MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[pointlem]

Wow . . . 61 fouls, many ticky tack . . . and they'll be talking tomorrow about the no-call at the buzzer when Colton Overway was flattened while shooting an alley-oop for the tie (on a perfect long-range pass from Logan Neil).  Great play calling by Matt Neil at the end to set that up, and capitalize on Colton's leaping ability.

To answer a couple questions, Logan Neil attempted a desparation 3-point attempt because the clock was running out.

David Krombeen went for the game-winning shot with 8 seconds left because the game gave him the opportunity--and it was exactly the sort of down-the-lane (though well-guarded) shot that he excels at.  

Hope has won nearly all these nail-biters, often with great free throw shooting at the end.  Even after tonight, I'll settle for this team's record in winning close games.

The game's most unusual (but I presume appropriate) call was a T on Nate S. for, I gather, touching the ball to his opponent's head after making a basket and being fouled.  It didn't look aggressive, or like anything was said . . . and I'm unsure what the intent was.  I've just never before seen a player do that, or be penalized for doing such.

Class act moment:  At the game's end, Matt Neil momentarily motioned his incredulity to the refs, then called his upset players away from the refs--to come back to the bench, accept the outcome, and congratulate Albion.  The more I observe Coach Neil, the more impressed I am with how he represents Hope College.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin-Albion on Saturday. Winner gets Trine.

Not the kind of pressure wanted going into this game.  But will make for one heck of a crowd at historic Kresge gymnasium.  Flash back to 2004-2005 season....

I doubt you'll get more than 500,  Albion's highest attendance this year was 680 vs Hope. 

502. Zig and I are going.

[sac]

Calvin-Albion on Saturday. Winner gets Trine.

Not the kind of pressure wanted going into this game.  But will make for one heck of a crowd at historic Kresge gymnasium.  Flash back to 2004-2005 season....

I doubt you'll get more than 500,  Albion's highest attendance this year was 680 vs Hope. 

502. Zig and I are going.

Attendance has been all over the place for that game the last 3 years, from 400 up to 980.

[oldknight]

KS, before I forget, nice prediction with predicting Calvin by 5 tonight.  Only 1 point off.

Rodts is at fault for screwing it up. He missed a free throw with 1.4 seconds left.

[oldknight]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

[KnightSlappy]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

I think Olivet beat 'em there last year.

[EDIT] Yep. Here it is: http://www.miaa.org/mbb/stats/0910/0113oliv.htm

[oldknight]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

I think Olivet beat 'em there last year.

[EDIT] Yep. Here it is: http://www.miaa.org/mbb/stats/0910/0113oliv.htm

I see Jim Schipper was in the officiating crew for last year's game and tonight's. Maybe that's the key.

[sac]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

Going off scores, I'm not sure I'd rule Trine out of this.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Hope has its first lead......

Technical foul count up to 3, intentional foul count is unknown.  Pretty chippy

Let's just say that when Albion is playing, the fouls are never really accidental.  

[HopeConvert]

Unreal finish in Holland you probably had to see to believe.

Albion 78 Hope 76 OT

final pending I guess

Now final,  75% FT shooting team goes 2-6 in the final 30 seconds and loses the game.

Free throw woes aside, the play-by-play makes it look like this game should have gone to a second OT at a minimum. With the game tied, why is Krombeen shooting with enough time for Kazen to fastbreak the other way for the winner?

I don't think the time stamp is always accurate on the livestats. 

Oh no. Ziggy is absolutely right on this. I rarely disagree with pointlem, but I thought it was a very bad decision on David's part. I was yelling "stop" his whole way down the floor. He dribbled into a triple team, and he gave the defense no opportunity to set up in return in case of a miss. And with 8 seconds left. Ugh.

Unreal night. Just kicked it away.

[oldknight]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

Going off scores, I'm not sure I'd rule Trine out of this.

Agreed.

[jspiii]

Hope has its first lead......

Technical foul count up to 3, intentional foul count is unknown.  Pretty chippy

Let's just say that when Albion is playing, the fouls are never really accidental.  

The Albion/Hope MIAA game must have been confused with the MMA.

[Civic Minded]

Whew; what a night, what a year for the MIAA. I think this is the first time ever you can say that there are 6 teams with a legitimate chance of winning the conference tournament. Doesn't make the decision to go to a four team tournament look any better does it?

BTW:  Is Hope's loss at home tonight the first ever at DeVos to an MIAA opponent other than Calvin? Calling sac.

I think Olivet beat 'em there last year.

[EDIT] Yep. Here it is: http://www.miaa.org/mbb/stats/0910/0113oliv.htm

I see Jim Schipper was in the officiating crew for last year's game and tonight's. Maybe that's the key.

You have no idea how true a statement this is.  I'm generally ok w/ JS reffing; heck I've even defended him against those who say he has a terrible anti-Hope bias.  But tonight was simply unbelieveable in many ways.  Colton getting flattened as he shoots at the buzzer was just icing ont he cake. 

[Civic Minded]

Hope has its first lead......

Technical foul count up to 3, intentional foul count is unknown.  Pretty chippy

Let's just say that when Albion is playing, the fouls are never really accidental.  

Agreed (is there anyone who disagrees?).  Adrian plays tough, very physical d, but I've never seen so many 2-handed shoves in the back, none of which got called, even when they were in front of the refs, as I did tonight w/ Albion.  Rest assured I will be cheering for Calvin, and anyone else who has to play Albion, for a very very long time.

[AndersDY]

"Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean that really got out of hand fast."

I had bigger complaints with the officiating tonight than the last play. With 2 seconds left, trying a heave toward the hoop, the refs are rarely going to bail you out with a foul call unless there is a complete mugging. I was more concerned with the general pattern of officiating which left a difference in fouls of only 32-29. This game was a perfect example of the reason it isn't always wrong when there is a major disparity in the number of fouls. My main complaint was that because Albion was playing full-tackle the whole game, it seemed the refs didn't want to call every single foul since there were so many. If I could review the whole game, I doubt it would appear Albion commited only 3 more fouls.

I'm curious who was at the first game in Albion. Tonight's game program highlighted the fact that Hope won the first meeting despite committing far more fouls, 28-16. Albion picked up 16 each half tonight and I'd suggest that was only a subset. There must have been some entirely different team playing the first game because it could not have looked like tonight's brawl.

The fouls did eventually pile up though, which should have let Hope put Albion away. However, getting 1 of 4 FTs on one possession left the game open. And then it was truly a dangerous risk in clock management for Krombeen to charge ahead rather than holding to prevent any further Albion possessions. We missed 12 FTs and were not hitting from outside. Despite having to adapt to a rugby environment, there was plenty of opportunity for Hope to seal this game away, but they didn't have it at the end tonight.