MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

if anyone says they saw that bryan powell dunk coming, they'd be lying.  this neutral observer had to pick his jaw up off the floor after that.  very glad they showed multiple replays on the broadcast.  if there's been a better play in D3 this year, i'd love to see it...

That Bryan Powell dunk? No. A Bryan Power dunk? Yes, I did actually say to myself, "he's going to (try to) dunk that" as the play developed.

He has had an in-game dunk in a Calvin uniform at least one other time so I know that he is capable of getting up there, I just didn't expect that kind of a throwdown with contact.

[sflzman]

Since I was veiwing from Alma I had to watch it on the World Harvest Television. Does anyone know if that was the WGVU broadcast just being broadcasted to WHT? Or if it was their own broadcast?

And also, any sign of the Powell dunk on YouTube yet? I want to see it again...

[sflzman]

also, can anyone that was at the alma/adrian game describe the final sequence of events? the livestats guy seemed to be off his rocker

ADRIAN, Mich. - With .7 left on the clock, the Adrian College Men's Basketball team had a chance to win the game but the inbound pass was deflected away as Alma stole a conference win, 69-68, from the Bulldogs. With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 14-8 (7-5 MIAA).

Courtesy of the Adrian website

http://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120211wobs6p

[sac]

Since I was veiwing from Alma I had to watch it on the World Harvest Television. Does anyone know if that was the WGVU broadcast just being broadcasted to WHT? Or if it was their own broadcast?

And also, any sign of the Powell dunk on YouTube yet? I want to see it again...

WHT picked up the WGVU broadcast.  The picture was very good, though not HD and the production quality was pretty good I thought.  Ryan Terpstra did ok.  As usual some of the commentary was kind of strange, and Tom Cleary spent to much of the game being a referee.

--------------------


Watched the game again, a couple observations.


Hope's offensive spacing was excellent, combined with the usual great passing and good movement it was pretty clear to see why Hope has been so proficient on offense this year and in this game.  They just make themselves hard to defend.


David Krombeen as he has been all year was the guy who turned the game in Hope's favor with an excellent stretch in the first half starting with his 3 to tie the game at 22.  I think I've seen him have a stretch like that in every game.


Matt Neil's two interviews were excellent and it was the kind of stuff I love hearing from the Hope basketball coach.  I could not be more thankful Hope chose him as their coach.

[sac]

Powell's dunk wasn't even the best shot of the day.   That belonged to MIAA Commissioner Dave Nielson who took a moment to twist the 'no Calvin football knife' one more time into the chest of outgoing Calvin President Gaylan Byker at halftime.   The commish has also shown the ability to rise to the occasion in the past, but I don't think anyone saw that coming.

I to wish to see that again on youtube, I think the other football playing members would enjoy it.

[Dutch_Man]

Since I was veiwing from Alma I had to watch it on the World Harvest Television. Does anyone know if that was the WGVU broadcast just being broadcasted to WHT? Or if it was their own broadcast?

And also, any sign of the Powell dunk on YouTube yet? I want to see it again...

WHT picked up the WGVU broadcast.  The picture was very good, though not HD and the production quality was pretty good I thought.  Ryan Terpstra did ok.  As usual some of the commentary was kind of strange, and Tom Cleary spent to much of the game being a referee.

--------------------


Watched the game again, a couple observations.


Hope's offensive spacing was excellent, combined with the usual great passing and good movement it was pretty clear to see why Hope has been so proficient on offense this year and in this game.  They just make themselves hard to defend.


David Krombeen as he has been all year was the guy who turned the game in Hope's favor with an excellent stretch in the first half starting with his 3 to tie the game at 22.  I think I've seen him have a stretch like that in every game.


Matt Neil's two interviews were excellent and it was the kind of stuff I love hearing from the Hope basketball coach.  I could not be more thankful Hope chose him as their coach.

Great observation Sac! There were a number of times where I focused only on Krombeen when Hope was on offense. He is continuously moving and creating that space! It reminded me a lot of Richard Hamilton during his prime with the Pistons! Krombeen lights up the score board for sure but it is all the little things that he does that make him and this team so successful! 

[scottiedawg]

Is it a foregone conclusion that Hope will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament? 

And if Hope advances past those two rounds, which teams have the strongest possibilities of hosting?  I have a hard time seeing UWSP, UW-River Falls, Augustana, Wheaton, Wooster, Wittenberg, WashU or Transylvania hosting, unless geography is overwhelmingly in their favor.

Thoughts?  Perhaps from KnightSlappy?

[KnightSlappy]

(1) Is it a foregone conclusion that Hope will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament? 

(2) And if Hope advances past those two rounds, which teams have the strongest possibilities of hosting?  I have a hard time seeing UWSP, UW-River Falls, Augustana, Wheaton, Wooster, Wittenberg, WashU or Transylvania hosting, unless geography is overwhelmingly in their favor.

Thoughts?  Perhaps from KnightSlappy?

(1) No -- need to win both games in the regular season, but assuming that, then probably yes.
(2) If Hope wins out through the MIAA tourney, then they'll host until they either lose or pack their bags for Salem.

Any of the UW's (SP, WW, RF) could host depending on hos the end of the season/tourney play out. Wittenberg looks good to host one round at least. Hope should have the advantage over any of those schools as it stands right now.

[KnightSlappy]

I'm probably in the minority here, but David Krombeen is not the MVP of the league. I can't believe Snuggerud is getting ignored like he is. He's the league's leading scorer and has a shooting percentage around 64%. Not that Krombeen isn't deserving to be in the discussion, but if I had a vote, I'd go with Nate right now.

