MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[diehardfan]

Hope Convert: If it makes you feel better, I'm much, MUCH more likely to get a Dick Van Dyke Show reference than a Seinfeld one.

[hopefan]

I would not object at all to an offseason discussion of favorite episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show   ---  seems like many of the Hope posters I know would be well versed in the subject   -

[sac]

I would not object at all to an offseason discussion of favorite episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show   ---  seems like many of the Hope posters I know would be well versed in the subject   -

Sorry, but the only Dick VanDyke I can recall would be Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Chitty_Bang_Bang

Just found out it was written by the James Bond genius........my life has just altered its axis.

[Civic Minded]

I would not object at all to an offseason discussion of favorite episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show   ---  seems like many of the Hope posters I know would be well versed in the subject   -

Sorry, but the only Dick VanDyke I can recall would be Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Chitty_Bang_Bang

Just found out it was written by the James Bond genius........my life has just altered its axis.

Youngsters!      Didn't you ever wonder why Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (man, that's weird to type) was oddly full of espionage and intrigue?     Let's see...what other axis-altering information might I have??? 

[doc]

Any Calvin posters willing to give observations about the JV players?  Both Engelsma (listed as 6'6", 185) and Schuster (listed as 6'9", 190) sound like they could use some extra meat on their bones, but I did not have the opportunity to see them play this year.  I think losing Bear, Snoe, and Meckes makes filling the 4/5 position crucial for Calvin, even if this means just being a "role" player.  Katt showed signs at time this year that he could bang down low a little and be that kind of player.

The concern for Hope next year is getting reliable contributions from DVS and MVH.  They had games where they would disappear (? injury related) and be non-factors.  MVH especially looked much more comfortable at the 3 point line than down in the paint, which might have been OK in DI, but in DIII,with that size and ability, limited his production.  To me, Reimink is the scariest shooter on that team.

I hear some rumblings of Calvin recruits from local Christian schools, but none that are likely to be immediate impact, but nice players. . .

[realist]

Doc:  Not sure there is much more to be said about jv's from Calvin for this year.  You nailed the biggest weakness with weight, and strenght.  Schuster (like a lot of taller players today) is built more to play a 3, and likes shooting 3's.  Not sure where a true "post" player is going to come from.  It surprised me a bit that KVS didn't give any jv players this year some exposure.  Mantel could do the job inside, but also needs some more strenght.  I tend to agree with Al: that Calvin really needs to concentrate  on ball movement, and positioning.  To many times this year Calvin relied on inside players coming out to the ball instead of pushing the ball inside.  IMHO the 3 guard scheme worked more to our opponents strenghts than it played to Calvin's strenghts this year.  As good as KVS is, I think he became predictable in game situations this year which other coaches quickly figured out.  Historically KVS has pretty much set his rotation by the time conference games begin, and this year he seemed to go away from that.  In his defense I also think some players he was counting on to improve during the course of the year failed to do so.
Next year I expect to see MVH as a dominant player for Hope.  Also expect to see mvp level performance by DVS.  Each of them has the athletic ability, and suspect they will perform well in leadership roles next year.   Probably the weakest area for Hope next year will be bench strenght.  Going to be hard to come up with the 9th 10th, and 11th guys unless transfers.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Probably the weakest area for Hope next year will be bench strenght.  Going to be hard to come up with the 9th 10th, and 11th guys unless transfers.

While I agree that it may be hard for Hope to come up with solid 9th, 10th, and 11th guys that should not be worry. Realistically, how many teams at any level regularly play more than 8 or 9 guys? Look at the Sweet 16 teams, the NBA, and most D3 teams and most coaches stop their rotation around the 8th or 9th guy unless they play system ball. Hope can succeed with 8 solid players as long as MVH and DVS step up.

I would even go so far as to say that playing an 8 man rotation may even help Hope. Certainly Hope had great success playing 10 deep this year and a full line change but depending on the make up of the team I think an ebb and flow rotation system of 8 can be just as successful if not more so.

[northb]

Doc:  Not sure there is much more to be said about jv's from Calvin for this year.  You nailed the biggest weakness with weight, and strenght.  Schuster (like a lot of taller players today) is built more to play a 3, and likes shooting 3's.  Not sure where a true "post" player is going to come from.  It surprised me a bit that KVS didn't give any jv players this year some exposure. 

In the past, KVS may have had more room to manuever some of his JV guys into the varsity for a while.  This year, he was doing all he could just to get through to the end of the season with a team that could compete.  To spend time building for the next year was a luxury this team could not afford.

[sac]

Not a surprise or shock to anyone........Tyler Tanis, Jenison to Hope

http://www.mlive.com/preps/grpress/basketball/index.ssf?/base/sports-4/117465573173510.xml&coll=6

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Not a surprise or shock to anyone........Tyler Tanis, Jenison to Hope

http://www.mlive.com/preps/grpress/basketball/index.ssf?/base/sports-4/117465573173510.xml&coll=6

As you said - not a surprise, but it's still nice to "hear it from him" and see it in print

[hopefan]

Is this the player to fill the shoes of Steven Cramer???   (Forgive me, but being down here in St Louis I have no concept of the talents of the West Michigan individuals)

[oldknight]

Not a surprise or shock to anyone........Tyler Tanis, Jenison to Hope

http://www.mlive.com/preps/grpress/basketball/index.ssf?/base/sports-4/117465573173510.xml&coll=6

As you said - not a surprise, but it's still nice to "hear it from him" and see it in print

Is this the player to fill the shoes of Steven Cramer???   (Forgive me, but being down here in St Louis I have no concept of the talents of the West Michigan individuals)

Tanis is an excellent high school player and he has the talent to be an excellent D3 player too. He's not a Cramer like player though because Tanis fits the prototype we have of the 2 guard more than did Cramer. Tanis is more the type of player who is a pure shooter and scorer and I would compare him more to  Calvin's Derek Griffin than to Cramer. I always thought Cramer was more of an all-around 2 guard who did everything equally well--he defended, rebounded, slashed to the basket and shared the ball more than we normally expect from someone in the 2 guard slot. That's not a criticism of Cramer--who always had my respect--it's just that he was different from the norm in that position.

[devossed]

Add 6'5" Will Bowser from Midland Dow HS and that's not a bad start for the Dutchmen's efforts...

[realist]

DCHN:  I could not agree more.   I thought by saying the bench would be the weakest spot for Hope I was paying tribute to a team that I would rate as the potential number one in the MIAA for next year.  From the sound of it the recuit class coming in for Hope is a typical reloading scenario.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Add 6'5" Will Bowser from Midland Dow HS and that's not a bad start for the Dutchmen's efforts...

Now if we can just find that 6'10", 235 pound post presence!!! (I can dream, it happens once in awhile in D3)