MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[MIdoubleA]

Rochester's stellar shooting was as much dumb luck as it was Hope's defense. There were a few times it seemed a Rochester player would throw up some sort of prayer with a hand (not his own) in his face and the ball somehow managed to go in. If I recall correctly, one of the treys actually banked off of the backboard.

It was nice to see Tyler Wolfe get some credit tonight by making the all-tournament team. His play has, in my opinion been the best all season, not to mention most improved from last year. He makes better choices, takes better shots, and is seemingly turning the ball over less. I haven't looked at stats or anything, just from what I've watched.

Everyone ready for pick 'em? 

[pointlem]

It was nice to see Tyler Wolfe get some credit tonight by making the all-tournament team. His play has, in my opinion been the best all season, not to mention most improved from last year. He makes better choices, takes better shots, and is seemingly turning the ball over less. I haven't looked at stats or anything, just from what I've watched.

Indeed, Tyler's play, along with that of the other guards, has been a bright spot for Hope . . . enough to make me wonder whether we might see him on the floor more, as we did at the end today.  On a few occasions we've seen Marcus VH's agility and size being well-used by moving him into the paint . . . which also allows harnessing more of Tyler's offensive punch at the #3 position.

BTW, I notice that Calvin experimented with a different starting lineup today, which included Dustin Smith and Eric DeVries.

[David Collinge]

Wooster 101
Calvin 79

Anybody have any details?

Well, one detail is that the score was actually 98-82.    Here's a link to the box score.  Wooster shot the ball well (53.5%) and played pretty good defense (41%), and outrebounded the Knights 44-32.  Wooster was pretty much in control througout.  Caleb Veldhouse led Calvin with 22 on 7/15 shooting (5/11 from the arc) and was named to the all-tournament team.

It was very good to see goodknight and oldknight again.  It was a fun tournament, even if our teams didn't do as well as we might have liked.

[GoKnights68]

Is this the the same Rochester that Calvin lost to in the final four in 2005?

[AlwaysHope]

I have to admit I fell asleep early in the 2nd half.

Looks like Rochester got a little warm from 3 and and 3rd straight 3 with 11 minutes or so left gave them their first lead at 53-52.

Rochester led with 2 minutes to play then it looks like Hope came up with a couple big defensive plays and executed a little offense.......can't be to  upset with that after previous games.


Cramer 18, VanderHeide 12, Jager 10, Klein 9.........Cramer was 1-7 in the first and was 5-7 in the second with 15 of his 18 points.

Hope should be real pleased with the bench performance this weekend........29 points tonight, 34 last night.

So Hope finishes the non-conference 8-2 which is about what I figured but thruthfully I think they're a little ahead of where I thought they'd play as a team on the court.  Hope has a real chance to make a great run at the MIAA, they have to be the fav's going in.........tonight just proves it won't be the walk some people think.

PS I would like to know how much of a shot Rochester was able to get off at the buzzer?

I was at the Hope game, and also saw it on the local sports report tonight.  The shot at the buzzer by Rochester was a running shot from half court, and was short by at least 2 feet.

[David Collinge]

Is this the the same Rochester that Calvin lost to in the final four in 2005?

No.  That was the University of Rochester (NY), a D3 school and member of the UAA.  This is Rochester College (MI), a member of the USCAA.

[oldknight]

The teams at Mose Hole this weekend were really really really good--quick, physically tough, mentally strong and very experienced. The game between Wooster and ONU was fabulous basketball with ONU pulling it out down the stretch. Both teams clearly have the look of D3 Final Four material.

UW LaCrosse appears to be much better than the version we saw when Calvin beat them last March at DeVos. I don't remember LaCrosse playing great defense last March but their defense dominated the Knights in the first half Friday night. Calvin showed more heart and played much better in the second half but some of the intensity had gone out of the game by then too.

