Quote from: ronk on November 13, 2021, 11:52:27 AM
Somebody gave Centenary a #25 vote in the preseason poll. Their guard(Chris Labelle) had a good reputation.

Right. Centenary was favored to win that game. They can put up 100 and I'm sure you'll see them do that this year. Their point guard (Labelle) was supposed to be the best player on the floor. The guy averaged over 22 points per game last year, and had multiple 40 point outbursts. And they had a lot of other top performers returning. Who knows what will happen with Swarthmore, but personally I am thrilled by the way they put away centenary with authority. Certainly room for improvement as it's the first game, but as first games go, I felt that was a great one!

I was just at the Scranton vs Centenary game. It was insane how much energy Scranton came out with. That was the biggest energy mismatch I've seen at a college basketball game I've ever gone to. Scranton was incredibly high energy and Centenary was totally flat. That was my first Scranton game, and it was as much fun as I've had watching a college basketball game.

Quote from: NEPAFAN on November 02, 2021, 09:57:17 AM
anyone got anything on the Scranton scrimmage over the weekend?

Yeah, they blew out Marywood in their first scrimmage and also blew out Montclair State a few days later. Don't have much on the specifics of who did well, just know that both games were wins, and neither was close.

Does Scranton still do a midnight madness? I saw that they did one in 2017. That seems like it would be a good thing for student engagement. And also for recruiting. It would show that sports matter, and be a fun thing prospective athletes would have to look forward to if they went to Scranton. I think it would just add to everyone's experience.

Quote from: Tim the Enchanter on October 09, 2021, 08:08:23 AM
Royals have another name on the roster:  Mario Rotell, a junior from Scranton Prep.  Don't know if he transferred or just didn't play before.

https://athletics.scranton.edu/sports/mbkb/2021-22/bios/rotell_mario_w6sz

He is a walk on. Has attended the university for two years. But since there were only going to be 13 on the roster this year, they added a walk on to help fill out the roster. I believe he played in high school at Scranton prep.

Quote from: ronk on April 30, 2021, 04:31:07 PM

Quote from: KCHOOPSFAN on April 30, 2021, 01:57:31 PM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on April 29, 2021, 04:22:07 PM
I wished it into existence..

https://twitter.com/ScrantonBball/status/1387862265806872582

It is Cameron Khoza. A 6'7" kid who seems like he can shoot the ball and put it on the floor a little too. Reminds me a lot of McLoughlin. I think it's fantastic that they brought in 2 chess pieces like that in the same class, plus two physical and skilled guards.

https://twitter.com/cameronkhoza7?s=11

Looks like a big wing, as opposed to a "big", per se. What indicates that the new commit is Khoza?

Wish the women had gotten a commit from Khoza's classmate, Teresa Haigh, daughter of Joe Haigh, former WBB HC @ St. Francis(PA); alas, she committed to D2 Seton Hill. I remember Teresa's mom starring in high school ball in my area of MD and later @ Notre Dame.

Scranton had been telling Mason they were still recruiting one more kid, a 6'7" kid. Mason's mother told me that they signed the kid. I asked who it was and she said Cameron Khoza. I went to his twitter after I heard that, and see that Van Zelst had been liking Khoza's posts. So it seems to check out to me.

Quote from: NEPAFAN on April 29, 2021, 04:22:07 PM
I wished it into existence..

https://twitter.com/ScrantonBball/status/1387862265806872582

It is Cameron Khoza. A 6'7" kid who seems like he can shoot the ball and put it on the floor a little too. Reminds me a lot of McLoughlin. I think it's fantastic that they brought in 2 chess pieces like that in the same class, plus two physical and skilled guards.

https://twitter.com/cameronkhoza7?s=11

Quote from: saratoga on April 26, 2021, 08:18:08 PM

Let's really take a look at Danzig's numbers because getting 20 wins with a cupcake schedule (no offense to Bard, Sarah Lawrence, & Cooper Union) is vastly different than picking up 20 against UAA, NESCAC & the Ohio Athletic Conf. regulars game in and game out.

