Down by four points with less than a minute left in the game, Caleb Veldhouse knew his team needed to make a play, or it was going to lose to its arch-rival, Hope (Mich.) College.
As the senior co-captain, point guard and leader of the Calvin (Mich.) College Knights, Veldhouse stepped it up when his team needed him most, and led a comeback for the ages - at least to the fans of heralded Hope-Calvin rivalry.
It was déjà vu for Veldhouse, who knocked down a game-winning 3-pointer against Hope in his freshman year.
"To be put in those kinds of situations is what I want to do," he said. "I want the ball in my hands at the end of the game. I want to make a play for my team."
It was simply another chapter to "The Rivalry;" a perfect ending of the 171st meeting between the Knights and Flying Dutchmen. Calvin's dramatic 63-62 win last Wednesday was something straight out of a storybook.
The Hope-Calvin matchup is one of the best in college basketball, and one of the least known. In the 88 years these two teams have been playing, Hope leads the all-time series, 86-85. In 2005, ESPN ranked it the fourth-best rivalry in all of college basketball.
With time ticking away in their most recent game Thursday, Veldhouse calmly brought the ball up the court, made a move, stepped back behind the 3-point line and connected. Down one, the Knights clamped down on defense, forced an off-balanced shot attempt, recovered the rebound and called timeout.
Then, as the final seconds raced off the clock, Veldhouse drove to the basket, drew defenders, and dumped it off to senior co-captain Matt Veltema for the game-winning layup.
It was also a memorable way to break in Calvin's new Van Noord Arena. But ask Veldhouse about the game, the rivalry, and he'll tell you he is just soaking it all in.
"The rivalry we have with them is really fun as a player," he said. "It is just intense and a lot of fun. My favorite part, though, is the students at the games. Their banter can be really funny."
Last week's edition of "The Rivalry" was more than just another rivalry game; it was for first place in the conference standings. Playing in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), Hope and Calvin have dominated the competition in conference history, combining to win 61 of the 111 conference basketball championships.
While it is acknowledged as one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball, Calvin head coach Kevin Vande Streek admits there is no hatred for the other team.
"We recruit the same players, and sometimes you'll even see high school teammates playing against each other," Vande Streek said. "You might even see players from each team at the same wedding. It's not one of those hated rivalries."
Although don't tell Calvin fans that.
"Well, I do see students wearing shirts that say 'Beat Hope' all year round," Vande Streek added.
Of course, like in any rivalry, it is easy to get caught up in all the hype and distractions.
That is why Vande Streek decided to cancel practice the day after the Hope game. He wanted his players to "be happy, have fun and come back on Friday ready to go again."
"The feeling of satisfaction is a tough thing to overcome, in anything, in life," Vande Streek said. "You have to have the hunger to move on and keep getting better."
But still, Vande Streek was not content with a series sweep against arch-rival Hope. It was not even one of Calvin's season goals, mainly because it is something they "expect to do." Instead, the Knights set their goals on bigger things, like returning a conference championship back to Calvin, which is something they have not done since 2006.
But to do that, they needed to get through their biggest opponent, the team they had marked down on the calendar the day the schedule was released. They had to deliver in the country's best-kept secret of a rivalry.
"What we have with Hope is awesome," Veldhouse said. "A lot of people do not really know about the small college basketball rivalries in the nation, even though we are a big one. It's cool to be talked about with Duke, North Carolina and Georgetown, Syracuse. It's a lot of fun."
dfbaer@syr.edu
Baer's Bets
Drexel at George Mason
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
The Dragons and Patriots are each 10-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association, and each trails VCU and Northeastern by a game. Both teams need this one, but Drexel especially, with the weaker overall record. The Patriots are home, where they haven't lost all year - a theme that won't change here.
George Mason 65, Drexel 60
Virginia Commonwealth at Nevada
Friday, 9 p.m., ESPNU
This non-conference matchup features two teams that are hungry for a Tournament bid. VCU sits atop the CAA standings, tied with Northeastern, as Nevada is vying for a late-season push. Look for the hungry Wolf Pack to take down the Rams at home.
Nevada 74, VCU 70
Florida State at Virginia Tech
Saturday, 8 p.m.
Can anyone figure out the Hokies? With huge wins (at then-No. 1 Wake Forest) and bad losses (Maryland), VaTech is in a hole, and looking to make a run. But the Seminoles are good at home, and are looking to pad their Tourney resume as well.
Florida State 68, Virginia Tech 55
No. 8 Wake at No. 9 Duke
Sunday, 7:45 p.m.
Duke lost to Wake the first time around in the final seconds of the game a few weeks ago, plus the Blue Devils just got upset by Boston College. The Demon Deacons are good, but the Coach K Express is off the tracks and headed their way.
Duke 79, Wake Forest 71
No. 12 Villanova at No. 24 Syracuse
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Boeheim Bunch barely survived overtime against arch-rival Georgetown on Saturday. Meanwhile, 'Nova is coming off a beat-down from West Virginia, a team the 'Cuse had no problem with. To stay off the bubble, the Orange wins inside the bubble.
Syracuse 88, Villanova 84
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