court. It looked from Ferris State's stat thingey that Snikkers was starting at center, but I don't know if that's accurate.

The knights scored 42 points in the first half and 27 in the second. I think they were experimenting with lineups more in the second. Powell ended up with 22 points, Brink with 11. The knights outrebounded Ferris State in the first half, but the bulldogs ended up with 39 rebounds to Calvin's 34 for the whole game.

[KnightSlappy]

The starters were Powell and freshman Jordan Brink at guard and Snikkers, Rodts, and Schuster in the front court. It looked from Ferris State's stat thingey that Snikkers was starting at center, but I don't know if that's accurate.

The knights scored 42 points in the first half and 27 in the second. I think they were experimenting with lineups more in the second. Powell ended up with 22 points, Brink with 11. The knights outrebounded Ferris State in the first half, but the bulldogs ended up with 39 rebounds to Calvin's 34 for the whole game.

I don't think the LiveStat was an accurate representation of player positions. Schuster/DeYoung/Kruis were always shown out on the wing.

Good games from Powell, Brink (monster first game), and Rodts.

Poor games from Snikkers and Haverdink. I still expect big years from these two.

[oldknight]

With Mrs. Oldknight deserting me this weekend for the perceived greater charms of Chicago, I took in a double header--Calvin soccer and hoops. After a stirring PK win during which Ryan Bratt made his case for MVP by stuffing 3 of 4 Dominican shots, I headed up 131 to the beautiful seat of Mecosta County. Going north I had a nagging feeling that this could end ugly for VandeStreek's boys.

Even though Calvin only lost two starters, this is a brand new and very different team. Meanwhile, Ferris was fresh off a tough overtime loss to Indiana at Assembly Hall where the Bulldogs gave up a four point play with 10 seconds left in regulation and then saw their game winning shot at the buzzer waved off. Ferris sports the D2 preseason Player of the Year in Justin Keenan and Calvin has no one in his class. I sat in front of a Ferris fan who saw the game in Indiana and he told me the Hoosiers had no one who could stop Keenan who scored 21 that night. Worst of all, through the mystifying logic of NCAA rules, the game was the regular season opener for Ferris and Calvin was playing it as an exhibition which meant the two teams had very different goals for the game. As it turned out, I came away from the game more hopeful than disappointed by its result.

In at least one repect, tonight's game was quite similar to last season's matchup at Van Noord when Calvin hung with Ferris for 25+ minutes before the Bulldogs' superior physical strength and athleticism wore out the Knights. But this is a very different Calvin team than we saw last year--in fact it's unlike any Calvin team of recent years. They showed no single go-to guy in the low post and primarily relied on dribble penetration to get the ball inside in the first half. Ferris took a 39-29 lead with less than 5 minutes left before a flurry of baskets cut it to 41-40. Ferris eventually put down the rebellion, scored on a put back at the buzzer, and took a 47-42 lead into the locker room.

The Knights cut the lead to 53-50 just 3 minutes in to the second half at which point Keenen went to the bench with his third foul, a retirement that lasted about 5 minutes. To my amazement the Knights never scored a point with Keenan out of the game and Ferris scored 16 straight before Calvin put another point on the board. It may have been the fact that I saw a more wide open game Calvin couldn't match with Keenan out, combined with fatigue that led to the drought, but by the time it ended the outcome was sealed.

I don't know that there were any surprises to report but I came away very impressed with Jordan Brink. The kid can play and never looked to be in over his head. He came in with the reputation for being a big time scorer but he appears to have a well rounded game, displays confidence without cockiness, has good instincts, is a solid ball handler and distributor, and has the toughness and
lateral movement necessary to be a good defender. I think he can play either guard position with equal effectiveness. Mitch Vallie will be a good player in the MIAA. He has a nice body, controls it well and showed surprising leaping ablity. He opened every eye in Wink Arena by coming out of nowhere to swat away--in Tayshaun Prince style--what appeared to be a certain fast break layup.

Bryan Powell led the Knights with 22 but with him you have to take the bad medicine with the good. He had several untimely turnovers and he needs to remember to involve his teammates, dribble less and pass more. His over dribbling, especially in the second half, was at least partly responsible for the apparent noninvolvement of Rodts and Snikkers in the offense.

Given the quality of their opponent and the fact that unlike Ferris, Calvin was playing the game as a true exhibition (KVS played every available player on his bench in the first half save Fabiyi), tonight's 22 point loss is neither surprising nor cause for alarm. This group is potentially a very good team, I just don't know how long it will take.


On a side note, Mrs. Snikkers reported to me that the Hope women scrimmaged Ferris at Wink Arena earlier in the day and the Lady Dutch won by 6.
       

