MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac,

I feel your pain on the pickems!  With the rest of my sheet, I've been holding in the top 10%, but knew I was dead before the tourney had barely started - picking Augie to go all the way will do that!   (BTW, thanks for getting our revenge on Carroll!)

[sac]

There have been some posts that questioned the officiating, I can say without prejudice that all 3 crews let the kids play which is what we as fans are always screaming about.   That was nice, however the number of late whistles or whistles after the fact were ridiculous in all 3 games.  They seemed to wait to see if a ball went in or if a player regained his balance after contact  etc. before makeing a decision on a foul.  That part was frustrating to watch.

The most amusing officiating was in the Hope/Carroll game........Carroll likes to, shall we say flop.  Lets just say I haven't seen that much flopping around  since I last went fishing.   Literally every rebound a Carroll player was hitting the floor, the refs bought it for a few minutes but after about 7 minutes I think they started to clue in and quit buying the acts.  Carroll to their credit quit doing it to.   Enough of that, officiating was not a determining factor in any of the games. 

FWIW the Hope/Carroll game was done by a WIAC crew.

Also an amusing moment from my 1st row seat in the WashU/SP game.

WashU up 20, couple minutes to go, WashU player brings the ball up to set up the offense........the official says and I quote verbatim "Don't show them up boys, don't show them up".   My jaw dropped, I have never heard that from an official before.


Carroll had a player that was a spitting image of  Tony Gugino, they could be brothers.  SP had a player that was a spitting image of a Hope JV'er and a player who had an uncanny resemblence to Tashon Prince,  had the hops to.   WU's Ruth's game was similar to Brandon Crawford, looked like a floormate of mine at Hope.

[sac]

WashU 58 Hope 55

I think its fairly obvious to everyone what went wrong for Hope this weekend.  I've seen on a few other pages comments like "Hope wasn't that great", "I didn't see anything special".........well what made them special was their deadly 3 point shooting, a category they led D3 for about 2 months.  This weekend they simply didn't show that ability at all, even the guys who made 3's had to take nearly twice as many to get what they did make.  Probably half of Steven Cramer's 3 misses were in and outs, frustrating with a capital F.

After watching WashU and SP, its probably right to give the Bears a lot of credit for makeing two very good perimeter teams look very ordinary this weekend.   The disappointment for me is this is the 2nd year in a row where if Hope just shoots the ball like they're capable of they're in Salem in back to back years.  No Question.    Even still Hope should be commended for their two comebacks, down 10 in both games and roared back to win comfortably in one and tie a game they probably shouldn't have been in with 10 minutes to go.  They found ways to compete and fight hard on consecutive days when they didn't shoot the ball well and they knew they weren't shooting it well.

After tying the game, you had to be impressed with WashU's composure, it was almost like they expected Hope to comeback and when it happened they just seemed to dig a little deeper and harder and went back to building a solid lead again.  Hope however will really, really replay the next 7 minutes over and over.    From 12:17 to 4:41 Hope went 1 for 7 with 6 turnovers,  WashU had a 12-2 run during this time but it took almost 6 minutes for that to happen.  Hope was makeing things happen on defense and they had chances to control the game or keep it tighter for the final closing minutes but they let it slip away.

WashU Wallis was probably the best PG Hope played this year, he just doesn't make mistakes and a couple of his 3's were just killer.   Hope did a wonderful job on Ruth, much better than Point did, they gave up six 2 point baskets and lost......six. 

In the end this is just another tough pill to swallow, a second straight sectional where I leave not feeling with certainty the best team won.  WashU is a terrific team don't get me wrong, and I do hope they win it in Salem.  But I'd take and I believe Hope's players would take a rematch any day of the week.

[HopeConvert]

In the end this is just another tough pill to swallow, a second straight sectional where I leave not feeling with certainty the best team won.  WashU is a terrific team don't get me wrong, and I do hope they win it in Salem.  But I'd take and I believe Hope's players would take a rematch any day of the week.

Amen. I couldn't have said it any better.

[sac]

Thoughts

-----I think I have to echo the previous comments about what a treat this team was to watch.  They've gone straight to the top of my favorite Hope team list.  We've had more talent, and better teams but never can I recall a team that played with such teamwork, determination and passion.  Their complete destruction of the MIAA in January was amazing and no fluke at all.  They worked hard for all those easy wins.   An awefull lot of Dutchmen grew up this year in their on court abilities.  From the emergence of Jessie Reimink and Ryan Klein, the marked and steady improvement of Brett Jager......all up and down the Hope bench the guys had thier moments of brilliance.

