MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

Tough day for Knight fans.  Besides the choke at Van Noord, our men's soccer team comes up one goal shy in their quest for a national championship.  But congrats to our silver medalists, definitely very proud of that team!

If it makes you feel any better, Wheaton's women's soccer team came up TWO goals shy of the national title - losing to Messiah (who is becoming the Mount Union of d3 soccer).

Not true. Mount Union would only be on the same level as Messiah if it was winning D3 titles in women's football as well.

Nate VA, who had a fine game today with 4 of 5 shooting, 8 boards, 2 assists, no TOs, and plenty of defensive intimidation just by his presence, uncharacteristically played the most minutes, with 26.  His improvement from the first couple games is palpable, especially in his having only one foul today.

He had nowhere to go other than up after yesterday: 0-7 from the field (with all seven shots launched from within five feet of the basket), zero points, four fouls, and five turnovers. I was completely unimpressed by Van Arendonk -- but I realize it's only one game.

Trine 86 North Park 57

As I said on CCIW Chat, NPU should've stayed on the bus and enjoyed all the fine sights that Angola, Indiana has to offer, rather than disembark at the Trine gym and pantomime playing a basketball game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tough day for Knight fans.  Besides the choke at Van Noord, our men's soccer team comes up one goal shy in their quest for a national championship.  But congrats to our silver medalists, definitely very proud of that team!

If it makes you feel any better, Wheaton's women's soccer team came up TWO goals shy of the national title - losing to Messiah (who is becoming the Mount Union of d3 soccer).

Not true. Mount Union would only be on the same level as Messiah if it was winning D3 titles in women's football as well.

Touche.  Except their men's team did not even make the final four this year, and I'm not sure their combined titles yet match UMU.

And I'd feel very confident if I were to say they haven't matched Kenyon swimming yet!

[hope52]

what  a fun week  for basketball

[calvin_grad]

Watching the soccer game while setting up the Christmas tree (with the sound off because my wife needed Christmas music on).  With 8 minutes to go and the score 0-0, I got up from watching the game to help put some ornaments on the tree.  Came back to the game 4 minutes later and the score was 2-0 OWU.  DOH!!   

Calvin tried to come back, and got the equalizer in the 50th minute, but couldn't get the equalizer.   

Congratulations on a great season, guys!!  2 national runner-up trophies for the senior class!!   

[AlwaysHope]

Was there in All-Tourney team for this weekend at Calvin, and, if so, who was selected?

[almcguirejr]

Was there in All-Tourney team for this weekend at Calvin, and, if so, who was selected?

No, but Krombeen,would have been outstanding player for the weekend.

[AlwaysHope]

Was there in All-Tourney team for this weekend at Calvin, and, if so, who was selected?

No, but, Krombeen was would have been outstanding player for the weekend.

I did not see the Sat. game, but based on Friday night, I could not help but agree.  However, I thought he played just as well last weekend.  I was surprised he still had enough energy at the end of the Friday game to get his final steal, considering he played 37 minutes in that game; he did not look or play like he was winded.  I think one of the posters described his play as "electric."  He and Bunn (last weekend's MVP) will be fun to watch their final season at Hope.

I was especially pleased to see Overway play so well this weekend. Looks like he has recovered from his injury.

[sac]

The league is 25-24, just past the halfway portion of the non-conference schedule.  Things get pretty slow from here until after Christmas.


This week.....

Tuesday, December 6
Alma at Ferris State, 7 p.m.
Trine at Purdue-North Central, Ind., 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 7
Bluffton, Ohio at Kalamazoo, 7 p.m.

Friday, December 9
Marian, In at Hope, 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 10
Trinity Christian, Ill. at Calvin, 3 p.m.
Carthage, Wis. at Albion, 4 p.m.
Denison, Ohio at Kalamazoo, 4 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Nazerene, Ohio at Hope, 3 p.m.
Oberlin, Ohio at Alma, 3 p.m.
Spring Arbor at Olivet, 3 p.m.

Sunday, December 11
Denison, Ohio at Albion, 3 p.m.  (game is not on the MIAA master schedule but on both Denison and Albion websites)

I can see 6-5, but 5-6 probably seems more likely.  Kind of depends on how Kzoo and Albion handle what look like pretty good opponents.



Easiet player of the week award since any week Michael McClary won it I would think.

David Krombeen's week:   52 points, 19-36 FG shooting, 9 assists, 4 turnovers, 8 steals....along with being the best player on the floor for either team in 2 of 3 Hope's games, and right in there with a MAC level D1 opponent.

Matt DeBoer, Calvin could get a co-player with his 35 points on 16-25 shooting in the MIAA/CCIW Challenge.

[calvinknightfan]

As a Calvin fan I will obstain from commenting on their play this weekend, as the thought of their collapse saturday will only anger me further.  I did manage to get out to see the Hope-Wheaton game on Friday though, and have some random thoughts from the game:

1) David Krombeen is very very good.  He has been good his first three years at Hope, but he absolutely dominated Wheaton on Friday.

2) Nate VA is very very bad.  When Hope plays calvin I sincerely hope that he stays on the court as much as possible.  It's a bad sad to say, but I think their' guard/wing Billy Seiler is a better inside player than Nate.

3) Hope plays very well and fluently as a team.

4) Not sure why Logan Neil was playing more than Peter Bunn was at the end of the game, but either way it didn't make sense to me.

5) I don't know where Billy Seiler came from, but he I loved how he played.  Very good rebounder for his size, and seemed to understand the game very well.

I look forward to seeing this version of Hope play again this year, at least two more times.  Although, hopefully with different results than Friday.

