MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Civic Minded]

DK:  I tend to agree.  There shouldn't be much doubt that Hope returns with a load of talent, and probably is the odds on favorite at this time.  Calvin just has too many ? marks to merit more than a passing mention.  By the time MIAA action starts in Jan. we will have a much better feel for how the "ripening Knights" will do.

...and we Hope fans will probably need medication by then.    Heck, I'm looking forward to seeing how the "ripening Knights" develop -- should be fun.  Of course, part of me will also selfishly be hoping that Veldhouse experiences some sort of sophmore slump, but that's a compliment, right?

Rest assured, whether they are mentioned in preseason polls or not, we all understand that they are a program to be reckoned with.  Here's to January!   

[sac]

Hope is losing Jeff Carlson, Evan Hare, Greg Immink, Andy Phillips, Eric Voisin, and Patrick Woolpert. Together, they accounted for 56% of minutes played and 53% of points scored.

That group includes two of the touted transfers and three starters -- all on the All-MIAA first team. Phillips was an All-American, if memory serves, and Immink really ran the team.

I know Hope was deep, but losing half your team and your three best players (according to All-MIAA accolades) has got to hurt.

So how does this year's team compare? Who are those new guys, Steven Kratz (Fr), Dan Greenan (So), Scott Glaser (Jr), Tim Dykgraaf (So), and Zach Osburn (Jr)?

Well this year's Hope team is pretty deep,  with good talent, I can envision every guy playing a role for Hope.  The #1 problem is that they have so many players who will be playing new roles this year.  By that I mean starting instead of coming off the bench for 3 or 4 minutes or coming off the bench instead of sitting the bench.

I don't expect Hope to change their offensive philosophy they went to two seasons ago.  They'll still run Bo Ryan's offense and will rely heavily on playing good defense.

The newcomers will have roles, I expect Osburn and Dykgraf to contribute right away considering how thin Hope is down low.  If memory serves me, and I could be wrong, Osburn was a D1 football player at NIU, maybe I have him confused with someone else.  Dykgraf I don't know anything about except he played for GR South Christian and transfered in from a D2 school.   Kratz was the recruit I kept hearing good things about, probably was most compared to Andy Phillips, certainly has similar stature.  I didn't see last years JV team but I liked Glaser 2 years ago, another mid sized athletic type that GVW likes so much.  Greenan I know nothing about.

I think Hope will rely heavily on Vanderheide, Cramer and VanSolkema particularly early in the year.  They have potential to be very good if a few guys really step up and play great and contribute.

I expect Hope to struggle out of the gate.............first because their first opponent Cornernerstone will be playing game #7 and I think Elders has himself another good squad.  The second game will likely be against Aquinas who'll be playing game #10........and we all know how Hope performs against AQ on that side of Grand Rapids.  If they should meet Calvin, the edge is Calvin's on their home floor.  (Wouldn't it just make sense they meet the year they move out of VanAndel)

Games 3 and 4 at Carthage and vs. Wheaton will be tough games, Hope will get tested out of the gate for sure, and 0-4 or 1-3 record isn't out of the question.  But you wouldn't be that surprised to see them 4-0 either considering the talent, I just think too many things have to fit into place to have that happen too early.  I'd take 2-2 in a heartbeat.

I certainly expect Hope to be in the chase for the MIAA which is Calvin, Albion and Hope's battle again (don't sleep on the Brits).  I think Hope has a lot of things to work out and a schedule that won't let them early on.  The #14 ranking is too high for me, they simply lost too much plus the difference between 05 without and immink and 06 with Immink was night and day.  Easily the biggest graduation loss Hope had from last Spring.

It will be an interesting year for Hope.

[sac]

Now if we could an NFL team in this state we would be all set.

Well I'm not holding my breath.

I can't wait for the 17th either, but there seems to be a little conflict of interests for me at around 3:30 EST on the 18th.

You said it brother.  Earthquake's, fire, plagues, hurricanes have nothing on the impending collision of those two.   

It should be noted that the Hope roster is tentative, additions and/or deletions may
occur throughout the season.

Take it in! It might be a genereation befroe we see this stuff happeaning again.

Might be a generation before some let it go. 

