MBB: MAC Freedom League

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Pat,

I had a sneaking suspicion I was wrong.  I was just WAY too lazy to look up the truth. 

59 teams, eh?  I can see the overall #4 team in the country now complaining about not getting one of those tasty first-round byes.  "We're #4! How could the selection committee force us to play another game, yet give [token lucky draw] a bye!"

[sleeprcell]

Keystone looks like a really good basketball team with a top notch d3 pg, a versatile 3 man whol plays like a 3/4 and a center that was better than walters.  Surrounded by players with athletic ability and some shooting, they outtoughed Wilkes at their own game.

[bziadie]

C.J.:

You forgot to mention Susquehanna's recent 67-62 win over a respected Catholic University (9-3) program, which owns a 72-63 win over Scranton before all the Royals' injuries and illnesses.  Having seen King's beat Susquehanna badly the first time the teams played in December, then watching the two teams play again at Wilkes the other day, Susquehanna looks like a different team, a much improved team.  And I am not saying that to try and make King's look good.

They have changed their lineup since playing in the King's tourney December 20-21. Since then they have a win over Catholic, a loss to D-I Navy, a close loss to King's and close win over Wilkes.  I didn't stay to watch their game against Wilkes, but they played their tails off against King's and gave a tremendous effort, diving for loss balls, much improved ball movement with quicker passes, etc.  If they keep playing like that they could surprise some people this semester who are judging them by their current record (4-9).

[cold_case]

Injuries keep mounting for Scranton. The Royals lost center Mike Kreuter and PG Mike Riccobono, leaving the team with nine players.
Was that Bob Ziadie's black cat walking through the Long Center recently?

[bziadie]

C.J.:

Do I always have to come on here to educate you......

You, as well as others I am sure, are a bit uninformed about Keystone since they are new to the D-3 ranks and very few people have seen them play or have followed their program.

Keystone was a very successful junior college program that has made several trips to the NJCAA national tournament.  In fact, in Andrejko's first season at King's, Keystone whipped King's in a pre-season scrimmage at King's.

Keystone is 7-4 right now and has a very nice 75-60 win over Christopher-Newport to its credit.  The new North East Athletic Conference they are in is kind of weak but Keystone has had a quality program for a long time.

They were 24-4 and won the NEAC last year.

Keystones four losses are to as follows:
85-82 to D-II Mansfield
103-89 to Bethany, WV (10-4)
Marymount (58-48)
King's (71-62), and Keystone led most of the game

They are quick, athletic, play a tough pressing defense. They shot the ball really well from three-point range over the weekend. They are no joke.  I expected them to be more of a one-on-one team but they played together as a team. Don't be surprised to see them knock off any of the local teams in future years....

One person at the Wilkes-Barre Challenge described them as Lincoln with a system.

[sleeprcell]

Keystone has a number of pieces.....  I felt they were a true shooting guard and a PF away from being a top 25 team.  Allen, Stone, and Brown are all the most you could hope for at the D3 level. 

They also compete virtually every possesion.  Was not there the last day, but I don't see how they lost to King's... I thought they would whooop em...

Probably lot of 1/2 court game.  They also celebrated often vs. Wilkes as they were getting homered.  I would not be suprised if the zebras had something to do with their loss.

[kingjames]

Keystone ain't 30 points better than Wilkes.  Even though the score ended up to be a 13 point deficit, it was 30 when "the Rick" cleared his bench with about 10 min to go.  The game was a complete humiliation for the Colonels.     Losses like this can affect a program not just this season.  I see the Scranton game as a MUST WIN.  "the Rick" sold his soul to get Shovlin, now he has to cut the boy loose.  He's the player you build a team around.  Here's my lineup:  Shovlin at the point with the ball in his hands.  I'm going to compute tonight how many times he brings the ball up the floor and the team scoring percentage by those possesions.  He not only scores but he get the ball to his teammates in positions they SHOULD score from.  See how many quality opportunities he creates as opposed to Gouldie bringing it up.  I want to see Consididine and/or Kline at the 2 spot and a steady diet of that four man combo up front, Evan, Greg, Goode, and Adams.  I like my little pizan, the Brooklyn Bambino Sclafani to spell Shovlin when necessary.  Other than that, if the Colonels want that extended season in March, I don't see them as a team that's more than 8 deep, sorry.

