Conference MIAA
DIII Division | ||
University Calvin College vs. Hope College Location Grand Rapids/Holland, MI | ||
The Calvin–Hope rivalry is a college sports rivalry between the Hope College Flying Dutch of Holland, Michigan, and the Calvin College Knights of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which participate at the NCAA Division III level.
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History
The men's basketball teams first played each other in 1920. Through January 2015, the men's basketball teams have played 189 times, with the Hope Flying Dutchmen leading with 98 wins to the Calvin Knights' 91 wins. The rivalry, which originates from the historical separation of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church in North America, operates on a basis of more similarity than difference. Tom Davelaar, assistant coach to Hope's basketball team, once said, "... 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."
Significance
In 2005, ESPN polled its staff about who they thought were America's greatest college basketball rivalries, and the Calvin–Hope rivalry was voted fourth in all college basketball behind Duke-North Carolina, Tennessee-Connecticut, and Louisville-Kentucky. ESPN also conducted an on-line "fan poll" in which 80% of voters picked the Knights vs. Flying Dutchmen.
The rivalry between the two colleges is most prominent in basketball; however, the rivalry is also seen in sports such as volleyball, soccer, and lacrosse.