MBB: MAC Freedom League

[naismith]

Nais--

Your list confuses me a little. I could see arguments for Hunter or White/Jones/ Kresge in the first team, but I cannot process a systematic approach where all four make it.

I think the reason for putting Hunter (16th in scoring, 9th in steals, 4th in assists) in front of Soaries (T -4th scoring, 1st steals, 6th fg%, 5th ft%, 4th blocks, 1st minutes), Del Prete (3rd scoring, 4th steals), and Conroy (7th scoring, t5th rebounding, 5th fg %)  would be that you value winning, and he helps his team to win, and DeSales won at a much higher rate than those three did. I have no problem with that logic.

You also have three guys on the first team who put up prodigious numbers, but whose teams did not finish in the top five in an eight team league. I'm not sure you can do both.

Can you explain?

I'll try.
I chose one PG, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward and Center.

Hunter and Little were 2 of 3 pg's that were around the century mark in assists and around 2-1 orr better assists to turnovers.
Both are unselfish and presented machup problems for opponents. Hunter can post most opposing PG's and Little penetrates well and is an underrated scorer.
I think Miseri suffers without Little's leadership. He made everyone on that team better.
Hunter plays a 'quiet' but effective game. He defers to Braswell and orchestrates a very team oriented scheme at DeSales. Was impressed with his overall game.
King's Stackhouse is right there as well.

The '2' was a tough choice. Jones or Soaries. To me, Jones is just such an explosive force offensively ...hard to deny him a spot.
Braswell is the '3' and Kresge the '4'.  I think both of these players were clearly the top players at their respective positions.

White was the top Center.

I chose whom I felt was the top player at each position rather than the 'best' 5 players.
I really didn't judge by 'stats' or by 'winning'. Considerations were team play, matchups, productivity and talent and my century of experience at observing the game.

Hope that helps.

Naismith

[chairman]

So... If team play and productivity were part of the equation, how does Del Val go 4-8 and not win a road game in the league with two first-team All-Conference players on their squad?

Productivity without results may be full of sound and fury, but it's not the game you invented. "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME."  The coaches will speak, but I do not think there will be, or should be, three guys on teams that did not make the play-offs on the first team. I also can't see a situation where some really good players on three play-off teams get shut out of the first team.

[hoopzwiz]

Random thoughts...
Im on record picking home teams but I will take Misericordia to cover the 16.

I agree that kings has a shot.....not sure what the coach can do that he hasn't already. Can't change your players.

Soaries & Del Prete are definately first team.

Saw Misericordia 2 times this year, them winning wouldn't shock me.

Anyone picking a road team?

[BJ - DSU SID]

If DeSales is a shoebox, then Eastern is a phone booth.  It's OK though we are used to the "your gym is too small comments."  We like our gym and clearly enjoy playing in it.  We also don't mind that others don't like playing in it.

I'll save my predictions on both the all-conference team and the games tonight for when I am retired.  But for the record, I am rooting for DeSales.

I do enjoy reading everyone's comments...they've been very good.  Some I agree with, some I don't...that's what makes it fun.

Enjoy the games tonight!

[jumpball]

as much as i'll pull for the visitors tonite, i think the home squads prevail.  miseri can shoot with and maybe better than anyone.   i agree, if they get off fast....look out, they can win, but eastern defends awfully well, especially at home.  cannot see braswell going down at home, although i think kings is as good or stronger man for man outside of him., (i know - HUGE conditional)  as far as i know, no one has stopped him yet, don't see why it would happen tonite.  and desales has some real snipers from deep, which should keep the kings inside advantage at bay.   i think both games are tight until last 4-5 minutes, then goes to 8-10 point spreads due to needs to foul and shoot 3's by the visiting teams, making the games look easier in the score than what traspires on the court. 
chair; myers deserves all the props i can give him, i don't care if he ever scores a point and the only matchups i ever see him in, he wins.  you might be right, hunter may be 2nd team, just not sure who to drop to HM.  hey, they're all very strong players and deserving.  there's always 18-20 guys to fit into 15 slots.......fun to read everyone's take on it.   be safe on those roads tonite, not sure when this next mess is descending on us.......at least pitchers and catchers are on the news now.

