MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Congrats to Tom Renner who has been selected to receive a lifetime achievement award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/14RennerCoSIDA

That is impressive.

[oldknight]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

[HollandKnight]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

[HOPEful]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

That awkward moment when you realize that your rival has had a better recruiting season and has done a much better job at addressing their needs than your team has...

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

That awkward moment when you realize that your rival has had a better recruiting season and has done a much better job at addressing their needs than your team has...

... and has no coaching changes taking place with all the unknown of who will be the new guy, and how does this affect the team, and...

[HOPEful]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

That awkward moment when you realize that your rival has had a better recruiting season and has done a much better job at addressing their needs than your team has...

... and has no coaching changes taking place with all the unknown of who will be the new guy, and how does this affect the team, and...

Not as worried about that, actually. I think it would be prudent to get a coach quickly to make sure we don't lose any more "committed" recruits,  but the team is young, talented, and somewhat established. The back court will be fine; and the new guy is going to have  Ben Gardner and Alex Eidsen for two years and Chad Carlson for 3. In the frontcourt, he'll be able to roll with Brock Benson and Sam Otto for two years and Cody Stuive and Harrison Blackledge for 3. Talented and athletic, but small.

[northb]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

That awkward moment when you realize that your rival has had a better recruiting season and has done a much better job at addressing their needs than your team has...

... and has no coaching changes taking place with all the unknown of who will be the new guy, and how does this affect the team, and...

Not as worried about that, actually. I think it would be prudent to get a coach quickly to make sure we don't lose any more "committed" recruits,  but the team is young, talented, and somewhat established. The back court will be fine; and the new guy is going to have  Ben Gardner and Alex Eidsen for two years and Chad Carlson for 3. In the frontcourt, he'll be able to roll with Brock Benson and Sam Otto for two years and Cody Stuive and Harrison Blackledge for 3. Talented and athletic, but small.

If they all remain--these were MN's guys

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Spring Lake's Nick Goeglein, a 6'7", 225 lb post said to be headed to Calvin. An admission officer's dream who was #1 academically in his class of 193, so it shouldn't be difficult to keep him eligible. http://www.mybasketballbasics.com/profiles/Nick_Goeglein_Profile1/

I know Spring Lake has been pretty good in basketball the last couple of years but I've never seen Goeglein play. Maybe Steve Bell can help us out with his view of the kid's game. A Muskegon Chronicle piece of April 11 quoted thusly about Goeglein:

"Goeglein was the key returnee from last year's team that won 21 games and helped the Lakers defend their Lakes 8 and Class B district titles. After averaging 4.4 points as a junior, the 6-foot-7 center upped his totals to 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. "I've never had anybody improve as much from their junior to senior year," Spring Lake coach Bill Core said. "We really challenged him to be our go-to guy." Goeglein helped the Lakers to 23 consecutive wins in the Lakes 8 and into the regional finals. He is weighing his options for college between Valparaiso and Calvin."

Another big body for the Calvin frontcourt to go along with the highly anticipated arrival of Connor VanderBrug.

Great pick-up for Calvin as rebounders are much needed.

That awkward moment when you realize that your rival has had a better recruiting season and has done a much better job at addressing their needs than your team has...

... and has no coaching changes taking place with all the unknown of who will be the new guy, and how does this affect the team, and...

Not as worried about that, actually. I think it would be prudent to get a coach quickly to make sure we don't lose any more "committed" recruits,  but the team is young, talented, and somewhat established. The back court will be fine; and the new guy is going to have  Ben Gardner and Alex Eidsen for two years and Chad Carlson for 3. In the frontcourt, he'll be able to roll with Brock Benson and Sam Otto for two years and Cody Stuive and Harrison Blackledge for 3. Talented and athletic, but small.

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

[sac]

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

Expectations might end up being directly related to who Hope hires.

[HOPEful]

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

Expectations might end up being directly related to who Hope hires.

Agreed. And when that person is hired...

[KzooHornet]

I'd be interested to know what communication has been allowed with those student-athletes committed to Hope.  Have the the assistant coaches been allowed to call the prospects and try to keep the relationship going?  I know some places are quick to downplay the important role that the coaching staff plays in recruitment and just figure that the student-athletes will still come just because of the school.   

I also can't help but wonder if the prospects are changing their minds and reaching out to the other schools that showed interest or if it was the coaches in these programs who decided to "check-in" on the prospects when they heard Coach Neil and Hope College agreed to part ways.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

Expectations might end up being directly related to who Hope hires.

Agreed. And when that person is hired...

I agree with that as well.  But I also believe that you could get John Wooden at his prime and it will still have an impact short term - while the team adjusts to the new guy, new relationships are formed, boundaires set, etc.   The quality of the new coach is directly related to how long that "short term" is.  TBT and we had this same discussion 4 years ago when MN was selected as the new head coach.

[northb]

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

Expectations might end up being directly related to who Hope hires.

Agreed. And when that person is hired...

I agree with that as well.  But I also believe that you could get John Wooden at his prime and it will still have an impact short term - while the team adjusts to the new guy, new relationships are formed, boundaires set, etc.   The quality of the new coach is directly related to how long that "short term" is.  TBT and we had this same discussion 4 years ago when MN was selected as the new head coach.

TBT=truth be told (had to look that one up)

[realist]

I understand the talent Hope has returning - but surely you agree that the expectations of this team (regardless of who the next coach is) are less than the expectations would be if none of this coaching stuff had happened.  I think it was a pretty common belief or expectation that this team could make some significant steps forward with the core of the team now being So & Jr.  I'm not saying that won't happen, but I do expect that there will be an impact on the team.

Expectations might end up being directly related to who Hope hires.

+ k Sac:  As long as I have followed basketball it has always been what coach can get the most from the talent available.  Give most coaches the talent that Hope historically puts on the floor, and the expectation is that the team should do reasonably well.  Take the talent Hope has returning with a coach that REALLY knows how to build a team around his available talent, and I think Hope has every reason to believe they can expect a strong performance next year (by that I mean be in the top 2 or 3 in the MIAA).  Take the talent that Hope has returning, and give it to an average or mediocre coach that doesn't use his teams strenghts to advantage, and it won't turn out as well.  First Hope's next coach has to be able to win with what he has, and than he can get the type guys he wants.  Persoanlly I would love to see Hope hire a guy that needs some otjt, but if it were my decision to make I want a guy that has a proven track record.
Hope's next coach has 11 non-conference games to sort it all out, and get his guys ready for the MIAA. Tough job maybe, impossible no.

[wiz]

Interesting that in the history of Hope basketball,  Matt Neil is one of six coaches that didn't make it more than 5 years.  Four coaches lasted longer than that.  But, of all of them, MN had the highest winning percentage.
http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mbkb/history/all-time_coaches