[northb]

As for Hope, I look for them to really push it up the floor this year. The one through three spots can play with anyone in the country, but the frontcourt has lost quite a bit. I expect Reimink to stat and have an excellent year. I love what he brings to the table. I see the key being the play of Richardson. I presume he will start at the five and they need him to rebound and play good D. The guards will do plenty of scoring so he just needs to be consistent. I can't belive that with Hope being ranked 14 that Calvin doesn't even break the top 25. I think Hope lost an afual lot be still deserve the ranking, but how to you justify Calvin not being in the twenties somewhere. I'd be shocked if both these teams are not in the tourney.

It is a long time until March

[knights2000]

I expect Koetsier to be getting some decent minutes this year. He supposedly looked great this summer. I agree with goodknight starting lineup. I realize that it's hard to sit a senior like Snoop, but if anyone has the attitude to do that it's him. To me, his greatest strength is his leadership and the attitude he brings to the floor. I believe that he can bring this from the bench just as well as if not better than he can starting. He changes the flow of the game when he's on the floor and think bringing him off the bench platys to this strength. If what I hear about Mantel is true, it would be nearly impossible not to start him. I don't want to drive up expectations for the kid, so I will say no more. How come no one cared when I told you Griffin was on the way and now everyone has him pegged to start. Funny. Young in the backcourt, but experienced so I don't worry there. The frontcourt is full of seniors and very strong defensively. The JV is huge and a year down there for Engelsman, Schuster, Veenstra, and the like will do them good. Interesting, that Zwier made varsity, buit I've heard he's made good strides and glad for the kid. I am kind of surpirsed that Duff got cut and McCray made it. Not saying it's a bad move, but a just a little surprising.

Shareef23, you hit the nail on the head with your comments on Snoeyink.  He's a grinder and a great team player who understands that his starting status last year came only when Hoekstra and Roelefs decided to forego their senior year of eligibility.  He might very well provide more to the Knights coming off the bench than he would in the starting five.
I expect Koetsier will contribute a good amount off the bench, as well.   
Can't wait for Nov. 17.

I don't know about that. Like I said before, I've got Snoop starting with Mantel at the 3, and from what I've heard, Mantel does not have a problem taking his jump shot out behind the arc. Besides, wouldn't it make sense to start your captains?

[MIdoubleA]

I like the post about Hope, Sac. Here are a few other observations:

Good

I think we're going to see a few people in a new light this year. Dan Holt, Ryan Klein and Brett Jager are all victims of the depth of Hope basketball and with the graduation of so many stars, this will be their year to shine.

Zach Osbourne was indeed a football player and did transfer to Hope this year. However, Hope did initially recruit him very heavily for bball before he made the decision to go down to NIU. Think of him as a more mobile Travis Spaman.

Bad

You can see all the points and playtime they lost to graduation, but something that isn't tangible is the leadership that was lost. I don't doubt Cramer, Vanderheide and Richardson in any way, but they have big shoes to fill in that department as well.

Where is Ryan Rademaker? He played JV last year and I can't tell you how many times I watched him carry the team. Great shooter, great passer, and seemed to be cool under the gun. Unfortunately, he is nowhere to be found 

[realist]

[quote author=sac link=topic=4596.msg584203#msg584203   They have potential to be very good if a few guys really step up and play great and contribute.

I just think too many things have to fit into place to have that happen too early.  I'd take 2-2 in a heartbeat.

I certainly expect Hope to be in the chase for the MIAA which is Calvin, Albion and Hope's battle again (don't sleep on the Brits).  I think Hope has a lot of things to work out and a schedule that won't let them early on.  The #14 ranking is too high for me, they simply lost too much
[/quote]

Sac:  Thanks for the excellent early analysis:   14 may be a bit heady wine for Hope at this point, however if this team jells early, and builds confidence enjoy the ride.    From an outsiders viewpoint this guy Osbourne has the size to give Hope a dimension they haven't enjoyed for several years.  I agree it is a mistake to think of the MIAA as only a 2 team affair.

