MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Nice piece on mlive about Tom and Carrie Snikkers and The Rivalry:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/01/brother_sister_play_leading_ro.html

Does the comment to this article have any truth to it?

I was wondering the same thing, and thought about asking about it on this board, but decided that generally there's enough drivel on the mlive message boards that I wouldn't put any stock in it. 

[northb]

Nice piece on mlive about Tom and Carrie Snikkers and The Rivalry:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/01/brother_sister_play_leading_ro.html

Does the comment to this article have any truth to it?

I was wondering the same thing, and thought about asking about it on this board, but decided that generally there's enough drivel on the mlive message boards that I wouldn't put any stock in it. 

Yes, we have enough of our own drivel.

[GoKnights68]

Anyone have any fearless predictions for tomorrow?

After watching about a decade of these Calvin/Hope games, I've learned that the team that often wins is the team that goes in the least amount of dry-spells throughout the game.    ...Kind of an obvious observation, right?  It just seems that is always the case for these games.

Bowser is going to get his points, but Calvin can't let him get such wide open looks like they did in the first Calvin/Hope game where they were lucky enough that he was cold that game from downtown.  Like I said yesterday, he tends to shoot real well at Van Noord.



Calvin by 5.

[sac]

Halfway


The MVP

Michael McClary, Olivet

Despite his teams struggles McClary is the best player in this league, and the Comets are likely to ride him to the finish line.  He's 2nd in the country in scoring and if you've followed his recent exploits, it almost feels like he's just getting warmed up.  Its going to take a pretty amazing 2nd half of the MIAA for someone to catch Michael.  At the minimum I would be surprised if Michael received anything less than a Co-MVP.

...the podium

If the MIAA MVP were the Heisman, Will Bowser, Ryan Clark and Joe Prepolec would be sitting next to him and shaking McClary's hand when the award was announced.

Will Bowser, Hope is having a terrific Senior year for a Hope program that typically doesn't produce outrageous individual offensive numbers.  He's 2nd in the league in scoring and just finished the first half of the season with the second best offensive night by a Hope player ever.  He's become the unequivocal leader of a team that needed Senior leadership.

Ryan Clark, Kzoo is another guy who's having a terrific Senior year, 3rd in scoring and the outside guy in Kzoo's inside outside combo.  He doesn't shoot for a high percentage but has shown the no fear attitude that gunslingers usually show on the court.

Joe Prepolec, Kzoo is the best Center in the league, I'm not even sure that's debatable anymore.  He finished the first half with 2 oustanding back to back performances vs Olivet and Hope.

In order for one of these 3 guys to win the MVP or even a share, they're probably going to have to have similar statistical 2nd halves of the season and their team will probably need to win the league outright, maybe even go 7-0.  Otherwise, barring injury or illness, its McClary's to lose.



The First Team
Michael McClary, Olivet
Will Bowser, Hope
Ryan Clark, Kzoo
Joe Prepolec, kzoo
J.C. Cruse, Albion
Tom Snikkers, Calvin


Coach of the Year

This feels like a contest between Matt Neil, Hope and Rob Passage, Kzoo.  Neil has had to juggle a Hope roster that seemed to change every 3 weeks.  Hope is playing with a team that has lost 3 of its top 7 or 8 players for the majority of the season.  Leading the MIAA at the halfway point didn't seem likely back in early December.  I don't think much was expected of Kzoo when the non-conference season ended, but a 3-8 record doesn't exactly scream contender.  Kzoo has the biggest win of the season so far with their win at Calvin, and are just a shot or two away from beating Hope in Holland and being tied for first.

Depending on what Adrian does in the second half, Mark White's name will  probably come up in this discussion, especially if Adrian is in the race going into the last week of the season.




Grades
*based mostly on league play


Hope 13-5, 6-1     Grade:  A-/B+

The pre-season favorite hasn't reached this position without its faults.  Anyone who walked out of DeVos Fieldhouse on Jan 5th would have found it very hard to believe Hope would be in first place by itself at the halfway point.  



Adrian 10-7, 5-2       Grade: A-

Dismissing the Bulldogs is simply a mistake these days, this defensive minded team is one last second shot make by Olivet from being 6-1 and tied for first.  I don't think most even had last year's 3rd place team in the top 4 pre-season.



