Thanks for the reply.

That is what I thought watching Kings/Aggie last night.

Is there a tiebreaker expert in the house?

With Kings beating Delaware Valley, DeSales has clinched the regular season title.
The Aggies and Misericordia have clinched a playoff spot. - (btw congrats to former Miseri Head Coach Trevor Woodruff on his 21-0 record with the Scranton Pa. woman's squad---- Wille doing great job in his first year as well as they have not missed a beat and may be the hottest team in the Freedom)
AS to the final week's games :

Wilkes wins and they claim the 4th spot.

Should Wilkes lose to Kings, they are tied.
A Manhattanville win makes it a 3 way tie.

In the 3 way tie scenario, they would all be 2-2 against each other. (every series would be split 1-1).
I think you then revert to record against the conference champ with the nod going to Manhattanville.

In the two way tie, Wilkes and Kings split regular season, both 0-2 against DeSales and 1-1 versus D-Valley. Wilkes 1-1 versus Misericordia while Kings would be 0-2.

If that is the tiebreaker scenario, then Kings is effectively eliminated. That is a big IF.

Sir James

"Saw the not-too-shabby Colonels against Scranton a couple weeks back. Very shabby..."

CC,

Wow! One of D3hoops elite posters taing the time to visit the Freedom Forum!
See you are still driving them crazy over at the landmark.   

Yes, Scranton did a number on Wilkes-Barre in the tournament.  Still SHABBY can be SHEIK .. wasn't able to attend but listened an impressive DC call on the radio.
If you recall, DC once dated my daughter many many moons ago. Always lied Dean ....real gentleman and a great radio voice.

As I recall the game, it was a bac and forth 1st half with Scranton lighting it up 2nd half. Other than Huch, it seemed the Colonels were just not ready that night. It was first game off extended break .....but the Royals were missing some key players and clearly the better team that night.
Wilkes, as you know, has not lost since. Most of the Freedom wins have been pretty 'convincing'. Games have not been that close.
Well balanced team that can hurt you inside  or out. Terrific freshman PG in Wilson. Much improved team speed and quickness.
Coach JR has the team playing together with defensive intensity and good ball movement.
Still a ways to go but a very nice squad. 

How are things going for you?  You can still cash in your dinner coupon for some bet you won years ago. 
If you still have my contact #'s give me a ring or drop me a line.

Miss the old rivalry games.

Best

Naismith

CJ,

Did a search on Ebay and not a signed LaBuda to be found.     

The HOF induction was done post game but all inductees announced at halftime.
From what I understand, Saturday's format was the first time the event was held in this manner.
Wilkes doesn't really promote the HOF events all that well.

Present team plays well together. No individual egos and good chemistry. Wilson first rate at the point. Mullins can score and Huch/Hinze a tough combo inside. Huch, in particular, presents a matchup problem. Breznitsky has been excellent off the bench.
Wilkes has been playing a bunch of freshman and sophomores off the bench for limited minutes.

As to Saturday, the team built up huge lead with some tough man to man and excellent shooting. They really played lackadaisical in the 2nd half and Coach JR had to re-insert the starters as a 25 point plus lead shrunk to 10. The last 15 minutes was the worst defense they have played all year. Think FDU shot near 60% in the 2nd half. 
As you know, nothing gets handed to you  in this league. Eastern should be interesting games. They have some talent in Nelson and Soaries.

Naismith

CJ,

Should have been at the Marts this afternoon.
HOF inductees:
1995-96 team (28-2 Final 8)
Dave Januzzi

You would have been in your Colonelonian glory. 

Naismith

CJ, 

Yes, the Freedom League is awful quiet.
Meandered over to North Main Street to watch the Andrejko Strain versus the Pawnshoppers,that is Rick's Roasdsters. 
The Monarchs are a scrappy bunch that really gets after it. They have a host of expert marksman--all accurate from long range. A real sniper corps.
Minus Conroy, this is the first season where Kings has not had a dominant post player.

The lack of size forced them to pack down a zone defense and suffocate the Wilkes bigs. It worked in that neither Hinze nor Huch were really effective inside. Kings quickly doubled the post players and turned them over numerous times.

The zone opened up some wide open 3's for the Colonels and Matt Mullins put on a clinic. Wilkes ball movement was good (not truly great).
Breznitsky hit a number of shots to complement Mullins. Wilson is quite a freshman player...a wizard with ball ....

As far as the game went, Wilkes opened up a 12 point 1st half lead,led by 7 at half, squandered the lead in the second half and pulled away at the end.

Thought Wilkes was a step quicker and definitely 'bigger'. Kings played extremely hard and executed pretty well to the extent that they shut down the Wilkes inside game. The Colonels man to man was effective. A few breakdowns but overall very good.

