MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[wiz]

Anyone getting a quality video feed from Alma?

[sac]

halftime

Adrian 31 Olivet 31.....if Olivet could make their shots from 3 feet away they'd have a 10 point lead.  No Wesley Reed for Adrian.

[sac]

Anyone getting a quality video feed from Alma?

Looks fine on my RCA

[sac]

Hope 75 Trine 61

Hope pulls away in the second half.

Eidson 15,  VanArendonk 12, Gardner 12, McMahon 10


Olivet 88 Adrian 83  OT

Blake Krum with 29, most importantly 3 consecutive 3's with the game running late in regulation to give Olivet the chance to win this one.


Albion 87 Kalamazoo 81

Give it up to Albion who entered the last few minutes of the game under 60% at the stripe but made something like 14 of 16 when it mattered to hang on.

17 offensive rebounds for Albion.

Hand full, both of them.

[goodknight]

Calvin holds on to win their league opener on the road at Alma

Calvin 90
Alma 82

For the Knights:
Brink 19
DeVries 15
Daley 13
Kruis 12

For the Scots:
Beckman 24
Krause 22
Nikodemski 14
Law 11

[thealmascots]

New Top 25 is posted on d3hoops and Calvin drops out. Massey Ratings for games through January 5 games rates Hope ahead of Calvin with Hope at 54 and Calvin at 63. I imagine Hope's no. 1 ranking for strength of schedule is the reason (Calvin's SOS is 169).

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cb2014&sub=11620

I saw both teams play once back on Thanksgiving weekend against Aquinas and Cornerstone and neither team looked very good that night.  That being said, based on Calvin's size, experience and talent I expected them to be a heavy favorite Saturday.  However, those SOS numbers are making me re-think it.  I knew Calvin's schedule was pathetic, but those numbers are stunningly bad for Calvin and make me think that I might lean towards Hope on Saturday just because they have been challenged nearly every game.

[oldknight]

New Top 25 is posted on d3hoops and Calvin drops out. Massey Ratings for games through January 5 games rates Hope ahead of Calvin with Hope at 54 and Calvin at 63. I imagine Hope's no. 1 ranking for strength of schedule is the reason (Calvin's SOS is 169).

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cb2014&sub=11620

I saw both teams play once back on Thanksgiving weekend against Aquinas and Cornerstone and neither team looked very good that night.  That being said, based on Calvin's size, experience and talent I expected them to be a heavy favorite Saturday.  However, those SOS numbers are making me re-think it.  I knew Calvin's schedule was pathetic, but those numbers are stunningly bad for Calvin and make me think that I might lean towards Hope on Saturday just because they have been challenged nearly every game.

I dunno. Seems to me that Calvin is the better team, the Knights get to play at home and have to be the favorite for this game. In addition to watching most Calvin games in person, I've seen three of Hope's games this season and as of right now (or as of three weeks ago when I saw Hope last) Calvin is better than the Flying Dutchmen. There is no question that Hope has played a tougher schedule but the Knights have more experience and depth than Hope, and won't have to rely on untested players for the biggest game of the season. Hope has three freshmen who likely will be expected to play important minutes and while they have talent, they are new to a game that is played with an intensity and urgency they have not yet seen in college. Maybe one of those first year players will strike  gold (as did Caleb Veldhouse a few years ago) but it is more likely they will struggle.

All of us tend to get wrapped up in how the most recent game we watched was played but every game has its own dynamic and every opponent presents new and different challenges. Calvin couldn't pull away from the Scots last night but the home team scorched the nets from outside, especially the second half, when at one point they hit 6 consecutive shots from the arc to keep the game close. Calvin's defense did seem to allow too many open looks but the Knights' offense was clicking pretty nicely I thought, with very few mistakes being made. Hope may prove me wrong Saturday but they have not been a very good three point shooting team this season, hitting under 30% for the year. Hope will need to do better than that tomorrow and really need Eidson and Gardner to break out of their three point shooting slump.

