MBB: MAC Freedom League

[ColonelJohn4Life]

King's beat Manhattanville by 29??  Wow.  King's seems to be peaking at the right time.  Think JP's got the horses to make it 2 out of 3?

King's and Wilkes both beat Manhattanville by 25+ at home, and lost on the road.  My follow-up question is this:  Is Manhattanville that good at home, or that bad on the road??  If they host a 2-3 game, it looks good for Manhattanville.

DSU SID, first off, love the matrix.  Well done.  Anyway, got a question for ya.  How many seasons has DeSales had a home playoff game?  I remember a couple, most notably that doubleheader night in '04.  DeSales, to say the very least, is due to cut down a net.

That said, you honestly think I'd post all that up... and believe any of it?  Why?  Wilkes has the Wizard of Wilkes-Barre, and no one else does.  Wilkes faithful, fear not at the Arcadia loss.  It's a solid roster of players, and this team belongs on the floor with anyone in the conference.  Hell, Wilkes has already beaten Manhattanville and King's (by double digits).

2 weeks left.  Enjoy the ride.

[BJ - DSU SID]

CJ4Life

To answer your question yes the Bulldogs have had several home playoff games.

1999-00 hosted Lebanon Valley in the 1st round (back when the two leagues crossed over) and lost (67-61)

2002-03 hosts Lycoming (W/88-73) and then lost AT Scranton in the final by 7

2003-04 (the one you remember) - Lost to Wilkes in the first round by 16...this one really hurt cause we had dominated the regular season going 22-3, 12-2 in the Freedom, had not lost at home all year, and had won eight straight heading into the playoffs.  Played probably our worst game of the year that day and back then the NCAA Tournament had not expanded yet and we were left out.

2004-05 rebounded from a disappointing finish to the previous year (see above) and earned #1 seed once again.  Hosted Wilkes and won 67-63 and then lost to King's at home in the championship by 5 in a terrific game.  Our gym was standing room only, both student sections were loud and the game was tight the whole way.  This was the freshman year for the seniors of today.

2006-07 No home games but we upset Scranton on the road and then lost to King's by 3 AT King's in the final.

I am not sure we are due to cut a net down or not, but I'd like to see it happen.  We certainly have endured more championship game losses (THREE) over the past five years than anyone else has.  We will find out very soon if its our turn.

I travel with my hoops teams all the time and have seen every team play twice this season and in my opinion any of the top four can win a title this year.  Who ever is playing the best "Ball" that final week of February is whose gonna walk away with a strand of someone's net.  While I do believe that home court is a slight advantage, I am of the belief that in the playoffs its not as big of an advantage as it is in the regular season.  Your getting every team's best effort and regardless of the court the game is played on, the winner is usually the team playing better, not the one playing at home.

It should be an exciting next two weeks.  I am looking forward to it.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

BJ - exactly the post I was looking for.  Thank you.  As such, I awarded you a karma point.  Now, we just need to figure a way to redeem these karma points at Penn National, Mount Airy, or Pocono Downs.

So, if your guys lost 3 Finals appearances in the past 5 years, Wilkes must have lost the only other 2.  '04 at Lycoming and '06 at Scranton (hose job).

My only caveat to DeSales is this - beware the curse of Greg Riley.  Following the '05 Wilkes playoff loss at DeSales, former post-er-upper Greg Riley let out a solid 3-4 minute profanity laced tirade.  Included were all the greatest hits: "If this place had more than 8 rows of seats", "Those G-D Freedom refs again", "I drove an hour-plus for THIS?", and many more.  Then the rant ended with a prophecy.  "This team will never win another playoff game in this dump."  Not saying the guy is Nostradamus.  Just putting it out there.

BJ - good luck.  Hope your boys can beat King's in a 1 vs. 4 game.  Best way to end the curse.

Best time of the year.  No doubt.

[BJ - DSU SID]

CJ4Life,

Thanks for the karma points...never can have too many of those, although I am not sure what exactly I get for them.  I am an avid golfer so some tokens to the local driving range at CVC would be cool.

I'll certainly keep an eye out for that curse you speak of.  If I see any ghosts hanging around the gym on my late nights I'll politely ask them to hit the NExt or Rt. 78 (East) and find themselves another Freedom Gym to haunt.

