MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[MaroonKnighty]

Hope should feel good about how they played and competed but dissatisfied with the outcome.

Thanks for explaining what winning the game but not the score means.

[sac]

Hope should feel good about how they played and competed but dissatisfied with the outcome.

Thanks for explaining what winning the game but not the score means.

Thanks for contributing nothing.

[KnightSlappy]

Can I say it three games in a row?

[realist]

Can I say it three games in a row?

Okay go ahead.  As long as you don't denigrate KVS.

[arena]

Well, I guess something can be learned from today's Calvin game.

[wiz]

Hope should feel good about how they played and competed but dissatisfied with the outcome.

Thanks for explaining what winning the game but not the score means.

GVW lives on.  Thanks for contributing.

[sac]

Two great programs meeting in Holland tonight, once again embarrassed to say no video link.

I watched Maine Maritme play Maine-Presque Isle, they can figure it out.  Pathetic.

[sac]

UWSP 77  Hope  66

In my mind I imagine Hope struggled early while UWSP played very well.  It was a hole Hope could never get out of and a good team held them at bay before laying the hammer in the middle of the second half.  Hope's lesson tonight is they can't afford to play in foul trouble.  Hard lessons are hard.

[oldknight]

Can I say it three games in a row?

Just keep chanting to yourself: "Random variation, random variation, random variation." 

In Hope's loss to Stevens Point tonight, the two teams combined three point shooting for the game was 7-25. This afternoon I saw Ohio Wesleyan go 10-23--in the first half--on their way to 17-36 from beyond the arc to fuel a convincing 85-71 win over the Knights. Got to give lots of respect to Mike DeWitt's Battling Bishops who controlled the tempo most of the game. The few times Calvin did threaten to make a game of it. OWU got a timely three ball or two to re-establish control. If Matt Jeske hadn't gone 0-7 from the arc (now that's the kind of random variation I'm looking for from a Calvin opponent) the OWU stat line would have been more imposing. OWU has a very nice team, not particularly big but they play big, are very quick, and defend like crazy. Coach DeWitt has a wonderful 5'7" freshman point guard, Nate Axelrod, who plays like a veteran and will make the well-respected DeWitt an even better coach the next four years.

Truthfully, other than Jordan Brink, no one on Calvin's squad distinguished themselves today, with the Knights digging a deep first half hole giving up 51 first half points. Some of those points was OWU's three point shooting and some was the continuing turnover issues that made it difficult to sustain a Calvin offense. The Knights committed a miserable 10 first half miscues, but stemmed the tide in the second frame by committing only five. Brink finished with 22 more points and 11 boards and had Calvin fans thinking of a comeback with about 7 left when the senior caught an elbow above the eye and had to depart. After returning Jordon wasn't the same and I expect he needed several stitches tonight to close the laceration.

[pointlem]

Can I say it three games in a row?

OWU has a very nice team, not particularly big but they play big, are very quick, and defend like crazy.

A perfect description of UW Stevens Point tonight.  People have been saying that Hope lacks height this year, with starting post players only 6'8" and 6' 6" (after the graduation of 6' 10" NVA).  UWSP showed what a very quick team that defends like crazy could do with its tallest starter at 6'4"

[Greek Tragedy]

Only 6'8"? 

Yeah, I thought it was funny listing 6'4" Alex Richard as Point's starting center. Hope did out-rebound Point by 10, yet only shot 4 more times.  I guess it doesn't help coughing the ball up 9 more times than the visitors.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Frustrating first week for the Dutchmen - both games could have been won by Hope - although that may be a bit of a stretch for UWSP. But there is certainly Hope for this team. Considering who they played, and the players adapting to a new coach and new system, they are going to be fine. Lots of guys who are stepping up their individual games led by Blackledge. It's really all about this team becoming a team and gelling.

[HopeConvert]

Unlike the UWW game, Hope was never in the game against UWSP, and the final score makes the game seem closer than it was. I suppose things might have been a little different if Gardner had not picked up that T barking at the ref, but I can't see any way Hope was going to win the game. The Pointers were faster and stronger than Hope. I was impressed by Stevens Point: that is one well-coached team. They had great spacing and movement on offense, leading to lots of easy looks around the rim (whereas every one Hope took inside was hotly contested), while their defense completely frustrated the Dutchmen. SP does a fine job flashing the passing lanes, and Hope accommodated by throwing the ball into their path. The box score said 15 turnovers, but I find that hard to believe. I counted a dozen in the first half alone, and the second half didn't go much better. Hope looked out of sorts all night, and that's all Stevens Point.

But I'll say this: the boys in orange and blue never gave up. I thought they maintained their grit throughout, even though they were clearly frustrated and outclassed.

It seems like we've been here before, but Hope's man in the center has to stay out of foul trouble.

[Hopester]

Hope Volleyball wins the National Championship!!!

I am excited to see them honored on January 10...

[thealmascots]

I had an interesting question posed to me yesterday.  Which fan base should be more encouraged by the start to their season...Calvin or Hope? 
Hope played two traditional powers in D3 at DeVos Fieldhouse.  One game was surprisingly close, maybe should have been a Hope win.  The other, not so much.  They sit 0-2, with a brand new coach and the knowledge that they can compete with anyone.

Calvin played two cupcakes and one quality opponent and they are 2-1.  All games were at Van Noord Arena.  The two wins were much closer than they should have been and they were really never in the game they lost.  They have given up an average of 15 three point baskets per game at a percentage of .489.

From my perspective, I'm sure Hope and Coach Mitchell are not into moral victories, but they are sitting in a better spot when it comes to being prepared for the conference season and potentially, the post season.