MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

KVS said after the game that he thought Calvin had an advantage in the post because
This 3 guard lineup Calvin has used since league play began is not working in my opinion.  Our guards are very stagnant without the ball. 

You've hit the nail on the head Al. The Knights are excessively guard oriented this year. Part of the reason is because they do have a dearth of post players who can score with consistency. Mantel is clearly Calvin's most dangerous post scorer but he is still learning the college game and needs the necessary weight room work to improve his inside scoring. I expect that next year (when he will likely be paired with Engelsma from the JV team) that we will see a much better inside game from Calvin than we are seeing this year.

Nevertheless the guards simply have to be more patient and try and work the ball inside first. The difference between how Calvin played Hope the first time and the second time demonstrates this. In the Select Bank Classic Calvin's offense was reduced to simply trying to free the guard for a shot with a high post screen. Hope's defenders--who always overplayed the wing guard and who effectively stepped out when the guard came around the screen--are simply too good to expect any sort of offensive success doing that. If Griffin hadn't hit several really tough threes in the first half the score at the break would have been worse than the hurt the Dutch put on Adrian.

When Calvin played Hope earlier this month Calvin's guards made Hope's defenders pay by frequently hitting the high post screener (or the off-the-ball low post player) with passes as they cut to the basket. Doing that frees up the guards for a more wide open look at the basket. Calvin needs to learn the importance of the inside-out game because it is that kind of offense that makes the defense do more than guard the perimeter. Right now the Knights aren't that hard to defend because they have only one dimension on offense.

[sac]

Halftime in the Tulip City

HOPE 58 Kzoo 27

Grinning from ear to ear, these guys are playing incredible.

VanSolkema 14, Reimink 12, the two combined for 7-9 from 3, Cramer 10, VanderHeide 8

Hope shot 58% as a team, 8-14 from trey.

Hope led 34-22 at the break down in Kzoo and won by 32, this has serious ugly potential.


In the weirdness category my over the internet radio connection is behind the live scoreboard, so I know whats going to happen before Ron Weatherbie describes it.  Kinda weird.

[sac]

Simply a brutal brutal start to the 2nd half,  7 minutes with one basket by both teams.  Being described as very physical.

Hope 65 Kzoo 31.........Hope's starters have left the game, probably for good.

[almcguirejr]

Calvin FG% last 3 games

vs Albion    36.8
vs Kazoo    39.6
vs Tri-State 36.5

Veldhouse, Griffin, Smith, combined 33-106 in those 3 games (32%)

Rest of Team 31-78 (40%)

3 guards have taken 58% of shots.

When Calvin played Hope earlier this month Calvin's guards made Hope's defenders pay by frequently hitting the high post screener (or the off-the-ball low post player) with passes as they cut to the basket. Doing that frees up the guards for a more wide open look at the basket. Calvin needs to learn the importance of the inside-out game because it is that kind of offense that makes the defense do more than guard the perimeter. Right now the Knights aren't that hard to defend because they have only one dimension on offense.

Our post guys have some offensive shortcomings. But, this offense that puts the ball in their hands 20 feet from the basket leaves something to be desired also.  

[sac]

Final from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan

HOPE 86  Kalamazoo 48

Well without seeing it, its difficult to say what that half was but the missed shots and turnovers suggest .....u-g-l-y.  Kzoo scored 21 points in the second half and I'm pretty sure their shooting percentage was dismal.

VanSolkema 16, Cramer 15, Reimink 12, Jager 9 and a very nice 2nd half.

All 3 of Kzoo's leading scorers were held to 8, 6 and 2

[sac]

Hope came into the week as  D3's leader in 3point shooting percentage.

I don't think they did much to hurt that average this week. 15-29 and 10-19 for 25 of 48 for the week.

[hope1]

good game for hope they keep it rolling  and play at olivet wed night 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

All 3 of Kzoo's leading scorers were held to 8, 6 and 2

Strange thing is that Pat Clancy and Mat Kellogg road the bench the entire second half.  They were sitting about as far from the coach as they could get, and looked pretty depressed.  Not sure what happened at halftime, but it must have been something seious to keep the two top scorers on the bench.

