MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

One thing you should keep in mind is that in a TV game, you have those eight timeouts that are each two minutes. It's easy to play your starters longer because fatigue is less of a factor.

Bingo!.........also part of why I said this Wednesday night

----From what I saw tonight and in previous games, I would not be surprised to see Hope's starting 5 log big minutes Saturday.  That just seems the way this team is leaning right now. 

Hope got 18 minutes from its bench, 9 from Carter.  ONE SHOT ATTEMPT.  Calvin got 65 minutes, 16 points. 

Hope has a nice bench, but they have a ways to go, they haven't adjusted to the increase of league plays intensity.

[MWKnight]

thank you sac for being honest about the depth situation

[sac]

There were some surprises today, one probably shouldn't have been if you think about Hope's strategy coming in.  I'm dead set that playing the starting 5 maximum minutes was the plan all along.  It just had to be.  But to do that, there was no way Hope could play as physical on defense as they usually do and stay clear of foul trouble.  To me this is the primary reason both teams seemed to find it so easy to break the others defense down.  Its been awhile since I can remember a Hope/Calvin game with that many easy layups.  But it took an awful lot of really good ball movement by both teams to get those looks.

Both teams seemed really focused on spacing players out and looking for the extra pass.  However, at the end, Hope was a bit more physical on D and put Calvin in positions to have to make tough shots.  But my no means would I call this a physical Hope/Calvin game.


Everyone knew the double-teams would come from Calvin in the 2nd, that was the most logical adjustment.  But Hope, and imparticular VanderHeide did a wonderful job finding the open man and just when Calvin rotated swinging it to the next even more open man, and for Hope's fortunes more of those shots went in the second half than the first.


Hope just battled all game long, they never collectively got flustered or frustrated.  They just kept digging in when they needed to and hit some very big shots along the way.   They took a big punch to the gut from Calvin today and didn't flinch.  They kept plugging away and plugging away and in the end wound up with an extremely hard fought tough win on the road.  These are the games Hope's been losing the last 3 years.


Marcus VanderHeide,........what else is there to say, he was just a monster today, the kind of player we Hope fans have always thought he could be. 

[hope1]

we watched the  hope game  in the bahamas  and were impressed  with marcus vh performace and happy with the hope win. there are number of bahamas kids who have been at the hope  summer camps and are big hope fans

[sac]

I think there's too much basketball left to be played to concede this was the last Hope/Calvin game in that gym.

Here's the last 3 regular season MIAA contests.

2006  Calvin 59 Hope 58
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76

Thats just some really good stuff right there.  I believe all 3 ended with last second 3 point attempts by Calvin.

As tough as its been for Hope to win games in that gym over the years, I find it extremely ironic that Hope now has and may finish with a 8 game winning streak at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76
2008  Hope 83 Wheaton 53---MIAA/CCIW challenge
2008  Hope 85 Carthage 75---MIAA/CCIW challenge
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2007  Hope 76 Calvin 54--Hall of Fame Classic
2007  Hope 80 Cornerstone 76--Hall of Fame Classic
2006  Hope 68 Calvin 55--MIAA Tournament
2006  Hope 76 Albion 65--MIAA Tournament

*edit---corrected to include MIAA/CCIW games.

[kcrest]

Hope earned their win today.  Kudos to the Flying Dutchmen.  Although I had the feeling if the game had gone another three minutes Calvin might have been up by six.    Of course three minutes later Hope would have had the lead again.  It was just one of those see-saw games with monster runs by both teams at critical moments.

Hard in a game that intense to point to particular key moments but Griffin had a three go halfway down with Calvin up 48-38.  I wondered at the time if that miss might come back to hurt the Knights.  Hard to say for sure but it would have been nice if it had dropped.  

Dustin Smith was pretty good for the Knights I thought.  Caleb forced the issue a little more than I would have liked, and maybe could have gotten his teammates a little more involved.

In the end Hope's seniors all came up pretty big.  Even DVS, after a marginal first half, played a pretty solid second stanza.

Despite the Hope win I like Calvin's chances come February.  The Knights have the potential to be a pretty dangerous squad come MIAA tourney time ...

[tniem]

Well my one game a year was certainly exciting. 

Just wanted to say hi to everyone and echo DCNut's comments about the DC Satellite party, I promise to grow up one of these years. 

Also, sorry that I will not get to respond to any posts - im me and I will get to this next week.  I have a conference starting tomorrow.  Hello to everyone, I miss Hope basketball.

[Hopester]

I think there's too much basketball left to be played to concede this was the last Hope/Calvin game in that gym.

Here's the last 3 regular season MIAA contests.

2006  Calvin 59 Hope 58
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76

Thats just some really good stuff right there.  I believe all 3 ended with last second 3 point attempts by Calvin.

As tough as its been for Hope to win games in that gym over the years, I find it extremely ironic that Hope now has and may finish with a 6 game winning streak at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2007  Hope 76 Calvin 54--Hall of Fame Classic
2007  Hope 80 Cornerstone 76--Hall of Fame Classic
2006  Hope 68 Calvin 55--MIAA Tournament
2006  Hope 76 Albion 65--MIAA Tournament

Correct me if I am wrong, but was the CCIW/MIAA challenge at the Fieldhouse as well.

