MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hoopdreams]

Grace Bible is oh so close to being a solid program.  Allen Duram is back with the program and when he is eligible, is really good. An absolute beast in the paint. Will go out on a limb and say he is one of the top 5 post players in the GR area in the last 5 years- Anijong, Keenan (although he was grossly underutilized in HS), I guess the good lettinga could be considered a post, Voss currently at EGR can be tossed into the equation...

from what I understand, their experienced backcourt dissolved with the older Jameson on med red-shirt, and Boone walking on at GVSU

[GoKnights68]

Well just over 28 hours until Calvin gets under way with their season.  It is obviously an exciting feeling for any fan or player.

Although I can't wait to see how Calvin will play tomorrow, it will be hard to judge them just on this tournament.  We all remember how excited Calvin fans were last season, including me, about how awesome Calvin looked after winning the tournament and beating eventual national champion Washington U.  I guess the main things I'll be watching on the court is how well the new transfers and new varsity players can contribute offensively.  Last season teams could focus on 4 or 5 players (on the entire roster) throughout the game while on defense, because of how limited some of the other players' offensive game could be.   And obviously I'll be watching everyones' defense...  Will Calvin learn how to guard the perimeter well this season?  Will they rebound better than they did in the Ferris St scrimmage last week?

I'm not sure how much the loss of Engelsma will affect this team.  He was the one player that seemed to be the most consistent on offense last year, even in games Calvin struggled in (see Hope vs Calvin miaa tourney finals). 

Can't wait to see Veldhouse play in the 2-spot this season.  I just have a gut-feeling that that will be a change for the better.  I'm hoping Veltema will have his 3-point shot down this season, Mantel develop his post-game better over the off-season, and Zoerhof and Katt can contribute a little more offensively this season.  I think Rodts will be an under-looked player going into the season.  I think he can contribute a lot to the season right from the start.

Last spring, I was thinking Hope was my favorite to win the league.  After Calvin got some transfers to fill some holes and thinking about Calvin's new gym bringing some much-needed hype to the basketball program, I will say Calvin wins the league.  That being said, I predict Hope's ridiculously good depth will get them to win the MIAA tournament. 

This years seniors are 3-9 verses Hope.  I believe and hope they and KVS will have the hunger and desire to win the regular MIAA championship for the first time since their freshmen year, and of course do better against Hope this season.

Go Knights!

[hope1]

at least we can watch a real game tonight hope opener 

[sac]

Coverage of Hope's game tonight, 8p.m (Interesting set of officials.   Joppe, Perez and ...Stegeman)

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/livestats/

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/hop

Someone mentioned the possiblity of video, but I'm not seeing any links.



****UPDATE****
the yahoo radio link isn't working, I've linked through WHTC's site, the link is on the right side about halfway down.

http://www.whtc.com/

[The Girl w/ Orange Hair]

THANK YOU SAC!!!!
I nearly had a heart attack when the Yahoo link wasn't working, but the WHTC link is perfect!!!!

[sac]

No problem, always good to have a backup plan.  I won't say how long it took me to remember WHTC's call letters.

HOPE 42 IUSB 31 ---Half

I think we have to call that a good first half by the Dutchmen.  Started strong for sure, not such a hot finish.

Couple surprises............the number of 3 point shots attempted by Hope 14 (made 5) , and the number of Hope kids who  played, 13.........only Andy Venema and Chris Nelis did not play.  At one point early, Hope was on pace for 40 3 point shot attempts.

Reimink with a strong half 16  Tanis 8, Bunn 5------  Hope started Bunn, Tanis, Bowser, Reimink, Osburn.  Those guys played about 6 min together and then it was a mismash of lineups afterwards.

Hope committed 17 fouls

[Dark Knight]

Wow, Hope is trailing IUSB by 1, a team that Grace Bible defeated 83-69 a couple of days ago.

Has the world turned upside down?

[ed -- ah, that's Grace College, not Grace Bible College--one of those NCCAA I teams, like Spring Arbor.]

[sac]

Wow, Hope is trailing IUSB by 1, a team that Grace Bible defeated 83-69 a couple of days ago.

Has the world turned upside down?

Grace College, and the statement earlier that IUSB hadn't played anyone is pretty much false...........more on that latter.

[sac]

Wow, Hope is trailing IUSB by 1, a team that Grace Bible defeated 83-69 a couple of days ago.

Has the world turned upside down?

[ed -- ah, that's Grace College, not Grace Bible College--one of those NCCAA I teams, like Spring Arbor.]

Also  NAIA II and a member of the rugged MCC conference with Bethel.

[sac]

FINAL

HOPE 74 IUSB 69

Hope rallies and survives in the final minute and a half.  Jesse Reimink is every Hope fans hero tonight, with a 3 to put them ahead, a huge rebound, an assist to go up 4, a steal with 11 sec to go up by 3 and the final 2 FT's to seal it.

Reimink finished with 30, Bunn 12, Tanis 8

The start of the 2nd was the story, IUSB ripped off an 11-0 run, Hope went 4 minutes without scoring, committed 4 to's and a foul in the first 4 minutes.  They also went 6 minutes without a FG untill Reimink huge 3.


I know people will think this funny, but this is a good win vs an NAIA-I team with 7 games under its belt most against some damn good small college teams.  I'm most impressed with the way Hope pulled this one out.

Way to go Dutchmen!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I don't recognize IUSB - am I correct in guessing that that is Indiana U - South Bend?

[MItwoA]

Hope is going to need to find an inside game if they are going to be competitive this year!  Way too many three pointers!  I can't imagine Glenn VanWieren will be happy with that!  
Sounds like Hope just needed to get the gitters out from the first game!  Need to work on taking care of the ball!!!

[dumezrules]

JESSE REIMINK clap, , clap, clapclapclap...  finally going to get his due this season???  no mo' backseat this year!

[dumezrules]

Hope is going to need to find an inside game if they are going to be competitive this year!  Way too many three pointers!  I can't imagine Glenn VanWieren will be happy with that! 
Sounds like Hope just needed to get the gitters out from the first game!  Need to work on taking care of the ball!!!

hmmm....sounds like what everyone said last year...lack of an inside presence will kill them....I think GVW would take another final four trip right now.

but way too many 3-pointers???  have you watched Hope play in the last couple of years? 

[Dark Knight]

IUSB is only 2 and 5, but they have lost to some pretty good teams, including Indiana Wesleyan, Bethel, and Grace College. However, none of those teams is as strong as Hope was last year, according to Massey.

Based on some back-of-the-envelope calculations using this year's games and last year's Massey rankings, I make IUSB about 5 points weaker than Calvin was last year and Spring Arbor about equal to Calvin last year. (That's different from the numbers I reported earlier--this time I omitted Spring Arbor's game against Aquinas based on sac's information about Aquinas missing two good players.)