[AndersDY]

WHT picked up the WGVU broadcast.  The picture was very good, though not HD and the production quality was pretty good I thought.  Ryan Terpstra did ok.  As usual some of the commentary was kind of strange, and Tom Cleary spent to much of the game being a referee.

You mean observations like "you often think of Krombeen as a past-first point guard, but he can occasionally take it to the rim like that." I'm sure lots of MIAA coaches scouting Hope think of our second leading scorer as a past-first guard.

Cleary was very direct about officiating opinions too. Rather than indicating "he may have gotten away with some contact there," the play-by-play was that "he was fouled, but it isn't called by the officials."

[Civic Minded]

I'm probably in the minority here, but David Krombeen is not the MVP of the league. I can't believe Snuggerud is getting ignored like he is. He's the league's leading scorer and has a shooting percentage around 64%. Not that Krombeen isn't deserving to be in the discussion, but if I had a vote, I'd go with Nate right now.

We had a similar discussion on the way home last night.  David is clearly outstanding, but Snuggerud deserves to be in the mvp discussion as well.  Maybe co-mvp's?   

[almcguirejr]

I'm probably in the minority here, but David Krombeen is not the MVP of the league. I can't believe Snuggerud is getting ignored like he is. He's the league's leading scorer and has a shooting percentage around 64%. Not that Krombeen isn't deserving to be in the discussion, but if I had a vote, I'd go with Nate right now.

Snuggerud is having a great year.  I think the difference is Krombeen makes other players better and makes the Hope team go.  Snuggerud is a direct beneficiary of Krombeen's play and has played off him very well.

[almcguirejr]

Powell's dunk wasn't even the best shot of the day.   That belonged to MIAA Commissioner Dave Nielson who took a moment to twist the 'no Calvin football knife' one more time into the chest of outgoing Calvin President Gaylan Byker at halftime.   The commish has also shown the ability to rise to the occasion in the past, but I don't think anyone saw that coming.

That was a good line by Nielson.  He also stated that Calvin and Hope have combined for 9 National Championships during the tenures of each President.  Does anyone know how that breaks down?

[sac]

I don't know if Snuggerud is really being ignored as an MVP candidate, I don't really recall much discussion on the subject this year.

I wrote this back at the halfway point of the MIAA season.

The MVP

David Krombeen, Hope

I think I have to go with David at this point.  Very few players in this league (heck maybe in D3) possess his ability to see over a defense from the guard spot, or his ability to slash to the basket and finish, and make such hay on defense.  He is definitely a very big reason Hope's offense runs as well as it does and when Hope does something well on defense he almost always seems to be in the middle of things .  I've often personally wondered exactly what was David's best position on the floor but at this point as a Sr. I don't care, I just want to see him on the floor.



Nate Snuggerud, Hope  --  At this moment he's Hope's leading scorer and rebounder in league play, a big second half could make the MVP choice a tough one.

Since then Snuggerud has gone for 31, 10, 22, 21 and 25 while shooting 41-66 for 62% and grabbing 37 rebounds or 7.4 per game.  That seems like the definition of a big 2nd half.

So at least this Hope fan recognized what a good year Snuggerud was having then.  It's a lot easier to see just how valuable Krombeen is to Hope when you watch every game.  I really wouldn't want to play a game without either of them and at this point would be pleased with either or both as the choice for MVP.

I think its pretty clear Hope has the best guard and the best big man in the league.


Co MVP's from the same team is not unprecedented, back in 1989 Calvin's Dan Davis and Bill Sall were named the leagues MVP.

[knightvision]

What better time to jump in to this forum than in the aftermath of another Hope/Calvin clash? Some observations:

1) Hope has superior strength and quickness at nearly every position (with the exception of Snikkers), including their bench contributors.  Like it or not, the increased physicality of the game in college (and H.S. for that matter) leaves the weaker/softer at a significant disadvantage.  Calvin has a ways to go in catching up in this department.  And Hope's ability to get to the rim, get open on the wing, and transition from defense to offense highlighted noticeably superior team speed. 

2) Hope has superior talent/skill at nearly every position, including their bench contributors.  I will not pick on any particular Calvin players, but here's an interesting exercise to consider:  If we're on a playground court with both teams' full rosters (including all of Calvin's injured folks), and we take turns picking our teams, whose players would be in the first 10-12 chosen? 

3) Having read more than a little bit about Mr. Powell on this forum, here's my two cents:  for every great play he makes, like the steal and dunk (and "jaw dropping" is a fantastic description of that dunk-WOW!), it is followed regrettably but predictably by a forced shot or three along with some really bad defense.  Classic case of a high volume shooter in high school (and for anyone who saw him, he could fill it!) who struggles with shot selection and confidence when trying to adapt to no longer being "the man" and deciding when to shoot and when to pass.

4) I give KVS high marks for less scowling, more positive sideline behavior, some noticeable teaching, and the absence of the dreaded stomping I've seen in recent years. 

5) I know nothing of MN's X's and O's ability, but in contrast to GVW's flitting and nervous demeanor, Coach Neil deserves high marks for a confident and steady sideline presence regardless of game circumstances that that I believe players want, need, and can intuitively sense.   I could do without some of the showy fluff, but that's just him being him.  His steadiness and a really nice team has me thinking Hope could make a deep run and has as good a shot as anyone to win it all. 

6) Having been really impressed with Peter Bunn early in the season at the GR Hall of Fame tourney and then not really seeing him again until watching yesterday, he looks noticeably less confident.  One game variance or a pattern?  I see him as a big variable in Hope's title hopes.  Did I just say Hope's title hopes?  Say that fast 10 times