MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[northb]

Yes.  Kalamazoo played a very smart game, and their bigs are going to be even tougher once they get more game experience.
Calvin was terrible at the f.t line 15 of 32.  Evem Jordan Brink missed a couple today.  Make the f.t.'s and the game isn't quite as exciting.
FYI the Calvin women hang on to beat Hope 76-74.

K zoo's best shooter was 6 for 22.  Kzoo has another big freshman who was hurt. The bigs are starting to play better.  I think their defensive intensity caught Calvin off guard

There isn't to much doubt that Kzoo really dictated much of this game.  Calvin just never seemed to get into any sort of flow.

Well Hope wins, as do Adrian and Trine so things stay tight for now.

KVS was more animated on the sidelines than I have seen him in a long time.  At one point he spun around and slapped his chair so hard it nearly fell over.  Mrs. Northb thought she heard him break the 3rd commandment.

[iwumichigander]

As I recall, in today's game Calvin is up 2 with 20 seconds left. Kalamazoo has the ball with five fouls and uses most of the 20 seconds before missing the final shot - a 2 pt jumper.

Two questions: what are the reasons for Calvin not fouling other than the possibility of fouling on a shot that goes in? My inclination would be to foul even if Kazoo had 7 fouls because I wouldn't want to give up a three to lose the game.

2nd question: Kazoo, playing at Calvin and the underdog, goes for a 2 at the buzzer. Kazoo also had some foul issues which Calvin didn't: one player fouled out and another starter, Josh Miller, had 4, I think. With Calvin probably expecting the 3, it might make getting a good look unlikely, but doesn't it seem like this is one time you go for the win?

I can see pros and cons for any of these options, but I was surprised at what both teams decided to do at the end of the game.

Trying to understand the logic behind your questions with regard to how Calvin played Kalamazoo on the last possession. If Kalamazoo was in the bonus (they weren't) why would Calvin put the Hornets at the line with a chance to tie? There isn't a coach in America with half a brain who would do that. See my earlier post on how well Calvin was able to play that possession (without fouling) because they did have the luxury of a foul to give.

oldknight correct
.  The odds are against you in a bonus situation even with Kzoo's underwhelming FT% (54.5% today) versus 3pt (35.3%today) A put back off a missed FT either ties or wins the game, for example. 
The larger question might be with fouls to give, why not burn one.  An argument is the team / player with the ball knows you might and will try to jack one up when you to get a shooting foul.

[oldknight]

Yes.  Kalamazoo played a very smart game, and their bigs are going to be even tougher once they get more game experience.
Calvin was terrible at the f.t line 15 of 32.  Evem Jordan Brink missed a couple today.  Make the f.t.'s and the game isn't quite as exciting.
FYI the Calvin women hang on to beat Hope 76-74.

K zoo's best shooter was 6 for 22.  Kzoo has another big freshman who was hurt. The bigs are starting to play better.  I think their defensive intensity caught Calvin off guard

There isn't to much doubt that Kzoo really dictated much of this game.  Calvin just never seemed to get into any sort of flow.

Well Hope wins, as do Adrian and Trine so things stay tight for now.

KVS was more animated on the sidelines than I have seen him in a long time.  At one point he spun around and slapped his chair so hard it nearly fell over.  Mrs. Northb thought she heard him break the 3rd commandment.

Close, very close. Consensus was that it was somewhere between a third to one-half a violation of the third commandment--or second commandment to our Roman Catholic friends.

[oldknight]

As I recall, in today's game Calvin is up 2 with 20 seconds left. Kalamazoo has the ball with five fouls and uses most of the 20 seconds before missing the final shot - a 2 pt jumper.

Two questions: what are the reasons for Calvin not fouling other than the possibility of fouling on a shot that goes in? My inclination would be to foul even if Kazoo had 7 fouls because I wouldn't want to give up a three to lose the game.

2nd question: Kazoo, playing at Calvin and the underdog, goes for a 2 at the buzzer. Kazoo also had some foul issues which Calvin didn't: one player fouled out and another starter, Josh Miller, had 4, I think. With Calvin probably expecting the 3, it might make getting a good look unlikely, but doesn't it seem like this is one time you go for the win?

I can see pros and cons for any of these options, but I was surprised at what both teams decided to do at the end of the game.

Trying to understand the logic behind your questions with regard to how Calvin played Kalamazoo on the last possession. If Kalamazoo was in the bonus (they weren't) why would Calvin put the Hornets at the line with a chance to tie? There isn't a coach in America with half a brain who would do that. See my earlier post on how well Calvin was able to play that possession (without fouling) because they did have the luxury of a foul to give.

oldknight correct
.  The odds are against you in a bonus situation even with Kzoo's underwhelming FT% (54.5% today) versus 3pt (35.3%today) A put back off a missed FT either ties or wins the game, for example. 
The larger question might be with fouls to give, why not burn one.  An argument is the team / player with the ball knows you might and will try to jack one up when you to get a shooting foul.

