MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raggs to Riches]

The knights have some time off and i suggest that they discover a low post game. Griffin and Veldhouse can only do so much. The intensity is there and I predict that the players will play with more pride as the conference season approaches. I would look out for Todd Koitsier coming off the bench to light a fire under his teammates. KVS has won national titles with his defense, but it may time to let his players use their pure physical skills and match up full court and have a transition shoot out. The knights have Griffin, Veldhouse, Veltema, and Smith they can do some damage. As the only senior Griffin will take over and play with the same kind of heart he did vs Aquinas. I hope ALL of his teammates will follow his lead.

[hope1]

i hope after the game saturday that the fans stick around and watch the girls play albion both with out a loss so far  at 5.30 game time

[KnightSlappy]

It looks like Caleb Veldhouse will surpass the career 1,000 point mark in the next couple of games.  He has 21 points to go and is averaging 19.9.  Is 2,000 out of the question for Caleb?

[sac]

Siena Heights 72 Adrian 67 OT

http://www.sienaheights.edu/Offices/Athletics/basketball/mbasketballstats/box_16.html

what looked like a promising week has pretty much been a nightmare for the league.  19-24

[sac]

It looks like Caleb Veldhouse will surpass the career 1,000 point mark in the next couple of games.  He has 21 points to go and is averaging 19.9.  Is 2,000 out of the question for Caleb?

Well lets assume Calvin gets to the MIAA semi-finals this year and next, thats 46 more games if he breaks 1000 in the next game.  1000/46 = 21.74   Thats the minimum of course, throw in a couple NCAA games the next two years and the average drops to 20, even less with 2 deep runs.

With Derek Griffen graduating, I see no reason why Caleb shouldn't lead the Knights in scoring next season.  I think its doable, but it will be close.

[almcguirejr]

It looks like Caleb Veldhouse will surpass the career 1,000 point mark in the next couple of games.  He has 21 points to go and is averaging 19.9.  Is 2,000 out of the question for Caleb?

He could help himself by getting back in form at the FT line:

2005-06  85%
2006-07  75%
2007-08  65%

Matt Veltema had the best FT percentage in Michigan his senior year of H.S. in 05-06
As a freshman last year he hit 87.5%
This year 62.5%

[bulldogalum]

Siena Heights 72
Adrian             67

Final (not in overtime)

Let me preface my remarks by noting that I'm writing without the aid of the box score, so you'll have to forgive any statistical inaccuracies.

This was an intensely competitive game, as it always is.  Both teams played with great effort, and it felt like a big MIAA game (perhaps not Calvin-Hope big, but certainly like a game between two top teams).

Siena Heights is a good team--much better than their record would indicate.  I noted, while looking at their results, that most of their losses were in close games.  I wouldn't be surprised if a win like they got tonight got them over the hump and they start winning those close ones.

The difference in the game tonight was defense.  The Saints played well on the defensive end, and were extremely physical and aggressive in their guard play. 

Adrian, on the other hand, had its share of breakdowns.  In the first half, the Bulldogs attempted to press Siena after made baskets, and several times got caught with their pants down on deep passes resulting in layups.  Similarly, there were too many situations where the help side defense was too late in ariving while Siena guards were driving to the basket.  Furthermore, Siena absolutely killed the Bulldogs in the transition game, ESPECIALLY in the first half.

That being said, we went to the locker room tied at 35.  The second half saw the Bulldogs begin on an impressive 8 minute cold streak, in which they only scored 4 points, and found themselves trailing (by my recollection) 50-39.  After a well-placed timeout, the Bulldogs suddenly caught fire, and with 11 minutes to go, found themselves tied with the Saints.

All was well in the Merillat Center.  The Adrian fans were excited, and the Siena fans, for once, had little to say.  But amid all the hysteria of the moment, Adrian forgot to play defense, reverting back to their first half form.  The Bulldogs quickly found themselves in a 5 point hole, from which they never really did recover.

