MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

  It looks as if Tyler Dykstra is still primarily a good defensive player and rebounder but not yet much of a scorer.  Clearly we need to improve both our outside shooting and free throw shooting.  It appears that we are stronger at backup center with Stout than we were with last year's combinations.  He did seem to rebound and block effectively from what I could read into the figures.  For those who did actually see the game, is it true that even though we still decidedly drop off after Kruis leaves we still have a stronger backup than we  had last year?  What was also striking is that Mast was not even in the game (is he healthy?) and De Boer not only did not start but played a small role.  I recall that De Boer got off to a slow start last year and then became one of our top scorers and probably our most consistent mid-range shooter.  How does he look at this point?

My gut tells me that DeBoer will come off the bench this year now that everybody is back, particularly given how well Mickey DeVries has looked. Matt is not a bad option for that kind of duty in part because he is primarily a scorer and it's nice having a sub come in who can put the ball in the basket. Tyler Dykstra still seems to be more of a specialty player, a long, tall drink of water who can come out of no where to swat away balls when you least expect it. He does that better than anyone else on Calvin's team (he blocked three last night) but his game does not yet appear to be well rounded enough to justify a starting spot yet. Stout is coming along but Tyler Kruis is clearly the big dog and needs to play the large majority of minutes in competitive games. It's nice to see that Kruis has been able to ditch the brace he wore last year and it seems he is moving better because of that.

Mickey played 24 minutes to Dykstra's 18, so he's playing starter's minutes.

Understood. But they both played 11 minutes in the first half. I want Mickey on the floor from the opening tip and getting more than 24 minutes a game. Kenny Brown played 36 for Ferris and other starters got 31 and 28. Even one of the Bulldog reserves got 26 minutes, which is one more than any Calvin player got. Maybe I'm too old school (a possible board name change?) but I want one of my best players putting in more than 24 per game.

After the way Mickey's season came to an end a year ago, is it possible that are still some things he needs to earn? Maybe not, but it is a dynamic to consider.

[oldknight]

After the way Mickey's season came to an end a year ago, is it possible that are still some things he needs to earn? Maybe not, but it is a dynamic to consider.

A fair question. If so, he's well on the way to earning it.

[calvin_grad]

Maybe I'm too old school (a possible board name change?) but I want one of my best players putting in more than 24 per game.

Snikkers averaged 27 mpg last year and Kruis averaged 25.5.  Personally, I'd like to see them both get about 5 minutes more per game this year.

[maroonandgold]

[quote from Old Knight]

My gut tells me that DeBoer will come off the bench this year now that everybody is back, particularly given how well Mickey DeVries has looked. Matt is not a bad option for that kind of duty in part because he is primarily a scorer and it's nice having a sub come in who can put the ball in the basket.[/quote]

I really like the idea of using DeBoer this way.  He is not as tall and the rebounder that Mickey De Vries or Dykstra is, but he sure can hit a range of shots.

[sac]

Matt Neil talks a little about his squad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGrGfXRujM

[sac]

Hope's Whittenbach is out 4 weeks according to this
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1831588843/Hope-mens-basketball-loses-guard-Stephen-Wittenbach-for-four-weeks

That's a lot better than missing the entire non-conference season.  Puts him back right around the Russ DeVette Tournament, but I would think Orlando is the better bet.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin's next opponent, Grace Bible, lost (at home) to UM-Dearborn on Monday by two. I know nothing about the Wolves, but their 3-27 record from a year ago suggests their not very good. A bad loss for the Bible Tigers, it appears; they're now 0-2 on the young season.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope's Whittenbach is out 4 weeks according to this
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1831588843/Hope-mens-basketball-loses-guard-Stephen-Wittenbach-for-four-weeks

That's a lot better than missing the entire non-conference season.  Puts him back right around the Russ DeVette Tournament, but I would think Orlando is the better bet.

That sounds a lot more promising than the initial thoughts after he went down.  I think Witt has the potential to be a big contributor this season and beyond.  Man I love a Sophomore who comes into the season and it is very evident that there was a lot of hard work done over the summer proving he learned a lot from his Freshman season. 