*Danzig starts off in 2001-02 with a somewhat veteran team put together by Bess.
The Royals go 12-13. No NCAA bid.
*02-03'-They go 24-6 with a very veteran team. Make it to the Sweet 16, lose at Wooster by 11.
*03-04'-Bess's players are now gone.
Royals go 5-20. Worst record in modern Scranton history. Needless to say, no NCAA's.
*04-05'-Nice improvement, they go 20-7. To get to 20 wins, the Royals accept a very rare ECAC bid. & win the first game vs. Alvernia, then lose to F&M.
*05-06"- Record of 21-7. Make the NCAA tournament then promptly crushed in the 1st. rd. by Wm. Patterson (70-45).
*06-07'-19-7 this season. No NCAA tourney.
*07-08'-19-9. Make the NCAA's but defeated in another first round game by Elms 71-53. This was a very veteran team as well with both a great point guard & one of their best post players.
*08-09'-Record of 21-7. Knocked out one more time in the NCAA first round by Brandeis.
*09-10'-Record of 18-9. No NCAA tourney.
*10-11'-Regular season record of 20-6. However, a funny thing happened on the way to the NCAA's. Royals knocked out yet again in the first round by Becker, 80-73. Scranton had a 14 point lead in this game with 14 minutes to play but were out-rebounded 26-11 in the 2nd. half.
*11-12'-Record of 23-8. The Royals make it to the Elite 8 in Danzig's best season. However, luck was on their side this year as two crucial 3 pointers were made at the buzzer to win game 1 vs. Messiah & game 3 vs. Middlebury. Thank you Matt Swaback & Travis Ferrell. However, the Royals fall to Cabrini by 20 the following evening & lose the chance at a Final Four.
*12-13'-Record of 19-7. Lose in the first round of the Landmark playoffs at home with another veteran team. No NCAA at-large bid.
*13-14'-This years record is a very impressive 24-4. But, guess what??? Yep, knocked out yet again in Round number 1. This year, Hobart has the honors, 94-81.
*14-15'-Record of 23-6 and this year the Royals do get by the 1st. round defeating Baruch & then losing to Babson in the 2nd. round.
*15-16'-Record of 19-8. Lost Landmark championship but in a very rare move, the NCAA awards an at-large bid to Scranton & the Landmark. The Royals match up vs. Lynchburg in the 1st. round & in about 5 minutes before the half, the Royals go from up 4 to down 16 before a time out is called.
Scranton never recovers & lose 82-55.
*16-17'-Record of 22-7. In a bit of a surprise, the Royals defeat Oswego St. in OT in the first rd.but then promptly get deposited in the loss column by Williams, 80-53.
*17-18'-Record of 13-12. No NCAA.
*18-19'-Record of 20-6. No NCAA at large bid.
*19-20'-19-8. Lose Landmark championship...no NCAA bid.
*20-21'-7-3, no championship.

The thing that becomes clear with all these numbers, he wins the games he clearly should, he loses the games he clearly should & he loses more of the 50/50's than he should.
When it comes time for the NCAA tournament, he usually gets beat & generally pretty badly. Not sure if its the preparation or talent or a combo of both. Some years he's had really great kids that just fell flat.
However, just not sold on his X & O's as I just don't see kids improve very much from freshman day 1 until their last game as a senior.
Too many kids have left the program & they don't actually transfer, they just stop playing.
Every year we hope for the chance that this season will be the one where everything comes together but, sadly, it never does.
i guess we can all console ourselves and thank heavens we're still far better than kings, Wilkes & Marywood.
However, Bess would have never entertained that thinking...he played the best, wanted to be the best & didn't like second place trophies.
Maybe it is a different time where winning, consistency & development are no longer that valued and everyone gets a trophy.
If that's the case then the Royals are in a good place.
Personally, I just think they can be in a better place.

