MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[spartanfan13]

Want to give kudos to some of the other Spartans for last nights win over Salisbury.  Palmer was hitting everything last night and he has killed the Spartans through the years.  Two years ago he came to York in the CAC tournament as the #8 seed and upset the #1 seed Spartans.  It was the last game of Chad McGowan's career and left Chad just a few points short of being the all time leading scorer at YCP.  Dylan Hoffman played good prevent defense on him even though he had 25 points.  He had those points on only about 10 shots.  Dylan wasn't letting him get all of the shots he would have liked. Dylan also hit some shots and I think it was his best game that I've seen him play.  Mitch Kemp also hit a couple big threes and played some quality minutes.  Kevin's shot wouldn't fall last night but he was playing hard and hitting foul shots when we needed them down the stretch.  Paul and Jeremy were both steady.  Jeremy S didn't shoot much because they played tough defense on him and he didn't have any good looks, it was good that he didn't force.  Matt M played his usual steady game.  I'd like to feel that we should handle Gallaudet, but even when we had our really good teams a few years back, we've had some real battles down there.  If we take them for granted, we'll get beat.  Still need to prove we can win on the road.  Last night was another big one.  Go spartans!

[CACsportsnut]

I might have to agree with you spartan fan. There have been a lot of great seasons by alot of guys so far in this league (i.e. Griffen, Altmann, Franz, Palmer, Ammoury) but Brady might have my vote as well. But as you said, ours do not matter.

Looking orward to an exciting end to a great season. The CAC is so deep. Where do they rank with the other conferences in the region?

[spartanfan13]

York loses to Mary Wash yesterday ending their unbeaten home court streak.  Credit must go to Mary Wash.  I may not like the way Coach Woods has a tendency to rant and rave, but he had a game plan and his team ready to play.  He slowed the game down using as much of the 35 second play clock on each possession.  It looked like he was giving it to his players if they shot early in the clock.  i do believe this through York out of their ryhthm, even though they were pushing it up the court when they had the chance.  Mary Wash started by hitting 3 pt shots took the early lead and played their game.  Kudos to them on being well prepared.

That being said, Nick didn't shoot well.  Some credit for that has to go to #5.  Good defense, although I have seen Nick beat good defense all year.  Kevin was making up for Nick's off day and kept us in the game.  Dylan's ankle injury affected our depth down the stretch and even though Jeremy K played one of his best games of the year, I have to question the last shot.  We come out of a timeout with 3 seconds left and down by 3. Coach Gamber has all of 4 of our 3 point shooters in along with Jeremy K.  Why wasn't Jeremy taking the ball out of bounds?  Instead everyone else is guarded tightly and Jeremy has ball and open look.  Can't fault him for shooting, but I wish any one of the other 4 players on the floor took that shot.
In any case the road just got more difficult.  Spartans finish regular season with 3 road games. Time to win them away.  Go Spartans!

[CACsportsnut]

Questions regarding the tournament?

If st. Mary's does not win the CAC tournament are they a lock for NAAA's anyways?
Is York the only other team in the conference up for an at large if they do not win the conference title, and if so how good is there chance of an at large if they do not win conference's

[spartanfan13]

I believe that St Marys is a lock whether they win the tournament or not.  I think York has a chance if they make it to the final.  They'll have 20 wins and a nice regional ranking.   York has been good at home, but they will need to be on their game to beat Wesley. Because they haven't beaten many good teams on the road and were just beaten handily by St Marys on Saturday, you have to believe that St Marys would be a big favorite in the final if they both make it.  York will be rooting for Marymount tomorrow night and hope they can handle their end of the deal.  I think the season ends for York tomorrow if they lose to Wesley.  I also think the key to tomorrow nights game is Kevin Whaley.  He has been playing super lately and will take a lot of pressure off Nick Brady if that continues.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

St. Mary's is probably safe... even if they lose. But... as they learned last year when they lost in the semi's and didn't make the tournament with what seemed like maybe a better resume than this year, they just need to go and win.

As for York... I would be a bit nervous if I was them. If they don't win the AQ, they are going to be sitting on a very small bubble - especially if they are any upsets of teams that are a lock to make the NCAA Tournament (and you know there will be upsets). If they lose, York will have a 17-7 record or 18-7 IN REGION record (overall doesn't matter) with a SOS of about .507 which currently ranks 158 in the nation (according to our data on D3hoops.com: http://www.d3hoops.com/salem/10/sos.htm). They are projected in the Pool C chat room as the 22nd Pool C team... three spots OUT of the tournament without upsets!

I think if St. Mary's wins this conference, this is a one-bid conference. If they lose, the CAC could have two bids.

[CACsportsnut]

Well if that is the case then York better come with their A game because Wesley has been playing great basketball lately. Would love to see to teams from the CAC get in.

