MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HopeConvert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW4C2h3lPac

[wiz]

Damacious White is back and contributing big numbers for Aquinas.  The Saints held Allen Durham, the Grace Bible big man, to a paltry seven points and seven boards tonight.
Saturday's game at the VNA should be much more interesting and competitive than the game at AQ a few weeks ago.

Agreed.  And a healthy Durham may make that Grace vs Cornerstone more interesting too.

[Bob MacKenzie]

Twenty years ago, Tony Gugino plays for Hope.  20 years ago David Kool plays for Calvin.

Indeed, its a different era.

And Kirk Walter plays for Calvin and Calvin wins the 2005 NC 

South Christian had a Mr. Basketball nearly 20 years prior to David Kool, and he didn't play at Hope or Calvin, either.

Did this other Mr. Basketball have relatives who played for Calvin?

No, but during the midst of starting for four years in the Big Ten, winning a league title and eventually being an NBA draft pick, West Michigan small-timers were still saying he was in over his head and should transfer to Hope.

Did Matt Steigenga really get drafted by the NBA? I know he played a bit for the Bulls.  I never thought Hope would be a good place for him (Calvin would have been nice tho  ) but I always thought he'd have better off playing for Dean Smith at UNC rather than get buried in Judd's scheme that always featured one superstar.  I think maybe it was Steve Smith who was the go-to guy when Steigenga was there.

[oldknight]

Twenty years ago, Tony Gugino plays for Hope.  20 years ago David Kool plays for Calvin.

Indeed, its a different era.

And Kirk Walter plays for Calvin and Calvin wins the 2005 NC 

South Christian had a Mr. Basketball nearly 20 years prior to David Kool, and he didn't play at Hope or Calvin, either.

Did this other Mr. Basketball have relatives who played for Calvin?

No, but during the midst of starting for four years in the Big Ten, winning a league title and eventually being an NBA draft pick, West Michigan small-timers were still saying he was in over his head and should transfer to Hope.

Did Matt Steigenga really get drafted by the NBA? I know he played a bit for the Bulls.  I never thought Hope would be a good place for him (Calvin would have been nice tho  ) but I always thought he'd have better off playing for Dean Smith at UNC rather than get buried in Judd's scheme that always featured one superstar.  I think maybe it was Steve Smith who was the go-to guy when Steigenga was there.

Matt never got drafted but he did pick up a cup of coffee with the Bulls on one or more of those ten day contracts the NBA allows. I remember seeing him play in a nationally televised game. Most of Steigenga's pro career was spent in the old CBA before Isaiah Thomas ran that league into a coffin.

[realist]

Matt S. played for a team in Japan several of his pro years.  Matt's first year at MSU, because of injuries to other players, he spent quite abit of time playing in the post
As talented as he was he was out of position, and took quite a beating.  
Matt's step father was a RCA pastor, and his family ties were as much to Hope as they would have been to Calvin.  

20 years before Matt S. at South Christian there was a kid (if memory serves correct) Jeff Vander Linde that played at East Christian H.S.  He took a scholarship to MSU, played a year or two, and ended up at GVSU.  

East Christian eventually was merged with GR Christian.  The present GRC site started life as East Christian.  

[Knightmare]

Twenty years ago, Tony Gugino plays for Hope.  20 years ago David Kool plays for Calvin.

Indeed, its a different era.

And Kirk Walter plays for Calvin and Calvin wins the 2005 NC 

South Christian had a Mr. Basketball nearly 20 years prior to David Kool, and he didn't play at Hope or Calvin, either.

Did this other Mr. Basketball have relatives who played for Calvin?

No, but during the midst of starting for four years in the Big Ten, winning a league title and eventually being an NBA draft pick, West Michigan small-timers were still saying he was in over his head and should transfer to Hope.

Did Matt Steigenga really get drafted by the NBA? I know he played a bit for the Bulls.  I never thought Hope would be a good place for him (Calvin would have been nice tho  ) but I always thought he'd have better off playing for Dean Smith at UNC rather than get buried in Judd's scheme that always featured one superstar.  I think maybe it was Steve Smith who was the go-to guy when Steigenga was there.

Matt never got drafted but he did pick up a cup of coffee with the Bulls on one or more of those ten day contracts the NBA allows. I remember seeing him play in a nationally televised game. Most of Steigenga's pro career was spent in the old CBA before Isaiah Thomas ran that league into a coffin.

Actually, per wikipedia and basketball-reference.com, he was drafted by the Bulls in the 2nd round of the 1992 draft (52nd overall pick).  Not sure if he was subsequently cut before that season (as a 2nd round pick with non-guaranteed contracts) or not as it says that he then signed with the Bulls late in the '96-97 season, the aforementioned season he was able to collect a championship ring.

