MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Gregory Sager]

Calvin 83
NPU 54

NPU shot only 33% for the game and was almost doubled up on the boards, 47-24. Calvin was up by only 29-25 with 4:40 to play in the first half, and the Knights went on a 14-0 run to close out the half. NPU was pretty much done at that point.

This one went about as I expected, although I was disappointed that the Vikings never made even the merest hint of a run in the second half. Calvin is a solid, efficient team. NPU is a team with some holes ... and a lot of guys who should be wearing JV uniforms rather than varsity uniforms at this point.

[Gregory Sager]

Not up to Nate Silver standards, you say HopeConvert?

What can we say?
*Two evenly matched halves?
*If this game counts, Hope will lead DIII in per game scoring margin for some time to come?
*Too bad Nate ruined his perfect night with the missed free throw . . . but he can hope the game counts toward his season percentages.
*And isn't this a bit sad for the new team, and a little embarrassing for North Central (albeit appreciating that they apparently had a team drop out)?
*Can one fault the Hope players, with starters all playing less than 20 minutes, for playing on?  (I think not.)
*It's gym practice before the real game tomorrow night?

Bold for emphasis up above.

A 118-20 game is certainly an unusual season opener (Hope had 22 by the time I could pull up the live stats) but from all that I've been able to gather the only one that should be embarrassed about what happened is North Central.

What's worse is that the score of the second game last night in that NCC tournament was North Central 73, Illinois Tech 20. (IIT just reinstated basketball this season after suspending the program for three years.)

[oldknight]

A second straight commanding win for Calvin as the beat up on North Park 83-54. The first half saw the Vikings relegated to taking jump shots and the only spark they could muster came when they hit three straight triples to forge a 23 tie. Calvin just has too many big guys who can defend, rebound and score and the Knights put it into overdrive from there. Calvin isn't a well oiled machine by any means, but when they go on a run they are really good. The few times North Park got the ball inside the first 20 minutes they had no where to go with the ball.

The second half saw North Park press for most of the half and spread the floor. It did change the pace of the game and throw the Knights off a bit, but they were never seriously threatened and slowly pulled away. I'm glad NP put that press on because it gave Calvin an opportunity to work on their press break a bit--and they need to. Calvin was at their most effective when putting the ball in Snikkers' hands. There was no one on North Park who could guard him in the open court as Tom handled the press with ease.

Kruis didn't shoot as well as last night, going 5-13 but he still scored 12 and was the easy (and only) choice for tournament MVP. Mickey DeVries had a very nice afternoon with 12 boards and 8 points in only 15 minutes, and he defended well. Even though Brink was only 1-3 from the arc, the team hit 7 of 15 threes and when Calvin does that they are going to be a tough team to beat. The competition at the Tip-Off Tourney wasn't what they will face at Wheaton in two weeks but a pair of 30 point wins over teams Calvin should beat is a lot better than a couple of squeakers.

[sac]

Trine 100 Akron-Wayne 75
no details, and I'm not sure there need to be


Manchester 59 Wabash 54

Given Albion's pretty comfortable command of Manchester yesterday, I have to think Sunday afternoon's contest with Wabash should go well.


The MIAA website has the Adrian/Wooster game starting at 6pm, it actually starts at 8pm

[sac]

halftime:

Wooster 27 Adrian 25

Wooster scored the last 8 to take the lead.

[ziggy]

NPU's getting killed on the boards, as I expected: 24-13.

Take away the star 6'8 center and his 6'7 backup from a team that's already's on the small side and put them on the bench in street clothes with knee injuries, and this is what happens. NPU is really going to struggle against big teams like Calvin, for now at least.

Looks like Calvin played very good D over the last five minutes, but I wonder how much of that was NPU breaking down offensively due to frustration.

I was sitting on the baseline of North Park's offensive end and have to attribute most of what happened in the first half to Calvin's defense. Through two games they have shown active hands and feet leading to a lot of pressure on the ball and denial off the ball. North Park made their run by hitting a few threes but they weren't of the variety Calvin fans are used to seeing the Knights give up early in the season before the defensive system settles in. Have to be encouraged by that.

[sac]

halftime:  Hope 33 North Central 33

For basically playing most of the first half without 3 starters, Hope's hanging in the foul fest.  Sounds physical, very physical.

[sac]

Adrian takes Wooster right down to wire, game winning shot rattles in.

Adrian 57 Wooster 56

[KnightSlappy]

Adrian tops Wooster 57-56. Wow.

Note to MIAA teams, Eric Lewis can score.

[sac]

North Central 60 Hope 49

I imagine the first hand accounts will be interesting, but I'd say this was a pretty good effort overall.  Ultimately just too many empty trips down the floor late when it often matters the most.  By empty trips, how about the last 9 1/2 minutes without a FG.  NCC really should have buried Hope in the last 5 minutes but for some reason couldn't.

46-44 after Hope's last FG.

The pace of this game slowed down dramatically after the first 7 or 8 minutes.  Cardinals largest leads came late in this one.

Overway 12, Snuggerud 9, Byers 8, Van Arendonk 7

[Chief]

This just in... Hope is human after all.

[Titan Q]

North Central 60 Hope 49

I imagine the first hand accounts will be interesting, but I'd say this was a pretty good effort overall.  Ultimately just too many empty trips down the floor late when it often matters the most.  By empty trips, how about the last 9 1/2 minutes without a FG.  NCC really should have buried Hope in the last 5 minutes but for some reason couldn't.

46-44 after Hope's last FG.

The pace of this game slowed down dramatically after the first 7 or 8 minutes.  Cardinals largest leads came late in this one.

Overway 12, Snuggerud 9, Byers 8, Van Arendonk 7

North Central is an incredibly physical team.  With Hope's struggles against that type of team (the Dutchmen had trouble with IWU's physical play last year), I'm not surprised the Cardinals grinded out a win at home in this one.

#6 beat #7 in a close game (at #6)...poll sounds right.

Hope continues CCIW play soon with upcoming games vs Carthage, Wheaton, and IWU.

[almcguirejr]

Snuggerud only played 10 minutes due to foul trouble

[Titan Q]

I see that Hope star Nate Snuggerud had 4 fouls in the first half.  I did not listen to the game so would appreciate explanation of how that happened.  How did the Hope staff let him pick up foul #3 in the 1st half, let alone foul #4??

[almcguirejr]

I see that Hope star Nate Snuggerud had 4 fouls in the first half.  I did not listen to the game so would appreciate explanation of how that happened.  How did the Hope staff let him pick up foul #3 in the 1st half, let alone foul #4??

According to the radio guys he committed his 4th foul while a sub was at the table waiting to come in.