MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[almcguirejr]

Did I fail to appreciate Derrick DeVries his first two years, or has he really developed his game over time? Hope tried four different defenders on him, all without success. Calvin's simple play--give him the ball at the top of the key and clear the lane for him to drive--worked time and again, yielding either his layups or (when doubled) his pass-outs to open 3-point shooters. That's a play that I expect to see more often from Hope's Evan Thomas over the next three years.

So many thoughts on this statement...

1. There was a kick-out pass from Derrick that he drove hard to the hoop, realized he was well guarded, and found the open guy on the perimeter who knocked down the three. I turned to my wife and said, "Right there! That is what I have never once seen Preston Grainger do that would make him such a better player!"

2. Evan Thomas on Derrick was a train-wreck. I'm not sure why Mitchell allowed it for as much of the game as he did. He was clearly a freshman defender getting just bullied by one of the best offensive players in the league. I thought Gamm did a great job defending DeVries, but whenever anyone else was on him, it was ugly.

3. Evan Thomas has two major deficiencies in his game. The first is defense. I really hope this off-season he really develops this part of his game. The other, is his understanding of the offense. There's no doubt he's gifted offensively and shows potential to be really special. But at times he looks lost. I'm noticing more and more his teammates talking to him about being in the wrong place when they expected him to be somewhere else. I really think the fact that Hope gets starting/regular minutes from two freshmen and a sophomore shows during those slumps where they can't find a rhythm and just force up a terrible shot with 17 seconds left on the shot clock.

Evan Thomas is being asked to do things most freshman aren't.  He's Hope's second best player.  It's not his fault that Hope's team is where it is.  I don't see any better options than Thomas right now.  I would be happy that he's a reason For optimism  in the future.

[realist]

I heard the GVSU announcer cite a stat that DeVries has had 6 30+ games (this year?), a feat that has been done by 5 other Calvin players, including Honderd, M. Veenstra and a few other legendary names.

Heres a link to Calvin's all-time 30+ points/game players.  https://calvinknights.com/sports/mbkb/30-point_scoring_list
I thought the announcer said 5 30+ games in a year and this would be Derek's 6th.  I didn't take the time to verify the years but I'm guessing Dan Davis and Chris Knoester are the other 2.

If I am recalling correctly scratch CK, and put in MP ( Mickey Phelps).  He was a joy to watch, and didn't have the benefit of 3 point shots.  Mickey would fire it up from anywhere past the time line, and would have feasted on 3's.  The year he did it was 67-68 as a So.
I think Mickey was a victim of the NCAA's all-time dumb rule, "Freshmen ineligible".

[HOPEful]

Evan Thomas is being asked to do things most freshman aren't.  He's Hope's second best player.  It's not his fault that Hope's team is where it is.  I don't see any better options than Thomas right now.  I would be happy that he's a reason For optimism  in the future.

I am 100% in agreement. If my comments were taken as anti-Thomas, that is NOT how I feel. I think Thomas has the potential to be a superstar for Hope and I agree, he is currently Hope's second best player.  I am extremely excited to have him and Dykhouse at Hope for 3 more years. And with George as only a sophomore, this team could be really exciting to watch in the years to come.

Pointing out Thomas' deficiencies was less to say he's not good now, and more to point out just how good he could be as early as next season. We often see the most growth in players between their freshman and sophomore season. I'm really excited to see Evan after an off-season with the coaches, team, and in the weight room. Since this team loses no one other than Zandsta, if next season, Hope's offense looks flat footed and lost, we will have no one to blame other than coaching.

[scottiedawg]

Who is Preston Grainger?  ;-)

[ziggy]

What has been so impressive about Derrick DeVries this season is how he has developed his overall game. His scoring totals catch the eye but he's also currently the league's leading rebounder and is tied for fifth in assists. He's doing it all.

[formerd3db]

sac,
Check your PMs.🙂

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Evan Thomas is being asked to do things most freshman aren't.  He's Hope's second best player.  It's not his fault that Hope's team is where it is.  I don't see any better options than Thomas right now.  I would be happy that he's a reason For optimism  in the future.

I am 100% in agreement. If my comments were taken as anti-Thomas, that is NOT how I feel. I think Thomas has the potential to be a superstar for Hope and I agree, he is currently Hope's second best player.  I am extremely excited to have him and Dykhouse at Hope for 3 more years. And with George as only a sophomore, this team could be really exciting to watch in the years to come.

Pointing out Thomas' deficiencies was less to say he's not good now, and more to point out just how good he could be as early as next season. We often see the most growth in players between their freshman and sophomore season. I'm really excited to see Evan after an off-season with the coaches, team, and in the weight room. Since this team loses no one other than Zandsta, if next season, Hope's offense looks flat footed and lost, we will have no one to blame other than coaching.

Thomas has been playing really well in my opinion, even defensively in most games.  Keep in mind that Hope is typically asking him to guard the others teams best player - not something you typically have a freshman doing.  He has done that very well in several games this year.  DeVries is playing at a very different level and has a size and experience advantage.  Evan will learn from that for sure.  The future is very bright for him. 

