My thoughts on all-conference teams this year:

First Team
Charles Cooper, Alvernia; Marquis Marshall, Alvernia, Andy Orr, Lebanon Valley; Erik Fisher, Stevenson; Kendall Green, Widener

Second Team
John Landro, Arcadia; Sardayah Sambo, Widener; Nykolas King, Lycoming; Sam Light, Lebanon Valley; DeJuan Smith, Albright

Honorable Mention
Davon Hill, Hood; Mike Miller, Alvernia; Christian Roberts, Stevenson; Omari Ringgold, Albright; David Johnson, Lycoming

Rookie of the Year - Josh Scott, Arcadia

Coach of the Year is still potentially up for grabs this Saturday, but they will probably take the easy way out and give it to Mike Miller of Alvernia.

Thanks, Kate!  Super excited for the chance for our women to make the Final Four, since you never know when the next chance may come.  The cupboard definitely isn't bare after this year, but you never know what will happen.  Even with the adversity this team has gone through this year (lost Schultz, Nies, and Ruhl for the year during the season, etc.), we can't be prouder of their effort this season.  Couple their success with the unexpected season of the men's team, and it's been a great year to call LVC home!

Quote from: GuyFormerlyPSBBG on March 07, 2011, 06:05:32 PM
so 6 of the 16, Sweet 16 teams got there by winning 2 games on the road.

3 of the 4 sectional hosts have the best record in their groupings.

I know the question on d3hoops site was mentioning that CNU may have been snubbed for a sectional site.  I don't think so, even though I would be willing to bet CNU has the the best gym of the group.  I do think the LVC probably was the least deserving of the 4 teams.

I was as surprised as anyone that the NCAA awarded the hosting of their sweet sixteen group to LVC.  But I can't disagree with it if they are looking to make the site as fair as possible.  Christopher Newport has the longest ride to any of the three others, but it is only five and a half hours (303 miles) to LVC, while they would have a seven or seven and a half hour ride (386 miles and 407 miles, respectively) to either Kean or William Paterson.  Meanwhile instead of having a major commuting time advantage over their opponents to each other's site, the NJAC teams have a more fair 3 hour trip (144 miles for Kean, 156 for William Paterson) to LVC.  The site makes sense geographically.

In addition, LVC was undoubtedly the #1 ranked team in their region in the final regional rankings.  You cannot assume that for Kean, who lost to Rutgers-Newark after the week 4 rankings were released, or William Paterson, who was #3 in the Atlantic rankings and behind Mt. St. Mary's as well as Kean.  Put these two factors together and the site selection makes a lot of sense.

I was at the game last night.  I was confused by the game plan from Randolph-Macon, who had a size advantage.  They spent the entire first half shooting 3's and not attacking the basket.  That's where the foul disparity started, since they were not attacking the basket at all.  In the second half, the threes were not falling, so they attacked more.  Wieczorek is a really nice player who just didn't get near enough touches last night.  R-M fans can take some solace that the Yellow Jackets look like a major contender for next year with as young as they were.

The technical foul was garbage, from my perspective.  The officials made a shooting foul call under the LVC basket, but didn't know who the foul was on.  Coach LaHaye was extremely vocal with them at that point, but no T was called.  When the refs got together and then called the foul on someone who wasn't near the play, she blew a gasket.  That's where she got the T.  It was frustration boiling over, but if the refs would have known who they were calling the foul against, it would have been avoided.

It's a done deal.  LVC was informed about it just about a half an hour ago.

Just released on Lebanon Valley's website that they will be hosting William Paterson, Christopher Newport, and Kean.   

Words cannot truly describe the emptiness I feel right now after the Albright comeback victory over Lebanon Valley, and I just called the game.  I can't even imagine how the players feel.  Up 23-0 almost halfway through the third quarter, and then the wheels fall off for a little while and Albright ties it.  I will say that the difference between this year's team and other teams of the past was apparant, since after squandering a 23 point lead in the past, former teams would have allowed things to continue to spiral out of control.  This year's Dutchmen gutted out a TD drive in response to the Lions' tying the score at 23.  Then when Albright came down and equalized again, LVC was able to drive down into potential field goal range.  Wide right no longer applies to the Buffalo Bills for me.  Overtime #1, we had them stopped after we scored.  It was 4th and 15 at the 30, but Pillar made an amazing catch in the end zone between two defenders who looked like they were in perfect position to knock down the pass.  Then the heartbreak on the failed two point conversion in the second OT.  So close to the NCAAs.  Now a monumental task of regrouping before the first ever ECAC Bowl appearance (I'm assuming) in school history.  Congrats to the winners.  Gutsy comeback without your four year starting QB.  Good luck to all the MAC teams in the postseason.   

