Tonight, the college basketball world turns to Durham, N.C., where Duke hosts North Carolina in another installment of what many consider the greatest rivalry in NCAA hoops. As the first whistle blows, another game will be in progress more than 850 miles away in Holland, Mich., home of Division III Hope College.

There will be no national media, no ESPN crew, no Dick Vitale calling the action. But to the 3,400 fans in attendance at DeVos Fieldhouse, and the thousands more following on local television and radio, the biggest game of the night is part of a rivalry so intense it’s simply dubbed ‘The Rivalry.’

Hope College and Calvin (Mich.) College began playing in 1920, and the matchup could not be any closer. Hope leads the series 82-81 by a measly 47 points. The schools are only half an hour apart – Calvin is in nearby Grand Rapids – but their proximity is only part of a multi-faceted rivalry.

‘Think about a beaver house, how it puts all those sticks together all intertwined and you got the Hope-Calvin game,’ Hope head coach Glenn Van Wieren said. ‘There are so many ways this thing is meshed together.’

Maybe the roots of the rivalry could be traced back to the religious ties of the two schools. Hope is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, the oldest Protestant denomination in North America. Calvin is aligned with the Christian Reformed Church, a sect created by Dutch settlers in Michigan unhappy with the Reformed Church in 1857. So there has always been an inherent conflict between two schools geographically near, but spiritually far.

Or it could be the talent level of the two programs that defines the rivalry. Calvin and Hope have combined to win 59 of the 110 men’s basketball championships in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s oldest collegiate conference.

Although Hope has clinched the MIAA already this year, Calvin is in second. These late-season Hope-Calvin games often decide the conference championship.

‘For 87 years we’ve been playing this basketball game, and both teams have been really good for most of them,’ Calvin head coach Kevin Vande Streek said. ‘This is not a rivalry where one team dominates the other and people lose interest. It just continues to stay close.’

If anything, interest in the rivalry has grown around the country. ESPN ranked the Hope-Calvin rivalry third-best in all of men’s college basketball after polling fans and a panel of experts in February 2005. The rivalry was featured that same year in an ESPN series documenting the history of college basketball.

That’s not to say the fans needed any extra coverage. Because families tend to stay in the area for many years, the Hope-Calvin rivalry has been passed down to children and grandchildren. The communities are small enough that Hope fans and Calvin fans are often close friends, so the games are for serious bragging rights.

‘We have people here who root for different teams, but are partners in business or go out for coffee together every single day,’ Van Wieren said. ‘It’s generation to generation that builds on the competitive part of this rivalry between Hope and Calvin.’

Unlike some other heated rivalries, there is no hatred between the two programs. There is no name-calling or media war. The Hope-Calvin rivalry is based on a mutual respect level between the two programs.

Many of the players on both sides were teammates in high school and AAU ball before ending up at different colleges. Players on opposing sides have remained lifelong friends, and have even stood up for each other at their respective weddings.

‘This rivalry is not about the opponents hating each other,’ Vande Streek said. ‘It’s a rivalry, certainly, but when we step off the court we’re friends.’

Young basketball players growing up in western Michigan dream about one day playing in the Hope-Calvin rivalry. Kids are introduced to it before they are big enough to reach the hoop. Van Wieren has been exposed to the two teams first as a fan, then player and now a coach.

Both programs use the rivalry as a major recruiting tactic. Since many recruits are from the area, most are familiar with Hope-Calvin way before high school. But both coaches make sure all potential recruits are exposed to the rivalry before they commit.

‘Coach brought me to a Hope-Calvin game when I was thinking about coming here,’ Calvin senior Eric DeVries said. ‘I saw the game and I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of.’

The rivalry continues. Game No. 164 tonight won’t be too different than game No. 1 87 years ago – not a big deal for many around the country, but the biggest deal to fans in western Michigan.

And while most are watching Duke-North Carolina highlights on SportsCenter tonight, Hope and Calvin fans won’t care. As far as they’re concerned, the best rivalry in the world is more than 850 miles away in Holland.

‘When it’s all done, everyone on both teams is going to graduate and grow up to be the person God wants them to be,’ Van Wieren said. ‘This is Division III at its best. It’s a beautiful thing.’

No. 5 North Carolina at No. 16 DukeTonight at 9, ESPN

It’s the biggest rivalry in D-I hoops, so what if Duke has lost two straight and is in danger of falling to 5-5 in the ACC? The Blue Devils will be looking to avenge a surprising loss at home to Florida State and stop the hated Tar Heels from breaking serve.

Duke 76, North Carolina 73

No. 17 Oklahoma State at OklahomaTonight at 9, ESPN Full Court

Oklahoma State needs a lift after it was stunned by 6-13 Colorado on Saturday. The best way to bounce back would be with a win over in-state rival Oklahoma. The Sooners have won two straight, but beating D-I independent Longwood barely counts.

Oklahoma State 80, Oklahoma 67

Kansas State at No. 9 KansasTonight at 9, ESPN Full Court

The teams enter the game tied for second in the Big 12 at 6-2. The Jayhawks have been around the blocks and are still king in Kansas. They’ll want to show the upstart Wildcats just who’s boss of the Sunflower State.

Kansas 74, Kansas State 69

Virginia at Virginia TechSaturday, 4 p.m.

The Hokies have been unpredictable this season. They fell out of the rankings by losing to unranked North Carolina State and Boston College last week but have beaten all three top 25 teams they have faced.

Virginia 75, Virginia Tech 65

St. John’s at SyracuseSunday, 2 p.m., ESPN Regional

Syracuse is one more loss away from falling under .500 in the Big East. The Orange lost to this improved St. John’s team at MSG earlier this season, but this time they play at the Dome. With almost a week to prepare, SU should be ready.

Syracuse 73, St. John’s 68

Published on February 6, 2007 at 12:00 pm