MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Stevens Point Journal article previewing the game: http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20130309/SPJ02/303090297/Pointers-face-tall-order-against-Calvin-second-round-tournament-game

[KnightSlappy]

My topic contribution of something that is in the future but not too far in the future so as to make it unsuitable for discussion:

Prediction Time!
Calvin leaves Stevens Point victorious, 68-64!

If Point was healthy, I'd feel differently but they aren't. Calvin will be playing with the team they have had all year and they are playing their best ball of the season. It won't be an easy game but if Calvin has become the team so many of us think they have become, they will win.

Go Knights!

Actually, I think Point will likely be as healthy as they've been in a very, very long time on Saturday. I know that Dave McHugh picked Calvin in part because Point didn't end the season that well (due to injuries).

And yes, Point does have three guys who have been lost to injury for the year (the most obvious is Tyler Tillema, but also Tyler Lutz and Dan Studer, two of Point's bigger role players/defenders). But Point has been without those guys for a LONG time. Tillema's been out since week 8 (tried to go vs. UST and possibly got hurt even more). Lutz hasn't played all year. Studer's been out since January 20th.

Should those guys even be considered though? There wasn't a chance they were coming back... and they haven't been used for a long time anyway.

Besides... Point was dinged up even more during their "recent" stretch.

Let's look at the last 7 games.

1/30 Platteville L 46-54
2/2 La Crosse L 62-67 OT
2/6 Oshkosh W 62-52
2/13 Stout W 76-74 OT
2/16 Eau Claire W 64-34
2/21 Platteville L 56-60 (WIAC Tournament)
3/2 Northwestern W 71-54 (NCAA Tournament)
3/9 Calvin W   (NCAA Tournament)

PG Austin Ryf got hurt in the game at Platteville (1/30) and didn't play at La Crosse three days later or against Oshkosh. He came off the bench against Stout , Eau Claire , and Platteville before coming back to his starting role against Northwestern.

In addition to this, starter Joe Ritchay got hurt on 1/5 in the first game against Eau Claire. He didn't play in the second half against Eau Claire. He didn't miss any additional time, but I think it had been nagging him.

Nate Van Handel started the year off injured as well and missed the first several games. He has played a bit more of a role of late, but only a few minutes here and there.

At the depth of the injury problems, Point only dressed 9 guys and played 8.


In the last month, Point has really only played 5 games, 7 in the last 5 weeks. This is basically the BEST setup possible for a team who has had such terrible injury problems... but I would say that the injury problems were really occurring a month ago, not now.

No one cares what you think.

[John Gleich]

Should be a fun one tonight.

[oldknight]

Should be a fun one tonight.

Thanks to John for the insights into the SP squad, its injury woes, and how things seem to be working out for the Pointers.  Not knowing much about what happens on your side of the lake, I find it helpful. I'm expecting a close, hardfought game and I look forward to some first hand reporting by those who attend.

[John Gleich]

Should be a fun one tonight.

Thanks to John for the insights into the SP squad, its injury woes, and how things seem to be working out for the Pointers.  Not knowing much about what happens on your side of the lake, I find it helpful. I'm expecting a close, hardfought game and I look forward to some first hand reporting by those who attend.

Thanks OK!

By the way, here are the UWSP Game notes for tonight's matchup:

LINK

Calvin and Stevens Point have met one other time (1969) when the Knights were the victors.

[knights2000]

Anyone else's stream from UWSP very choppy?

[ziggy]

anybody else having trouble with the video feed?  It's very slow.

Same. Not getting anything that is close to watchable. Basically just a lot of still frames that update. Some of the pregame stuff was coming through fine so I'm guessing their server just got slammed at game time and is having a hard time keeping up.

[northb]

Yes, choppy to say the least

[calvinite]

Switched to Mitch, live stats, and WFUR.  Let me know if the picture gets better

[John Gleich]

Having the same issues

[northb]

Switched to Mitch, live stats, and WFUR.  Let me know if the picture gets better

Mitch?

[calvinite]

Mitch Blankenspoor (WFUR)

[walawala]

Hasn't made a huge difference, but you can switch your quality from high to low by right clicking if you haven't figured that out already.

[calvinite]

You'd think if the video is as bad as this that everyone would shut it off making better for those trying to watch the game. Of course, if every one is thinking the same thing.... then the video will continue to be bad.

[arena]

Enjoying the mispronunciation of Calvin's names.