So it sounds like the only knock on Danzig is lack of tourney success. Its totally fair to want more tourney success. Like I said I am new here and don't really know the history. All I know is the overwhelming majority of D3 coaches don't make the tourney in over half their seasons like Danzig has. So you guys definitely have a good thing going with him. I understand fans don't want good they want great. I am the same way as a fan. I am glad you all want to see the program reach such great heights. I personally want to see that too but I also try to be realistic and know that no program is entitled to that. I am happy that things are good at Scranton, hopefully we can get to great!

Quote from: Great Day to be a Royal on April 26, 2021, 12:04:48 PM
I do have to say it is tough to read the constant complaining of the staff and state of the program.  Nearly every program in the region and even nation would to have not only the history, but more recently under Coach Danzig.
10 - 20 win seasons
10 - NCAA apps
2 - Sweet 16s
1 - Elite 8 
9 - conf titles
only 1 losing season

The Landmark is a better conf than the MAC was.  The Landmark today is much stronger than it was in early years.  Moravian and Drew have gone from bottom tier teams to the top of the conference.

The attendance is sad, and it will probably never be what it was in years we remember of past. I know that people at the university have tried to address attendance, and figure out how to bring kids in. Sadly, and I hate to sound like an old man, but kids have more options and different interests today.  Kids venture a campus differently than any of us did. Your common student who does not truly know athletics takes a knock at DIII, and just thinks, "well it's not Duke".

Hopefully a younger team revitalizes the program and fan base.

I think you're completely right about why attendance is decreasing. This has been happening with all college sports for the past 13 years. I recently read an article that said even Georgia football is having to get creative to fill their stadium. They are allowing recent grads into the student section just to get it filled up, because there were big holes in it. Also, the kids who are showing up to games are coming later and leaving earlier.

I went to the same high school as Mason, Rockhurst high school. When I was there if you wanted a seat in the student section at the football game you had to arrive very early. The student section was packed like a can of sardines and often spilled over into the general admission section. This was even the case for road games. Now, with the program still elite in the midwest, and perennial state title contenders, the student section never even reaches 50% capacity. The kids just don't care like they used to.

I agree completely with you about kids having more options and different interest. The way technology and phones have advanced plays a huge role in that. Something has to be massively entertaining to bring in enough young kids to fill an arena.

Quote from: NEPAFAN on April 25, 2021, 09:28:59 PM

Quote from: KCHOOPSFAN on April 24, 2021, 07:10:10 PM

Quote from: saratoga on April 17, 2021, 04:53:21 PM

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

Hey all, I recently found this forum and thought I would chime in with some info on Mason Thompson. I run a basketball training business in Kansas City, and I have been working with Mason since he was in 4th grade, I know him and his game probably better than anybody.

Mason had offers to play at every level of college basketball:
D1 = PWO offer at UMKC
D2 = multiple schools, local and in Texas
D3 = Multiple schools in the northeast, stemming from his performance at the Penn University Elite camp before his senior season
NAIA = A school in Kansas where his older brother plays

The reason Mason chose Scranton was success of the program and the family feel, which came from both the coaches and players. Scranton was the first school to ever tell him that they are actively recruiting him. The Scranton coaching staff thoroughly out recruited every other school on his list. Their ability to develop a relationship with him was second to none. I will admit, I am confused by the criticism of coach Danzig on here. He does have the highest winning percentage of any coach in Scranton history, and is on track to retire as the winningest Scranton coach ever. Not sure what else you can ask of the guy. Ryan played a huge role in recruiting Mason, he is an incredible recruiter, but without coach Danzig, Mason would not have chosen Scranton. They share that Kansas City bond, coach Danzig was instrumental in convincing Mason's parents that Scranton was a great place. Mason's father is very picky about colleges, he was initially not wanting to send a kid to Scranton (because he knew nothing about it), but coach Danzig changed his mind.

