MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Civic Minded]

On the day of The Game, Hope College psychology professor David Myers reminds us both why it matters and why it doesn't (from 2008):

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/26/opinion/oe-meyers26

Love this article -- thanks for "re-finding" it for us!

And I stand with Dutch_Man.  No matter what Massey says, and even if Hope should be up by 30 with 10 (ok 5) minutes to go, it's not over 'til its over.  That being said, Go Hope!   

[KnightSlappy]

My keys for tonight's game:

For Calvin:
1. Foul trouble.  Calvin needs to get NVA in early foul trouble to clear out the inside.  Calvin has a distinct height advantage if NVA is not on the floor and may be the only leverage point they have in this matchup.  Also, Calvin's depth is depleted with recent roster subtractions, so staying out of foul trouble is also key.

2.  Rietema.  David needs to use his superior strength to slow down "clear cut MVP"  David Krombeen.  He'll also need to minimize turnovers to get the ball over the timeline and into the offense, if Hope throws full court pressure at the Knights.

3.  Kruis.  Tyler started out the season looking like an all-MIAA candidate, and his production, shooting %, etc has significantly slowed lately.  Calvin needs to win the rebound battle by 5-10 and get significant points in the paint, and Tyler needs to be the lynchpin.

4.  Powell.  He has found success recently with eschewing the three ball and working to get mid range jumpers and drives to the iron.  24 points on 18 fg attempts with no three attempts on Saturday.  I remember back to his first regular season Hope game at Van Noord when he was "feeling it" and hit three straight threes in front of a delirious student section.  He needs to erase that memory and stick to the discipline of his recent success. 

For Hope:

1.  NVA.  If he can log 25+ minutes, block/alter shots, and hit his free throws like has recently, Hope wins.

2.  Bunn.  He's had some great games against the Knights in the past and if he goes for at least 20, Calvin will struggle to slow down the Dutchman offense.  Calvin showed great toughness defensively vs Kalamazoo, executing the help side "system" well and generally playing tall and long.  Hope made exactly one trey on Saturday and will benefit by finding some semblance of an outside game.  Bunn is the guy to do it.

3.  Bench.  Quality energy minutes from supersub Overway could wear down Calvin's thin depth at guard.  Neil is another guy who can extend the Knight defense if his shot is falling. 

4.  DeVos crowd.  If Hope can build momentum and the Dew Crew gets loud, I'm not sure how the young Knights will respond. 

If Calvin's midrange shots aren't falling, I expect Hope to win by 20.  If Calvin can keep things close and hang around, I expect a closer game but Hope's depth and the DeVos atmosphere will still prevail.  I hope I'm wrong, but my prediction:  Hope 80 Calvin 65.

Good stuff. I'd also add that the Knights need DeBoer to get back on the horse. He hasn't been clicking for a while.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I think Calvin needs to get off to a fast start tonight. It seems Calvin has started slowly in a lot of games and been in much tighter games at the half than one would have expected. If Hope jumps to a big lead early I am not sure this Calvin team has it in them to crawl back on the road.

But it's also Hope-Calvin so all that probably doesn't mean a thing.

[oldknight]

My keys for tonight's game:

4.  Powell.  He has found success recently with eschewing the three ball and working to get mid range jumpers and drives to the iron.  24 points on 18 fg attempts with no three attempts on Saturday.  I remember back to his first regular season Hope game at Van Noord when he was "feeling it" and hit three straight threes in front of a delirious student section.  He needs to erase that memory and stick to the discipline of his recent success. 

Amen. While he has never been able to be a consistent three point threat, Powell has a pretty reliable jumper from 15 feet and is very good at the runner in the lane--the hardest shot in basketball IMHO.

I have no idea why Tyler Kruis has had a bit of a drop-off in recent games but he has never seemed to be quite the same player since he tweaked his knee in December. As for the teams' shooting from the arc, I find it interesting that Calvin and Hope, by a wide margin, have taken the fewest three point shots in conference competition--only averaging around 10 team attempts per game (Calvin taking 39 and Hope 42 in four games). Now that I mention that, we're sure to see a flurry go up tonight.

