MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[KnightSlappy]

Did not get to see at hear game today.  No minutes for either Rietema or Stout?

I think Rietema was either sick or injured

David was in street clothes. Sounds like he may have suffered a concussion on Wed. Stout was dressed, but didn't play.

[oldknight]

After an unexpectedly busy week, the last thing I thought I might do was take a drive down 131 and watch the Knights play Kazoo on Saturday. But that was exactly my choice and I'm delighted I made it. I have no idea what KVS said in the postgame but if he didn't tell the boys how proud he was of their effort and composure, he should have. It was truly a gutty performance by a team that is now forced into player combinations unimaginable before the season began, to say nothing of just a month ago. There were times Calvin had on the floor their JV team supplemented by a couple of role playing upper classemen.

I entered the gym and was met with the dispiriting sight of Rietema in street clothes. Word has it he is still suffering concussion like symptoms. I knew Ryan Nadeau would have to play some significant minutes and he did, playing pretty well, and only suffering a couple of lapses of choice that led to turnovers. He handles ball pressure pretty well but a lack of experience was evident on a couple of occasions. Ryan did make both shots he took including a triple and his ability to spell Powell was very important.

Tyler Kruis is becoming a man on the floor. He played K's fine post, Prepolec, to a standstill--outplayed him actually--and is clearly learning to finish around the basket after absorbing contact. But the player of the game, by far, was Snikkers who was phenomenal. He dominated play in every area, scoring an efficient 12 points on only 7 shots, grabbing boards, defending, penetrating and making excellent passes that were the major reason the Knights shot an astounding 62% for the game.

Pretty much every coaching choice KVS made seem to turn to gold. After DeBoer went down just before the end of the half (and appeared to be done for the day, if not longer) , I told KnightSlappy during the break that Calvin now had an entire starting five plus one sub on the shelf. Strange season but it was nice to see Matt start and play the second half.

Given the strange player combinations Calvin had to play, the defense was pretty good. This week one wise observer of Calvin hoops (wiser than me though I admit I set a low bar) noted how during the Adrian game, the Bulldogs seemed to score on Calvin's defense after every time out. I admitted I had forgotten that but paid attention today and, yup, that happened with some frequency today too. Maybe Calvin could consider changing their defense for just that one possession to mix things up. Other than that there really wasn't much to complain about today.

[goodknight]

Trine surprises Adrian tonight, 52-50, resulting in a three-way tie for second place in the conference.

Adrian, Calvin and Trine all sit at 6-4 with four games to go.

[wiz]

Down by 3 with 1:26 to go, Adrian misses 4 consecutive free throws and a 3-pointer before making a layup and then Gavin to foul and lose by a couple.

[sac]

Hope 75 Albion 69

Never underestimate the power of emotion, confidence and desire in 18-22 year old kids. 

Today was my first live look at Albion.  My pregame mental preparation included reviewing the roster, stats of interest I could file away in my basketball brain (like knowing Albion is a 63% FT shooting team so not being surprised when they were clank-erific today), reviewing past box scores of interest etc etc.  I was there in my box seat early enough to watch the warm-ups and counted just 11 Britons and immediately noticed Alex Harville wasn't one of them.   So I started counting missing bodies and concluded Albion was missing 4 out of 5 starters or about 1/3 of the expected Albion rotation Jodi May had in mind after last season.  So yeah, I wrongly assumed it could be easy going for the Dutchmen.

Early on it really felt like both teams weren't as mentally into this one as they should have been, there wasn't the usual 'this is Kresge vs Hope' big game feel to it. Wasn't the usual overly physical play, in fact I'm dead certain Hope was by far the more physical and chippier team today.  But somewhere in the middle of the first half Hope had cruised to a 9 point lead and looked well on their way to that easy win........then a 4 point play and a couple defensive stops by Albion later and it was a game, and the light bulb or inner-Albion anger vs Hope I like to call it switched on.  (This is a compliment by the way).

As things wore on the usually sound Dutchmen made more and more uncharacteristic mistakes, a bad shot selection here, a missed defensive assignment there, a bad foul, turnover whatever.   Not a lot of mistakes but enough.   Each was another jolt of belief for the undermanned Britons who made plays and shots.  Shots they have struggled to make all year.  They battled, scrapped, clawed and just plain hung around and hung around.....and hung around.   Albion didn't play perfect either, they had their bad moments they'd want back I'm sure. 

At halftime it looked and felt much like Wed. night's game at Adrian, so I was pretty interested to see if Hope could summon its defensive desire to shutdown this Albion team.   Well it really didn't happen, Hope had moments where they put the accelerator down and raced from one end of the floor to the other, made a jump shot or two and would build a little lead with momentum.  Then Albion would claw back into it.  No big runs by either team, just mini-runs or a minute or two of decidedly better play by either team.

