MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[goodknight]

Calvin bows out, 83-66, to a far more talented Marietta squad, finishing 17-11 for the season.
Hope holds off UW-Oshkosh at home 87-85 and lives to play another day against Wash U.

[GreatScot!?]

Congrats to Hope on the great win against UW-Oshkosk, was impressed with both teams offensively, not sure about defense though. Did anybody have a good vantage point on the last call that sent Stuive to the line late? From the livestream replay it looked like a jump ball, but would've been very hard to call, really big call. Looking forward to watching them tomorrow!

[Gregory Sager]

It's pretty typical that when a rebound comes down with one player having both hands on the ball and the other player having only one hand on the ball it'll be called a foul on the one-handed rebounder, once the two-handed rebounder (Stuive, in this case) pulls the ball into his body to secure it.

[sac]

Ty Sabin scored 43 points in the game vs WashU shooting just under his season averages for shooting percentages.  He and Ripon just ran out of steam the last half of the 2nd half as WashU charged from 16 back to win by 14 outscoring Ripon 60-30 in the 2nd half.   Bears outscored the Redhawks something like 40-10 the last 10 minutes.

Sabin's balance, control and ability to adjust his shot was just something to watch.  The guy guarding Sabin most of the day was Clinton Hooks, the UAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year.  Ty Sabin is one of the best players to grace the DeVos floor.



Hope survived a late Oshkosh rally that pretty much had to be perfect to happen and it nearly was perfect.  3 or 4 of Hope's losses this year can be directly attributed to missing free-throws.  Hope was 18-20 from the stripe to secure the win.


Hope  1.25   points per possession
Oshkosh  1.17  ppp


Its going to take a great effort to beat WashU.

[sac]

Oh just carrying it forward so it doesn't get lost.

Those rankings sound about right to me. The league is not good this year, so their record is better than it might otherwise be. It's not the weakest Hope squad I've seen, but it's far from the strongest. I don't take that judgment to be pessimism so much as realism. Does anyone, including FDF, expect Hope to make a run in the NCAA tourney this year? I'll bet a Twinburger we're not playing the second weekend.

I'll take that bet - with fries!!

Done!

If Hope wins: Carrot Cake for everyone!

We may need legal council to determine what HopeConvert meant by "Hope wins".  Was it in addition to his initial wager offer, or did he mean "win" over Oshkosh.

....because I like carrot cake.

[pointlem]

Hope v. Oshkosh last night seemed much like last Saturday's Hope v. Calvin . . . Hope with double digit 2nd half lead facing a hot team making a comeback, terrific (season best?) 3-point shooting by the other team, exciting down-to-the-wire finish with energized crowd. Both were such well-played games. If Hope can play that well again tonight, they should, again, have a chance to win.

[oldknight]

Oh just carrying it forward so it doesn't get lost.

Those rankings sound about right to me. The league is not good this year, so their record is better than it might otherwise be. It's not the weakest Hope squad I've seen, but it's far from the strongest. I don't take that judgment to be pessimism so much as realism. Does anyone, including FDF, expect Hope to make a run in the NCAA tourney this year? I'll bet a Twinburger we're not playing the second weekend.

I'll take that bet - with fries!!

Done!

If Hope wins: Carrot Cake for everyone!

We may need legal council to determine what HopeConvert meant by "Hope wins".  Was it in addition to his initial wager offer, or did he mean "win" over Oshkosh.

....because I like carrot cake.

I admit I have considered offering my services (mostly free of charge--carrot cake sounds good) and it's possible there will be an oldknight sighting at DeVos tonight. It mostly depends on the inestimable Mrs. Oldknight and her requirements for this Saturday night as I've been away a lot this week.

Last night I was scouting a game in Carson City and picked up the Hope radio feed on my way back. I checked in just in time to hear Harrison Blackledge pick up his third foul early in the second half and I literally laughed out loud visualizing the anguish on HopeConvert's face as he was no doubt expecting the big guy take an early exit. Wonder of wonders, Harrison stayed in the game and then went on to score two quick baskets to help fuel a run that gave his team a lead just large enough to withstand UWO's late push. I trust that HopeConvert is feeling good about that coaching decision.

