MBB: MAC Freedom League

[cold_case]

Leo, Josh Kovalski is from Crestwood and can shoot. Gabriel will be a sophomore. Everyone believed he would go to King's out of high school like his brother, Landon, but opted to give it a shot at Syracuse. Can't fault him for trying.

CJ, I never said Wilkes was weak, just said they're not as good as the Jannuzzi years. Scranton is not nearly as good as the teams they once put on the floor either.
I remember an NCAA game back in the late '90's when "powerful" (and they were very good) Wilkes beat not-so-good Scranton with a pair of free throws with one second left to play. There were a few bad calls in that game but nobody said a word about it. Now you're drumming up reasons why Wilkes lost this year. Apparently the shoe is on the other foot?
I also posted before that game that the winner will get hammered in the NCAA's and they did.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

CC,
OK - fair explanation.  True, the 5 years since Jannuzzi's absence (0 MAC-F Titles) don't quite have the same magic as the "5" years with #44 (4 MAC-F Titles, Fnal Four in '98).  I'll defend these recent Colonels for having played in 2 or 3 title games over that stretch, but yeah, the numbers just don't match up.  Agreed that this Scranton team that won the Freedom couldn't stay on the floor with any of Bess's conference winners.

That agreement aside, Wilkes did have success before Jannuzzi came on the scene, with Elite 8's in 95 and 96.  1995:  25-5 (12-2), 1996 28-2 (14-0) 

28-2, and 14-0 in '96 - those are numbers no one in MAC-F has seen since and very few (if anyone) saw before.  And I bring up the margin of victory in February merely to show that success post-Jannuzzi is possible.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

The brief run Wilkes enjoyed ended when Jannuzzi graduated.

Quick side note, when did 7-10 years become brief?  What King's had last year, that 1 consecutive title they had... THAT is brief.  (F'n King's..)

[cold_case]

28-2, and 14-0 in '96 - those are numbers no one in MAC-F has seen since and very few (if anyone) saw before.  And I bring up the margin of victory in February merely to show that success post-Jannuzzi is possible.

Wilkes was the only team to post an unbeaten Freedom mark. Before the Freedom, there was the MAC Northeast and Northwest. Scranton managed to go unbeaten in the Northeast section back in their national title year of 1983, but not sure of the record.
Although Scranton remained competitive during the years you brought up, the program was deteriorating while King's just simply floundered.
It's no coincidence since both of the latter schools switched to young coaches along with other schools, there is more balance in the Freedom. 

[NEPAFAN]

Has anyone other than Lyco, Kings, Wilkes or Scranton ever won the Freedom?

[bill]

The short answer is no... however, the long answer is :
1. The MAC has only contested championships in Com./Freedom formats since 2000.
2. From 1994-1999, it was an overall champ...
3. Pre 1994, it was the North/South format....

I know that Drew, Upsala, and FDU never won, although FDU came close several times...

[Knightstalker]

The short answer is no... however, the long answer is :
1. The MAC has only contested championships in Com./Freedom formats since 2000.
2. From 1994-1999, it was an overall champ...
3. Pre 1994, it was the North/South format....

I know that Drew, Upsala, and FDU never won, although FDU came close several times...

Upsala may not have won the MAC but they did win an early D-III title.

[bill]

Knightstalker

Not trying to be a wise ass here, but when?
I'm just getting my info from the MAC history/archives part of their website, which I know could be wrong....It's certainly wrong about some  things like all-MAC choices....

I do know Upsala had some fabulous baseball teams early on, from the stories that I hear!

[Pat Coleman]

Upsala actually never won a D-III national title but was runner-up in 1980.

http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/mncaa80.htm

[Knightstalker]

I thought they did win one title.  Thats what I get for posting and not double checking.

[Warren Thompson]

Upsala actually never won a D-III national title but was runner-up in 1980.

http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/mncaa80.htm

Wasn't it several years after this that Upsala got in trouble with the NCAA? I don't remember the exact year ....

[NEPAFAN]

Okay someone give me a dissertation on the history of Upsala.

[Warren Thompson]

Okay someone give me a dissertation on the history of Upsala.

As I recall, Upsala was nailed for illegal monetary aid given to players by off-campus people. It must have been fairly serious for the NCAA to move on it.

(Those of you with more exact details, please chime in.)

[Knightstalker]

I don't know the whole history but I do know that they lost to NJCU then JCSC in football and the next year the college was defunct.

I think Upsala died from shame.

[cold_case]

Upsala closed its doors due to a severe lack of funds. They were far from a financially endowed institution.
Knowing the school was on the brink of closing, the women's basketball team picked up several Division I transfers the final year of existence and got caught shelling out $$$. Where that money came from is anyones guess, but that's "allegedly" what happened.
Their mens team never won an MAC crown but they put some great teams on the floor.
Without question, one of their best-ever teams was the 1979-80 squad led by center Steve Keenan and guard Fennell Fowlkes, whose brother Tyrone later played at Scranton.
Upsala had other excellent teams coached by Richie Adubato but could never get past Scranton and Widener when it came time for NCAA play.
Adubato later coached the Detroit Pistons and I also believe he coached the NY Liberty of the WNBA.