MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Dutchfan]

For the last few years I have been paying close attention to the Calvin students. At first I thought I was being a typical biased Hope fan, but I have observed Calvin's students becoming more and more like the division 1 student sections. Two years ago at Calvin I saw a group of about 8-10 students flipping the bird at the Hope students and team. Last year at Hope I was sitting in the section next to the Calvin students and had to listen to multiple students shouting the F-word at the hope players every time they committed a foul (in the eyes of the fans). And for the last few years at Calvin the students, especially the young men standing near the scoreboard (why is it there?), have been almost out of control. These are the same young men who were taunting Sam Otto as he lay on the floor holding his leg. I was heartened to see however that about two-thirds of the Calvin students were uncomfortable with these same young men's taunting, but at the same time I was upset that no Calvin officials went over at any point to curtail them. I recall when hope had students in speedo's stand behind the basket during free throws a few years ago that the Hope officials were over there almost immediately to remove those students from the game? Where were the Calvin officials when the students were making choking gestures at Sam Otto while he is on the floor, or when the students were so rambunctious what they almost damages the portable scoreboard? I really hope I am just being a biased Hope fan, because I really do NOT want to see either team sully themselves with this kind of poor sportsmanship.

I would like to finish this little rant by saying good luck to Calvin in the Tourny. I will be rooting for you guys.

[Dutchfan]

To the Hope fans on here I would just like to say chill out, we'll get them next year.

Hope is losing one player to graduation for a total of 3.7 points per game. Calvin is losing 4 players and three starters to graduation for a total of 35.2 points per game.

[almcguirejr]

The rushing of the court has completely overshadowed the game.  I don't think we have to involve ESPN or get into any national discussion.  I would think if the President's,AD's and coaches of both schools got together, they could formulate a plan that would prevent this in the future.  The idea of announcement  just before the end of the game seems pretty common sense to me.

This was about as shocking of an ending as the Patriots and Seahawks Super Bowl game.  The realization of what seemed like a sure victory turned into a devastating and bitter defeat for Hope.  It's a tough pill to swallow when the season ends that abruptly.  I get that.  The tweets talking about "screw jobs" and hoping that Kevin Kooiker, Wallace Whitfield, and Chad Palmer are enjoying their trophy were b.s.  Calvin made some tremendous plays at the end of that game and won the game. It was not handed to them.

[wwjjdd]

Although not a prolific contributor, I have learned a lot by reading the thoughts of others.  The past 10 pages have taught me nothing except to distance myself from this board.  In dem Sinne.

[northb]

Put on your coaching hat.  Critique Mitchell's coaching during the game. Seems to me he lost focus, and that lack of focus showed in how well hope executed at the end of the game. Honestly, if KVS was in Mitchell's place. I'd be calling for his job.

We did to Hope what Alma did to us (and KVS) at Alma.

which was what?

Come from way down to steal the game in the waning seconds.  Nobody (other than realist) was ready to fire KVS

okay. How did that happen. Which coaching decisions helped that along?

Well, for one thing, don't let them roll the ball to the half-court line.  Do anything to stem the momentum. 

[goodknight]

In the D3Hoops.com mock selection, their experts have Calvin going east to open with 27-1 and #7 Albertus Magnus College of New Haven, Connecticut, in the St. John Fisher bracket in Rochester, New York. We'll find out whether that prediction comes to pass during the real selection show today. Seems somehow appropriate to move on from Saturday's game with Albertus Van Raalte's college to a test with Albertus Magnus.

[almcguirejr]

Mlive article:
http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2015/03/hope_basketball_player_trapped.html

Congrats to the Calvin and Hope officials for speaking rationally and sensibly.

[KnightSlappy]

I'll say this about the Calvin student section:

I'm disappointed that they can't get active participation for any game other than Hope. I think this lack of experience leads to a few knuckleheads getting wrapped up in the emotion of the moment when it comes to yelling things. It's not in good taste to chant at a player who's down, for example, even if it's just a cramp.

