MBB: MAC Freedom League

chairman · February 21, 2009, 11:10:15 AM

A couple odd quirks in the schedule. With eight teams active in league play and the playoff teams already established, each of the four playoff teams is playing against a team that is already eliminated. Each of the three playoff teams whose position is still to be determined is on the road. Who will step up and be a spoiler?

The other interesting question is how Wilkes will play the Leb Valley contest. Obviously, you play to win this time of year, but they rely very heavily on three main pieces (one of whom has played an enormous quantity of minutes) for their scoring-- reference their win over Alvernia in support of that with DeRojas 37, Kresge 22, Kline 11 for 70 of 77 points. If they knew they weren't playing until Wednesday, I would think it makes sense to playy the game completely straight up, but the potential for three games next week sets up an interesting question as well. Del Val also has some choices to make. If they don't play close to their best against Misericordia, they will lose-- The Cougars have played everything tight over the course of the year, and if Del Val chooses to reduce minutes for Seipt, Jones, Williams, or Mayo, the Cougars are clearly good enough to hang a loss on the Aggies-- they might be good enough to do so even if the Aggies play everyone standard minutes.

Del Val knows that they will play on Monday, and I believe they are hoping to win three straight on the road next week. Do they take the day off and drop to below .500, or do they expend energy and risk under-performing on Monday? All this will be interesting.

BJ - DSU SID · February 21, 2009, 07:56:42 PM

Way too much time on your hands chairman.

The dust has settled and per the Conference office here are the standings following today's results.

#1 DeSales University
#2 Manhattanville College
#3 Eastern University
#4 Wilkes University
#5 Delaware Valley College

Schedule for the week
Monday
Delaware Valley @ Wilkes (7:00 pm)

Wednesday
Monday's Winner @ DeSales (8:00 pm)
Eastern @ Manhattanville (8:00 pm)

Saturday
Wednesday's Winners at highest remaining seed's house (Time TBA)

Enjoy the start of what is affectionately known as March Madness starting a little bit early in February. Conference Championship and an NCAA bid up for grabs this week.

Now the fun starts.

Jon · February 21, 2009, 08:05:28 PM

chair-deisel,

I liked the insight, so I dropped a little karma on ya. Looks like we're set for a doubleheader in Purchase next Wednesday. I'd love to stick around for your game, but that's a little far for me to drive separately.

Wolfpac · February 21, 2009, 08:11:25 PM

Quote from: Jon on February 21, 2009, 08:05:28 PM
chair-deisel,

I liked the insight, so I dropped a little karma on ya. Looks like we're set for a doubleheader in Purchase next Wednesday. I'd love to stick around for your game, but that's a little far for me to drive separately.

Hey Jon,

Hope all is well over there in the MAC....... Miss coming to the PE center. Loved those classic battles between McKloskey/ Miller/Dzik.

Hoping the Vern and the Cavs get to meet up somewhere in the future like the EU & battle of Eagle Rd. You deserve alot of credit for the job you did in the PAC... it is not the same without your stats or matrixes. Good luck in the off season hope to see ya at the Cemetary some evening after a good game.

Jon · February 21, 2009, 08:20:55 PM

Wolfpac, good to hear from you...I like the transition to a chatroom where someone else handles the matrix!

It's a different season without having the Cavs come to town. On a side note, The Cemetery is now the Upland Cafe...maybe we can meet there, or you should really try the hand-carved beef and cheese at Trooper's.

Best of luck in the postseason.

chairman · February 21, 2009, 08:58:24 PM

So..... Looks like Monday will determine who was right. Wilkes drops a game they probably could have won as they rest their top perimeter player and season minutes leader for the whole game and limit minutes for several other key players.

DelVal on the other hand plays the game like it matters completely and manages to slip past Misericordia in overtime while Seipt and Jones play 40 and 44 minutes. Since they both chose different answers, one will be right and the other ....

Looking at the week to come, I will be intrigued to see who wins the Monday game. On another interesting note, nine schools in the league, eight of them have some form of playoff basketball happening. The other interesting note, with all that variety, the top two seeds for the men and women are identical.
Jon, I will be wearing maroon for both games at M'ville on Wednesday. (Your not going to get me to put on a shirt with any kind of capital A or a funny helmet, but I'll be there.) If you are serious about staying, I could probably get you back to somewhere close to home.

Eastern's game at King's today never felt close. Myers, Soaries and Reels were able to disturb their guards, and though Conroy is good and he put up 16 points, he also got stripped several times and appeared disoriented when the double teams came. Reels finished at the rim much better today than he has all year.

