MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[wiz]

I heard Lazic is thinking about leaving Aquinas and moving to Florida with his girlfriend.  But, apparently, coach Elders is working out a deal to have him finish his career at Cornerstone.

[sac]

AQ, starting 0-5 is an indication how much one or two players can mean to a team at any level.  I sure figured Hope would pull it of given how hard it is to beat the Dutch on their home floor.  Now I don't feel quite as bad about how Calvin did last night, but tonights performance did little to reassure one that Calvin is ready for prime time in the MIAA/CCIW challenge.

On that note, Aquinas joins Calvin as the only two schools to beat Hope at DeVos.  Hope's home record at DeVos is now 51-3.  They had won 20 in a row.

[calvinite]

What's the updated record of MIAA vs. non-MIAA schools?

As discouraged as I am, both Calvin and Hope fans should take heart that it's a whole lot better to peak at the end of the season than at the start of the season like Calvin did against WU last year. Despite the disappointing results this weekend, I think there are some encouraging notes and reason for optimism on the part of both programs. For one thing, I think there were a total of 3 combined 'returning' starters for both Calvin and Hope that started this evening's games. It's still early -- at least that's what I keep telling myself.

[goodknight]

It's a wash right now -- 16-16.
LTK, it's WAY too early to be discouraged...unless you're an Alma fan.

[northb]

It's a wash right now -- 16-16.
LTK, it's WAY too early to be discouraged...unless you're an Alma fan.

Ouch!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

No comment from me on last night's game - more important things on my mind.

I'm sure some of you have heard of the collapse of a high school basketball player at a scrimmage on Friday.  The young man, Taylor DeRoo (a friend of my son's) is fighting for his life at Spectrum.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Holland_teen_collapses_during_scrimmage

[hope1]

yes we are praying for him what a sad thing


i hope got there bad game out of the seasson now no more bad games played all good ones

[sac]

Ohio Wesleyan 69 Albion 66

Albion rallied from 18 down with 11 minutes to go to pull within 1 a couple times, but OWU holds on for the win.


Manchester 85 Adrian 78

We've slipped below .500, 16-18 as a league.

[sac]

I was searching for some historical context for last nights loss to Aquinas.  Here's Hope's lowest point totals in the last 7 years, going back to the low water mark of the 39 points scored vs Albion (certain thats the lowest going back 50 odd years.)


39--2002 @  Albion-loss
44--2005 vs  Albion-loss
46--2009 vs  Aquinas-loss
49--2006 @  Wittenberg-loss
52--2008 @  Albion-loss
54--2002 @  St. Norbert-win
54--2005 @  Calvin--loss
54--2006 vs  Lakeland--win
55--2007 nt  Washington--loss
58--2004 nt  Grand Valley State-loss
58--2006 @  Calvin-loss
59--2006 @  Albion-loss

Its Hope's lowest point total at DeVos, but is still second to Albion's holding Hope to 44 at the Civic the year before DeVos opened.

This covers 209 games, 94.1% of those Hope scored 60 or more points.

If I looked, I bet I couldn't find a game in the 1990's where Hope scored less than 50.....at least that I can recall.

[pointlem]

Some observations on this weekend's HOF tournament:
•Caleb Veldhouse is a pleasure to watch . . . when he's not playing Hope.
•John Mantel's range of scoring---from beyond the 3 point line, on fall-away jumps, and when posting up down low---is so impressive.  If I were Calvin I'd want him posting up more down low, as he did at the end Saturday night, and when baskets seemed to come easy. 
•Last year Calvin had three primary scoring options, in those two plus Derek Griffin.  This year it looks like Veltema's 3 point shot may replace Derek's offense. 
•For Hope, Ty Tanis also has a great 3 point shot, though he could wish for Veltema's height and clearance over defenses. 
•It will be interesting to see who emerges as another primary scoring option, beyond Jesse Reimink and Peter Bunn (who seems Caleb-like in his ability to create and shoot).   David Krombeen looks to have exciting potential, and quickness that will create a lot of assists.
•Andy Venema on Saturday showed that he has the strength, size, and agility to go toe to toe with a big center and get blocks and rebounds.  He would make an interesting matchup for the big Wheaton Center next Saturday.
•Finally, although disappointed in the 46 point offensive production Saturday night, due only in part to cold shooting, I consoled myself that the defensive effort was excellent and that some of Hope's best teams have gone one to great things after getting spanked by Aquinas.  (Sac could give us some history.)  Their December 20th rematch may tell us something.

