MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hope52]

hope played a good 2nd half to day tough week next week

[almcguirejr]

Adrian 60 Calvin 57

Quote of the day:  "We need to be a little bit better"  Yes, like not getting out rebounded 21 -9 in the first half.  Yes,  like scoring during the last 8+ minutes of the first half.   This game featured just about all the problems that Calvin has had all year.
Adrian played exactly the game they needed to play to win, and really controlled the game right from the opening tip.

Reading these comments, I suspect you were not in attendance today. 

Calvin's overall talent and eperience puts them, at best, a third place team in the MIAA this year.  They played hard throughout, made a game of it against a team that last year's senior laden team couldnt' handle either, and scrambled to be in position for a shot to send it in to overtime.  Both teams were unable to score for a large portion of the last part of the first half.  The game was won in the first ten minutes of the first half and was a dog fight the rest of the way.

The Knights are so much better than they were during the first half of the year and positive adjustments have been made.  Their defense has improved substantially, the offensive flow is much better, their shot selection has improved, and they play as a team now rather than individuals trying to do it on their own.  But, for those who love to take pot shots after a loss, they may never be good enough.  In the MIAA pick'em, you expected Adrian to win, so I'm not quite sure why you are now so shocked that the Knights lost by a bucket.  This race is far from over and I don't think any of the currently leading teams will want to see Calvin in the MIAA tournament.

Adrian is solid, talented, well coached, and deserved to win.

Wiz, your comments are right on the money.

[Adrianguy55]

Good win for the bulldogs tonight.  If they are going to pull the upset on Wednesday vs.Hope, Richaud Pack is going to need to play more than 18 minutes.  I get it that he just joined the team at semester but it is time for him to get 30-35 minutes a game. 

[almcguirejr]

Adrian 60 Calvin 57

Quote of the day:  "We need to be a little bit better"  Yes, like not getting out rebounded 21 -9 in the first half.  Yes,  like scoring during the last 8+ minutes of the first half.   This game featured just about all the problems that Calvin has had all year.
Adrian played exactly the game they needed to play to win, and really controlled the game right from the opening tip.

Adrian 60 Calvin 57

New quote of the day
"Adrian...really controlled the game right from the opening tip."  Can I get an
AMEN!!!!

Adrian controlled the opening tip, and Adrian WON the game.   Did I miss something?

My point is:  Adrian was:
A. Well coached.
B: Well prepared for what Calvin would do.
C. Had an answer for every run Calvin would make.
D. Adrian dictated the tempo, and even the flow of action.
E: Calvin, played the same game the same way they have for about, oh, 14+ years now.
F. Floundered around on offense, especially in the 1st half.
G. Lost the game. Totally wasted the last 10 second, and worst of all let Adrian dictate were the ball was directed to the point they almost stole the ball, forcing Calvin to take a low % shot.
Calvin:
A1. You decide for yourself on the coaching.  Is now 9-10 on the year.
B1.  Did a nice job up until about 8:06 left in the first half.
C1.  Let Adrian dictate how the game was played.
D1.  Let Adrian dictate how the game was played.
E1.  Sort of knew exactly what Calvin was going to do.  All the time.
F1.  Floundered around, IMHO not the players, but "he who shall not be mentioned".
G1   Lost the game.

FWIW:  The "quote" of the day came from your beloved coach kvs.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't you more happy.

[goodknight]

Adrian 60 Calvin 57

Quote of the day:  "We need to be a little bit better"  Yes, like not getting out rebounded 21 -9 in the first half.  Yes,  like scoring during the last 8+ minutes of the first half.   This game featured just about all the problems that Calvin has had all year.
Adrian played exactly the game they needed to play to win, and really controlled the game right from the opening tip.

Adrian 60 Calvin 57

New quote of the day
"Adrian...really controlled the game right from the opening tip."  Can I get an
AMEN!!!!

Adrian controlled the opening tip, and Adrian WON the game.  Did I miss something?

That might have been a rhetorical question.
But if not, the answer is:  You surely did.

[sac]

Hope and Calvin fans had better just get used to the idea that the league they've dominated for most of the last 50 years no longer exists.  Brooks Miller and Mark White are fine coaches and they are both going to make their respective programs very competitive.   

Right now Adrian is just a better team than Calvin.

[goodknight]

Hope and Calvin fans had better just get used to the idea that the league they've dominated for most of the last 50 years no longer exists.  Brooks Miller and Mark White are fine coaches and they are both going to make their respective programs very competitive.   

Right now Adrian is just a better team than Calvin.

This is a true and realistic statement.
I think anyone reasonable person who was inside the Van Andel Arena today would agree.

[AndersDY]

Point taken sac, but I'll gladly wait until next year for that realization to be necessary. 

[Dutchmen 4 Life]

I think Nate Snuggerud might be this weeks player of the week.

Really going out on a limb there sac   

For the week, Nate was 20-31, 1-2 from 3, 18-20 from the FT line, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 59 points.  He did that in only 49 minutes of play!!!

I'll even go one further and say he probably deserves to be on the d3hoops team of the week.  Something after quickly looking I believe McClary did twice last year along with Bowser and Ian Jackson each accomplishing the feat once. 

