MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Can all the questions and concerns about Hope's defense be put to rest now?  As well as the season encompassing stats?  They are continuing to improve on a game to game basis, which I believe is what one is looking for headed towards tourney time. 

The criticisms of Hope's defense and rebounding efforts were justified, just as pointing out that they had improved in recent games.

This is the first game where they can honestly look at themselves and say they played 40 minutes of good defense vs a quality opponent.

[ziggy]

Kalamazoo 80, Olivet 72

Another special night by a very special player is entirely wasted.

[KnightSlappy]

Michael McClary puts up a very pedestrian 39 points against Kalamazoo and so the Comets fall to the Hornets 80-73.

This Olivet team is counting on McClary to produce, but he just isn't playing like an MVP. His average of 29.7 points and 10.8 rebounds just doesn't stand out as exceptional. I was expecting more from the reigning MVP.

[sac]

Sleeping for me is difficult, quality of life kind of difficult and this week was especially hard for no apparent reason.  So this week dragged for me, just as I did.  This morning when I woke up I was ready to call in sick from my duties as a fan and just rest the afternoon away.

Around 1 o'clock I decided I would make the effort to head to Albion and maybe later Olivet.  When I hopped in the trusty car the first song on the radio was Tarzan Boy, by Baltimora.  Give it a listen, you'll hate me forever.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8pYwJ8fKMY&feature=related 

I suppose you know when you hear cultural gems like that one, you should know its going to be a good day.....and it was.


Hope 66 Albion 55

Its very difficult for me to put into the exact kind of words I'd like that would do the Dutchmen's effort this afternoon justice.  I think quite simply they were terrific.  I know I've only seen 5 games but this was easily their most complete effort.

Hope faced the usual bit of Kresge adversity you usually get in these games, nice crowd, fired up Britons with an 'edge' etc.  It started early with Adam Dickerson picking up 2 quick fouls, then moments later Nate Snuggerud catching an elbow in the nose that required he leave the gym for attention for a few minutes.   So just a few minutes in, Albion was playing their usual tough quality basketball and taking it to Hope.....and Hope had Josh Holwerda manning the paint and no one left behind him.

A few minutes later when Snug's returned, Hope had gone from 2 points down to 2 points up, it might not sound very significant but I thought his minutes really gave the team a lift.  Today for the first time I've seen, there was no real difference in quality of play from the starting 5, to the last guy off the bench.  I think 'total team win' probably fits for this one.

Hope controlled the 2nd part of the 1st half and looked poised to take total control with the ball and a 5 point lead.  But  Albion asserted itself in a big way, by being physical and attempting to bully the Dutchmen culminating in a spectacular tackle by Coltan Overway trying to prevent a breakaway layup that resulted in a loud thud, mass of humanity swarming, jersey's pulled, words exchanged, fans yelling and serious faces all around.  The resulting personal foul and technical's really could have been worse, but I suppose under the circumstances cooler heads by the refs prevailed.  Hope simply didn't handle the situation well, missing both tech FT's and surrending a 5 point lead to trail by 1 33-32 and the Britons in their heads.



Will Bowser and JC Cruse defended each other most of the game, and the first half  was a virtual draw.  One thing I thought for sure would happen was one of those guys would step up and win it for his team in the 2nd half.....another was that one team was going to have to be mentally stronger than the other, and it sure didn't look like it would be Hope going into the break.

Albion took a 38-34 lead with 18 minutes to go, when Hope put together one of "those" runs.  Over the next 12 minutes the Dutchmen rolled off a 26-4 run, in which Will Bowser posted 14 of his game high 21 points.  Hope also made all 5 of its 3's during this stretch after struggling at 1-10 in the first half, each another tiny dagger in the Britons hopes. 

Many things go into runs like these, for sure Hope's defense and rebounding was outstanding but I also thought Albion cracked a little bit, they started taking poorer quality shots and committed too many turnovers, some rightly registered as Hope steals.  No matter how you look at it, Hope had won the mental battle I think.....and that might be the biggest thing to take from this game going forward.


I don't know that winning at Kresge equates to winning MIAA titles as much as losing at Kresge equals losing titles for Hope, but it is awfully nice to come out of there with a win in whatever way it happens.  They are always battles to the end.


Hope:  Bowser 21, Krombeen 10
Albion:  Hutton 16, Kazan 11, Cruse 10

[sac]

Kalamazoo 80 Olivet 73


You won't believe me, but I actually came away a little disappointed that McClary only had 39.  He was on his way to a very special night, unfortunately 3 guys in fancier shirts than the rest took Michael and Joe Prepolec off the court at a critical time.  It was a great duel between maybe the two best forward/centers in the league, but it could and maybe should have been better.   Those 3 guys in fancy shirts did not have a good night, even botching basic things like substitutions.....enough of that.

