MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[hoodfan]

D-mac, I believe Junghans had a serious back injury while at St. Mary's. Played during the first semester in the 05-06 season, but had to have back surgery and didn't return to St. Mary's for 2nd semester. I don't know how many games he played, but I don't think it was many. He has an older brother that plays at Hood (Justin), and that is how he ended up at Hood

[mwcsid]

UMW 87, Goucher 59

Eagles balanced again, with six players in double figures, led by AJ Fitzgerald's 18 and Jon Pierce's 16. Ben Stokes continues to step up with 13, Matt Hale 12, J-Bake and Kiernan with 11 each. Baker added 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

UMW makes 16 threes, now averaging almost 13 a game, which is 5th in the nation.

[njlincolnlion]

Any news on the Catholic/Salisbury game?

[Matt Letourneau]

Yes.  Catholic defeated Salisbury 62-58.

The Cardinals were led by Scott Fumai's 22 points and 7 rebounds and Pat Dwyer's 17.  Remarkably, Dwyer was 8-9 from the free throw line and apparently hit a couple big ones in the last minute to ice it.  Good for Pat.

Wheels had a bad night offensively but had 11 rebounds.  CUA did get 8 points from freshman center Brian Jones.  The Cardinals didn't shoot well, but once against outrebounded their opponents 42-35.

Roy Williams had 25 points and played all 40 minutes for the Gulls.   CUA jumped out to a 15-3 lead before it settled into a close, back and forth game.  CUA took the lead for good with 3:40 left.

Obviously a big road win for the Cardinals, who improve to 12-2 and 4-2 in the Conference.   

In other news, MuMu was wrong again (ha!), and....Trevino picked up a big tech? No! I don't believe it! Impossible!

[ycp]

From York,
The Spartans down the Saints, 96-75.
A balanced effort from the Spartans with five guys in double figures.

Box score:
http://www.ycp.edu/sports/mens_basketball/2006/YCPMBB16.HTM

[cugrad]

Catholic over Salisbury, 62-58.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Gophers were hurt badly by a technical called on their coach for arguing a foul call with a minute left in the first half and the Eagles hit all four FT that ensued.

WHAT?!

I assume you weren't at the game (though, with internet access in the SRC, which I had, I could be wrong)... but that tech didn't hurt the Gophers.

If you remember... Goucher did lead in the first half by as much as seven... but never for long. Goucher also tied the game a few minutes into the second half with a three from James Russo.

Goucher was hurt badly by a much better Eagles squad who finally adjusted to the agressive defense and offense Goucher was playing... and started hitting three's like at a ridiculous rate.

As the Goucher game release said:
"Doing the most damage from three-point range was A.J. Fitzgerald, who accumulated all of his game-high total of 18 points by going 6-for-10 from downtown. Ben Stokes drained four three-pointers in coming off the bench to contribute 13 points to the win. In all, the Eagles (11-3, 5-1 CAC) had six players score in double figures and each one made at least one three-point basket."
-full version-

That's unreal and actually followed up an incrediable shooting preformance from the UMW women's team. Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised when the Eagles hit an average of 12-plus three's a game.

UMW is certainly the cream of the crop in the conference and really should be getting some Top 25 votes... while CUA shouldn't (despite a win over SAL - shocking! I never thought SAL would lose!).

[unreallawns]

Ray Williams has to be a candidate for POY.

[mwcsid]

dmac,
Yeah, I listened to the game. FNB did a really good job!
I'm sure the 4 fts helped, but I agree, the 33 pts in the last ten minutes was the real key.

[MuMu]

YCP, It looks like MU was close in the first half, what happen in the 2nd half??? It seemed like a normall York score.

[kitchenrat]

A real nice game from the Sparts, just a shame the ladies lost in OT in the opener or we would have a great night all around.

As far as all around, that's how the scoring went for the guys. Big Chad put in his 25 and 7 and Joe Yeck continued to grow into his new roll as a full time starter with 21 on 7-9 shooting, with 5-6 from three. Two other starters, Lankford (15) and Zerfing (11) were in double figures and super-sub Nick Brady had another nice night with 12 points in 15 minutes. Marymount shot the lights out in the first half but went flat in the second going 1-10 from distance.

