MBB: MAC Freedom League

[ljk]

Col. or Naismith:  Do you know the worst record that Coach JR  has ever had for a season at Wilkes?

[saratoga]

Naismith: My God, don't hold back...call it like you see it. Wow, the most scathing critque on Coach Danzig since his arrival. In a way I hear what you're saying regarding Scranton's pressure D...or lack thereof...but, I'm pretty sure early on they were trying to apply it but... Kings was getting the ball upcourt pretty quickly & they were raining in from the wings especially. Personally, after the alley-oop slam I thought the momentum swing would be there to last...however, the swiss cheese defense allowed at least two too many uncontested layups. Also, should you miss 9 free-throws AT HOME like the Royals & you lose by 3...another aspect of the game within the game one can point to. OK, we now have "Scathing Critque No.1"...The Bad Game Plan by Coach Danzig, so when does your Scathing Critque No.II come out...Wilkes Univ...Jerry's Follies or Le Miserables 2007? I mean dead last in the MAC Freedom...some young kids granted but... people were on their band-wagon early on when they were winning a few, right? I know some Wilkes fans were really upbeat about the new kids...and they should be, however, let's not forget the young kids Scranton played last year as freshmen & still won with...Ryan FitzPatrick, Paul Biagioli, Brenden Fuller, Paul Hawk & Eli Londo...now they are just soph's & are having great years. So what's the problem at Wilkes, lack of true talent or bad game plans night after night? By the way, I think on any given night in this league regardless of your record any team can knock off any team. That's because there is no single dominate team that wins all the games they should & quite a few they shouldn't...like on the road game after game. For a reference...please refer to a far superior Desales team losing to Drew last evening in Madison. A great win for a group of kids & a coaching staff that get just about everything they can out of playing their game each game against usually better talent. By the way, where has wb1313 been lately...I don't think I've heard from him since Wilburt showed up.

[Section J Guy]

Question: How many conference losses will the winner of the Mac have? 2, 3? 4?

[naismith]

LJK,

I think this will be Rickrode's 'worst hour'.

Saratoga,

I'm not really down on Danzig at all.
He has put together some talented players. He has a nice record overall.
I think this might be his best team overall and certainly has a chance to win some NCAA games (if they get there of course).

Having seen many Kings games (more than Scranton) and having seen this particular Monarch squad for 3 years, I am amazed that he allowed Kings to dictate tempo etc.

I think you have Kings backwards. They play best when the opponents do not pressure the ball and sit back is some type of zone or passive half court set.  In that type of game, Kings 'bigs' work for low post position and draw fouls, score or kick out to open shooters. Kings also likes their 'bigs' to set screens that allow Cousart to drive to the basket.

Kings doesn't run all that much. Cousart often just slowly walks the ball up the court calling set plays. Like most teams, they run if the opportunity presents itself and not by design.   

Scranton is a quicker team and a faster team. Scranton can put  some defense on the floor (RA, JP etc.)......Why not pressure the ball, create the turnover etc.

Maybe he is saving it for the playoffs??

Now as to JR. 
Wilkes started 9-2 losing only to a Clarkson team they easily should have beaten imho . (I was there) and Del Val which, at the time, was a major Freedom upset.
Of course, Colonel fans looked at who replaced the 5 or 6 graduate seniors (Mike C, John S, Greg C, Evan W etc.)  and non returnees David Goode (check him out at Chestnut Hill) and CS.

The Colonel faithful liked what they saw.

Tom Kresge looked like the 'real deal'. Matt Gould was playing with determination. Kable's marksmanship was never better. Steve Kline seemed cured of his freshman jitters and exhibited great finesse in the low post. Dan Adams played with energy and intensity. Off the bench, Gabe was a force inside and effortlessly scored. John Kelly had speed and demonstrated a knack for hitting the timely shot. Gulla looked like a savvy veteran handling the ball and managed to penetrate the lane on a consistent basis.

What was not to like at 9-2 heading into the meat of the schedule after ringing up the century mark on Marywood???

It just has not happened.
I do not think that Coach JR has been able to pinpoint any one breakdwon. It just seems to be the inability to make plays, set up teammates and execute.
I have no doubt the Wilkes coaching staff has scoured game tape after game tape trying to put something together to right the ship.

JR has tried a number of defenses.  Man to man, zone presses, man presses, various zones .....
In every loss, as a spectator, you can slmost always see the breakdowns. And the breakdowns come in all varities......Most just come down to simply being outplayed.

But defense has not been the primary problem.

Offensively, the team just does not click. Whether they try to expolit the packed down zones with permeter shooting or work  inside out ---the chemistry just isn't there nor is the execution.

