MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Trine's Freshmen class looks pretty good

Isaac Loechle is now my all-time favorite Trine player for putting together a youtube video.....going old school and avoiding horrible cliche rap music.  +k to Isaac.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr2E_bDFfAs

Jeramie Neal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa3nFrcr4eg

Chad Shepherd  who looks really solid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCJphkWXt5Q

Dustin Hall
has a video out there but I've lost contact with the minions at google.

Braden Knight
no video that I could find, but was getting looks from some D2's and small D1's

Cody Jansen
from Sturgis, I'm sure a couple other MIAA's were looking at him at least.

Hamilton Thorne
dudes big

[wiz]

It is my impression that if you put on a Calvin uniform during the KVS era you are pretty much going to play the way KVS wants. 

Finally, we are in complete agreement!  And, if you played in the Douma era, you played the way he wanted you to.  Same with Vroon, Honderd, Steen and the rest. 

I imagine it is pretty much that way at all schools.  You play the way the coach wants or you don't play.  I know that's the way Wooden did it in the past and the way Coach Krzyzewski does it today. They have banners too.

[Gregory Sager]

Rosters Posted So Far

http://www.trine.edu/athletics/mens_sports/basketball/roster/

I see that Noah Veach, who was a pretty solid player last year as a freshman for the Thunder, is not on the Trine roster.

[scottiedawg]

I know as a Hope fan it scared me to no end whenever Mantel got the ball in the post. And a lot of Hope fans shared my sentiment. So either 1) We were wrong to be scared 2) Mantel got fewer touches in the post by his own volition, or 3) By KVS' volition. I don't really care which was the case, but I think we can all agree that in the MIAA, where skilled height is a premium like no other, even big men that are proficient from 3 are much better utilized in the post.

It's really a matter of competitive advantage. You want to utilize your players in the most efficient way possible.

GVW seemed to not stress the post game either, so the fact that Neil has shown he will emphasize the post, regardless of what size he throws out there on the from line, excites me greatly.

[hoopdreams]

Not one time, not one second in the 12-15 times I've watched Calvin in the past 2 years did I think " Snikkers is a great, lockdown defender".  Bunn will own him.

It is physiologically impossible to gain 25 pounds of muscle in one year.  Professional body builders will kill to LEGALLY gain 20% of that # in lean body mass in one year.  You know, the dudes that spend 3-4 hours a day, every day to gain muscle mass.  Those ain't protein shakes PB's been drinking all thoses weekends!!

Overall depth on the varsity team could directly impact the # of frosh on the roster but given the fact that they had 5-6 spots to fill, and there wasn't much returning based on last season's record - graduates (Brad S. Rodts, Schuster) - injury to their best player IMO Brink......you don't think any coach would want some "varsity ready" freshmen talent in the pipe line?  Or we'll just keep them down on the JV and use the others that weren't ready LAST year because our roster was so strong.....right.

Were Reimink, OverBeek, etc.... on JV to start because the varsity was so deep, or could the assessment of talent/potential have been incorrect?  Overbeek was a project+++ no one will deny that, but what did Jesse do in 3 or 4 JV games that he didn't do the entire fall at open gyms or tryouts? A name of a current player and captain was mentioned earlier and anyone with a sniff about hoops could tell 3 years ago he was nowhere near ready to play varsity ball.  Again, an error in judgement and assessment. 

Didn't think Veach would stick it out at Trine?  Any leads on his situation??  There aren't many schools in the MIAA with a rep for transfers but Hope and Calvin would both improve drastically with him.  Think Brad S. with skills

[realist]

It is my impression that if you put on a Calvin uniform during the KVS era you are pretty much going to play the way KVS wants. 

Finally, we are in complete agreement!  And, if you played in the Douma era, you played the way he wanted you to.  Same with Vroon, Honderd, Steen and the rest. 

I imagine it is pretty much that way at all schools.  You play the way the coach wants or you don't play.  I know that's the way Wooden did it in the past and the way Coach Krzyzewski does it today. They have banners too.

Well duh.   Of course you play the way the coach wants.  The point is a wise coach will modify his game to best utilize the available talent.  Wooden did it that way, and Coach K. makes a living doing that.  The question remains will KVS modify his game at all considering the available talent.  At this point it seems to me running KVS's game with Calvin's glaring lack of ball handling skills will negate the size advantage.  Like others I think Hope's guards (and every team Calvin plays) will ball hawk, and feast on turnovers. 