I must, however, defend our gym affectionately known as Billera Hall.  Many a poster has come here over my time at DeSales and ripped the place for various reasons, but I happen to really like it.

Here is my argument.  We in NCAA Division III (at least in this area) are not drawing crowds of more than 1,000 on a regular basis.  I think we draw pretty well here.  We average in the 300 range and for the games that we play another good team we'll come close to 500-600.  With those kind of attendance numbers it can get pretty loud in here and creates quite an atmosphere.

No disrespect to Scandlon Gymnasium (King's) or the Marts Center (Wilkes), but those places are huge (as compared to ours).  I suspect for the inter-town rivalry those two are packed but for DeSales games in those places they draw about the same amount of fans as we do in Billera Hall for that kind of match-up and the atmosphere is not nearly as memorable.

I'll give one quick example.

Championship game in 2005 (DSU vs. KC in Billera Hall)...standing room only, two loud student sections...fans all over the place.  we have 900+ seats and there had to be close to 1,100 people.  I would not have traded that atmosphere for anything as either a fan or a player.  It was cool.  Wish we would have won, but I have no control over that.

Championship game in 2007 (DSU vs. KC in Scandlon)...about the same amount of fans...two more loud student sections, but that gym is just so big the atmosphere was not as it was in Billera Hall in 2005.  Now don't get me wrong, the atmosphere last year was really good, but I'd give the edge to the 2005 game because it was tighter confines and the energy was just bouncing.  You could feel the building shaking in 05.

Its kind of like Cameron Indoor (Small) vs. the Dean Dome (Big).  I am a fan of those smaller, more intimate venues than the big mutli-purpose behemoths they build now.  Although I can't stand Duke and root for UNC in that rivalry.

Just my opinion and my two sense.  Billera Hall is not all that bad a place to watch or play a good college basketballl game.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Great example.  I'd love to refute that, but I can't.  Best I got is this.  That night in '05, that's the best Billera Hall can ever get.  Take a bigger gym, with a seating capacity of 2500 or so.  Give me any matchup among Wilkes, King's, and Scranton, it's a good crowd.  Turn the intensity up to postseason, it's chaos.  Hell, give me a good Scranton women's game back in the day... like 2006... and it gets interesting.  Just a thought.

In other news, Happy Rivalry Day to Leo and the other residents of the ickey half of Wilkes-Barre.     See everyone there in about 12 hours as I make my commute to the north.

[cold_case]

So, if your guys lost 3 Finals appearances in the past 5 years, Wilkes must have lost the only other 2.  '04 at Lycoming and '06 at Scranton (hose job).

I love reading CJ's posts, although few and far between anymore. However, there is a CJ clone on the Landmark Board in the person of Colonel Matt, so it's almost like CJ never left the building.
If Wilkes got hosed at Scranton in '06, what does that make the Susquehanna playoff game at Wilkes back in the mid-to-late 1990's?? The was the most blatant and disgracful scene I've ever witnessed.
However, since CJ has made a return and once again entertained me, I'll click applaud and give him some karma.

[wb1313]

Guess who's back...

I do miss my buddy Saratoga, and I doubt there will ever be another "dynamite" post, but needless to say I'm sitting here wasting away thinking about Margaritaville (above Senunas') and thinking about the old days when Januzzi, Grybowski, et al used to run roughshod over King's.  Unfortunately, the Arcadia debacle has taken the wind out of my trash-talking sails.  JP and company are hitting stride, Wilkes and company..well, maybe Derojas can listen to his sister's cuban gospel songs and get inspiration because I think it's going to take divine intervention to win tonight. 


For those that don't understand my reference to cuban gospel songs:
http://www.catholicmusicnetwork.com/profiles/293.asp?x=1

[BJ - DSU SID]

CJ - Your argument was also good.  If a big gym can legitimately get 2,500 people to a game it could be a pretty special atmosphere.  I'd agree.

Enjoy tonight's action...I'll be at Arcadia to see if my men can get a road win against a hot team, playing on senior night with its playoff life on the line.  Should be a tough one tonight.

BJ

[naismith]

CC,

Don't quite understand the 06 stocking stuffer allegation.

