MBB: MAC Freedom League

[mid-range j]

not stepping on anyones toes..you should be excited..ecspecially as a fan, and its a great turn around..it seems like they almost had last night as well which makes it even better..dont get the wrong impression, is said good things too!

[mid-range j]

pbr

what about the pope kid tho i didnt get an answer for that?

[PBR...]

pbr

what about the pope kid tho i didnt get an answer for that?

good question, dont know the answer to that although will dig around to see what info can be found

[naismith]

Let me dispense with a few things first:

As to the DV/Wilkes contest:
The FT disparity was more a result of 'style' of play rather than officiating.
Most felt the game was called pretty even.

Wilkes faced a shorter team and dominated the boards. The bigs created fouls with quick penetrating moves late in the game.
Even DeRojas was driving baseline to force play. DVC faced mostly man (which they broke down) and zone (where they were frustrated inside and settled for outside shots).
Add in some late game fouls and, to me, it was not out of line.

What I have noted before and will repeat, the Colonel defense and team play has solidified the last month. They have been consistent in 'stopping' opponenets late in the game.

My guess is neither side appreicated the officiating but that is normal...lol....I thought that, overall, the gamewas called pretty well.

Looking at the contest, I think the game went as I thought it would. Aggie quickness vs Colonel power game.
That might have been a draw but there was one subtle exception.

Chris Gulla of Wilkes.
An unsung player when one compares his numbers to the production of Tom Kresge, Steve Kline and Chris DeRojas.
CG was the difference Monday night.

He checked James "NESTLES QUIK" Jones exceptionally well.  Yes, NESTLES had 26 and that is no LEAN CUISINE!!
But Jones shot 6-15 from the floor while CRUNCHing 14-14 from the line.  And  No '3's. (DVC was 2-14 from the arc)
Nestles initial bucket was a BIT O HONEY on CG but his 1st 1/2 SPREE of 3 buckets came with Gulla on the bench. Another SWEETART came via a switch and he  SNO-CAPPED his night with an uncontested last second layup.
No JAMBAS !!
Gulla GOBSTOPPED him sticking to his HOTPOCKETS.  CG Even got a STOUFFER on a top of the key jumper.

CG got WONKA'd with his 4th BUITONI midway 2nd half and did not get COFFEEMATED out of the game.

Finally, CG JUICY JUICED the offense with a pair of DOLCE GUSTI trifectas. The only '3's for the Colonels the entire game!!! (team 2-8 for game).

Sometimes I think subtle performances are overlooked since we rely on stats, recaps and box scores.
I have always appreciated CG's handle, grit, rebounding and solid defense. On this Monday, he was worth 100 GRAND!!

Nestles website:  http://www.nestleusa.com/PubOurBrands/Brands.aspx

Naismith

[jabstep08]

Just wanted to point out some quick points about del val.  first, i wanna give coach stitzel all the credit in the world for doing a great job this year but he had a way better team than what the coach had last year top to bottom. stitzel kept 4 or 5 players from last years club and brought in eight new players dont know how many players were coming to the school before stitzel took over but with that being said he should have made the playoffs with the conference not being as strong as it was the year before...just want to get some feedback...also james jones lead the public league in scoring his senior year, when was the last time del val had a player like that besides pinkney and surrounded them with good players.. icould go on about mayo playing d2 and etc...

[PBR...]

Just wanted to point out some quick points about del val.  first, i wanna give coach stitzel all the credit in the world for doing a great job this year but he had a way better team than what the coach had last year top to bottom. stitzel kept 4 or 5 players from last years club and brought in eight new players dont know how many players were coming to the school before stitzel took over but with that being said he should have made the playoffs with the conference not being as strong as it was the year before...just want to get some feedback...also james jones lead the public league in scoring his senior year, when was the last time del val had a player like that besides pinkney and surrounded them with good players.. icould go on about mayo playing d2 and etc...