[Shareef23]

knights2000, it's possible that Mantal starts at the 3. The laast time KVS started a 6'8'' guy at the 3 things worked out pretty well.  I actually like a cap. coming off the bench. It gives the bench stability and if the first 2 or 3 min of a game go bad, you can bring that calming influence in and change the whole flow of the game. I could argue that Snoop would be more affective off the bench than as a starter. Not saying I'm right, but there are advantages to it.

Dygraf was the one of the big guys on the team that won state for South in Kool's junior year. He didn't seem as much of a scoring threat, but than again with David Kool on his team, he didn't need to. He was a good defender and rebounder and probably has improve quite a bit in the past year. Might be a solid contributer if not this year certainly in the future. Always seemed like a real nice kid too.

As for saying March is a long ways off. I understand that, but I'll look smarter if I make a prediction now rather than in Jan. 

[almcguirejr]

This is not a basketball story but I liked the exchange between the judge and the Adrian student.



http://www.adrian.edu/news/plinko_Ballard06.php

[Mr. Ypsi]

This is not a basketball story but I liked the exchange between the judge and the Adrian student.



http://www.adrian.edu/news/plinko_Ballard06.php

Nice find - +k!

Truth or Consequences, NM, has stayed that way for half a century.  I think "Plinko" did the smarter thing, especially if his grandpa is rich!

[NW Hope Fan]

This is not a basketball story but I liked the exchange between the judge and the Adrian student.



http://www.adrian.edu/news/plinko_Ballard06.php

Looks like the Adrian student gets to ride a scooter to baseball practice...

[GoKnights68]

WGVU broadcast continues....

http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2006-07/calvin-hope.htm

[devossed]

I don't expect Hope to change their offensive philosophy they went to two seasons ago.  They'll still run Bo Ryan's offense and will rely heavily on playing good defense.

I believe they abandoned that concept last year...seemed to be more of a motion game.

knights2000, it's possible that Mantal starts at the 3. The laast time KVS started a 6'8'' guy at the 3 things worked out pretty well.  I actually like a cap. coming off the bench. It gives the bench stability and if the first 2 or 3 min of a game go bad, you can bring that calming influence in and change the whole flow of the game. I could argue that Snoop would be more affective off the bench than as a starter. Not saying I'm right, but there are advantages to it.

Brett Jager will come off the bench for Hope. Might be the 3rd string PG or move him to SG, but should be steady when he comes in.

Mantel would look good at the 3, but I think better at the 4, putting Snoeyink on the bench. This would give KVS some breathing room when either he or Meckes needs a sub. This also allows Zoerhof to shine a little better at the 3, still giving opposing frontcourts mismatch nightmares (Hope might be the only school able to matchup like this, with 6-7 Vanderheide at the 3).

For Hope, look for potential starting lineups to be:

1 Van Solkema
2 Cramer
3 Vanderheide
4 Reimink
5 Richardson

1 Van Solkema
2.5 Cramer
2.5 Wolfe
4 Vanderheide
5 Richardson

1 Van Solkema
2 Cramer
3 Vanderheide
4.5 Richardson
5 Holt

Either way, Hope will go 10 deep no problem (their second 5 could probably finish no less than 3rd in the league) and can even go 12 deep without losing much. GVW has endless options, but might have to get them figured out soon or endure a long non-conference portion of the schedule. With a noticeable lack of D-3 participation and even short the max allowed games by 1, the bane of the MIAA (in-region emphasis) will hurt come selection time...WWKVSD?

[almcguirejr]

Either way, Hope will go 10 deep no problem (their second 5 could probably finish no less than 3rd in the league) and can even go 12 deep without losing much. GVW has endless options, but might have to get them figured out soon or endure a long non-conference portion of the schedule.

Hope had tremendous depth last year and GVW only used them in blowouts.  He shortened his bench in the close games that they had last year.

With a noticeable lack of D-3 participation and even short the max allowed games by 1, the bane of the MIAA (in-region emphasis) will hurt come selection time...WWKVSD?

I believe the NCAA has instituted a rule this year, that if your conference has a post season tournament, you must count the first game of your conference tournament as one of your alloted 25 games.  I believe this is why Ferris State is not on Calvin's schedule this year.

[Stinger]

For anyone that's interested, the Hornet's exhibition vs Western Michigan has been moved to Nov 2nd, 7pm at University Arena.