MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Knight Hawk]

I think there is validity to the argument that Calvin was too predictable against Hope last night.  In my opinion, this is largely due to the fact that Calvin lacks individual play-makers. Perhaps not in ability, but at this point certainly in mentality.  From the Calvin side, Tyler Kruis was the only player who seemed to assert himself and rise to the occasion.  When many in your rotation are "system-type players" (to quote VandeStreek), it is crucial to integrate a clever and dynamic system.  The only nuanced adjustment I noticed was the back door cut to Dykstra, which as one poster noted was "too little, too late".

As to VandeStreek not having the team mentally prepared, I just don't buy that argument.  As collegiate players, if battling your biggest rival at their place for the conference lead doesn't motivate you, your coach's pregame speeches certainly won't either.

[wiz]

Well DUH Kevin.  You are so predictable most people could write your post game comments for you.

It appears KVS isn't the only one with predictable post game comments.

[goodknight]

Color me puzzled.  Did not see that coming.  Hope took the Knights to the woodshed.  Maybe the third time will be different, if there is a third matchup this year.

Seriously?  Enough with the feigned puzzled reaction.  If you had been paying any attention to the way KVS coaches you would know that he follows a very predictable pattern.  Rest assured M. Neil knows full well how predictable Calvin is under KVS.  He came into VNA with a great plan back in Jan., and it worked well.  He also knews that the odds are extremely small that KVS ever changes his plan so it wasn't much of a gamble to use the same strategy last night.  To me it looks like KVS played right into Hope's hand.

If they should play a third time I would like to know why anyone should expect a different result? 
It seems a little late in their careers to be teaching jr's, and sr's basketball fundamentals like dribbling, and sharp crisp passing (ball control).
Last nights game reminded me of the super bowl as it only took Hope 15 seconds to steal the ball, and score 2 points on a lay up.  The game was over, and went down hill from there.
The Calvin Knights are like The Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz:  In serious need of some heart.

My friend, my puzzlement was scarcely feigned.  It was sincere. 
And now I'm even more puzzled since you picked Calvin to win last night with 4 confidence points.

[almcguirejr]

--Doug Wentworth can be crude but effective at times. I heard him mention on the ride home that he didn't consider Calvin's contests with Kuyper and College of Faith to be wins. And that's coming from Calvin's home announcer.

Finlandia is another team that needs to be removed from the schedule

[sac]

Trine 60  Adrian 51

Trine:  Holmquist 20, Good 14, Tatu 14
Adrian:  Reed 12, Gordan 10


Alma 82  Albion 71

Alma connected on 15 three's in the game.

Alma:  Law 30,  Krause 17, Beckman 12, Nikodemski 10
Albion:  Ridgell 16, Kazen 10, Herron 10, Oakes 10


Dear Sam Hargraves,   Please quit pissing off Albion before they play Hope.  Thanks.

[sac]

standings with +/-........+1 for road wins/-1 for home losses

Hope    8-1     +3
Calvin   7-2     +3
Albion   5-4      0
Trine    5-4      +1
Kzoo    4-5       0
Alma    3-5      -2
Olivet   2-6     -2
Adrian  1-8     -3

Obvious Hope has the lead and now hold the tie-breaker with Calvin, so for Calvin to be the #1 seed they need Hope to lose twice.  If Hope loses twice Calvin's probably winning the league outright anyway.

The fight for the 3rd and 4th spots just got more interesting:

Alma has played its way into this conversation and just two games remaining against the four teams above them.  They have 4 of their 6 remaining on the road but they are right in this thing.  Now own the tie-breaker over Albion.

Albion is now in a fight, they have 3 games remaining with Hope, Trine, Calvin.  All of them on the road.  7-7 might be good enough, but it also might not be.

Trine has to play Calvin, Albion and Alma, but all 3 at home.  Very big game this weekend at Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo has 4 games remaining against all the teams above them plus Alma.  They get two at home and two on the road.  Success probably rests on Mark Ghafari's availability.

Olivet is not technically out of this, but a lot has to happen for them to reach 7-7 including beating either Hope or Calvin.

Adrian is out of the running for 4th place.