As far as what you are getting in Mason, just know that nobody on the team will outwork him, he is an extremely intelligent kid (first team academic all state in Missouri), he will do whatever is asked of him, and he is an incredible teammate. With his signing, one thing I can tell you with is that you have a new best ball-handler on your team. I haven't seen many kids who can handle it better than Mason, I'm hoping he will get to showcase that at Scranton.

He was first team all-district, and honorable mention all-metro in Kansas City, playing both point guard and shooting guard. He lead his team in every major statistical category except rebounds (he was 2nd in rebounding). He did play at a very competitive school, playing with and against tons of D-1 players throughout his time at Rockhurst, in Missouri's largest class. He also played for a great AAU program, team YOBO, which also produced Loyola's Clayton Custer, along with many other D-1 talents.

I am certainly not trying to promise that Mason is going to come on campus and be dominant for you. I definitely wouldn't place those expectations on his career before he even graduates high school. I am excited to see how his career unfolds though, and with this post I am merely trying to come on here and offer you some background on who he is, because I saw some speculation.

From what I have seen of the University of Scranton, I am thrilled for Mason. I think this is a perfect fit between player and school. I look forward to talking hoops on this board for the next few years with you guys, I thought it was really cool to see how passionate you guys are about Scranton hoops.

Go Royals!

This is awesome, and appreciated. I wanted to address the frustration that you see on this board with Coach Danzig and hope to frame it a bit.

First, many of us remember the glory years of National Championships and a full Long Center ( remind me to post some of the youtube videos that have been popping up). So I think part of it is the frustration that we can't return to those times. We have extremely and probably unfair expectations to be in the NCAAs every year and to win a few tourny games. I get the sense of frustration that the Long Center was far from filled prior to the pandemic and there wasn't as much juice in the program over the past few years. Then 2 or 3 kids departed the program this year, which despite the strange "covid" year that it is, is alarming. A few of our rivals also look loaded, Catholic has youth and will likely be a conference player for the next few years.

Finally, you see Coach Van Zelst on the bench, with some recruiting chops , and wonder if it is time to hand him the reigns to the program.

Glad you liked the info I provided! Yeah the attendance of the games was one of Mason's "pros" about Scranton when he was picking a school. Are you saying the attendance is poor now? Yeah I mean Danzig is winning a higher percentage of games than even the legendary coach Bess did. And I understand that the wins that count the most are in the postseason, but man the NCAA tournament is such a crapshoot. It takes a tremendous deal of luck to win an NCAA title. The best team rarely wins the title, at least at the D1 level. I just think its extremely dangerous to fire a head coach who is that consistent of a winner. In my opinion the best way to win a title is to hire a consistent winner as a coach and stick with him until the stars align and that title comes. Just think about guys like Bill Self and Tony Bennett and Jay Wright, Scott Drew, and John Wooden (didn't win a title until his 16th year as a head coach). All guys who could have been fired because they had lots of regular season success but underperformed in the tourney. Their programs stuck with them and eventually all of those programs were rewarded.

What you say of coach Danzig also reminds me of the Andy Reid situation in Philly. He was fired because he was just a great regular season coach and he couldn't win the title. His young protege was hired. Sure, they won a super bowl in the short term. But Pederson turned out to not work out, he was canned, the Eagles suck now, and Reid now has a title and is no doubt a first ballot hall of famer. The Eagles won't find a better coach than him anytime soon.

That's just my opinion on it. Not telling you how to feel, but I think winners like Danzig can't be taken for granted. I think a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Some other young coach may seem exciting and new, but you may end up longing for the days where Scranton was making conference championship appearances. I love Ryan and think he is great. Its just that when I found this forum I was expecting to see people happy about having such a winning head coach and that's not what I saw.

