Welcome
to the website for the fabled DIII
basketball rivalry between
Hope and Calvin .

ESPN Ranks Hope-Calvin Rivalry the Best
ESPN has identified the nation's greatest college basketball rivalries
and to no one's surprise, the Hope-Calvin rivalry is tops in NCAA Division
III and ranked fourth in all collegiate hoops. The ranking was based on a poll of fans last
season and ESPN's "panel of experts".
ESPN's GREATEST COLLEGE RIVALRIES
#1 - Duke vs. North Carolina
#2 - Connecticut vs. Tennessee (women)
#3 - Louisville vs. Kentucky
#4 - HOPE vs. CALVIN
#5 - Xavier vs. Cincinnati
#6 - Indiana vs. Purdue
#7 - Philadelphia's "Big 5"
#8 - Illinois vs. Missouri
#9 - Penn vs. Princeton
#10 - Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
An ESPN crew covered the Calvin at Hope game in February, 2005 and
later conducted an on-line "Fan Poll"
where the Hope-Calvin rivalry received resounding support as America's
best with more than 80% of the voters casting their ballot for the
orange & blue/maroon & gold.
In July, 2007 ESPN.com featured the series as "a great, under-the-radar
college sports rivalry." The writer, Lauren Reynolds, noted: "The rivalry
is (also) unique in the approach both fans and players take to the
game. While everyone is excited for tip-off, the rivalry doesn't
carry the animosity
that's usually found when two schools compete so closely for so
long."
For the third time in four years, ESPN in February, 2009, highlighted the rivalry by including it with a photo from DeVos Fieldhouse in the
Rivalry Week feature in ESPN The Magazine. It was the only small college rivalry featured in the article.
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Men's Rivalry
Quick Facts
The
series started in 1920-21 with a 31-13 Hope victory.
After 172 games, Hope leads the series 87-85.
Over 172 games, just 98 points separate the two teams. Hope
has scored 11,614 while Calvin has scored 11,516.
During the 08-09 meetings, Calvin won the two regular season matchups while Hope
won the league tournament showdown.
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More Men's Rivalry Facts
Women's Rivalry
Quick Facts
The Hope/Calvin women's basketball rivalry started in 1965 with a 49-35 Calvin victory.
Through
94 games, Calvin leads the all-time series 61-33. Since women's
basketball became an official MIAA sport in 1978-79, Calvin
leads the series
41-32. Since 2000, Hope holds a 18-5 series advantage.
The
teams have combined to win 21 of the 30 MIAA championships
through 2007-08, 11 by Calvin and 10 by Hope.
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More Women's Rivalry Facts
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