MBB: MAC Freedom League

[oiler]

Scranton (4-1) at The College of New Jersey (4-1)
Monday 7pm

www.scranton.edu/wusr

[ColonelJohn4Life]

King's beats Delaware Valley (0-2, 0-5) by 5.  Congratulations, the losing streak is over, and you're now 2-4.  Rename them the "Monarch Butterflies" right now.

MOst7 - the larger points in my post were that:
(1) JP is not (yet) in that echelon of MAC coaches, and
(2) Last year's King's squad can't be mentioned in the same breath as all other Elite 8 teams to come from the MAC Freedom.

Don't get me started on G-Robb, but it's true, there are coaches who have rings, and coaches who don't.  That puts Bess in his own class on this board.  Can't take that away from him.  Two rings, 500+ wins, and a purple tux.

Wilkes is 2-0 in conference, and I'm on Cloud Nine.  Feels good approaching the semester break.  Make a mental note - Wilkes has 2 conference wins, both in close games.  Notroiously, over the past few years, this has been a weak spot for Wilkes.  Get into a close game, miss free throws, lose the game.  Against King's, Wilkes was 18 of 26 from the line.  17 of 26, and King's wins in regulation.

[gizzard]

I predict a Kings repeat this year

[saratoga]

You may be right...but, I doubt it. I did have high hopes for the Royals this season however, that clanging sound of their shots hitting everything but net last night is still in my head. I wasn't there but did listen to parts of it on the radio & it was ugly! Although they were in Jersey, as the saying goes, they could'nt hit the ocean if they were standing on the beach. Sounded just like the game with Catholic...bomb away, miss...bomb away, miss...fall deeper behind, bomb away, miss & on & on. Sounded like Coll. of Joyze just walked it up, burned 30 seconds, then shot & made a few more than the Royals. Never sounded like Scranton pressed them at all to try & create a little more up tempo & was more than content to watch them nail countless baskets with 5 seconds or less on the clock. With that kind of shot selection & horrendous % of putting shots in, realistically where are the Royals going again this year? MAC Freedom playoffs...1 win, 1 loss & it's over. No at large bid when you don't win these games...the NCAA doesn't get real excited about 40 point wins vs. Drew.

[Section J Guy]

Toga,

Expecting perfection?

Cj4l you asked about SJ? Go do some research son and put that wilkes degree to work!

[naismith]

Scoring some points yourself CJ.

I agree that both Kings and DeSales might have been 'lost' causes the past 2 to3 years.
This year's team is developing a real 'identity' of its own.
Kline's playing a much more seasoned game than his freshman status---he is 'as advertised'.
Matt Gould's defense intimidates me and I'm just sitting in the stands!
EW may be the league's top inside player. Certainly his shotblocking and defense are worthy of note.
David Goode isn't Superman but he is able to 'leap and bound'.  Great strides made in his game since last season.......and only a soph.
Constantine is somewhat like a vintage car-----he's got an 'automatic' shot and he is 'clutch'.
Kable is doing his job
Dan Adams is like that Energizer Bunny----he keeps plugging---seems he has brought a lot of energy to the mix. I like that he is now 'finishing' inside.
Cardamone provides 'presence'
And Shovlin-----Conference player of the week---37 points  13 or so assists. A pilferer on defense and much better shot selection.  There is a short list of players that could do to Kings what CS did. (visions of Jay Williams against Cabrini? ...that was s SportsCenter moment if I recall).

If your a Colonel fan CJ, you have to like what you see.

Naismith   

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Naismith,

LOVING what I'm seeing so far.  Wilkes teams of the past 5 years had the talent to stay on the floor with anyone in the Freedom, but couldn't hit their free throws and/or finish the job.  This team seems to have that ability.

Your assessment of the roster is accurate from the whopping one game I've seen.  Except the one game didn't feature Greg Cardamone, which is a shame.

In the meantime, what happened to the rest of our fair conference?  Scranton held to 42 at TCNJ?  King's with losses to E-town, now both to and fro?  Leb Val over Del Val by 30?  When did the MAC-F become the regional whipping boy?

Guy, SJ - I merely suspect your name is code for suggesting you're a member of The Society of Jesus.  With Gonzaga still in the Top 10, it is a good season for Jesuit hoops.

[phil]

...to top it off, in the preseason coach's poll TCNJ was picked 9th of 10 teams in the NJAC.

[gizzard]

CJ4lf
     You have no basketball knowledge, and i doubt you have ever played in a meaningful grade school/ middle school/ high school/ or college game in your life (maybe intramurals or sumer leagues) but please stop posting up because you have no frame of reference and your out of your element.
     Furthermore, ...nah I'll leave it at that.  Have a nice day and God Bless.

[saratoga]

J Guy: Perfection...not really. Consistent effort, absolutely. Especially when the talk is taking this team well into the tournement...just hope it's not the DeSales Invitational (ECAC) again!

[naismith]

Gizzard,

If I was grading your post, you would flunk.
You gave no point of reference and provided no evidence to support your thesis.
I have met CJ and he certainly is in good enough shape to play in any of the local beer leagues.

He looks like a two guard but I have no idea if he can shoot.
He does know how to drink, shoot darts and play fooseball.

Did you go to grade school with him?
Maybe you posted him in intramurals?

Maybe we can have a challenge match. One on One ---The Cololonel versus the Gizzard ----

I suppose you are trying to pass as the one and only Brian H based upon your fantasy e-mail address.

Your post was rather Scroogian considering the 'Season'. At least you said God Bless and not Bah Humbug.

HO HO HO......

Naismith

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Appropriate handle, gizzard. Lay off the Colonel. He's one of more knowledgeable posters in this room -- and has been for many seasons.

Thanks, Warren.  Also, thanks to Naismith.  Always nice when two beacons of wisdom come to your aid, one of whom is a HOF'er...

Gizzard, I fear that you're as misguided as you are terse.  Had I never hit a jumper in my life, King's is still 2-5, with one conference win over an 0-6 squad.  The issue is not with me, the issue is with the play on the court.  And, funny thing, HorganBrothers.com isn't a real website.

Wilkes knocks off Immaculata by 16.  Wasn't there, won't claim to have been there.  Who saw it, how did it go?

In other news, Scranton is 5-2 and 2-0 in conference.  What is this? 1988?

A Merry Christmas season to all...

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Maybe I was wrong about all the King's hating.  Maybe this team does have some talent.

Or... maybe not.

http://departments.kings.edu/athletics/men/basketball/recap/12_08_05_baptist_bible.htm
Baptist Bible 63, King's 51 (F)

[adam]

Ah yes, not only do I return, but so does Warren Thompson, who I've dubbed for years, the voice of reason of d3hoops. 
And personally, I don't know cj4l's basketball ability.  I know he played my brother once and had an uncanny ability to hit shots from the corner.  I mean really now, who the heck hits shots from the corner these days. Some poor schlep from King's hit the side of the backboard  for crying out loud (and no, this is not to start a lame argument that cj4l is better than a kid from King's because he can hit a corner shot.

Adam Burdett
Pittston Band Director Extraordinaire

[wb1313]

Ummmm...all those cracks back in the day about Wilkes playing nobodies from Baptist Bible and other schools...who would've thought they'd become good?  Then again.....     CJ...is it time for the "If you can't get into college" song??

Lastly..gizz...are you a King's fan??  Is that why you haven't been back lately? 
IF you haven't heard...BAPTIST BIBLE 63  King's 51  next up on the schedule  Scranton School for the Deaf and then St. Nick's/St. Mary's Blue team...best of luck!!