MBB: MAC Freedom League

[hoopzwiz]

Apparently Steve Bennett(the reporter) never had an 'illegal' drink.  I bet he never played a second of collegiate basketball either so why is he qualified to right about drinking or basketball?  He should right an article about talentless people who find meaningless jobs and in an effort to bring purpose to their pathetic lives attempt to tear down Student-Athletes that are just being typical Student-Athletes.

[gordonmann]

I bet he never played a second of collegiate basketball either so why is he qualified to right about drinking or basketball?

I've met Steve before and talked to him.  I've found him pretty knowledgable about the local teams.

I have no idea if he's played ball before.  But I do know that lots of very good journalists never played the sport they cover.  And some excellent athletes don't make good journalists.

You don't have to be an athlete to write about it effectively.  Playing experience adds a valuable perspective, but there are lots of other important skills that make good journalists.  Like being able to tell the difference between "write" and "right."

As for the article, I didn't really read it so I can't comment on it.  But I suspect the decision to cover the topic wasn't entirely his own.

[hoopzwiz]

Good pickup on my error - "right" vs. "write"
It's just amazing to me that a college kid caught drinking is the biggest news out there. 

[cold_case]

Good pickup on my error - "right" vs. "write"
It's just amazing to me that a college kid caught drinking is the biggest news out there. 

When your boss tells you to do a job are you going to tell him to take a walk? I'd say you'd do what he wants you to do, write?

[Leo The Lion]

Agreed with CC

The writer of the article is very knowledgable about local sports, he just carried out the assignment given to him.  That's why in my joke post about Kerry Collins I mentioned the Citizen's Voice and not the writer.

It is true you don't need to have played the game to know it.  That's like saying history teachers don't know history because they didn't fight in the Civil War.

-Leo

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Leo, right on with the history teachers / Civil War take.  Couldn't agree more.  Now, I'm just trying to figure out why guys who weren't athletes and shouldn't be journalists (ex. Stephen A. Smith) still have jobs to this day.  And, in other news begrudgingly, Wilkes doesn't have a med school.  Otherwise, I might have double-majored and set the record for semesters at one institution.  Last I checked, I'm on the leaderboard with my 15 semesters as an undergrad /postgrad Colonel.

BZ - I never claimed not to have had an "illegal" drink.  When Wilkes was storming through the '01 season, I wasn't yet "of age", but there were still some good times had.  For the record, I never set foot in Senunas's until I was 21, though.   As far as the casting stones thing, though, you got me.

Coach C - When "Tom" Collins was dominating at Penn State, I was 14 and still thought Jack Daniels was a middle infielder for the Reds. (Go ahead... think about it... how old were ya?)  By the time I'd be able to buy him a round, he was back on the wagon.  Allegedly.

As a side note to this drama, King's beats Scranton.  Who was there?  What happened?

[Leo The Lion]

The hostile Scandlon crowd last night got to watch a thriller on North Main Street.  A physical, low-scoring first half turned into a second half full of runs.  King's shot out to a fourteen point lead, but just like the Wilkes game in December their offense was shut down in the last ten minutes of regulation recording only one or two FGs in that span.  In OT Scranton took the early lead, but King's offensed awakened, led by Scalzo and Soboleski. 

Here's my takes on the game.
The Rivalry- The King's/Scranton rivalry is great, almost as good as King's/Wilkes.  When I was in school, King's student body hated Scranton probably more than Wilkes.  I'm assuming that's still the feeling today, but throw in the fact that one of Scranton's greates players coaches King's and that their greatest coach of all time is spotted frequently at Monarch games only takes the rivalry up a few notches.

FT Shooting- Last night was not a banner night from the charity stripe for both teams.  I may be nitpicking, but both teams missed key FTs that would have won it in regulation.  Arnold missed a front end, Scalzo and Cousart started the game 0-3, and Soboleski missed two key ones down the stretch.  And Mike Kreuter from Scranton, he probably set the art of Free Throw Shooting back a half-century last night.

The Aftermath-  I know the Scranton folks will proably say that King's is not a good team because they barely got by an injured Scranton team.  Well, despite their injuries Scranton is still very talented.  Also, when ever King's/Wilkes/Scranton play one another, it is ALWAYS a battle.  In games like this you don't care how you win or who you beat, only that you do win.  That said the Monarchs got a nice victory heading into a very tough matchup at DeSales on Saturday.

[Coach C]

CJ4L -

Well I guess i was older.  I was acquainted with Jack at the time!

C

[naismith]

Leo,

Very nice win for the Monarchs.
After giving back a 14 point lead with 6 minutes to go, they remain composed and prevailed.

Ran their offense well in the OT getting the ball to VS whose basketball instincts and inside scoring is first rate.

I only saw the OT as I stopped by after watching some Pribbleball at the Marts Center.

Which was another story.
Took in only the 2nd half (thinks Wilkes led by 7 or 8 at the half).
Then, they go Pribblized (def. of Pribble:  A shooting machine with range to 35 feet.  Pribble machines hit nothing but net from any distance. Guaranteed never to miss. If a Pribble machine misfires, simply call T.O.,  add some Gatorade and towel off. Should be good to go for another 20 minutes.) .

