MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HollandKnight]

Didn't get to watch on DVR til late last night and didn't know the result going in.  Some thoughts/reactions:

1) Jordan Brink:  WOW!  Especially because I thought that Hope defended him pretty well--he hit some tough shots.
2) Harrison Blackledge:  Very Impressive!
3) Parks, Stout, and Huizenga:  Don't overlook their contributions--really solid.
4) Why doesn't Sam Otto play 25 minutes a game?  Every time I've seen this kid play I've been impressed with his stroke and floor game.  Went to look at the season stats and he shoots it at a high percentage and doesn't seem to force shots.  I'd have a hard time not playing this kid--a lot.
5) Mitchell's half time comments coming out of the half time locker room were telling.  Pretty clear he didn't think his guys had stuck to the game plan of pushing tempo (saw him in the background windmilling his arm more than once cajoling them to push it), attacking and looking inside (even if to go inside then out), and felt they "settled" far too often. I'll attribute some of Hope's difficulties to Calvin's defense, but also to the fact that Mitchell is still sorting out the pieces and figuring out how to put them all together.  What goes along with this dynamic is guys trying to prove they should be one of the pieces, which can lead to some of what it seemed like we saw--some forced shots and not sticking to the game plan.  I have little doubt that Hope/Mitchell will get this figured out...
6) Had to smile when Tom Cleary noted he was going to send it down to Ryan Terpstra for the halftime interview with Tim VanDyke--and then was surprised to see that KVS was joining Terp!  I noted on here last year that for a variety of reasons I thought KVS should be doing this, and I was glad to see him do it.

Thanks to KV for not adding number 7) "Who was the doofus in the third row who mangled the catch of that first half blocked shot?" I was texting during the game when a Calvin defender--I think Tyler Dykstra--swatted the ball into the endzone seats. If I hadn't looked up the ball would have hit me in the face but I reached up with both hands. Quite honestly it was an easy grab (I have visions of taking game ball home). Unfortunately, my cell phone was still in my left hand and I couldn't close my fingers around the ball, causing the sphereoid to drop directly on top of the head of the lady seated right in front of me. My first fear was not for her wellbeing but for a slew of texts from "friends." Apparently it didn't make instant replay because no one bothered to let me know I seemed destined for Sportscenter. A clear example of why one should never text and spectate at the same time.

An enterprising weblogger took it upon himself to investigate the existence of a replay.

I think for the best of the community to spread this video to everyone is for someone to place this as there bottomline. I might consider it.

[oldknight]

Didn't get to watch on DVR til late last night and didn't know the result going in.  Some thoughts/reactions:

1) Jordan Brink:  WOW!  Especially because I thought that Hope defended him pretty well--he hit some tough shots.
2) Harrison Blackledge:  Very Impressive!
3) Parks, Stout, and Huizenga:  Don't overlook their contributions--really solid.
4) Why doesn't Sam Otto play 25 minutes a game?  Every time I've seen this kid play I've been impressed with his stroke and floor game.  Went to look at the season stats and he shoots it at a high percentage and doesn't seem to force shots.  I'd have a hard time not playing this kid--a lot.
5) Mitchell's half time comments coming out of the half time locker room were telling.  Pretty clear he didn't think his guys had stuck to the game plan of pushing tempo (saw him in the background windmilling his arm more than once cajoling them to push it), attacking and looking inside (even if to go inside then out), and felt they "settled" far too often. I'll attribute some of Hope's difficulties to Calvin's defense, but also to the fact that Mitchell is still sorting out the pieces and figuring out how to put them all together.  What goes along with this dynamic is guys trying to prove they should be one of the pieces, which can lead to some of what it seemed like we saw--some forced shots and not sticking to the game plan.  I have little doubt that Hope/Mitchell will get this figured out...
6) Had to smile when Tom Cleary noted he was going to send it down to Ryan Terpstra for the halftime interview with Tim VanDyke--and then was surprised to see that KVS was joining Terp!  I noted on here last year that for a variety of reasons I thought KVS should be doing this, and I was glad to see him do it.

