MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Intangir · November 27, 2010, 10:18:23 PM

Except for about 7-8 minutes early in the 2nd half where I don't think they scored at all, I thought Calvin looked great tonight - much more like mid-season form than Friday. Defensively, the only thing they let Cornerstone do was shoot 3s (and they did shoot the lights out from there, granted) but I doubt Cornerstone had more than a handful of points inside. Offensively they had a lot of great drives and looked good except for that one scoring drought.

Tom Snikkers got tournament MVP and Shuster was on all tournament team, along with (I think) Justin Yoder and Ronald Bates (who were both impressive, Yoder for 3s and Bates had a bunch of great steals), Will Bowser, and one Aquinas player who is slipping my mind.

oldknight · November 27, 2010, 10:50:47 PM

A well earned victory for the Knights against a veteran Cornerstone squad that really understands spacing on the offensive end and who makes the defense pay for the smallest mistake. I don't have a stat sheet yet but I have to believe the Knights won the game on the boards. Tom Snikkers won a well earned MVP award for the tourney. I must say this team is slowly but surely becoming "his team" and if he continues to mature he will be a conference MVP someday. The Snikkers family knows how to produce basketball players, that's for sure.

I have no problem with Schuster being named to the All-tournament team but I thought Jordan Brink also deserved a spot. A very composed kid, he sure doesn't play like your typical freshmen. Did anyone notice--he wanted to get fouled with the game on the line? On his blog, KS spoke bold words about Jordan and they may well prove to be correct.

doc · November 27, 2010, 10:53:37 PM

Really nice couple of games for the Knights. I have been lulled into expecting slow starts over the last few years, with things (especially the D) not clicking until January. This group in particular seems to have the KVS help-side thing down much ahead of schedule, with only a few times where they missed a rotation (associated with sideline foot stamping) to allow an uncontested 3. The freshman really look good this early -- Brink seems like a really smart ball player.

The other thing I like that I haven't seen at Calvin for a while is a number of players who can create off the dribble and make good things happen. C'stone did not seem ready to deal with the penetration, creating chances underneath or kick outs. Snikkers, Brink, Powell, DeBoer, and Schnyders all did some really nice things on the offensive end - - it just looked faster and more fluid than in the past. Very encouraging.

oldknight · November 27, 2010, 11:08:30 PM

I just picked up the stat sheet from the CU website and it confirms the rebounding disparity. Calvin crushed the Golden Eagles on the boards 39-22. Cornerstone only got 4 offensive rebounds for the game which is fantastic. Cornerstone went 13-22 from downtown but Calvin's ability to prevent Kelvin DeVries from getting off a lot of shots (he only took 5) was tremendous. The Knights may be young but this is one of most talented, athletic and long teams we've seen in many years. Give me talent any day--it's a lot easier coaching teams with talent, even if young, and a lot of fun watching them. For Calvin this is an unconventional team. They attack the basket with dribble penetration very well.

KnightSlappy · November 27, 2010, 11:32:37 PM

Quote from: oldknight on November 27, 2010, 10:50:47 PM
Tom Snikkers won a well earned MVP award for the tourney. I must say this team is slowly but surely becoming "his team" and if he continues to mature he will be a conference MVP someday. The Snikkers family knows how to produce basketball players, that's for sure.

This was my thought too. If it wasn't for Mr. McClary, I'd have said he was my early favorite this year, but I'm also a little bit over-amped right now. Still, he's fantastic.

Mr. Ypsi · November 27, 2010, 11:47:39 PM

I'd bet that Carrie and Tom Snikkers had some titanic battles as kids. I wonder at what age he first ever beat her? (Or hasn't he yet?!

)

sac · November 27, 2010, 11:56:05 PM

Olivet 86 Case Western 69

McClary 24, Jennings 20, Evans 15

A needed in-region win, up next on Sunday a very juicy matchup (rematch from last season) with John Carroll who is 3-0 on the year. JCU will test Olivet's depth, the Comets will need better play from the bench to survive the Blue Streaks pressure.

sac · November 27, 2010, 11:57:26 PM

Anyone know why Damacious White didn't play for Aquinas tonight?

