Welcome to the Hope College website for the fabled NCAA Division III basketball rivalry between Hope and Calvin. You also can visit hopecalvin.com for more information, including where to find watch parties.
2020-21 SCHEDULE
MEN
Wednesday, Jan. 12, Hope at Calvin, 8 p.m. TV: WGVU. Follow
Wednesday, Feb. 16, Calvin at Hope, 8 p.m. TV: WGVU, Follow
WOMEN
Wednesday, Dec. 1, Calvin at Hope, 7:30 p.m. Follow
Wednesday, Feb. 9, Hope at Calvin, 7:30 p.m. Follow
Men's Rivalry Quick Facts
The series started in 1920-21 with a 31-13 Hope victory.
After 204 games, Hope leads the series 104-100.
After 204 games, just 62 points separate the two teams. Hope has scored 13,930, while Calvin has scored 13,868.
More Men's Rivalry Facts
Women's Rivalry Quick Facts
The Hope/Calvin women's basketball rivalry started in 1965 with a 49-35 Calvin victory.
Through 128 games, Calvin leads the all-time series 71-57. Since women's basketball became an official MIAA sport in 1978-79, Hope leads, 56-50. Since 2000, Hope holds a 43-15 series advantage.
More Women Rivalry Facts
The Men's Rivalry Reaches The 200-Game Milestone
On February 2, 2019, The Rivalry's 200th game was hosted by Hope College at a sold-out DeVos Fieldhouse. The Knights prevailed, 82-80, to narrow the Flying Dutchmen's in the series to 103-97. Game Program (PDF)
New York Times Profiles Hope-Calvin Men's Basketball Rivalry
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.
Click here to read The New York Times' full report.
ESPN Ranks Hope-Calvin Rivalry the Best
ESPN has identified the nation's greatest college basketball rivalries and to no one's surprise, the Hope-Calvin rivalry is tops in NCAA Division III and ranked fourth in all collegiate hoops. The ranking was based on a poll of fans last season and ESPN's "panel of experts".
#1 - Duke vs. North Carolina
#2 - Connecticut vs. Tennessee (women)
#3 - Louisville vs. Kentucky
#4 - HOPE vs. CALVIN
#5 - Xavier vs. Cincinnati
#6 - Indiana vs. Purdue
#7 - Philadelphia's "Big 5"
#8 - Illinois vs. Missouri
#9 - Penn vs. Princeton
#10 - Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
An ESPN crew covered the Calvin at Hope game in February 2005 and later conducted an online"Fan Poll" where the Hope-Calvin rivalry received resounding support as America's best with more than 80% of the voters casting their ballot for the orange & blue/maroon & gold.
In July 2007, ESPN.com featured the series as "a great, under-the-radar college sports rivalry." The writer, Lauren Reynolds, noted: "The rivalry is (also) unique in the approach both fans and players take to the game. While everyone is excited for tip-off, the rivalry doesn't carry the animosity that's usually found when two schools compete so closely for so long."
For the third time in four years, ESPN in February 2009, highlighted the rivalry by including it with a photo from DeVos Fieldhouse in the Rivalry Week feature in ESPN The Magazine. It was the only small college rivalry featured in the article.
In 2014, a documentary was produced about the Hope-Calvin rivalry and featured interviews with former Hope and Calvin players.