[wiz]

I dunno. Seems to me that Calvin is the better team, the Knights get to play at home and have to be the favorite for this game. In addition to watching most Calvin games in person, I've seen three of Hope's games this season and as of right now (or as of three weeks ago when I saw Hope last) Calvin is better than the Flying Dutchmen. There is no question that Hope has played a tougher schedule but the Knights have more experience and depth than Hope, and won't have to rely on untested players for the biggest game of the season. Hope has three freshmen who likely will be expected to play important minutes and while they have talent, they are new to a game that is played with an intensity and urgency they have not yet seen in college. Maybe one of those first year players will strike  gold (as did Caleb Veldhouse a few years ago) but it is more likely they will struggle.

All of us tend to get wrapped up in how the most recent game we watched was played but every game has its own dynamic and every opponent presents new and different challenges. Calvin couldn't pull away from the Scots last night but the home team scorched the nets from outside, especially the second half, when at one point they hit 6 consecutive shots from the arc to keep the game close. Calvin's defense did seem to allow too many open looks but the Knights' offense was clicking pretty nicely I thought, with very few mistakes being made. Hope may prove me wrong Saturday but they have not been a very good three point shooting team this season, hitting under 30% for the year. Hope will need to do better than that tomorrow and really need Eidson and Gardner to break out of their three point shooting slump.

"And all God's people said..."

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Going into a Hope / Calvin game, I typically have a gut feeling about how these teams will perform against one another.  This time - not so much. 

I've been at every Hope game this year, and I've watched 4 Calvin games live, as well as peaking in on a few via video.  I know for me, Hope is an ever improving team game to game (well duh - they're young) - I can see it in the team, and I can see it in individual players.  Looking forward to a battle for sure.

Go HOPE!!

<Sorta Quick Rant> I truly dislike that there is an Alma vs Calvin women's game preceeding the men's game, while the men's JV teams will be playing each other on the axuillary Knollcrest court.  (Lest anyone think I'm blaming Calvin for this, I have the same problem when Hope or any other school does this).  I am a fan of women's basketball as well, and attend any number of women's games each year, but trying to "force" attendance for the women by doing this (in my mind) actually has the opposite effect.  Attendance will be high, and I'll bet there are fans of women's basketball who won't even try to get to the game, because of the "enormity" of a rivalry game.  <Rant off>

[sac]

Kalamazoo is archiving its games online.  I watched quite a bit of the K/Albion game while switching with the Adrian/Olivet game.

Worth a look if you want to get a feel for what these teams are about
http://new.livestream.com/kalamazoocollege



This is pathetic Hope.

[realist]

New Top 25 is posted on d3hoops and Calvin drops out. Massey Ratings for games through January 5 games rates Hope ahead of Calvin with Hope at 54 and Calvin at 63. I imagine Hope's no. 1 ranking for strength of schedule is the reason (Calvin's SOS is 169).

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cb2014&sub=11620

I saw both teams play once back on Thanksgiving weekend against Aquinas and Cornerstone and neither team looked very good that night.  That being said, based on Calvin's size, experience and talent I expected them to be a heavy favorite Saturday.  However, those SOS numbers are making me re-think it.  I knew Calvin's schedule was pathetic, but those numbers are stunningly bad for Calvin and make me think that I might lean towards Hope on Saturday just because they have been challenged nearly every game.

Seriously?  If Calvin had played UWSP, UWW, and IWU, and had the same result as Hope they would have a higher SOS, but would also have three more losses, and be 6-6 instead of 9-3. One thing we know for sure is Calvin could not have done much worse against those three than Hope. 
Not too many years ago the wooden shoe was on the other foot, and Calvin prided itself in (perhaps) playing a tougher "pre-conference" schedule than Hope.
When it came time for the "rivalry"  games I have witnessed too many games where the team with the "weaker" SOS seemed to prevail. 
The point is the team that Calvin puts on the floor tomorrrow at 9-3 is exactly the same team they would if they were 6-6, except this team has "experience"wining games.  FWIW at 9-3 they already have all the experience they need at losing games.

