The 2014-15 NBA season is a forgettable one in New York City, so the New York Times asked reporter Scott Cacciola and photographer Guy Rhodes to spotlight the Hope-Calvin men's basketball rivalry on January 10, 2015, at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Cacciola usually covers the New York Knicks as their beat reporter but was traveling the country for his "Not The Knicks" series highlighting good basketball elsewhere across the country. He chose the 189th game of the Hope-Calvin men's basketball rivalry after receiving several recommendations from readers.
Photo of Hope's Luke Dreyer by Rob Kurtycz
Games in the Hope-Calvin rivalry tend to be loud and jarring, Cacciola described.
He wrote, "It makes sense given the longevity of the series (95 years), the geographic proximity of the schools (30 miles along Interstate 196) and their dominance of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (at least a share of 58 regular-season titles since 1953). Add to the mix a knotty theological rift that reaches back to the mid-19th century, and these games take on a spiritual fervor all their own.
"Hope, founded in 1866, is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, while Calvin, founded in 1876, is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Both are Christian-based liberals arts colleges, and both religious branches fall under the Protestant umbrella."
But most people around here couldn't even tell you the difference, said Tom Davelaar, a Hope alumnus now in his 33rd season as an assistant coach.
"One of the reasons it's such a rivalry is that 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."
Click here to read The New York Times' full report.
Click here to read more about the Hope-Calvin rivalry.
