MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[AlwaysHope]

Congratulations to Hope on their regular season and tournament championships. The Flying Dutchmen clearly demonstrated that they were the best team in the MIAA this year. A solid NCAA tournament run would not surprise me.

With the Knights losing by 16 their really isn't any key play that you can point to as a critical turning point in Saturday night's game. But their was one moment in the first half that I instantly recognized--even as it happened--as an important one, and a metaphor for Calvin's season. With Calvin holding an 8 point lead (if memory serves me correctly) Dustin Smith came downcourt on a breakaway with only VanderHeide able to challenge him. At that time Marcus had two fouls. I know Dustin gives up 10 inches to Marcus but as the play unfolded I was looking for Smith to take it right at VanderHeide who was only angling in to contest the shot. I thought it was a moment Smith should have forced Marcus to make the block and maybe draw a third foul. If the shot gets cleanly blocked its probably merely going out of bounds anyway. Dustin chose to come to a stop and give a head fake. Marcus sailed harmlessly by and Dustin promptly missed an uncontested puppy. Hope boarded the ball and had a breakaway of their own that led to an open look from the arc for Reimink which he promptly drained. What appeared would be a 10 point Calvin lead had--in just seconds--become a 5 point lead. Those few seconds were a micorcosm for Calvin's season: A questionable decision, followed by bad execution, followed by a defensive lapse. That's the way a team's season goes sometimes. If they learn from these things, it will be different for next season's edition of Calvin College basketball.

Oldknight, that was a critical play, especially if Vandeheide would have committed another foul; that would have been very demoralizing to Hope.  That play was at the 3:59 mark of the 1st half, and was key to the Hope comeback.  In Smith's defense, it probably looked like he was going to be swallowed up by a giant, plus he would make that open shot 9 out of 10 times.

I have to admit that I got worried at the 15:57 mark of the 1st half when Marcus committed his 2nd foul, forcing GVW to pull him.  At the time Calvin was leading 12 - 5.  He sat until 9:27, exactly 6 1/2 minutes, when the lead was 27 - 17.  GVW took a chance and reinserted him, while Marcus played like a senior and did not get another foul until late in the game.  He ended with three fouls.  With Hope's lack of size in the post we need him in there, especially with all the attention that he draws.

Not much has been said about Ryan Klein, who plays much bigger than his size.  Next to Mantel he looks like a stick, but he was 7 for 11, including 3 of 4 beyond the arc.  He also tied for the most Hope rebounds with 8 (as did Reimink).

Free throw shooting has hurt the Flying Dutchmen frequently this year, but in this game they were a near perfect 20 of 22.  Wolfe alone was 8 of 9.

One final comment.  Two players, Klein and Wolfe, did not start last year, but they are sure taking maximum advantage of their senior years.

[AndersDY]

AlwaysHope was commenting on seniors. Even ignoring advantages in leadership, I've heard comment in the past on what a difference it makes to have the urgency of seniors playing not to let their careers end in the tournament. I think I recall someone commenting that the 1995 team (you know, the B - W word) was a great team that just didn't seem to have that hungry desperation. There are certainly exceptions (Wash U barely graduated any key parts of last year's Salem team) but given the accurate comments about how mentally composed this Hope team has seemed, I certainly like the idea that 80% of our starters will have that added desire the rest of the way.

[sac]

The ability of Hope's bench players to progress from contributing bench players to solid starters has been a big part of the past two seasons for Hope.

Last year, Hope plugged Richardson, Reimink and VanSolkema into the lineup from the previous seasons bench (VS only played about 10 games in 06).  Those guys replace Eric Voisin, Andy Phillips and Greg Immink.

This year Ryan Klein, Tyler Wolfe fill the voids left by Richardson and Cramer.

This years bench should take note, since 4 Sr's will be graduating.  Hope will be plugging in another 4 starters for next season.  Good chance they'll be really young.

