MBB: MAC Freedom League

[jumpball]

don't know what Eastern looks like without Reels (that CAN'T be an improvement though) but I don't know that kings is a fave going into that gym.  i think EU is a favorite in that one, although Kings has a better than punchers chance at winning if they play as they have been for a month now.   I think all the games could be tight, although DelVal could have their way if White is going good.  he's a beast.  if they figure out how to play an inside out game with he and jones, look out.  he hasn't been there all that long yet but i haven't seen he and jones both having a big game at the same time, - at least i don't recall that... could be wrong.  still say they are very dangerous -  uncle sam would concur i think 

[kate]

Hello, hoopzwiz - FDU comes to James Work Memorial Gym tonight - we went to Madison back in December.

[hoopzwiz]

Oops, my apologies.  I definately like DV to win then.

Taking Desales in a low scoring slugfest.....

King's on a 3 pointer late......

and the game I'm attending, Wilkes by 5.  Kresge free throws seal the win and keep the Colonels
playoff hopes alive.

[Wolfpac]

Sorry Lefty,  I was one of on the points for Misericordia.    Knew they would take care of business at home.  Thought it would be 9 or ten.  Congratulations on a nice win.

[lefty2]

Sorry Lefty,  I was one of on the points for Misericordia.    Knew they would take care of business at home.  Thought it would be 9 or ten.  Congratulations on a nice win.

I hope you didn't bet the game.

[chairman]

It's late, but I'll offer two cents.

King's had it rough tonight. They tried zone, but everyone in the Eastern line-up seemed to relish the opportunity to shoot rhythm jumpers. When they switched to man, They could not stay in front of Soaries or Wright. In the second half, they tried to start in man- as the Eagles were holding the ball, and switch to zone late in the shot clock. This worked some, but only because the shots that went down in the first half didn't go down in the second.

That being said, I can see how King's is beating people. Wagner got one really good look in the first half when Soaries got switched off him, and he buried it. That was, however, all he got. They run good stuff and they run it hard, they set hard screens and Conroy can get position t will. In a league with more traditional line-ups, I think they can get after it a little defensively as well.

They couldn't score inside efficiently enough to make Eastern pay for playing with four guards, and they wound up playing defense for a minute at a time on several occasions.

Eastern made it to the foul line with 4:21 to play in the scond half. Not sure what the longest strech against a particular opponent without an attempted free throw is, but I think 75:39 is a long time to go without a trip to the line.

It looks like Wilkes made a run late to close the gap, but to no avail. Three of four home teams win. Big win for your Aggies there Mr. Sam. I'm looking forward to some more wily rhymes from you. The Aggies are going to have to get their traveling shoes ready for the next two weeks -- not sure why you would go to PSU-Harrisburg in the middle of stretch where you are playing four of five league games on the road, but that's just me being curious.

Manhattanville at Wilkes could have the feel of an elimination game.

I think the Matrix will tell us a lot here after Saturday's games.

[jumpball]

I think the Chair provided a pretty good assessment of the Kings EU affair.  Hey, when the same team wins twice by double digits, they're the better squad.  Kings did not play well or their normal game, but EU had a lot to do with that.  Soaries red hot all night.  The right team won that game.  Eastern will be very hard to beat in the phone booth and they have a favorable home/away schedule, so i think they're in.  not so sure about anyone else outside of desales.    agree that M'ville-Wilkes game will bounce someone. 
still wondering how soaries gets off a 3 with seconds to go in the half when kings has only 3 team fouls.....what are the odds we play any games saturday with winter looming again?

[Wolfpac]

Sorry Lefty,  I was one of on the points for Misericordia.    Knew they would take care of business at home.  Thought it would be 9 or ten.  Congratulations on a nice win.

I hope you didn't bet the game.

It is against D3 compliance to bet Lefty you know that come on now.
Eastern won as well I see but I would have said they would win by 4pts.  Mac fan told me to stop talking about Eastern so I did not predict that game.  Just luck anyway.  Lefty, Chair sorry to chat into the MAC but the CSAC is quiet. Only Mailsy and when you come over.  Your conference sure is getting tight and the parity is fun.  The Cavs may get to the finals and Marcus has been doing good things but the strength of their out of schedule is poor so if the tourney is in their cards they may not get anywhere too fast unless they surprise us. Have a good one you guys.