Thanks to KV for not adding number 7) "Who was the doofus in the third row who mangled the catch of that first half blocked shot?" I was texting during the game when a Calvin defender--I think Tyler Dykstra--swatted the ball into the endzone seats. If I hadn't looked up the ball would have hit me in the face but I reached up with both hands. Quite honestly it was an easy grab (I have visions of taking game ball home). Unfortunately, my cell phone was still in my left hand and I couldn't close my fingers around the ball, causing the sphereoid to drop directly on top of the head of the lady seated right in front of me. My first fear was not for her wellbeing but for a slew of texts from "friends." Apparently it didn't make instant replay because no one bothered to let me know I seemed destined for Sportscenter. A clear example of why one should never text and spectate at the same time.

An enterprising weblogger took it upon himself to investigate the existence of a replay.

The only reason your negative karma rating isn't immediately going to four digits is because I can smite you just once every 24 hours.

[KnightSlappy]

An enterprising weblogger took it upon himself to investigate the existence of a replay.

The only reason your negative karma rating isn't immediately going to four digits is because I can smite you just once every 24 hours.

From the replay it almost looks like the villainous fan next to you knocked it out of your hands.

[northb]

Good thing we didn't text you from the site of our post-game Saturnalia. I'd be up for watching that one again -- and maybe even a third time. The Knights specialized in a groovy kind of brinkmanship yesterday.

Yes, Stout was pretty solid against Hope and Benson, and knocked down his mid-range jumpers, but I can't help but wonder when VanderBrug will be getting more minutes, if not the starting role. On the other hand, I really like seeing VanderBrug and Denney as a tandem on the floor. As someone (likely the technologically advanced and butterfingered OK) noted, when those two get more comfy with each other, it will make for some very uncomfortable moments for Calvin's foes.

I forget which announcer, but his comment was that "Calvin just backed up the Brinks' truck."

[oldknight]

An enterprising weblogger took it upon himself to investigate the existence of a replay.

The only reason your negative karma rating isn't immediately going to four digits is because I can smite you just once every 24 hours.

From the replay it almost looks like the villainous fan next to you knocked it out of your hands.

If only I could pawn this embarrassment off on someone else.

[sac]

2nd watch of the game

--Hope really got away from whats made them successful this year.  Lots of standing still and holding the ball and that hasn't really been Hope this year at least not in the games I've watched.  Below average ball movement a lot of the game.  Their most aggressive moments came in the early 2nd half when they attacked the basket, erased a 9 point deficit.  Then it was back to perimeter stuff.  Boxscore says 18 points in the paint, but I think barely 10 of those actually came off plays and not rebounds.  Calvin clogs the paint, but Hope didn't seem to be looking for the dish off in the lane, in fact they committed about 4 or 5 turnovers in those very situations.  Even when the guards did get to the rim they didn't finish.

--Exciting to see Harrison Blackledge play so well, as a Sophomore played an outstanding game in the rivalry.  I haven't seen much of 'H' from the perimeter this year but he was great yesterday.  Hopefully that's a part of his game he continues to develop and grow confidence in.

--Eidson's not letting the game come to him and forced almost every shot he took, either a genuine force or taking a very deep when a better shot could come.  I'd almost consider playing Otto over him right now, just to take some pressure off him for a few games until he finds that stroke again.

--After watching again, I can't be too critical with Hope for taking so many first half three's those were open, some wide open.  I'd say maybe half weren't really contested, another 4 or 5 with a closeout and 3 or 4 forced.  Just didn't hit them.  They settled for too many mid-range shots, and didn't look inside enough.  Brock Benson's first FG attempt came on the final play of the half.

--Hope's turnovers are becoming more and more careless.

--The 8 point run by Calvin to lead 56-48, that  took the wind out of Hope's sails and they played very poorly at both ends from that point on.  Calvin put the offense in maximum execution mode and hope folded.  Very disappointing.

--Kickstarter for new announcers?  The rivalry deserves better than 40 minutes of official's calls being evaluated.

[sac]

I was excited to see one of the Big Ten announcers do the +/- thing for the Big Ten yesterday.


Calvin   2-0    +1
Adrian   2-0   +1
Albion   1-1    0
Alma     1-1    0
Kzoo     1-1    0
Trine     1-1    0
Olivet    0-2    -1
Hope     0-2    -1

Hope is effectively 3 games back in the standings, very damaging loss yesterday and will be difficult to make up.

