MBB: MAC Freedom League

[NEPAFAN]

Isn't there a poster, goes by the name Bill, or Phil? Fdu fan? Love to hear his take on a 11-4 FDU squad.

[Warren Thompson]

Isn't there a poster, goes by the name Bill, or Phil? Fdu fan? Love to hear his take on a 11-4 FDU squad.

The poster from FDU is Bill. Phil, now residing in the Houston area, is an NJAC/TCNJ fan.

[bill]

Nepa

I guess the poster you're referring to is me...
As an employee of FDU, and the basketball team's (among others) strength coach, I'm certainly biased towards our guys. My take? I'm not a basketball expert (I'd like to think I'm a football expert, but that's another post
However, this team has been busting its rear ends since late last year. It's virtually the exact same team as last year; there were no new players added to the team other than a walk-on. Why the change so far? I'd like to think they're out-hustling people, and are stronger/better conditioned than most other teams;perhaps there's more parity this year, perhaps other teams are looking past FDU until now. Maybe it's that Coach Marion needed this much time for the team to become comfortable with a "new" system. We've had some big wins at home; tonight at Del Val will be big for us (but then what game isn't?)
If the team continues to play well and work hard, we'd like to be in the mix at the end!

[ColonelJohn4Life]

And FDU racks up another one, 71-69 at DelVal.  4-1.  No offense, Bill, but I'll say this now because I may never get the opportunity:

FDU is now in sole possession of first place.

Congrats, fellas.  Magic number is 8 to clinch a playoff spot.

[NEPAFAN]

Wilkes plays at the John Long Center for possibly the last time EVER and we are talking about FDU....who wouda thunk?

[cold_case]

Wilkes plays at the John Long Center for possibly the last time EVER and we are talking about FDU....who wouda thunk?

It will be the last time Wilkes comes to Scranton!

[bill]

No offense taken. This is a tough league; we'll take it whenever we can get it!

[saratoga]

CC: After the way Scranton totally dominated Wilkes from start to finish in every phase of the game...barring any meeting in the post-season, I bet you're right...Wilkes will be in no hurry to head back to the Long Center. They, (Wilkes) had their moments...but it seemed like their backcourt was more interested in playing street-ball as opposed to running an offense. Randy Arnold & Tom Bicknell played excellent all-around games. Bicknell was 3 rbs. shy of a 20/20...not a bad night.

[cold_case]

Toga,
I caught some of the game on the radio, at least when the guy doing the commentary would allow the play-by-play man to call the game. When I heard Scranton was up by around 30 points, I shut it off.
30 points? Ouch.
I guess the officiating had something to do with that.

[naismith]

CJ,

Better prescribe some alzheimers drug to yourself or head to a Vision Center for some Lasik surgery...

Per your 'questionable' call.....The shooter was not fouled. The foul was called off the ball and the ft's were shot by a different player. The foul occurred as they fought for rebounding position somewhere near half court...lol.  At least, that is how I remember it......

As far as the Colonels, tonight was a good a thrashing as one can expect when:

1) your opponents handle the ball better
2) your opponents are quicker
3) your opponents are more aggressive
4) your opponents are superior shooters
5) your opponents are tougher
6) your ooponents are better rebounders

Congrats all around to the Royals. RA is certainly a pleasure to watch. He is constantly in motion ala John Havlicek....has a real motor and tremendous focus. Surrounded by some talented underclassmen (Fitzpatrick, #34 Biagelo....etc....some flashy freshman guard) and the result is: The Freedom team to beat .
I have yet to see the Jersey teams, but the Royals are going to be very very tough.  They are quick, long, tall and can shoot.

Meanwhile,
The Colonels look a 'lost batallion' on offense.
Their shooting is horrific.
There is precious little movement.....
They are not executing against packed down zones as the ball rotation is not quick enough to free shooters who can't seem to find spaces. The zones are preventing some of the 'inside' post-ups that were very effective early this season.




Can't put my finger on it......really can't.....Still have faith the 'talent' level is there.....
This team needs to regain some confidence and Sat. would be a good time to start....

Naismith

[ColonelJohn4Life]

I was listening to the coverage from 99.5 WUSR online.  Good broadcast, bad result.  I turned it off at 54-29.  Apparently, it didn't get any better.

Show of hands:
Who thought that Wilkes would be 3 games out of the final playoff spot... 5 games in? 

All 4 conference losses have been in double-figures, including blowout losses on the homecourts of the two rivals.  Despite all that, a loss to Delaware Valley, DVC's only conference win, seems to be the worst loss.  Yikes.  And after playing our last game at Scranton, Wilkes gets to play our last game ever at Drew. (God willing...)

Interesting tidbit.  Scranton's men scored as many points (70) as the Wilkes men and women combined (47+23).  If you talked to Cold Case's bookie, and had the Wilkes men / women combo getting 62.5... you lost!  But hey, I'm not gonna knock the ladies.  At least they're one win away (at Drew, Saturday) from the 4th seed in the conference.

There are days it's good to be ColonelJohn.  This ain't one of 'em.

[NEPAFAN]

To add to what has been said:


Wilkes Fans: Your team is young and expectations had to be low....even more so after the loss of Chris Shovlin.


Randy Arnold had a great game and probably doesn't get enough credit. Ditto for the Aussie. Royals need to keep up the intensity for every game, they are not that good that they can afford to slack off. I listened as well over the internet, and am glad the school has continued the broadcasts. They raised the question: When was the last time Scranton won by such a margin over a Wilkes team?


Kings still scares me...........and Desales beats Drew in OT?

[ColonelJohn4Life]

They raised the question: When was the last time Scranton won by such a margin over a Wilkes team?

I can't remember a loss like this happening since Rickrode was hired in the summer of '92.  My only thought - in 2002, I think, Scranton came to the Marts Center and beat Wilkes pretty badly.  But again, not sure it was "23 points bad".  We may have to go back to JP's Scranton beating a perennial 2-12 Wilkes.

[NEPAFAN]

I can't remember a loss like this happening since Rickrode was hired in the summer of '92.  My only thought - in 2002, I think, Scranton came to the Marts Center and beat Wilkes pretty badly.  But again, not sure it was "23 points bad".  We may have to go back to JP's Scranton beating a perennial 2-12 Wilkes.

Scranton beat Wilkes by 21 in 1992-1993.

[naismith]

NEPA,

You are being to kind to Colonel loyalists.

Scranton is , by far, the best team I have seen this year. Having seen a number of Monarch games (and with full apologies to Leo), I am predicting 1 final Freedom banner for the rafters at the Long Center.

Randy gets tons of credit form this corner at least.  I have been a staunch supporter of RA since I first saw him as a freshman. To me, the top PG in the conference.

And the
aussie aussie ausssie---well, he plays like a Man....very very tough.

As to Wilkes, yes, they do miss CS. Despite his 'erratacisms', he had some real talent --- such as quickness and the ability to create his own shot. He could break down almost any defender off the dribble. His passing a bit underrated as assist totals are ultimately based on the recepients ability to finish...

But that was then and this is now......
They are young and need an identity.....As I said, I just don't have a feel for what is needed....but at this point....they are just plain old getting beat.

The Drew/FDU tilts will tell us whether they can muster a 2nd half playoff run.

Naismith