MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Tickets for The Challenge should not be a problem today.  Attendance last night was 3010, meaning there were about 300 or so tickets unsold.  I would expect the same today.

midline -I'm definitely looking forward to hear how Kzoo does against the Saints today, having seen them play both Hope & Clavin last week. 

I also agree that it was a solid win for Calvin.  Having seen them loose 2 last weekend, and looking pretty desimated by injuries, that was a morale booster and something to build on. 

I'm also looking forward to their game against  Wheaton today.  I expect the Thunder have something to prove after last night - and some "pay-back" for the first round loss to Calvin in the NCAA's last year.

[ziggy]

I'm also looking forward to their game against  Wheaton today.  I expect the Thunder have something to prove after last night - and some "pay-back" for the first round loss to Calvin in the NCAA's last year.

No one who played in that game is playing anymore! 

[goodknight]

ziggy:
That's not true.  Draayer, Trewhella, Meckes and
Snoeyink all saw time last March in the win at Wheaton.  I'm guessing a couple of this year's Thunder were on the floor as well.  But these are two very different squads from the 04-05 editions.

[Gregory Sager]

ziggy:
That's not true.  Draayer, Trewhella, Meckes and
Snoeyink all saw time last March in the win at Wheaton.  I'm guessing a couple of this year's Thunder were on the floor as well.  But these are two very different squads from the 04-05 editions.

I think Ziggy was specifically referring to Wheaton, since FDF said "the Thunder have something to prove". Tony Bollier, who was Wheaton's sixth man last season and is their mainstay as point guard and co-captain this season, was the only Wheaton player on this year's team to play any role of consequence in last season's NCAA opening-round contest against Calvin. He played thirteen minutes, took a shot (which missed), recorded two defensive rebounds, two turnovers, and a blocked shot. The only other current Wheatie to see the floor in that game last spring is the other co-captain, Jordan Kemper. He played for two minutes in that game, recorded all goose eggs in the scorebook, and probably didn't even break a sweat.

But most of the players in Wheaton's rotation this season were at least on the team last year, albeit as JV players. And there's something to be said for the idea that grudges can transcend the actual players who played in a loss.

I've answered Augiedad in CCIW Chat, where it's more appropriate to discuss the vagaries of who ranks where in the CCIW.

[d22]

Big help to Adrian as Jeff Nokovich will be playing his first game for AC today. Nokovich who wasn't going to play basketball this year has decided to play.  This will greatly help AC with his 3 years of experience and leadership qualities.  This also fills the void at point.  As always looking forward to an exciting MIAA season. 

[bulldogalum]

Whoa!  Nok's back?  This is indeed exciting news!

[Stinger]

It was a good effort by the Hornets last night.  They took care of business. I was very impressed with the frosh, Henry Cain. The kid can play. Drove to the basket and can finish, but can also lay it off to the open man.  It was a solid performance. 

Heard some interesting news that I don't think has been mentioned from the officiating crew. It seems as if Huffman has finally hung up his whistle, and Ernie had his stripped by the conference.  I am a happy Hornet fan right now.

Interesting that Hope invited those two guys to do their opening night game at DeVos. 

[Stinger]

The Hornets are  up 39-33 at half time. Tyler Worst is having a great half.  It's great to see his shoulder is finally healed.  Last night was the first action of the season he has seen.

[Dark Knight]

The young Knights (who are perhaps adolescents now) silenced the Thunder, 84-64. They led by 12 at the half -- with only 4 points in the paint, and 10/12 shooting from behind the arc in the first frame.

In the second half, the Knights built the lead up to 27 before putting in their other freshmen, and Snoeyink got some inside points, which was nice to see. Draayer and Trewhella shot 6/6 and 5/6 from behind the arc for the game. Only two of Draayer's shots were banked and from near the endline, and only one of those was a four-point play after getting pushed into the seats while shooting.

Not too far behind Hope's performance against Wheaton, considering that Hope had home court advantage...

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hope beats Carthage 75-61 (I think).  Carthage was hot to open the game, and Hope looked flat.  Carthage had a 29-13 lead at one point, but Hope fought back and a Cramer 3 at the buzzer made it 33-29 at the half.  Hope came out playing great in the second.  4 starters in double figures - Phillips with 18, Voisin 17, VanderHeide 16 and Cramer 14 - or something like that.  With every game I see, I am more & more impressed with VanderHeide. 

Stinger - the truth is that Hoffman and Crier both retired this year.  And compared to the officials at the Hope game today, I'll take them both back with walkers if necessary.

DK - I'll agree that the Knights took it to Wheaton, and the final score was close to the Hope-Wheaton game, but come on- Hope's starters were off the floor for good at the 10-12 minute mark of the second half, and the 3rd string played the last 6 minutes.  Calvin was still playing some of their starters with 5 minutes left.

[ziggy]

Good showing this weekend for the MIAA against the CCIW.  Calvin and Hope posted a combined record of 7-1 with the only loss from the Hope/Wheaton women's game.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Oh - and I'm sooo glad Nokovich is back for Adrian.  Got to know him last year, and he's a classy guy, and a pretty good point guard.

[sac]

Today's other scores

Aquinas 64, Kalamazoo 59
Bluffton, Ohio 73, Adrian 55
Albion 72, Manchester, Ind. 60
Alma, 83, Lake Superior State 68

....is it possible a D2 school is that bad.  Everything I've heard is that Alma isn't good.

[sac]

Hope 75 Carthage 61

When put into the context of how the game played out, this was an impressive win for the Dutchmen.

Hope started out looking intimidated by Carthages' quickness adavantage.  I expected the Red Men to play with a chip on their shoulder after last night's Calvin loss and they certainly came out strong.  But i never expected Hope to trail by 17 at 29-12.  This was probably the poorest rebounding effort I've ever seen from a Hope team early on.  They certainly turned it around from late in the first on but still got beat by 10 on the boards.

Hope's rally was more a steady climb but the big momentum change in the game came when Cramer hit a 30 ft 3 at the buzzer to make it 33-29 Carthage at the half.  Even still Carthage started the 2nd strong and led 39=31.....but thats when Hope tookover and when VanderHeide hit his 2nd 3 in couple minutes at 13:30 it was 46-43 Hope. the Dutchmen never looked back.

Clearly the difference was a more agressive rebounding attack, and just generally being more agressive to the basket which netted several trips to the FT line and some easy putbacks they didn't have in the first.   Plus they warmed up from the arc, when your 2 forwards and center combine for 5 treys.......your tough to defend!

Hope again played a stretch of outstanding defense after trailing by 17 they outscored Carthage 63-32 over about 26 minutes of basketball.  Pretty amazing.

Lost my list of scores but VanderHeide, Phillips, Voisin and Cramer hit double digits.  Marcus VanderHeide looks like he can be the best player on the team when he wants to be, he seems to show a new offensive element every game out.

Carthage's gaurds did a nice job taking Greg Immink out of the offense, he had a tough time handling the defensive pressure....but he gets the ironman award as I think he played the whole second half and did an excellent job hanging on to the ball.

We'll see where Carthage ends up in the CCIW, I know IWU, Augustana and Elmhurst have solid teams but I sure think the Red Men will be somewhere in the top half of that league.

[GoKnights68]

flying dutch fan, were you the guy wearing orange shorts sitting in around either section 7 or 8?

hahahaha.


GO KNIGHTS.  BEAT HOPE.