[hoopdreams]

there is absolutely no comparison between bunn and holstege.  Joel took great pride in his defense, believe he is career leader in steals, where bunn has repeatedly been beat off the dribble and late to contest shots.  By my estimation, cornerstone scored 26-28 points directly against him, torres hit 2 big 3's in the last 3 minutes against him having done virtually nothing prior.

boxscore(s) say for the weekend- 9 to's and 1 assist. 

When your pg is 2nd in shot attempts with 3 other starters not only not scoring but not getting shots, it will be an issue.  Play 3 guards?  It happened once briefly, think it was krombeen, tanis, and bunn.

He is very strong offensively, but no comparison to Holstege. 

[sac]

there is absolutely no comparison between bunn and holstege.  Joel took great pride in his defense, believe he is career leader in steals, where bunn has repeatedly been beat off the dribble and late to contest shots.  By my estimation, cornerstone scored 26-28 points directly against him, torres hit 2 big 3's in the last 3 minutes against him having done virtually nothing prior.

boxscore(s) say for the weekend- 9 to's and 1 assist. 

When your pg is 2nd in shot attempts with 3 other starters not only not scoring but not getting shots, it will be an issue.  Play 3 guards?  It happened once briefly, think it was krombeen, tanis, and bunn.

He is very strong offensively, but no comparison to Holstege. 

Joel is also the career assists leader by a LARGE margin, and is still #4 in blocked shots.

[dumezrules]

there is absolutely no comparison between bunn and holstege.  Joel took great pride in his defense, believe he is career leader in steals, where bunn has repeatedly been beat off the dribble and late to contest shots.  By my estimation, cornerstone scored 26-28 points directly against him, torres hit 2 big 3's in the last 3 minutes against him having done virtually nothing prior.

boxscore(s) say for the weekend- 9 to's and 1 assist. 

When your pg is 2nd in shot attempts with 3 other starters not only not scoring but not getting shots, it will be an issue.  Play 3 guards?  It happened once briefly, think it was krombeen, tanis, and bunn.

He is very strong offensively, but no comparison to Holstege. 

Joel is also the career assists leader by a LARGE margin, and is still #4 in blocked shots.

Bunn has played exactly 4 games for HOPE....of course he is no JH...but he will get better when he understands how defense is played at HOPE. 

In order to get assists, people have to get open (didnt see many open people on Saturday night)  and make shots (shooting % tells you about that) ....Tanis was 0-the weekend on jumpers I think....

right now, he is THE scoring option outside of Reimink.....so what if he is a PG?  Your best player should have the ball in his hands.  Who else on this team beside him can create their own shot right now?  I dont see one. 

Give him (and the team) time....he will be one of the best....no EE or JH but a very, very good player none the less.



***fixed formating

[realist]

I only asked the question from hearing what was being said about Bunn during the game.  JH, if my memory serves correct, didn't start as a "super star', but he sure grew, matured, and developed into one of Hope's better players.   Based only on what I was hearing Bunn sure seemed to be above many of the other "hyped" Hope players.

[gohope]

Better late than never.  Thoughts from Saturday's game:

*  I always thought that AQ's school colors were red and white, but in a recent search, a change occurred in 2004 to maroon and white.  They either haven't had new uniforms in a while or I might need to have an eye appoinment soon!

*  A number of scoring droughts for the Dutchmen during the game. I think that there were three 3 minute and one 5 minute scoring lapses. As others have stated, the guys are still getting use to one another and the varied groups of five on the floor as Coach GVH looks to see what  players gels with one another.

*  It was fun to sit near "Swammi FDF!!"  A number of times he "called it" before it happened, such as someone who would make a basket, or a yell to "boxout" during a FT, and the FT was missed, allowing Hope to get the rebound!!  If only he knew the Lotto numbers....

* The guys just weren't "Crisp" Saturday night.  But as we all know, spelling "Hope Basketball" is really P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!!

*  Even the bounce passess weren't really helping!! 


Lastly, before I forget - a special note for Stinger:  The Hope JV team has a game at Andrews tonight.