Note that Hope actually looses two seniors this year - Zandstra and Opple

[Gregory Sager]

Who is Preston Grainger?  ;-)

Speaking as someone who reads a lot of boards on this site, I think that Preston Granger is the favorite to win this year's d3boards.com award for Most Frequently Misspelled Name.

I don't quite understand the impulse to add an 'i' to his name. Is there some other player in MIAA history who spelled his name that way, or is that 'i' a subtle reference by disgruntled Hope fans to their assertion that he won't pass the ball?

[HOPEful]

Note that Hope actually looses two seniors this year - Zandstra and Opple

Is this confirmed. I keep asking around but no one seems to know for certain if Opple is on track to graduate in May. Could he be back playing basketball next season?

If he does indeed graduate, that's a heck of a feat! Three sport athlete and graduating in 4 years!?

[tartanpride2016]

I think that Alma is honestly a team that sees their season go one of two ways. Their defense has been inconsistent, but their offense is LETHAL, with shooters galore. This team will either keep the relative defensive momentum rolling and find themselves at home in the MIAA Tournament's first round, with a chance to make a serious run OR they will fail to defend and double down on losses like Olivet.

Personally, I love the way that Stevens moves the ball and how Kliever is shooting the rock. This team will be my pick to win the MIAA Tournament if it isn't Albion or Trine, I really do think they are the most potent team currently 3-8.

So, Albion lost?

Alma is suddenly looking really good in tiebreaker scenarios for seeding. They've beaten Albion, Hope, and Adrian (x2).

[formerd3db]

Note that Hope actually looses two seniors this year - Zandstra and Opple

Is this confirmed. I keep asking around but no one seems to know for certain if Opple is on track to graduate in May. Could he be back playing basketball next season?

If he does indeed graduate, that's a heck of a feat! Three sport athlete and graduating in 4 years!?

And a lot of $ just to come back to play basketball if he, in fact, is on track to graduate this spring!

[formerd3db]

I think that Alma is honestly a team that sees their season go one of two ways. Their defense has been inconsistent, but their offense is LETHAL, with shooters galore. This team will either keep the relative defensive momentum rolling and find themselves at home in the MIAA Tournament's first round, with a chance to make a serious run OR they will fail to defend and double down on losses like Olivet.

Personally, I love the way that Stevens moves the ball and how Kliever is shooting the rock. This team will be my pick to win the MIAA Tournament if it isn't Albion or Trine, I really do think they are the most potent team currently 3-8.

So, Albion lost?

Alma is suddenly looking really good in tiebreaker scenarios for seeding. They've beaten Albion, Hope, and Adrian (x2).

Without taking the time to check (and with the understanding that coaching obviously plays a part in all that), how many of those players are holdovers from the Hargraves era?

[sac]

I think that Alma is honestly a team that sees their season go one of two ways. Their defense has been inconsistent, but their offense is LETHAL, with shooters galore. This team will either keep the relative defensive momentum rolling and find themselves at home in the MIAA Tournament's first round, with a chance to make a serious run OR they will fail to defend and double down on losses like Olivet.

Personally, I love the way that Stevens moves the ball and how Kliever is shooting the rock. This team will be my pick to win the MIAA Tournament if it isn't Albion or Trine, I really do think they are the most potent team currently 3-8.

So, Albion lost?

Alma is suddenly looking really good in tiebreaker scenarios for seeding. They've beaten Albion, Hope, and Adrian (x2).

Without taking the time to check (and with the understanding that coaching obviously plays a part in all that), how many of those players are holdovers from the Hargraves era?

All of them.  None of Alma's Fr. class is seeing significant playing time.

[HOPEful]

And a lot of $ just to come back to play basketball if he, in fact, is on track to graduate this spring!

For sure! I wouldn't expect him to come to FOR basketball. But if he's coming back for a fifth year to finish his coursework anyways, I'd love to see him playing basketball next season.

[tartanpride2016]

Correct. There's only been two freshman that have played on varsity this year, for a combined 22 minutes and 7 points. The sophomore class of Kleiver, Rake, Williamson and Poling are contributing a good amount too. Only junior is Lark, so it's a sophomore and senior laden squad.

I think that Alma is honestly a team that sees their season go one of two ways. Their defense has been inconsistent, but their offense is LETHAL, with shooters galore. This team will either keep the relative defensive momentum rolling and find themselves at home in the MIAA Tournament's first round, with a chance to make a serious run OR they will fail to defend and double down on losses like Olivet.

Personally, I love the way that Stevens moves the ball and how Kliever is shooting the rock. This team will be my pick to win the MIAA Tournament if it isn't Albion or Trine, I really do think they are the most potent team currently 3-8.

So, Albion lost?

Alma is suddenly looking really good in tiebreaker scenarios for seeding. They've beaten Albion, Hope, and Adrian (x2).

Without taking the time to check (and with the understanding that coaching obviously plays a part in all that), how many of those players are holdovers from the Hargraves era?

All of them.  None of Alma's Fr. class is seeing significant playing time.