Also, I'll have to check for sure but I believe the league is 4 wins ahead of last season at this time.

oldknight · November 28, 2010, 12:14:25 AM

Quote from: sac on November 27, 2010, 11:57:26 PM
Anyone know why Damacious White didn't play for Aquinas tonight?

He's healthy. He didn't play in the second half against Calvin. I understand he was asked to not show up tonight so apparently there is a disciplinary issue.

goodknight · November 28, 2010, 12:15:18 AM

Quote from: sac on November 27, 2010, 11:57:26 PM
Anyone know why Damacious White didn't play for Aquinas tonight?

Also, I'll have to check for sure but I believe the league is 4 wins ahead of last season at this time.

The word in the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center is that White's comportment in the locker room at halftime of the Calvin game on Friday earned him bench time for the rest of the tourney (he sat in his uniform the entire second half of the loss to Calvin and never dressed for the Hope shellacking on Saturday).

I can't recall when I've seen AQ look less competitive.

oldknight · November 28, 2010, 12:23:27 AM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on November 27, 2010, 11:47:39 PM
I'd bet that Carrie and Tom Snikkers had some titanic battles as kids. I wonder at what age he first ever beat her? (Or hasn't he yet?! )

Actually he took most of his lumps from his older brother who treated Tom like so much air line luggage.

Mr. Ypsi · November 28, 2010, 01:27:45 AM

Quote from: oldknight on November 28, 2010, 12:23:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on November 27, 2010, 11:47:39 PM
I'd bet that Carrie and Tom Snikkers had some titanic battles as kids. I wonder at what age he first ever beat her? (Or hasn't he yet?! )

Actually he took most of his lumps from his older brother who treated Tom like so much air line luggage.

No doubt.

But I've dealt with girls (sisters) also; I'd need proof that she didn't join in on the beatdowns!

(And do some on her own while she still could.

)

Flying Dutch Fan · November 28, 2010, 07:58:04 AM

Some thoughts on Hope's weekend:

- Very exciting to see the Dutchmen play with the defensive intensity we expect from Hope teams.

- Also great to see the team improving each game, and learning from the mistakes of the previous game. Despite the experience on this team, a new coach and the injuries on the team have an effect. Seems to me that Hope has worked out the "kinks in that chain".

- I really don't see that Hope has a 3rd string, just a really large 2nd string. Depending on the situation, Coach Neil is using anyone on the bench - and they have each responded. This is building a very deep Hope team that will be ready for a run at the MIAA title. Add the return of Bunn and Venema (if and when)and this team will be very good.

- AQ - two pretty poor performances this weekend, from a team that beat Olivet (and even out-rebounded them).

Dark Knight · November 28, 2010, 08:02:21 AM

It was a terrific game all around -- both teams played very well. I would have been happy enough for Calvin to beat Cornerstone on an off night, but the Eagles shot 59% (13-22) from behind the arc -- and not because Calvin's perimeter defense was poor. It's especially hard to beat a quality team when they are shooting like that.

A couple of things stood out in my mind. Calvin has the speed and athleticism to defend and compete with quality scholarship teams.

Rebounding! I'm not quite sure what to make of that result. Previously Calvin had outrebounded opponents by 2 per game; last night they outrebounded a tall, experience, athletic Cornerstone team by 17. VandeStreek said he had made it a point of emphasis for the game. I guess I can't argue with VandeStreek's claim that this team has a high ceiling.

Four more games left in the "pre-season": Wheaton, Carthage, Trinity Christian, and Aquinas. The latter two are starting to look like W's. The former two are playing excellently -- but probably no better than Cornerstone. Hmmm.

Titan Q · November 28, 2010, 09:56:14 AM

Quote from: Dark Knight on November 28, 2010, 08:02:21 AM
Four more games left in the "pre-season": Wheaton, Carthage, Trinity Christian, and Aquinas. The latter two are starting to look like W's. The former two are playing excellently -- but probably no better than Cornerstone. Hmmm.

Carthage is 3-2, with a home loss to John Carroll, a neutral court loss to Whitworth, and only led Pacific by 2 points in the final minute two days ago.

Wheaton looked very good in home wins vs UW-Whitewater and Loras, but lost by 18 @ Manchester.

Not sure I'd use "excellently" for either yet.