Live broadcast of the Lebanon Valley at Albright game that may decide an NCAA Pool C berth can be heard at http://www.wmssfm.com/live.shtml.  Pre-game show starts at 12:40 PM.  Join us for possibly the biggest game of this storied rivalry.  We can't wait!

First of all, congrats to a very deserving MAC champion.  I remember talking to Gordon before (or after, exact timing was sketchy) the Delaware Valley vs. Lebanon Valley game about the strength of the conference this season.  The comment "I don't think anyone in the MAC will go unbeaten in conference play" was made, and I thought to myself that if somebody would, it would probably be DVC.  May a #2 seed be in your future (assuming you beat Widener) and success in the NCAAs.

Now to the big game of the week that more and more is projecting to be a Pool C play-in game between Lebanon Valley and Albright.  Biggest game in school history for the Flying Dutchmen.  Last postseason appearance of any kind was in 1951.  With a win, the nine wins will be a school record.  Are they ready to make that jump as a football program?  As I said earlier this season, I'm going to have to see it happen first, but I feel more confident that they can do it than I was earlier this year against DVC.  Just gotta prove it on the field.

I can't see anyone from the East outside of maybe the Albright/Lebanon Valley winner being able to get a Pool C berth.  Even that winner could get squeezed depending how the Centennial plays out, since Dickinson could end up being a consideration.

Quote from: dog on November 05, 2009, 09:51:20 PM
This weekend will be a great game.  Wish I could be there. 

My prediction is that Albright gets it done this year.  Kelly and Romig are seniors, and they are playing like it.   Not to mention that the defense has been on fire with the exception of last week.

I hope to see Isgro playing for DV this weekend, and hopefully he is as healthy as he can be. I think he needs to be there, for it to be the same atmosphere.  He is very very impressive.

How crazy will it be to see Albright LVC as a potential MAC championship.  When is the last time LVC beat Albright?

The answer to your question, dog, is 2006.  LVC won, 55-33, in a game where Adam Brossman caught 14 passes for a school-record 337 yards.  Albright coach EJ Sandusky was fired on the spot after the game.  Tanner Kelly was 21-26 for 430 yards and 5 TDs in the game for Albright.  My guess is that this year's game, whether for the MAC title or not, will actually have a little bit more defensive presence.

The better question may be, when was the last time that Albright beat Delaware Valley?  That answer is 2002, a year where Albright went 2-8 and their other win was against ...Lebanon Valley.  I'm going to go with Albright to beat the Aggies in 2009.  I thought coming into the year they were the most complete team in the MAC, and nothing has happened that has changed that opinion.  Doesn't mean I won't be rooting for the Flying Dutchmen to to beat them next week.

PBR,

I'm just basing on what Gordon wrote in today's Triple Take.  I would have to think he'll be limited even if he does play.

A week in the MAC where there appear to be clear favorites, but strange things tend to happen on Halloween!  Will Mike Isgro's absence give King's a chance to pull off a shocker?

Delaware Valley at King's
FDU-Florham at Albright
Wilkes at Lycoming
Lebanon Valley at Widener (You can listen to this game live at http://www.pennlive.com/wmss/audio/

On a side note, I echo Gordon's praise for Adam Samrov's ATR column on Lebanon Valley.  Rare air for this program this year.

And if you are intrigued, after hearing Gordon's podcast with Bill Winters and his coach, Rich Mosca, to find out how FDU-Florham does this week, they host Lebanon Valley this Saturday afternoon.  The broadcast of the game can be heard live at http://www.pennlive.com/wmss/audio/.  Pregame starts at 12:40.  Kickoff is at 1:00.

Here's an link to our audio broadcast of the Lebanon Valley at Wilkes clash, beginning at 12:45.

http://www.pennlive.com/wmss/audio/