[hoopdreams]

Billy continues the trend of good, solid sometimes fantastic play after earning an opportunity for PT, geting into the flow, gaining confidence and allowing his  abilities to flourish.  How many quotes have we read in the past year since Neil took over, the latest coming from Krombeen(played how many games in a Hope uniform?) giving thanks to playing for a coach and with teammates who have confidence in him.  Mr.Seiler looks nothing like the player he was a year ago because he's playing with confidence.  Is there a ratio, conversion or formula for that?

[wiz]

For those of us that have been watching Calvin regularly this year, our expectations are always for better results.  But, in watching this young team that lost four seniors and only has one senior this year, a non-starter, there is lot to hang one's hat on.  Young players are getting put into the mix, chemistry is getting figured out, and there are signs of good things to come.  When league play starts, I expect them to be ready.  There have been solid contributions from newer players like Vallie, Mast, DeBoer, VanEck and DeVries.  The current weakness is at the point and there are too many turnovers.  The adjusted offense to accomodate the taller than usual team is beginning to show and there is confidence building each week.  The outstrectched arms of Kruis, DeVries a nd Dykstra are making it difficult for teams to go inside.  With the exception of the Wheaton game, this team has shown composure at the end of games and they have been able to close them out.  I, for one, am looking forward to a good MIAA season for the Knights.

Regarding the other teams this weekend:
Carthage, like Calvin, is still a work in progress.  They are too well coached, however, to be counted out.
Wheaton is talented but did not show themselves to be as deep as the other teams represented this weekend.
Hope can't be beat when they keep lighting it up at 60%.  Weakness is inside, strength is outside.

Congratulations to KVS for picking up his 300th win while coaching Calvin teams on Friday night.

[AlwaysHope]

Billy continues the trend of good, solid sometimes fantastic play after earning an opportunity for PT, geting into the flow, gaining confidence and allowing his  abilities to flourish.  How many quotes have we read in the past year since Neil took over, the latest coming from Krombeen(played how many games in a Hope uniform?) giving thanks to playing for a coach and with teammates who have confidence in him.  Mr.Seiler looks nothing like the player he was a year ago because he's playing with confidence.  Is there a ratio, conversion or formula for that?

At the WMU game Billy Seiler played like I never seen him play before.  While clearly outsized, he was not afraid to drive to the hoop.  He was also looking for his shot, playing very aggressively.  He wound up with 14 points, which I believe is a career high. 

I don't remember him play much last year.  Was he hurt for part of the season?

[Civic Minded]

Billy continues the trend of good, solid sometimes fantastic play after earning an opportunity for PT, geting into the flow, gaining confidence and allowing his  abilities to flourish.  How many quotes have we read in the past year since Neil took over, the latest coming from Krombeen(played how many games in a Hope uniform?) giving thanks to playing for a coach and with teammates who have confidence in him.  Mr.Seiler looks nothing like the player he was a year ago because he's playing with confidence.  Is there a ratio, conversion or formula for that?

At the WMU game Billy Seiler played like I never seen him play before.  While clearly outsized, he was not afraid to drive to the hoop.  He was also looking for his shot, playing very aggressively.  He wound up with 14 points, which I believe is a career high. 

I don't remember him play much last year.  Was he hurt for part of the season?

Not hurt, just playing behind some very talented individuals.  It's his time to shine.

[sac]

Billy continues the trend of good, solid sometimes fantastic play after earning an opportunity for PT, geting into the flow, gaining confidence and allowing his  abilities to flourish.  How many quotes have we read in the past year since Neil took over, the latest coming from Krombeen(played how many games in a Hope uniform?) giving thanks to playing for a coach and with teammates who have confidence in him.  Mr.Seiler looks nothing like the player he was a year ago because he's playing with confidence.  Is there a ratio, conversion or formula for that?

At the WMU game Billy Seiler played like I never seen him play before.  While clearly outsized, he was not afraid to drive to the hoop.  He was also looking for his shot, playing very aggressively.  He wound up with 14 points, which I believe is a career high. 

I don't remember him play much last year.  Was he hurt for part of the season?

Not hurt, just playing behind some very talented individuals.  It's his time to shine.

He was behind Jared Mysliewiec and Corey Williams in the rotation before they left in mid-December last year, but I thought Billy picked up a leg injury over Christmas that held him back from playing more the rest of the year ? ? ?

[KnightSlappy]

For those of us that have been watching Calvin regularly this year, our expectations are always for better results.  But, in watching this young team that lost four seniors and only has one senior this year, a non-starter, there is lot to hang one's hat on.  Young players are getting put into the mix, chemistry is getting figured out, and there are signs of good things to come.  When league play starts, I expect them to be ready.  There have been solid contributions from newer players like Vallie, Mast, DeBoer, VanEck and DeVries.  The current weakness is at the point and there are too many turnovers.  The adjusted offense to accomodate the taller than usual team is beginning to show and there is confidence building each week.  The outstrectched arms of Kruis, DeVries a nd Dykstra are making it difficult for teams to go inside.  With the exception of the Wheaton game, this team has shown composure at the end of games and they have been able to close them out.  I, for one, am looking forward to a good MIAA season for the Knights.

Regarding the other teams this weekend:
Carthage, like Calvin, is still a work in progress.  They are too well coached, however, to be counted out.
Wheaton is talented but did not show themselves to be as deep as the other teams represented this weekend.
Hope can't be beat when they keep lighting it up at 60%.  Weakness is inside, strength is outside.

Congratulations to KVS for picking up his 300th win while coaching Calvin teams on Friday night.

For whatever reason, Wheaton rarely seems to go deeper than a 7 or 8 man rotation.

I agree with most of your sentiments, although I disagree about the biggest weakness. In my estimation, the biggest weakness of this Calvin team is that their best player is shooting only 33% from the floor.