To put it simply KVS is no Wooden or coach K.

[oldknight]

I attended a portion of the open practice at Van Noord Arena this afternoon (Actually I spent more of my time visiting the Open Forum Discussion hosted by the Football Feasibility Task Force where I met A-Rod's high school baseball coach, himself a Calvin grad). There really isn't a lot of substantive information you can glean from attending one basketball practice, especially one where the head coach knows the public was invited to watch it. But I do have some random thoughts on the afternoon. In no particular order, here they are:

--My goodness, these kids are tall.

--I want to cry like a baby when I look to and fro' across every corner of the arena, and can't find Jordan Brink anywhere.

--Holy smokes, these kids are really, really tall.

--Mickey DeVries comes by his Frisian heritage honestly. He has the map of Dokkum (or Sneek or Hindeloopen) on his face, with a mop of blond hair on top to validate it.

--Speaking of Mickey DeVries, he's even more athletic than I expected. Excellent footwork, with quickness and nice hops in his legs. He has the skillset to help the Knights right away.

--Ryan Nadeau looks like he came straight our of junior high to Knollcrest. I'm curious to see if he will struggle to get his shot off at the college level as a freshmen. He can penetrate and dish nicely though.

--Mitch Vallie looks like he might be ready to play major minutes this year. His ability to drive the lane and maintain body control appears quite good.

--Adam DeYoung and Jake Mantel took off their shirts to play on the skins team. Wow! They look like they could star for Calvin's undefeated football team right now. Even a fan as buff as me gets jealous.

--When Tom Snikkers has his defender in the low post without any defensive help, the defender has no chance of stopping him.

--I don't expect Tyler Dykstra to score a lot as a freshmen but he has a pretty decent shooting touch.

--Speaking of a Tyler with a shooting touch, the one whose surname is Kruis has one of the nicer touches from the low post--and excellent hands--I have seen over my years watching Calvin hoops. If he is willing and able to do the dirty work that comes with playing in the blocks he has the potential to be the top scorer on the team--if not this year then next.

--Wouldn't it be sweet justice if a kid named Brent Henry made the winning basket against Hope in a Rivalry game?

--I wonder how much Calvin spent replacing all those HPERDS signs with ones labeled Department of Kinesiology?

--And last, but not least (tip of the cap to realist for teeing this one up; it was too good to resist): I wonder if KVS will be able to modify his game to take advantage of the available talent, or are we destined to suffer through a season of turnovers? I know John Wooden is dead but maybe we can pry Coach K away from Duke.

[wiz]

I attended a portion of the open practice at Van Noord Arena this afternoon (Actually I spent more of my time visiting the Open Forum Discussion hosted by the Football Feasibility Task Force where I met A-Rod's high school baseball coach, himself a Calvin grad). There really isn't a lot of substantive information you can glean from attending one basketball practice, especially one where the head coach knows the public was invited to watch it. But I do have some random thoughts on the afternoon. In no particular order, here they are:

--My goodness, these kids are tall.

--I want to cry like a baby when I look to and fro' across every corner of the arena, and can't find Jordan Brink anywhere.

--Holy smokes, these kids are really, really tall.

--Mickey DeVries comes by his Frisian heritage honestly. He has the map of Dokkum (or Sneek or Hindeloopen) on his face, with a mop of blond hair on top to validate it.

--Speaking of Mickey DeVries, he's even more athletic than I expected. Excellent footwork, with quickness and nice hops in his legs. He has the skillset to help the Knights right away.

--Ryan Nadeau looks like he came straight our of junior high to Knollcrest. I'm curious to see if he will struggle to get his shot off at the college level as a freshmen. He can penetrate and dish nicely though.

--Mitch Vallie looks like he might be ready to play major minutes this year. His ability to drive the lane and maintain body control appears quite good.

--Adam DeYoung and Jake Mantel took off their shirts to play on the skins team. Wow! They look like they could star for Calvin's undefeated football team right now. Even a fan as buff as me gets jealous.

--When Tom Snikkers has his defender in the low post without any defensive help, the defender has no chance of stopping him.

--I don't expect Tyler Dykstra to score a lot as a freshmen but he has a pretty decent shooting touch.