2007 MIAA Champions, NCAA Quarterfinals  8)


----- Steven Cramer, how do you even begin to describe his play the last 3 weekends.  Simply awesome.  My two lasting images of Stephen would be his final 3 vs WashU, as silky smooth and as pretty as any of them ever were.  Lastly, Steve Walking out of the Stevens Point gym alone and looking up at the Stevens Point National Championship banners........never have I wanted a Hope player to get the chance to cut the net down in Salem more.

-----I lost track of all the posters I talked to this weekend, as always enjoyable conversation and great to just break things down so to speak.  I met hopefan, oldschool, point special and I suppose I met pointlem.   A number of us had a really nice time after the game at a local establishment, another great reminder that it isn't always about winning.   

-----Somehow I got included in a group that calls themselves the "blue crew", I'm not sure how I feel about this since of the group I have the least grey hair.    (crap, another punch in the shoulder coming)

-----I probably said this before but SP's Quandt Fieldhouse is just a really cool D3 gym.  I really, really would have loved to play SP in a full gym, that would have been a great atmosphere.

-----The previously mentioned speed trap on I-39 was a thing a beauty, you had to see it to believe it.  I suppose the troopers call that "money maker hill".  It would make Ohio's finest near Bucyrus green with envy.

-----I didn't leave Point untill just after 11cst, drove to Rockford Illinois and stopped to grab a room at 2 am.  The conversation went like this.......

clerk:  and will you be needing a wakeup call
sac:  yeah, how about 8:30
clerk:  Oh, the clocks just changed, its 3 am now
sac:   Oh thats 4am my time...........(pause)
sac:    Better make that 9:30

[almcguirejr]

For any Hope poster at the games, Why didn't MVH get more offensive opportunities against Wash U?  16 shots against Carroll and only 4 aginst Wash U.

[sac]

Before I leave I wanted to make sure I closed out the Stephen Cramer stat file.


Hope's all-time scoring--career
1. Floyd Brady .............1964-68 ............2,004
2. Duane Bosma ..........1992-96 ...........1,937
3. Dan Shinabarger .....1968-72 ...........1,841
4. Paul Benes ..............1955-59 ...........1,741
5. Wade Gugino ..........1988-92 ...........1,649
6. Eric Elliott ................1987-91 ...........1,648
7. Jim VanderHill ..........1959-63 ...........1,638
8. Warren VanderHill ....1956-60 ..........1,575
9. Joel Holstege ...........1994-98 ..........1,544
10. Clare Van Wieren ...1962-66 ..........1,524
11. Ray Ritsema ...........1956-60 ..........1,510
12. Stephen Cramer .....2003-07 ..........1,455
13. Chip Henry .............1981-85 ..........1,358
14. Bob Hendrickson .....1951-55 .........1.351
15. Don Overbeek ........1999-03 ..........1,259

Steve's 526 points this season ranks #9 on the single season list, a couple more games at his post-season pace would have put him around #3.


Field goals made

  1. 764 - Dan Shinabarger (87 games) - 1968-72
  2. 733 - Paul Benes (87 games) - 1955-59
  3. 732 - Floyd Brady (89 games) - 1964-68
  4. 727 - Duane Bosma (110 games) - 1992-96
  5. 682 - Warren VanderHill (87 games) - 1956-60
  6. 664 - Wade Gugino (97 games) - 1988-92
  7. 656 - Jim VanderHill (85 games) - 1959-63
  8. 598 - Clare Van Wieren (87 games) - 1962-66
  9. 551 - Steve Cramer (112 games) - 2003-07
10. 547 - Joel Holstege (118 games) - 1994-98
11. 526 - Eric Elliott (103 games) - 1987-91


Field goals attempted

  1. 1674 - Dan Shinabarger (87 games) - 1968-72
  2. 1646 - Paul Benes (87 games) - 1955-59
  3. 1589 - Warren VanderHill (87 games) - 1956-60
  4. 1528 - Jim VanderHill (85 games) - 1959-63
  5. 1498 - Floyd Brady (89 games) - 1964-68
  6. 1297 - Clare Van Wieren (87 games) - 1962-66
  7. 1263 - Duane Bosma (110 games) - 1992-96
  8. 1113 - Joel Holstege (118 games) - 1994-98
  9. 1071 - Steve Cramer (112 games) - 2003-07
10. 1010 - Wade Gugino (97 games) - 1988-92
11. 977 - Eric Elliott (103 games) - 1987-91