Wed.
Adrian @ Calvin
Albion @ Hope
Olivet @ Alma
Trine @ Kzoo

Adrian has had a bunch of really poor results, particularly those against the bottom WHAC teams but they've played North Central and Elmhurst pretty tough.  They seem capable of playing good defense sometimes, but not all the time.  Odd team.


edit, thanks to Kzoo99 for pointing out the location of T/K

[ziggy]

2nd watch of the game

--Hope really got away from whats made them successful this year.  Lots of standing still and holding the ball and that hasn't really been Hope this year at least not in the games I've watched.  Below average ball movement a lot of the game.  Their most aggressive moments came in the early 2nd half when they attacked the basket, erased a 9 point deficit.  Then it was back to perimeter stuff.  Boxscore says 18 points in the paint, but I think barely 10 of those actually came off plays and not rebounds.  Calvin clogs the paint, but Hope didn't seem to be looking for the dish off in the lane, in fact they committed about 4 or 5 turnovers in those very situations.  Even when the guards did get to the rim they didn't finish.

--Exciting to see Harrison Blackledge play so well, as a Sophomore played an outstanding game in the rivalry.  I haven't seen much of 'H' from the perimeter this year but he was great yesterday.  Hopefully that's a part of his game he continues to develop and grow confidence in.

--Eidson's not letting the game come to him and forced almost every shot he took, either a genuine force or taking a very deep when a better shot could come.  I'd almost consider playing Otto over him right now, just to take some pressure off him for a few games until he finds that stroke again.

--After watching again, I can't be too critical with Hope for taking so many first half three's those were open, some wide open.  I'd say maybe half weren't really contested, another 4 or 5 with a closeout and 3 or 4 forced.  Just didn't hit them.  They settled for too many mid-range shots, and didn't look inside enough.  Brock Benson's first FG attempt came on the final play of the half.

--Hope's turnovers are becoming more and more careless.

--The 8 point run by Calvin to lead 56-48, that  took the wind out of Hope's sails and they played very poorly at both ends from that point on.  Calvin put the offense in maximum execution mode and hope folded.  Very disappointing.

--Kickstarter for new announcers?  The rivalry deserves better than 40 minutes of official's calls being evaluated.

The thing that gets me about the officiating commentary is that 95% of the time it comes as the next sentence following the play-by-play of the action. Replays are for chumps, apparently.

[sac]

Conference play is just tougher, score from this afternoon that just makes you shake your head.

Pitt-Greensburg 80  PSU-Behrend 67,  that's pretty much the same PSUB team that Hope played last spring.

[calvinite]

Wed.
Adrian @ Calvin
Albion @ Hope
Olivet @ Alma
Trine @ Kzoo

edit, thanks to Kzoo99 for pointing out the location of T/K

And, I think, Calvin is at Adrian, not at home.

[sac]

Wed.
Adrian @ Calvin
Albion @ Hope
Olivet @ Alma
Trine @ Kzoo

edit, thanks to Kzoo99 for pointing out the location of T/K

And, I think, Calvin is at Adrian, not at home.

also correct.  I pulled all the sites from the MIAA's master schedule which is apparently incorrect.

[sac]

Olivet added Jake Zielinski to its roster bringing the total number of former Laingsburg Wolfpack players coached by Hope's Greg Mitchell to 3.

[kzoo99]

Olivet added Jake Zielinski to its roster bringing the total number of former Laingsburg Wolfpack players coached by Hope's Greg Mitchell to 3.

If it wasn't for Zielinski, Kalamazoo would have beat Olivet by 30.  He shot well from behind the arc, often on the move.  26 points and 11 rebounds for the game.  19 of the points were in the first half and Kalamazoo finally gave him more defensive attention in the 3rd quarter./size]

[realist]

Mr. Brink is player of the week. 
"Brink, a senior from Dyer, Ind. (Illiana Christian HS), averaged 24.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as the Knights opened MIAA play with a pair of victories. He had 20 points and seven rebounds in a 93-87 victory over Alma, then matched his career-best scoring performance with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 88-64 road win over Hope."

[HOPEful]

Mr. Brink is player of the week. 
"Brink, a senior from Dyer, Ind. (Illiana Christian HS), averaged 24.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as the Knights opened MIAA play with a pair of victories. He had 20 points and seven rebounds in a 93-87 victory over Alma, then matched his career-best scoring performance with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 88-64 road win over Hope."

And 29 pts, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists doesn't even begin to tell the whole story. The game was tied 48-48 and Hope was building momentum when Mr. Brink came back into the game. Jordan then scored 12 of Calvin's next 15 points and suddenly the game was 63-50.

Boy am I glad there's no chance of a 6th year of eligibility!