Congrats to my nephew who, in his first season as a high school head coach, won a district championship last night with the Covenant Christian Chargers girls. Hope fans will be pleased/shocked to know that oldknight's nephew coaches a roster that includes a Meulenberg and a Holstege.

[HopeConvert]

Oh just carrying it forward so it doesn't get lost.

Those rankings sound about right to me. The league is not good this year, so their record is better than it might otherwise be. It's not the weakest Hope squad I've seen, but it's far from the strongest. I don't take that judgment to be pessimism so much as realism. Does anyone, including FDF, expect Hope to make a run in the NCAA tourney this year? I'll bet a Twinburger we're not playing the second weekend.

I'll take that bet - with fries!!

Done!

If Hope wins: Carrot Cake for everyone!

We may need legal council to determine what HopeConvert meant by "Hope wins".  Was it in addition to his initial wager offer, or did he mean "win" over Oshkosh.

....because I like carrot cake.

The context was Hope and Calvin meeting in Salem. Since that is no longer a possibility, the carrot cake is off the table. The twin burger and fries are still there, a bet I'd happily pay off.

[HopeConvert]

Oh just carrying it forward so it doesn't get lost.

Those rankings sound about right to me. The league is not good this year, so their record is better than it might otherwise be. It's not the weakest Hope squad I've seen, but it's far from the strongest. I don't take that judgment to be pessimism so much as realism. Does anyone, including FDF, expect Hope to make a run in the NCAA tourney this year? I'll bet a Twinburger we're not playing the second weekend.

I'll take that bet - with fries!!

Done!

If Hope wins: Carrot Cake for everyone!

We may need legal council to determine what HopeConvert meant by "Hope wins".  Was it in addition to his initial wager offer, or did he mean "win" over Oshkosh.

....because I like carrot cake.

I admit I have considered offering my services (mostly free of charge--carrot cake sounds good) and it's possible there will be an oldknight sighting at DeVos tonight. It mostly depends on the inestimable Mrs. Oldknight and her requirements for this Saturday night as I've been away a lot this week.

Last night I was scouting a game in Carson City and picked up the Hope radio feed on my way back. I checked in just in time to hear Harrison Blackledge pick up his third foul early in the second half and I literally laughed out loud visualizing the anguish on HopeConvert's face as he was no doubt expecting the big guy take an early exit. Wonder of wonders, Harrison stayed in the game and then went on to score two quick baskets to help fuel a run that gave his team a lead just large enough to withstand UWO's late push. I trust that HopeConvert is feeling good about that coaching decision.

Congrats to my nephew who, in his first season as a high school head coach, won a district championship last night with the Covenant Christian Chargers. Hope fans will be pleased/shocked to know that oldknight's nephew coaches a roster that includes a Meulenberg and a Holstege.

Harrison was brought back into the game in the first half even though he had two fouls. I was very pleased to see that. Very pleased indeed.

By the way, you had to see Blackledge's third foul to believe it. I can't recall the last time I saw a guy called for a reach when he had his back to the scorer and his hands straight in the air.

[Dutch_Man]

Free throws, free throws, free throws!

Gutsy performance front the boys in orange last night!  Oshkosh scored three more field goals and even shot a slightly higher field goal percentage! Hope edged Oshkosh in rebounds and turnovers.

My favorite number might come from Mitchell O'Brien... 3-3 from downtown!

Gotta give a little love to Dennis Towns thunderous jam as well!

Great complete effort for Hope! Hats off to Oshkosh for fighting back and keeping us on the edge of our seats! They made some unbelievable tough shots towards the end of the game to keep it close.

Hope is going to need another complete performance to get past WashU... I would like nothing more than to see WashU bow out here in Holland... I still have a bad taste in my mouth from '07 and '08... I just might suit up and join the Dew Crew tonight...

