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Messages - pointlem

#1
Quote from: KnightSlappy on March 18, 2024, 07:32:57 PM
Quote from: Grutte Dirk on March 18, 2024, 07:03:11 PM
Quote from: monsoon on March 18, 2024, 05:41:44 PMFinal Top 25 is out.
#1:  Trine
#6:  Calvin
#25: Hope
https://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2023-24/final\
So, Holland beats #6 Calvin and #1 Trine in the MIAA tournament, loses to #11 Case Western in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, and drops three spots? I'd like to see Holland O'fer for a season, and I think that's ridiculous.

The MIAA Tournament games were reflected in the previous poll.
Yes, though one might have expected that Hope's late-season wins over Calvin and Trine, followed by Calvin's tournament run and Trine's national championship (plus Hope's unexpectedly easy win in the NCAA first round), might have strengthened Hope's resume. But at this point it hardly matters, and ending the season well with a top 25 finish defines success, and hopes for more success to come.
#2
Congrats to you and to your team on which you have so faithfully supported, TU Angola. This season, including that miracle comeback win against Platteville (which is surely thinking this weekend that they could have hoisted that trophy), will be something to celebrate and savor for a long time.

And congrats to the MIAA for having a national championship team, and to Hope and Calvin and Olivet for having the firepower to defeat a national champion caliber team.

We've all appreciated your reporting on TU men's and women's BB, and look forward to more in the year to come.
#3
Quote from: DrDutchman on March 15, 2024, 04:21:37 PMJust wanted tO let you know cAlvin will be down a Certain pLayer next year
If you're talking O ACL that would be very unfortunate for both the person and the team . . . but we've all seen players come back from that, and next winter is a long ways away with time to heal?
#4
Quote from: TUAngola on March 09, 2024, 10:11:24 PMOH MY GOODNESS!!  I am still in shock.  :o

Will post tommorrow as I need to comprehend what I just witnessed.  Jubilation for the Thunder, heartbreak for the Pioneers.
Looking forward to your recap TUAngola...ecstacy in Angola?

Hope fans will understand how dumbstruck Platteville fans are--after, in December, the Hope team lost after leading Platteville by 7 . . . and that was three days after Whitewater scored 12 points in the unforgettable last 46 seconds to (like Trine) snatch victory from the jaws of seemingly certain defeat.

The unpredictability of sport is part of the fun--especially when you do what Trine did last night. 
#5
Kudos to the Hope women for an outstanding—exceeding expectations—season, including their grit last evening after facing an 18 point halftime deficit to a hot-shooting Whitewater (led by some of the top talent from its national championship game against Hope). And how great that Raven Jemison completed her career as the team's top scorer, with a career-best 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting.

With all the rest of the team returning, plus any new recruits?, Hope women's BB fans are already looking forward to next season.

Thanks also to Greg Chandler for following this team and broadcasting with such verve and affection (which he couldn't resist displaying with a little hilarity last night, when lamenting the referees missing a Hope player getting flattened, and moments later being charged with a mere touch foul: "It's hard to win when you are playing five against eight").
#6
Kudos to Trine for commanding wins and a chance to host again, with a winnable game against Wash U, and hopes that on Saturday night they won't face another jaw-dropping shooting performance from Case Western.

A very impressive weekend for Calvin, especially Saturday against a loaded home-court team that seemed destined for the Final Four. Three-point shooting has been Calvin's Achilles heel this season, but not this weekend (20 of 40, across the two games).

Hope's loss, after taking an early 10-point lead, was a disappointing end to a season that, nonetheless, ended exactly as last season . . . on an upswing with another league tournament championship and, hopefully, great memories for the seniors who have brought their fans so much pleasure. Radio announcer Mike Coleman hinted a chance that Tanner Wiegerink might (or might not) return, in which case Hope would be fully loaded for next season.

Finally, kudos to Coleman for his travels on our behalf and his class-act broadcasting. His play-by-play commentary is just the right blend of professionalism and Hope-support. His interviews are great. And he exhibits a kind spirit towards all. Although I could wish that some tech person could figure out how to sync his audio into a game video feed, he's good enough that I've listened to his audio stream preparing me for what I am about to see on screen.
#7
Interesting that DePauw with seven losses (including to Millikin by 33, which Hope defeated) gets chosen to host over three-loss Hope . . . but perhaps SOS is the difference maker? Regardless, not an intimidating first-round bracket for the Hope women (who regardless of next weekend's outcome have realized their potential this year and been great fun to watch).

Nice that Hope and Trine are on opposite sides of the bracket, so they could meet again in the national championship. But with NYU and Transylvania on Hope's bracket side, that's not gonna happen (interesting that they didn't place those two schools on opposite sides).
#8
Looks like a great draw for Trine, including home court . . . and a tough draw for Calvin--facing a resurgent Elmhurst for the right to challenge a championship-contender on its home floor.

If Hope and Trine were fortunate to win next weekend, they could potentially have a rematch at Trine the following Saturday night. Neither could face Calvin before a semi-final game.
#9
Quote from: Grutte Dirk on February 25, 2024, 04:50:57 PM
Quote from: pointlem on February 25, 2024, 03:11:32 PM
Quote from: sac on February 25, 2024, 01:54:51 PM--MIAA should rethink their Friday pricing.
Great summary, Sac . . . and might the MIAA also want to consider having semis on top-seeded teams' home floors? Why not, for example, have Hope play last Friday at Calvin--before fans (nice for both players and fans) and giving more revenue, rather than playing before a near-empty house, then driving home, and then back to Angola?
Hope slept in Holland Friday night?
Yes, per Coach Davelaar on pre-game radio interview.

