MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hope1]

that is really good sac thanks

[sac]

Going to the DVR, upon further review........


1)  I wasn't nearly as disappointed in Hope's first half defense as I was watching it live.  Sometimes the other guy just makes shots, Calvin seemed to have a team wide 'hot hand' (please no debate).  Unfortunately this seems to be a first half trend in the league games so far for Hope.  No question Hope needed to make some changes, which they did, and in hindsight, appropriate.


2) Hope's move to the press just seemed to get the team moving better, they became more active at both ends of the floor.  Calvin had no trouble breaking it, except once.  It was the after getting it across the timeline that Calvin struggled, and became very impatient.


3)  David Krombeen had a great second half, but I thought Coltan Overway's insertion changed the game completely.  Once he came on the floor late in the 2nd half Hope became very aggressive on defense, almost gambling at times and in my opinion forced a lot of the bad decisions Calvin made.  Having Coltan on the floor seems to really free Krombeen up to almost freelance on defense, he ends up in places guards really shouldn't and comes up with a steal or key rebound.  Krombeen and Overway made a couple highlight reel layups that really boosted momentum in Hope's favor.  Also should note, Hope looked like they set some great screens to get Krombeen open on those curls.


4)  Officials oofs.......I thought Logan Neil was fouled on two 3 point attempts that weren't called live and the DVR didn't disprove that.  David Krombeen looked to have stepped over the halfcourt line on one of those saves.   I was probably the only person begging for the shotclock to be reset when Schuster caught his rebound out-of-bounds, this left Hope with 2 on the clock, it was absolutely the right call.   There was a layup late by Calvin that drew a foul, and even the announcers admitted there was hardly any contact......and good lord were they right.   This is the 3rd game I've seen a player get bloodied or clocked in the head and have to leave the court with no call.  Just a friendly reminder that this is a more physical league than most.

I think the increase in 2nd half fouls was due to both teams going to the basket more, otherwise I didn't think the refs did a bad job.......and I'll add they looked to get all the charging/blocking calls right, which never seems like it live.


5)  While I'm sure Calvin fans are lamenting the missed chance to tie late, the DVR shows Hope did an awful job of closing out this game.   It looks like Hope only converted a FG once out of 5 possessions when they had the lead and ran the shotclock down in the last 3 minutes, this was a problem at Albion as well.

[sac]

Really nice article about Michael McClary from the Battle Creek Enquirer

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20110130/SPORTS/101300331/McClary-setting-records-for-Olivet-College-hoops


and this also passed to me.......There's one error in the story that he actually needs 58 points to become the single-season leader. He needs 11 to reach 500.

[hope_hoops1]

Excellent, excellent win for Hope yesterday!  Two completely different halves of basketball.  In the first half, Hope struggled matching up with the shooters on defense and appeared like they were waiting for Will to score 46 again on offense.  Luckily he was (somewhat) up to the task and kept the team in it.  In the second half, it was Calvin's defense that struggled.  On a few of Krombeen's jumpers, it seemed like there wasn't a Calvin defender within 10 feet of him.  I like having CO and DK out there together.  Never hurts to have two solid ball handlers out there in an intense rivalry game.

All in all, a good game that both teams can learn a lot from.  While I think Hope is the better team, Calvin definitely presents some unique problems for Hope that make a conference tournament matchup scary.

[knights2000]

Just some general thoughts I have from yesterdays game and some previous posts....

-I don't think Calvin's offense went to a "stall" tactic in the second half. I think Hope changed the way they were playing defense, upped the pressure, and Calvin seemed pushed back on their heels the rest of the game.

-I have been impressed with Jordan Brink every time I've seen the kid except yesterday. He looked like a deer in headlights.

-In the first half I could not get over the play of Tyler Kruis. This kid is something special. Unfortunately he seemed to drop off the face of the earth in the second half.

-I think Coach VandeStreek's predetermined subbing rotation has its advantages, but in a game like yesterdays with extra timeouts, it needs to be done away with.

-Tom Snikkers is a very good one-on-one player, but he needs to learn when to give the ball up. I think most (if not all) of his turnovers were from forcing something that wasn't there and losing his dribble.

-Danny Rodts seemed non-existent, but I suppose Ty Tanis was about the same for Hope.

-Calvin needs an inside presence. 24 of Calvin's 55 field goal attempts were 3's. The box score says points in the paint was  26-24 in favor of Hope, but how many of the 24 points were actual post moves or layups that weren't drives to the basket? Six?

-Will Bowser is the conference MVP.

-Points off turnovers: Hope 24    Calvin 8

Overall a very ugly second half by Calvin...they seemed to just fall apart and buckle under the pressure defense of Hope. Good win for Hope, Krombeen and Bowser were very impressive.

