Scooter- I agree that NYS gets very little respect. We do have 2 out of the four teams still in the sweet sixteen.  I've already said that I think the problem with the NY leagues (if you want to call it that) is parity. In the e-8 (or e-9) and SUNYAC the top 5 or 6 teams take turns beating each other (with the exception of the esteemed Cards of course).  In the LL the whole league is competitive with the possible exception of Skidmore.  That being said all the losses mount up while teams like Mass - Dartmouth has a bunch of league opponents that couldn't beat the elite teams in the league with a "beating machine".  Hence a gaudy record, hence a pool bid when I wouldn't be surprised if B-port, Oswego, Cortland & maybe even Geneseo could beat Mass-Dartmouth. Heck ,if I'm right ,I think Mass-Dart got beat twice by a team that lost to New Paltz!!!!

magic-  nice  -- Go Cards!!

I'd say that was fairly accurate.  He was a wide body, that did not have to use the fakes but did to create contact and draw fouls. About 6'6" 245 lbs.

Magic & Cards- was at the game for Kings vs Clarkson- my take on it is over on the liberty league board. Kings can give Plattsburgh a game if they shoot like they did Thursday.  Still like Plattsburgh though.  Good luck Cards!!!  Reek revenge for rabid rollicking northern ny fans!!!

Clarkson did struggle in the first half. Kings has been in NCAA's 3 out the last 4 years (once reaching the elite 8) and the experience showed.  The Knights never seemed to get untracked early and Kings was torrid, knocking down 3's and feeding their big (Sobleski) inside who pretty much scored at will. Magic & Cards if you have connections to Platts these things will help your team. 1) This really is Soboleski's team in half court offense.  Your bigs CANNOT FALL for his numerous ball fakes, head and shoulder fakes etc.  Tell them to stay on their feet until he (Soboleski) jumps and then time the block. They will be much better off and prevent a steady stream of fouls shots as when Soboleski gets players in the air he uses his big body well draws contact, finishes and gets the calls (at least in Wilkes Barre).  Their point guard Cousart is listed at 6'4" (no way) he's really about 6'2" 6'3" tops. He has a "sick" crossover left hand to right and penetrates really well.  He likes to penetrate deep into the paint on the break and dish back out to the 3 (usually on the left wing as you face the basket).  He was particularly effective with that to big Nestiel who shot the lights out against Clarkson (4 of 5 from beyond the arc).  Cousart also likes to drive get people into the air and finish.  He and Soboleski took 13 foul shots each and totaled more than the whole Clarkson team both in attempts and makes.  There was a huge disparity in attempts until almost garbage time in the second half (which was for all intents and purposes virtually the whole second half). Also there was a small guard Dwebeng who came off the bench to shoot the 3 very well too.    But from my vantage point the key for Plattsburgh will be to stop Soboleski (a poor man's Hauben from U o R a few years ago) from dominating down low. DON'T GO FOR FAKES!!!  Limiting penetration from Cousart. and not letting Nenstiel go off from 3. Should be a very good game.  Good luck to the cards!! And congratulations to Clarkson for their late run, they should be proud to have danced!!!

Not to be cynical, but wasn't there a flat out brawl at a SJF / Naz game a few years back?  Maybe the initiatives were are outgrowth of that and, if that is the case, they are truly to be appreciated...

Slicky- I agree.  I knew some of the story but not all of the story.  Congratulations are in order for Mr. Williams' accomplishments on the court and even moreso for the accomplishments off the court!!!

Anybody here willing to do a 2008 NCAA Tourney Team Profile & Outlook for King's over on the multi-regional board?

Clarkson traveling about 4623 miles to play Kings College in Wilkes Barre so the winner can turn around and travel about 4711 miles back in the same direction to get clobbered by Plattsburgh is curious.  (I've used some poetic license here but the 88 miles from Clarkson in Potsdam to Plattsburgh is pretty accurate).

Come on guys let us Clarkson guys "bask in the limelight" that you've held for about 50 years!!!    Hey where are all the other posters?? I'd like some dirt on King's College please!!  We've shared???

SJFC- I haven't seen SJF at all this year (sadly) but I have seen Vassar twice so I'll give it a shot.  They are senior laden and the defending ECAC champs.  They have two really good players that are seniors. Liberty League POY  Larry Avitabile is among the hardest working overachievers I've seen this year.  The guy just flat out never takes a play off.  At 6' 3" maybe 6'4" in the program he rebounds extremely well by just working hard for position on every single play.  Averages about 14 pts and 8 rebounds a game. Just a "garbage points machine".  (Please read - box him out or suffer).  Brazell is a senior guard who is extremely quick, tends to go right, but still gets where he wants to go, and invariabley gets to the charity stripe if the ref's are calling it legit. He anticipates well and always seems to get a couple of steals that way. He is 1st team Liberty League. Goes for 15 pts 5 boards. Next best player is Jr guard Brian Butterworth- streaky shooter who can on occasion just go off. By far their top 3 point threat (probably took a third of the teams 3 point shots for the season). Averages 10 pts 2 rebs. Senior Kyle Magnus does the grunt work and heavy lifting. Banger who will probably be in foul trouble quickly if memory serves right about the reffing at SJF , Senior guard Dan Forcella is small, crafty, a good outside shooter but does not get the time he did earlier in his career.  This being his final game (look at that I've already got SJF beating them) he may look to shoot more than he has. Off the bench spark is provided by Jr Matt Nunn 6'5" swingman with a very deft touch both mid range and from the 3. He's also a tremendous foul shooter at well over 80%. Other spark is Jr. Joe Davis a 6'4" banger jr who does nice work off the offensive glass. Two other guys get time Sr Jon Swartz & Jr Lenny Holt both are the same player practically so I get confused. Swartz may be a little better shooter from the outside and Holt may drive a little better.   Both average about 4 pts and 2 boards. Oh by the way Davis & Nunn both go for about 7 pts and 3 boards.  This is the only interesting first round matchup.  The others are blow outs. Sorry for the long post but I really love d-3 hoops.