York has a big test on Saturday, when they go down to Hood. If they start to get this type of shooting consistently from game to game they are going to be a team no one wants to play come CAC tourney time. The one thing they can do to make a run at a really solid season is hit the offensive glass more. Without Singer and Seibert there is a lack of true "big men" and so it is on everyone on the floor to get boards. 

[ycp]

MuMu,

Both teams shot the lights out in the first half as York led 52-44 at the break. There wasn't too much defense on either end in the first half but with about 15 minutes left in the second half,  York stepped up defensively and the Saints shot just 40% in the second half. Marymount went 7-for-13 from three in the first half but went 1-for-10 from distance in the second half.

Stanback had a great first half (15 points) but had just five after the break. York went 4-for-5 from three and shot 54% in the second half and 56.9% for the game. York was very balanced last night with five guys in double figures. Gray had a good night with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting but he didn't get enough shots. He's tough around the hoop.

Offensively, it was one of the better performances by the Spartans this year.

[Matt Letourneau]

Gophers were hurt badly by a technical called on their coach for arguing a foul call with a minute left in the first half and the Eagles hit all four FT that ensued.

WHAT?!

I assume you weren't at the game (though, with internet access in the SRC, which I had, I could be wrong)... but that tech didn't hurt the Gophers.

If you remember... Goucher did lead in the first half by as much as seven... but never for long. Goucher also tied the game a few minutes into the second half with a three from James Russo.

Goucher was hurt badly by a much better Eagles squad who finally adjusted to the agressive defense and offense Goucher was playing... and started hitting three's like at a ridiculous rate.

As the Goucher game release said:
"Doing the most damage from three-point range was A.J. Fitzgerald, who accumulated all of his game-high total of 18 points by going 6-for-10 from downtown. Ben Stokes drained four three-pointers in coming off the bench to contribute 13 points to the win. In all, the Eagles (11-3, 5-1 CAC) had six players score in double figures and each one made at least one three-point basket."
-full version-

That's unreal and actually followed up an incrediable shooting preformance from the UMW women's team. Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised when the Eagles hit an average of 12-plus three's a game.

UMW is certainly the cream of the crop in the conference and really should be getting some Top 25 votes... while CUA shouldn't (despite a win over SAL - shocking! I never thought SAL would lose!).

Why don't we wait to declare UMW the cream of the crop until Catholic actually plays them.  I disagree with what you've said here--Catholic has played a significantly tougher non-conference schedule than Mary Washington has.  I know there are a bunch of comprables you can look at, the biggest one being Salisbury, but also Hood (fair point on that one), but the Cardinals beat York by 17 (yes, at home), whereas MW just squeaked by with 55 points.   I agree that Mary Washington is a great team that will be tough to beat.  But I think you just can't help but discount Catholic, and that's what you are doing right now--a Massey rating of 36 vs. MW's 74, and you think that MW is the one that should be getting votes?

That makes no sense.   And according to your theory, it was quite plausible for Salisbury to beat CUA at their home (they get up for good teams, remember?)  And they just DID beat Mary Washington at home.   So why not give Catholic some credit for a tough road win? Why insist that MW is better, even though they haven't played, Catholic has a better record, has played a tougher schedule, and just beat a team that MW just lost to?

[mwcsid]

Where was Ozi Menakaya for Salisbury last night? That guy single handedly beat UMW with 21 rebounds, and now he isn't even on the Sea Gull roster.

[mwgoonie]

Glad to see the old Matt is back.
The truth is CUA will always get votes at some point in any season because of their reputation. If people see they have a good record, their more likely to get top 25 votes. MW however, still is earning that reputation under Coach Wood. MW also doesnt have that stand out guy (they're balanced with 6 guys avg double figure ppg) which in my opinion, doesnt draw natioanl attention.

As for CAC play, CUA lost to Goucher and Hood. MW beat both. MW lost to SAL, CUA beat them. And both teams beat YORK (regardless of margin). So CUA can't say they're a better team based on CAC play.
Outside of the region, CUA has more of an arguement but also CUA had the luxury of playing more home games in the first 1/2 of the season. MW  will/has played 10 of 15 away from home.

Anyways, the 23rd will be a good game. I plan on being there.