[AndersDY]

4)  Officials oofs.......I thought Logan Neil was fouled on two 3 point attempts that weren't called live and the DVR didn't disprove that.  David Krombeen looked to have stepped over the halfcourt line on one of those saves.   I was probably the only person begging for the shotclock to be reset when Schuster caught his rebound out-of-bounds, this left Hope with 2 on the clock, it was absolutely the right call.   There was a layup late by Calvin that drew a foul, and even the announcers admitted there was hardly any contact......and good lord were they right.   This is the 3rd game I've seen a player get bloodied or clocked in the head and have to leave the court with no call.  Just a friendly reminder that this is a more physical league than most.

I think the increase in 2nd half fouls was due to both teams going to the basket more, otherwise I didn't think the refs did a bad job.......and I'll add they looked to get all the charging/blocking calls right, which never seems like it live.


5)  While I'm sure Calvin fans are lamenting the missed chance to tie late, the DVR shows Hope did an awful job of closing out this game.   It looks like Hope only converted a FG once out of 5 possessions when they had the lead and ran the shotclock down in the last 3 minutes, this was a problem at Albion as well.

A point on the second half fouls, I noticed in the box score that each team only made two 3's each in the second half so there was a lot more action going on inside at that point to create those fouls. By halftime, I was lamenting how it seems like Hope-Calvin games sometimes can turn into a 3-point shootout (which never seems to favor us), but it was big for Hope that it didn't continue that way into the second half.

Hope definitely did focus too much on the shot clock in the last 3 to 4 minutes. Yes you want to eat up clock, but they were not so far ahead that they didn't also need to find a good shot. Getting the shot clock down to 2 seconds shouldn't be priority #1 at that point. That may be a part of why Hope always seems scary in the last 5 minutes; they need to remember to keep looking for shots as they try to run out the game.

The worst calls I saw during the game while watching on TV were Will's charge in the first half (whoever was defending was still sliding with Will in the air), the brush of a foul on Krombeen as Schnyders went past, and Krombeen appearing to rip a steal out of Rodts or Snikkers (?) arms in the lane without making contact with the body or the arm. I of course was looking for the slights against Hope so I'm sure Calvin folks have their own list. It is always annoying to see a player bloodied with no call, but I think Snikkers had gone 1 against 2 on that drive and officials are not as quick to bail you out if you're trying to force something into a bad spot. As always, plenty of failings in the officiating, but fortunately I don't think it had a major influence in the flow of the game.

[northb]

--Calvin needs an inside presence. 24 of Calvin's 55 field goal attempts were 3's. The box score says points in the paint was  26-24 in favor of Hope, but how many of the 24 points were actual post moves or layups that weren't drives to the basket? Six?

Can someone educate me as to why Shuster does not play inside more?  He is usually the tallest guy on the floor, with an incredible wingspan, yet spends most of his time on the perimeter?  Is he not strong enough to hold position in the paint?  It seems like he would change the other team's defensive scheme alot if he tired to post up everyonce in a while.  He'll get his 3's but then we lose alot inside. 

[realist]

Sac:  While I don't disagree with much of what you said above, and credit does go to Hope, Calvin should not need 8 or 9 seconds to get the ball up to the time line.  The press took Calvin out of the flow it was trying to build, and again credit Hope.  The press forced Calvin players to try to do things they don't normally try.
"While I'm sure Calvin fans are lamenting the missed chance to tie late....."
NO.  What Calvin fans are lamenting is the fact Calvin gave up a huge lead, and even allowed Hope back in the game.  It wasn't Brad's missed layup that cost Calvin the game it was much earlier (in the second half) that this game was lost.
Did Calvin expect Hope to make a run, yes, and if you expect it you prepare for it.

[realist]

--Calvin needs an inside presence. 24 of Calvin's 55 field goal attempts were 3's. The box score says points in the paint was  26-24 in favor of Hope, but how many of the 24 points were actual post moves or layups that weren't drives to the basket? Six?

Can someone educate me as to why Shuster does not play inside more?  He is usually the tallest guy on the floor, with an incredible wingspan, yet spends most of his time on the perimeter?  Is he not strong enough to hold position in the paint?  It seems like he would change the other team's defensive scheme alot if he tired to post up everyonce in a while.  He'll get his 3's but then we lose alot inside. 

Duh!!!!   Me thinks he plays the way he is coached.  Second opinion:  He is not the first wasted big man in recent Calvin history.

As HC pointed out how is it Schuster never touched the ball when Hope has 4 guards and Bowser on the floor?  One can only conclude they are poorly trained in court sense or court awareness. 

