MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[GoKnights68]

It appears the Knights move on and Hope is finished IMHO.

Monkey officially off the back

yes!  FINALLY!

[arena]

Very impressive performance by a very sharp Knight squad.  Someone needs to tell NVA that if he posts up on the block instead of 8 feet from the hoop, he wouldn't have to take a meaningless dribble at his midline and proceed to get ripped by the Calvin wing defender who doubles down EVERY TIME he touches the ball.  No way a kid that size should get pushed off the block...ever.  Congrats Calvin, well played.

And there it was NVA, set up on right block and seal your defender, turn middle for your best weapon- the left hand baby hook...simply cannot defend it

I said to a friend of mine after that play that its a good thing for Calvin that he didn't get that all game, he'd should be unstoppable down there with that move.

[KnightSlappy]

This was the Calvin team that can go as deep into the NCAA Tournament as they want. More than solid on both ends of the floor. I'm so happy for KVS and this team -- they've really come together -- but there's still work left to be done.

The team huddled up after the net was cut and finished with a chant of "A-T-L". Not saying they will get there, but I'm not saying they can't either.

[Mr. Ypsi]

This was the Calvin team that can go as deep into the NCAA Tournament as they want. More than solid on both ends of the floor. I'm so happy for KVS and this team -- they've really come together -- but there's still work left to be done.

The team huddled up after the net was cut and finished with a chant of "A-T-L". Not saying they will get there, but I'm not saying they can't either.

I doubt any tourney team has not wanted to go all the way.  Calvin's opponents included.

[almcguirejr]

A great win tonight.  Calvin played tremendous defense.  I thought Rietema and Powell were tremendous on him in the first half.  He got his first points on the 3 point play with 7 seconds to go in the half.  Snuggerud was the only offense for Hope all night he was 6-10 from the floor, the rest of Hope's team was 10-38.  Tyler Dykstra is happy he never has to face Snuggerud again.  He is the only player for Calvin who struggled.  That was surprising because he has really played very well leading up to tonight.

Tom Snikkers played very well the first 8-10 minutes of the second half.  I thought he really led Calvin in putting his team into a commanding lead.  Mickey De Vries played great again tonight.  He had a couple of offensive rebounds and a tremendous block that were key parts of a 26-12 run to start the second half.

When Calvin plays defense like they did this week against Adrian and Hope they will be able to hang with most teams.

I am also extremely happy for KVS.  I think you could hear the emotion in his voice in the interview with Doug Wentworth after the game.  A friend of mine said to me in the second half " I think KVS wants this game more than his players.  There was a lot of pressure on tonight's game, if Calvin had lost and not made the tournament that would have been tough to swallow.  KVS got this team to buy in and they performed at a consistent high level all year. 

[KnightSlappy]

This was the Calvin team that can go as deep into the NCAA Tournament as they want. More than solid on both ends of the floor. I'm so happy for KVS and this team -- they've really come together -- but there's still work left to be done.

The team huddled up after the net was cut and finished with a chant of "A-T-L". Not saying they will get there, but I'm not saying they can't either.

I doubt any tourney team has not wanted to go all the way.  Calvin's opponents included.

Right, but my point is that Calvin has the ability to be a Sweet Sixteen, Final Four, or even championship team this year. Not every team has that ability. Of course that's no guarantee that they'll even get through the first round, but they can be as good as (pretty much) anyone.

[almcguirejr]

Mlive article: http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2013/02/calvin_seniors_keep_season_goi.html#incart_river_default

[oldknight]

Some random thoughts from today's doubleheader at VNA:

--the women's game was much closer but the better team won each game. I'm afraid the Lady Knights are one guard short of a national championship team.

--As already mentioned by others, Tom was Terrific tonight. In this week's pair of games he forced the action at appropriate times, moved the ball out of trouble when he didn't have the advantage, and didn't pout when he didn't get a call. When he playmakes like that, he really puts the pressure on opposing defenses.

--tough night for Tyler Dykstra. Sometimes through no fault of your own, you're always in the wrong spot on the floor. Strange stat line--in 11 minutes, no shots, no free throws, no rebounds, one turnover, five fouls. Calvin is really deep because his play was quite irrelevant.

--For the second consecutive game Daniel Stout gave Calvin some excellent minutes. He's made good progress this year and Calvin's front line is going to be very impressive next year.

--I thought this game was a more impressive win than the beatdown they gave Hope in January because this time Hope abandoned the silliness of benching Snuggerud and VanArendonk. I don't quite agree with the notion that Hope should repeatedly feed NVA--he just isn't that consistent. Instead Snuggerud is the one who should be force-fed the ball in the blocks. He really showed why he was a preseason All-American. His footwork and change of direction is really outstanding for a big guy.

--Hope's freshmen guards are excellent talents and will help Hope win many games the next three years but I think the Flying Dutchmen really missed Colton Overway tonight. Calvin would still have won but the game would have been closer. I'm sorry to see his career end with a late season injury.

[KnightSlappy]

It's looking to me like Calvin is going to have to hit the road to start the tournament. That would be a huge bummer.

[oldknight]

It's looking to me like Calvin is going to have to hit the road to start the tournament.

Why's that?

[KnightSlappy]

It's looking to me like Calvin is going to have to hit the road to start the tournament.

Why's that?

I don't think they'll have the numbers to be a top 30 team. I'm still potentially getting them at, like, number 37. We'll see though. I'm not counting Hope as a regionally ranked team, it would help a good bit if they can sneak in the rankings.

[sac]

Congrats to the Knights for capturing the MIAA Tournament Championship.

--KVS put the ball in the hands of his 2 Sr's Powell and Snikkers who  have probably tasted more bitter disappointment at the end of the season to Hope the last 3 years than anyone.  60% of their shots and most of the offense moved through those two.

--It was pretty disappointing to see Hope show very little of the improved team they had become the last 4 or 5 weeks.  Shots that had fallen during this stretch just didn't tonight.  It was hard to watch Hope get out worked for loose balls and rebounds consistently in a game that meant so much.

--Down 8 at the half Hope needed a strong start to the 2nd half, they turned it over on their first possession, then turned it over 3 more times before the 15 minute mark.  At the same time they went nearly 10 minutes without getting more than 1 defensive stop.  It just didn't happen for them last night, Hope needed to be a lot better than they were to beat that team.

Good luck to the the Knights in the post-season.

[oldknight]

The hip-thursting kid in a sumo costume is a nice touch.  You stay classy San Diego!

He was right next to me for several minutes of the first half, repeatedly obstructing my view. I told my wife if he came back after halftime I was going to take out my pocket knife and puncture the suit. Seriously. He must have overheard because I never saw him again.

[arena]

75-49,73-70,77-57

Any idea what home court is worth?

[knightmoves]

The Championships Committee has prioritized the following site-selection criteria for all championships:
1. Complete Bid;
2. Quality and availability of the facility and other necessary accommodations;
3. Geographical location (which may include such factors as rotation of sites, weather, accessibility and transportation costs);
4. Seeding; and
5. Attendance history, hosting history and revenue potential, which shall be considered necessary to assure fiscal
responsibility.

Doesn't this say Calvin has a good chance to host at least a 1st round game?