MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ziggy]

DCHopeNut,
I agree with your assessment.  A classy player, like Cramer, doesn't need to pad the stats against week competition, especially with other quality players around him.  The part I still don't understand is that in the close games he didn't seem to take charge as much as he is capable of.

[diehardfan]

* And Last, and in tribute to SAC, the following bumper sticker was seen on a car while waiting at a toll booth:  "I'm not speeding, I'm Qualifying!!"

Scott and I left at exactly the same time and until he pulled off at an exit at some point he was actually right behind me.... and I wasn't driving that fast. I think all the tickets must have been for something else besides speeding, but that leaves the question... what for? Hmmm... maybe we should take a poll?

Charlie the unicorn is back to his old tricks again!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_fe_st/driving_unicorn;_ylt=Ahw9bxb5_k7Sc_QcSHXPHLkDW7oF

Thanks for clearing that up ziggy. 

[AndersDY]

I don't want to take anything away from Cramer's aura around here but why did he wait until it was do or die for his career to start taking over games?  Great player but I often wondered why he didn't do what we saw the past month a lot more.

Stephen just listened to me too well... 

I think that was partially by design, being on a team that succeeded because numerous people had potential to be that night's big scorer. Cramer also seemed to have a bit of an on-again, off-again thing where you had to see him the nights in which he was on and going for everything. You have to see him at the right time, but the 'on' version of Cramer is something to behold.

[Civic Minded]

Can someone explain to me what exactly is the harm about mentioning possible recruits and new players.  No one is here is going to have any type of sway over the decisions of these young men and it is debatable if said recruits ever see this board anyways.  By taking a strict no discussion stance it removes a lot of the fun of the off-season, that is what keeps many fans going in the off-season.  Sometimes it is nice to know who will or might be coming.  It gives everyone some hope (hate using that word as a Calvin Grad) in the off season.  Until I am informed of the logical reason behind many of the posters stance on this board it seems kind of a holier-than-thou attitude, like being in an exclusive club and letting people know that you have inside information but right now it is "classified".  No one on this board is THAT important, if you know about it chances are many others have a sniff of said info as well.

Anyways, enough of my rant, I'm sure my karma will take a major nose-dive for sharing these thoughts.  I'm just curious why people are so cryptic about this type of info.

Okay, I'll give it a shot for you:

A)  It's never nice to come in as the new kid on the block and start ranting. (Helpful hint #1)

B)  Loose lips have indeed sunk (recruit) ships.  You'd be amazed (really and truly amazed) at the number of lurkers around here -- recruits, players, parents, coaches, faculty, etc.  Trust me.

C)  Once a recruit indicates that he's looking at schools A, B, and C, then it's fair game to talk about it.  Until then, protocol suggests that you leave it alone.  It's kind of a respect thing.

D)  Yes, sometimes we (the posters in this thread) make hints and inuendo about a lot of things (Jabudi!).  Don't feel left out.  Many of us know each other IRL, and have gotten to be friends over the years.  Friends tease, berate, and egg each other on.  Sometimes we hint at knowing things -- most of the time it's BS.     Hang around a while longer, don't get too uptight, and you'll find yourself fitting in in no time.

E)  We're a friendly bunch.  Don't think so?  Try hanging out in an unmoderated newsgroup sometime.  If this kind of stuff upsets you, you'd turn pale at what happens there.  Welcome to "Let's Talk MIAA."  We welcome all newcomers.  Make yourself at home.  But don't put your feet on the brand new coffee table until you've been around a little while longer!   

[Flying Dutch Fan]

3rd team all-region for Caleb Veldhouse

Better watch out al - you'll lose karma for that   

Seriously folks, can someone explain to me how Veldhouse gets 3rd team all region?  I'm pretty sure that the Calvin posters around here can't even agree on him being the best player on your team this year.  DG (as much as I don't like him) was probably a better all around player this year, or at least it's a good arguement.  And I'm pretty sure we could also have a pretty spirited debate as to whether or not Caleb was the second best player in the league. 

I'm not looking to slam Caleb, I'm just looking for some honest opinions.

[ziggy]

I'm not looking to slam Caleb, I'm just looking for some honest opinions.

I think it would be better if we all kept quiet until Caleb said something publicly.

[petemcb]

I'm not looking to slam Caleb, I'm just looking for some honest opinions.

I think it would be better if we all kept quiet until Caleb said something publicly.

funny and karma-worthy.

[scottiedawg]

While I am a Hope student and huge Hope fan, I try to be realistic about things.  Like Veldhouse or not, he still played the most minutes on what turned out to be a good Calvin team, averaged the most points, and hit loads of key shots.  If you look at games late in the season and the postseason, Veldhouse had a knack for hitting shots in the midst of another team's run.  He is as big of a momentum killer as there is in the MIAA.  In all of the Hope-Calvin games I saw (the final four) Hope was either extending their lead or pecking away at Calvin's, when Veldhouse would hit a three.  Even before he released it, you knew it was going in.  I hate him for that fact, but you can't deny his basketball skills. 