So while he wasn't able to stick around, he did have the honor of being taken in the NBA draft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Steigenga

http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1992.html

[oldknight]

Good catch by Knightmare. Way to keep me honest.

20 years before Matt S. at South Christian there was a kid (if memory serves correct) Jeff Vander Linde that played at East Christian H.S.  He took a scholarship to MSU, played a year or two, and ended up at GVSU. 

East Christian eventually was merged with GR Christian.  The present GRC site started life as East Christian.   

Jeff Vander Lende (now Jeff Lende) indeed did play at the former Grand Rapids East Christian High School before matriculating to MSU. His freshmen year was the last that major college ball (now Division I) prohibited freshmen from playing on the varsity team (football had the same rule) and I think he stayed in East Lansing through his sophomore year before finishing at Grand Valley.  I saw Vander Lende's JV team play against the Indiana Hoosier freshmen in a game where his abilities really shone. The game was loaded with good athletes, including Rudy Benjamin, the late Brad Van Pelt (later an NFL star), and George McGinnis, a prototype of the modern NBA player. Vander Lende was a terrific talent and could have been a top-flight Big Ten player if he had the desire for the game at that level of competition.

[Knightmare]

Good catch by Knightmare. Way to keep me honest.

20 years before Matt S. at South Christian there was a kid (if memory serves correct) Jeff Vander Linde that played at East Christian H.S.  He took a scholarship to MSU, played a year or two, and ended up at GVSU. 

East Christian eventually was merged with GR Christian.  The present GRC site started life as East Christian.   

Jeff Vander Lende (now Jeff Lende) indeed did play at the former Grand Rapids East Christian High School before matriculating to MSU. His freshmen year was the last that major college ball (now Division I) prohibited freshmen from playing on the varsity team (football had the same rule) and I think he stayed in East Lansing through his sophomore year before finishing at Grand Valley.  I saw Vander Lende's JV team play against the Indiana Hoosier freshmen in a game where his abilities really shone. The game was loaded with good athletes, including Rudy Benjamin, the late Brad Van Pelt (later an NFL star), and George McGinnis, a prototype of the modern NBA player. Vander Lende was a terrific talent and could have been a top-flight Big Ten player if he had the desire for the game at that level of competition.

A question because I don't know the history of Grand Rapids high schools and was in the GR area for my four years at Calvin and 2 post college years before moving back to Northern Michigan.  Is the former Grand Rapids East Christian High School now the current Grand Rapids Christian High or just a school that no longer exists at all?  Just curious as I've never heard of the school or the years it existed.

Thanks.

[realist]

Essentially yes.  For years GR Christian High was located on Franklin St. @ Madison.  Due to rapid growth from baby boomers it was crowded, and East Christian h.s was started.  About the same time Calvin Christian h.s was also started.   With some students coming from GRCHS, and some from Unity   As Calvin College was moving from Franklin St. to Knollcrest, and the neighborhood sort of went down hill it was decided to merge GR Christian, and East Christian at the East Christian site, or what is today GR Chrsitian High.  I know, more than you wanted to know.

FWIW:  For a number of years Calvin played some of it's home games at GRCHS, others were played at Godwin Heights, and the biggie, Hope games were played downtown in the Walsh Auditorium which seated about 3,000.  Opening the fieldhouse on Knollcrest was a really big deal.  Calvin even had cheerleaders in those days.

In the 60's and up to late 80's Knollcrest fieldhouse was the site of many h.s games.  I recall watching Jeff Vander Lende (1969) play in h.s. tournaments in the fieldhouse  SRO, and also watching J. Voskuil from Calvin Christian, and later U of M play against Matt S., and South Christian also a SRO game.

[ziggy]

Essentially yes.  For years GR Christian High was located on Franklin St. @ Madison.  Due to rapid growth from baby boomers it was crowded, and East Christian h.s was started.  About the same time Calvin Christian h.s was also started.   With some students coming from GRCHS, and some from Unity   As Calvin College was moving from Franklin St. to Knollcrest, and the neighborhood sort of went down hill it was decided to merge GR Christian, and East Christian at the East Christian site, or what is today GR Chrsitian High.  I know, more than you wanted to know.

FWIW:  For a number of years Calvin played some of it's home games at GRCHS, others were played at Godwin Heights, and the biggie, Hope games were played downtown in the Walsh Auditorium which seated about 3,000.  Opening the fieldhouse on Knollcrest was a really big deal.  Calvin even had cheerleaders in those days.

