Hope tackled one of the toughest road trips you could even think up this weekend traveling to Wisconsin for games with UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point on back-to-back nights. Both of those teams are nationally ranked, and will probably remain so through the season. They were certainly heavy underdogs on both nights and the final scores probably played out about as you would expect.
Whitewater 83 Hope 70
Stevens Point 82 Hope 62
In both cases Hope played good, maybe even great first halves. As the second halves played out both nights the Dutchmen seemed to crumble under the weight of little things like foul trouble, rebounding, turnovers at the wrong times and probably a healthy lack of defense. Both games featured a short spurt of time in which the opponent asserted themselves and grabbed what turned into insurmountable leads. Against Whitewater it was a 4 point deficit at 6 minutes that was 11 less than 3 minutes later. Against Point it was a 6 point game with 14 to play that 2 minutes later was 12, and a further 2 minutes was 18. In each case Hope wasn't able to mount any kind of comeback once control had been established.
One of the things I learned last year doing this blog is that its really hard to write a game recap on a game you didn't see and only marginally easier for one you saw on video. So this is all I have for the game rundown.
for efficiencies and stuff, click
Whitewater 83 Hope 70
boxscore
Efficiency:
Estimated number of possessions: Hope 73 Whitewater 73
Normal paced game
Offensively Efficiency: 95.92
You want this higher and it probably was for about 35 minutes, a really bad stretch from 6 minutes to play on brought this below 100. Level of competition played apart.
Defensive Efficiency: 114.21
Watching this one it never felt like Hope could get a stop if they needed one. The Warhawks missed some shots from the perimeter, since Hope did as well it was probably a wash.
Rebounding Efficiency:
Hope: 30.0% of available offensive rebounds
WW: 45.7% of available offensive rebounds
This was a definite win for the Warhawks. Second chance points was 16-9, maybe not decisive but it certainly tilted the floor.
Game Score:
3rd star- Quardell Young, Whitewater 11.9
This guy has to be one of the best PG's in D3
2nd star- Ben Gardner, Hope 12.4
I'm ok with Ben playing even with Q. Young
1st star- KJ Evans, Whitewater 15.3
KJ played only 7 minutes in the first half, his second half of 10 points and 8 rebounds certainly turned the game in WW's favor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stevens Point 82 Hope 62
boxscore
Efficiency:
Estimated number of possessions: Hope 66 Stevens Point 64
little slower, grinding kind of pace
Offensively Efficiency: 94.51
Similar to the previous night, it kind of fell apart late in the game.
Defensive Efficiency: 128.48
Point missed very few shots on the night with a final shooting percentage just under 70. They were around 80 for the 2nd half. Not many defensive stops at all.
Rebounding Efficiency:
Hope: 32.1% of available offensive rebounds
SP: 30.8% of available offensive rebounds
This is all grayed out because its the most irrelevant stat analysis of this game. Stevens Point missed 13 shots all night, Hope grabbed 9 of them.
I'm reminded of this boxscore, which happens to be the last time Hope tackled a 'UW' school prior to this weekend. Platteville missed 14 shots that night.
Game Score:
3rd star- Nate VanArendonk, Hope 10.6
Excellent first half, but was not much of a 2nd half factor after UWSP packed the d in the lane.
2nd star- Alex Richard, Stevens Point 19.6
A difference maker off the bench for Point.
1st star- Ty Tillema, Stevens Point 27.2
I really hope this is the best anyone does against Hope all year. The All-American played like an All-American. 29 points, 10-14 from the floor, heck of a game.
Other thoughts:
---Hope's Freshmen played like Freshmen a little and asking them to not be Freshmen in their first two games against two of the best programs they will see in their 4 years at Hope is asking a lot. Blackledge struggled both nights with foul trouble, Brushwyler struggled so much Friday he didn't play Saturday. Stuive had a couple nice moments against Whitewater. It just takes time.
---Against Stevens Point Hope went 1-14 from behind the arc. That won't get it done. Last year Hope had 10 games I classify as miserable 3-point shooting nights (below 30%). It probably cost them a chance to win 3 more games. I was hoping we'd see fewer of those nights this year. With Hope's size, being able to stretch a defense could make them very difficult to defend. I feel like Hope has more capable shooters compared to last year, but it didn't show this weekend.
---I listened to the Stevens Point broadcast Saturday and the announcer had many complimentary things to say about Hope's team to the point he was nearly gushing. He certainly seemed convinced Hope was a good team or would be a very good team later this year. Its nice to hear that from someone who night after night gets to watch D3's best conference.
---The radio guy also confirmed that Stevens Point and Whitewater will be coming across the big lake next November to play at DeVos this same weekend.
---After two weekends the MIAA is 10-15, this is only 1 more loss than I had guessed at this point. Albion is off to a great start and registered two wins I had penciled in as losses. The surprise was Adrian/Alma being swept by a recently woeful Allegheny and Trine losing to Manchester. Its still really early but its looking like Adrian and Trine may struggle quite a bit more than originally thought.
---Hope has added Sasha Yanov and Ryan Skowronek to the roster, both Sophomore's from last seasons JV. Yeah, it makes Hope even younger.
Going Forward:
Despite the final margins of 13 and 20 I think Hope can hold its heads high on this weekend. Its a lot to ask any team to do what Hope did and even more to ask a team that played 1 Sr, 1 Jr, 4 So's and 3 Freshmen. They competed well for most of both games. This was absolutely top notch competition and will give each guy on that team a great view of where they need to go in the next couple of years.
For next week, its back to that other nice gym in West Michigan and the Hall of Fame Classic with Aquinas and Cornerstone. Neither are Whitewater or Point, but both usually play like it against their D3 cousins in this tournament.
Up Next: Me vs executing better
Friday vs Aquinas, Saturday vs Cornerstone at that other gym.
No comments:
Post a Comment