I think the best bad shot of the year award will go to Nate Snuggerud.  With a touch over 2 minutes to play and Hope nursing a 6 point lead you'd expect Hope to whittle the shot clock down, but just 15 second seconds in Nate finds himself all by his lonesome at the three-point line and heaves a rainbow of a shot that I swear had stars trailing behind it.  Swish!!   9 point lead, and I did fall off my seat.......good fortune on that one.  I never thought Hope would need it so bad, but back came the Britons and this one actually got down to only a 2 point game with only a few seconds to play and Hope needing a smart inbound play which they got on a long TD pass to Coltan Overway who was intentionally fouled and proceeded to nail both FT's to seal this hard fought win.

I wasn't at last year's Albion win at DeVos Fieldhouse but I'm sure the final minute or so played out about the same only last year Albion was able to steal their way to an overtime.  It could have happened today but Hope was just good enough at the end to salt it away. 


Overall......winning on the road is not supposed to be easy, winning at Albion is not supposed to be easy.  It should be like this was.   I don't think Hope played poorly, far from it, but it wasn't their best especially on the defensive end.  But Albion just played with so much passion, desire and confidence, its the only way this one could be close.


I think I can sum up Jodi Mays coaching job with this Albion team this way.....


He squeezed all he could out of them today.

[sac]

Down by 3 with 1:26 to go, Adrian misses 4 consecutive free throws and a 3-pointer before making a layup and then Gavin to foul and lose by a couple.

They also grabbed FIVE offensive rebounds in that stretch and possessed the ball for a full minute.  Almost trapped Trine in the backcourt twice on the final Trine possession.


Also, great job by the cameraman on that last play, thankfully there was no buzzer beater.

[sac]

standings with +/-........+1 for road wins/-1 for home losses

Hope          10-0       +5
Trine          6-4        +2
Adrian        6-4        +1
Calvin         6-4        +1
Albion         4-6        -2
Alma          3-7        -2
Kzoo          3-7        -3
Olivet         2-8       -2

Trine's win tonight at Adrian hands a piece of the  MIAA Championship to Hope.  Obivously today's results were the worst possible set of results for Albion's chances at the MIAA tournament.  2 back with 4 to play, its still within the realm of possibility but I really don't know if the team Albion will be fielding  the next few games can do that.

Looking ahead Albion plays at Trine Wed. night so the top 4 MIAA tournament spots could be decided that night.   A loss there puts Albion 3 back with 3 to play and probably eliminated.  However, Trine has 2 games with Calvin and Hope to finish the year, so Albion is very much in this if they can win Wed. night.  I think Adrian has a slightly easier remaining schedule for #2, only because Calvin has to host Hope.  But really its kind of a toss-up right now between those 3 teams for #2 and #3.


Wednesday, February 8
Adrian at Olivet, 7:30 p.m.
Albion at Trine, 7:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Hope, 8 p.m.
Alma at Calvin, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 11
Alma at Adrian, 3 p.m.
Albion at Kalamazoo, 3 p.m.
Hope at Calvin, 3 p.m.
Olivet at Trine, 3 p.m.



What's left

Adrian:    @Olivet, ALMA, KZOO, @Albion
Albion:     @Trine, @Kzoo, @Alma, ADRIAN
Alma:     @Calvin, @Adrian, ALBION, KZOO
Calvin:    ALMA, HOPE, @Trine, @Olivet
Hope:    KZOO, @Calvin, @Olivet, TRINE
Kzoo:    @Hope, ALBION, @Adrian, @Alma
Olivet:    ADRIAN, @Trine, HOPE, CALVIN
Trine:     ALBION, OLIVET, CALVIN, @Hope

[sflzman]

Well Alma looks like two completely different teams

1st half: Olivet played right into the scots hands forcing quick shots and allowing alma to push the ball and get high percentage shots from outside (though their inside shots were not nearly as good) resulting in 9 threes 56 points and 64% shooting from 3 point land (42% with the 2 ball)

2nd half: olivet slowed it down, pounded it inside, got good quality looks and forced the scots to run a halfcourt offense which they did not do well at all. You have to give a pot of credit to the olivet coaching staff. They also drew up a great play at the end when everyone in the arena thought the ball was gong to Ashley they used him as a decoy and allowed their 6-9 center a backdoor flash and an easy jump hook 1 on 1 against the 6-4 Sheridan.

Looks like alma will be reduced to only being a spoiler and not a contender for those last couple of playoff spots. Too bad they couldn't win the games they could have (and many say should have) against olivet twice and the one against Kalamazoo. That would put alma at 6-4 and tied with trine Adrian and Calvin as well.

[sac]

Enjoy watching Sac's body language when he thinks the officials are giving Hope bad calls.  Albion is closer than they should be.  8 turnovers for Hope is too many.

