MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

It seems as though wizardry is aptly named, as he's working some magic with the facts right now.

 Calvin won the final game of the series last year ..................

More wizardry with the facts. 

Dateline Aurora, Illinois...........Hope 80 Calvin 64

Who is twisting the facts now?  The point was about DVS.  I think a guy named Cramer took the game at Aurora into his own hands.  The mediocre performance of the slow guy produced 7 points, a turnover, and a sparkling 33% shooting pace.

All on a knee hyperextended the day before the MIAA Finals........another fact overlooked.

[sac]

Same reason Derek Griffin came back into the Cornerstone game when it was obvious he shouldn't.

[hopehoopfan]

[
Why is GWV playing an injured guy in a critical game like that?
[/quote]

Probably because he discussed it with his player, the player's parents and a team or family physician, and even injured, his experience/ability was better than someone on the bench.

[Erm Schmigget]

drules:  Sadly you have been able to pinpoint Calvin's most serious problem.  Engelsma or Veltema or Zoerhof or Koetsier or some other forward has to be inside to take some pressure off Mantel.  That is one of the reasons I am not a fan of the 3 guard offense as it hurts Calvin too much inside esp. rebounding.  Calvin did not even attempt to play a physical game.  None of Hope's guards shot a free throw.  What's up with that?  All that said I still think Calvin actually played a better game than Hope did considering all the talent available to each team.     Like some other posters have said it is no sin to lose to a better team, and IMHO Hope made that point.  However, I agree with the Hope posters that the team that played Sat. won't last long come March. 

Its repeatedly being said Hope lost to the better team Saturday.  So the question becomes, why is the better team only 9-7?

I think Realist's point was that considering their level of talent (inferior), Calvin did well to stay in the game with a team with Hope's level of talent (superior).

Wasn't necessarily directed at Realist, I liked his post.

I don't see how anyone can honestly say that Calvin had the better team. Outside of MVH and Wolfe's games, no one really stood out. Had even a few others from the team had a good game, and had Hope done better from the charity stripe, this game isn't even close!

I think the confusion here lies in how one defines a team.  Calvin has the pieces assembled to make a great team, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  How can we really consider a TEAM better than another TEAM when they have a worse record against the same list of opponents, and they lost in a head-to-head matchup on their home court?  There are 25 individuals, many of whom are impartial observers, who give their opinion on this every week.  They all seem to think the proof is in the pudding.

That said, Hope and the rest of the MIAA would do well to approach Calvin as if they are the better team.  If and when Calvin finally gels, pity the foes on the receiving end of the drubbing they COULD mete out.    Until then, they will be the team that may have the most potential to be the best in the MIAA, and maybe beyond.  Potential.  Just like I have the potential to be a millionaire, but a quick look at my financials proves otherwise.  I'm not there yet, and neither is Calvin.

The question that remains is this: if and when Calvin finally gels, will it be enough and in time?  Or will it be too little, too late?

[ChicagoHopeNut]

It seems as though wizardry is aptly named, as he's working some magic with the facts right now.

  Calvin won the final game of the series last year ..................

More wizardry with the facts. 

Dateline Aurora, Illinois...........Hope 80 Calvin 64

Who is twisting the facts now?  The point was about DVS.  I think a guy named Cramer took the game at Aurora into his own hands.  The mediocre performance of the slow guy produced 7 points, a turnover, and a sparkling 33% shooting pace.

Don't forget poor, slow DVS had 21, 20 and 18 in the first three games against Calvin last year so he is clearly more than capable of having big games against the swift Knights.

[HopeTV]

I was watching the WGVU broadcast with their terrible annoucers.  The main announcer, Brent Ashcraft I believe, said that Hope came in as "a slight underdog."  I wonder what Brent Ashcraft was smoking before the game?  If you just look at win-loss records Hope was the favorite.  Granted Hope doesn't have a winning record at Knollcrest, is that what made them the underdog in Brent's opinion?

Another thing it would be nice if WGVU got the color guy from the host school.  Maybe they are doing that since Phelps is a Calvin grad.  Any ideas?

There should be either non biased or one from each school, or at least someone who isnt going to say "nice layup" in the worst monotone voice ever after some makes well...a layup. I dont think i heard the announcers get excited over anything almost the whole game and thats pathetic especially in a game of this caliber. I know i get excited over little things like a Hope player hitting an opening three against alma or olivet. WGVU needs to figure it out and get some excitment in their games. Maybe put Terpstra (the guy who did the on floor intervies) to do some color?

[HopeTV]

Oh and i wanna know how this Karma thing works cause i'm at -1 for some reason. I'm angrier than GVW when he fouled Drayer a few years back.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Oh and i wanna know how this Karma thing works cause i'm at -1 for some reason. I'm angrier than GVW when he fouled Drayer a few years back.