All in all this was a pretty solid week for Snuggs and it has truly been an honor to watch him grow up over the years to become the great big man he is today!

[Knight2Day]

Realist- would i be correct in my assumption that you think that Calvin should dump the coach so that players talents like Brink, Vallie, Kruis, and Dykstra aren't wasted like the Mantel and Veltema's of the world (4 years, only 1 tourny appearance with all the talent in the world)? I think we'd be agreeing if that's the case.

[BogeyMan]

mcclary was the best player in the league last year, end of story.

where were all the calvin fans last night?  i wasn't too impressed by the turnout.

also, i about cringed when i saw todd geerlings was reffing the game.  took me back to last year's pinstripe bowl and the horrible excessive celebration call he made on kansas state for saluting the crowd after a touchdown.  also, this amazing call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-kdW8eUKzY&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Calvin has had Geerlings a couple of times this year.  I have no complaints.  The crew last night was better than the crew Calvin and Trine had this past Saturday.

In Geerlings defense, he did not throw the flag.  I believe the back judge made the call and  Geerlings took the heat for it because he was the Head Referee.

Everybody knows why Geerlings is officiaing basketball in the MIAA, and it's not because he is a good baskeball official.  Until they take care of the "good ole boy" syndrome in the MIAA it will continue to be one of the worst officiated leagues in D3.  They need a complete change in staff.

[sac]

I don't think Adrian is a better team than Calvin this year, but I will acknowledge they are much better coached.

They've won 4 in a row against Calvin, time to maybe recognize they have some pretty good players, in fact probaby better players at more than a couple positions.  Not to mention as good of a bench as Adrian has had in some time.

If I'm not mistake Calvin fans would kill for a Brad Whitby or DeLano Collins right now.  I think every MIAA team would take Dennis Mason and Richaud Pack in a heartbeat.

[hoopdreams]

Whitby should be playing for Calvin, he grew up a stone's throw away from campus!  Is it appropriate to say that Adrian has made a conscious effort to recruit a "different type" student athlete, who can enhance their program and school?  D1 transfers, community college attendee's, second chance athletes?   Each athlete has their own story but the trend is becoming relatively clear.

Maybe KVS should head down to GRCC and look at guards Jared M, Wayland legend Alex Lyle, and EK grad Jimmy Carrol among others? Or simply wait for Hammer to discard players that can't cut it in their program and scoop them up?

Out of curiousity, how active is KVS in the local AAU circuit??  He doesn't seem like the type to thrive in that setting but he could/should send his former and current players out to make connections.  Neil has a huge advantage here because his two sons have spent the last several years on the AAU circuit- plenty of time to rub shoulders with players, parents, coaches....WM Lakers connection is strong!

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Hope and Calvin fans had better just get used to the idea that the league they've dominated for most of the last 50 years no longer exists.  Brooks Miller and Mark White are fine coaches and they are both going to make their respective programs very competitive.   

Right now Adrian is just a better team than Calvin.

I don't for one second believe that you, or any of your fellow Hope posters, are going to be so calm, and relaxed about losing when you find your team at 4-4 in the MIAA, and struggling to make the conference tournament.  You also aren't going to be very quiet when your team over 5 years wins 47% of their pre-conference games, 61% of total games, and stays home from the NCAA's every year.
FWIW I don't think Matt Neil will ever allow that to happen.  The difference between him and kvs is he expects to win, and will do what is necessary to make sure he puts the most competitive team possible on the floor.  He will use the tremendous resource that is Hope College to get the players he needs.

One can either give up or do what is necessary to remain competitive.  Adrian, Albion, Hope have all made a commitment to field the best coached teams possible.  All I am asking is for Calvin to do the same thing.  How much farther down does Calvin have to slide before people realize where the weak link in the chain is?

I agree that the league may become more competitive in the future but even with a 4 team tournament there is no reason Hope or Calvin should ever struggle to be one of the 4 tournament teams. Hope and Calvin are like Duke and NC in the ACC. Even in their down years they should always make the MIAA tournament. An Adrian or Olivet or Kzoo may rise up and have a great year now and then but they will never have the consistency Hope or Calvin has had.

I don't blame Calvin fans for being upset and frustrated with the last 4 years.

[HopeConvert]

Not much has been said about yesterday's Hope/Alma clash, and for good reason I suppose. A couple of observations, though:




• When was the last time David Krombeen played only 11 minutes in a game? He did treat us to one fantastic spin-and-scoop, however. He can't be guarded in the open floor.
• Nate VanArendonk was unguardable yesterday. He has a really soft baby hook he can shoot with either hand, and is really improving his footwork down low. I am impressed with his passing as well. He is continuing to improve on the defensive end as well.
• The 3-point man had very little work to do - again - yesterday.
• Hope absolutely has to clean up its free throw shooting, and one player in particular who wasn't even close with his shots. If I were scouting Hope, I would consider sending him to the line in a close game.

EDIT: This post number is the same number as the birth year of St. Thomas. Had I been more alert I would have posted this yesterday, as it was his Feast Day. How cool would that have been?