As far as attendance, I'm not sure what the head coach can do about that except win. I went to Loyola University Chicago. My freshman year was Porter Moser's first year there. He literally knocked on my dorm room door with basketball tickets in his hand and offered them to me and my friends. He would go around the dorms knocking on doors handing out tickets pleading kids to come to the games. But it never worked. We won 7 games that year, and all year long if you wanted to you could walk into Gentile arena and sit front row with a big group of friends. The place was that empty. It stayed that way until Loyola made the final 4.

The thing that is clear to me and that I think everyone can agree on is that a national title would fix all the issues you have mentioned and all the concerns you have! I'm praying that happens sometime in the next 4 years. How sweet that would be.

That seems like pretty big news. Kid is 6'7". Instantly the tallest guy on the team. From his highlights it looks like he can hit threes and he moves pretty well for his size.

I appreciate your comprehensive description of what Scranton can expect of Mason as a student and ball player. It's been more than a decade since we have had a high quality PG and I'm looking forward to his play. The opportunity/need certainly is there.
I've been a Scranton basketball observer since Coach Danzig's father was a college hooper and agree that Ryan is a tireless recruiter. Welcome to the chat board; we're here year round. Hopefully, it will be a fruitful choice for Mason.
[/quote]

It's a great opportunity for Mason for sure. That's awesome that you've been observing Scranton basketball for that long, hopefully the best is yet to come!

Quote from: saratoga on April 17, 2021, 04:53:21 PM

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

Hey all, I recently found this forum and thought I would chime in with some info on Mason Thompson. I run a basketball training business in Kansas City, and I have been working with Mason since he was in 4th grade, I know him and his game probably better than anybody.

Mason had offers to play at every level of college basketball:
D1 = PWO offer at UMKC
D2 = multiple schools, local and in Texas
D3 = Multiple schools in the northeast, stemming from his performance at the Penn University Elite camp before his senior season
NAIA = A school in Kansas where his older brother plays

The reason Mason chose Scranton was success of the program and the family feel, which came from both the coaches and players. Scranton was the first school to ever tell him that they are actively recruiting him. The Scranton coaching staff thoroughly out recruited every other school on his list. Their ability to develop a relationship with him was second to none. I will admit, I am confused by the criticism of coach Danzig on here. He does have the highest winning percentage of any coach in Scranton history, and is on track to retire as the winningest Scranton coach ever. Not sure what else you can ask of the guy. Ryan played a huge role in recruiting Mason, he is an incredible recruiter, but without coach Danzig, Mason would not have chosen Scranton. They share that Kansas City bond, coach Danzig was instrumental in convincing Mason's parents that Scranton was a great place. Mason's father is very picky about colleges, he was initially not wanting to send a kid to Scranton (because he knew nothing about it), but coach Danzig changed his mind.

As far as what you are getting in Mason, just know that nobody on the team will outwork him, he is an extremely intelligent kid (first team academic all state in Missouri), he will do whatever is asked of him, and he is an incredible teammate. With his signing, one thing I can tell you with is that you have a new best ball-handler on your team. I haven't seen many kids who can handle it better than Mason, I'm hoping he will get to showcase that at Scranton.

He was first team all-district, and honorable mention all-metro in Kansas City, playing both point guard and shooting guard. He lead his team in every major statistical category except rebounds (he was 2nd in rebounding). He did play at a very competitive school, playing with and against tons of D-1 players throughout his time at Rockhurst, in Missouri's largest class. He also played for a great AAU program, team YOBO, which also produced Loyola's Clayton Custer, along with many other D-1 talents.

I am certainly not trying to promise that Mason is going to come on campus and be dominant for you. I definitely wouldn't place those expectations on his career before he even graduates high school. I am excited to see how his career unfolds though, and with this post I am merely trying to come on here and offer you some background on who he is, because I saw some speculation.

From what I have seen of the University of Scranton, I am thrilled for Mason. I think this is a perfect fit between player and school. I look forward to talking hoops on this board for the next few years with you guys, I thought it was really cool to see how passionate you guys are about Scranton hoops.

Go Royals!