[Busted Stuff]

I don't see Schnyders' missed layup as a large contributing factor to Calvin's loss.  A layup is worth 2 points after one minute in the first half and worth 2 points with one minute to go in the second half; Adam DeYoung probably missed the easiest look of any player for the entire game with that missed bunny.  Brad's miss is remembered more because of the intensity of the game at that point, but that miss is not why Calvin lost.  They lost long before, when they gave up an 18 point lead!

Brad also converted on a key "and one" layup (whether or not a foul was committed is up for debate) and he sunk a couple of other free throws a little after the conversion.  He is part of the reason Calvin made a mini run trying to climb back on top.  Attacking the basket, to me, appears to be Schnyders' biggest strength and also his biggest weakness if the whistle isn't blown.

[KnightSlappy]

--Calvin needs an inside presence. 24 of Calvin's 55 field goal attempts were 3's. The box score says points in the paint was  26-24 in favor of Hope, but how many of the 24 points were actual post moves or layups that weren't drives to the basket? Six?

Can someone educate me as to why Shuster does not play inside more?  He is usually the tallest guy on the floor, with an incredible wingspan, yet spends most of his time on the perimeter?  Is he not strong enough to hold position in the paint?  It seems like he would change the other team's defensive scheme alot if he tired to post up everyonce in a while.  He'll get his 3's but then we lose alot inside. 

Duh!!!!   Me thinks he plays the way he is coached.  Second opinion:  He is not the first wasted big man in recent Calvin history.

As HC pointed out how is it Schuster never touched the ball when Hope has 4 guards and Bowser on the floor?  One can only conclude they are poorly trained in court sense or court awareness. 

Does Calvin have difficulty scoring points?

Does Calvin have difficulty rebounding on the offensive end?

Is Brent Schuster ineffective as an outside shooter?

[HopeConvert]

I'm sure KS will have more to say about this than I, but Calvin didn't do itself any favors in the regional rankings. They had an opportunity with the 3 teams above them all losing this week. If I'm right, they are now 7-3 in-region and have now created some space for teams like Thiel and Wittenberg. It's looking to me like Calvin will have to win the conference tournament to have a shot at the NCAA's. Barring upsets, Hope should be able to get a pool C without winning the conference tournament. Adrian also hurt itself with that loss to Kazoo.

[KnightSlappy]

I'm sure KS will have more to say about this than I, but Calvin didn't do itself any favors in the regional rankings. They had an opportunity with the 3 teams above them all losing this week. If I'm right, they are now 7-3 in-region and have now created some space for teams like Thiel and Wittenberg. It's looking to me like Calvin will have to win the conference tournament to have a shot at the NCAA's. Barring upsets, Hope should be able to get a pool C without winning the conference tournament. Adrian also hurt itself with that loss to Kazoo.

Calvin won't be ranked this week, but I wouldn't put them in a Pool A or bust category just yet. But their margin for error in the Pool C race is now zero. If they can rip off eight straight wins here to end the season, they'll be in even if they lost an MIAA championship game.

One more loss would probably force them into getting the AQ.

A win on Saturday would have probably put the Knights anywhere from #2 to #4 in this week's GL region rankings.

[Knightmare]

I've heard a lot of the talk about Schuster and strategy yesterday and I'll add my 2 cents to the discussion.  First, I think Schuster played a pretty good game, probably the best of anyone in a Calvin uniform.  While Schuster will never be a classic back to the basket post player I will say that if the report from someone earlier was accurate and he was on the court while Hope's tallest player was Will Bowser then I think that Schuster, minus any developed post moves, should be able to position himself inside and Calvin could just throw a high entry pass and let him shoot right over top of the defender, and we know Schuster is a good shooter.  That is a game flow management and recognition issue that the coaches and players either don't recognize or don't feel necessary to exploit (though they do see these kids everyday in practice and better know what they are capable of).

Also at the same time, I will add that those complaining about Schuster not being positioned inside all the time should remember that he is an excellent outside shooter, this isn't the case of a big man occasionally taking an ill-advised outside shot.  Secondly, with his spot up shooting it does open up the court for the aggressive drivers such as Snikkers and Schnyders to take the ball to the whole without as much worry of being met by shot blocking resistance.  Also it pulls an opposing big man away from the basket freeing up some of the slightly shorter athletic players to chase down offensive boards.

There are clearly some pluses and minuses to Schuster's type of game for his physical size but it definitely isn't all negatives as some would have you believe.  Does seem though that they could exploit the opposition if they do go to that small of a lineup.

[KnightSlappy]

Andy Venema didn't play and Josh Holwerda only played 3 minutes. Other than that, no one on the team is taller than Will.