I think the Liberty League and the SUNYAC suffer from the same malady ( parity ).  The LL had 7 pretty good teams with a real shot to beat each other on any given night. A perfect case in point might well be Union.  They may have been at or near the top of the league for the second half of the season with a 5-2 record and wins against SLU, Clarkson, and Hamilton (all playoff teams). While you get 2 teams in from the LEC Mass-Darmouth & Rhode Island because they don't get beat as often by the lower tier teams. Keene State split with Mass-Dartmouth but got beat at home by SUNYAC doormat New Paltz. Keene also got pounded by Williams by 20 and Hamilton beat Williams.  I'm not saying that Rhode Island & Mass-Dartmouth aren't deserving - they are, but probably no more than SLU or Hamilton, but SLU & Hamilton get beat by the lowly Union's and Clarkson's and don't get the nod.  I think the same can be said for the SUNYAC but the parity is at the top (except for Platts who is in a world of their own), the b-ports, Oswego's, Geneseo's, & Cortland's trade all these losses thereby eliminating a very deserving b-port or any of the above teams.

Clarkson "the I can't believe an 11-16 team is in the tournament" Golden Knights 

Starters:

Elson Pickering 6'7" forward who averages about 13 pts and 7 rebounds. Quick for his size and can shoot the 3. Set school record for blocks. 2nd team all-league.

Brandon Linton    6'2" point guard who averages about 9 points and led Liberty League in assists. Honorable mention all-league.

Ryan Smith  6'6" center.  Tough rebounder who averages about 5 and 5 per game.

Brian Salanger 6' 1" 2 guard who can really get hot from 3 point land. Sometimes is asked to play point too.

Keith Murray 6'2" 3 guard who shoots the ball well from 3 point land and is fearless. Also rebounds extremely well for his size.  Averages about 10 pts and 5 rebounds.

Key Reserves:

Jonathan Hood 6'3" athletic 3 or 4.  Can jump through the roof.  Nicknamed Zeus (and this freshman deserves the nickname). Goes well to the hoop and rebounds extremely well.  Averages about 5 and 5 per game.

Brandon Rigg-Reaves 6'2" slasher who is a defensive stopper. Averages 3 points and 3 rebounds but makes his presence felt on the defensive end.

John Chiero 6' 6" 4 man.  Who works hard every minute that he plays.  Has an uncanny ability to find seems against a zone defense for easy looks at the basket.

George Koduah 6'6" Athletic big who is learning the game. Rebounds well and can be a defensive force.

James Evans 6'2" 3 guard. Defends well and can shoot the 3. Good passer as assists for minutes are pretty high.

Kevin Linares 5'7" point guard. Very capable ball handler who gives very good minutes.  Has been limited due to injuries but provides real leadership to this young team.

Zach Gostling 6'6" freshman good mid range jumper who plays long.  Needs to "fill out" to be truly effective in college ball.  When he does he will be a force.

Nikolai Marquis 5'9" freshman point guard. Can shot the 3 but is learning the college system.  Very capable of running team in the future and gives good minutes now when called upon.

Shawn Lasalita 5'8"  freshman 2 guard who can flat out shoot the 3. Also 14-14 from charity stripe for the season. Will become a force as he improves his defensive foot speed.

Eric Ingerson 5'10" freshman 2 guard who is a very good shooter.  Is now learning the speed of the college game.  When his turn comes he will produce.


Key Wins:  Hamilton twice,  St Lawrence once, Vassar Once, Hobart (without Pickering to get playoff spot)

Key Losses: you name it they've lost it.  Numerous injuries caused 5 out of top 8 players to miss multiple games.  Have a full roster now.  Very well coached and disciplined. Extremely defensive minded. Held a good shooting Hamilton team to 2 for 20 from beyond the arc in league championship game (and one of those was a bank shot that wasn't called-though it did count). First NCAA tournament in school history.

I love it when Knightstalker posts, his comments are always dead spot on and I LOVE  seeing Phoebe!!

If by some miracle the smoke & mirrors Clarkson Golden Knights do make it past Kings @ Wilkes Barre I'll be putting the miles on my jalopy and driving to the furtherest part of the state too.  Let's face it either team King's or the Knights are the "sacrificial lamb" after playing a game on Thurs and driving the gazillion millions of miles to play another game on Sat against one of the top ten teams in the nation!!  All the better for Platts as they'll be relatively fresh for the next round....