Kalamazoo took it right to the Comets, and the first timeout from my perch about 80 feet away I could hear Gene Gifford ask his guys if they were going to defend anybody tonight........kind of ironic, because I was asking myself the same thing, it was only 9-3 Kzoo, but it looked like it had ugly potential.

Kzoo has some nice looking shooters and boy do they take a foot if you give them an inch.  Slack off just a little on D and the ball is going up and despite being outsized just about everywhere but maybe one or 2 positions, they stay with it on the glass.  The Hornets dictated this game from start to finish really, and most of the game was spent trying to keep the Comets at arms length and coming up with rally killing shots at critical times.  It seemed like Eric Fishman did that a couple times, a very gritty player with a competitive edge and dare I say even a swagger about him ('the Hope attitude' maybe?)...he was tough tonight.


The highlight of the game was the epic battle between McClary and Prepolec who to my great joy spent most of the night defending each other......and most of the night hopelessly playing good defense while the other guy hit tough shot after tough shot.  I suppose when two good players like this square off against each other it inevitable one of them gets in foul trouble.....and tonight it was both.  Unfortunately I really felt like the calls were pretty weak, even would go as far as wonder if there was even any contact on 3 or 4 calls for both of them.

I guess maybe the proper perspective is this:  prior to tonight McClary had committed 4 fouls in MIAA play in 5 games, he's fouled out of 1 or 2 games his entire career.......he just doesn't commit fouls.

The game changed twice on critical fouls on one of these two guys.  With 17 minutes left Prepolec picked up #3 with Kzoo leading by 10.  Right away the Comets brought it down to 4, and even though JP went back in just a couple minutes later he was more passive on defense and McClary took full advantage and got the lead back down to 4...........then

Game changer foul #2 McClary's 4th.  Olivet had all the momentum, they were playing well and it really felt like they might take control of the game.  The only thing that went right for Olivet in the next 3 minutes was Dustin Orhns making all 3 of his foul shots, Kzoo hit quick shots in succession.  Momentum gone, Hornets back in control.

At 8 minutes Prepolec picked up #4, and Olivet again made a final push but could get no closer than 4.  Prepolec did probably hit the shot that clinched the game with over a minute left on another beautiful move underneath to lay it in.

In the end I suppose it was Kzoo's balance that won the game, they weren't a one man show and I think showed a little more diversity on offense than maybe I was expecting.


Pretty good game to watch, without the foul trouble McClary and Prepolec were heading for 45 and 30 point games.  The game deserved to see those two battle it out full bore the final 10 minutes.


Olivet:  McClary 39, 11 rebounds.......in 33 minutes
Kalamazoo:  Prepolec 24 in only 22 minutes, Clark 19, Stewart 14, Fishman 13


Two realities to take from this one.....

1)  Rob Passage has to feel pretty good about ending a certain streak vs a certain school with this team.  They aren't awesome or even great, but they do what they do well, and if they play hard they can stay with anyone.

2)  Olivet's very slim hopes of winning the MIAA regular season title are gone after tonight.  Home losses to Albion, Hope and Kzoo and turnaround games to come.  Olivet might still play a spoiler role, I do think their younger kids will get better as the season closes.  Once again not a fun team to see across from you in the tournament.

...no more Baltimora, I promise. 

[northb]

...no more Baltimora, I promise. 

Yeah, that was even worse the second time I listened to it!

[northb]

From the Calvin Sports Report

Calvin 74, Trine 68

By Sports Information Student Assistant Andrew Knot

Calvin improved its conference record to 4-2 with a 74-68 victory over Trine on Saturday.

The game opened slowly, with only eight total points in the opening four minutes.  Calvin (9-8 overall) also turned the ball over three times by the sixteen minute mark. The Knights and Thunder remained neck and neck throughout the first portion of the half.  Trine sophomore Neil Smith knocked down a three at 12:36 to give the Thunder a two point advantage, but Calvin freshman Jordan Brink responded with a three of his own to give the Knights a slim lead.

Shortly after that, freshman Tyler Kruis tied the game at 14 with another lay-up.  From there, Calvin would go on a 29-9 run to end the half on top 31-22.

But Trine came out of halftime strong.  Sophomore Ian Jackson scored six points in the opening four minutes to cut the deficit to two.  That's when sophomore Ty Graham banked in a floater to tie the game at 37.

