MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[SKOT]

By the way, does anyone know if Peter Bunn is playing is year?  I haven't read anything about him yet .  He will literally be a man amongst boys!  Have fun defending him...

Mlive has an article about the return of Peter Bunn.

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/10/hopes_peter_bunn_returns_to_ba.html

[Knightmare]

Is it safe to assume that the reason for 4 Calvin JV'ers getting moved up is correlated to a "weak" incoming freshmen class?  I don't recall watching the JV team last year thinking that "so and so is really going to contribute at the varsity level for years to come".  I do think Dykstra has potential to be quite good down the line and both sides of the floor but like many baby posts/high posts, will struggle often, with glimpses of stellar play.

IF the incoming class at Hope is as good as the whispers say, and they jell with the returning players, it could be a long year for MIAA teams not suited up in blue and orange.

By the way, does anyone know if Peter Bunn is playing is year?  I haven't read anything about him yet .  He will literally be a man amongst boys!  Have fun defending him...

Snikkers should be able to give Bunn a run for his money, I would think.  Being of similar build (especially if the rumors of Bunn bulking up are true) how much can we anticipate these two guarding each other in the rivalry games.  Could be a great match-up.

[ziggy]

Is it safe to assume that the reason for 4 Calvin JV'ers getting moved up is correlated to a "weak" incoming freshmen class?  I don't recall watching the JV team last year thinking that "so and so is really going to contribute at the varsity level for years to come".  I do think Dykstra has potential to be quite good down the line and both sides of the floor but like many baby posts/high posts, will struggle often, with glimpses of stellar play.

I believe a variety of factors come in to play. Jordan Brink's injury opens up a spot that would not have been otherwise available. Michael Fabiyi's transfer opens another. It was previously noted that Nate Van Eck had a season wiped out by mono, perhaps he would have been on the varsity roster a year earlier. This is in addition to the four roster spots that opened due to graduation.

The opposite argument could be made regarding JV promotions. Perhaps it suggests more depth of talent in the program overall.

[oldknight]

 
[/quote]

Is it safe to assume that the reason for 4 Calvin JV'ers getting moved up is correlated to a "weak" incoming freshmen class?  I don't recall watching the JV team last year thinking that "so and so is really going to contribute at the varsity level for years to come".  I do think Dykstra has potential to be quite good down the line and both sides of the floor but like many baby posts/high posts, will struggle often, with glimpses of stellar play.

It appears that I am not communicating well. For someone in my profession that's a fatal malady so let me try again.

No, it's not safe to assume that Calvin's incoming freshmen class is a weak one. Adding four players to the varsity from last season's JV team isn't an unusual number. I have seen all four play and I think all have potential as varsity players. Don't make the mistake of believing that if a kid does not at least sit the varsity bench as a freshmen, he has a bleak basketball future for the following three years. There are plenty examples of JV players who never played a minute of varsity ball as freshmen, who later became impact players on the varsity.

As for the quality of the incoming class, the only one for whom I can personally vouch is Tyler Dykstra, and he's a real find. I haven't seen Dan Stout or TJ Huizenga play (among those on the currrent JV team) but I'm told they seem to be pretty solid prospects for down the road.

[KnightSlappy]

Is it safe to assume that the reason for 4 Calvin JV'ers getting moved up is correlated to a "weak" incoming freshmen class?  I don't recall watching the JV team last year thinking that "so and so is really going to contribute at the varsity level for years to come".  I do think Dykstra has potential to be quite good down the line and both sides of the floor but like many baby posts/high posts, will struggle often, with glimpses of stellar play.

I think it means we don't really know what we have. I think, as an organization, Calvin was deeper last year than I can remember seeing them. We'll get an opportunity to see that depth up close and personal this year. It does look like Calvin will be playing "big" a lot this year (I'd assume we see a lot of Haverdink/Snikkers at the "SG" position), and the front court rotation appears to be wide open.

I often dismiss guys that once played JV, but off the top of my head, Kyle Trewhella, Andy Draayer (I think), Danny Rodts, and Brent Schuster all spent a year on JV.

[KnightSlappy]

There are plenty examples of JV players who never played a minute of varsity ball as freshmen, who later became impact players on the varsity.

I believe Danny Rodts played 1 minute of Varsity his Fresman year, and then started in his Sophomore year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

There are plenty examples of JV players who never played a minute of varsity ball as freshmen, who later became impact players on the varsity.

I believe Danny Rodts played 1 minute of Varsity his Fresman year, and then started in his Sophomore year.

Though not MIAA, an even more extreme example is Keelan Amelianovich (IWU).  As a freshman, he never saw a varsity minute.  As a sophomore, he was CCIW MOP, and was first-team AA as both a junior and senior!

JV certainly does not mean a player won't shine.  It might be a case of later development, or being blocked by outstanding upperclassmen (no doubt there are also other scenarios).

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Colton Overway
Logan Neil
Chris Ray

(impact guys last year for Hope that played JV as freshman)

Personally I don't think the number of freshman on a varsity squad is all that telling.  There are a few freshman that have an immediate impact - but I think just as many (if not more) freshman who were put on varsity and then road the bench could have grown greatly as JVers.  Sometimes guys just need that exposure to college ball, even at the JV level. 