The rushing the court matter is potentially dangerous, and it's a practice that I wouldn't mind seeing ended, but let's be careful not conflate any perceived poor-taste chants with rushing the court. Potentially dangerous and dumb, but students weren't out looking to run over or fight any Hope players. Players on both teams worked relatively quickly to push back students and help their teammates up.

Potty-words are uttered by students on both sides of the court during the game. I sat near enough the Dew Crew at the earlier meeting at Van Noord to know that (and may have accidentally uttered one a decade ago as a student at Calvin). It's what happens with college students, if you can believe that. What I mean is that, if someone could examine or measure this, the relative "classiness" of Calvin and Hope students would be indistinguishable. We know enough about the common backgrounds of Hope and Calvin students (and the shared institutional values) to know that any such distinction would be absurd.

About the basketball: I'd be mad at the officiating if I were a Hope fan. I think non-calls went against Calvin in the first half, but Hope could have drawn at least two or three more whistles in the second half (check out Michael Welch's "block out" of Harrison Blackledge on Brock Benson's missed free throw). Most of the questionable officiating was in what they didn't call rather than what they did. But that happens, and we've all felt we've been on the wrong side of the calls in big games like this. We always wish officiating wasn't part of the story but that's unavoidable.

Sam Otto was teriffic. Never give that guy an inch again.

Dan Stout was a shot of life for Calvin. Big-time playes to step up and knock down some shots. He's better offensively that I give him credit, especially when he surprised the defense by going strong to the hole.

I'm not sure how Jordan Brink was able to compose himself after nearly tossing the ball in the seats on the last possession. I was rattled just watching, but he took the ball back and calmly knocked down the game winner.

[calvin_grad]

Mlive article:
http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2015/03/hope_basketball_player_trapped.html

Congrats to the Calvin and Hope officials for speaking rationally and sensibly.

Yes, and you knew they would (unlike some comments on this board in the last 36 hours). 

Emotions in these games understandably run high and we're talking about 18-21 year olds.  I can't blame Ben for being just devastated on how that game ended and laying on the court for a few extra seconds.  Nor can I blame the Calvin students for wanting to celebrate out on the court.  The combination of the 2 almost led to what could have been a very unfortunate incident.

Now it's up to administrators, ADs, coaches, and fans to figure out the best way to handle this going forward.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Fun facts to kill time between Tramplegate and the Selection Show:

With the exception of the '90-'93 era, Calvin has now reached the 21-win plateau in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.

Calvin has won three consecutive MIAA tournament championships for the first time since the initial three years that the tourney was held ('92-'94).

Jordan Brink just passed Tom Snikkers for 8th on the all-time Calvin scoring list. He has done that while taking 207 fewer shots than Snikkers over his career. Jordan needs 26 more points to be the 8th player and 3rd guard to join Calvin's 1,500 point club.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin at the Mount Union pod to play a neutral court game with Oswego St. Could be a lot worse! I like it.

Looking way too far ahead for a second, if the other three hosts plus Clavin win in that quadrant, Van Noord Arena would be the only location within 500 miles for everyone. So either Calvin would host that or they'd have to fly Marietta to Ill/Wisc.

But enough of that. Calvin has two winnable games ahead of them. They also have a game or two they could lose ahead of them.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Massey probabilities of reaching Sweet 16:

Mt Union 71.6%
Calvin 22.0%
Oswego St 5.6%
Neumann 0.8%

[wiz]

Massey probabilities of reaching Sweet 16:

Mt Union 71.6%
Calvin 22.0%
Oswego St 5.6%
Neumann 0.8%

Thinking of going to that game but I have never been to Mount Union.  Do they storm the court?

[ziggy]

Massey probabilities of reaching Sweet 16:

Mt Union 71.6%
Calvin 22.0%
Oswego St 5.6%
Neumann 0.8%

Thinking of going to that game but I have never been to Mount Union.  Do they storm the court?

I'm not sure but I'm going to stay out of the entire state of Ohio just to be safe.

[almcguirejr]

Not if they lose! 

Hope beat Mt. Union by 8 in December in Holland.