MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Finally home from that long drive back from bulldog land.   Hope had a decent lead at the half, and then came out of the locker room flatter than a pancake.  13 minutes to go it's Hope up 45-40.  GVW puts them into their zone D, and Hope goes on a 17-2 run and the game is over.  Klein had 13 second half points, including one of the sweetest, quickest throw-downs I've seen in a while.  All 5 Hope starters hit a 3 in this game, but it was really that D that sealed it.  Adrian only scored 7 points the last 13 minutes of the game.

[HopeTV]

I just got off work and watched Sportscenter, and the DJ Mocini shot was #5 on the top 10. Got me stoked to look up all the nights scores! Congrats to Albion! Big day of basketball at the DeVos this weekend with a mens and womens double header.

Oh yeah and the Calvin tickets are going, can't wait for round 2!

[sac]

I just got off work and watched Sportscenter, and the DJ Mocini shot was #5 on the top 10. Got me stoked to look up all the nights scores! Congrats to Albion! Big day of basketball at the DeVos this weekend with a mens and womens double header.

Oh yeah and the Calvin tickets are going, can't wait for round 2!

Wow!  It actually is play #6 on Sportscenter's top 10.  How cool is that.  A little more desperation than it looked live, still a great shot, ...........hope everyone gets to see it today.

[arena]

I was able to see that on SportsCenter.  Ugh.

[hope1]

i watched it at 6.00  this morning   what a great shot   and go dawgs  saturday

[wiz]

Sac walks in to the game late, wearing black like all the other Albion fans, and watches the game with a somewhat biased eye.  I saw the entire game with a bit more open-minded observation.

First off, this was one of the best MIAA games I have seen in years.  There was tension throughout the night as it was BIG for both teams.  First half shooting was awful for both teams.  Both teams played exceptionally good defense to make it a fun game to watch.  Albion was in Calvin's face throughout the night. 

Without time running out on the shot clock several times, the most specatular shot was Leising's 35 footer, all net.  He saw 5 seconds on the shot clock and rather than attempt to bring the ball in, he just launched it.  Took about 3.5 seconds for the ball to get to the rim because it had to travel so far.

Engelsma stepped up his game and hit the boards hard and was aggressive on offense as well.  He and Veldhouse had difficulty making shots drop.  Griffin took control at the end and did everything right to get the win.  I think his shot was better than the one in the victory of Hope last year, because the defense in the Albion game was much stronger.  With 4.5 seconds remaining, Albion calls a timeout, Turner talks to the officials, and the game clock gets reset to 5.1.  Mocini catches the ball, turns toward the basket, is double teamed with defenders arms outstretched, heaves a prayer and the ball slips through the net like a hot knife in butter.  Albion fans storm the floor.

While losses are disappointing, this one could not be blamed on a lack of intensity.  Ten games on a neutral court and these two teams go 5 - 5.  Albion will be the favorite in the league tournament at Kresge.

[oldknight]

For those who (like me) weren't at the game and didn't get to see the Sportscenter video of Mocini's winning three, check out the Albion College link below and then click the video clip provided so generously by our Brit friends.

http://www.albion.edu/sports/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2262&Itemid=75

Watch the video more than once. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but here's mine:

1) The decision to not guard the in-bound passer is the correct one in these types of situations and is something I would always do. Just two weeks ago I saw Holland Christian lose a game precisely because they did guard the in-bounds pass. I always prefer to play 5 on 4 when my opponent has to go full court with such little time left on the clock.

2) The pass to Mocini at half court was not a failure of Calvin's defense but was perfectly executed--and it had to be. If the pass is a little more to one side it's out-of-bounds, and if a little more to the other side the defender would have gotten his hand on it.

3) Mocini's shot was properly pressured by the defenders. When DJ put up this runner from the top of the key he had Koetsier to his immediate left, Smith to his right, and Zoerhof directly in front. Other than fouling, I don't know what any fan could reasonably expect Calvin to have done differently on this play. Mocini should be credited with hitting a really tough shot.

[Erm Schmigget]

For those who (like me) weren't at the game and didn't get to see the Sportscenter video of Mocini's winning three, check out the Albion College link below and then click the video clip provided so generously by our Brit friends.

http://www.albion.edu/sports/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2262&Itemid=75

Watch the video more than once. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but here's mine:

1) The decision to not guard the in-bound passer is the correct one in these types of situations and is something I would always do. Just two weeks ago I saw Holland Christian lose a game precisely because they did guard the in-bounds pass. I always prefer to play 5 on 4 when my opponent has to go full court with such little time left on the clock.

2) The pass to Mocini at half court was not a failure of Calvin's defense but was perfectly executed--and it had to be. If the pass is a little more to one side it's out-of-bounds, and if a little more to the other side the defender would have gotten his hand on it.

