MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[AlwaysHope]

Now on to the Rivalry game this Wed...

Today, on the Sabbath, I am thinking of the spiritual analysis made of THE GAME by the former President of Hope College, the late Dr. Calvin  (couldn't he have a different first name?) VanderWerf, who so eloquently stated:

"An atheist in West Michigan is someone who does not care who wins the Hope/Calvin game!"

If I'm not mistaken, VanderWerff was a Calvin grad - a testimony to all the ties within the rivalry.

No, this Calvin was a 1937 graduate of Hope.  Gordon VanWylen, who became Hope's 9th President in 1972, was a Calvin grad.  He still attends Hope BB games.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

[gohope]

Finally after a full day of fun stuff, its time for d3hoops and notes from last nights Hope vs. Alma game:

*  Kudos to the 5th graders from Jefferson Elementary for the singing of the National Anthem. Just plain sweet!  

*  Alma's new coach, Terry Smith. Just under 18:00 minutes left in the first half, I thought that Joe Haklin had resurrected himself and was back in the MIAA. Off came the sportcoat, then came the yelling. But...as the game continued, he lightened up a bit!! ***side note.... I wonder if he walks on his furniture at home to get to his favorite seat just like he walked on the seats at the DeVos, hmmmmmm....

*  Senior Night at Hope.  MAJOR KUDOS to Marcus Vanderheide for "sitting this one out" and opting for his fellow senior players to start in his place. I know that its "tradition" for the seniors to start, but when you have six guys, someone has to take the back seat. Marcus - thanks for setting the tone for what turned out to be a special night.  And what fun it has been to watch these guys over the past years. How they have worked on their game to bring it to another level.

*  Substitutions. Whoaaaa, there were some very interesting five-somes out on the floor last night. I didn't mark down each combination, but I think that having Mr. Carter looking very dapper in street clothes, Coach VW needed this opportunity to try a variety of combinations. And what better a night to be able to try the various experiments then vs. Alma as they were pretty much out-manned and out played in every category. As large as their roster is they played 2 sr's, 2 jr's, 4 so's and 3 fr. But the majority of minutes were clocked by 2 sr's, 1 jr and 1 fr.  From the looks of things they might like to find the weight room for the next season too. Early in the game I was starting to wonder if they were gong to borrow time-outs from the next game. I know that you can't take them home with you, but it seemed like they were to'ing every other minute.

*  And at 3:46 left in the 2nd half, Zach Osburn scores. Every players scores and as already stated earlier, every player had a rebound. That's pretty impressive. And as one poster stated about the concern of FT shooting, don't rely on that stat totally. Take a look at the 1st half stats - they were 8 for 9 at 89% and then totalled 11 for 18 at 61% - which really reflected the fact that the WHOLE team played the game.

*  Dave Joppe - one of the guys on the floor with the special black and white shirt. He was a fun stopper. In the 2nd Half just as Dan Holt was driving to the basket, Mr. Holt "may" have taken a step or two extra, so the play was stopped for "strolling."  C'mon Dave, Mr. Holt was just getting ready for his NBA debut.  

*  Lastly, thanks for the special moment before the game to honor Al Deal, former Commissioner of the MIAA. Nice touch. The other special entity of the day/night was the "Think Pink" theme to honor the NCAA's program to promote the fight against breast cancer. I'm typing at the moment with my new pink bracelet on my wrist which states "Hope Wins" - that's right there's Hope to fight the battle against cancer and there's always Hope on the basketball floor too!

[SKOT]

Prediction for the Hope calvin game:

Hope: 17
Calvin: -47.3
Ditka: 279

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

Copycat!   

[sac]

I believe the Britons have found religion this week.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Prediction for the Hope calvin game:

Hope: 17
Calvin: -47.3
Ditka: 279

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

Copycat!   

I knew someone did that before the first game but I didn't have it in me to stroll through all the pages to find out who. Proper credit for the humor should go to SKOT.

Also we had 1001 pages before! What's happened!?!

[gohope]

Prediction for the Hope calvin game:

Hope: 17
Calvin: -47.3
Ditka: 279

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

Copycat!   

I knew someone did that before the first game but I didn't have it in me to stroll through all the pages to find out who. Proper credit for the humor should go to SKOT.

Also we had 1001 pages before! What's happened!?!

I noticed the same thing.   

[NW Hope Fan]

I don't think anyone questioned that... 

Boo... Hiss NWHF!!!!

[NW Hope Fan]

Prediction for the Hope calvin game:

Hope: 17
Calvin: -47.3
Ditka: 279

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

Copycat!   

I knew someone did that before the first game but I didn't have it in me to stroll through all the pages to find out who. Proper credit for the humor should go to SKOT.

Also we had 1001 pages before! What's happened!?!

I noticed the same thing.   

Someone deleting their own posts?

[GoKnights68]

Noticed there was 1001 pages also.  I know that Hall of Famer posters are allowed to delete posts.

[sac]

Nobody deleted posts, the program resets occasionally and bumps posts to previous pages.  Its automatic

[Gregory Sager]

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

... because what could possibly be more appropriate in a game between America's preeminent Dutch-American rivals than windmill dunks?

Thank you, waitress, veal, etc.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Well someone has to start the trash talk predictions.

Calvin 2
Hope 2
Coach Dikta 642 (all points scored on windmill dunks and reverse lay ups).

... because what could possibly be more appropriate in a game between America's preeminent Dutch-American rivals than windmill dunks?

Thank you, waitress, veal, etc.

If windmill dunks are what will win this game, perhaps I'll put my money on Don Quixote

[realist]

Game of the year.  Surprised the Kalamazoo win over Albion isn't one of the choices.  Think about the excitment we would be having now had K not won that game
As much as I want to see Calvin continue it's winning ways at De Vos I just don't see it in the cards for this Wed.  For Calvin to win it would take strong play from the front line, and the numbers just aren't there.  Engelsma is progressing nicely, but Mantel continues to struggle.  The others have been inconsistent at best.  Katt plays some good defense, but is really a non-factor at rebounding and scoring.  I just don't see any GVW team letting Calvin's guards score 62 points.  Just like in the game played at Calvin I see GVW being able to use the predictable nature of a typical Calvin game to Hope's advantage.

[Pat Coleman]

Nobody deleted posts, the program resets occasionally and bumps posts to previous pages.  Its automatic

Users can delete their own posts as well. Someone from anytime in the past two and a half years could've decided to quit the board and take their posts with them.

I don't think the board recalibrates in that way, however.