In the 60's and up to late 80's Knollcrest fieldhouse was the site of many h.s games.  I recall watching Jeff Vander Lende play in h.s. tournaments in the fieldhouse  SRO, and also watching J. Voskuil from Calvin Christian, and later U of M play against Matt S., and South Christian also a SRO game.

I lived at Franklin and Madison. I can understand why the school moved; the Chinese government put cameras in all the power poles so they could keep an eye on what everyone is doing. At least that is what one of the neighbors told me. Not the neighbor that would rummage our garage for returnable cans and bottles, a different one. Not the one that tried to follow a group of people into the house during a party either.

[sac]

Olivet has an interesting weekend.  They get the rare opportunity to play two teams on consecutive nights with the nickname 'Seahawks'.

On Friday they take on St. Mary's, Md., a D3 sweet sixteen team 2 of the last 3 years currently ranked #14.  This years St. Mary's is 7-2, one of those losses to D1 Citadel.  The Seahawks should have a height advantage with 5 players 6-6 or taller.

Saturday the Comets meet the Northwood, Fla Seahawks coached by Rollie Massimino.  Northwood is 5-1 and ranked #10 in NAIA II, its only loss to D2 Winoa State.  In an exhibition game they beat D1 Florida Atlantic.  Northwood will have a big height advantage.

http://seahawks.gonorthwood.com/mbasketball/roster/

Northwood has 5 international players on its roster... 2 from Germany, Croatia, Turkey and Jamaica are represented.

Later in the year, Northwood, Fla will host Northwood, Mi in a game.


Also, there's a cruise ship involved.

[sac]

The rest of Friday....


Albion vs Trinity, Tex at Southwestern  3pm

Trinity is 0-6 on the year, hopefully its warm.



Kalamazoo at Davenport 7pm

Davenport has slipped up recently losing to Concordia (no doubt flying high after their performance at UM), and Indiana Tech., and fallen to #19 in the NAIA II poll.   I still wouldn't expect this to be close but who knows.



Finlandia at Alma 7pm

Finlandia makes the long drive from Hancock.  This one is an in-region game.  Finlandia is 1-11 on the season.  With 11 Freshmen on the roster.

[sac]

So this has nothing to do with the MIAA or basketball, but I thought it was pretty cool.

This is the Calgary Hitmen's annual 'Teddy Bear' toss game,  the idea is that when Calgary scores its first goal fans throw teddy bears on the ice for needy kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmXEvviRMM&feature=player_embedded


Maybe donate something to Toys for Tots this year.......


It reminded me of the old Central Michigan tradition of throwing TP on the floor after the first basket.

[realist]

Damacious White is back and contributing big numbers for Aquinas.  The Saints held Allen Durham, the Grace Bible big man, to a paltry seven points and seven boards tonight.
Saturday's game at the VNA should be much more interesting and competitive than the game at AQ a few weeks ago.

Agreed.  And a healthy Durham may make that Grace vs Cornerstone more interesting too.

Grace only lost on a missed 3 at the buzzer by Durham when these two teams meet in early Nov.    Grace's problem that night was 29 t.o.s.  Durham had 19 rebounds and 17 points for an interesting double double.
CU is showing all 5 starters averaging double figures.

[Dark Knight]

Olivet has an interesting weekend.  They get the rare opportunity to play two teams on consecutive nights with the nickname 'Seahawks'.

On Friday they take on St. Mary's, Md., a D3 sweet sixteen team 2 of the last 3 years currently ranked #14.  This years St. Mary's is 7-2, one of those losses to D1 Citadel.  The Seahawks should have a height advantage with 5 players 6-6 or taller.

Saturday the Comets meet the Northwood, Fla Seahawks coached by Rollie Massimino.  Northwood is 5-1 and ranked #10 in NAIA II, its only loss to D2 Winoa State.  In an exhibition game they beat D1 Florida Atlantic.  Northwood will have a big height advantage.

http://seahawks.gonorthwood.com/mbasketball/roster/

Northwood has 5 international players on its roster... 2 from Germany, Croatia, Turkey and Jamaica are represented.

Later in the year, Northwood, Fla will host Northwood, Mi in a game.

Also, there's a cruise ship involved.

Good stuff: +k. Massey has Olivet losing to the Seahawks by 5 on Friday and by 10 on Saturday. That would make for a 4-game losing streak by the Comets against some very tough competition. I think they'll be ready for the MIAA season, though.

Other Massey predictions:

Albion 69 Trinity TX 56

Davenport 77 Kalamazoo 59

Alma 85 Finlandia 68

UPDATE: this game is already in progress, having started at 3PM ET. Albion 42 Trinity 33 wiht about 12 minutes left.