3) Mocini's shot was properly pressured by the defenders. When DJ put up this runner from the top of the key he had Koetsier to his immediate left, Smith to his right, and Zoerhof directly in front. Other than fouling, I don't know what any fan could reasonably expect Calvin to have done differently on this play. Mocini should be credited with hitting a really tough shot.

That seems like a pretty fair assessment of the end of the game.  As Calvin folks should know, sometimes with only a few seconds left, the right spot on the floor gets open, the defense gets caught in a disadvantageous position, the shot flies true and bounces right, and the clock runs out with your team on an emotional high.  Last night it was Albion's turn.

Great game for the fans.

[HopeConvert]

OK: Thanks for the link. I agree with you concerning points 2 and 3, but I still guard the in-bounder, even if it's not a fool-proof defensive strategy. One of the reasons why the inbounds pass was perfect was because the inbounder didn't have to run the baseline or throw around or over someone. It's easier to be accurate when you don't have to do that. I have no data to back this up - if I were a coach I'd keep stats on this - but I suspect more games have been lost by not guarding the passer than by guarding him. That's how I recall things, at least. I don't really need someone playing free safety as much as I need pressure on the quarterback. So long as the other four guys are sticking to their man, I think the disruptive influence on the passer is more important than the potential of that person to harass the shooter.

Interesting to see who KVS put on the floor in that situation: Smith, Griffin, Engelsma, Zoerhof, and Koetsier.

[dothedew]

I have already found the love of my life....but my Valentine's Day just got 10 times better watching that video!
Thanks Albion!

[HopeConvert]

3) Mocini's shot was properly pressured by the defenders. When DJ put up this runner from the top of the key he had Koetsier to his immediate left, Smith to his right, and Zoerhof directly in front. Other than fouling, I don't know what any fan could reasonably expect Calvin to have done differently on this play.

Maybe for Zoerhof to get a hand up. But on the whole, they defended it pretty well.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

For those who (like me) weren't at the game and didn't get to see the Sportscenter video of Mocini's winning three, check out the Albion College link below and then click the video clip provided so generously by our Brit friends.

http://www.albion.edu/sports/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2262&Itemid=75

The article says Albion inbounded with 4.4 seconds left.  This is what I thought I saw as well during the time out.  Does anyone know why they changed the clock to 5.1 seconds?  I guess it doesn't matter, it was a heck of a game and Albion won. 

Wow, that is beautiful. Having sat on the other end of that sort of event I feel sorry for Calvin fans watching that moment.

[sac]

I saw the entire game with a bit more open-minded observation.

Good one!

Yeah, I wore black, only color sweater I own, you might have noticed it was cold out.  I wore it at Olivet last night to, wasn't pulling for the Comets. 

I had no dog in that fight.  It was a heck of a finish and I was glad to see it.

For those who (like me) weren't at the game and didn't get to see the Sportscenter video of Mocini's winning three, check out the Albion College link below and then click the video clip provided so generously by our Brit friends.

http://www.albion.edu/sports/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2262&Itemid=75

The article says Albion inbounded with 4.4 seconds left.  This is what I thought I saw as well during the time out.  Does anyone know why they changed the clock to 5.1 seconds? 

Because the clock kept running after Albion called a timeout.  5.1 was probably correct.

[Stinger]

Great win for the Hornets last night. Kellogg and McCain are about as steady as you can ask for.  I didn't get my picks in last night, and I doubt many had this one.   First win for RP and the Hornets since the Albion win at the Rolla Dome

I followed the K/TSU livestats on my mobile while sitting in the conrner of Kresge watching a battle.  Extremely physical.  Shocking to see Albion give up an offensive rebound on a missed FT when the game was tied with 28 secs to go. 

But I want to take everyone back to the 6:38 mark right about here:

GOOD! 3 PTR by Bill Leising                     06:38  44-43  H 1

This shot you had to see to believe, shot clock down to about 4 and Mr. Leising launches basically a set shot from I kid you not, 30 feet.........swish.  Albion's first lead since I walked in the door.  Amazing shot and ultimately one of the biggest shots of the season.

Seriously, it was like Rade from Hoosiers.   Leising's shot could have been on the Top 10 as well.

Mocini's has stepped up all season long, and it was no surprise to me that the ball went to him.  He had missed his previous 4 or 5 3's, but this one had no doubt.

[veragrace]

I picked Albion to win this game but never imagined they would turn the tables on Calvin and win at the buzzer.  Wish I could have been there but the video was sweet enough.  Kudos to #44 Farr for shaking hands with Calvin after digging out from the pile (of fans rushing the floor  ).  HOPE-ing others followed suit but that it just didn't get caught on the video.