Calvin 10-8, 5-2           Grade: B/B+

Anyone walking out of DeVos Jan 5th would have found it hard to believe Calvin would be a game back of that night's victim at the halfway point.  Maybe the most up and down team in the top half of the league.  Great on a couple of occasions, ordinary on others.



Albion 10-8, 4-3        Grade:  C+

It might seem harsh, but the Britons have 2 home losses and were crushed at Calvin.  The last week has been a harsh reality check for them.  Suddenly, being a serious challenger for the title doesn't seem very likely.



Kalamazoo 7-11, 4-3       Grade: A

They've been the most pleasant surprise to me, and as noted above just a couple shots from being tied for first.  This team has come in way under the radar and has shaken up the league standings in a big way.



Olivet  8-10, 3-4      Grade: C-

The only saving grace is their last second win over Adrian, otherwise I think this team has been a pretty big disappointment for those who felt they could seriously challenge for the title.  Even with expectations decreased from Andre Evans' departure I don't think this is where anyone thought they would be at this point.



Alma 5-12, 1-6        Grade: C+

When your expectation is last place and you aren't in last at the halfway mark, that is better than expected.  The Scots have been competitive in half their league games, crushed in two others but for the most part have been a little better than maybe expected.



Trine  8-10, 0-7     Grade:  D-

Harsh probably, but after an 8-3 start I think even a team picked in the bottom half of the league to start the season didn't expect to be looking up at everyone else holding a bag of bagels.  Not that far from pulling off a couple big wins.


--------------------------------------------------


I've seen 6 of the 8 teams play now and I have been very impressed with the quality of play.  This league has some really good players right now.  I don't think the conferences non-conference records speaks very well of the quality of the league, this is a really good league and I'd put it up against most for entertainment on a night to night basis so far.

The league seems to be missing a truly elite team, maybe someone will get there, maybe not.  The parity seems very much like the 2004/2005 seasons minus the Final Four caliber teams and those were outstanding tournaments.  

The second half could be equally as exciting as the first half, I think you could look at the standings and envision any one of the top 4 or 5 teams going anywhere from 7-0 to 4-3.

Adrian and Kzoo have the best home schedule's remaining.  Adrian hosts Albion, Olivet, Hope and Trine.   Kzoo has Hope, Adrian, Calvin and Olivet.   It seems pretty likely to me that the conference champion will be determine in a game involving one of these two teams on their home floor.

Albion gets two very key games at historic Kresge, Calvin and Kzoo and will play a factor in all of this for sure.

Hope has to go to Calvin, Kzoo and Adrian.  Calvin has to go to Kzoo, Albion and Olivet.

[ziggy]

Speaking of drivel; would it be too much to ask the MIAA to change the award from an MVP to an MOP?
I can't make a case against Michael McClary for MOP, but MVP is a different story. I would favor Will Bowser for MVP at the halfway point.

[Civic Minded]

My fearless prediction for tomorrow?  I predict I will need Tums and quite possibly Xanax.     Beyond that, I'm w/ Massey...too close to call.  Enjoy, everyone!   

[HopeConvert]

I'm afraid no matter what I predict I'll be cursing Hope either way, so I won't make a prediction as to outcome. I do think Hope, with a few lead-footed exceptions, has greater overall team speed, and I hope they use that tomorrow.

What hurt Calvin most at the DeVos were turnovers. They'll have to clean that up because they can't expect to shoot 70% again. Hope was hurt by bad defensive rotations and leaving some guys open who should never be left open. Hope will have to hit their 3s tomorrow, and I'm thinking that Logan Neil might play a big role in that.

[Dark Knight]

Hope will have to hit their 3s tomorrow, and I'm thinking that Logan Neil might play a big role in that.

Unless he has a hot hand, we'd be better off letting Brink and/or Rodts take those shots. 

[sflzman]

Good work SAC!