[lefty2]

For what it's worth, there is no honorable mention category - at least there wasn't last year.

There are only 10 spots - five first-team and five second-team.

[chizwiz]

Good luck to Miseri on Saturday.  Rough game for EU fans down here in St. Davids.  Would have liked to have been there, but was roughing it over live webcast.  Many thanks to the SID at EU for getting that together for those of us not able to make it to the game.

It looked like EU was having problems limiting penetration and stopping the post game.  Also, EU was bad from the line.  Looking forward to watiching this great group of guys next year.  Sorry to see Myers go . . . great kid.

[chairman]

I'll echo C-Wiz's sentiments about the game tonight. The Cougars looked older, hungrier, and better. Their zone gave the Eagles problems from the beginning, and they were able to make enough changes to their base defense to keep the Eastern team off balance while not giving away tons of easy baskets.
Witht he exception of the first Misericordia game when they went unconscious in the second half, Eastern has not been a team that could get back into things, and Misericordia did all the right things to win the game. They had just eight turnovers, moved the ball well, shot well, and hit their free throws at 88%. You can't come back from a ten point deficit against a team doing those things.
Despite a great effort from Myers, the Eastern team showed their youth a bit tonight. They have overcome a lot to get where they finished, and I think they played over their heads in several instances this year.
I think they will be back in the hunt next year, but they ran into a team that was better on this night. Congrats to Coach Woodruff and the Misericordia team. Whichever team wins on Saturday will be a worthy champion.

[jumpball]

kudos to the Bulldogs...they showed why they are champions last night with a convincing win v Kings.  Braswell was his usual stellar self and the supporting cast was almost as impressive.  they shot the lights out, especially in the 2nd half, but pretty much the entire game and Kings just could not keep up with them.  very intense affair, good atmosphere and great all-around play.  Desales had an answer for every run.....Kings did not do anything wrong, this one was about Desales doing things right.  Best wishes to the 'dogs as they move on, they are deserving, and will be a tough out for miseri and/or opponents thereafter.   although i won't miss braswell kicking our tails in the future, i will miss watching him play, easily the best player i have seen in the past two years, absolute pleasure to watch.

[BJ - DSU SID]

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/all-braswell.7191928feb27,0,6749174.story

Nice story on DSU's Darnell Braswell written by local newspaper for those interested in reading.

[Hugenerd]

Those interested can find more information on MIT at the MIT Hoops Blog

[chairman]

Freedom Conference All-conference released today.

1st Team- Braswell, Soaries, Kresge, Conroy, Del Prete
2nd Team- Pointer, Laroche, Jones, Fetske, Hunter

POTY- Braswell
ROTY- Alex Nelson
COY- Coval

Congrats to all who were honored. Good luck to DeSales in New Jersey this weekend.

[hoopzwiz]

Congratulations to all those selected and thanks for an exciting season. ....hard to argue POY, ROY or COY. Goods luck to DeSales.

[BJ - DSU SID]

I think the coaches did a nice job with the all-conference team as well.  I don't think anyone that was absolutely deserving a spot on the all-conference team was left off.  Certainly there are a few players not among the top 10 that had solid years, but this is a pretty good representation.

I agree on POY, COY, ROY...POY and ROY were as clear cut as you get.  It would have been hard to argue with any of the four playoff coaches getting the award...they all did terrific jobs this season.  Winning 13 of 14 regular season conference games is hard to argue with.

We (DeSales) will do our best to represent the conference and the region well this weekend and hopefully in a few weekends after that.  We, as do all the teams in the NCAA Tournament, have a tough road ahead.  I think we are ready though (not that I have anything to do with that,  ).

[jumpball]

agreed on the teams' selections.  they were not much different than those proposed on the board.  interesting that white was not considered, i wondered how he would be handled by the coaches...still think he was the strongest inside presence without question, but a half-year is still a half-year i guess.  no complaints on those chosen, all deserving.........