MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[diehardfan]

Both the Hope and Calvin mascots look pretty goofy to me. I absolutely hate Disneyfied mascots of that sort. But I'll say this: Neither "Dutch" nor the armored sausage have anything on Carthage's mascot in the dorkiness department. Carthage developed a costumed mascot several years ago, probably to stave off any further attempts to inflame the PC police by using an American Indian reference in connection to the Redmen nickname. Since a torch is prominently featured on Carthage's school seal, the new mascot was supposed to be a large torch. In case you couldn't figure that out -- and, believe me, the whole torch concept is not what automatically strikes you the first time you see this monstrosity -- the character was named "Torchy". However, given the fact that what it most closely resembles is a giant gray tuber, Carthage people usually refer to the mascot as "the Turnip".

It's true, it's pretty much the most ridiculous mascot ever. However, I think it looks like a giant cherry flavored soft serve ice cream cone. Yummy.

Thank God for the powers that be who made Wheaton's mascot one that can't technically ever be visually representable, and one that certainly can't be turned into a overgrown stuffed puppet. 

I personally think the new Hope Mascot should get some string and a harness and get flown around in the rafters of the DeVos. Now that could be entertaining.

[kresgekrazy]

Speaking of Mascots - some of you will love this video of a mascot taking "Casual Friday's" to an exteme. 
Great video - some of you may have seen it already...

http://espn.go.com/media/2000/q2/promo_0628promo10v.avi
Enjoy - You can pick one up at fredricks of hollywood for your trip to Cancun this Spring Break - Carl.

ALthough your best color is pink... you know what I'm talking about.

Nate

[David Collinge]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

And you might like to know that Dex is languishing near the end of the bench of Wooster's all-frosh JV team, despite being the tallest person currently in possession of a Scots' uniform.   

[almcguirejr]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

And you might like to know that Dex is languishing near the end of the bench of Wooster's all-frosh JV team, despite being the tallest person currently in possession of a Scots' uniform.   

I sense a transfer to the lakeshore in Sept. 07.

[oldknight]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

And you might like to know that Dex is languishing near the end of the bench of Wooster's all-frosh JV team, despite being the tallest person currently in possession of a Scots' uniform.   

I sense a transfer to the lakeshore in Sept. 07.

Nah; the Dutch will wait until next January to complete the transfer just to irritate some unnamed poster.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

To think in a few hours we will finally have basketball games to talk about again.

[Dew Nation]

Appearantly noone else in the league has outside of Mantel (who was a "lock" to come to Hope according to those close to the program.  Obviously he changed his mind at the last minute for whatever reason).

Wonder what his mom has to say about that... Not that she will. 

I probably get the same forwarded emails about recruits as the "insiders" and Mantel was NEVER regarded as a "lock", in fact most of the time they seemed to think he was a bit of a longshot.

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

I wouldn't mind being on those email lists.  I actually get my information from a coach for Hope and a player for Calvin (former player of mine).  Pretty good sources in my book.  Heard the same about that Batista kid.  I think I smell transfer as well, although I think this team might be a bit more resistant to new players than last years group.  Just a hunch.

[AndersDY]

Reimink and Richardson combined 8 fouls, 0 points, and 2 rebounds against a very mediocre Calvin frontcourt.  I don't think a quality big man would have much trouble against those two.

Ok, I know you havent seen many HOPE games but as I said before....Calvin didnt play in the post!!!  They ran ball and slip screens out on the perimeter...all Reiminks fouls and 2 of Richardsons fouls came on either perimeter play by hedging out too hard or helping on dribble penetration by Calvins guards.  I am just saying in the post defense ALWAYS favors the physically stronger defender. 

I also think that Mantel is a quality big man but most of his points came on jumpers or pick and rolls, not post moves! 

Basketball today (especially the way the post is officiated) does NOT favor the "back to the basket" big man....that is in Hopes favor.
 

So, if a team gameplans well against Hope it doesn't count against their ability to defend.  But if you play the way that Hope defends well, they are really good defenders.  Got it.

I don't think he was trying to indicate the dominance of Hope's defense and explain away any counter examples. I think by pointing out the way in which Calvin had their success against Hope, he wasn't saying that there is no way to get anything against Hope's D, but he was showing that the Calvin game didn't exactly show anything about whether Richardson and Reimink would struggle with a traditional big man's post game since Calvin exploited them in ways other than power post play.

I believe the discussion was started not asking if Hope's interior defense can be beat, but wondering if facing a traditional power post player could be Hope's specific weakness this year.

[sac]

Tonights an internet scoreboard watchers dream for MIAA fans......

All four MIAA men's contests will have live scoreboards

Adrian at Kalamazoo
http://www.kzoo.edu/sports/live/xlive.htm

Hope at Olivet
http://www.olivetcollege.edu/sports/livestats/xlive.htm

Alma at Calvin
http://www.calvin.edu/scoreboard/

Tri-State at Albion
http://www.albion.edu/sports/stats/xlive.htm

With the last link you can also keep tabs on the Calvin at Albion women's game which starts at 6, a Knight win and the women's title is probably theirs.

Enjoy!

[flash96]

I am headed to the land of the Comets for tonight's game.  I hope that GVW brings the guys ready to play, would hate to drop a winable game.  Guess we'll see how Hope does with its three point shooting.

[AndersDY]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

Hmm, this sounds familiar... though I don't think it got internet discussion when I spurned Hope and headed for Ohio a few years back.

[sac]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

Hmm, this sounds familiar... though I don't think it got internet discussion when I spurned Hope and headed for Ohio a few years back.

I've met you........you're not 6-8.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Dex Batista was the one most thought was a lock for Hope, he ended up at Wooster.

Hmm, this sounds familiar... though I don't think it got internet discussion when I spurned Hope and headed for Ohio a few years back.

I've met you........you're not 6-8.

Actually I think he is about 68 inches   

[hope1]

schould be some good games tonight  go hope

[HopeConvert]

Wooster does have a golf course on its campus...

At this point, any conversation about Hope's interior "D" is going to remain a subject of speculation. Perhaps next Wednesday's game (can't wait) will reveal something, otherwise we'll have to wait and see what happens when and if they actually meet a team with a traditional big man.

Big players playing facing the hoop and shooting 3's is not merely an ESPN concoction. Look at Rasheed Wallace.  We live in the era of the 6'7" guard. Any high school player with aspirations naturally will believe they better be able to shoot the 3 and handle the ball. A lot of them will end up playing DIII, but they are not aspiring to that in their younger days.