[almcguirejr]

3rd team all-region for Caleb Veldhouse

Better watch out al - you'll lose karma for that   

Seriously folks, can someone explain to me how Veldhouse gets 3rd team all region?  I'm pretty sure that the Calvin posters around here can't even agree on him being the best player on your team this year.  DG (as much as I don't like him) was probably a better all around player this year, or at least it's a good arguement.  And I'm pretty sure we could also have a pretty spirited debate as to whether or not Caleb was the second best player in the league. 

I'm not looking to slam Caleb, I'm just looking for some honest opinions.

Caleb was a reflection of the Calvin team this year.  He just never seemed to get to the level of play that I thought he would get to this year.  His field goal % is not very good. He just seemed to struggle all year.  I don't see how he is a top 15 player in this region.
I think he played hard, but the results just weren't there this year.

[Civic Minded]

While I am a Hope student and huge Hope fan, I try to be realistic about things.  Like Veldhouse or not, he still played the most minutes on what turned out to be a good Calvin team, averaged the most points, and hit loads of key shots.  If you look at games late in the season and the postseason, Veldhouse had a knack for hitting shots in the midst of another team's run.  He is as big of a momentum killer as there is in the MIAA.  In all of the Hope-Calvin games I saw (the final four) Hope was either extending their lead or pecking away at Calvin's, when Veldhouse would hit a three.  Even before he released it, you knew it was going in.  I hate him for that fact, but you can't deny his basketball skills. 

He's got skills, for sure.  I just wouldn't necessarily agree that he's been the man this year.  Griffin seems to have been more of a threat to teams than Veldhouse.  He (Caleb) did come around a bit more later in the year, as you mention.  I saw Calvin play 9 games this year -- and I would agree with FDF and aljr -- he just wasn't as good as he was last year.  But hey, someone, somewhere, saw enough in him for him to get the nod.  And he does strike fear in the hearts of many a Hope fan...so there you have it!   

[HopeConvert]

I was surprised to see Veldhouse make third team. I've said all year he doesn't look as good to me as he did last year. I still think he has a higher ceiling than any Calvin player save Mantel, and he's still plenty good, but I wouldn't say he had a better year than any number of other players in the MIAA, or even on Calvin's team (I thought Griffin was the better player by the end of the year). Veldhouse is still plenty good, and my guess is that next year we will see him quicker and a better ballhandler.

[KnightSlappy]

Heck of a Sophomore slump.

[wiz]

I've seen Veldhouse play in nearly every game since he came to Calvin and he is clearly the biggest impact player the Knights have seen.  He is very skilled and while some may think his sophomore year slumped, he played under very different conditions this year.  During his freshman year the opposing teams needed to direct their attention to Trewhella and Draayer.  After they graduated, teams began to double team (sometimes triple team) Caleb and his numbers didn't always meet the expectations of the fans.  But, want a guy that can stick it to you, look know further than Caleb Veldhouse.  He's a solid player and the recognition is well deserved.

Derek Griffin was in a similar role this year as Caleb was last year.  Next year he will get a lot more attention from opposing teams.

I personally think both Cramer and Veldhouse were slotted right where they should be.  Congratulations to both.

[GoKnights68]

Hope fans that were at the game Saturday, what do you think Washington's chances are of winning it all?

sorry if this already was asked.

[John Gleich]

A few thoughts on other previous thoughts...

*  I'm wondering if the 809 attendance number is the LOWEST ever of a Elite Eight Final Game in DivIII Playoffs?

Actually, like Pat said, it wasn't... but it honestly wasn't even close.  It's more than 3 times the attendance of the 2003-04 Elite 8 game at U of Puget sound... only 250 fans saw one of the best games that nobody saw...  It pitted UWSP and Lawrence (ironically, LU is the closest college to UWSP at about 60 miles or so away, and this game was played half way across the country) and was a game where LU shot unbelievable (8/10 from 3 in the first half) and made 15/23 3's for the game (65.2%).  Point hit a half court shot going into halftime, cutting LU's lead to 40-39.  With 9 seconds to go in regulation, Nick Bennett hit a three with the defender all over him to force OT, and Eric Maus hit a 15 footer with 5 seconds to win the game.  Ironically, LU missed a pretty wide open 3 at the buzzer from the right wing to seal the win for UWSP.

- Another classic road sign - "Watch for Crop Duster" - like what am I supposed to do, duck?

... 3 years ago, I was driving from UWSP back to my hometown of Wheaton, IL, and they WERE dusting the crops... I think I figured out the sign.  This stretch of road is probably the most like Iowa in any other place in Wisconsin... it's flat and repetitious.  However, instead of amber waves of grain, there's cranberry bogs, potato farms, and field after field of Del Monte beans (thus the "watch for dust on road... not much to break up the dirt in dry years if there's a wind a-blowin')... but it's a very straight road and doesn't really change at all until you get to Portage.  I think the "Watch for Crop Duster" is there to entertain the drivers as they head South.  As I drove South, this crop duster soared up and down over the fields, flying right above the highway.  Now, he wasn't nearly as low as it looked like... but to see a prop plane coming right at you can be kind of daunting...  In reality, he wasn't as low as the bridges on an overpass, but he couldn't have been more than 30-40 feet above the road.  It was pretty neat to see the guy seemingly dive-bomb the ground and have him appear to be lost in the trees... then sweep up after dusting.