3-point field goals made

  1. 181 - Joel Holstege (118 games) - 1994-98
  2. 157 - Chad Carlson (110 games) - 1999-03
  3. 148 - Steve Cramer (112 games) - 2003-07
  4. 142 - Daane Griffeth (79 games) - 2001-05
  5. 122 - Greg Immink (113 games) - 2001-06
     122 - Eric Elliott (103 games) - 1987-91


3-point field goals attempted

  1. 462 - Joel Holstege (118 games) - 1994-98
  2. 392 - Chad Carlson (110 games) - 1999-03
  3. 370 - Steve Cramer (112 games) - 2003-07
  4. 353 - Daane Griffeth (79 games) - 2001-05
  5. 341 - Greg Immink (113 games) - 2001-06


3-point FG percentage (minimum 5 made)

  1. .600 - Marcus Vanderheide (27-45) - 2005-06
  2. .556 - Danny Brown (5-9) - 2004-05
  3. .529 - Colly Carlson (55-104) - 1988-92
  4. .464 - Greg Mitchell (116-250) - 1985-89
  5. .452 - Jake Hogeboom (19-42) - 2004-05
  6. .450 - Eric Elliott (122-271) - 1987-91
  7. .402 - Daane Griffeth (142-353) - 2001-05
  8. .401 - Jeff Carlson (103-257) - 2002-06
  9. .401 - Chad Carlson (157-392) - 1999-03
10. .400 - Steve Cramer (148-370) - 2003--07

[sac]

Free throw percentage (minimum 5 made)
  1. .929 - Ryan Klein (13-14) - 2005-06
  2. .868 - Eric Elliott (350-403) - 1987-91
  3. .846 - Mike VanHekken (66-78) - 2000-03
  4. .839 - Tom Dykstra (156-186) - 1968-70
  5. .832 - Matt Strong (283-340) - 1985-88
  6. .809 - Kevin Brintnell (55-68) - 1995-96
  7. .800 - Tyler Wolfe (16-20) - 2005-06
  8. .799 - Cody Fleming (119-149) - 2000-03
  9. .792 - Stephen Cramer (205-259) - 2003-07
10. .784 - Daane Griffeth (69-88) - 2001-05


Assists
  1. 567 - Joel Holstege - 1994-98
  2. 386 - Colly Carlson - 1988-92
  3. 369 - Eric Elliott - 1987-91
  4. 368 - Todd Schuiling - 1981-84
  5. 306 - Greg Immink - 2001-06
  6. 253 - Matt Taylor - 2000-04
  7. 239 - Chad Carlson - 1999-03
  8. 229 - Greg Mitchell - 1985-89
  9. 179 - Steve Cramer - 2003-07
10. 173 - Andy Phillips - 2002-06

Blocked shots
  1. 264 - Don Overbeek - 1999-03
  2. 217 - Kris Merritt - 1994-98
  3. 172 - Wade Gugino - 1988-92
  4. 119 - Joel Holstege - 1994-98
  5. 104 - Tom Gortsema - 1993-97
  6. 100 - Duane Bosma - 1992-96
  7. 99 - Eric Voisin - 2004-06
  8. 83 - Kyle Kleersnyder - 2001-05
  9. 49 - Steve Cramer - 2003-07
10. 41 - Colly Carlson - 1988-92


Steals
  1. 301 - Joel Holstege - 1994-98
  2. 218 - Eric Elliott - 1987-91
  3. 216 - Colly Carlson - 1988-92
  4. 159 - Matt Taylor - 2000-04
  5. 151 - Andy Phillips - 2002-06
  6. 148 - Greg Immink - 2001-06
  7. 135 - Chad Carlson - 1999-03
  8. 125 - Duane Bosma - 1992-96
  9. 122 - Todd Schuiling - 1981-84
10. 115 - Steve Cramer - 2003-07


Games played
  1. 118 - Joel Holstege - 1994-98
  2. 113 - Tom Gortsema - 1993-97
     113 - Greg Immink - 2001-06
  4. 112 - Steve Cramer - 2003-07 
   5. 110 - Chad Carlson - 1999-03
     110 - Duane Bosma - 1992-96