Thought Wilkes did get loose an sloppy on offense for a while but were able to gather themselves and hit some big second half shots.
Pretty well called game by the zebras.

Let me know when you are heading north.
A rejuvenated FDU at the Marts and Kings/Miseri down the street....
Wish one was a night game.

Naismith


Been off the site far too long... it took a Wilkes win, 66-56, over King's to bring me back.  Wilkes moves to 12-3 (5-0 in the Freedom).

How much longer until Wilkes shows up as "Others Receiving Votes"? 
[/quote]

Looking over some surprising results  from opening  night.

FDU fairly decisively over DeSales.
Kings with a nice win over DelVal
Wilkes running Miseri out of the Marts Center.

Attended the Wilkes contest. Miseri has all but Robbie Johnson back and are a talented group.
Wilkes came ready to play from the opening tip. Wilkes seemed to be a step quicker in all phases.
Very impressive Freedom debuts for 2 freshman starters: Hinkel and Wilson.
For Miseri, 2 quick fouls on Ethan did not help. They playd hard and physical but, at least for last night, they were simply outplayed. With their talent level and coaching, they will win games.

Wilkes heads down to DeSales this weekend. Should be interesting. Coach Coval will have his team ready I am sure.

Kings, Wilkes and Miseri? Has the balance of Freedom power shifted north to Luzerne County?

Naismith

SAm I Am,

Guess you will have to take downa Wilkes connection for the 4th time this season:


http://athletics.vwc.edu/men/basketball/coach

Quote from: Uncle Sam on February 28, 2011, 10:46:35 AM
What Uncle Sam has to say isn't a mystery.
The Del Val Aggies just made history.
From 3-22 just three years ago,
To the MAC Freedom champs.  Sam told you so.
To Coach K, Pitino, Izzo and Knight,
Coach Stitzel is on his way.  Yeah, that's right.
Can Del Val really make the Final Four?
If so, there'll be many more beers Uncle Sam will pour.
Since America's Program has arrived in the dance.
You certainly can expect some more Uncle Sam rants...

Freedom League Selections:

FYI, in the past my selections I have made my selections by position and not just the top 5 players.
This year I am leaving the Peach Basket Era behind and will just select the top two backcourt players and 3 frontcourt players.

I have run my spreadheets for statistical purposes and tried to recall the many games I saw live or on live video to form my opinions.
Fully expect the D3 Biology majors to dissect my picks. 

Backcourt:

Brian Hunter ---DeSales
James Jones----Delaware Valley

Frontcourt:

Conroy-----------Kings
Hinze-------------Wilkes
Beckett-----------Delaware Valley

2nd team

Backcourt

DeRojas----------Wilkes
Johnson-----------Misericordia

Frontcourt

Eichorst-----------Misercordia
Moyer-------------DeSales
Mehmel------------Manhattanville

Honorable Mentions: 
Backcourtt:

Pointer------------Manhattanville
Kerwin------------DeSales
Fiorino-------------Kings

Frontcourt:

Nelson-------------Eastern
Fetske-------------FDU
Huch---------------Wilkes
Slavonec----------Misericordia
ROY:    Hammonds-Kings
POY :   Brian Hunter--DeSales
           James Jones--Delaware Valley

Just cannot separate them this year   

COY  :  Stitzel --Delaware Valley.

Will say that the other 3 playoff coaches  faced challenges this year. Trevor W. at Miseri had some talent return but had an undersized team, SC lost Braswell (nuff said), Wilkes lost 3 seniors, were picked near the bottom of the conference and started 0-2 pre-break...  This could have gone any which way but DV earned the top seed and so the honor goes to Coach Stitzel.

Naismith

Quote from: BJ - DSU SID on February 18, 2011, 09:59:40 PM
Fire away on those all-league picks Naismith.

I'd look forward to reading your thoughts.

CJ,  Who is this Uncle Sam guy and when did he ever post here? 


iSince when has

Quote from: ColonelJohn4Life on February 20, 2011, 03:04:03 PM
It's a shade over 2 hours from where I work to get to the barn at Delaware Valley.  I'm done with work at 6.  Any chance I can talk the good people of the Freedom Conference into an 8 PM start time?  Otherwise, sorry Kate, I'll have to miss my 1st career Wilkes playoff game as an alumnus. (It is "alumnus" right... one male graduate?) Someone had better have Live Stats!

Can't believe the parallel world we're living in, where guys like Naismith get ripped on, and Uncle Sam looks like a gosh darn genius!

Doubt Coach JR liked that call .......

Yeah,  the board did liven upa bit.

Guess we should be doing our Freedom League piks soon

Last year I selected BrianHunter on the 1st team over Soaries of Eastern and took a lot of heat.

Do not anticipate the same reaction this year........

Naismith

CC and NEPA,


Thrilled to see I still have a following.

