MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Looking for one ticket for tomorrow if anyone has one.

Which game? (And as my name suggests I am in DC so I am no help).

[Civic Minded]

There are at least two posts on this page alone that fail to capitalize both words when referring to "The Rivalry".  If we could rectify this going forward and treat this game with the deference that it deserves , I think everybody would appreciate it.

Jeeze, I know Albion-Tri State is a big game, but I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it "The Rivalry."     Is there another big game tomorrow??

Nah, nothin' special.   

[GoKnights68]

Anyone want to make bold predictions of the game tomorrow?  Key players of the game?  Who will shine?  What each team needs to do to win?


I think Mantel is the key player for Calvin that needs to have a solid game.  At least get it down low to him, so Calvin's offense can become less one-dimensional. 

Sounds like DVS is  playing well recently, and the Knights can't let him get hot from behind the 3 point line. 

Hopefully KVS comes into the game with some "special" type of offensive scheme.  Overall, I think the Knights will do well scoring points tomorrow night and shouldn't have too much of a problem offensively.  They just need to play the full 40 minutes of the game.  If Calvin gets up by a nice margin, will they know what to do to hold the lead?  Ditto if Hope gets up.

I have a good feeling about this game.

[KnightSlappy]

My bold opinion (I would say HUGE opinion but I don't want to show support for an awful West Michigan sports talk radio host) is that John Mantel will have a big game and lead the Knights to Victory.  2 dunks and a double double for Big John.

[KnightSlappy]

Keys to victory for both teams:

Control the boards - Don't allow the other team to have a second chance at a basket while allowing yourself as many second chances as possible.

Don't allow open threes - Both of these teams can get hot in a hurry from beyond the arc.  Get a hand in their face and don't get caught on a bad rotation.

Limit turnovers - these are the top two teams in steals and turnover ratios (Hope leads Calvin in both categories)  don't give the other team the easy opportunities that usually come off of turnovers.

[hopehoopfan]

There are at least two posts on this page alone that fail to capitalize both words when referring to "The Rivalry".  If we could rectify this going forward and treat this game with the deference that it deserves , I think everybody would appreciate it.

Jeeze, I know Albion-Tri State is a big game, but I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it "The Rivalry."     Is there another big game tomorrow??

Nah, nothin' special.   

I'm not sure if this is the game you mean, but up in my neck of the woods, there is a HUGE game between the top two girl's teams in the LMC, Charlevoix vs. East Jordan. Two teams that could make a run at the state finals.  Nothing bigger in the "tip o the mitt". I am going to have to miss it because I am going to catch the JV season finale game for the Hope JV, and then the varsity after that. 

[Stinger]

My bold opinion (I would say HUGE opinion but I don't want to show support for an awful West Michigan sports talk radio host) is that John Mantel will have a big game and lead the Knights to Victory.  2 dunks and a double double for Big John.

Mantel = Suton?

Flashes of brilliance, yet horribly iconsistent

I can see why he would be the key to the game for the Knights

[hope1]

i know hope will come out and play a really good game and hope  wll win in the devoss tonight  no way calvin will win 3 in a row at the gym  the dew crew will be great and can not hear calvin crowd

[HopeConvert]

I suppose one thing that is predictable about Hope/Calvin games is their unpredictability. Sac has argued that Calvin is still alive for a Pool C bid, and a Hope victory will go a long way toward sealing homecourt advantage (maybe at another time we can discuss my feelings about post-season league tournaments: I like more basketball and the tension of the tournament, but I don't like that the automatic bid goes to the winner, which in part helps create that tension). Do they both have a lot for which to play. I'd be surprised if there were a blowout either way, but outside of that  - who knows? There will be a lot of talent on the floor tonight, and it ought to be a great environment. I'm quite bummed I won't be there. On the other hand, I have yet to see snow since coming out to DC. If I had to make a choice - catch the Hope/Calvin game at DeVos, or go a winter without snow (and I'm no fan of snow) - I'd still choose the game.

[Erm Schmigget]

Looking for one ticket to tonight's game at the DeVos for my sister's family.  Please pm me if you have one available and I will give you her contact info.  Thanks!

[hoopdreams]

I believe the key factors of the game will be foul trouble for Hope (staying out of).  It's been a long time since the second group has been put into a pressure situation.  Last years HS tournament probably???  If any of them struggle tonight, I'm not sure I can fault them for it.  Expect GVW to utilize the tv timeouts again and ride the starters.  He eluded to the fact "that the seniors have carried them this far so".... at the lunch on Monday. As for Calvin, I am not sold on Mantel's presence opening up others as much as Griffin's ability to get hot from both the perimeter then penetration.  If he's sticking the jumpers and extending hope's D, his ability to score off the drive will distract the help defenders, allowing for easy offensive rebounds, etc...

[ChicagoHopeNut]

I have yet to see snow since coming out to DC. If I had to make a choice - catch the Hope/Calvin game at DeVos, or go a winter without snow (and I'm no fan of snow) - I'd still choose the game.

You'll be happy to know the forecast calls for some flurries tonight. Not MI snow but its something.

Well before the last game I said Klein was the key to Hope winning and he ended up with 11 but really that wasn't the key at all.

So I will go out on a "limb" and lay the key at MVH's feet. In my opinion he has not been the same since the Calvin game. He's had some good games, some mediocre games but not flash of dominance like he had against Calvin. I'd love to see that again.

[wiz]

Big game from Zoerhof tonight!

[Erm Schmigget]

We all remember last year's debacles (or thrillers, depending on your allegience) at the DeVos, and I'm sure GVW and the boys do, too.  When the teams met in March in Aurora, GVW had changed up the defense, and it worked pretty well.

In the 2 prior games, Calvin won by the 3-ball (largely).  GVW adjusted for this in the NCAA game by keying the defense on the perimeter, and being a little softer in the middle.  This worked, because Calvin was limited more often to 2-point attempts.  Calvin had far fewer 3-point attempts in Aurora: 4-14 vs. 9-23 and 9-24 in their wins.

Limiting their looks from 3 worked for Albion, too.  Calvin was just 4-11 vs. Albion, but they were 10-23 vs. Kzoo, and stayed with Hope earlier this year going 9-23 from 3.

It worked last March in Aurora, so I will be interested to see if he tries it again tonight.  Calvin's scoring distribution seems to indicate that may be a good way to go.

[realist]

ES:  Your analysis squares quite closely with the way I see it playing out.  Hence it is important for Mantel, Engelsma, Veltema, and atleast one more front line player to have good rebounding/scoring game for Calvin to win.
About the only open looks for 3's (for Calvin) will come off dribble penetration, and kicking it back out.  If Calvin doesn't move without the ball they will kill themselves.  Hope needs to keep the turnovers down, avoid fouls, and get some points from the bench.