Calvin–Hope men's basketball rivalry

The Calvin–Hope men's basketball rivalry is a college sports rivalry between the men's basketball teams of Hope College Flying Dutchmen of Holland, Michigan, and the Calvin University Knights of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which participate at the NCAA Division III level.[1][2]

History

The men's basketball teams first played each other in 1920.[3] Through January 2019, the men's basketball teams have played 200 times, with the Hope Flying Dutchmen leading with 103 wins to the Calvin Knights' 97 wins.[4] The rivalry, which originates from the historical separation of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church in North America, operates on a basis of more similarity than difference. Tom Davelaar, assistant coach to Hope's basketball team, once said, "... both schools and fan bases are so alike - and yet we think we're different somehow. We're really just two peas in a pod."[5] The next face off in 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary since the rivalry started.[6]

In 2009, the rivalry turned ugly - the two teams faced off against each other in the MIAA championship when a Hope student was instigating fans in the upper concourse late in the 2nd half at VanNoord Arena celebrating what would become a Hope victory, when the Hope student kicked a Calvin students legs and a scuffle occurred.

In 2015, it again turned ugly as Calvin students stormed the court in a nail-biter victory in the MIAA championship, while a Hope player laid in the middle of the floor, nearly getting trampled by the court storming.[7]

Significance

In 2005, ESPN polled its staff about who they thought were America's greatest college basketball rivalries, and the Calvin–Hope rivalry was voted fourth in all college basketball behind Carolina–Duke rivalry, Connecticut–Tennessee women's basketball rivalry, and Kentucky–Louisville rivalry.[8] ESPN also conducted an on-line "fan poll" in which 80% of voters picked the Knights vs. Flying Dutchmen.[9]

The rivalry between the two colleges is most prominent in basketball; however, the rivalry spans the schools' athletics.[1]

References
  1. Reynolds, Lauren (July 24, 2007). "No hate, just heat in Hope–Calvin rivalry". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010. While the rivalry began across all sports, it has grown into a national event in men's basketball.
  2. Behm, Jon (January 22, 2010). "Rivalry 93 years in making". Chimes. Calvin College. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  3. Beardsley, Howie (January 7, 2010). "Calvin men win bragging rights against Hope behind freshman Bryan Powell's 3s". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  4. Renner, Tom and Jeff Febus (January 31, 2011). "Men's Rivalry: The History". calvinhope.com. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  5. Cacciola, Scott (12 January 2015). "Rivalry's Edict: Drub Thy Neighbor". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  6. "Home". calvinhope.com.
  7. Goricki, David (1 March 2015). "'Perfect storm' led to scary court storming at Calvin-Hope". detroitnews.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  8. Behm, Jon (February 26, 2010). "The Calvin–Hope Rivalry: from obscurity to national limelight". Chimes. Calvin College. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  9. Hope College. "ESPN Say Hope-Calvin Rivalry Among the Best". Hope Today News. Hope College. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.


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