[hoopdreams]

Team speed
Krombeen vs Powell- when Powell's not dribbling in the same spot, he's fast.  Krombeen's not even the fastest pg on his own team (Overway may be the "fastest" player in the league), especially in a half court set.  Throw salo in too I guess.... Ad- Hope
Tanis vs Brink-  Neither will be mistaken for Usain Bolt but Brink is "faster"  Ad- Calvin
Bowser vs Snikkers- Even Will concides, no contest Ad- Calvin
Snuggs vs Rodts-  Hello? Ad- Calvin
Dickerson vs Schuster- Dick works hard but he's not fast down the floor or off of it, Brett's not fast but his size and length sure allows him to cover a lot of ground quickly and has a lightning quick release on his jumper Ad- Calvin
First sub possibly? Neil vs Schnyders, Brad is "faster" and a heck of an athlete but i'll call it even for argument sake.

SAC- I agree, spot on with the mid season awards

You can change the match ups but it won't make a huge difference. If Hope doesn't turn Calvin, and vise-versa over all the supposed speed in the world is useless.. I guess I should have added transition points to my earlier list of Keys to success.

[hoopdreams]

You're right HConvert, those fricken lead-footed, slow kids are such a burden to a teams success.  I don't think there has ever been a successful "slow" player at Hope,any of the other MIAA schools, or college basketball in general for that matter,

[Gregory Sager]

Nice piece on mlive about Tom and Carrie Snikkers and The Rivalry:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/01/brother_sister_play_leading_ro.html

Does the comment to this article have any truth to it?

Depends. Are you talking statistical truth or Cartesian truth?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Nice piece on mlive about Tom and Carrie Snikkers and The Rivalry:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/01/brother_sister_play_leading_ro.html

Does the comment to this article have any truth to it?

Depends. Are you talking statistical truth or Cartesian truth?

Ba da boom!

While Greg didn't include it, I'm getting the feeling that 'hot hand' will be the unofficial MIAA 'inside joke' for the foreseeable future!

[Erm Schmigget]

You're right HConvert, those fricken lead-footed, slow kids are such a burden to a teams success.  I don't think there has ever been a successful "slow" player at Hope,any of the other MIAA schools, or college basketball in general for that matter,

I wouldn't exactly call Don Overbeek fast.  

Much more basketball talked about today, people.  Thank you, and please forgive me for my rant last night.    

My bold prediction for tomorrow has Hope winning by 5.  Many here have said Hope has improved on the defensive end, and I don't think we should expect to see another shooting performance from Calvin like the first macthup early this month.  Also Hope holds the edge at the VanNoord since it opened (3-2).  (I'm not so sure that means anything...I just like to say it.   )  Looking at Calvin's losses so far makes me think that if Hope plays defense like they have the last few games (not like the first 10-12 minutes of the Kzoo game) and shoots to its averages, they will come out on top.  

Alot will depend on how fexible the Dutch can be on defense: how soon will they recognize where Calvin is exploiting their weaknesses, and how quickly and effectively can they adjust.  It seems they've learned alot over the first run through the conference.  I'll be looking to see how well they put the aura of the Rivalry out of their minds and apply what they've learned--that goes for the coaches, too.

I also think the upperclassmen are getting sick of playing in Grand Rapids so many times every year.  They want the conference championship and a chance to host the tournament finals.  A win tomorrow, paired with a Kzoo win vs. Adrian, would put alot of distance between them and the rest of the league and help make that a reality.  Lots of people picking Kzoo over Adrian over on the Pick-ems board, but I'm sure the Dutchmen know the only game that matters for their chance to host is the one they are playing in.

Hope by 5.

[ziggy]

I wouldn't exactly call Don Overbeek fast.  

Much more basketball talked about today, people.  Thank you, and please forgive me for my rant last night.    

My bold prediction for tomorrow has Hope winning by 5.  Many here have said Hope has improved on the defensive end, and I don't think we should expect to see another shooting performance from Calvin like the first macthup early this month.  Also Hope holds the edge at the VanNoord since it opened (3-2).  (I'm not so sure that means anything...I just like to say it.   )  Looking at Calvin's losses so far makes me think that if Hope plays defense like they have the last few games (not like the first 10-12 minutes of the Kzoo game) and shoots to its averages, they will come out on top.  

I went back to look at the box score from the first game and was struck by the fact that Calvin has a couple important players that didn't have particularly good games in Holland that could help keep the Knights afloat even if the law of averages catch up with Rodts and Schuster. Jordan Brink made his free throws down the stretch to close that game out but he had five turnovers on the night and just one field goal. Tom Snikkers was 2-for-9 and Bryan Powell was 2-for-7.