MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

Calvin loses to AQ 87-77. Aquinas got out to a 30-15 lead which proved to be too much to overcome. Calvin cut the deficit to 7 at the break and I think the entire second half was played with the Saints holding a lead that ranged between 5 and 12 points. The Knights had at least two chances down the stretch to cut a 5 or 6 point deficit down to 2 or 3 but on each occasion they couldn't come up with the big basket which was promptly followed by an Aquinas three pointer. I think Zeeland East product, Zac Van Beek--a very nice player for Dave Hammer--came up with the big baskets and finished the night with 20 points.

Daley had another fine game with 17 points while Parks scored 15 and Cam Denney added 11 and shot the ball better than last night. But Denney also plays a bit too fast and loose with the ball and made several turnovers to hurt his team's chances. Brad Visser got shut out and I think it's time to think about a replacement at the two spot. Nate Drews isn't as athletic as Brad but he's a quality shooter, plays a steady floor game and would be my choice. Saw some good things from Mike Siegel in limited playing time and he might see his minutes go up now. Rebounds were pretty even tonight but it seemed Calvin repeatedly got hurt by giving up second and third chances leading to baskets that helped Aquinas maintain its slim second half margin. It's a learning experience for this team and if they aren't to be learned it will be a long season.

[oldknight]

Cornerstone wins the nightcap 73-67. Tough loss for Hope who seemed to deserve a better fate and led almost the entire way until the Dutchmen made four straight turnovers in the final two minutes to kill their chances at an upset. Still a pretty good performance by Hope who did a great job on Lanning, holding him to 5 points on 2-12 shooting.

[knightvision]

Calvin loses to AQ 87-77. Aquinas got out to a 30-15 lead which proved to be too much to overcome. Calvin cut the deficit to 7 at the break and I think the entire second half was played with the Saints holding a lead that ranged between 5 and 12 points. The Knights had at least two chances down the stretch to cut a 5 or 6 point deficit down to 2 or 3 but on each occasion they couldn't come up with the big basket which was promptly followed by an Aquinas three pointer. I think Zeeland East product, Zac Van Beek--a very nice player for Dave Hammer--came up with the big baskets and finished the night with 20 points.

Daley had another fine game with 17 points while Parks scored 15 and Cam Denney added 11 and shot the ball better than last night. But Denney also plays a bit too fast and loose with the ball and made several turnovers to hurt his team's chances. Brad Visser got shut out and I think it's time to think about a replacement at the two spot. Nate Drews isn't as athletic as Brad but he's a quality shooter, plays a steady floor game and would be my choice. Saw some good things from Mike Siegel in limited playing time and he might see his minutes go up now. Rebounds were pretty even tonight but it seemed Calvin repeatedly got hurt by giving up second and third chances leading to baskets that helped Aquinas maintain its slim second half margin. It's a learning experience for this team and if they aren't to be learned it will be a long season.

oldknight, can't argue with anything you noted (even if I wanted to!)  I watched both games this weekend, and Calvin is still searching for an identity and a defined rotation, particularly given that other than Daley and Denney and Parks,there are plenty of minutes to be had.  One of the downsides of that scenario is that guys tend to try to do too much individually, and I thought we saw that in spades tonight throughout the game and at key moments--far too much pointless dribbling and some ill advised shots.  The camera angle tonight showed KVS more than a little chagrined on a couple occasions down the stretch, and I shared his sentiment completely, though at no point did it even enter my mind to throw my computer   

I too would like to see more of Drews and Siegel--they clearly have some offensive skills, and they make an honest effort on defense. Drews has a great stroke, and doesn't force shots, and  Siegel (and Wilks, who is doing some nice things) seem like a couple sophs that could develop into core guys.  While we're at it, I would also like to see more of Kronemeyer--tough, steady, great competitor, and shooting the ball nicely to start the year. 

The Hope/Cornerstone game was every bit as good as I expected.  Hope is deep, talented, and other than some key turnovers down the stretch, played an outstanding game.  Perhaps most impressive is Hope's defense--they get after it and it will win them games this year.   

[HopeConvert]

Turnovers down the stretch and missed free throws were Hope's undoing yesterday. That, and Cornerstone got 19 and 9 from Michael McLaughlin, who spent the last 6 minutes of the game abusing Hope's guards by driving down on the right side. Hope didn't adjust to that, and that sealed it.