I really cannot say that Wilkes is being outcoached or the game plans are poor.
Truth is, they are just plain getting beat.

Hope that sets the record straight.


Naismith

[naismith]

cc,

checked my e-mail...nothing from u.   my e-mail may have changed since we last corresponded direct.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Col. or Naismith:  Do you know the worst record that Coach JR  has ever had for a season at Wilkes?

Off the top of my head:
1992-93, 1st season, Wilkes was around 16-9.
1999-2000, Wilkes ended up like 4th in the Freedom and lost a brutal playoff game at Albright.
2002-03, Wilkes missed the playoffs completely
2003-04, Wilkes was a 4 seed, but still found a way to win at DeSales (4 over 1).
2004-05, Again, a 4 seed, 1st round exit

I don't have actual stats in front me, but I doubt any of those teams played .500 ball, and I know none of them were 1-9 in conference.

But don't lose sight of this stat.  Since JR took over in 1992-93:
MAC-F / MAC North Champions:
6 - Wilkes (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 01)
5 - Scranton (94, 00, 03, 06)
2 - King's (93, 05)
2 - Lycoming (02, 04)

[ljk]

Found some stats on Coach JR.of Wilkes:  Most losses:   In 01-02,  they were 15-11.  In 04-05,  they were 15-10.  In 05-06,  they were 14-10,  and 3 different seasons with 9 losses,  including his first season 16-9 (not bad Col.,  off the top of your head).   They are sitting at 9-9 now,  with 5 more games,  so history could be  in the making.  Another interesting item is Wilkes record at home,  at the Marts Center , under JR is 161-30 (.843),  prior to this season. 

[naismith]

CJ,

Trying to get this song released...maybe you could audition for American Idol with it!!  Or maybe NEPA IDOL.....

with apologies to Bob Dylan, Pat Garret and Billy the Kid: 'Knockin on Heaven's Door'

"Shootin the Air Ball" (or the Colonel Offensive Fight Song)

"mama take this ball off of me
I can't shoot it anymore
the baskets small too small for me to see
Feels like I'm shootin another air ball..."

shoot shoot shootin another air ball
shoot shoot shootin another air ball

Mama pass my shots around
I can't shoot them anymore
That long loud clank soon will sound
I feel like shootin another air ball-

Shoot shoot shootin another air ball
Shoot shoot shootin another air ball

Naismith

[NEPAFAN]

Col. or Naismith:  Do you know the worst record that Coach JR  has ever had for a season at Wilkes?

Off the top of my head:
1992-93, 1st season, Wilkes was around 16-9.
1999-2000, Wilkes ended up like 4th in the Freedom and lost a brutal playoff game at Albright.
2002-03, Wilkes missed the playoffs completely
2003-04, Wilkes was a 4 seed, but still found a way to win at DeSales (4 over 1).
2004-05, Again, a 4 seed, 1st round exit

I don't have actual stats in front me, but I doubt any of those teams played .500 ball, and I know none of them were 1-9 in conference.

But don't lose sight of this stat.  Since JR took over in 1992-93:
MAC-F / MAC North Champions:
6 - Wilkes (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 01)
5 - Scranton (94, 00, 03, 06)
2 - King's (93, 05)
2 - Lycoming (02, 04)

What have you done for me lately? The team with the longest drought? Wilkes.

[naismith]

For u stat guys,

In the Freedom, who has qualified for the playoffs the most over the past 15 years?
The least?

Naismith

[Leo The Lion]

Nais,

I'm guessing the answer is Wilkes, 14 or 13 appearances in that 15 year span?

[ljk]

Another interesting item from the Wilkes record books:  Most FG made in a game, 18,  by Bo Ryan vs Susquehanna in 1969. 

[ljk]

The same Bo Ryan, Coach of #2 Wisconsin.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

For u stat guys,

In the Freedom, who has qualified for the playoffs the most over the past 15 years?
The least?

Naismith

Naismith, I'd be stunned if that answer wasn't Scranton.  Remember when Wilkes was at their peak ('98?), Scranton was the big game and always in 2nd.

NEPAFan, to your crack about a drought, allow me to mention DeSales who is 0-for-11 seasons and FDU / Drew / Del Val who are 0-for-a lot longer.  All told, I can settle for having seen 2 of the last 3 title games.

LJK - great stat about Bo Ryan.  Didn't know that one.  And the reason that 16-9 number stuck out - Dave Macedo had the same record in his first year at VA Wesleyan. 

That 11 losses in a season record is in deep trouble.  Still gotta play King's, Scranton, and the powerhouses from Florham.  Aye.  9 1/2 months until mid-November.

[bill]

Colonel
Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but FDU did qualify for the playoffs in both 97-98 and 98-99....
If it's championships, well...