NCAA Division III Second Round Game
Hope (24-3) hosts Capital (24-5)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Flying Dutchmen Probable Starters
G - 33 Derek VanSolkema (6-0 senior from Cutlerville, Mich./South Christian HS)
G - 10 Jesse Reimink (6-4 junior from Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville HS)
F - 14 Ryan Klein (6-5 senior from Burr Ridge, Ill./Timothy Christian HS)
F - 21 Tyler Wolfe (6-2 senior from Cedar Springs, Mich./Cedar Springs HS)
F - 31 Marcus Vanderheide (6-6 senior from Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian HS)
The Flying Dutchmen are making their 19th appearance in the Division III championships, the 21st all-time (College Division in 1950s). This will be the 10th time that Hope has hosted a first/second round game. Hope's all-time record in the Division III championship is 22-20.
Hope has qualified for the NCAA tournament as champion of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). The Flying Dutchmen bring a nine-game winning streak into their second round game.
A year ago Hope advanced to the Elite Eight, bowing to Washington, Mo. 58-55 in the sectional final. Hopefinished second in the nation in 1996 and 1998.
Capital, a member of the Ohio Athletic Association (OAC), is a Pool C qualifier. Pool C qualifiers are teams who did not receive a conference automatic berth. Capital has advanced to the second round after defeating Bethany, W.Va. 92-70 in a first round game on Thursday.
Hope has played Capital three times over the years and owns a 2-1 edge. The last meeting was a 73-71Capital win in 1991. Capital defeated Hope 83-77 in overtime in a 1984 NCAA tournament game played at Greencastle, Ind. Capital is appearing in the NCAA tournament a seventh time and Bethany for the sixth time.
This season Glenn Van Wieren became just the sixth coach in NCAA Division III men's basketball history to achieve 600 victories. He reached 600 victories faster than any other Division III coach (801st game). The previous mark was by Glenn Robinson of Franklin & Marshall who won number 600 in his 821st game. Van Wieren's record entering the NCAA tournament is 614-202 (.749).
Senior Marcus Vanderheide was voted the MVP of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He isjoined on the All-MIAA first team by senior teammate Tyler Wolfe. Senior Derek VanSolkema of received All-MIAA second team recognition.
Hope led Division III during the regular season in margin of victory (18.8 points per game). They rankedsixth nationally inassist/turnover ratio (1.39), ninth in steals per game (12.1) and 11th in assists per game (17.3).
The Hope College women's basketball team has also qualified for the NCAA Division III championship. There are 12 schools that have both the men's and women's basketball teams in this year's tournament. Joining Hope are Washington, Mo., Brandeis, Mass., Chicago, Rochester, N.Y., Amherst, Mass., Bowdoin, Me., Salem State, Mass., Scranton, Pa., St. Thomas, Minn., UW-Eau Claire, and UW-Stevens Point.