[KnightSlappy]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

[gohope]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Did they hand out the Cheer Sheets too???!!                    


Ahhhhhh.... even with the Smilicons, the Karma Fairies are Alive and Well!!!     Guess the truth is too hard to handle for some folks!       

[Knightmare]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Sounds like a promising development, the only problem is we've heard this before.  Look at the multiple mascots used, with lackluster results, over the last 10 years to try to drum up more support.  I truly hope that this is the start of something real and tangible because it is quite evident that Hope's student support has out paced Calvin's for quite some time.  The real test will come during the doldrums of winter when there is a week night game against an Alma or Kzoo and we see what kind of attendance and participation there is from the student section.

At least the pre-season can hold optimism for a change.

[KnightSlappy]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Sounds like a promising development, the only problem is we've heard this before.  Look at the multiple mascots used, with lackluster results, over the last 10 years to try to drum up more support.  I truly hope that this is the start of something real and tangible because it is quite evident that Hope's student support has out paced Calvin's for quite some time.  The real test will come during the doldrums of winter when there is a week night game against an Alma or Kzoo and we see what kind of attendance and participation there is from the student section.

At least the pre-season can hold optimism for a change.

I think adding a mascot is different than actually getting a large number of students to turn out for an event. But you're right, they need to actually show up to a game.

Actually, I think students have shown up for games in good numbers, but it's been sit and socialize, not watch, stand, and participate.

[GoKnights68]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Did they hand out the Cheer Sheets too???!!                    


Ahhhhhh.... even with the Smilicons, the Karma Fairies are Alive and Well!!!     Guess the truth is too hard to handle for some folks!       

In all honesty, that was lame.  But that was one goofball former staff member by the initials of "NZ" that thought that would be cool just that one time. The Cameron Crazies do it but they are kind of lame  Unfortunately Knight Nation doesn't have a website to go to and memorize with all their cheers and traditions like the Dew Crew does. 

[GoKnights68]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Sounds like a promising development, the only problem is we've heard this before.  Look at the multiple mascots used, with lackluster results, over the last 10 years to try to drum up more support.  I truly hope that this is the start of something real and tangible because it is quite evident that Hope's student support has out paced Calvin's for quite some time.  The real test will come during the doldrums of winter when there is a week night game against an Alma or Kzoo and we see what kind of attendance and participation there is from the student section.

At least the pre-season can hold optimism for a change.

I think adding a mascot is different than actually getting a large number of students to turn out for an event. But you're right, they need to actually show up to a game.

Actually, I think students have shown up for games in good numbers, but it's been sit and socialize, not watch, stand, and participate.

100% agree.  There seems to be a myth that Calvin students have poor attendance in non-Hope and homecoming games.  Student attendance has actually been pretty good over the years (but could improve).  It is student participation that has been below par.   I thought last year's students did better than two seasons ago at cheering, but there's still a lot of room for improvement....This topic about student participation has been covered here before. 

Either way, it is good to see so many students came out in support last night.

[oldknight]

WOTS is 800+ Calvin students attended a Midnight Madness event last night. There is, apparently, a big push to get students in the seats at games -- Van Noord could use a change in student participation culture.

Sounds like a promising development, the only problem is we've heard this before.  Look at the multiple mascots used, with lackluster results, over the last 10 years to try to drum up more support.  I truly hope that this is the start of something real and tangible because it is quite evident that Hope's student support has out paced Calvin's for quite some time.  The real test will come during the doldrums of winter when there is a week night game against an Alma or Kzoo and we see what kind of attendance and participation there is from the student section.

At least the pre-season can hold optimism for a change.

I checked the schedule and getting a lot of Calvin students to a weeknight game against Alma or Kalamazoo will be a problem. The fact that both of those games are on the road makes Calvin student participation problematic. The Knights do play five weeknight home games this season: Anderson (the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week), Adrian (the Thursday after New Years), and then Wednesday games against Hope, Albion and Trine.