MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[realist]

Adrian was a good team playing another good team in Calvin a week ago.
On Sat. it was that same good team, Calvin, playing a great team having a sub par day.     Last night the great team had a good night, and made a good team look inept.  Many of us learned this painful lesson back in Nov.
At this point it is going to take a herculean effort for any MIAA team to take down Hope.   I am still pulling for Calvin, and think they have a shot to win the next game.  However, (as I said earlier) this years Hope team is playing hungry, and that intangible "chemistry" seems right.  Calvin had it in 00, 05, and Hope strikes me as having it this year.  IMHO this years Hope team has the only ingredient they were missing last year.

[HopeConvert]

I got there during the national anthem (a stop at Bennigan's along the way) and thus missed the pregame raucous. I was impressed by the continued spirit of the Adrian students, given how badly they were getting beaten. There were some "things" that occurred in the student section, however, that I think I can safely say would not have been tolerated at either Hope or Calvin. I can't speak to the other MIAA schools on that one. I did like the couch in the corner though. I thought that was a nice touch. The "Marry me Glenn" sign was kind of funny also.

So - I didn't see the sign they had about Cramer, but I did see that dunk. In traffic, elevating straight off the floor, a complete facial. It was impressive.

Hope's defense did an excellent job taking Desmond out of the game. But aside from the defense, Adrian did miss some pretty simple layups and some open looks. I'm still trying to figure out how they beat Calvin, but I think it goes to the claim that Hope might have had an off day on Saturday. But then too, Hope's interior is not particularly big and I think they had a problem with Calvin's size, especially with Reimink in foul trouble. I agree with sac that the second unit is what really separates them from other teams in the league, and DVS and Cramer have been absolutely money at guard. DVS had another really good game.

Is it just me, or is Partridge really struggling with his shot lately?

[bulldogalum]

[Now bulldogalum if you were really at the game you would know that the dog pound was all over Hope and I say that is fine it is part of the game but when you go and yell at the team when they are in the locker room before the game........ I would say that is a little low (by the way you can thank them for feeding the fire) OH and if you were at the game you would have seen the "THE SIGN" that they had for Cramer. And when I say it shut them up I mean they didnt hold it up any more! And about that "THE SIGN" I found it very inappropriate and unneeded. I am very glad the DEW CREW has more class than that! I wouldnt say the Dew Crew was challenging the dog pound....... it was more like celebrating the take over of first place (by our selves) 

First off, I'm not sure that everyone at the game knew what happened before hand.  I was disappointed in our students for that.  I'm all for creating a raucous environment, but there are some things you just don't mess with.  Technically speaking, that area of the Merillat Center remains open for student usage during athletic events, so the students were not in an area they shouldn't have been or anything like that, but that doesn't make what they did right.  I think what happened was, they were looking to form a tunnel through which the Adrian team would take the floor, and when they looked through the door, they saw the Hope team huddled up, got carried away, and made a stupid mistake.

As for "THE SIGN," my only defense is that Cramer handled it like he should have.  He laughed in pregame, and played with passion during the game.  He didn't get flustered or whine about it, so why in the world should you?  Besides, this whole Dew Crew has more class thing is a little overrated.  Maybe they do, but I know I was personally the target of a few Dew Crew cheers in my day, and I can remember hearing plenty of insults thrown the way of our players, especially back in the Civic Center.  Maybe they didn't go so far as to put the insult in writing on a poster, but they were there all the same.

At any rate, I'm really not interested in pointing fingers.  Regardless of what happened, it's done, and I hope we never repeat that performance on the court or before the game as a student section.

[realist]

RE: the Dogpound,  Good example of the "law of unintended consequences".

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Is it just me, or is Partridge really struggling with his shot lately?

Let's see, two games ago he was leading (or near the top) of the league in field goal percentage and three point percentage.  2 rough games (1-2 and 1-5) don't seem like an area to be overly concerned about.

[Civic Minded]

Well....that wasn't exactly what I had expected to see!   

Others have noted well the details of the Hope/Adrian game.  I will add this thought.  To Adrian's credit, our 3rd unit did not make gains on the score as they have against other opponents.  Could have something to do with who was still on the floor for Adrian at that point, I don't remember.

I too will give kudos to Adrian's student section -- they were ready to have a good time, and very pumped up.  Yeah, some of what they did was, well, kinda wrong, but I've seen much worse.  As for the Dew Crew, I sat right by them, and only found them to be offensive on one occasion (and actually, they were just stating the truth).  It was nipped in the bud immediately, and appropriately.  And there were only about 6 of them, yet they still managed to get some of us old folks involved.  Thanks for making the drive, guys!

