MBB: MAC Freedom League

[gordonmann]

Wilkes loses to Marywood.

Injury depleted Scranton loses to winless Chestnut Hill.

Somewhere Bobby Sura weeps.

[kingjames]

Wilkes got destroyed by Keystone tonight.  It was ugly. What confounds me is that they have the best player in the conference, Shovlin, yet they under utilize him.  I don't know but I think they just have the wrong personnel in the wrong positions.  The players Rickrode puts on the floor do not complement each other well.  Then he tries to overcoach and he holds these guys back.  Too much "run the offense", too many substitutions, these guys can't get into the flow.  This team just looked flat tonight and from what I've heard they were flat against Marywood.  I blame  Rickrode for this too, he's got to make sure the team is ready to play, and that month long break was ridiculous.  Any one else at the game tonight?

[cold_case]

At least King's kept some sanity in the local college ranks, and even they barely escaped with a one-point win over Susquehanna.
Regardless of Scranton's injuries, it's inexcusable losing to Chestnut Hill. That name sounds like a new brand of coffee.

[The Authority]

I wonder if Dave Januzzi ever lost to Marywood and Keystone in back-to-back games.

Heck I wonder if a Januzzi team ever lost back-to-back games period.

Chalk up another point for Januzzi in the ever popular poll "Who's better, Januzzi or Shovlin".

Must have been too much Egg Nog in the Wilkes water cooler over the break.

[upton]

     The Royals loss to Chestnut Hill was not for lack of effort or heart.  Playing with a team comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores, they just had a cold shooting night.  Also, it seemed at times as if Chestnut Hill could not miss from 3-point range.
     Randy Arnold seemed to take the loss the hardest.  As a sophomore and the leader of the team, this is his first loss at home.  I just worry how this loss will affect any chances of an at large bid to the NCAA's if Scranton doesn't win the Freedom Tournament.

[ronk]

cj41,
    Two years ago, Scranton did lose to Marywood and Misericordia in the same season.

[Gregory Sager]

Wilkes got destroyed by Keystone tonight.

Does that mean that the Colonels lost to the provisional D3 school from LaPlume, or that they all got badly drunk on the particularly noxious brand of cheap beer of that name that's owned by Coors?

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Does that mean that the Colonels lost to the provisional D3 school from LaPlume, or that they all got badly drunk on the particularly noxious brand of cheap beer of that name that's owned by Coors?

Dr. Sager,
No word of a lie, my first reaction was, "Keystone?  A good team?  It's not even a good beer!"

The Wilkes-Scranton showdown on the 11th is taking on a whole new meaning.  The only 2 unbeatens left in the MAC-F, coming off of losses to Chestnut Hill and Marywood / Keystone.  God help us.

Scranton, don't look now, but (winless) Chestnut Hill lost by 34 to Susquehanna.

King's, don't develop an ego about a 1 point win over Susquehanna.  They're 3-8 with wins over aforementioned Chestnut Hill and Penn College of Technology, a team I didn't know existed.

Wilkes, I think, having played this Keystone team tough, shows a lot.  I think it's safe to punch my ticket for Salem now.

[cold_case]

     The Royals loss to Chestnut Hill was not for lack of effort or heart.  Playing with a team comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores, they just had a cold shooting night.  Also, it seemed at times as if Chestnut Hill could not miss from 3-point range.

Regardless, a loss is a loss is a loss!

[Section J Guy]

Scranton needs to get healthy in a hurry for the mid-week Wilkes game.

[saratoga]

The Royals better get healthy in a hurry & they better win the Freedom outright  or at least finish 2nd. with no more than 6 losses (total)or there is no way they get an at-large. The loss to Chesnut Hill will be the perfect excuse not to hand out an at-large. You can plead all you want that the Royals would never have lost this game with those 3 starters & their first off the bench, but when the Q&A segment of Selection Sunday asks why the Royals did not get a bid, they'll look to this game & further state all teams loose intregal players at some point due to injuries & they(NCAA) simply can not take every injury to every player on every team into account. Win the games your supposed to win & you don't need to rely on the decisions of others...losses to M-wood & Keystone arn't exactly going to endear Wikes to the selection committee either...and they can't plead injuries.

[wb1313]

There will be NO at-large bid...period!!  The MAC's "quality" wins are few and far between, while devestating losses are the norm.  Whatever happened to quality basketball in the Valley?? 

[naismith]

What confounds me is that they have the best player in the conference, Shovlin, yet they under utilize him.  I don't know but I think they just have the wrong personnel in the wrong positions.  The players Rickrode puts on the floor do not complement each other well.  Then he tries to overcoach and he holds these guys back.  too many substitutions, these guys can't get into the flow.    I blame  Rickrode for this too, he's got to make sure the team is ready to play, and that month long break was ridiculous. 

Kingman,

Have been awya a bit and missed all this post-holiday action.  Seems like you're a bit of a frustrated Colonel.
You seem to be placing a lot of blame at the doorstep of the finest B-ball coach that
Wilkes has ever had in its 50+ years of existence.

CS may be the Freedom's best player and he may not be. That's why
you play the game.  Regarding subs and chemistry, I didn't read any disparaging posts when Wilkes beat Kings, DeSales, Lincoln etc.  Au contraire, most of the Colonels received accolades. CS for toning down his shooting and distributing the ball.
Evan Walters for getting more offensive. Constantime for accepting his Havlicekian role and Greg Adams for his energy. Kline for his freshman savvy and David Goode for his improvement overall. And of course Gould for his swsashbuckling attitude and defensive presence.

A few non-conference losses and .......the same old "no chemistry..... too many subs....etc."
At least there are no "transfers' from DI, D-II to blame or I'm sure we would hear that complaint as well.
In your mind, who is playing out of positiion? Where should thye be playing. What players have poor chemistry? Why? If you were the Coach, what would your rotation be? And who would start and who would play together?
(these are your observations)

From my perch, I see a young guard oriented team that could use a little more 'inside' presence.  The stole a game from Kings, edged a decent DeSales team & pulled out a squeaker against an excellent Lincoln squad.

Since break, one really poor effort and two close losses.
The 'real' season starts Wed.
Let's see what happens.
On paper, this is a classic Scranton, Wilkes matchup. Hopefully, both clubs will be healthy and at full strength. The Royal wounded have been well documented in recent posts. I would think the Colonels may have had a few 'health' problems as well.

Kingman, I would be interested in more 'specific' observations regarding strengths and weaknesses you've identified.  Generic criticisms, while maybe valid, don't really offer any specific insight.

Good luck Wed. and the rest of the way.

Regards,
Naismith

[ColonelJohn4Life]

wb13, that's the smartest thing you've EVER said on this board.  Except for one small detail - there's like 16 more bids this year from 48 to 64.   Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on that one.  However, until this conference starts winning NCAA games again, we're a 1-bid conference, even with more available bids.

Naismith, the frustration is understandable.  However, all will be forgiven on Wednesday provided Wilkes can knock off an injured U of S.  As a Tar Heel fan, I know the mantra of, "I don't care if we're 2-24, as long as we beat Duke twice."  It's like that with Scranton, especially when the victor takes over sole possession of 1st place in the conference.

Does Wednesday's game rest on Shovlin's shoulders?  Will the key be Walters running amok on painted wood trampling smaller men in purple?  Or will it be a true team effort, with the difference coming from a longer bench in a quicker-paced game?

Note to the Wilkes maintenance staff: Crank up the thermostat to 80.  Scranton has a short bench - take advantage.

[Pat Coleman]

there's like 16 more bids this year from 48 to 64.

59. Check the FAQ.