[gohope]

Question -

Is there someone from the Great Lakes "region" that will be helping out with the selections?

Just wondering...

[sac]

Kevin VandeStreek is the Great Lakes Region rep for the MIAA, the regional rep for the National committee is from Westminster I think.

[AlwaysHope]

The ability of Hope's bench players to progress from contributing bench players to solid starters has been a big part of the past two seasons for Hope.

Last year, Hope plugged Richardson, Reimink and VanSolkema into the lineup from the previous seasons bench (VS only played about 10 games in 06).  Those guys replace Eric Voisin, Andy Phillips and Greg Immink.

This year Ryan Klein, Tyler Wolfe fill the voids left by Richardson and Cramer.

This years bench should take note, since 4 Sr's will be graduating.  Hope will be plugging in another 4 starters for next season.  Good chance they'll be really young.

Given this team's success to date (and who knows what's still coming!), I can almost hear GVW's recruiting pitch in the home of a future Hope player.

GVW:  "No guarantees, because you will have to earn it, but you do know that I need to replace 6 seniors next year, including 4 starters.  Plus how about playing in front of the largest D3 audience every night, at maybe the finest D3 facility in the nation.  But most important, I need people who can step in right away and contribute so we can win the MIAA for the third year in a row, win another MIAA tournament, and get back to the NCAA tournament."

Parents in background:  "How much is that room, board, and tuition again?"

GVW:  "Did I mention that I need to replace four starters!"

[sac]

Cue Stinger in 3......2.....1.......

[knightfan37]

The ability of Hope's bench players to progress from contributing bench players to solid starters has been a big part of the past two seasons for Hope.

Last year, Hope plugged Richardson, Reimink and VanSolkema into the lineup from the previous seasons bench (VS only played about 10 games in 06).  Those guys replace Eric Voisin, Andy Phillips and Greg Immink.

This year Ryan Klein, Tyler Wolfe fill the voids left by Richardson and Cramer.

This years bench should take note, since 4 Sr's will be graduating.  Hope will be plugging in another 4 starters for next season.  Good chance they'll be really young.

Given this team's success to date (and who knows what's still coming!), I can almost hear GVW's recruiting pitch in the home of a future Hope player.

GVW:  "No guarantees, because you will have to earn it, but you do know that I need to replace 6 seniors next year, including 4 starters.  Plus how about playing in front of the largest D3 audience every night, at maybe the finest D3 facility in the nation.  But most important, I need people who can step in right away and contribute so we can win the MIAA for the third year in a row, win another MIAA tournament, and get back to the NCAA tournament."

Parents in background:  "How much is that room, board, and tuition again?"

GVW:  "Did I mention that I need to replace four starters!"

I think that last quote from GVW should be "did i mention we'll give you some money under the table to come here"

Also the turning point in the game yesterday was when Griffin hit a 3 to put Calvin up 27-14 or something like that, and KVS instantly calls time out and subs out Griffin, taking away all Calvins momentum and taking out a streaky shooter who had just hit two 3's in the last couple of possesions. This is what Calvin fans have been dealing with all year with KVS, and its incredibly frustrating.

[gohope]

   okay I'll quit as others have "pointed" out stuff about this situation well enough in earlier posts (as well as on the Holland Sentinel Blog).

It's impossible to take seriously anything Alan Babbit or the Sentinel prints. I could not read past the very first sentence of his blog without finding an obvious grammatical error. D3hoops posters make errors too but we don't 1) get paid to write, and 2) have editors to review our work before it goes out to the public (maybe the Sentinel doesn't either).

Okay counselor, I see your point. But please don't think that the GR Press has accurately reported facts in their stories about the MIAA any better over the years.       All you needed to do was watch the "Sports Overtime" show on Channel 8 this evening as they began with game film showing exactly what people were talking about - The proof in the pudding!

[sac]

I think it would be ironic if we played the Stevens Point Pointers.

.....of course I found most of last night ironic.