And yeah, Partridge had an off night.  They all do at one time or another.  He'll be just fine.  Trust me.

Ah, basketball!  Can't beat it! 8)

[AndersDY]

IMHO this years Hope team has the only ingredient they were missing last year.

I thought I saw the biggest missing piece from last year last Saturday at the Calvin game, and that was that Hope finished a game where they needed to maintain a thin lead. Last year it felt like you knew we better pound out a solid lead because come the last 5 minutes, the offense would go stiff and we'd have to cling to whatever lead was left. (This was particuarly highlighted last year because the women's team did close out similar games. Watching the men at Witt and the women at DePauw back to back in the NCAAs just showed me which team could gut out those wins.) Seeing tough buckets on some key possessions where we needed them was a very good sign for those games in which the last 5 minutes matter.

It must have been bad since it has only been referenced as "The Sign," but throw the radio crowd a bone here, what was said? It may take some dashes or synonyms, but what did the Adrian section think of Cramer?

I'm assuming it's too much to ask that someone might have video of his spectacular dunk we all missed which could be put up on YouTube?

[bulldogalum]

The sign said "Cramer's a Flamer."  Cramer himself took it well, and did what good players are taught to do--ignore the fans and prove what you've got to prove on the court.

As to video of the game, obviously the coaches have game film, and I think I saw a couple of local television crews there for the game, so it may make its way into the general consciousness.

The Dew Crew was pretty spirited for a small group.  I personally don't like the "how do you like that, what do you have to say to that" line of cheering, not because it is unsportsmanlike or because it lacks class (neither of those is true), it is merely a matter of personal style.  Of course there's nothing to say to a dunk like Cramer had except "nice job."  It simply doesn't make a ton of logical sense to me.

Of course, it could be that I'm just getting too old to understand what the kids these days are saying .

[ziggy]

The talk that Hope is improvement over last year is due to chemistry is a little odd to me.  I have only seen them live once this season but from what I saw, their success is due to a distinct talent and athleticism advantage.  I highlight this by pointing to the example of Cramer down the stretch last saturday.  Some of the shots he made would be bad shots if taken by anyone else.  He and DVS are quite often the best two players out on the court at any given time.  Couple their offensive skills with their defensive ferocity and it's no wonder why they are one of the top teams in DIII.  Even though both were part of the team last year (or for at least part of it  ), both have taken their games to new heights.  I also believe the team as a whole is deeper than last year (scary).

I could be completely wrong, considering I also thought Marcus VanderHeide played the worst game I have ever seen from him last saturday.  Obviously the box scored painted a different picture of his performance.

[KnightSlappy]

I could be completely wrong, considering I also thought Marcus VanderHeide played the worst game I have ever seen from him last saturday.  Obviously the box scored painted a different picture of his performance.

VanderHeide looked rattled last saturday.  His numbers came out o.k. but he seemed like a 'deer in headlights' at times.  Of course, I also think Derek Griffin looked this way for the entire first half.

[realist]

bda:  "Cramer is a Flamer".  Dang: I hate to admit stuff like being old, but let me be the first to say I don't get it.
At the risk of being called a traiter like HC some further thoughts on Hope this year;  Over the years some of us have noted a tendency on the part of Hope teams (players, and coaches alike) to react poorly when confronted by adverse situations.  It's easy to win by 30 points every night, but another thing to make a "hail Mary" 3 pt shot off the glass to get to overtime or similar heroic efforts a number of times during the year.  GVW, and his team did a great job keeping their composure last Sat.  If they continue to show this level of heart they are capable of doing good things.
I recall thinking at the time it was a blessing in disguise for Hope to lose two games in the CCIW challenge.   This years team knows they can be beat, and rather than waiting for someone else to step up they seem to understand anyone of them can be the hero any game.   I guess what I am trying to say is this year Hope strikes me as a basketball TEAM.  Not just 5 talented guys wearing the same uniforms.  Is this the most talented Hope team ever?  I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

[SKOT]

bda:  "Cramer is a Flamer".  Dang: I hate to admit stuff like being old, but let me be the first to say I don't get it.

Besides the internet forum definition, urbandictionary.com gives you this def:

1.     flamer     
   

Extremely flamboyant homosexual. Very bright clothing, loud speach, upbeat attitude, often noisy or annoying, intrusive. Very very gay...

"That guy is acting out some broadway musical in the middle of the street.. what a flamer.."

[realist]

Well I have to agree.  Cramer is often annoying.

[gohope]

Cramer Annoying ? 

[northb]

Well I have to agree.  Cramer is often annoying.

Cosmo Cramer?