As I recall, Wilkes had a 'less than comfortable' lead heading into the final few minutes when:
Constantine inexpicably double dribbled with no pressure (unforced eror)
Matt Gould missed two free throws
Scranton hit a looooooong center three
Fitz made 2 free throws
Wilkes gets an unbelievable sideline call and  final possession.
Shovlin dribbles off his leg and Kable misses a desperation off balance shot.

Wilkes had control of that one but the Royals perservered and pulled it out.

author=cold_case link=topic=3709.msg871516#msg871516 date=1203426829]

So, if your guys lost 3 Finals appearances in the past 5 years, Wilkes must have lost the only other 2.  '04 at Lycoming and '06 at Scranton (hose job).

I love reading CJ's posts, although few and far between anymore. However, there is a CJ clone on the Landmark Board in the person of Colonel Matt, so it's almost like CJ never left the building.
If Wilkes got hosed at Scranton in '06, what does that make the Susquehanna playoff game at Wilkes back in the mid-to-late 1990's?? The was the most blatant and disgracful scene I've ever witnessed.
However, since CJ has made a return and once again entertained me, I'll click applaud and give him some karma.
[/quote]

[naismith]

As for some recent observations,

Blame it on the bus driver:

Understand the Colonels played pretty well in loss to Manhattanville.
As far as the Vals accomodations, I hear Clint Eastwood is running for Mayor of Purchase:
It is Good Bad and Ugly!

Hostile (good) profane laced gym (bad) and fans that charge on the court contesting jump balls ...lol...(UGLY).

Then the garminless bus driver decides to give the Colonels a free tour of the NYC suburbs and breaks curfew arriving home at 3:30 am.  I wonder if there is chapter devoted to him in this book:

Shortened link

Anyway, Colonels had a tough time once again against a quick and relentless Arcadia squad.
Wilkes looked in control midway 2nd half (9 point lead). Arcadia kept pushing with some solid inside play and timely three's. Colonels looked flustered and lost composure.
I felt Arcadia outhustled and outpoised the Colonels and very much earned that win.

Seems Wilkes has trouble handling quick athletic teams regardless of their size advantage.
The last 2 opponents had some success breaking down the Colonels off the dribble. It has led to some very open looks and/or second chance baskets via weakside offensive rebounds.

Should be a good one tonite. Kings looks well prepped for their playoff run. Wilkes still needs to get in the playoffs..........

Line -------Kings (-11).

Naismith

[cold_case]

Nais, I think you have me confused with CJ on the " '06 stocking stuffer allegation."

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Looking over King's schedule, I do see a disturbing trend.  Including the Wilkes-Barre Classic, and henceforth, King's is 10-3.  The 3 losses are Manhattanville (since avenged), DeSales (since avenged), and Wilkes (playing tonight).  You can make the case King's is playing some of the best ball out there right now.

WB1313, welcome home, sir.  Welcome home.  And thanks for bringing my Senior Prom date into the discussion... jerk.     CDR is a heck of a shooting guard.  Put up 26 in 3 straight games.  The guy can play.  Kresge can play.  Kline can play.  DeFeo... is tall. 

Nais, everything points to King's winning by 11 or more.  That said, I'll still take Wilkes.  What's the wager, a ColonelDog?  Wilkes won by 10 last month.  And 1 month does not equal 20+ points.  Game on.

[ColonelJohn4Life]

I love reading CJ's posts, although few and far between anymore. However, there is a CJ clone on the Landmark Board in the person of Colonel Matt, so it's almost like CJ never left the building.
If Wilkes got hosed at Scranton in '06, what does that make the Susquehanna playoff game at Wilkes back in the mid-to-late 1990's?? The was the most blatant and disgracful scene I've ever witnessed.
However, since CJ has made a return and once again entertained me, I'll click applaud and give him some karma.

ColonelMatt... pfff, REAL original.  CC, accept no substitutes.

And I vaguely remember the Susquehanna game.  Wilkes got down like 12-0, then came back to win, right?  Anything other than that, you'll have to refresh the ol' memory.

[cold_case]

CJ, you'll have to ask Naismith, the Wilkes clock operator or Frank Marcinek

[ColonelJohn4Life]

Still can't be any worse than that Rutgers / Tennessee women's game a week or two ago... y'know, the one where the game clock magically halted at 0.2 until the game-decided foul was committed.  I'm still stunned  that the NCAA can't overturn that game.

Anyway, off to Wilkes-King's II  8)