With about 14 seconds left, and Adrian trailing by 3, Siena missed a free throw that would have pretty much iced it, and Adrian came down the floor, giving Desmond Young a chance to tie it, but the shot was just a bit long, and did not fall.  Two free throws with less than 2 seconds remaining give you the final 5 point spread.

Of note:

Fans on this board will no doubt remember Brian Champine from his days at Albion.  He was a freshman on the 2004-2005 team that went to the Elite 8, was was sorely missed by the Britons last year, as he would have undoubtedly been their starting center.  At any rate, he now plays for Siena Heights, and as may be expected, he remains a very solid player.  He would certainly, in my estimation, be one of the finer big men in the league were he still at Albion.

That being said, I believe Ian Weber held him to 11 points, and Ian had a game high 13 rebounds.  I think people are going to be surprised by Ian Weber this year in the league.

Desmond Young paced all scorers with 28 points, and there were times when he absolutely carried the Bulldogs offensively tonight.

KVS and Jody May were in the house tonight scouting the action.  No word on their thoughts.

The officials did not cost Adrian this game, but I think it is important to note that Tommy Bray did not have his finest performance tonight.  He made many calls from out of position, and generally annoyed me.  I usually have no problem with Tommy, but tonight he looked bad.

Siena Heights retains the Milk Jug, and Adrian must wait another year.

[Gregory Sager]

As concerns this weekend's games, Trinity International laid a smackdown on Carthage last night, 82-64. TI is only 3-10 (13 games already?!?) on the year, but that's an interesting victory.

TIU is an NAIA-2 school, and the NAIA season starts two weeks before our D3 season starts. Still, that should only mean that an NAIA school has 9-to-11 games in the books by now, not the 13 that TIU has played. Of course, the Trojans have taken part in three tournaments already.

[Raggs to Riches]

Veldhouse will not be the leading scorer in Calvin history, but will definitely be the most clutch. He has hit some big shots. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Nice article in the Sentinel today - some things are more important than basketball

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/120707/localsports_20071207074.shtml

[Knightmare]

Veldhouse will not be the leading scorer in Calvin history, but will definitely be the most clutch. He has hit some big shots. 

I'm going to have to possibly disagree.  There have been other players just as "clutch" or more so but it never had to come to that point because mentally they were far superior and never put themselves in a position that required it.  They put away their opponent far before then.  Taking nothing away from Caleb but there are others in Calvin's long history that I would have take the big shot before him.

[northb]

Veldhouse will not be the leading scorer in Calvin history, but will definitely be the most clutch. He has hit some big shots. 

I'm going to have to possibly disagree.  There have been other players just as "clutch" or more so but it never had to come to that point because mentally they were far superior and never put themselves in a position that required it.  They put away their opponent far before then.  Taking nothing away from Caleb but there are others in Calvin's long history that I would have take the big shot before him.

i.e., Foltice's runner to seal the win in the semi-final in 2000

Hennink's multiple three's with Dutchmen hanging all over him to come back against Hope

Any of Honderd's Div III-record setting 61 in one game against Adrian (does that record still stand?)

just to name a few from my era; I am sure there are many more clutch shots that could be named (OK, or others?)

[realist]

NB: Honderd shot 61 versus K. with Passage.

[realist]

The 2000 team had probably a record number of clutch shots.  In fact they did a highlight tape titled "The Shot".
N. Burgess against Franklin in the NCAA.
Winkle with a killer deep 3 (to tie, and go to ot) our Hope friends probably still have nightmares over.
I think if one goes back over the years there was a shot or two each year that was clutch.  On the other hand I can also recall a few where the clutch shot went against the Knights..

[Stinger]

Veldhouse will not be the leading scorer in Calvin history, but will definitely be the most clutch. He has hit some big shots. 

I'm going to have to possibly disagree.  There have been other players just as "clutch" or more so but it never had to come to that point because mentally they were far superior and never put themselves in a position that required it.  They put away their opponent far before then.  Taking nothing away from Caleb but there are others in Calvin's long history that I would have take the big shot before him.

Any of Honderd's Div III-record setting 61 in one game against Adrian (does that record still stand?)

You mean Hondred's 3 pointer in which he was actually 2 feet inside the line?