Congrats should go to Coach Nadelhoffer, his staff, and the team for a really nice rebound after an 0-3 start.

mid-range j · February 22, 2009, 01:07:28 AM

Mville held off FDU on their home court on Senior Day. Ryan McPherson is a very talented player who had a great career at FDU. He is explosive and his first step to the basket is probably one of the quickest in the conference. He hits a lot of tough shots. I believe he had 22 points on the night. I was really impressed with Katz. Another quick guard who is going to be a problem for opposing teams in the conference for the next couple of years.

FDU jumped out with a quick lead in the game. They came out on fire, hitting off balance 3's and tough shots. They lead by 8 at the half but then the Valiants defense really clamped down on the Devils. It wasn't the best defensive night for the Valiants but their OFFENSE was somewhat on point tonite. Wesly Wicks had a caree high 25 points and Trevoy Pointer had 18 and 8.

The Eastern game is going to be great..Chairman, whiz and all the other eastern fans traveling, this is going to be a great game and an awesome atmosphere!

On another note, Mville shares the regular season crown with DeSales...not bad for being picked pre-season #6 in the conference..Kudos to Coach Scanlon and the team...

chizwiz · February 22, 2009, 08:11:42 AM

mid-range, definitely echoing you in kudos to m-ville in their jump from #6 preseason to tied for 1st in regular season.

I'm hoping that m'ville can reserve some tickets for away fans for the 2nd game on Wednesday. I hear it is tough to get seats up there.

kate · February 22, 2009, 10:23:20 AM

Sorry, CJ, but BEST luck to the Delaware Valley College Men's B'ball team tomorrow night when they take on the Wilke's Colonels in Wilkes Barre! Heck, it's been FORTY years! GO AGGIES!!!

ljk · February 22, 2009, 12:03:12 PM

mid and chiz: I'm with you in sending kudos to Mville Coach Pat Scanlon. The interesting thing is that the Valiants had a great winning season last year with a fast paced, run and gun, up and down the floor, playground style team. This year was the complete opposite. They slowed it down, worked the clock, and looked for the best shot available, and still enjoyed another great season. A sign of a good Coach adjusting his technique to his personnel. Great job!

mid-range j · February 22, 2009, 03:09:37 PM

chiz, im pretty sure they reserve a section in the upper balcony for opposing fans for the playoffs, but don't quote me on that..as for tickets..its first come first serve..i remember when they played in the playoffs for the skyline champioship that it was tough to see the game, so yea it would be a good idea to come a little early...

ljk, i think a reason for the switch is the different styles of play within the two conferences (skyline and MAC), traditionally, in the skyline, most teams are run and gun and very few teams play good defense, while transitioning, the valiants were trying to find their groove and noticed that they had to play much better defense this year in order to compete and get good wins, now there offense has struggled but like i said i think that will come along with more experience from the young players, they are still a really young team (10 freshmen, 2 sophomores, 3 juniors, 3 seniors)..

coach scanlon is great and what is scary is that he is only 27 years old, if you want to watch good defenders check out lamar glass and trevoy pointer, they have continually limited opposing teams best players this year, but their TEAM defense is great..

eastern deserves credit as well, as they are young and till have room to grow, i think they are somewhat similiar to mville so thats why it should be a good game...

PBR... · February 23, 2009, 07:40:44 AM

big game for dvc...what a turnaround, this new coach and young team leaves a lot of excitement around this program....this coach should be coach of the year to take this team and turn them around in this short of time

chizwiz · February 23, 2009, 08:06:18 AM

Thanks, Mid. Hope to get a seat. And I like your assessment of M-ville. Looks to be a great matchup on Wednesday.

wb1313 · February 23, 2009, 01:10:47 PM

Maybe someone can help me out...why is the 5 seed in the playoffs? Did Wilkes and Del Val end in a tie and need a tiebreaker? I'm really kind of confused since it wasn't like this a few years ago.

mid-range j · February 23, 2009, 01:17:20 PM

Quote from: wb1313 on February 23, 2009, 01:10:47 PM
Maybe someone can help me out...why is the 5 seed in the playoffs? Did Wilkes and Del Val end in a tie and need a tiebreaker? I'm really kind of confused since it wasn't like this a few years ago.

i think its because there are 9 teams rather than 8 or even 7 like in years past..it just gives more teams a chance (i'm not saying i agree with it)