Trine would advance the lead to three points off a Scott Rogers lay-up.  Senior Danny Rodts came up big for Calvin though, with a clutch three-pointer to tie the game with 13 minutes remaining.  Rodts then assisted fellow senior Trent Salo on a triple to put the Knights on top by three.

Senior Brent Schuster poured in four consecutive points and sophomore Bryan Powell hit a big three to increase Calvin's lead to seven points.

"We didn't start the second half well, but we recovered when the game got tight," said Coach Kevin Vande Sreek.

Calvin owned the lead from that point on.  Trine would cut the margin to four points late in the game but the Knights connected on late free-throws, sealing the victory.
Vande Streek was pleased with the team defensive effort, holding the MIAA's best scoring offense to 68 points.

"Our length was effective.  We're starting to catch on defensively," he commented.

Calvin was led in scoring by Rodts with 19 points while Brink had 12 and Tom Snikkers 10. Ian Jackson led Trine with 22 points.

The Knights host Albion on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Van Noord Arena.

[sac]

Adrian 81 Alma 42

Adrian:  Barnes 17, Gabriele 13, Mosley 11
Alma:  Ginther 13

Adrian crushed the Scots on the glass, including gaining 12 offensive rebounds.



Calvin 74 Trine 68

Calvin:  Rodts 19, Brink 12, Snikkers 10
Trine:  Jackson 22, Smith 14, Rogers 12

Looks like a tough shooting half in the first kept the score down.  Trine is going to pull one out eventually, they are too good to be 0-6




Standings  +1 for road win/-1 for home loss


Hope    5-1     +2
Adrian  4-2     +1
Calvin   4-2     +1
Kzoo    4-2      +1
Albion   4-2     0
Olivet   2-4     -2
Alma    1-5     -1
Trine    0-6     -2


Wednesday, January 26
Kalamazoo at Hope, 7:30 p.m.
Albion at Calvin, 7:30 p.m.
Adrian at Trine, 7:30 p.m.
Olivet at Alma, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 29
Alma at Trine, 3 p.m.
Hope at Calvin, 3 p.m.
Adrian at Kalamazoo, 3 p.m.
Olivet at Albion, 3 p.m.


We hit the halfway point of Wednesday, with some pretty big matchups this week.  I think that Albion/Calvin game on Wed. should be excellent viewing, with Kzoo/Hope a close 2nd.

[AndersDY]

...no more Baltimora, I promise. 

I don't know whether to be impressed or frightened if you could name that song and artist and didn't have to look it up. Wasn't that the background music for a Listerine commercial or something back in the day?

[sac]

...no more Baltimora, I promise. 

I don't know whether to be impressed or frightened if you could name that song and artist and didn't have to look it up. Wasn't that the background music for a Listerine commercial or something back in the day?

It kind of frightened me that I knew it so well, I did have to look it up though.  I would have been 14 at the time it was released, I probably had it beaten into my head by MTV and the local radio station back then, so yes I was able to hum along without much trouble.

Just try googling oh we oh we oh we oh oh,... on second thought maybe not, it might not be safe for work.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Continuing with freshmen contributions, Kruis also had 4 blocked shots -- more than all other players on both teams combined.

Among MIAA players with at least 1 blocked shot per game, Kruis has the 2nd highest blocks/minute (to Joe Prepolec) in the league.  I think he's already the best pure post player on Calvin's roster, and yet also seems to have good range on the jumper, and is a reliable decision maker/passer on the perimeter too. 

His court sense/basketball IQ for a freshman is similar to what I remember seeing in Tom Snikkers during his freshman season.  If he works hard on further developing his strength and quickness, I think we are looking forward to a nice career for Tyler as a Knight. 

[GoKnights68]

Big big week coming up for Calvin.  That's all I'm going to say.

[newhopefan]

It's a big week for everyone.

[Knight2Day]

We'll see if K-zoo can keep shaking things up at Hope....

[sac]

With his 39 points the other night Michael McClary is now #2 on the Olivet College all-time scorers list and just 24 points away from setting the new record. 

1. Mike Maciasz         1,642
2. Michael McClary     1,619
3. Jeff Bell                  1,602

With the way Michael has been scoring lately the only question might be will he set the record in the first or second half of the game vs Alma Wednesday night.  Unfortunately Olivet's next 3 games are all on the road which means he will  break the record away from the Cutler Center.  That's a shame because I've been to 6 games at Olivet these last two seasons and each time there has been a decent sized crowd to watch the Comets.  I'm sure they will take time to recognize his accomplishment before their next home game vs Calvin in two weeks.


McClary has 805 career points in MIAA play, with eight games to go he will crack the top 10 and at his current torrid pace has a chance to crack the top 5.   Believe it or not #4 Steve Honderd would be within reach.