Consider also: Adrian almost beat Trine, which would have had Hope and Adrian playing before a mostly empty gym (though perhaps there's some reason, such as staffing, to specify the championship game site well in advance)?

And while I'm offering unsolicited advice to the MIAA, might it nudge St. Mary's to join an Indiana conference, enabling a return to a single home game (either men's or women's) each Wednesday and Saturday, with any jv game preceding (e.g., when Calvin women play Albion at home, the Calvin men play at Albion). That way a) no long 4-hour basketball Wednesday evenings followed by no home games the next date, b) always two home games (and revenues) a week, and c) jv teams can travel with and play adjacent to their varsity teams. Also, the women's BB teams could return to starting their league seasons in January, coinciding with men's schedule.
#10
Quote from: sac on February 25, 2024, 01:54:51 PM--MIAA should rethink their Friday pricing.
Great summary, Sac . . . and might the MIAA also want to consider having semis on top-seeded teams' home floors? Why not, for example, have Hope play last Friday at Calvin--before fans (nice for both players and fans) and giving more revenue, rather than playing before a near-empty house, then driving home, and then back to Angola? The MIAA distances are small enough that after a 7 p.m. Friday game, teams can comfortably sleep in their own beds before the winner drives to the championship site the next night (which will never be another empty house if the #1 seed loses on Friday night). Yes?
#11
Quote from: pointlem on February 21, 2024, 08:50:31 PMWithout forecasting this weekend's result, my sense is that Hope's season has progressed much like last season--with the team gaining momentum as the season approaches its end. The addition of TJ McKenzie and his team-leading steals/minute has helped. They will, however, need to shoot better than last night's 34% to upend Calvin (which would likely merit a Pool C bid, Knight-Slappy?)
I hoped Hope would shoot better, but didn't expect that much better. Gabe 31 points on seven 3's? That lifetime memory for him was on no one's bingo card. And TJ!

That will be a tough performance to replicate tomorrow night. But we shall see. And in any event a loss is not season-ending for either Calvin or Trine, who next weekend will still be playing, and, given their talent level, quite possibly beyond.
#12
Without forecasting this weekend's result, my sense is that Hope's season has progressed much like last season--with the team gaining momentum as the season approaches its end. The addition of TJ McKenzie and his team-leading steals/minute has helped. They will, however, need to shoot better than last night's 34% to upend Calvin (which would likely merit a Pool C bid, Knight-Slappy?)
#13
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on December 06, 2023, 09:18:05 PM
Hope had Whitewater on the ropes. They were up 76-70 with 34 seconds to go and lose 79-76. Ouch!
Amazing (and painful) ending, as Whitewater--when a ESPN gamecast would have shown Hope with a 99 percent chance of winning--scored 12 points in the last 46 seconds (not a typo), enabled by WW's stifling end-of-game defense and an all-American calibre 35 point performance by Miles Barnstable.

Heartbreaking . . . yet, for Hope to be in a position to defeat one of last year's final four teams on a cold 4 of 20 3-point shooting and night, with but 64% free throw shooting, gives an indication of this team's potential.

Although frosh Parker Hovey only had 6 points, his tough defense and nine rebounds also bodes well.
#14
Quote from: pointlem on November 27, 2023, 08:44:15 AM
It will be tough to sustain 53% (43% 3-point) shooting. A game will come when those 3-point shots aren't falling. Even so, I expect competitive defensive intensity, offensive ball movement, guard speed, and bench depth.
What a difference a game makes, as an ice cold Hope (3 of 23 from 3-point land) faced a great comeback effort by Hanover . . . which hit 5 of its last 6 three point shots, and was half a second from going 6 of the last 7 after a game-ending corner 3 was waved off (and unquestionably so). Also credit Hanover's coach for its effective switch to a zone defense, which effectively shut down Hope's speedier guards' drives to the basket.

Meanwhile, Hope's previously sharpshooting Mims, Decker, and Wourman combined for 0 for 15 from behind the arc. To have such an off night shooting and still win has got to be a morale boost.

And who would have predicted that one of Hope's 3's would be a late game-winner from Gabe Quillan off a missed 3-point shot by  Marcus Wourman, who snared his own rebound and delivered the ball to Gabe. Give Gabe the game ball, with 7 other baskets, 7 of 8 free throw shooting, and 13 rebounds in 42 minutes of play.
#15
A great weekend for Hope men's basketball.

After a cold-shooting exhibition game against the University of Chicago, Hope has dominated its opponents. After three games, it is hard not to be impressed with every aspect of their game—and of each player's contributions.

Gabe Quillan's footwork and shooting has much improved since his first year. Marcus Wourman is an aesthetic pleasure to watch.  Clayton Dykhouse, Tyler Weigerink, and Ben Wagar continue to excel. And Josh Decker, Parker Hovey, and Justice Mims now add significant value to last year's returning four starters. This looks to be an unselfish team, with no one go-to player, but for which any one of these could lead the scoring on any given night.

It will be tough to sustain 53% (43% 3-point) shooting. A game will come when those 3-point shots aren't falling. Even so, I expect competitive defensive intensity, offensive ball movement, guard speed, and bench depth.

Tuesday's game against Hanover—which last year beat Hope by 11—will provide another good test.

A footnote: Saturday's 772 attendance—the sparsest men's BB crowd I can recall at DeVos—suffered from competition with MI/OSU football. I wonder what that number would be on future MI/OSU game days, given a 4 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. tipoff.