MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Its interesting to note, mostly because this probably goes against peoples perceptions including my own.  Alex is shooting the exact same % of Hope's 3-point attempts as last year.  27%

As a team Hope has become a more perimeter oriented team, which also goes against what you might think.  Last year it was very common to hear people who won't be named yelling such outrageous things as "get the ball inside", "give it to him", "the the damn ball inside" and such.

3FGA to FGA
This year 35%
Last year 27%

Part of this is Hope is in fact getting the ball inside more and attracting fouls that result in no shot attempt, but overall Hope is only 18 3-point attempts off last years totals 5 games short of last years total games played.  Their attempts per game has gone up from 15.9 to 18.6

Hope's FT to FGA ratio
Last year 40%
This year 45%

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Seems like Hope fans are concerned about defense and lack of tendency to go inside. To me, this simply points back to the fact that their starting 1-3 on the court averages 5'11". Obviously this causes some matchup and defensive problems for them, but also allows other teams' larger guards to run their offense and score much more. I still can't understand why it is so important for Carlson to play so much (at 5'7" seems to be a defensive liability and he is at or near dead last on the entire roster in points and rebounds per 40 min)--he also pushes both Eidson and Gardner out of their natural spots on the floor, in effect downgrading three positions. In the recent Alma loss, Hope couldn't stop Nikodemski and Carlson played a team leading 38 minutes. Let's look at the evidence from the two Rivalry games, since Calvin averages 3 inches taller at those three positions and those games can provide direct evidence of the phenomenon I'm talking about:

Calvin's starting 1-3 (Parks/Brink/Daley): 50.5 ppg (32% higher than season average of 38.1 ppg)
Hope's starting 1-3 (Carlson/Gardner/Eidson): 20.5 ppg (29% lower season average of 28.8 ppg)

Last year Gardner/Eidson started at 1-2 on the floor, this year they are pushed to the 2-3 roles. Their scoring has dropped approximately 20%. I'd be interested to hear from any Hope fans that think that Hope is really stronger with Carlson-Gardner-Eidson than Gardner-Eidson (or Otto)-Stuive.

[HOPEful]

I'd be interested to hear from any Hope fans that think that Hope is really stronger with Carlson-Gardner-Eidson than Gardner-Eidson (or Otto)-Stuive.

No. And Stuive's 14.7 min/game confuses me, especially since, as you pointed out, Hope is so small and Stuive, listed at 6'7", especially towards the end of last season was stretching defenses by using his length...

[Hopester]

Seems like Hope fans are concerned about defense and lack of tendency to go inside.

That would be because both things are atrocities at this point. Haha. Hats off to Alma, but no way this team should lose to them. Or have four conference losses. Or not have a chance at a Pool C Bid. They are just too talented.

I agree with your assessment for the most part. While Carlson is probably the best shooter on the team, his inability to be anything other than a spot up shooter offensively and a liability defensively really restrict this team's potential. I would be happy with him having a backup point role, especially when some shooting is needed, but his skill set (which he does have some good skills), just do not overcome his physical deficiencies.

If Brock or Harrison do not touch the ball in the post it is a wasted possession in my opinion. They are too good to not utilize to dominate a game. Guards playing off the postups will get better looks from deep and better cutting angles for those two to feed them. Its just inexcusable at times to not use them. (I say that Brock isnt getting enough touches after a 26 point game. With the advantage he had against Alma, he could have gone for 40.)

This team has two weeks though to figure it out before the most important game of the season. I think they have the ability to win the conference tourney. They just need to stay disciplined.

[wiz]

Lots of stats and theories here about Hope.  Whatever they're doing, I hope they keep it up!

[sac]

Seems like Hope fans are concerned about defense and lack of tendency to go inside. To me, this simply points back to the fact that their starting 1-3 on the court averages 5'11". Obviously this causes some matchup and defensive problems for them, but also allows other teams' larger guards to run their offense and score much more. I still can't understand why it is so important for Carlson to play so much (at 5'7" seems to be a defensive liability and he is at or near dead last on the entire roster in points and rebounds per 40 min)--he also pushes both Eidson and Gardner out of their natural spots on the floor, in effect downgrading three positions. In the recent Alma loss, Hope couldn't stop Nikodemski and Carlson played a team leading 38 minutes. Let's look at the evidence from the two Rivalry games, since Calvin averages 3 inches taller at those three positions and those games can provide direct evidence of the phenomenon I'm talking about:

Carlson was not guarding Nikodemski that often to my recollection(I might have that wrong), Carlson most often had Jason Beckman, the kid made some tough shots.