I'm sure that was discussed in the huddle, i.e., don't worry about a common foul since they won't be shooting a free throw. That allowed Calvin to play intense defense without fear of a negative consequence, Kalamazoo never even came close to getting a good look at the basket and the Knights didn't have to "burn" the foul they had to give.

[kzoo99]

As I recall, in today's game Calvin is up 2 with 20 seconds left. Kalamazoo has the ball with five fouls and uses most of the 20 seconds before missing the final shot - a 2 pt jumper.

Two questions: what are the reasons for Calvin not fouling other than the possibility of fouling on a shot that goes in? My inclination would be to foul even if Kazoo had 7 fouls because I wouldn't want to give up a three to lose the game.

2nd question: Kazoo, playing at Calvin and the underdog, goes for a 2 at the buzzer. Kazoo also had some foul issues which Calvin didn't: one player fouled out and another starter, Josh Miller, had 4, I think. With Calvin probably expecting the 3, it might make getting a good look unlikely, but doesn't it seem like this is one time you go for the win?

I can see pros and cons for any of these options, but I was surprised at what both teams decided to do at the end of the game.

Trying to understand the logic behind your questions with regard to how Calvin played Kalamazoo on the last possession. If Kalamazoo was in the bonus (they weren't) why would Calvin put the Hornets at the line with a chance to tie? There isn't a coach in America with half a brain who would do that. See my earlier post on how well Calvin was able to play that possession (without fouling) because they did have the luxury of a foul to give.

oldknight correct
.  The odds are against you in a bonus situation even with Kzoo's underwhelming FT% (54.5% today) versus 3pt (35.3%today) A put back off a missed FT either ties or wins the game, for example. 
The larger question might be with fouls to give, why not burn one.  An argument is the team / player with the ball knows you might and will try to jack one up when you to get a shooting foul.

I'm sure that was discussed in the huddle, i.e., don't worry about a common foul since they won't be shooting a free throw. That allowed Calvin to play intense defense without fear of a negative consequence, Kalamazoo never even came close to getting a good look at the basket and the Knights didn't have to "burn" the foul they had to give.

I was right behind the kzoo bench during the last timeout.  The coach wanted a look inside to Josh Miller before any outside shot.  They suspected the three was going to be heavily guarded.  Not burning the foul they had to give did allow the tight defense and was the key to the last sequence.  On a separate note, Kzoo had a different rotation tonight.  Bringing Jason Hugan off the bench to spell Josh Miller was new.  This allowed Jake Whitney to spell Adam Peters at the 4 instead of the double duty he had done in prior games.  This meant kzoo had more size inside during the game and, I think, made the interior defense much better.

[pointlem]

From the Hope v. Olivet box score, I notice that

1) Brock Benson got the dreaded and apparently disqualifying two first half fouls and played but 3 minutes.  Fortunately Hope was playing a 2-12 team, so they were able to survive that.

2) Alex Eidson regained his shooting form (and probably feels grateful for his coach's continued confidence) and Harrison Blackledge continued his emergence as a key player.

3) Dante Hawkins had 12 minutes in what looks (from the score sheet) like a splendid first half, but didn't play in 2nd half.  Was he injured?

[HopeConvert]

The argument that gets made would be to let the clock run down to around 6 or 7 seconds and then give the foul. K-zoo would have to run a new inbounds play with less time to set something up, forcing a lower percentage shot. I've seen it done, and under certain circumstances think it's not a bad strategy. I don't know if I would have done it there, however. I would never intentionally put them on the line, that's for sure.

[sac]

From the Hope v. Olivet box score, I notice that

1) Brock Benson got the dreaded and apparently disqualifying two first half fouls and played but 3 minutes.  Fortunately Hope was playing a 2-12 team, so they were able to survive that.

2) Alex Eidson regained his shooting form (and probably feels grateful for his coach's continued confidence) and Harrison Blackledge continued his emergence as a key player.

3) Dante Hawkins had 12 minutes in what looks (from the score sheet) like a splendid first half, but didn't play in 2nd half.  Was he injured?

#1  ---Brock did really well staying out of foul trouble for the middle of the non-coference schedule, but we've reverted back to picking up a cheapie and a silly one that puts him on the bench.  Hope is a much, much better team when he's out there.

