MBB: MAC Freedom League

[ColonelJohn4Life]

For those who have yet to figure it out, here is what we have:

Wednesday, February 21st
#4 FDU Florham @ #1 King's (8:00 pm)
#3 DeSales @ #2 Scranton (8:00 pm)

With Scranton making a move to the Landmark, it will be refreshing not hearing their opponents trotting out players from high school academic havens like Engieneering & Science, Harry S. Truman and others.

Normally I'd just shrug off inappropriate comments but this one really bothered me.  Cold Case you just summed up in one sentence the kind of person you are.  Someday you should spend some time educating yourself, you might learn something.  Thanks!!

BJ - Wow.  Nice one.  And, am I to assume that since these playoff games are scheduled for 8 PM that they're both part of guys - womens doubleheaders?

ROY race should be a layup.  Anyone who doesn't vote for Kresge shouldn't have a vote. 

Coach o' Year... I look at turnarounds.  JP took King's from a first-round exit to the #1 seed.  FDU went from laughing stock to a playoff game (at least).  Whaddya say we award Coach of the Year at Scandlon on Wednesday night?

[naismith]

Not many rookies received a lot of playing time this year except at Wilkes.
FDU, Kings, Drew, Del Val, Scranton and De Sales used mostly upperclassmen (Scranton has 2 nice Freshman prospects that saw limited action). I missed Lyco this year.
I would say ROY was a battle between Gabe and Tom K. but Kresge asserted himself late season with terrific game against Kings and another big effort in the finale vs Drew.

COY:
Pre-playoff, I understand the sentiment for FDU but this was a senior laden team that played together for 4 years. And they finished 4th seed. Kings also has a veteran team comprised mostly of juniors. When they lost Brian Horgan 2 seasons ago, their fortunes slipped a bit last year capped by a first round elimiination from the playoffs. 2007, however, Coach JP has them back on top of the Freedom. Some probably look at losses to Delval and Wilkes and wonder......however......they were 11-3 conference with 2 wins over the #2 seed Scranton and 2 wins over #4 seed (and CJ's sentimental choice) FDU.

Therefore, Sir James casts his vote for the Scranton Scandlon Flash JP Senunas (I mean Andrejko).

As to player of the year:

My first team goes:

g-Arnold-------Scranton
g-Morris - -----Lycoming
c-Bicknell-------Scranton
f-Stricker ------DeSales
f-Scalzo  ------- Kings

Second Team:
g-Dwebeng-----Kings
g-Fitzpatrick----Scranton
f- Biagoli           Scranton
f- Schmidt-------FDU
c-Rimol-----------FDU

Honorable mentions:
Pinckney-- Delaware Valley, Kresge -Wilkes, Cousart- Kings, Emslie- FDU, Lopez- Drew, Sye- Lycoming, Braswell-DeSales


Player of the Year: Bicknell noses out Arnold

[saratoga]

LoyalRoyal: You make a very good point regarding the situation a few years back when Scranton took the 2 regular season games from Kings, then lost the MAC Freedom championship to them in the 3rd. game. Remember though, that 3rd. game(playoff) was at Kings...so in this league that usually is a pretty important factor & should the Royals even get to that game...chances are very good it will once again be at Kings. That said, what would be more enjoyable than to see a Royal victory in what certainly may be a final visit to Kings unless some future NCAA playoff is held there? However, we are getting way ahead of ourselves as Scranton will once again have their hands full with Desales on Weds. evening. If they are even slightly looking ahead to a rematch with Kings...they won't be around to play again this season. The Royals MUST win on Wed's. and at least get to the finals or a promising season will have crashed with a few too many close decisions ending up on the wrong side of the ledger. Sir James: The picks look really good however, I think Isiah Pickney from DVC is a first teamer. The kid has hung in there & plays hard the whole game...great shooter, runs the floor, will try & crash the boards & has always played terrific against Scranton anyway. Congrats to all the kids that played for the love of the game, the coaches & best of luck to the 4 schools looking for one more game.

[Pat Coleman]

Cold Case, you need a new source.....

When the King's president makes a committment, he sticks to it......

King's still has the same president that committed them to the MAC umpteen years ago?

[ljk]

I like Pinckney, Stricker, Emslie, Bicknell, and Arnold on the first team, with Scalzo as 6th man.  Player of the year, Arnold and Coach of the year, JP.  Kresge gets Rookie of the year with Braswell runner up.

[BJ - DSU SID]

Yes CJ4Life they are both doubleheaders with the women.

@ King's
DeSales vs. King's (6 pm)
FDU-Florham vs. King's (8 pm)

@ Scranton
Drew vs. Scranton (6 pm)
DeSales vs. Scranton (8 pm)

[Section J Guy]

CC: I think you may have nailed the current descriptive on the Royals. Bottom line...they just don't finish the big games. Just when I think they've grown up & turned the corner, another melt-down strikes. Three of their losses they've started out horrible (Kings#2, Susq. & Cath.) & three they've faded (Kings#1, @FDU &@Desales). Until they play 40 minutes of basketball...this is the stuff that will continue to haunt them. Leo: As to when Kings will gain admission...The 1st. of NEVER.

Couldn't agree more. Now they will need back to back 40 minute games to repeat as Freedom champs.

[Leo The Lion]

CC,

I'll take Bob Z's opinion over your source any day.