How's the pizza in Old Forge CC....Last I recall, I still think I owe you a dinner. 
But you are a real recluse my friend hibernating in the Landmark.
Let me know what you have been doing.

As for NEPA, your prayers may be answered in 2012. I heard some rumblings that the Royals, Colonels and Monarchs may renew
their rivalries around the Holidays. any news on that north of the Montage/Dixon line?


As to this raging debate, there is no real debate. Some people think Zebras have black and white stripes while others think they are white and black.


Calls are made in every game that can be questioned. Some worse than others.
To me, in the waning seconds of a game, the Zebra should be passive unless the infraction is so blatant that he has no choice. No blood no foul.

I feel that way no matter who is playing. Still think Seton Hall got jobbed back in 1989 when Rumeal Robinson was the beneficiary of a hand check 12 feet from the basket while making a kick out pass..... with 3 seconds left in OT!

With apologies to Judge Judy, you make the call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkukr6FgzpA


So relax there DSU-SID..........there is not anti-any program intended. In fact, I really admire the program SC has put together at DeSales. He is an excellent coach with an excellent system.

Naismith

Did not see the game.

Spoke to many who were there. My description was a summary of what others told me and, in all cases, they said the same thing. Ridiculous call.

My point was simply that within weeks we have 3 games decided in the waning seconds by the officials.
All on very marginal calls.

Nothing against the freedom conference itself.

I have been to many Freedom games and used to speak regularly with the Zebra Regulator (that is the guy who attends games and grades the officials).
The FC has some very well trained Zebras, some that belong in the ZOO and some that should be put out to pasture. 

Naismith

CJ,

You haven't mellowed CJ. Still a Lion Slayer.   

Thinking of dedicating a YouTube production to Freedom Officials with title:

"Close Encounters of the Last Second"     

In the past few weeks, I bring you: ( this is with apologies to Clint)...There is no good just:

BAD) ---- DeSales vs Kings (last Sat.) Tie game with 4 seconds on clock. A pass to the elbow and the beginning of a drive. Foul on Kings. No shot and no lost possession.
Two FT's and DeSales wins.

UGLY)----Wilkes - Del Val----Wilkes ahead 2 points with 1 second. Desperation heave from corner. Shot way off mark. Game over? No. Baseline official on top of play makes no call. Official at half court with no view of play blows whistle. Calls foul with 0 time on clock.   
Del Val sharpshooter makes all 3 and DV wins.
Wish I had been there. Wonder if the mystery official needed an escort.   


UGLIEST) Misericordia versus DeSales. Tie game. 3 seconds to go and Cougars have the ball. Robbie Johnson attempts shot and misses.  OT right...No    In scramble for the loose ball with bodies flying....an astute Freedom Zebra spots a 'loose ball' foul with 1 second. The foul is on MISERY with DeSales 90 feet from a winning basket with 1 second on the clock. HMMM!      DeSales converts and game set match.

Was all this real or was it just my imagination?

Naismith

Quote from: chairman on February 22, 2010, 05:46:18 PM
Nais--

Your list confuses me a little. I could see arguments for Hunter or White/Jones/ Kresge in the first team, but I cannot process a systematic approach where all four make it.

I think the reason for putting Hunter (16th in scoring, 9th in steals, 4th in assists) in front of Soaries (T -4th scoring, 1st steals, 6th fg%, 5th ft%, 4th blocks, 1st minutes), Del Prete (3rd scoring, 4th steals), and Conroy (7th scoring, t5th rebounding, 5th fg %)  would be that you value winning, and he helps his team to win, and DeSales won at a much higher rate than those three did. I have no problem with that logic.

You also have three guys on the first team who put up prodigious numbers, but whose teams did not finish in the top five in an eight team league. I'm not sure you can do both.

Can you explain?

I'll try.
I chose one PG, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward and Center.

Hunter and Little were 2 of 3 pg's that were around the century mark in assists and around 2-1 orr better assists to turnovers.
Both are unselfish and presented machup problems for opponents. Hunter can post most opposing PG's and Little penetrates well and is an underrated scorer.
I think Miseri suffers without Little's leadership. He made everyone on that team better.
Hunter plays a 'quiet' but effective game. He defers to Braswell and orchestrates a very team oriented scheme at DeSales. Was impressed with his overall game.
King's Stackhouse is right there as well.

The '2' was a tough choice. Jones or Soaries. To me, Jones is just such an explosive force offensively ...hard to deny him a spot.
Braswell is the '3' and Kresge the '4'.  I think both of these players were clearly the top players at their respective positions.

White was the top Center.

I chose whom I felt was the top player at each position rather than the 'best' 5 players.
I really didn't judge by 'stats' or by 'winning'. Considerations were team play, matchups, productivity and talent and my century of experience at observing the game.

Hope that helps.

Naismith