Minutes
  1. 3003 - Chad Carlson - 1999-03
  2. 2921 - Joel Holstege - 1994-98
  3. 2848 - Greg Immink - 2001-06
4. 2758 - Steve Cramer - 2003-07
  5. 2401 - Kris Merritt - 1994-98


Minutes average
  1. 28.9 - Kevin Brintnell (31 games) - 1995-96
  2. 27.3 - Chad Carlson (110 games) - 1999-03
  3. 25.6 - Eric Voisin (55 games) - 2004-06
  4. 25.2 - Greg Immink (113 games) - 2001-06
  5. 25.0 - Kris Merritt (96 games) - 1994-98
  6. 24.8 - Joel Holstege (118 games) - 1994-98
  7. 24.6 - Steve Cramer (112 games) - 2003-07


YouTube Dunks
1. Steve Cramer - 2
2. Scott Glaser - 1


Without a doubt Steve will be remembered as one of Hope's all-time best and most admired players.

[Gregory Sager]

How long before we hear from the HOFers at the game???

My predicted order: Greg, DHF, sac on the morrow.

I wasn't in Stevens Point this weekend. Sorry.

[pointlem]

Thank you, Sac, for both your poignant reflections and your statistical celebration of "the Cramer years."  (And, yes, we did talk this weekend, as when you helped me buy my Saturday night ticket.)

I concur that this loss, like last year's playoff loss, was a bitter pill---no doubt especially for players and coaches---because both were narrow defeats marked by exceptionally subpar first halves. 

However, looking not at one game but at the season, I've wondered why this team achieved so much . . . with lots of dominating victories and only five losses by a combined margin of 22 points (not that many points from being undefeated).  Wash U succeeded this year with a go-to post player who drew double teams that freed up their perimeter shooting (a role that Marcus played on Friday night, and perhaps we might see more of next year?).  I attribute Hope's success to improved individual players, and to a lot of grit and unselfish team play, supported by seemingly excellent coaching to bring that out.   And, of course, to a star player, whose athletic ballet will be much missed.

[HopeConvert]

Thanks for all the data, sac. Those of us who got to watch him frequently will long remember how effortless he made athletic strain appear, how he glided over the floor, how he elevated on his shots, how he subordinated his immense talent to the goals of the team, and how (to my recollection) he never wagged his tongue, strutted, or otherwise showed up an opponent. Those things that can't be captured by stats will be the truest measure of his greatness in a Hope uniform.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'm writing up a senior tribute I'll post in a day or so, but for now a big echo to HC's comments.  Cramer would have been tops (or at least top 10) in a few other categories:

Number of games where team concerns came before self

Stephen Cramer 112

% of games played without Trash Talk

Stephen Cramer 1.000

% of fouls accepted without complaining

Stephen Cramer 1.000

[realist]

The good ones always make it look easy.  Hope is going to have a hard time filling Cramer's shoes next year, but knowing GVW he will somehow manage to find a player that will give Calvin fits for 4 years. 

HC:  very well said;

Thanks for all the data, sac. Those of us who got to watch him frequently will long remember how effortless he made athletic strain appear, how he glided over the floor, how he elevated on his shots, how he subordinated his immense talent to the goals of the team, and how (to my recollection) he never wagged his tongue, strutted, or otherwise showed up an opponent. Those things that can't be captured by stats will be the truest measure of his greatness in a Hope uniform.

Not to take anything away from S. Cramer.  he was a class player.
You don't realise it, (and I am sure you didn't intend it this way), you wrote the best tribute I have ever read to Hope's all time best player imho Floyd Brady.  Ask the grey hairs around Holland sometime.  If you guys had seen him play you couldn't come up with enough superlatives.

[northb]

Not to take anything away from S. Cramer.  he was a class player.
You don't realise it, (and I am sure you didn't intend it this way), you wrote the best tribute I have ever read to Hope's all time best player imho Floyd Brady.  Ask the grey hairs around Holland sometime.  If you guys had seen him play you couldn't come up with enough superlatives.

Here are a few extra superlatives if you need them:  Honderdesque; Winklrefic; Veentsrish (or Veenstrish to the Mth degree); or even Crawfordian   

[miaamomma]

For all of you Steve Cramer fans, there is HOPE.  He has a younger brother who is a junior and this weekend scored 9 of his 14 points in the final quarter of the district final game which USA won.

Another note for the future:  Veltema, Mantel and Meckes all have younger brothers who are currently sophomores!