[Knightmare]

Colton Overway
Logan Neil
Chris Ray

(impact guys last year for Hope that played JV as freshman)

Personally I don't think the number of freshman on a varsity squad is all that telling.  There are a few freshman that have an immediate impact - but I think just as many (if not more) freshman who were put on varsity and then road the bench could have grown greatly as JVers.  Sometimes guys just need that exposure to college ball, even at the JV level.

Also it is often better for a freshman to log heavy minutes and be "the man" at the JV level with lots of responsibility than sitting on the varsity bench and logging only occasional garbage time with no consistent real game action.  The Detroit Redwings do this exact thing between the NHL club and the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Redwings call it "seasoning" a player, even if he is called up a year or two later than other NHL clubs would have...it seems to be working for the Wings.  The Redwings let them develop and gain confidence and be mentally and physically prepared when called up instead of allowing them to struggle and occasionally actually regressing in their development.  A freshman player playing on the JV bball team can often times serve the exact same purpose.

I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that Calvin's last national championship in 2000 had Nate Karsten as a captain and starting 2-guard on that team.  He was one of their most valuable players and he played JV ball his freshman year.  A couple years later another all MIAA'er who played on JV freshman year was Kevin Broene who had a fine career.  I'm sure there are many other examples at Calvin and other schools as well.  Definitely playing JV isn't an indictment of the players future.

[sac]

Colton Overway
Logan Neil
Chris Ray

(impact guys last year for Hope that played JV as freshman)

Personally I don't think the number of freshman on a varsity squad is all that telling.  There are a few freshman that have an immediate impact - but I think just as many (if not more) freshman who were put on varsity and then road the bench could have grown greatly as JVers.  Sometimes guys just need that exposure to college ball, even at the JV level.

Nate King is Hope's best current example.

[Civic Minded]

Colton Overway
Logan Neil
Chris Ray

(impact guys last year for Hope that played JV as freshman)

Personally I don't think the number of freshman on a varsity squad is all that telling.  There are a few freshman that have an immediate impact - but I think just as many (if not more) freshman who were put on varsity and then road the bench could have grown greatly as JVers.  Sometimes guys just need that exposure to college ball, even at the JV level.

Also it is often better for a freshman to log heavy minutes and be "the man" at the JV level with lots of responsibility than sitting on the varsity bench and logging only occasional garbage time with no consistent real game action.  The Detroit Redwings do this exact thing between the NHL club and the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Redwings call it "seasoning" a player, even if he is called up a year or two later than other NHL clubs would have...it seems to be working for the Wings.  The Redwings let them develop and gain confidence and be mentally and physically prepared when called up instead of allowing them to struggle and occasionally actually regressing in their development.  Freshman player playing on the JV bball team can often times serve the exact same purpose.

I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that Calvin's last national championship in 2000 had Nate Karsten as a captain and starting 2-guard on that team.  One of their most valuable players and he played JV ball.  A couple years later another all MIAA'er who played on JV freshman year was Kevin Broene who had a fine career.  I'm sure many other examples at Calvin and other schools as well.  Definitely playing JV isn't an indictment of the players future.

Exactly.  Ryan Klein and Don Overbeek both came up from jv, and even Jesse Reimink was at least listed on the jv roster, although he got moved up right away.  I think sometimes it comes down to a coach's philosophy -- some use their jv team as a place to put "never going to be ready for varsity" players, and some use it to develop good players into really good or great players if possible. 

The transition from high school ball to college ball is a rough one, as is learning to play with 14 or so other players from other schools and other systems and other coaching styles (not to mention going from being king of the hill to just one of many talented players).  Most players would be better served by having a year on jv to help with that transition.

[realist]

So as it stands, I'd project the Calvin rotationto be:

Powell
Haverdink
Sinkkers
DeBoer
Kruis

The next five being:
Rietema
Vallie
Mast
Dykstra
DeYoung

Reserves:
Nadeau
Mantel
Henry
DeVries
VanEck

Looks like lots of PT for Powell this year.

Actually the best thing about this list is, with one change, it is the potential rotation for two years.  

To his credit KVS has never been afraid to play a fr. if they have the talent. 

[wiz]

So as it stands, I'd project the Calvin rotationto be:

Powell
Haverdink
Sinkkers
DeBoer
Kruis

The next five being:
Rietema
Vallie
Mast
Dykstra
DeYoung

Reserves:
Nadeau
Mantel
Henry
DeVries
VanEck

Looks like lots of PT for Powell this year.

Actually the best thing about this list is, with one change, it is the potential rotation for two years.  

To his credit KVS has never been afraid to play a fr. if they have the talent.

It is Fall and a new leaf has been turned over.

[ziggy]

So as it stands, I'd project the Calvin rotationto be:

Powell
Haverdink
Sinkkers
DeBoer
Kruis

The next five being:
Rietema
Vallie
Mast
Dykstra
DeYoung

Reserves:
Nadeau
Mantel
Henry
DeVries
VanEck

Looks like lots of PT for Powell this year.

Actually the best thing about this list is, with one change, it is the potential rotation for two years.  

To his credit KVS has never been afraid to play a fr. if they have the talent.

It is Fall and a new leaf has been turned over.

I thought maybe we needed to alert Pat that an account had been hacked.

[oldknight]

For you Calvin junkies, the men's team is scheduled to hold a "sneak peek" open practice at Van Noord on Saturday from 2-4 pm. I previously reported the women would do the same in the morning but either I read the schedule incorrectly or it changed because it now shows the women will do their open practice Friday from 4-7 pm.

http://www.calvin.edu/homecoming/schedule.html