MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[HOPEful]

1. While Hope missed a lot at the rim a close look at stats shows they also only had 3-4 assists. Why? Inside-out wasn't there. When it went to Granger on the block - my opinion - he was so hell bent on shutting up the raucous Calvin students who rode him like a rented mule that once it went in it was going up. Don't care who you are or your toughness, he was getting a loud and constant earful and I think it got him out of the game.

As is often the case, Preston is both Hope's best player, and in my opinion, biggest liability. His offensive game has gotten to the level of predictability that the moment he gets the ball, I'm already muttering "no, no, no, no...", immediately seeing he's determined to get to the basket with no intention of looking to kick it out to an open teammate on the perimeter. Far too often, this results in either a double team and TO, a well contested miss, or a charge. I realize the loss of Riley significantly hurts Hope's 3 point game, but Hackert, George, and Thomas are all capable of hitting open threes if Preston could just realize where the open player is when he draws double coverage and kick the ball out to them.

But the problem is much bigger than just Preston. On offense, Hope looks very very lost. Multiple shot clock violations, forced shots, long periods without a basket, very little movement away from the ball with 3 or 4 guys standing around the perimeter, and a lot of iso and hero ball, etc. It's frustrating and hard to watch at times.

[sac]

I haven't had a chance to rewatch but I think Hope will be disappointed in their off the ball movement, especially when the ball went in the post.  Hope has the look and feel of a team thinking to much and not playing. 

Calvin's length gave them problems and Hope didn't do a good job accounting for that.  Night and day defensive effort for Calvin vs their game at Albion last Wed.

[oldknight]

  Night and day defensive effort for Calvin vs their game at Albion last Wed.

Couldn't agree with you more. The passion that was lacking at Albion was on full display last night. The quality of shot opportunities for Hope was far lower than was Calvin's. Twice, the Knights forced a shot-clock violation, and Shymanski, who is rarely noted as a ball-hawk, picked Hackert's pocket on back-to-back possessions.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I haven't had a chance to rewatch but I think Hope will be disappointed in their off the ball movement, especially when the ball went in the post.  Hope has the look and feel of a team thinking to much and not playing. 

Calvin's length gave them problems and Hope didn't do a good job accounting for that.  Night and day defensive effort for Calvin vs their game at Albion last Wed.

Spot on regarding the off the ball movement.  Your post players can only kick it back out if there are players moving (and screening) to be available for the kick out pass and open shots.  Also agree that they look a bit like an early season team - thinking and not just playing.  I think this is a symptom of the numerous changes as well as the youth/experience of this team. 

[ziggy]

I haven't had a chance to rewatch but I think Hope will be disappointed in their off the ball movement, especially when the ball went in the post.  Hope has the look and feel of a team thinking to much and not playing. 

Calvin's length gave them problems and Hope didn't do a good job accounting for that.  Night and day defensive effort for Calvin vs their game at Albion last Wed.

Last night's game was the first time I've seen Hope this season but I couldn't help but feel that they just don't look like a typical Hope team physically. Part of the reason they had trouble with length might come from the fact they just looked small on the court. Where they do have size they looked slow.

Hope usually has at least one or two players who really scare you. I don't get that feeling with this year's squad.

[sac]

Albion 74 Alma 53

Albion stuffed the Scots in the second half holding them to 19 points.   Cortez Garland is becoming another great Albion guard.

Trine 75 Adrian 61

Big night for Langston Johnson with 28


Kzoo 108  Olivet 103

Teams combined for 124 second half points.  Ben Reiter with 32 and 7 treys for K.

[almcguirejr]

  Night and day defensive effort for Calvin vs their game at Albion last Wed.

Couldn't agree with you more. The passion that was lacking at Albion was on full display last night. The quality of shot opportunities for Hope was far lower than was Calvin's. Twice, the Knights forced a shot-clock violation, and Shymanski, who is rarely noted as a ball-hawk, picked Hackert's pocket on back-to-back possessions.

Calvin's defense was much improved the last 2 games against Hope and Olivet.  Tony DeWitte did a really nice job on Pardee Saturday and Evan Thomas last night. Calvin's "big" guys did a nice job of standing their ground when Hope's post players would try to bull their way to the basket.  Great job by Jordan Katje last night.

[hornets76542]

With his 262nd career assist on Wednesday, Tanner Blyly broke the Kalamazoo record for assists in a career. Previous record holder was Dirk Rhinehart, who played from 1999-2003.

https://hornets.kzoo.edu/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200115wjq92u

[KnightSlappy]

It appears Wednesday's game is archived on Calvin's Livestream page:
https://livestream.com/calvin-university/events/8886531/videos/200797703

[KnightSlappy]

Speculation was maybe a student interfered, but really no idea.

The reaction from Seville made it seem like he was hit by a student, and the WGVU broadcast team kept saying a student bumped him, but on a rewatch of the video this is clearly not the case. Whatever injury he sustained was a freak incident that occurred on its own.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Speculation was maybe a student interfered, but really no idea.

The reaction from Seville made it seem like he was hit by a student, and the WGVU broadcast team kept saying a student bumped him, but on a rewatch of the video this is clearly not the case. Whatever injury he sustained was a freak incident that occurred on its own.

And really ... those are the worst. One of my worst injuries took place completely on my own breaking on a short pop-up. Calf went pop ... I have always felt injuries unrelated to anything or anyone or untouched are the worst.

Ouch - just hurts thinking about it.

[Dutchfan]

What I've felt, and I could be mistaken, is that Hope seems to lack identity. Outside of Preston, it feels like nobody has well defined roles.

[almcguirejr]

What I've felt, and I could be mistaken, is that Hope seems to lack identity. Outside of Preston, it feels like nobody has well defined roles.

This may answer your identity question:
https://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/20200117/daddona-hopes-loss-to-calvin-brings-needed-experience

[sac]

What I've felt, and I could be mistaken, is that Hope seems to lack identity. Outside of Preston, it feels like nobody has well defined roles.

Hope had lost 4 significant game contributors by minutes since Christmas that's going to shift roles and minutes around. Gamm and Hackert were able to return, but practice time was limited.  Losing Jake Honor for the season was a big blow for defense and rebounding and another 20+ minutes to pile on top of the Lewis minutes.    Not to mention their whole practice routine and rhythm has been shuffled when you lose as many guys(five) has Hope did in a short window.  Its not far from starting over.  It certainly hasn't helped.

[hope81]

The Adrian/Hope JV game is cancelled for today.  At this time, varsity is still on for 3pm.