MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[GoKnights68]

How about the Dew Crew with chants of "you can't fill it?" I know the boys in orange and blue had a rough shooting night but that's harsh!

It was quite embarassing how many empty seats there were.

PS: MN just said they will run the table

[almcguirejr]

How about the Dew Crew with chants of "you can't fill it?" I know the boys in orange and blue had a rough shooting night but that's harsh!

It was quite embarassing how many empty seats there were.

PS: MN just said they will run the table

The attendance was 4,503.  I don't think Calvin has to be embarrassed about that.  The students showed up and were great.  It was a very good night.

[hoopdreams]

Quick recap of pre-game assessment.....

Calvin wins if-
Snikkers stays out of foul trouble and plays composed....check
Controls paint....check (man are they long and active)
Wear Overway down......check, went out with cramps less than 5 minutes into 2nd half.....and force him to take contested shots......check (4-13), even struggled from line where he has been shooting great
Hope shoots 60%ish from line, not 80%ish.......check

Hope wins if-
Snuggs is a factor offensively, on glass and defensively........
Edison breaks out of his mini slump.........
Shoot 80% from line, not 60%ish.......
Unsung heros?......guess Holwerda earns this honor for the night

Whomever makes the most behind the arc, in all it's simplicity......check

[Chief]

Calvin braintrust still probably thinks that KVS should be fired. #NeverSatisfied #KnowItAll

[ziggy]

Calvin braintrust still probably thinks that KVS should be fired. #NeverSatisfied #KnowItAll

Fire Leyland.

[maroonandgold]

I'm going by the eye test, and the Massey numbers seem to back up the claim that this is not a very good defensive team. I wasn't trying to fool anyone: every time I've watched this team this year they've looked to me out of sorts and very much so on the defensive end. Honestly - and I hate to say this - I expect a 15 point win for Calvin tomorrow.

When Hope Convert made that comment, I thought he was way too generous in thinking that Calvin would win by as many as 15 points.  I hereby officially admit I was wrong, and he had a much better idea of where the teams are at this point.  None of us remember seeing Hope that totally dominated!  It first of all defense, rebounding, and hustle that gave Calvin the big advantage, then shooting and teamwork.  By that time everything seemed to bounce Calvin's way.  Hope has to feel frustrated and will be much tougher the next time.  Perhaps the biggest factor was Calvin's experience in The Rivalry versus Hope's freshman just learner how it really feels.

[HopeConvert]

I'm going by the eye test, and the Massey numbers seem to back up the claim that this is not a very good defensive team. I wasn't trying to fool anyone: every time I've watched this team this year they've looked to me out of sorts and very much so on the defensive end. Honestly - and I hate to say this - I expect a 15 point win for Calvin tomorrow.

When Hope Convert made that comment, I thought he was way too generous in thinking that Calvin would win by as many as 15 points.  I hereby officially admit I was wrong, and he had a much better idea of where the teams are at this point.  None of us remember seeing Hope that totally dominated!  It first of all defense, rebounding, and hustle that gave Calvin the big advantage, then shooting and teamwork.  By that time everything seemed to bounce Calvin's way.  Hope has to feel frustrated and will be much tougher the next time.  Perhaps the biggest factor was Calvin's experience in The Rivalry versus Hope's freshman just learner how it really feels.

Honestly, when I wrote that I was intentionally hedging on what I thought was the low side. I'm not surprised by this outcome. Part of it is Calvin has jelled, and part of it is Hope has a lot of problems. I don't see them getting better any time soon. Frankly I expect the game at DeVos to be closer, but still an easy Calvin win. 

[John Gleich]

How about the Dew Crew with chants of "you can't fill it?" I know the boys in orange and blue had a rough shooting night but that's harsh!

It was quite embarassing how many empty seats there were.

PS: MN just said they will run the table

The attendance was 4,503.  I don't think Calvin has to be embarrassed about that.  The students showed up and were great.  It was a very good night.

I dunno about empty seats... but the webcast looked better than probably about half of the D-I schools out there, in terms of quality and energy in the gym. Add to the fact that the facility is better than a whole bunch of D-I's...

[almcguirejr]

Calvin braintrust still probably thinks that KVS should be fired. #NeverSatisfied #KnowItAll

Braintrust??

[oldknight]

HopeConvert was a little off on his prediction

I really didn't expect HC's prediction to be too pollyannaish. The first half was total domination. Calvin could have easily had a 30 point lead at the break, but missed three easy layups and committed a few too many unforced errors. As I mentioned previously, Calvin came in playing very well and I believed this team was as ready as could be, but I didn't think the Knights would be punish Hope that badly. Calvin's first half rebounding and defense completely took the Flying Dutchmen out of any semblence of an offense. It was no accident that Hope shot 5-23 the first 20 minutes because the defenders they were facing consistently challenged their shots, and Hope saw precious few second ones. Of their 18 first half misses, five of them never reached the rim and most of the remaining 13 were put up under heavy pressure.

Calvin looked to be a far more veteran and focused club and I thought Hope's younger players appeared shocked by the speed and intensity of the game. To borrow from my record playing days, it was if Calvin was playing at 45 on the turntable and Hope was at 33 and a third. The tone was set from Hope's very first possession when they entered the ball into the post, Benson made a spin move and Snikkers instantly stripped the ball. I could almost hear Tom say: "Welcome to the Rivalry, Brock."  Overway was as game as possible, played hard, but he can't do it alone. He needed more horses at this rodeo than walked off the bus.

[knights2000]

I thought for all the comments we've seen over the last few years of "Hope and MN have Calvin's defensive system figured out", the Dutch seemed perplexed and not sure where to go offensively for the majority of the game. I don't remember a single skip pass thrown for a weakside 3-pt attempt. I came away impressed by the defensive intensity and execution by the Knights. Holding Hope to 49 points is not an easy task.

[goodknight]

Was anyone else surprised at how out-of-shape and disinterested Nate Snuggerud appeared tonight?

[oldknight]

Was anyone else surprised at how out-of-shape and disinterested Nate Snuggerud appeared tonight?

If I didn't know better, it was almost as if he thought it was July and this was a summer league game at the Civic.

[sac]

The worst thing that could have happened to Hope tonight was fall behind early and big.  Just in case you haven't seen the last 2 or 3 games at VNA Calvin's had big leads in each of those only to see Hope make a strong run to close out the 1st half and make it a game.  Then take the game in the second half. 

Calvin wasn't going to let that happen tonight and I thought their effort in the last 5 minutes of the first half was probably as good or better than the other 35 minutes they were pretty good.  24 points is too much to recover.  Calvin's first half was near spectacular on both ends of the floor and clearly demonstrated why they'll likely win the league.  Those passing lanes and shots that are open against everyone else are not open against Calvin, just too long.


I don't know that Hope really did anything good tonight except compete in the 2nd half.  For a 20 point ball game there was still a lot of really good basketball played and some really good effort.

Sometimes its not your night, and tonight was definitely not Hope's. 

[sac]

--Seeing Albion at 0-5 with a trip to Alma to keep from falling 2 back for last place just doesn't compute for me.


--Another new player for Adrian?  Treston Jones:   http://www.adrianbulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/bios/jones_treston_1m83 , Mark White's really reaching and grabbing trying to keep that train together.


--Blake Krum had 15 points last night for Olivet, he's one of the most improved players in the league, physically doesn't look like much but he isn't afraid to battle in the paint, much the same way Billy Seiler does for Hope.  Tough kid.


--Now Trine gets its moment in the spotlight, as predicted they're right in it with Calvin and Hope in their next two.  Last year in the same situation the Thunder were whipped by 27 and 23.