[sac]

Just realized I didn't do a fan poll this year, sorry.  So here's my crack at an All-MIAA team.

MVP---I've struggled with this all year, but I'm giving my MVP's to Marcus Vanderheide and Tyler Wolfe from Hope.  They've been great all year.   I could make a case for either, its not unprecedented to share between teamates (89-Bill Sall, Dan Davis).  Maybe if Tyler Wolfe had a "So Krispy" dance video, it would have put him over the top.

First Team
Marcus Vanderheide, Sr. Hope
Tyler Wolfe, Sr. Hope
Caleb Veldhouse, Jr. Calvin
Derek Griffin, Sr. Calvin
Desmond Young, Jr. Adrian
Tony Benford, Jr. Tri-State
Brandon McClary, Jr. Olivet
Mat Kellogg, Sr. Kalamazoo

Second Team
Derek VanSolkema, Sr. Hope
Brandon Way, Sr. Olivet
Drew Yancey, Jr. Albion
Henry McCain, Jr. Kalamazoo
Matt Brown, Jr. Alma
Jesse Reimink, Jr. Hope
John Mantel, So. Calvin
Ryan Klein, Sr. Hope

My first team might be short on guards, rebounding really seemed to influence some picks for me.

All 5 Hope starters make it which I don't think is too far fetched given their season.  I would have like to find a spot for Redditt or Michael McClary but there's plenty of time for those guys.  They both had great seasons.  The leagues guards didn't really stand out this year, perhaps a Dustin Smith, or Bill Leising or DJ Mocini deserved some thoughts, but they just didn't have the raw numbers to justify replacing anyone on the 2nd team.

Freshman of the Year
Jordan Redditt, Alma........promising young player who devolped into a pretty good scorer for the Scots.

Coach of the Year
Mike Turner, Albion.......it just has to be, from 10-15 a year ago to 19-6 with basically the same players and nearly pulled off an MIAA Championship.  All without a single first team player by my book.

Game of the year is tough, but I think I have to go with Albion 56 Calvin 55 with Mocini's shot.  That might have cost Calvin alot given how the season played out.  I surely would have picked the OT game with Adrian/Albion had the Bulldogs pulled that one out.


Last a special award which I have no name for, but it goes to Jim Cash, Sr Albion.  Jim lost his mother in early January.  I know exactly what this kid went through and I can tell you I was in no shape to play basketball during those difficult days.  On the day my father passed away I tried to watch a game, and it just didn't feel real to me.   I can't even imagine what it was like to try and play a game.

Jim toughed it out and didn't miss a game for the Britons.  Pain is a funny thing, some days it consumes you, some days you don't notice it, but its always there.  Eventually you reach a peace about it, but you always carry it with you.  Its hell getting there but you do get there.  Maybe Jim Cash should be my MVP.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

While I'm confident Hope will re-load next year, Calvin sure has lots of weapons and "should" be a force to reckon with.

A bit disappointing season I'd say for the Knights, but much to look forward to next year. I'd have to say, Calvin will be the team to beat and probably ranked highly in the pre-season, nationally.

Calvin was the team to beat this year in many people on this board's opinion and look how that turned out for them.

[AndersDY]

Sac, maybe I'm missing it, but what is the ironic part if we have to play UWSP? The fact that we were on track to play them last year without Wash U in the way? Perhaps if we match up with the Pointers, there could be a micro-brew competition as a sideshow.

You know, I can't remember the last time I got the error for repeating a karma move to soon...

[AndersDY]

Tidbit from the NCAC folks:

To watch the men's selection show @ noon Monday:

http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=ncaa&sport=m-baskbl&category=Features%20%26%20Interviews%20%28MediaType%29&media=62248

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I just posted this on the women's board:

"Based on the women's bracket, it appears Hope is a #2 seed, and B-W is hosting because the Hope men will be hosting so the women can't."

It's looking pretty certain the Hope men will be hosting