And yes - that second half was pretty ugly.

[AndersDY]

Sac, the start of the second half looked pretty brutal. It was quite physical as we got the impression Kzoo was coming out with a theory of "if you can't beat them, beat them up." Not too far into the second half, one of their guards committed a silly foul on Jager and then looked up at the scoreboard shocked when the ref held up 1 and 1 fingers, he couldn't believe he had already committed team foul #9 for the half. Hope certainly didn't help themselves either though, in the first few minutes of the half they had several very nice moves which had everything except the ball finding the net at the end. The first few minutes of each half really featured little scoring by either side.

A lot of mistakes for Kzoo all night. #22 hit a few very nice 3's, but there wasn't much else for them to be too excited about. Jesse Reimink had one stretch of 5 minutes or so in the second half of just beautiful defensive play. He seemed to end several Kzoo possessions in a row with a steal or block, including a very nice clean stuff on a 1 on 1 fast break.

Not to dwell on the B-W word, but as Hope continues this run of games that don't even matter after 10 minutes, I also can't help but think that their competition is not doing them any favors in terms of preparation for tournament play. I really hope they have to play a couple 40 minute games the rest of the way, which I would assume will probably come from Calvin. I don't think they would go into the NCAAs over-confident, they would realize they can't blow tourney teams off the court the same way, but when it comes time to play a close game, it really helps to have experienced them throughout the season.

Very disappointed in the new "Dutch" today. It's not as dumb as that mascot Holland High came up with (nothing could be), but he came out at the beginning of each varsity game and then did nothing else the whole time. Let's take a couple Dew Crew members and teach them to do trampoline dunks while wearing costumes, it'd be more fun.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

andersdy is right about the physical play.  In the first 9 minutes of the second hald, Kzoo had committed 10 fouls, but only scored 7 points.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I was looking at the league standings, and something quite sstrange caught my eye.  Adrian and Tri-State - tied for second with 6-2 conference records, yet they are averaging a 3-4 point loss in the conference (see below)

                      Avg     Opp
Adrian     6-2    69.4    73.0 
Tri-State 6-2    71.6    74.7 

[Mr. Ypsi]

andersdy is right about the physical play.  In the first 9 minutes of the second hald, Kzoo had committed 10 fouls, but only scored 7 points.

I fear he may also be correct about lack of preparation for the tournament.  No one in the conference seems capable of giving them a scary-tight game this season.  That may come back to haunt them when they meet an OAC, CCIW, UAA, etc., team - even though the opponent will probably have 3 times as many losses!

[realist]

Another win for Hope.  Another good job all around from the sound of it.  Most of us would rather win ugly than lose pretty.  I sort of agree that it would be a very good thing for some team to play Hope very competitive before the "big dance".  If the last few games are any indication I don't think this Hope team is taking anyone lightly, but it could happen.  
After mulling over Calvin's game about the only idea that comes to mind is move up a couple of the JV's, and let them get some experience at the next level.  Perhaps shaking up the lineup, and using Calvin's strength (it's height inside) will free the guards from thinking they have to win the game from the outside.
Al:  I am inclined to agree the 3 gaurd package is not working.

[sac]

I was looking at the league standings, and something quite sstrange caught my eye.  Adrian and Tri-State - tied for second with 6-2 conference records, yet they are averaging a 3-4 point loss in the conference (see below)

                      Avg     Opp
Adrian     6-2    69.4    73.0 
Tri-State 6-2    71.6    74.7 

39 and 44 point losses will do that. 

Personally I'm not even worrying about the NCAA's, no point at this point.  Hope's had about 3 chances to win an MIAA championship in the last 6 years where they didn't close the deal or win the close one down the stretch.  MIAA first, we'll worry about everything else latter, too much basketball to be played.

[hawk'ster]

Final from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan

HOPE 86  Kalamazoo 48

Did anyone spot any other MIAA coaches watching the game?  With the later start time you wonder how many guys make the drive.