MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[AndersDY]

Based on the responses we have once again confirmed the fact the Hope followers can dish it out, but can't really take it.  Yes, your team was favored, and rightly they should have been (#4 versus #25) or was Hope over-rated?  Was this an upset?  Yes, and by any standard even if it was a home game for Calvin.

I would call it a bit of an upset, but if anything Calvin is underrated based on the fact that they are a better team now than when they picked up early season losses. It sounded like they have improved and they certainly looked better than in Holland. Since Hope's only other loss wasn't close, perhaps this was a good lesson to get before tourney time, but I would have preferred to get a close game lesson and somehow pull it out.

I was going to come on and say that the officiating was quite even and consistent the whole game, but now I need to find out about the baseline call first. I was hoping TV viewers got a good look because I couldn't tell for sure at the game. Any conclusive replays? All in all, the refs maybe let them play a bit too much, but not many complaints until that one call.  Getting the ball there wouldn't have handed Hope the game of course, but boy did losing it sure hurt.

[Dark Knight]

The knights struggle to hang with a taller, quicker Hope squad. They seem to be losing the battle of the boards. The Dutch are pretty successful at shutting down the 3-balls. But the young knights keep battling and stay close.

A couple of plays before the end of the game freshman Veldhouse steals from all-MIAA senior Immink. A couple of plays later, Veldhouse burns him with a fake at the 3-point line and hits the game winner -- and Immink is no slouch on defense.  Knights take their first lead of the game, with 1.7 seconds left.

Fans go wild; the fieldhouse is as loud as it was for the double-overtime win a few years ago. The students rush the floor.

The knights are alone in first place.

[Picket Fence]

Great win for Calvin! Hope clearly has more talent, but Calvin gets every ounce out of what they have. Congrats to KVS and the Knights.

[oldknight]

I was going to come on and say that the officiating was quite even and consistent the whole game, but now I need to find out about the baseline call first. I was hoping TV viewers got a good look because I couldn't tell for sure at the game. Any conclusive replays? All in all, the refs maybe let them play a bit too much, but not many complaints until that one call.  Getting the ball there wouldn't have handed Hope the game of course, but boy did losing it sure hurt.

From the only look the TV broadcast gave (which was live, not replay) it did look like there was an out of bounds call to be made. But I agree that overall the officiating was not a factor in the game and each team had a fair chance to win. Hope's problem is that they couldn't ever put their knee on Calvin's neck when they had the Knights down and Hope couldn't put in the dagger late, instead coming up with mostly empty possessions in the last 5 minutes. Calvin got what they wanted and the most that they could realistically expect to get against Hope--a chance to win the game in the final 5 minutes and the Knights took full advantage. I can't wait for the posters who were at the game to start sharing their thoughts on the game. I might have to stay up later than usual tonight.

[Flea]

Would anyone agree that the Calvin fans seem more rabid when the Knights are the underdog ... and more settled when the Knights are favored?

[oldknight]

Would anyone agree that the Calvin fans seem more rabid when the Knights are the underdog ... and more settled when the Knights are favored?

I agree, especially if you are talking about the students. A certain complacency sets in at Knollcrest when Calvin expects to win. Of course, the rabidity factor is enhanced when Hope comes in for a game with the conference lead on the line, as does a winning basket with 1.7 seconds left for the only Calvin lead of the game.

[Flea]

From what I've seen, I'd go with Veldhouse from Calvin. That kid is going to be all sorts of problems in the coming years.

Nice call Swami.  Although you could have said weeks.

[GoKnights68]

Sorry Hope fans.  Overconfidence can be a real dagger sometimes.

I'm sure Smith doesn't mind being called a "traitor" anymore.

[MIdoubleA]

Nice call Swami.  Although you could have said weeks.

Sometimes it hurts to be right  

[GoKnights68]

I was at the game and didn't have a good luck at that call at the end.

Hope shot pretty well from the 3-point line, but was just struggling too much to get it posted up down low.  Both teams commited a lot of turnovers in the game, it's just Calvin had fewer in the last 5 minutes.

[GoKnights68]

Oops, forgot to post the stats if anyone is interested.

http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mbasket/stats/2005_06/cm22.htm

[jd_knight]

Just got back from the game.  The atmosphere was electric.  After the game winning shot went in, it was like the floor fell out and the roof blew off.  It was awesome to see the refs let them play although maybe they let both teams get a little to physical.  I have never been at a game where the noise was so deafening.  Awesome win for the Knights!

[sac]

Calvin 59 Hope 58

Where to begin.......one of the all-time "effort" games in this storied series.  Not a dry shirt in the house, including the stands.  There are 4500+ who will sleep well tonight although there are about 15 in Orange and Blue unis and 8 in blue blazers who shouldn't.

Great defense all night, the shooting stats won't be pretty but it was all D.......I can count on one hand for both teams the number of low post buckets on the night.  Anything inside was off putbacks.  This was virtually an all perimeter game.

Calvin doubled the low post beautifully all night and Hope simply refused to attack the basket like they did the first time around in Holland.  They absolutely didn't learn a thing all game and even with 2 minutes still couldn't recognize the double team was coming.  But they hit the 3 ball tonight for sure.

For all the talk of Veldhouse, its the 2nd unit that made the difference for the Knights who brought far more energy to the floor early on and picked up the D for Calvin which seemed to be in lacking in intensity early.

The game came down to the final few posessions which is everything I wanted to see.  For Hope the execution wasn't there and for Calvin it was.

I think the bottome line on this one is Calvin played a beautiully constructed game plan to perfection and Hope for whatever reason didn't adjust on offense at all and thats whats bitterly disappointing to me.

Hold a team to 59 and you should win all the time.

Congrats to the Knights.

ps..........yes the ball was out of bounds at the end of the game, I was directly up from it.  Would it have mattered .......NO.

Because Calvin would have hit an 85 footer to win the game anyway........thats just how last second shots go at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

Calvin College should resist the temptation to go "DeVos" and build a new place........there's some serious Karma on that North end of the gym.

[oldknight]

Oops, forgot to post the stats if anyone is interested.

http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mbasket/stats/2005_06/cm22.htm

There's something fishy about those stats. They show Veldhouse and Meckes with 19 minutes of PT and Snoeyink with only 13. That isn't right is it?

[RastaRob]

7 point halftime lead for Hope.  Its great to hear that Hare is playing again, however, I am disappointed we haven't seen Richardson at all. He has played really well lately, especially on Saturday against Crawford. I hope GVW doesn't drop Richardson back to the bench just because Hare is around. I am not convinced that Hare is any better. Thoughts?

Hare did not play tonight at all. Richardson did play and was ok. His defense was great and his offense was ok. Just thought I would clear that up.