#2  ---Eidson was strong around the basket, he didn't really "shoot" the ball.  I think he only attempted 2 shots outside the lane.  What he did was play smart, and had a key defensive play late in the game drawing a charge.  Eidson was excellent Saturday.  As was Harrison Blackledge.

#3  ---Dante was good on offense, but I'm pretty certain it was his defense that put him on the 2nd half pine. 

[sac]

A few other thoughts from Olivet


---Olivet had its best offensive day of the year by a really long mile yesterday.  Getting Krum and Vondette back from injuries has helped, but Jake Zielinski just makes them all around better and more difficult to defend.  There isn't a spot on the floor Jake won't take a shot from, Sam Hargraves must love him.  Jake's an all-league type talent.

  With Union, Krum, Zielinski the Comets can really spread you out and you have to account for them.  Totally different team than earlier this year.  They still aren't very good on defense but it will interesting to see if they can pick someone off before the year is over.  My guess is they will.

---Olivet just couldn't defend Hope in the post, it was either layup or foul and it didn't matter who it was.  What I really liked from Hope was they were very selective about their 3-point shots.  They only attempted 12 but probably 10 of those were pretty wide-open, 1 forced to beat a shot clock and another that was very late in the shot clock.  Hope played smart on the perimeter, limited the mid-range shots, and really attacked the basket.

---Hope's defense wasn't great, but when Olivet subs 3 guys cold off the bench and they all sink 25 footers on their first attempt without even breaking a sweat its  just one of those things.  The Comets' 3-pt shooting kept it close, kept them in the game.  Prior to this week they had a 3-6 day against Wheaton, everything else was below 40%.  They shot 40% at Alma, and 41 yesterday and that included missing their last 7, they were over 50% all afternoon until late.

---Ben Gardner had a outstanding game.  He was asked to defend at least 3 different players, but the key one was late in the game asked to defend Zielinski in a close game.  Zielinski didn't get one attempt in the final 5 minutes, mostly because Ben was in his right hand pocket.

He also called his own number here:
01:14    TEAM offensive rebound    -    
01:10    GARDNER,BEN made 3-pt. jump shot    88-78

This was a baseline out-of-bounds with :04 on the shot clock.  Ben called this play and Mitchell agreed, then Ben executed it perfectly.  Really ended any Olivet hopes for a rally, which were very much still alive.  So cool to watch guys mature from Fr. to calling their own number later in their careers.

---   Chris Coles was in a tracksuit sitting in the bleachers for this one, apparently not feeling well enough to coach.

[sac]

+1 or road win, -1 for home loss
Calvin   4-0    +2
Adrian   3-1    +1
Trine     3-1    0
Alma     2-2    0
Hope     2-2    0
Albion   1-3    -1
Kzoo     1-3    -1
Olivet    0-4    -2


Albion is really in world of hurt for even making the tournament.  Five games remaining with Calvin(2), Trine(2) and Hope.   They probably have to win 2 of those and not lose to anyone else.    Plus return trips vs Alma, Adrian.  Teams that have already beaten them.

Next week:

Wednesday
Alma @ Hope  6pm
Adrian @ Kalmazoo  6pm
Olivet @ Albion  7:30pm
Calvin @ Trine  7:30pm

Saturday
Hope @ Kalamazoo  1pm
Alma @ Adrian  3pm
Albion @ Trine  3pm
Olivet @ Calvin  3pm


Big week for Alma and Trine.

[sac]

Albion plays @ Oakland Univ today. at 3pm

Its available on ESPN3 at 7pm
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/2276277/Mens-College-Basketball-Albion-vs-Oakland


This game probably sounded like a better idea last summer.

[sac]

Ben Gardner, Hope named POW

hard to believe its Ben's first, but so it is.  Very well deserved he was big on Wed and Sat.




Hope guard Ben Gardner, a junior from Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS), averaged 18.5 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists in leading the Flying Dutchmen to a pair of MIAA victories. He had 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in an 80-55 victory over Albion, and added 21 points in a 95-85 win at Olivet. Gardner, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time in his career, shot 56 percent from the field (13 of 23), 50 percent from 3-point range (2 of 4) and 90 percent from the line (9 of 10) for the week.

[HopeConvert]

Just a reminder to anyone interested that Hope's game starts tomorrow night at 6PM. I think the MIAA could use a lesson in the meaning of the word "equity."

[Gregory Sager]

It means something that has to do with these creatures, right?

[oldknight]

Just a reminder to anyone interested that Hope's game starts tomorrow night at 6PM. I think the MIAA could use a lesson in the meaning of the word "equity."

It means something that has to do with these creatures, right?

HC wrote equity, not equine.