Home teams are just 17-19 this year

What's left:

Adrian:    CALVIN, @Albion, @Kzoo, ALMA, HOPE
Albion:    @Hope, ADRIAN, OLIVET, @Trine, @Calvin
Alma:      OLIVET, @Trine, @Hope, @Olivet, @Adrian, KZOO,
Calvin:    @Adrian, KZOO, @Trine, OLIVET, ALBION
Hope:     ALBION, @Olivet, ALMA, @Kzoo, @Adrian
Kzoo:      TRINE, @Calvin, ADRIAN, HOPE, @Alma
Olivet:    @Alma, HOPE, @Albion, ALMA, @Calvin, TRINE,
Trine:     @Kzoo, ALMA, CALVIN, ALBION, @Olivet

[sflzman]

Isiah Law's eight 3-pointers last night broke an Alma College record. Incredible night shooting for him, going 8-10 from downtown.

[sac]

Isiah Law's eight 3-pointers last night broke an Alma College record. Incredible night shooting for him, going 8-10 from downtown.

Out of curiosity who held the old record.

My two guesses.  Seth Stapleton or Jeremy Trent

[realist]

My friend, my puzzlement was scarcely feigned.  It was sincere. 
And now I'm even more puzzled since you picked Calvin to win last night with 4 confidence points.
[/quote]

My choosing Calvin by 4 indicates my desire for Calvin to win.  However, I am not the least bit surprised or puzzled or anything but disappointed that they failed to win.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Thinking about potential POY in the MIAA this year....it isn't impossible to think that Calvin might get its first since Jeremy Veenstra.  That statement seems crazy to me since 1) it's incredible how long it's been, and 2) it doesn't really feel like we have that clear MVP type player.  My understanding is that the non-league games aren't considered, so the gaudy scoring totals of Mark Ghafari in non league games wouldn't count.  He's injured now and putting up more normal numbers anyways.  Hope doesn't have that standout statistical player, and no one else in the league is separating themselves statistically like Ian Jackson did last year.  The two Calvin candidates: Jordan Brink has actually scored more points than any player in MIAA play this year, and has excellent shooting percentages and assist/turnover numbers.  Tyler Kruis has been producing at a higher level recently and may finish the season with the league's best scoring/rebounding combo of any player.  I'd be interested to hear who else people would vote for at this point--8 games into the league season.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

My choosing Calvin by 4 indicates my desire for Calvin to win.  However, I am not the least bit surprised or puzzled or anything but disappointed that they failed to win.

I thought that Pick 'em was a prediction, not a wish list.  Also, those times when you didn't give Calvin 4 confidence points...you didn't most desire them to win those times?

[realist]

My choosing Calvin by 4 indicates my desire for Calvin to win.  However, I am not the least bit surprised or puzzled or anything but disappointed that they failed to win.

I thought that Pick 'em was a prediction, not a wish list.  Also, those times when you didn't give Calvin 4 confidence points...you didn't most desire them to win those times?

Dang.  Now you tell me.  Thanks.   Guess that explains why I always wind up closer to the bottom of the list than towards the top.

[northb]

[
Dear Sam Hargraves,   Please quit pissing off Albion before they play Hope.  Thanks.

Dear Kevin Vande Streek, Please keep making Hope overconfident before they play us. Thanks, Albion

[knightvision]

My choosing Calvin by 4 indicates my desire for Calvin to win.  However, I am not the least bit surprised or puzzled or anything but disappointed that they failed to win.

I thought that Pick 'em was a prediction, not a wish list.  Also, those times when you didn't give Calvin 4 confidence points...you didn't most desire them to win those times?

Dang.  Now you tell me.  Thanks.   Guess that explains why I always wind up closer to the bottom of the list than towards the top.

I've contemplated participating in the Pick 'em contest on occasion, but have never taken the time to do it, mostly because I just don't see enough games to have a very good sense of teams other than Hope or Calvin.  However inclined I might have been to give it a whirl anyway, these exchanges have convinced me that my fragile psyche would never withstand the level of scrutiny and analysis that goes along with participation.     And if that wasn't enough, trying to comprehend the logic of the arguments/assumptions/conclusions is bringing me perilously close to some really bad memories of my first few weeks of introductory philosophy/logic that I'd prefer not to revisit....

[oldknight]

I've contemplated participating in the Pick 'em contest on occasion, but have never taken the time to do it, mostly because I just don't see enough games to have a very good sense of teams other than Hope or Calvin.  However inclined I might have been to give it a whirl anyway, these exchanges have convinced me that my fragile psyche would never withstand the level of scrutiny and analysis that goes along with participation.     

Rarely does a load of bovine manure get pedalled so effortlessly.