--Speaking of a Tyler with a shooting touch, the one whose surname is Kruis has one of the nicer touches from the low post--and excellent hands--I have seen over my years watching Calvin hoops. If he is willing and able to do the dirty work that comes with playing in the blocks he has the potential to be the top scorer on the team--if not this year then next.

--Wouldn't it be sweet justice if a kid named Brent Henry made the winning basket against Hope in a Rivalry game?

--I wonder how much Calvin spent replacing all those HPERDS signs with ones labeled Department of Kinesiology?

--And last, but not least (tip of the cap to realist for teeing this one up; it was too good to resist): I wonder if KVS will be able to modify his game to take advantage of the available talent, or are we destined to suffer through a season of turnovers? I know John Wooden is dead but maybe we can pry Coach K away from Duke.

Just finished having milk and cookies with realist before he had to go home and memorize his verse for Sunday School tomorrow and he assured me he would be happier with a dead guy.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Got a chance to see some of the open practice today.  This is an analysis based on a very small sample size but I would say I came away impressed with Van Eck, DeVries, and Nadeau among others.  Snikkers seems to be embracing the role of leader which I think is very important to the 2011-12 team. 

To follow up on a previous post, I don't think that Brent Henry will be lumped in with our great 3 point line roaming centers.  I'm pretty sure it was him that KVS told in no uncertain terms that if he shoots the three early in the shot clock he will get to know the pine very well. 

Has anyone mentioned yet that we have a bunch of tall guys? 

[northb]

Got a chance to see some of the open practice today.  This is an analysis based on a very small sample size but I would say I came away impressed with Van Eck, DeVries, and Nadeau among others.  Snikkers seems to be embracing the role of leader which I think is very important to the 2011-12 team. 

To follow up on a previous post, I don't think that Brent Henry will be lumped in with our great 3 point line roaming centers.  I'm pretty sure it was him that KVS told in no uncertain terms that if he shoots the three early in the shot clock he will get to know the pine very well. 

Has anyone mentioned yet that we have a bunch of tall guys?

So do you remain HCG, or just CG?

[realist]

Very good OK.  I hate to set up a nice soft lob like that and see it ignored. +k.  
Thanks for the report from the VN.  We won't have to wait very long to get some answers about how this years team will perform, and if they can address some of the issues that I (for one) think exist.  If two or more of these 6" 4" (+) G/F's can really handle, and protect the ball it will make Calvin a potentially dangerous team. 

Did Nadeau look more like he should be the ball boy??

+k to my new friend wiz also.  I only told you that was milk.

[sac]

While waiting patiently for a Hope roster I found what might be one of the oddest exhibition matchups out there.


Nov 1.    Davenport at New Mexico.

  Let me introduce you to 'Lobo Louie' and 'Lobo Lucie'

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Did Nadeau look more like he should be the ball boy??

Height-wise, sure--he had a difficult time shooting over the taller players, definitely needs to learn a quick release now that he's at the college level.  But, I was very impressed with his ballhandling, strength and body control, and passing.  No one's passes had more zip on them, so if we are ever looking for a distributor/playmaker more than a score-first point guard, I think he'll get some PT over the course of his Calvin career.  Quick first step too, so the drive-and-kick option is there.  It's hard to tell much from just a quick observation in a practice setting, but I get the feel that he has a high basketball IQ--much the same sense that I got from freshman Tommy Snikkers a couple of years ago. Upside, he develops into a nice Overway-type player.

[goodknight]

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.

Just back from an 11-day recruiting trip to Italy, and found a number of robust Brunellos and a super smooth Amarone or two to work into the rotation.   

I was  to see this posting from realist.  Maybe he's found some mellow Italian wine, too.  I heartily recommend it.

KS, I have a different perspective on the rotations -- not better, not worse, just different:

Starters:
Reitema
Powell
Snikkers
DeVries
Kruis

Second rotation:
Nadeau
Haverdink
Vallie
Dykstra
DeYoung

I could see Dykstra working his way into the starting lineup during the year, and Haverdink working his way toward the end of the bench if the younger guys perform.
Lots of depth in the post and on the wings, but Brink's injury leaves a gaping hole in the back court.  Which is why I'd anticipate Nadeau getting a chance early to prove his ability to handle the ball and the point.
If he's not ready, KVS will probably have to yield to realist's advice and make an adjustment or two.

[13wapiti]

Preseason Top 25 is out!

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/preseason


Hope (just out of top 25) and Calvin both receiving votes.