Carlson played 38 minutes because his sub, Dante Hawkins, came into the game and did this.....

12:07              SUB IN : Dante Hawkins
11:26              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:44              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:15              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:03              SUB IN : Chad Carlson

... all 3 of those were brutal.

Chad plays because he has an assist to turnover rate of 3 to 1 along with shooting 42% from 3, and 85% from the FT line.  The other two point guard candidates mentioned here both have negative turnover margins and one of them isn't really playing pg.

[pointlem]

Carlson played 38 minutes because his sub, Dante Hawkins, came into the game and did this.....
12:07              SUB IN : Dante Hawkins
11:26              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:44              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:15              TURNOVR by Dante Hawkins
10:03              SUB IN : Chad Carlson

Ouch . . . that was Dante's low-moment of the season (his high moment being his 21 point game back in December).  He does seem to have excellent speed and ability to penetrate to the basket, and his quickness and leaping ability give him a rebounding advantage, not to mention quick hands on defense that have caused turnovers . . . so I expect to see big contributions and exciting play from him in the future.

[HopeConvert]

I'll preface this with my normal caveat: the coaches see a lot more of these players than I do, and know more about basketball than I do. Having said that, it looks to me as if the Carlson-Gardner-Eidson lineup just isn't working on either end of the floor. You can't compete unless your point guard can take his guy off the dribble, and while Carlson may have a 3-1 A/T ratio, opposing teams also know he's not going to take the ball past the FT line. His ratio is high in part because he doesn't do anything interesting with the ball. I still prefer Gardner at the point, on both ends of the floor. 2 guards in this league are just too big for him.

And I'm one of those guy sSAC mentioned who spent all last year (well, the last four years) yelling at them to get the ball inside. Hope's best offensive weapons are Blackledge and Benson - they absolutely have to touch the ball each time down.

In the world of contemporary basketball you have to have a point guard who can take his man off the dribble and begin breaking down the defense. I haven't seen that from Carlson, because he absolutely will not go into the lane (I think it was against Trine that he found himself unexpectedly unguarded under the basket and still wouldn't take the shot).

I'd like to see what a starting line-up of Gardner-Eidson-Stuive-Benson-Blackledge could do (or, for that matter, Otto instead of either Eidson or Stuive ... I mean, you can't have your shooting guard shooting 27% from 3). If they go Carlson-Eidson-Gardner against Calvin again, it's going to be the same result: Brink for 25 and Daley for 20.

[wiz]

If they go Carlson-Eidson-Gardner against Calvin again, it's going to be the same result: Brink for 25 and Daley for 20.

By the time Hope plays Calvin again, Daley might score 20 but Brink will have graduated.

[KnightSlappy]

Hope has one of the better offenses in Division III. They've recorded a 115.6 Offensive Efficiency Rating this season which would be the highest mark of any MIAA team going back through 2002 (I think, I don't have all the numbers entered for the last two years, but Calvin was close last year at 115.2). Those numbers aren't schedule adjusted, but Hope's played a tough schedule so, if anything, mentally adjust that number up. In MIAA play, that OEff has been even better at 117.7.

That's an offense that will be right up there with the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four teams.

Hope's issue is defense. Particularly that they don't seem to be playing it. For the MIAA season their defensive efficiency rating is 104.7, third worst in the league, and not anywhere near what an NCAA Tournament team should be.

[sac]

I'll preface this with my normal caveat: the coaches see a lot more of these players than I do, and know more about basketball than I do. Having said that, it looks to me as if the Carlson-Gardner-Eidson lineup just isn't working on either end of the floor. You can't compete unless your point guard can take his guy off the dribble, and while Carlson may have a 3-1 A/T ratio, opposing teams also know he's not going to take the ball past the FT line. His ratio is high in part because he doesn't do anything interesting with the ball. I still prefer Gardner at the point, on both ends of the floor. 2 guards in this league are just too big for him.

And I'm one of those guy sSAC mentioned who spent all last year (well, the last four years) yelling at them to get the ball inside. Hope's best offensive weapons are Blackledge and Benson - they absolutely have to touch the ball each time down.

In the world of contemporary basketball you have to have a point guard who can take his man off the dribble and begin breaking down the defense. I haven't seen that from Carlson, because he absolutely will not go into the lane (I think it was against Trine that he found himself unexpectedly unguarded under the basket and still wouldn't take the shot).