[northb]

please...somebody play basketball.....

With Mrs. Oldknight deserting me this weekend for the perceived greater charms of Chicago, I took in a double header--Calvin soccer and hoops. After a stirring PK win during which Ryan Bratt made his case for MVP by stuffing 3 of 4 Dominican shots, I headed up 131 to the beautiful seat of Mecosta County. Going north I had a nagging feeling that this could end ugly for VandeStreek's boys.

Even though Calvin only lost two starters, this is a brand new and very different team. Meanwhile, Ferris was fresh off a tough overtime loss to Indiana at Assembly Hall where the Bulldogs gave up a four point play with 10 seconds left in regulation and then saw their game winning shot at the buzzer waved off. Ferris sports the D2 preseason Player of the Year in Justin Keenan and Calvin has no one in his class. I sat in front of a Ferris fan who saw the game in Indiana and he told me the Hoosiers had no one who could stop Keenan who scored 21 that night. Worst of all, through the mystifying logic of NCAA rules, the game was the regular season opener for Ferris and Calvin was playing it as an exhibition which meant the two teams had very different goals for the game. As it turned out, I came away from the game more hopeful than disappointed by its result.

In at least one repect, tonight's game was quite similar to last season's matchup at Van Noord when Calvin hung with Ferris for 25+ minutes before the Bulldogs' superior physical strength and athleticism wore out the Knights. But this is a very different Calvin team than we saw last year--in fact it's unlike any Calvin team of recent years. They showed no single go-to guy in the low post and primarily relied on dribble penetration to get the ball inside in the first half. Ferris took a 39-29 lead with less than 5 minutes left before a flurry of baskets cut it to 41-40. Ferris eventually put down the rebellion, scored on a put back at the buzzer, and took a 47-42 lead into the locker room.

The Knights cut the lead to 53-50 just 3 minutes in to the second half at which point Keenen went to the bench with his third foul, a retirement that lasted about 5 minutes. To my amazement the Knights never scored a point with Keenan out of the game and Ferris scored 16 straight before Calvin put another point on the board. It may have been the fact that I saw a more wide open game Calvin couldn't match with Keenan out, combined with fatigue that led to the drought, but by the time it ended the outcome was sealed.

I don't know that there were any surprises to report but I came away very impressed with Jordan Brink. The kid can play and never looked to be in over his head. He came in with the reputation for being a big time scorer but he appears to have a well rounded game, displays confidence without cockiness, has good instincts, is a solid ball handler and distributor, and has the toughness and
lateral movement necessary to be a good defender. I think he can play either guard position with equal effectiveness. Mitch Vallie will be a good player in the MIAA. He has a nice body, controls it well and showed surprising leaping ablity. He opened every eye in Wink Arena by coming out of nowhere to swat away--in Tayshaun Prince style--what appeared to be a certain fast break layup.

Bryan Powell led the Knights with 22 but with him you have to take the bad medicine with the good. He had several untimely turnovers and he needs to remember to involve his teammates, dribble less and pass more. His over dribbling, especially in the second half, was at least partly responsible for the apparent noninvolvement of Rodts and Snikkers in the offense.

Given the quality of their opponent and the fact that unlike Ferris, Calvin was playing the game as a true exhibition (KVS played every available player on his bench in the first half save Fabiyi), tonight's 22 point loss is neither surprising nor cause for alarm. This group is potentially a very good team, I just don't know how long it will take.


On a side note, Mrs. Snikkers reported to me that the Hope women scrimmaged Ferris at Wink Arena earlier in the day and the Lady Dutch won by 6.
       

Aaaahhhhhh, thanks

[realist]

Thanks for the report OK.  It was a bit tough following what was going on at Ferris while listening/watching what was happening down in OH.  Looking at the box score it sure would confirm your conclusion that KVS was doing some experimentation. 
Given the choice between MVP, and still playing I am sure Mr. Bratt is much happier where he is.  

[sac]

I've probably talked too much the last few years about the MIAA's dismal non-conference performance, but........here it is again.

2005  46-38  .548
2006  52-34  .605
2007  27-51  .346
2008  34-44  .386
2009  35-46  .432
2010  38-50  .432

non-conference games
Adrian  26-36     .419
Albion  38-22     .633
Alma     18-43    .295
Calvin   35-28    .556
Hope    45-19    .703
Kzoo     17-43    .283
Olivet    26-38   .406
Trine     29-34   .460

I think I've wished to see 45 wins the last couple years, and 45 would again be something nice to see.  As we get set to tip another season, best of luck to all the MIAA participants.