Pribble went for 40 of Lycos's 80 plus. They built a double digit lead with abut 3 minutes to go. Wilkes made a short run cutting it to 4 until the Pribble machine went for another trifecta.
Overall, it was one of those games and Wilkes was helpless to stop him.
Colonels:

Fronted and Grunted
Zoned and Moaned
Another swish...
A perfect dish



Simply outhustled
Somewhat outmuscled
Lots of frustration
Little creation

Interesting 2nd half highlights and observations:

Lycoming played very nice floor game. Made some nice entry passes into the post that created some easy scores. Did a decent job on the glass. #14 did a decent job on Shovlin (10 pts.) although I thought Wilkes was able to get some decent looks especially inside.  (maybe by design to shut down the 3 pt. game of Wilkes as Constantine continues to shoot lights out and Kable made a few to boot).

For Wilkes, thought Frosh Kline displayed some nice inside moves. Walters sat a critical 5 plus 2nd half minutes with his third foul early 2nd half.  Shovlin seemed visibly frustrated and Coach sat him the final five minutes (even with deficit cut to 4 with 1:30 to go).  hmmm.
Matt G. had another frustrating night. He, too seemed a bit on edge.

One final thing. I say this because from my seat this all transpired right next to me.
One official, who was under the Lyco basket  and near their bench was joking with the Lyco players during the game as if her were a bench coach or avid fan. He even high fived one of their players during the game. Then, with about a minute to go, he shared a few laughs with the Coach and shook hands and patted a few backs along the bench.
All while there was still time on the clock.

Tell me fellows, is this normal behavior by officials?  

[upton]

I too took in the Scranton/Kings game last night.  Despite my opinion that Scranton is more talented, Kings out-hustled and at crucial times, out-coached Scranton.  I think both teams have very good coaches, but Carl made some questionable choices late.  Also, Scranton players can't sleep through a good portion of the 2nd halves any more and expect to turn it on when needed.  Obviously by the last two games, it doesn't always work.  Should be a great finish to the season with many possibilities for playoff positions still out there.

[mattie]

All I could say about last night is Johnathan Freakin Pribble.  What a performance from a kid who was pretty much shut down for the first half.  It was a tale of two halfs, with Constantine shooting the ligths out in the first half as the Colonels built a double digit lead ony to have Pribble turn the tables going 8 for 9 from deep in the 2nd half, including one from about 30 feet.
Pribble may quietly be the MVP of the Freedom League this season.  Wilkes threw about five different looks at him and he still came off screens ala Richard Hamilton.  More importantly Pribble put the Warriors back into the thick of the Freedom League playoff hunt. 
Pribble's performance rivaled Brian Horgan's effort last season at the Martz Center.  Simply sensational and a pleasure to watch.
Right now, if you want to argue 1st team MAC Freedom, you have four outstanding guards (Arnold, Pribble, Cousart and Constantine) battling for two spots unless they vote in four guards, which I would have no complaint about.  I know I am leaving out someone from DeSales so please bear with me.

[naismith]

Mattie,

Pribble plays more of a 3 than a 2.
He is listed as a forward:
http://www.lycoming.edu/sports/mbball/2005-06%20roster.htm

Constantine is introduced at every game as a forward although he listed as a guard on the 2005 roster.  Initially, Wilkes played Kline, Walters, Goode/Cardamone along with Gould and Shovlin. They have since settled on Cardamone and Walters as the 4 and 5. Mike C. plays the 3 with Gould at point and Shovlin at the 2.  Where they play defensively depends on matchups.

Mike has been having  a great year and certainly has hit some clutch shots.
My feeling is that Shovlin is the better overall player based upon his passing , rebounding, penetration and shot creation off the dribble plus his defensive ability.

As for your picks, Arnold is cetainly there. Cousart has been having a terrific year but I still see him a very small notch below the others.
Pribble is the probable player of the year at forward. I like Scalzo of Kings at the other forward thus far. (If I could pick one player from the King's roster for my team, Vince is it.) Shovlin is my 2nd guard to pair up with Arnold. Not sure about the top center.

The player to watch is Lopez of Drew. He has been impressive.

Naismith

[Section J Guy]

I too took in the Scranton/Kings game last night.  Despite my opinion that Scranton is more talented, Kings out-hustled and at crucial times, out-coached Scranton.  I think both teams have very good coaches, but Carl made some questionable choices late.  Also, Scranton players can't sleep through a good portion of the 2nd halves any more and expect to turn it on when needed.  Obviously by the last two games, it doesn't always work.  Should be a great finish to the season with many possibilities for playoff positions still out there.

-I think the Scranton locker room has the first outbreak of Bird Flu in the US. They are down to ten players I believe.

-Upton what issues did you have with the coaching?

-Nice to see that Kings disciplines players when they get in trouble with the law.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

With the events of Wednesday (for those too lazy to look):

Wilkes 7-2
King's 7-2
Scranton 6-3
DeSales 5-4
Lycoming 5-4

Should it concern me that Wilkes just lost at home to teams that are 4th and 5th in the conference?  (See also, lost to a team that won't make MAC-F playoffs)

Pribble went off for 40?  Yikes.  A Tom Wesner-ish 40 for Lycoming at the Marts Center.  How have teams been able to shut this guy down in the past? 

Naismith - should this be common practice for MAC officials? No.  Is it?  Begrudgingly, probably, yeah.  Have I seen games where I have left convinced that an official's alma mater /bank account was involved?  Absolutely. (Both for and against Wilkes, for the record.)

Circle the date February 14th now, team.  Wilkes at King's.

[rollingthunda]

Section J:

I agree that King's not manning up and sitting those players is garbage.  Teams have rules about these types of situations and they should stick with them no matter the situation.  And if anyone can look me in the eye and say King's doesnt have a rule that suspends players caught for underage drinking in season thats a lie.  And if its not...Kings is an unclassy program.