Calvin-Hope rivalry

The Calvin-Hope rivalry is a spirited rivalry, particularly in men's college basketball between Hope College and Calvin College who participate at the NCAA Division III level. Over 169 games, Hope leads 85-83 with 89 points separating the two teams. The latest game, which took place on March 1, 2008, ended in a victory for Hope.

National attention

ESPN highlighted the nation's greatest college basketball rivalries and the Calvin-Hope rivalry is tops in NCAA Division III and was ranked fourth in all collegiate hoops. The ranking was based on a poll of fans during the 2004 season and ESPN's "panel of experts" [] .

ESPN has also conducted an online poll for fans of the Fiercest basketball rivalries and the Calvin-Hope rivalry topped the list with over 75% of the vote.

During the game on February 7, 2007, Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, watched the Calvin-Hope rivalry in recognition of Hope's 50th year with the NCAA.

tatistics and information

*Through 169 games, Hope leads 85-83.
*89 points separate the teams over 169 games, a difference of 0.53 points per game.
*Hope has scored 11,419 points, an average of 67.568 per game.
*Calvin has scored 11,328 points, an average of 67.029 per game.
*The series started in 1920-21 with a 31-13 Hope victory.
*Calvin once defeated Hope 22 consecutive times (1969-70 until the second game in 1979-80). Hope's longest winning streak was 10 games, from the start of 1994-95 through 1997-98 season).
*In 1964-65 Hope beat Calvin 104-102 in the series' highest scoring game.
*The series' lowest scoring game was a 26-11 Hope win in 1924-25.
*Hope was the first team to score 100 points, winning 100-90 in 1954. The most points was by Calvin - 105-71 in 1964. There hasn't been a 100-point game since 1972 when Calvin won, 102-89.
*Hope's biggest margin of victory was 54-20 in 1921-22.
*Calvin's biggest margin of victory was 85-43 in 1951-52.
*The teams met for the first time in the championship game of the Select Bank Hall of Fame Classic in November, 2006 with Hope prevailing 76-54 on Calvin's home court.
*The teams have met seven times in the MIAA tournament since it began in 1992. Hope owns a 5-3 advantage and are 4-1 when the game determined the tournament champion. In 2005-06, Hope defeated Calvin in the tournament finals 68-55 at Calvin.
*The teams have met six times in the NCAA playoffs, with Calvin winning four of the six -- 92-90 OT in 1987, 95-68 in 1990, 84-79 OT in 1991 and 91-88 in 1992. Hope won in 2006, 70-67, and in 2007, 80-64.
*There have been eleven overtime games with Hope holding a 6-5 advantage.
*Hope coach Glenn Van Wieren versus Calvin (since 1977-78) is 40-36.
*Calvin coach Kevin VandeStreek versus Hope (since 1996-97) is 11-17.
*Calvin owns a 33-14 advantage at Knollcrest Fieldhouse since 1965-66.
*Hope hosted Calvin at the Holland Civic Center for 51 years (1954-55 through 2004-05), Hope owning a 31-24 advantage.
*Hope moved to its new Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse for the 2005-06 season. Hope won the first meeting 73-55 and again in an NCAA tournament game 70-67. Calvin became the first team to beat Hope at the Devos Fieldhouse on February 7, 2007 with a 77-71 victory.
*Calvin owns a 3-2 advantage when the game is played on a neutral floor.
*The January 29, 1997 game at Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids, a 70-56 Hope triumph, established an NCAA Division III single game attendance record with a capacity crowd of 11,442.

Record breakdown

A breakdown of the number of victories per team each decade.

References

External links

* [http://www.calvinhope.com Rivalry Fan Site]
* [http://www.hope.edu/athletics/therivalry/index.html Hope College Rivalry Site]
* [http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=1937 Chimes article on the January 13, 2007 Calvin-Hope game]
* [http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=2002 Chimes article on the February 7, 2007 Calvin-Hope game]