I'd like to see what a starting line-up of Gardner-Eidson-Stuive-Benson-Blackledge could do (or, for that matter, Otto instead of either Eidson or Stuive ... I mean, you can't have your shooting guard shooting 27% from 3). If they go Carlson-Eidson-Gardner against Calvin again, it's going to be the same result: Brink for 25 and Daley for 20.

Eidson is shooting 35% from 3.  He's taken 27% of the teams attempts, same as last year.


It's not offense anyway it's all team defense.  I know I follow efficiency more than others but Hope is on pace to have its best offense and worst defense of the last 25 years.

[sac]

Hope has one of the better offenses in Division III. They've recorded a 115.6 Offensive Efficiency Rating this season which would be the highest mark of any MIAA team going back through 2002 (I think, I don't have all the numbers entered for the last two years, but Calvin was close last year at 115.2). Those numbers aren't schedule adjusted, but Hope's played a tough schedule so, if anything, mentally adjust that number up. In MIAA play, that OEff has been even better at 117.7.

That's an offense that will be right up there with the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four teams.

Hope's issue is defense. Particularly that they don't seem to be playing it. For the MIAA season their defensive efficiency rating is 104.7, third worst in the league, and not anywhere near what an NCAA Tournament team should be.

yes, this

[northb]

OT: The oft-mentioned Calvin Master Plan is up for review.

http://calvinmasterplan.mindmixer.com/

[Hopester]

I'll preface this with my normal caveat: the coaches see a lot more of these players than I do, and know more about basketball than I do. Having said that, it looks to me as if the Carlson-Gardner-Eidson lineup just isn't working on either end of the floor. You can't compete unless your point guard can take his guy off the dribble, and while Carlson may have a 3-1 A/T ratio, opposing teams also know he's not going to take the ball past the FT line. His ratio is high in part because he doesn't do anything interesting with the ball. I still prefer Gardner at the point, on both ends of the floor. 2 guards in this league are just too big for him.

And I'm one of those guy sSAC mentioned who spent all last year (well, the last four years) yelling at them to get the ball inside. Hope's best offensive weapons are Blackledge and Benson - they absolutely have to touch the ball each time down.

In the world of contemporary basketball you have to have a point guard who can take his man off the dribble and begin breaking down the defense. I haven't seen that from Carlson, because he absolutely will not go into the lane (I think it was against Trine that he found himself unexpectedly unguarded under the basket and still wouldn't take the shot).

I'd like to see what a starting line-up of Gardner-Eidson-Stuive-Benson-Blackledge could do (or, for that matter, Otto instead of either Eidson or Stuive ... I mean, you can't have your shooting guard shooting 27% from 3). If they go Carlson-Eidson-Gardner against Calvin again, it's going to be the same result: Brink for 25 and Daley for 20.

Eidson is shooting 35% from 3.  He's taken 27% of the teams attempts, same as last year.


It's not offense anyway it's all team defense.  I know I follow efficiency more than others but Hope is on pace to have its best offense and worst defense of the last 25 years.

Yes, the defense is by far the more glaring issue. (Which is an area that an upgrade at PG would be most beneficial). No excuse for how terrible it is, especially with a solid rim protector.

What I would like to see is an offensive efficiency breakdown detailing when they begin play sets out of the post and when they begin play sets out of dribble drive/ motion. I would be willing to bet the post up situations are far higher than there current ORTG and the guard oriented offensive sets are far less. The post up sets are getting Ben great driving lanes, Carlson and Eidson open jumpers on collapsing defenses, and most importantly close range attempts for the two best players on the team. These two guys are going to be in foul trouble most of the game anyway... Use while they are in. 

Right now, it may be a record high ORTG for the Dutchmen, but it is not high enough at the moment to overcome what they lack at the defensive end.

[wwjjdd]

Although I’m not the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to basketball terminology, I also am not a rank novice.  That being the case, could I ask posters to expand an acronym that may not necessarily be commonly known to the average fan the first time it is used in a comment?.  I was stumped at ORTG until I googled it and found that ORTG (or ORtg) was offensive rating and DRTG (or Drtg) was defensive rating.  Perhaps the fact that I wouldn’t cross a room to turn on the TV to watch an NBA (National Basketball Association) game accounts for my ignorance.  Oh, there is no need to expand MIAA or NCAA.  I have a handle on those two.