[saratoga]

Not to make any excuses...but, if Wilkes can't end a 3 game slide at home with Scranton down 3 starters & the top gun off the bench out as well, then they can send the uniforms out to the laundry & open the Wilkes gym to intramurals. I see Wilkes putting double-teams on Randy Arnold to make him use as much energy as possible just trying to get the ball over the time line let alone set up the Royals second team for offensive sets. When Wilkes takes off the double-team & traps, I'm sure Gould will be all over him. He'll expend too much energy on the offensive end to be able to stay with Shovlin, so I see Alfier trying to guard him. Scranton is also down their 2nd. post player so they can not afford to bang underneath all night now & force Wilkes outside. Overall, Wilkes has all their starters & rotation in place...Scranton isn't even close. Wilkes has far too much quickness & outside presence for the Royals to stop on multiple trips...I can see this being a typical Wilkes blowout early with the Royals playing a little tougher in the 2nd. half, doing their best to keep it respectable. You simply can not play without 3 starters & the first two guys off the bench against a good team on the road & win. Coach Danzig & staff will have the kids ready & prepared for Wilkes as much as they can...what you can't prepare for is the absense of 5 of the first 7 players.  Bombs away from Wilkes & if they're falling...it will be a long night. Scranton has no backcourt help for Arnold so I see wave after wave of pressure coming his way, which causes turnovers & rushed shots & poor shot selection. The Royals need to protect the ball, slow the game down, spread it out & pray they hit their shots & make Wilkes try to rush things coming back down. In all reality it looks like Wilkes:74/Scranton:61. Should the Royals pull this one out, some Wilkes players may soon be on milk cartons.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Bob,
You're on a short list of people who are encouraged to straighten me out when I'm wrong.  I'm a D3 fan, and an out-of-the-loop fan, at this point.  This is your job.  Thank you for keeping me on point. 

All others,
Note that Bob didn't say a GD word before King's 5-game winning streak. 

The one thing that I gleaned from Wilkes starting the season 6-1 was that wins were coming in close games, and Wilkes in past seasons would find ways to give up close games.  Making free throws, hitting big shots in the final seconds, little things that add up.  Then, Wilkes goes and loses an OT game to Suquehanna.  Aaaiiiyyyeee!!

Here's to hoping Wilkes can pull one out in a rivalry game, at home, against an injured Scranton.  Any updates from up north as to who's hurt and who's not??

[Coach C]

At large bid??  ATLARGEBID?

Doing my best Jim Mora impersonation here.

No at large bid is going to any team that loses to Chestnut Hill.

C

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Saratoga,
For you to predict a Wilkes victory, the injuries MUST be serious.  5 of the top 7 on the depth chart?  Yikes. 
Thanks for the info... if you find me at the game tonight, a legendary ColonelDog is on me. (Additional surcharges may apply for toppings.)

Coach C,
Agreed.  When Baptist Bible may have a stronger resume than you, you're not getting an at-large bid.  Period.

[cold_case]

Scranton injury report:
F Darren Cannon, F Patrick Clabby, G Ryan FitzPatrick are out.
C Mike Kreuter, G Mike Riccobono are doubtful.
Mike McGowan is done for the season.

According to Danzig, he's down to nine player but expects all of them to be back in the next two weeks.

Coach C, the only team that can lose to Chestnut Hill and still get in is Catholic and possibly LV. Get it?

[kingjames]

Let me get this off my chest.  Who's running this site?  Why can't users start a new thread so we don't have to dig through 16 pages of posts?

there.


Was at the Wilkes v. Scranton match last night.  Wilkes looked great to start and had some nice stretched throughout the game.  But if the Royals lineup was a decimated as I've heard then either they are a top 5 team or Wilkes is the great pretender.  If anyone else noticed the colonels on offense are extremely effective when Shovlin brings the ball up especially when they push to get up the floor.   Now "the Rick" needs to let shoot the deep 3.  He's as good a shooterfrom beyond the NBA arc as he is from 19 feet.  That will stretch the defense just a little more and give the big guys some more room in the paint. 

Sclafani's injury looked bad.  I'm no doctor but I'd have to guess and say bad high ankle sprian, and I'm being optimistic.  I'd be suprised if he could come back this season.  Hate to see that happen to a senior who puts as much heart into it as he does.  It's also betyond that 8 game injury rule the NCAA has to get an extra year of eligibility.

[saratoga]

A loss is a loss is a loss...that said, the Royals played their hearts out last night & gave Wilkes all they could handle. This game was not decided until the last 1:15 when the Royals turned the ball over only down 2 & then Constantine hit his only 3 of the night(unofficial). Scranton went from a chance to either tie or take the lead to down 5 in a span of 10 seconds...after that it was free-throw time. Shovlin was Shovlin, when he's open he'll nail them, but for the most part he worked for his shots & certainly didn't dominate the game. I'd love to see the refs call him for his push offs when he's trying to generate space for his drop back...must have "studied" Jason Fisher tapes. Scranton did all they could with a decimated lineup...3 starters & the first shooter & first big off the bench in street clothes...great effort by the kids & coaching staff at Scranton. Far more Royal fans @ Wilkes than Colonel fans...I guess the fear of 4 straight losses & Coach R. going postal was a little too much for the Wilkes faithful. A very young bunch of kids at Scranton are growing up in a hurry & that's a good thing.

[Coach C]

cold_case -

I can't say I get it.

C