[wiz]

     http://pioneers.marietta.edu/news/2017/3/3/mens-basketball-marietta-bullies-it-way-into-second-round-with-83-66-win-over-calvin.aspx   

[Gregory Sager]

Hope v. Oshkosh last night seemed much like last Saturday's Hope v. Calvin . . . Hope with double digit 2nd half lead facing a hot team making a comeback, terrific (season best?) 3-point shooting by the other team

The Titans shot exactly 50% from downtown last night (11-22), a mark that UWO has bettered four times this season.

[hopefan]

Free throws, free throws, free throws!

Gutsy performance front the boys in orange last night!  Oshkosh scored three more field goals and even shot a slightly higher field goal percentage! Hope edged Oshkosh in rebounds and turnovers.

My favorite number might come from Mitchell O'Brien... 3-3 from downtown!

Gotta give a little love to Dennis Towns thunderous jam as well!

Great complete effort for Hope! Hats off to Oshkosh for fighting back and keeping us on the edge of our seats! They made some unbelievable tough shots towards the end of the game to keep it close.

Hope is going to need another complete performance to get past WashU... I would like nothing more than to see WashU bow out here in Holland... I still have a bad taste in my mouth from '07 and '08... I just might suit up and join the Dew Crew tonight...

Believe me, this Wash U team does not approach the talent level of the '07-'08 teams....  they've had some very good games, but consistency is not their trait...  nice size, but not a good perimeter shooting team...  Wash U's offense, the same one from back in the day with lots of cutting off the ball and back door moves, has to be defended smartly, or there will be easy baskets given up.  Point guard Kucera is very much the same type of player as Carlson, Sanders very active around the basket, and Highsmith off the bench is a scoring threat with great touch 15 feet in.  Blackledge much stronger than any Wash U individual, should go to the basket as much as possible....

But what do I know??

Hope it's a one point game with a win or lose possession at the end... HAVE FUN!!!!

[wiz]

"Believe me, this Wash U team does not approach the talent level of the '07-'08 teams...."

So Hope and WashU have, at least, that in common.

[Dutchfan]

Hope has three first-team all league players, and one second-team. Calvin has no first-team players and one second-team. Yet Calvin, a team that a week and a half ago Hope fans would likely have unanimously denounced as inferior to their own, has beaten Hope twice in the past week on Hope's home floor. Am I the only Hope fan who finds this concerning? I think the situation requires more analysis than "that was a good game." So what are the possibilities? Here are a few that come to mind:

• Hope simply isn't as good as we thought.
• Calvin's coaching staff ran circles around Hope's coaching staff.
• Hope's lack of depth was exposed.
• Calvin fans have referred to their team's "toughness" and "resiliency." Is this an implicit criticism of Hope?
• Hope simply doesn't match-up well against Calvin.
• Calvin is doing a better job developing over the course of the season.

It's entirely possible I'm missing something. Also possible it's a combination of these things. A neutral observer I talked to, who knows basketball well, said to me "they flat-out outplayed Hope." As I said: this concerns me.

I've given this much thought recently. I don't believe that it is a problem of Hope not being as good as us Hope fans thought. I have seen flashes of a truly exceptional team from them. I believe that Hope's problems in a general sense is that they have a tendency to play down to their opponents level and not put teams away like they should. As to Hope vs. Calvin this year... I have a few theories. Calvin does match up well against Hope, that is true. I don't believe Hope's struggles are because of Calvin's development or that Greg Mitchell got out coached. I believe that it is as simple as Calvin looking forward to the Hope games more than Hope does and being more fired up for the big rivalry. It seems to me like Calvin as a whole, from their team to their fans, puts a huge emphasis on these games (the "BEAT HOPE" shirts being a prime example) and I think Hope's organization tries to down play it. That being said, I do think both teams take it equally seriously, but it seams like Calvin is always way more fired up at the beginning of the games. I think that is more than anything the reason that Hope struggles against Calvin.

I truly believe that Hope has the potential to beat just about anyone if they are truly playing to their strengths and abilities. But unfortunately Hope seems to be unable to do so most of the time.