MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

Hope has an interesting team--a team of extremes. Terrific guard play. League-leading shooting percentage but league-trailing three-point shooting percentage, by a wide margin. 6'-10" D-I transfer center but not much of an inside game.

What happens if Hope runs into a team that can defend their guards?

Very good question. One esteemed board member mentioned to me last night that this could be the one failing that costs Hope in the NCAA tournament. Hope does need someone to step up from the arc because if an opponent can handle the dribble penetration of Hope's guards, that's the key to stopping Hope's offense. Right now, the Flying Dutchmen could use Ty Tanis. Logan Neil is one candidate to be that consistent threat from the perimeter as is Peter Bunn, though he seems to get fewer opportunities to do so while playing from what is essentially the 3 spot.

[pointlem]

Part of Hope's offensive struggles was Peter Bunn having to sit on the bench for so long, I really don't know the total minutes but I'm sure Hope prefers Bunn and Krombeen on the floor together and that just didn't happen much tonight.  The movement was much better with those two on the floor.   . . . The only disappointing part of the game for me was seeing Hope's Peter Bunn and Wheaton's Aaron Garriot have to sit out so much of the game with foul trouble.   

Great synopsis, as usual, Sac.  And, yes, having Nate S., Peter Bunn, and Nate VA sit on the bench for so much of Hope's game yesterday--Peter sat until 2:20 secs left, as the game was slipping away--hurts Hope.  Given the coaching strategy of benching players for most or all of the half once they pick up a 2nd foul makes it important that players not pick up a 2nd first half foul, which Nate VA, especially, has been prone to do.  Once the foul trouble kicked in and key players were sitting, Hope's 13 point lead began to dissipate--which is why the game was so close at the end.

I've gotta believe the 3-point shooting will come around.  Logan Neil (who is just getting back to basketball), Peter Bunn, and David Krombeen are all better 3-point shooters than their games to date might indicate.  (On the other hand, Hope's opponents playing the perimeter tight is what opens up the lane for all those layups.) 

For Hope to win with 3 starters playing less than 20 minutes, and Wheaton making 27 of 31 free throws, bodes well for Hope, especially as Nate VA develops.  Moreover, the defensive energy and bench enthusiasm from all the players has been excellent in all the games to date.

All in all, I'd say that Hope's season has started well, and I expect that this team will get even better as the season progresses.

[maroonandgold]

Hope has an interesting team--a team of extremes. Terrific guard play. League-leading shooting percentage but league-trailing three-point shooting percentage, by a wide margin. 6'-10" D-I transfer center but not much of an inside game.

What happens if Hope runs into a team that can defend their guards?

Very good question. One esteemed board member mentioned to me last night that this could be the one failing that costs Hope in the NCAA tournament. Hope does need someone to step up from the arc because if an opponent can handle the dribble penetration of Hope's guards, that's the key to stopping Hope's offense. Right now, the Flying Dutchmen could use Ty Tanis. Logan Neil is one candidate to be that consistent threat from the perimeter as is Peter Bunn, though he seems to get fewer opportunities to do so while playing from what is essentially the 3 spot.

While I agree with most of the assessment of the Hope team, I think it should be pointed out that other than from Snuggerud, Hope is not getting much consistent scoring from the inside.  The lack of effective big men could come back to hurt Hope against stronger teams--even against Calvin.

Like everyone else, I don't know what to think of the Calvin team.  They are strong on the inside, but they appear to be a weak shooting team from the outside.  Yet when I look at the stats from last night's game, the Carthage team which seemed to shoot much better was only 7 of 20 from 3 point range while Calvin was 6 of 10.  They still throw far too many balls away.  I like the looks of Van Eck as backup center.  He can post up and score.  Nadeau may end up playing an important role as the season progresses since the problem of turnovers is still far from being solved.

[HopeConvert]

The opening to Lee Lambert's story in the Holland Sentinel:

"Hope College men's basketball coach Matt Neil is still trying to figure out how his team pulled out a 79-78 win over the Thunder in the opening game of the CCIW/MIAA Challenge.

'I'm still trying to figure out exactly how we did it,' Neil said after the game."

It doesn't get better than that.