[pointlem]

A tough Hope loss, after leading nearly the whole game. If you had told me that Benson-Blackledge would outscore Cornerstone's all-Americans (Steigenga-Lanning) 40 to 32 I would have assured you of a Hope win . . . on the assumption that Hope's guards and guard depth are superior.  I still believe that.  Alas, last night was an off night for them, with Otto/Gardner/Hawkins/Carlson/O'Brien/Eidson going a collective 2-18 on 3-point shots and scoring but 21 points.

But credit Cornerstone. I wonder if there's a better small college player at any level than Kyle Steigenga, who almost requires double-teaming--thus opening his teammates' scoring.

Still, there are positives to take away:

• Playing the best team on their schedule to the wire, on its home floor . . . a coulda/shoulda won game.
• Benson-Blackledge looking like future all-Americans themselves . . . with Benson following up his 6 for 6 Friday night by making his first three shots. Both of them seem increasingly agile rotating around the basket, which they could do since Cornerstone was sticking to the perimeter guards. The best post players they may face this season didn't subdue their offensive power.

[sac]

Coach Mitchell will be on Hoopsville tonight.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Hoopsville returns from the Thanksgiving break with plenty to cover.

The season has certainly started with a lot of stuff. Rule changes, upsets, hot and cold starts, and more. That's why we added more Hoopsville shows to start the season! Tonight, we talk to some who have started hot, those with high expectations, and preview the final Wendy's Classic.

Hoopsville hits the air at 7pm ET tonight!

Guests include:
- Mike Daley, Wendy's Classic Director and former Nazareth men's coach
- Keith Bunkenburg, Benedictine men's coach
- Greg Mitchell, No. 16 Hope men's coach
- Abby Pyzik Smith, Lynchburg women's coach

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville
SoundCloud (podcast): www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville

AND our podcast as been approved for iTunes!!! You should be able to find it... but here is a link, just in case: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

[sac]

Elmhurst 71  Alma 69

Elmhurst tips one in at the buzzer to beat the Scots

[TUAngola]

Trine wins Carnegie Mellon tournament in Pittsburgh over the hosts today 62-47.  Good win for the Thunder against a previously undefeated CMU squad which has a front line of 6'9, 6'9. 6'8.  Dixon, who struggled somewhat in Trine's first 3 games with his shot, named MVP with Holmquist and Cummings on the all tournament team.  The development of Cummings, who is only in his 3rd year of playing organized basketball, will be huge for the Thunder as they are typically an undersized team, and at 6'8 will give Jared more freedom to draw bigger defenders away from the basket.  Starters still playing 30+ minutes, but that is par for the course for Trine, they just don't venture too deep into their bench.  Trine has a 9 day break before their next game at Anderson.   

[sac]

We're right at the beginning of an interesting couple weeks of MIAA vs CCIW games.

MIAA vs CCIW
Adrian 69  Carthage 59
Trine 78  North Park 60
Carthage 106  Olivet 93
North Park 73  Adrian 70
Elmhurst 71  Alma 69


12-2  Adrian at Elmhurst
12-2  North Park at Alma
12-4  Calvin vs Carthage
12-4  Wheaton at Hope
12-5  Albion at Elmhurst
12-5  Calvin vs Wheaton
12-5  Carthage at Hope
12-6  North Central at Alma
12-9  Olivet at Elmhurst
12-12  Alma at Wheaton
12-14  Albion at North Park
12-15  Albion at North Central
12-19  Millikin at Trine
12-20  Adrian vs Millikin

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Link to last nights Hoopsville below.  Greg Mitchell is on from 1:23 - 1:40.

http://www.d3hoops.com/Hoopsville/archives/2015-16/nov29

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope jumps to #5 in this weeks Top 25

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Link to last nights Hoopsville below.  Greg Mitchell is on from 1:23 - 1:40.

http://www.d3hoops.com/Hoopsville/archives/2015-16/nov29

Thanks for providing that... not sure how I forgot to include that link in my PR work Sunday... need to fire that PR guy.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congrats to Trine's Will Dixon on being named to the D3Hoops team of the week:

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/tow/2015-16/week2

[sac]

Albion plays at D1 Wright State tonight.  Somehow they have a common opponent in Mt. St. Joseph, Albion won by 4, Wright State by 12.  Wright State led MSJ by double digits for most of the game.

..but low scoring  D1 team against Albion