[Hopester]

I don't know if I can really add anything to add to analysis of the game. All I will say is that that was just a complete heart and guts game. I would like to think that previous battles (Adrian, Olivet) had prepared us well for how to win this game. One thing that can definitely be said is that Calvin did not lose this game. Both teams shot well, and Hope was just able to force a couple of key stops at the end that won it for us. Exciting atmosphere and a hard fought battle. Can't wait until February 20.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I don't know if I can really add anything to add to analysis of the game. All I will say is that that was just a complete heart and guts game. I would like to think that previous battles (Adrian, Olivet) had prepared us well for how to win this game. One thing that can definitely be said is that Calvin did not lose this game. Both teams shot well, and Hope was just able to force a couple of key stops at the end that won it for us. Exciting atmosphere and a hard fought battle. Can't wait until February 20.

I'd also say that the Elmhurst game is the sort of defeat the prepared Hope well for this evening.

[sac]

I think there's too much basketball left to be played to concede this was the last Hope/Calvin game in that gym.

Here's the last 3 regular season MIAA contests.

2006  Calvin 59 Hope 58
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76

Thats just some really good stuff right there.  I believe all 3 ended with last second 3 point attempts by Calvin.

As tough as its been for Hope to win games in that gym over the years, I find it extremely ironic that Hope now has and may finish with a 6 game winning streak at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

2008  Hope 79 Calvin 76
2007  Hope 65 Calvin 62
2007  Hope 76 Calvin 54--Hall of Fame Classic
2007  Hope 80 Cornerstone 76--Hall of Fame Classic
2006  Hope 68 Calvin 55--MIAA Tournament
2006  Hope 76 Albion 65--MIAA Tournament

Correct me if I am wrong, but was the CCIW/MIAA challenge at the Fieldhouse as well.

Oh my gosh! Your right............make that 8 straight.  Holy mascots in heaven.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Some thoughts from THE GAME today

- Someone else commented earlier about the runs in this game, and there really were quite a few, including a couple by the guys in stripes.  In the first half, they called Hope for 8 or 9 in a row, and then did the same to Calvin in the second. 

- MVH was an animal out there today with 30 and 13.  TWolfe wasn't far behind with 26.  It isn't often you see one guy (MVH) put up 20 in the first half, and then have another guy (TW) put up 18 in the second.  Hope scored a total of 79 points, and 77 of those were from the four starting seniors. 

- I have never seen Caleb shoot so many bad shots - 3 air balls, plus a host of other shots that were all short - front rim kind of shots. 

- Best Dew Crew vs KnightMares exchange:

KnightMares "Orange is ugly, orange is ugly"

Dew Crew response "Urine's yellow, urine's yellow"

[Oval]

- Best Dew Crew vs KnightMares exchange:

KnightMares "Orange is ugly, orange is ugly"

Dew Crew response "Urine's yellow, urine's yellow"

Best fan moment:

- KnightMare student decked out as an official joining the line of three officials during the half time shoot around.

[Roughrider]

Wow!  What a great rivalry game!  This one was a classic, with many great moments for both teams.  Congrats to the Flying Dutchmen for a great win.  It was a game they were supposed to win, according to the so-called "experts", but it sure didn't come easy.  And props to the Knights for a valiant effort.  They are indeed a worthy opponent.  They gave the Dutchmen all they could handle, and then some.

I caught the game at a satellite broadcast party, and had a great time.  Thanks to the alumni groups from both schools who organized these affairs.  On a typically snowy Michigan winter day with bad driving all over, and tickets unusually scarce anyway (all part of the master plan, I'm sure     ), it was nice to be able to catch all the excitement just a short drive from home.

Roughrider

[Civic Minded]

Could someone please explain to me why all the hype about DVS?  I have seen him play a few times now and I am not impressed, granted I've only see him play against Calvin.  Also what's with the trash talking after he finally makes his first bucket of the game in the second period?

He plays on emotion.  For the most part that emotion got the best of him but once he got a little going for himself he lets you know about it. 

Um, let's see.  How about we operate from some facts here, instead of our own preconceived (and incorrect) notions?  As Derek was lining up for the shot, Knightmares students were swearing at him and calling him names that were, well, let's say unsportsmanlike (and definitely inappropriate).  Is a little "take that" attitude afterward such a crime?  I don't think so.

On a lighter note...FDF kept complaining about the guy in front of him who kept standing up.  He was quite impassioned, this guy.     Nothing like The Rivalry to bring out the fires within.     (j/k)

I did not see the last 10 seconds of the game -- it was in a corner that I just couldn't pick up.  Until I see some game tape, I'm not sure it will really sink in.  From what I've heard of those 10 seconds, I'm probably better off not having seen it.  I probably would have fainted.

Well fought game by all.  Perfect, typical rivalry game. 

The orange tootsie pops have been retired.  I just can't do them any more.  But at least they went out on a high note.