MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[KnightSlappy]

The thing that impresses me about Kruis is the number of blocks he gets while on the ball.

22% of Prepolec's shots never had a chance to go in because they were blocked by Tyler.

[KnightSlappy]

Nice article on last night's game in the Kalamazoo Gazette. Check out the photos and their captions!

http://www.mlive.com/sports/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/02/calvin_college_mens_basketball.html

Some very interesting writing.  I especially liked this tidbit: "Clark, who totaled 32 points in a road victory over Calvin earlier this year, pulled the trigger on a game-tying 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded, but the fade-away attempt missed the iron."  I think that just means he ended the game with an airball.

"missed the iron" is an understatement. The shot never had a chance.

[ziggy]

Nice article on last night's game in the Kalamazoo Gazette. Check out the photos and their captions!

http://www.mlive.com/sports/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/02/calvin_college_mens_basketball.html

Some very interesting writing.  I especially liked this tidbit: "Clark, who totaled 32 points in a road victory over Calvin earlier this year, pulled the trigger on a game-tying 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded, but the fade-away attempt missed the iron."  I think that just means he ended the game with an airball.

"missed the iron" is an understatement. The shot never had a chance.

What if the basket was in the ocean?

[ziggy]

With so many tough head-to-heads left it really is going to be nearly impossible for one of the 4 loss teams to catch Hope.  It would take 3 losses by Hope, and whatever 4 loss team made the run would have to get through their own schedule unscathed and that to me just doesn't look like it will happen.

Calvin has the only realistic shot (imo) and with no head-to-head games remaining with Hope the Knights will need some help.  In a weird way, tonght's results almost worked perfectly in Hope's favor. 

Everything is in Hope's hands now.

Calvin needs to do whatever it takes (beg, borrow, cheat and steal) to make sure they finish the regular season as the two seed. The first round of the MIAA tournament should feature two comfortable games and two very uncomfortable games.

It is absolutely in Calvin's best interest for Hope to win out in the regular season.

[WAlum]

Breaking News from Alma:

4 Scots suspended for this week's contests, including Sr. PG, Kevin Ginther

Whats the story on the players being suspended?

[hoopdreams]

knowing where a shooter is, hot or not, is not making an adjustment, it's simply being smart.  Do you think a pregame chat goes like this....
Coach- " we're playing man, Timmy you're guarding  Andy D. Even though the stats tell us he's one of the best shooters in D3,  Really focus on helping out with dribble penetration  in case your teammates need it, It's OK if you don't contest his shots and let's hope he doesn't knock a few down".
Player-  "OK coach, I'll lose my defensive assignment in case my teammates need me. The percentages tell me he's only going to make 4 out of ten. .  let's roll the dice on this"

Halftime after Andy D. hits for 22 points......
Coach- " OK guys, we're going to make an adjustment.  Now we're going to recognize where on of the best shooters in D3 is.  Get a hand in his face"
Player-  "Ok coach, I will no longer lose sight of the best shooter on the floor and will now really start working hard on closing out and contesting his shots".

You make adjustments on the unexpected and unknown.  Josh Holwerda, Brett Haverdink or possibly Krombeen moving to an off guard spot.

For all the hype Brink has received (most deservedly) Kruis is an absolute stud and may graduate as one of the best post players in D3 country his senior year.  The freshman is a man.  These 2 are going to be really fun to watch.

[calvin_grad]

Kruis is an absolute stud and may graduate as one of the best post players in D3 country his senior year.

He'll be taken out of the game before that point.   

[ziggy]

Timmy was an underrated defender.

I think you're simplifying the issue, Hoopdreams. In the case of Clark and Kzoo you also have Prepolec to worry about. Calvin held Prepolec in check in the first meeting and Clark went nuts. They held Clark in check the second time around and Kruis was able to make Prepolec work very hard for everything he got. In the end, the second strategy was better.

[hoopdreams]

Ziggy-  I can't dispute your comments,  probably should have asked was Calvin playing man or zone?  What were the match-ups?  Did they deny post entry passes, high side or low or allow Joe to make the catch, double down from the wing or weak side?

Admittedly, I do simplify things because basketball but I believe basketball is a fairly simplistic game.

If Calvin was in man, did they double with the man guarding Clark?  This could be a huge mistake because Ryan is, and always has been, a catch and shoot kid who is much less effective off the dribble and rarely attacks the glass.  He has developed the ability to finish at the glass off back cuts but that's not creating with his dribble.

Was Kruis this thick when he arrived on campus?  If not, the Knights have 3 or 4 guys who really like the weight room, and if they don't focus only on their "beach" muscles, will become even harder to play

[goodknight]

The K broadcast team was noting how Snikkers was abusing his defender, Tyler Stewart, and several times wondered aloud if Ryan Clark might do a better job on Tommy. 
Evidently, KVS is not the only rigid head coach in the game.

[almcguirejr]

Clark and Prepolec were a combined 12-31 last night.  Calvin did a good job on those 2.  Calvin out rebounded K 20-11 in the second half.  

[ziggy]

For all the hype Brink has received (most deservedly) Kruis is an absolute stud and may graduate as one of the best post players in D3 country his senior year.  The freshman is a man.  These 2 are going to be really fun to watch.

I think it fair to say that Kruis will have a fine career if he continues with the 3:1 blocked shots to foul ratio that he had last night.

[dumezrules]

Sadly the subbing thing is but one symptom of the basic problem with KVS.  The root problem is KVS is rigid, and inflexible, and his mind is made up, and who are you to question anything I do, because...........................?
Matt Neil knew exactly what KVS was going to do in the second half, and he coached his team to counter exactly what he expected.  Every coach in the MIAA knows what KVS and Calvin are going to do.  See the Kalamzoo game, and tell me R. Passage didn't know what Calvin was going to do?

Correct me if I am wrong, but my impression is that you would agree that Matt Neil knew what Calvin would do in the first half as well. What was the problem with the way the first half went?

Couple of unsolicited observations: (of course all observations on this board are:)

1. When Calvin wins, the players were awesome..when Calvin loses, KVS stinks.

2. Tom Cleary may be the most negative announcer in the history of basketball announcing.  (at least that I have heard) Every call by officials is questioned and every play by a player is met with "why didnt he....." maybe Billy Packer taught him everything.

3. Coach Neil is a great interview and I would want my kid to play for him.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Not sure if it was mentioned here but it looks like Will Bowser joined the 1000 point club on the night he went for 46 vs Kzoo.  Looks like he will move into the top 20 all time leading scorers in Hope history soon. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Nice game from the Dutchmen last night.  Despite the fact that Trine shot 50% in the first half, I thought the defense Hope played was the most complete game they have played defensively in the league.  9 guys with 1 or more steals, and the starting 5 with 12.   Two guys really filled their stat sheets, although this was truly a team effort (5 guys in double figures):

Bowser with 18 points, 10 boards, 4 assists (including a pretty behind the back pass to Dickerson), a block and 2 steals.  

Snuggerud with 12 points, 7 boards, 3 blocks, and 4 steals

On to Alma...