Huh?     let me get this straight...a brand new coach...new school (not like he was an asst stepping up) brings in 8 new players to a new system he is installing....takes a team that won 0 games the previous year in the mac and you say he SHOULD have made the playoffs? what??? like it was expected he was going to make the playoffs? sorry pbr aint drinking the kool aid...stitzel did a fantastic job and part of being a good coach is getting players to buy into a system with that many new players and installing his system and making the playoffs in his first year coaching is phenominal. pbr just doesnt get how you say the mac is down and dvc was expected to make the playoffs with that many changes and an unproven coach? doesnt make sense but to each their own...

[chairman]

Obviously Stitzel brought some  (maybe all) of the new  players in. He deserves credit for that and for getting his new players to buy in etc.... No one is doubting that. I don't necessarily agree with you that he was at a disadvantage by not being part of the DVC program before. He came in with a clean slate and a good story, and he went with it. Had he been an assistant, he would have had to explained 0-million and how he sat back and let it happen to every recruit. Also, I think he was able to forgo the usual obligations to inferior returners that many promoted coaches feel.

As for the league being down this year, I think that goes without saying. King's, Manhattanville, and Alvernia each lost massive chunks of their teams and were either rebuilding or merely just down. Manhattanville pulled off the rebuild, King's and Alvernia did not. They both had rough years, and that opened the door for Eastern, FDU, Del Val and Misericordia to take a run at playoff spots. Eastern and Del Val got there and should be congratulated, Misericordia and FDU did not get there.

All this to say, that the test of greatness is how something gets built for the long run. Maybe I'm old school on this, but I feel there is a significant difference between good and great, and if Stitzel stays at Del Val for ten to twelve years and builds a team that recruits and retains great players, graduates them in a timely fashion, and year in and year out competes for Conference titles and battles as a top team in the region, then use the word great.  Fair enough?

Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow night brings.

[chizwiz]

Naismith, you crack me up.  That was not only informative, but also comical.  I think it's important to point out how unsung players step up defensively, especially since stats don't show defensive skills as much as they do offensive.

PBR, I also agree with you on Stitzel.  He has done more than most would expect.  Not enough can be said about good recruiting, developing, and then keeping together a team during your first year.  And using freshmen as much as he did is very difficult.  Good job, Coach Stitzel.

[PBR...]

Obviously Stitzel brought some  (maybe all) of the new  players in. He deserves credit for that and for getting his new players to buy in etc.... No one is doubting that. I don't necessarily agree with you that he was at a disadvantage by not being part of the DVC program before. He came in with a clean slate and a good story, and he went with it. Had he been an assistant, he would have had to explained 0-million and how he sat back and let it happen to every recruit. Also, I think he was able to forgo the usual obligations to inferior returners that many promoted coaches feel.

As for the league being down this year, I think that goes without saying. King's, Manhattanville, and Alvernia each lost massive chunks of their teams and were either rebuilding or merely just down. Manhattanville pulled off the rebuild, King's and Alvernia did not. They both had rough years, and that opened the door for Eastern, FDU, Del Val and Misericordia to take a run at playoff spots. Eastern and Del Val got there and should be congratulated, Misericordia and FDU did not get there.

All this to say, that the test of greatness is how something gets built for the long run. Maybe I'm old school on this, but I feel there is a significant difference between good and great, and if Stitzel stays at Del Val for ten to twelve years and builds a team that recruits and retains great players, graduates them in a timely fashion, and year in and year out competes for Conference titles and battles as a top team in the region, then use the word great.  Fair enough?

Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow night brings.

we disagree then...dvc hoops team imho had a great year...as coach stitzel stated after the game "i couldnt ask anymore of this team they gave me everything they had". to me it doesnt mean that much that in your opinion the mac was down this year. point being dvc was brutal last year. a new hc and system and players, even coach mangus didnt work that kind of magic his first year. so we disagree and onto the next games....

[chairman]

Freedom being down is not an opinion.

I am happy for Del Val that they almost had a winning season. This is obviously a great improvement from where they were, and the coach is off to a good start.

Objectively, Del Val was 5-4 out of league. They beat PSU- Berks, PSU-Brandywine, PSU-Harrisburg, Lancaster Bible, and Arcadia.