[knights2000]

Pretty crazy ending to the Hope/Wheaton game last night. Wasn't sure what to expect from Hope, but I really like that team. Krombeen looked great. It also seems like this Hope team has great team chemistry; they all seemed to get along and genuinely enjoyed being on the court. Not sure how they pulled it out in the end, but kudos. One other note: Wasn't sure what to expect from Nate VA, but he more of less reminded me of Adam DeYoung +4 inches. He certainly is very raw.

Not to beat the dead horse, but I don't know what to make of Calvin. I too like Nate VanEck coming off the bench, although he does seem lost on D at times. Where was Mickey DeVries last night? Did anyone else notice that when Calvin put big second half runs together, Snikkers was on the bench? Seems like when he is in the game, he takes the offense out of the flow by holding the ball and trying to make a move off the dribble. Don't get me wrong, I am okay with this when he is on, but I'd like to see him keep the ball moving a bit more. Aside from an air ball (on a good shot, I thought), Powell looked good. He seems to be playing much more composed and under control than what I have seen before. Jordan Mast got a few open looks and hit shots; that's huge. All in all, yesterday was encouraging.

[sac]

Saturday slate:

North Park @ Trine--  NP has a new coach, a few new players.  Thus far they are 2-3.  Trine is 3-2 coming off a couple solid wins last weekend vs HCAC opponents.  Trine won this match-up last season.  The Ian Jackson show should carry the day for Trine.

MIAA/CCIW Challenge

Carthage vs Hope

Wheaton @ Calvin

Both Wheaton/Hope are coming off a high energy game, today will be their 3rd games in 4 days.  Both games favor these two I would think, but fatigue could become a problem.


Kzoo @ Chicago  --  Kzoo's annual game with Chicago probably favors the Maroons.  Chicago is 4-2, though they probably haven't beaten anyone good their 2 losses did come to good teams Wheaton and Lake Forest.


Wooster @ Adrian  --  Wooster is 4-0 and should be the frontrunner in the NCAC and at or near the top of the Great Lakes Region.  Great test for a young Bulldog team at home.  A win should be an eye opener.


Olivet @ Elmhurst --  Elmhurst is 2-3, picked in the bottom half of the CCIW.  Olivet got a win last week but boy have they struggled.  Olivet might keep this competitive for awhile, a win would be a pretty big accomplishment.



I mentioned this summer that this day was shaping up to be a really tough one for the league.  The league enters today 23-19.

[sac]

Hope's leading Carthage 48-33 at the half.

It's nice to

1)  hit a few 3's

2)  stay out of foul trouble

Not necessarily in that order.

[wiz]

Hope up by 24 with 4 minutes left and still playing starters.

[sac]

Wooster 75 Adrian 50

Bulldogs were pretty much dominated

Eric Lewis 13, Brad Whitby 12, Adam Meier 12



Elmhurst 73 Olivet 49

Eric Mack led the Comets with 12



Trine 86 North Park 57

Isaac Loechle 18, Tim Pearcy 16, Ian Jackson 14

[sac]

Hope 89 Carthage 59

Krombeen 15, Snuggerud 14, Bunn 14, Overway 11, Seiler 10, VanArendonk 8pts, 8rbs

Not a thing in the stat sheet to be upset about.....or even mildly irritated with.

[sac]

Hope up by 24 with 4 minutes left and still playing starters.

Carthage was down by 24 with 3 minutes left and still playing starters.  Malcolm Kelly and Luke Johnson

So what. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hope up by 24 with 4 minutes left and still playing starters.

Carthage was down by 24 with 3 minutes left and still playing starters.  Malcolm Kelly and Luke Johnson

So what. 

Aside from sportsmanship, season-ending injury while playing in 'garbage time'?  Not to mention, 'team chemistry' among those glued to the bench.

Personally, I would fault both coaches, but especially the one with the huge lead.

(And I am leery about pulling them too soon, having once been badly burned in soccer - having pulled my star [4 goals already] in a game we lost the momentum and could never regain it and lost.  But 24 points with 3-4 minutes left?! )

[KnightSlappy]

Hope up by 24 with 4 minutes left and still playing starters.

Carthage was down by 24 with 3 minutes left and still playing starters.  Malcolm Kelly and Luke Johnson

So what. 

If Carthage didn't like, they should have stopped it.

[arena]

Who is running the camera at Calvin?  Seems to be asleep.

[arena]

Way to go Calvin.......