As for my fearless prediction,

Coach- Pete Marion (JP did a great job, but no one predicted this FDU run)
Rookie- Kresge

1st Team- Cousart, Emslie, Schmitt, Arnold, Bicknell
2nd Team- Scalzo, Pickney, Krickzky, Stricker, Sye, Dwebeng, and Fitzpatrick
(provided they overloas the second team again)

POY- Can't decide between Emslie, Bicknell, and Cousart
I say the late returns from Jersey give it to Emslie

[cold_case]

Cold Case you just summed up in one sentence the kind of person you are.  Someday you should spend some time educating yourself, you might learn something.  Thanks!!

Yeah, I'm a honest person.
You can make it personal and insult me all you want but I'm not to blame for the future shakeup in D-III. HONESTLY, this breakup should have taken place a fews years ago.
This division stood for all that was good about college athletics and the true student/athlete, and while no school is as pure as the driven snow and may have bent a rule occassionally to get a prized player, it seems to be the constant norm at too many other schools. That's scary!
I hate reposting but perhaps you want to read this. It came from the NY Times, one of the best media outlets in the world. Their motto is "All the news that's fit to print."
I guess you'll debate this story then begin your attack on Division III college presidents that need to be educated as well.........thanks!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/sports/othersports/13ncaa.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=sports 

[loyalroyal]

Saratoga, I agree with you.  My post was in no way a slight to the players and coaches at DSU.  I always admired their class and poise in every game I've seen them in.  Not to mention their ability on the court is seemingly unstoppable at times.  So to DSU-SID or anyone else that I may have offended by looking past DSU, that was not my intention and I apologize.

Scranton will have their hands full playing DSU on Wednesday.  And while DSU does have nights where they are seemingly unstoppable, they do have nights (along with any other team) where their buckets just won't fall (see their game at FDU where they were held to a mere 26.8 field goal percentage in the game).  Whether that was because of the FDU defense, DSU's shots not falling, or both, I have no idea.  So while Scranton will have to play a 40-minute game to win, DSU will also need to have their sharp-shooters on Wednesday night, or the game could be over before it begins.

As for COY, while I am rooting for Danzig, something could be said about Scott Coval from DSU.  DSU has a better overall record than King's and is one game behind Scranton for the best overall record in the conference.  And aside from a 34 point thrashing at FDU, their biggest loss of the season after that was only nine points.  It shows that they have the ability to keep any game they're in pretty close.  And while DSU may have lost to lower ranked teams like Drew and Lyco, other teams have shows nights like that (King's losing to Wilkes and DVC for example).  I think Coach Coval and the Bulldogs had a good season, and if it doesn't go to Danzig, I think Coval is an excellent candidate for COY.

Good luck to all the teams this week in the playoffs!  GO ROYALS!

[saratoga]

LoyalRoyal, I certainly didn't take your previous post as a slight to Desales & I doubt anyone from Center Valley did either. Since 98% of the posts on this site come from Scranton, Wilkes or Kings fans...I think it's pretty safe to think many are pulling for that eventual matchup. My point was that as much as many of us would love to see that game...the kids at Desales may have other plans. Also, since the Royals are still quite young & making the same mistakes at the end of the year that hurt them early on...they better not be thinking of anything other than chasing bulldogs ALL night...not part of the night or most of the night but, for a full 40 & beyond if needed.

[BJ - DSU SID]

Loyal Royal - No offense taken.  I am sure an experienced playoff team such as Scranton is not going to take anyone lightly and look any further than its next scheduled game.  Of course in the back of my mind, I hope everyone takes us lightly and we coast to a Freedom crown ( )...but as we all know things are never that easy in this conference and whoever walks away happy on Saturday will have worked very hard for what they've earned.

Cold Case - I am not really interested in getting into a shouting match with you and my comments were not intended to be about the NY Times article and the rumor/story of a Division break-up.  I read that story the first time you posted it.  My problem and post was solely based on what I felt was an inappropriate and uncalled for verbal attack on the institution I work for and two of our men's players from the HS you mentioned in your post.  I just felt it was a comment that could have been kept to yourself.  This forum can be used for a lot of positive things and I did not feel your comments were one of them.

Good Luck to everyone this week...I am looking forward to an exciting week ahead of us.  Its a great time of year for sports fans.

[bill]

OK, so I'm not going to get much support in this room, but Pete Marion of FDU is a no-brainer for coach of the year..my case -
1. FDU was picked dead last by all of the coaches in the pre-season poll.
2. The team won only 6 games last year, and added only one new player! (a backup)
This, in my opinion, makes one coach of the year. Yes, it's difficult to stay on top in a tough league, but I'd rather try that than build a program from 6 wins any day of the week...

[susquejamma]

Somebody here asked for this last week....

[naismith]

LJK and Leo:

Let's look at the guards: (I know figures lie and liars figure...but, as Buffalo Springfield wrote...For What It's Worth:

The Guards:

Name                                   FG%     FT%    3pt%      Assists     TO's

Randy Arnold                       .461      .891    .250       112          68   

Ryan Fitzpatrick                    .474      .784    .454!     56            38

Emslie                                   .413    .839     .400      104          80

Morris                                    .413     .816     .383     45             38

Cousart                                  .452     .753      .223    111          71

Dwebeng                                .418     .813      .361    67            34

Pinckney                                  .403    .755       .302    89            109

Krickzy                                      .434    .635       .274   21             31

Maybe I would move Fitz, Kofi or Emslie up past Morris but I can't make the case for IP or Krickzy. Both had more to's than assists. Neither had great % from 3 pt range and Krickzy had low FT % as well.   
I think Kofi had a better season than Cousart. He hit bigger shots and, imho, played better in the bigger games (i.e Scranton).
Add to that an almost 2-1 assist to turnover and he looks very strong.
Just some food for thought.
 
By the way, these are season box score stats from team websites.  Not all posted conference stats. Someone else might be able to deliver those.


Naismith