[naismith]

Chiz,

Back when I hung the very fist peach basket, I intended the game to be fun.

Glad you enjoyed the post.
The Nestles product list did not hotlink...maybe someone can fix that...I don't know.
Next week, I'll honor Hershey's Chocolate with a post..............

Drifting along, I think the Freedom should add a SIXTH MAN Award and  Defensive POY to their post season awards list.
Maybe something for playmaking as well.
Give some recognition to the skillsets that are often overlooked.
Suggestions Welcome.

Maybe we could do a top ZEBRA award .........Nah, No one would be nominated....LOL....Now we could try a WOZAD ( Worst Zebra Award)...he could get a one way ticket to SafariVille......and then star in a movie called SLUM ZEBRA  FULLOFHOTAIR....Ha Ha ...plenty of candidates for that lead role....

By the way, I failed to congratulate the Aggies on a fine season and a huge effort on the road.
Most of the DVC players will return and I am sure they will contend.
And special congrats to Jason Seipt....a fine senior season----------I don't think I ever saw Jason take a play off in 4 years.
Always gave 110% effort and, surrounded by some talented teammates, showed he really has some 'game'.

Naismith

[Jon]

Chairdude,

Normally I wouldn't applaud backhanded compliments, but that one made me laugh...-3 it is.

[NEPAFAN]

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!!!

Kate,

No offense.    Thank you, and you're welcome.

Yeah, it's been 40 years for Del Val, but I'll contend that the Wilkes streak of 8 years without a MAC Title (including 2 agonizingly close title games) has been more painful. 

And, really, we have to play at DeSales again?  Really?  We've seen this before. Like 3 other times in the past 6-7 seasons.  Somewhere, Greg Riley is dropping F bombs at the prospect of ANOTHER playoff game in Centre Valley.  I don't know if it's a "curse", but, here we go again.

I could be wrong... but Wilkes's win at home tonight... first home playoff win since the '01 MAC-F Championship against Scranton?  Ahhh, the glory days.  Remember when we had those purple jerks to kick around?

You miss us CJ???

[ljk]

Wilkes height and free throws did Del Val in, even though it seemed like the Aggies had the game in the bag.   Del Val led by 10 points with about 8 minutes left in the game.  Wilkes went on a 15-2 run and Del Val just went ice cold and could not score.  The Aggies hurried their shots down the stretch and let their lead and the game just get away from them.  Wilkes scored over half of their points from the FT line and out rebounded DV 54-29.  For once, Wilkes hit their fouls, with the game on the line, and the clock winding down.  I think Del Val's young squad might have felt the heat playing in the school's first playoff game in 40 years.  Coach Stitzel rode the officials and whined the whole game.  I believe he should have been T up a few times.  Hats off to him and his squad for the season they put together. I think the experience of play off action will serve the program well down the road.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

If there's one thing I love, it's single elimination tournaments.  This is the best time of the year. No doubt.  And you guys are probably wondering what my predictions are for upcoming matches.  Here we go:
- I like the winner of the Anthony Kim / KJ Choi 2nd Round match to go to the Final Four
- I'll take #13 seed Boo Weekley to win the Player Bracket
- I'll go chalk and take Mickelson to win his regional.
- Give me #15 seed Kevin Sutherland to win Tiger's bracket, and the whole thing!  A #15?  I must be mad!

Oh, you wanted basketball info... eh, I'm not gonna try to top Naismith.  I'll defer to the mustached gentleman.  He knows more about X's & O's, and he's funnier.  I will, however, set a gambling line.  Wilkes @ DeSales last month was 65-50.  Nothing changed.  Set the line at DSU -15...

You miss us CJ???

NEPAFan, Scranton is like Tuberculosis.  If you're forunate enough to get rid of either of them, you don't miss them.  I'd rather a year's worth of days playing playoff games at that shoebox in Centre Valley, than 1 game in Scranton.  Take your "SAT Scores" chants from the student section, and hope that all those "like-minded academic institutions" care about them.