[lefty2]

Chair,

Misericordia and Wilkes won't be worrying about free throw droughts - 62 free throws last night (31 by each team).

On another note, there was a Wilkes faculty member at the game and I feared that his head was going to explode.  He's the type of fan that thinks any/every call against his team is terrible and he yells as loud as he can to let everyone in the gym know it.

[mailsy]

On another note, there was a Wilkes faculty member at the game and I feared that his head was going to explode.  He's the type of fan that thinks any/every call against his team is terrible and he yells as loud as he can to let everyone in the gym know it.

You just have to love those fans. 

[BJ - DSU SID]

Chair,

Misericordia and Wilkes won't be worrying about free throw droughts - 62 free throws last night (31 by each team).

On another note, there was a Wilkes faculty member at the game and I feared that his head was going to explode.  He's the type of fan that thinks any/every call against his team is terrible and he yells as loud as he can to let everyone in the gym know it.

You sure it wasn't our old pal Seitzinger, .

Updated Matrix is here
http://athletics.desales.edu/custompages/gen/2009-10/MHoopsMatrix.pdf 

Here's to hoping the weatherpeople are what they usually are - WRONG.

[lefty2]

On another note, there was a Wilkes faculty member at the game and I feared that his head was going to explode.  He's the type of fan that thinks any/every call against his team is terrible and he yells as loud as he can to let everyone in the gym know it.

You just have to love those fans. 

This guys gives fans a bad rep.

[G-manWU]

Chair,

Misericordia and Wilkes won't be worrying about free throw droughts - 62 free throws last night (31 by each team).

On another note, there was a Wilkes faculty member at the game and I feared that his head was going to explode.  He's the type of fan that thinks any/every call against his team is terrible and he yells as loud as he can to let everyone in the gym know it.

I am 99.9% certain I know exactly who you are talking about. If we have the same person in mind, he is a great guy, someone I had as a student in my first semester at Wilkes and respect a great deal. In fact I believe he is currently the seniormost faculty member in terms of years spent teaching at Wilkes.  He attends most every Wilkes sporting event, and while he can get loud, he keeps it clean and is always entertaining to listen to...as long as you aren't directly in front of him! I only had one of his classes that first semester, but came to know him well from working with Wilkes men's basketball and football for my four years there. He still sees me whenever I am back at Wilkes for a game and still calls me by first name.....those are the kind of freindships and contacts that make working with D3 sports so enjoyable.

On that note, I believe this week marks one year since the passing of Dr. Matthew Zukoski, another avid fan of Wilkes sports and faculty member in the same department as the professor you speak of. Dr. Z was a great man who is very much missed at Wilkes sports events today- all the best to his family, friends, and coworkers who still remember him with the same zest and zeal that he brought to Wilkes sports.

[cold_case]

This guys gives fans a bad rep.

I wasn't that bad, lefthander!

I'm shocked that Wilkes is 3-6 in league play. Wow.

[chairman]

Fouls to give. Hmmmmm. Not too often do you hear that expression at the D3 level. Jump ball, I honestly don't know how they didn't foul immediately on the inbounds twice. That the play was right in front of the King's bench made it a little more unforgivable. You don't want the guy to get fouled in the act, but I don't think that would have been an issue. Plus if they fouled on the catch, the next play would have been SOB. Still, a ridiculous shot against a pair of defenders.

Saturday could be very interesting. I will be intrigued to see if weather impacts game-times/ dates. If all the games go off as scheduled, the post-season picture could be clarified a little as Wilkes and Manhattanville seem to be in must win type situations. DelVal is also in a spot where they might need to win on Saturday to have a shot at a tiebreaker. You can't concede the top spot to DeSales yet, but it does seem that a win over the Bulldogs will likely be an early tiebreak for teams fighting for a spot or seeding.

Eastern and Misericordia was a SHOOTOUT in December.

http://www.goeasterneagles.com/09boxscores/mb/mb1205eu.htm 

Misericordia made 11-19 threes, and Eastern shot 75% from the field in the second half. The rematch could be very interesting.