MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Geez NYKnight post more often

Your last few paragraphs are practically verbatim to what I've been thinking all day.

Basically last night came down to executing one posession for Hope and they didn't do it. 

......and I loved Greg Imminks quote in the GRPress......they'll learn from it and will be mentally tougher next time.

........and I'll gladly come back and do last night all over again in 3 Saturdays.  Same time, same place.

Barring any other upsets (although Calvin can lose one before the tournament  ), will this be the first time in MIAA history to have 3 teams win 20+ games. 
The MIAA website only goes back through 96-97, so it will take a litle more time to figure it out. Wondering if anyone has the answer, straight up?

Well the only other time I can think was early in the 90's Kzoo had a team that was close to 19 wins but I can't remember if they hit 20.  It would not surprise me at alll if this was the first time that ever happened.

[mustywetdog]

Of course a team can have a bad game...but few would argue that Calvin has a more talented roster.  If you wonder about GVW's coaching skills, ask a former player.  My oldest and longest running friendship is with a former Hope standout in the late 90's.  I cant mention any names, but he would tell you, (maybe not you because you were a reporter) but GVW does not get the most out of his squad.  And he is not alone.  KVS on the other hand appears to do just that.  Also, being a former college athlete myself, I know the value of good coaching. 

[sac]

Someday karma will change and Hope will win all the last second shot thrillers.

Sac, I assume you are referring solely to the Hope/Calvin rivalry. 

Yes I was.  I cannot remember a single last second win for Hope vs Calvin in my time where Hope won the game with a shot.  The only thing close was 97 in the MIAA tournament when Holstege stole the game away with 4 points in the final minute, but Winkle missed a very makable 15 footer with several tips on the rebound.  Calvin had 15 seconds to set that play up.

I must say I found Doug's post game pronouncement that last night's affair was the greatest in his 40 years of broadcasting Calvin/Hope games to be hyperbole, no doubt influenced by the stunning nature of winning a game with a last second shot to give an underdog Calvin their only lead of the game.

Honestly I don't think Mr. Wentworth was that far off, for pure effort this was a beauty.  The defense was great and I felt like both teams were pretty much on empty at the end.  People will poiint to the shotting %'s being low but that had everything to do with the near total lack of inside post games by either team.


I also think Mr W realizes just how great the Knights played and had to play to beat this Hope squad.  He's a pretty sharp guy.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

As an outsider, I certainly would think the discussion in the final huddle for Hope would be "alright, you can hand them a two-point shot on a platter, but nothing outside the arc at all."

anders - I seriously doubt that you would have that kind of defensive approach to the last shot - you play to win and not let them score - period.  

Most of the guys are probably thinking in the back of their mind that Calvin goes for the tie - which makes KVS strategy that much better.  You could replay that situation 20 times, and have the same two coaches calling the plays in the huddle, and they would out-think and out-coach each other probably 10 times each.  KVS just happened to do it right last night - and of course Veldhouse hit the shot.  If he misses that shot, is KVS still as good a coach as he is right now - of course he is, but I'll bet few would be arguing like you are now.

[mustywetdog]

Like I said earlier...its not the last play I'm talking about.  Calvin should be down by 15 points at that stage in the game.  Whether or not that dude buries the triple, KVS coached an over-matched team into that position...its not what GVW did wrong this game, or at the last second of the game, its the whole package, it starts during tryouts and the first practice.

[NYKnight]

Of course a team can have a bad game...but few would argue that Calvin has a more talented roster.  If you wonder about GVW's coaching skills, ask a former player.  My oldest and longest running friendship is with a former Hope standout in the late 90's.  I cant mention any names, but he would tell you, (maybe not you because you were a reporter) but GVW does not get the most out of his squad.  And he is not alone.  KVS on the other hand appears to do just that.  Also, being a former college athlete myself, I know the value of good coaching. 

I can rattle off several Knights who didn't like playing for KVS or think he was a great coach. And they weren't all from the Douma to KVS era. Two years ago, the Calvin faithless were ready for KVS to move on. Now he's a demi-god.

I myself had Zuidema after the game of soccer had long passed him by. I still learned a few things, but I don't think he was a great coach at that point. But I would hard-pressed to say it was his fault we had one of our worst years ever.
The team was divided and lax. Coaches do their jobs in practice, players do their jobs in practice and games. If you have to really coach during the game, you're not doing your job in practice.

Either way, Hope is having one of its best seasons ever, so I'll just say that the criticism seems to be a little unwarranted, splitting with Calvin or not.

[mustywetdog]

They should be having a great season, they are basically a small D1 team with all those transfers.  9-2 in the MIAA is hardly a mgical season though.

[NYKnight]

Small D1?
BS

[Flying Dutch Fan]

They should be having a great season, they are basically a small D1 team with all those transfers.  9-2 in the MIAA is hardly a mgical season though.

Hey musty - how about you come back when you're ready to post something positive - I suspect that may be a long time for you

[mustywetdog]

Only a slight exageration.   Anway, an easy non-conference schedule helps that padded record too though.  Andrews? C'mon, there are Hope intermural teams that could beat them.  Thats what I'm talking about, GVW doesn't blink when they schedule cupcake teams to get an undefeated streak going at the new place...and Hope pounds them...then they get into some good teams and its not so easy any more.  Great players, great facility, average coach.  Its not negative its a cry for help.  I'm sorry, do you have to blindly follow the same guy for 25 years?

[NYKnight]

Let me just say that if you are a very good D3 team, almost every non-conf team will be a cupcake. Take the not-that-great Calvin team this year. No trouble with any D3 teams.

[mustywetdog]

Then dont schedule them...or not so many at least.  My high school was not in a conference...that means we scheduled whoever we wanted.  When we smoked a school a few years in a row, we dropped them and picked up somebody good.  It didn't matter if they were on the other side of the state or right next door.  When it came time for the state tourney, we did really well.  Our record wasn't as good as it could have been but it made us better when it counted.  You get the point.

[hope1]

no we dont get the point

[realist]

Based on all the above posts it seems that Calvin did about the best they possibly could have done.  KVS has a lot of confidence in the ability of his players, and his staff.  I think his comments are sincere, and he knew his guys had to do many things right to have a shot.  Given a choice I am sure he would have preferred to blow Hope out, but he knew he didn't have the talent to do that.  Keep it close, and let Hope get nervous, and perhaps make an unacustomed mistake or bad play and steal one at home.  Over the years GVW has won way to many games for anyone, especially his own fans to questions his ability.  While he has been in close situations at the end many times over the years this team hadn't experienced it like they did last night.
Everyone should expect the coaches, and Hope players to learn from this experience, and move on. 

[mustywetdog]

DONT SCHEDULE SO MANY EASY TEAMS.  IT'LL MAKE YOU BETTER.  Thats the point. 

I went to Hope, doesn't anybody else want to capitalize on the talent that enrolls every year, or should we all just wear orange shirts, drink mountain dew and blindly agree with everything that is Hope Basketball?