You need a certain amount of posts to be able to give or take away.  Maybe it's 25.

You need to reach 100 post in order to award karma or smite a poster

[HopeTV]

Oh and i wanna know how this Karma thing works cause i'm at -1 for some reason. I'm angrier than GVW when he fouled Drayer a few years back.

You need a certain amount of posts to be able to give or take away.  Maybe it's 25.

You need to reach 100 post in order to award karma or smite a poster

That's a lot!   

Ya thats more then Hope has wins vs Calvin!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Oh and i wanna know how this Karma thing works cause i'm at -1 for some reason. I'm angrier than GVW when he fouled Drayer a few years back.

You need a certain amount of posts to be able to give or take away.  Maybe it's 25.

You need to reach 100 post in order to award karma or smite a poster

That's a lot!   

Actually, the cut-off is 200 - keep typing!

[thealmascots]

One thing that I have not seen on here yet since the Hope/Calvin game last Saturday was how once again KVS got out coached.  On Calvin's defensive end Hope took advantage of the same weakness that Calvin has had since KVS arrived 11 years ago.  GVW knows this, Mike Turner knows this, Buck Riley knows this...anyone who pays attention knows this.  Swing the ball quickly or make a skip pass and a shooter is wide open on the weakside.  Mr. Wolfe was the recipient in this case as he took wide open 3's time and time again.  As good as Vander Heide was, this was the difference in the game.  On the offensive end there is no plan.  It's just a series of one on one moves.  When it comes down to crunch time and the pressure is cranked up and they are facing the defensive itensity at its highest, they have no ability to create a quality shot for themselves.  Guys like Veldhouse are talented enough that sometimes they come through anyway, but they never have the benefit of a coach diagraming anything for them. 
Calvins teams have had a ton of talent for a long time, but they are always underachieving.  KVS 30% winning percentage against Hope has to start raising some eyebrows at some point.

[bulldogalum]

I'm sure this will generate some negative karma, and I will not go into detail, but I think that Calvin has some serious weaknesses in positions fans perceive as strengths.  Clearly, Calvin is a very talented team, but there are many ways to slow that talent down when they're on offense, and many ways to manipulate them on defense, one of which is highlighted below.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

KVS 30% winning percentage against Hope has to start raising some eyebrows at some point.

I believe your stat is incorrect. By my count KVS is 13-19 against Hope, which is a 40% winning percentage. I believe his first season at Calvin was 96-97.

Regardless of the exact break down though one should keep in mind that although the Rivalry is exceptionally competitive it has gone in cycles. Hope didn't win a single game in the 1970s.
Calvin won 6 in a row to start this decade while Hope has had more success since 2002-2003.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

One thing that I have not seen on here yet since the Hope/Calvin game last Saturday was how once again KVS got out coached. 

I am also pretty sure there have been games where people on this board would say "Boy, did GVW get outcoached by KVS." Sometimes teams just execute better one day than another and that makes the coach look more or less brilliant than he really is.

I think both Hope and Calvin have excellent coaches with proven track records.

[sac]

We might call tommorrow night Team Psychology Night in the MIAA.

Kzoo at Adrian, I don't think this should be too much trouble for the Bulldogs, the Hornets just haven't shown much defense yet.  This is kind of a soft spot in the schedule with two very winnable games with Kzoo and Olivet.  Must wins to get back in the hunt for hosting a first round MIAA tournament game.

Albion at Alma, again another one that shouldn't be too difficult but with one eye to Saturdays huge showdown with Hope, Albion could find themselves somewhere they don't want to be, but only if Alma shoots lights out from 3.  I'm pretty sure the Britons are fired up to face the Dutchmen again this weekend.

Olivet at Alma, Calvin gets the task of regrouping after a tough emotional loss to their rival.  The margin for error has gotten thinner and another slip at home could be the nail in the coffin.  Olivet hasn't shown the abilities they did vs Hope, I'm still waiting to see that team and if it should miraculously appear this weekend Calvin will find themselves in a dogfight.  However the Comets have been disappointing since that weekend and  Calvin usually uses the Comets to take out their collective frustrations.  A big win for Calvin would show a positive reaction to the loss Saturday.

Tri-State at Hope, Hope gets the task of regrouping after a tough emotional win to their rival.  With the recent developments with Hope's bench, this looks like a mid-season retooling job which are always tricky.  Expect lots of moments of trying to regain the young guys confidence.  Facing a team that leads the league in defense might not be the best place for that to happen.  Like Albion, one eye to Saturday and Hope could find themselves in a very tough position.  But its round 2 of a big 3 games set that could put Hope in full control of the MIAA race and Hope seems pretty focused on that goal of 3 big wins.  A win by any margin would be the goal.