[HopeConvert]

I haven't seen Calvin play live this year, but I have seen Hope quite a few times and am, frankly, fairly underwhelmed by the team at this point of the season. I think NVA is starting to come into his own, but the guard play hasn't been as sparkling as I had hoped, and the Dutchmen have really struggled at the 3 and 4. In the abstract I'm not inclined to make a prediction, but I don't see how the match-ups favor Hope.

I think the Kruis/VanArendonk matchup is a slight advantage to Calvin. I think Gardner gives Hope an advantage at the point. But other than that it seems to me that Calvin has pretty significant advantages at the other 3 positions, particularly at the 3 spot, where Hope has been weak both offensively and defensively. If you factor in depth and experience, plus homecourt advantage, I just don't see how Hope can be favored.

I know FDF and other Hope fans think I can be too pessimistic sometimes - and I'll confess to being guilty of maintaining low expectations as a proleptic defense mechanism - but, honestly, that's been the best defense in DeVos this season (although I am encouraged by the fact they held Trine to 35% last night). I have no divided loyalties here: I'll be pulling vigorously for Hope, but I think the pendulum is currently swinging to Calvin's advantage. Next year I expect it to swing back Hope's way.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I haven't seen Calvin play live this year, but I have seen Hope quite a few times and am, frankly, fairly underwhelmed by the team at this point of the season. I think NVA is starting to come into his own, but the guard play hasn't been as sparkling as I had hoped, and the Dutchmen have really struggled at the 3 and 4. In the abstract I'm not inclined to make a prediction, but I don't see how the match-ups favor Hope.

I think the Kruis/VanArendonk matchup is a slight advantage to Calvin. I think Gardner gives Hope an advantage at the point. But other than that it seems to me that Calvin has pretty significant advantages at the other 3 positions, particularly at the 3 spot, where Hope has been weak both offensively and defensively. If you factor in depth and experience, plus homecourt advantage, I just don't see how Hope can be favored.

I know FDF and other Hope fans think I can be too pessimistic sometimes - and I'll confess to being guilty of maintaining low expectations as a proleptic defense mechanism - but, honestly, that's been the best defense in DeVos this season (although I am encouraged by the fact they held Trine to 35% last night). I have no divided loyalties here: I'll be pulling vigorously for Hope, but I think the pendulum is currently swinging to Calvin's advantage. Next year I expect it to swing back Hope's way.

A true conversion is an ongoing process - there is Hope that you'll get there

[knightvision]

Going into a Hope / Calvin game, I typically have a gut feeling about how these teams will perform against one another.  This time - not so much. 

I agree with OK's assessment, and suspect that most on here, regardless of allegiance, would agree that on paper Calvin is the favorite to win for many of the reasons he points out.  Unlike FDF, though, my gut tells me this is going to be more closely contested than many anticipate.  That may be because it's nearly 3PM and I haven't had lunch yet, but put me in the camp of those who expect this to be a really close game.    And that's not a cop out, "lower expectations so I'm not disappointed if they lose" prediction (or as more eloquently just stated by HopeConvert a "proleptic defense mechanism"  Nice!).  However faulty, here's my thinking....

Calvin is the more predictable and reliable team here with an established starting five, a defined playing rotation, and a reasonably predictable style of play.  These are all good things--mostly.  Hope to me is a highly talented but less predictable team that is still in the process of sorting out roles and rotations. 

These games more often than not seem to unfold in unexpected ways.  While I would dearly love for this to be played at Calvin's pace and be a dominating Calvin win, Hope to me has more guys who have the ability to be the unexpected hero  (see Chad Carlson from a couple games ago as but one example)--and it seems like these games often have one or two of those.  Would anyone be surprised if Carlson, McMahon, Stuive, Blackledge, Byers or someone else who has doesn't start has 15 points?  Not me....and Calvin's "unexpected hero list" seems to me a bit shorter than Hope's.

I expect Hope to pressure the perimeter and try to make this an up tempo affair.  If they play that way and can stay even with Calvin in the rebounding battle, I see this as a toss-up.  If Calvin can dictate tempo (which I'm not as confident of as I wish), Calvin by 10+. 
Prediction:  Calvin 73 Hope 70 . 

[sac]

Calvin's 3 losses have had 3 things in common.  None of them are necessarily Hope's strengths.