I'm a weird dude when it comes to officials lately, usually it doesn't bother me but the last 3 games it has, but sometimes my reaction might be a "what the heck was that" to a Hope player not necessarily the official.  So you never know.

I've worn glasses for 2 years now and I'm probably due for a check-up.  It's clear I do not possess the laser vision of Wallace Whitfield who has an uncanny ability to see fouls from 35 feet away that mere mortals cannot.  He usually doesn't bother me but for some reason today was the day.

Also Albion going 17 minutes of the first half before getting their 3rd foul doesn't compute, ever.  I have to get used to this Hope is the most physical team in the MIAA thing.



Speaking of weird dudes......I rolled home through my hometown and the sign at my old church said "Do you have your money, or does your money have you?"

It's been a good week for the church sign guy.

[BogeyMan]

I could not understand Whitfield actions either!  However, I've learned that anything is possible with MIAA officiating.  I was hoping to see different or new officials this year with a new the assigner.  Hasn't happened.  Part of the problem with MIAA is they use the same officials over and over.  The new assigner needs to add officials to his MIAA staff so we don't see the same officials time and time again. Having an officials three or four times a year makes it tough on the coaches and the players. 

[sac]

I could not understand Whitfield actions either!  However, I've learned that anything is possible with MIAA officiating.  I was hoping to see different or new officials this year with a new the assigner.  Hasn't happened.  Part of the problem with MIAA is they use the same officials over and over.  The new assigner needs to add officials to his MIAA staff so we don't see the same officials time and time again. Having an officials three or four times a year makes it tough on the coaches and the players.

I've had to hear about Geerlings "Hope bias" from people for years which I find stunningly ridiculous but apparently that's just me.....exhibit A the first foul on VanArendonk 52 seconds into the game on Albion's first possession.  Nothing screams bias like nailing a teams 6-10 center on the first trip down the floor for in my opinion nothing foul worthy.

The significance of Geerlings being the one who had to call the intentional foul at the end of the game was not lost on me and I chuckled inside quite a bit.   Mostly because somewhere inside Kresge I knew someone was loosing it inside a little.   


Wallace Whitfield was one of the officials at the Olivet/Adrian OT debacle I witnessed last year, so that may have played into my psyche today a little.  He's been good enough to be one of the 3 for the MIAA Championship game a few times.

[BogeyMan]

I could not understand Whitfield actions either!  However, I've learned that anything is possible with MIAA officiating.  I was hoping to see different or new officials this year with a new the assigner.  Hasn't happened.  Part of the problem with MIAA is they use the same officials over and over.  The new assigner needs to add officials to his MIAA staff so we don't see the same officials time and time again. Having an officials three or four times a year makes it tough on the coaches and the players.

I've had to hear about Geerlings "Hope bias" from people for years which I find stunningly ridiculous but apparently that's just me.....exhibit A the first foul on VanArendonk 52 seconds into the game on Albion's first possession.  Nothing screams bias like nailing a teams 6-10 center on the first trip down the floor for in my opinion nothing foul worthy.

The significance of Geerlings being the one who had to call the intentional foul at the end of the game was not lost on me and I chuckled inside quite a bit.   Mostly because somewhere inside Kresge I knew someone was loosing it inside a little.   

Wallace Whitfield was one of the officials at the Olivet/Adrian OT debacle I witnessed last year, so that may have played into my psyche today a little.  He's been good enough to be one of the 3 for the MIAA Championship game a few times.

I hope no one questioned the intentional foul.  That had to be called.  Obvious in my book.  I watched Coach May when the call was made and my impression was he agreed with it. As far as the 6'10' kid goes.  He needs to learn to stay on his feet and not go for so many ball fakes.  Once you go in the air first your dead meat for a foul.

[calvinknightfan]

Maybe it's just my biased opinion as a Calvin fan, or maybe because my parents trained me to think this way, but Geerlings has always seemed like a ref who has given Calvin terrible calls.  But perhaps he is a) just a terrible ref in general, b) he just likes Hope better and those are the game I notice better, or c) he is actually a decent ref and I hate all calls that go against Calvin

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Maybe it's just my biased opinion as a Calvin fan, or maybe because my parents trained me to think this way, but Geerlings has always seemed like a ref who has given Calvin terrible calls.  But perhaps he is a) just a terrible ref in general, b) he just likes Hope better and those are the game I notice better, or c) he is actually a decent ref and I hate all calls that go against Calvin

I have similar feelings about several officials myself.  I would add one more choice to your list (which is probably the right one) 

d) 33% a, 33% b, 34% c

Noticed one very interesting stat for Hope yesterday - 24 assists on 28 made baskets.   Love that teamwork!! 

[wiz]

Never thought a few years ago that I would say this, but this year Geerlings looks much improved and in control of himself.  Maybe he is older and wiser now.  The bald guy, however, is another case and one to avoid.