[GoKnights68]

Link on the MIAA website has Calvin streaming the WGVU broadcast tonight. 

It'd be really nice if WGVU has their video quality updated so the picture doesn't look like it's from 1989.



Rivalry week started off well last night in Ann Arbor....hoping Calvin can make things continue to go well for rivalry week.  My hopes aren't high, but we shall see.

[hope_hoops1]

I would have to say that leading up to today this is the most confident I've been about Hope in rivalry game as I've been in years.  However, after waking up today, I'm now nervous that I haven't been nervous and have been missing something.

This rivalry will make you do funny things....

[Civic Minded]

I would have to say that leading up to today this is the most confident I've been about Hope in rivalry game as I've been in years.  However, after waking up today, I'm now nervous that I haven't been nervous and have been missing something.

This rivalry will make you do funny things....

This made me smile.  I know exactly what you mean!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Feeling exactly the same way - even in Switzerland 

[sac]

The Dew Crew is already forming an orderly line......

[hoopdreams]

I believe this is a statement game for Hope.....
1.  We will continue this recent trend of success over Calvin
2.  We will send a clear message that we are clearly the best team in MIAA and the GL region
3.  We will not allow Calvin to hang around or comeback, as in so many past rivalry games
4.  We are the program in the MIAA- for potential an future recruits, not our opponent
5.  We are deserved of our lofty ranking
6.  We are on a quest for Salem
7.  We can beat you in the paint, our backcourt will beat you, our defense will stop you, our reserves will overwhelm you

If Hope stays out of foul trouble, this game will be ugly.  Calvin doesn't have the experience, the depth, the horses, and apparently the character ( so says some knight posters)to compete.  Coach Neil has already shown against lesser opponents that he's not going to let off the pedal. 

Prediction: Hope by 28+.....Of course, this IS Hope/calvin, so the Knights could win by 12

[KnightSlappy]

1.  We will continue this recent trend of success over Calvin

Like getting outscored by 3 in last year's three game series (two at DeVos)?

[GoKnights68]

1.  We will continue this recent trend of success over Calvin

Like getting outscored by 3 in last year's three game series (two at DeVos)?

Well we all know Hope won 2 of 3 still, but yeah, I think people forget Calvin upset Hope at home in January of last season.  I don't think Hope wins by 28+

[Happy Calvin Guy]

The Dew Crew is already forming an orderly line......

There's an orderly line inside DeVos as well

[goodknight]

I believe this is a statement game for Hope.....
1.  We will continue this recent trend of success over Calvin
2.  We will send a clear message that we are clearly the best team in MIAA and the GL region
3.  We will not allow Calvin to hang around or comeback, as in so many past rivalry games
4.  We are the program in the MIAA- for potential an future recruits, not our opponent
5.  We are deserved of our lofty ranking
6.  We are on a quest for Salem
7.  We can beat you in the paint, our backcourt will beat you, our defense will stop you, our reserves will overwhelm you

If Hope stays out of foul trouble, this game will be ugly.  Calvin doesn't have the experience, the depth, the horses, and apparently the character ( so says some knight posters)to compete.  Coach Neil has already shown against lesser opponents that he's not going to let off the pedal. 

Prediction: Hope by 28+.....Of course, this IS Hope/calvin, so the Knights could win by 12

My prediction (if Hope wins by 28+):

Michael Le Roy changes his mind and informs Hope College he's interested in the school's presidency, chanting "Dutchmen....Dutchmen, Dutchmen, Dutchmen."
The entire staff at the CRC HQ repents for their ancestors' lack of, well, forbearance -- and for overreacting to the singing of hymns and the use of the English language in Dutch Reformed "contemporary" worship styles in 1857.
KVS resigns and hands the key to his office to realist.
The sun changes course tomorrow, rising over Holland and setting over Grand Rapids.

[KnightSlappy]

1.  We will continue this recent trend of success over Calvin

Like getting outscored by 3 in last year's three game series (two at DeVos)?

Actually, now that I look back, Hope is 5-2 in the last seven meetings (the last two years), but Calvin's actually outscored them by 2. Of course, I'd rather take the 5-2, but the "whoa is me, Hope has dominated" (realist) approach to life is off base.