I actually was pretty pleased with Calvin's play against a Wooster squad that was clearly smarting from their loss to ONU the night before. Other than a stretch from about the 15 minute to the 5 minute mark of the first half (when Calvin had too many possessions end in a turnover) the Knights gave Wooster a solid effort. Calvin didn't simply mail in the results after getting down by double digits but played harder. tougher and smarter in the second half than I have seen them play this year. Veltema had an excellent second half and Mantel showed some fire in the belly. As long as the players don't get too down on themselves and recognize these games as good learning experiences I think they'll be OK during the MIAA regular season.

The two biggest areas of improvements necessary for the Knights are in turnover reduction and tightening their defense. They still rotate their defense way too slowly and leave shooters open at the arc far too often. Calvin didn't rebound particularly well this weekend either but the teams they saw at Mose Hole are very strong and quick to the ball and I don't think they will see anything like these teams in the MIAA season when it comes to rebounding ability so I'm less concerned about that aspect of the Knight's game.

It was fun to meet Pat and the Wooster posters. Good luck to your Scots this year.

[woosterbooster]

Glad to see that you two Knights made it home safely, despite DC's detailed directions.  And, seems that at least one of you has his priorities straight, heading right to DIII Hoops to get a post in before hitting the rack.    It was lots of fun to meet both of you, and best of luck to Calvin this year and going forward.

Oh.  Check out this site if you're interested:

www.diamond-mind.com

[Pat Coleman]

Fun to meet you guys too and put faces with handles.

Calvin didn't simply mail in the results after getting down by double digits but played harder.

This might be the highlight of the weekend for Calvin, in fact. They didn't play outstanding basketball but there was no quit in them either.

[bulldogalum]

Good to see Adrian get its first win heading into conference play last night.  I know that Oberlin is far from being a great team, but this was a very satisfying win for the Bulldogs.  For most of this season, they've been in games, and in many cases have had chances to win, but simply couldn't get over that hump. 

Last night, they simply outplayed Oberlin in every facet of the game, but most obviously, they outworked them, especially on the defensive end.  I don't care who you're playing, if you can hold a team to 40 points, you're playing pretty darn solid defense. 

I don't know what the conference season will bring for the Bulldogs, but from what I've seen so far, they'll play hard win or lose, and they'll give somebody a good scare this season. 

[ScotsFan]

Just wanted to add that it was fun getting the chance to meet and chat with some fellow posters (oldknight and goodknight).  Again, sorry things didn't work out better for your Knights, but I have to admit I'm a bit relieved that Wooster decided to show up yesterday evening.  Calvin definately showed some signs of being a dangerous team over the weekend and judging by the relative weakness of the MIAA this year, it looks like it will come down to how much the can grow and improve to possibly challenge Hope for the title. 

Once again, good to meet you both goodknight and oldknight and good luck to Calvin the rest of the season.

[Titan Q]

The IWU/Albion boxscore and newspaper article from yesterday...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2007/iwumbb11.htm

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/12/31/sports/doc45970e02eeeb5261911600.txt

[Roughrider]

Happy New Year to all on this board!!!   

I'll admit to being something of a Big Ten fan, so I'll be tuning in and out of several bowl games.  In the interest of good Big Ten sportsmanship, Go Nittany Lions, and go Badgers!  However, only one bowl game will really hold my attention today.  Go Blue!!!   

Roughrider

[David Collinge]

Happy New Year to all on this board!!!   

I'll admit to being something of a Big Ten fan, so I'll be tuning in and out of several bowl games.  In the interest of good Big Ten sportsmanship, Go Nittany Lions, and go Badgers!  However, only one bowl game will really hold my attention today.  Go Blue!!!   

Roughrider

Wait a minute...Penn State is in the Big 10?     Really?  Did that just happen, or am I still in denial? 
Well, in that case, go Nit...go Nitta...
...I just can't do it.  The words won't come out.   

Go Badgers, Go Blue, Go Big TEN! 

And Happy New Year to all and sundry!

[oldknight]

Go Badgers, Go Blue,

Go Blue? I'm  , . Woody must be rolling over in his grave. But don't worry David, I won't tell anyone lest you lose your Buckeye privileges.