[spartanfan13]

York loses last night and Nick Brady and Jeremy Keefer's careers come to an end.  You have to give credit to Wesley as they shot the lights out.  They were quiker to loose balls and had numerous offensive rebounds that killed us.  We were a step behind them and they definitely deserved to win this one.  CACsportsnut hit the nail on the head when he said that they are playing great basketball lately.  If they play like that on Saturday, St. Marys will have their hands full.

York will look forward to next year, but without Nick leading the way it will be tough.  Hoping Julian Watson and Andrew Pawlyk get back to form.  Also would love to get a true center.  Didn't see enough of 6'9" Jake Markle this year to know if he can develop into one.  Wish Nick, Jeremy, Wid good luck in the future.  Thanks for a season that exceeded expectations.

On a final note, when will league awards be announced?

[huskiect]

Does a true center lend itself to Yorks style of play? It seems to me that they want a solid 4/5 combo that can run the floor and rebound. When I look at York's end of year there is only one thing that I see. Note I did not see the games but looking at the stat sheets they were killed on the boards. Do not just mention Brady and scoring, he actually was the second leading rebounder on a team that appears not to do that well. I think they can fill the void on scoring as Whaley becomes the go to guy but they need to get some players in that attack the glass.

[Flintstone203]

How about Nick Brady winning POY? That came as a surprise to me...Griffin really should have won. I think Franz was a close second along with Brady.

And how about Wesley earning an at-large bid! HUGE for the conference!

St. Mary's is hosting the first and second rounds for the first time in school history on friday. They play Purchase College at 8 pm

[Pat Coleman]

Don't forget, final three-plus hours to enter the D3hoops.com bracket challenge.

You have extra time for the women's bracket, since the first game isn't until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

http://www.d3hoops.com/pickem/

[CACsportsnut]

Camonte Griffen had an amazing year, Led his team to a 24-3 record, won a CAC regular season and CAC title. Led the conference in scoring and really was just temendous. While he was very deserving of POY I feel Nick Brady was not all that much of a suprise either. I felt it would be one of those two. Brady was second in the conference in scoring, first in FT% and 3PM, eighth in rebounding. More importantly though I think is how his teamed went from 7-19, 8-18? to 19-7 and on the fringe of a NCAA birth. I am sure it was a close race but I congratulate Nick and all other all-conference selection, and wish Camonte luck in the tournament. Wesley also. Let's bring the bronze and walnut back to the CAC.

[spartanfan13]

Don't want to argue about Camontae Griffin vs Nick Brady because I didn't see Griffin play enough.  I did see Nick play and improve tremendously during his career.  At the beginning of the season, I would have been happy if York played over .500 and got their young guys significant playing time.  In other words, a rebuilding year.  Because of Nick, we just missed an NCAA playoff spot.  Each and every game it looked to me that the opposing team's gameplan was to stop Nick.  What I liked most was the fact that he wasn't just a shooter. I believe that rebounding is mostly desire (although being big doesn't hurt) and Nick is a great rebounder.  If there was a loose ball anywhere in the area he got it.  He also realized how important it was to get stronger and spent lots of time in the weight room.  He made himself a much better player.  I hope his approach made an impression on the young kids and they see that hard work pays off. 

It is easy to be cautiously optimistic about York for next year.  However, replacing Nick is going to be very difficult. By all accounts he is a good kid and hopes to keep playing the game he loves.  I wish him the best and want to thank him for all he has meant to YCP basketball.  Congrats on the POY because I think it was well deserved.  It has been this  fans pleasure watching Nick play the last 4 years.  Best of luck.

Good luck to St Marys and Wesley in the tournament.  Go CAC!

[Flintstone203]

St Marys punched their ticket to their second Sweet-16 in the last three years with a huge win over Va-Weselyan last night in front of a PACKED house. After a 30 point route of SUNY-Purchase on friday in front of a record crowd the Seahawk momentum kept rolling forward! Maryland's first capital was alive like it hasnt been since Lord Calvert docked The Dove in 1846 claiming the land "SEAHAWK NATION" only to have it renamed by Gov. Dorchester three years later!

The game had the feel of a heavy-weight title bout with two of the best teams in the country going head to head. Weselyn knocked off last years nat'l runner up Richard Stockton the night before and carried their confidence onto saturday but st marys held strong and took it to the ODAC once again. St. Marys is doing a great job representing the CAC hopefully they can keep it going all the way to Salem....which also goes down Route-5 as the hawks were selected to host the next 2 rounds.  St. Marys will play franklin and marshall Friday at 8. Randolph-Macon and Desales will match up on the other side of the bracket at 6.

Hale the Hawks.

[Reserved Seat]

If the gym was PACKED for an opening round game, will I need to make sure I have a ticket for a Sweet 16/Elite 8 game before I drive 4 miles?